I won't update for a longtime! garrr! i'm going to my dad's 4 the summer, so i won't be able to update cause he doesn't have a comp with internet connection! fortunately i can try to update at least once a week or twice a week because my grandma has dialup (ugh) and i'll try to ask my mom to let me take my laptop along to type some more! YAY!!

This chapter should be very satisfying ;)

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highrock for a meeting of our Clan!" Boomed Ashstar's voice.

Cloverpaw got up from sharing tongues with Poisonpaw and headed over to the Highrock.

It must have been time to name the new deputy. Cloverpaw desperately hoped that it would be her mentor, but the chances were slim. There were many toms that would give up their mate for position as deputy. Mudpelt was pretty much the obvious choice.

"Cats of ThunderClan, our former deputy Summerheart has become pregnant. She will join the nursery for a few more moons, and after her kits become apprentices she shall become a warrior again."

There were many murmurings among the crowd. "Then who will be the deputy?" Called a voice. Cloverpaw craned her neck to see that it was Chasewind.

"The deputy shall be named at this meeting," Ashstar called to her Clan. "Let us commence the ceremony." She nodded to Summerheart to come up to the rock.

The golden tabby padded slowly up. She definitely was getting plump. Cloverpaw couldn't wait for the kits, but it would overpopulate the Clan. There already were too many warriors for ThunderClan, without the nine new apprentices, six new kits, and now an incoming litter.

"I say these words in front of Summerheart, so she may hear and approve my choice-"

"Wait!" Called Irispetal, a senior warrior. "Warriors can't retire from deputy when they're pregnant! They can only retire to become an elder or if they're severely injured!"

"Or if they've passed," Snorted Mudpelt.

Ashstar shot a glare at the dark brown warrior. "Thank you for pointing that out, Irispetal. However, Summerheart, as a good mother, wants the best for her kits and doesn't want them to grow up with their mother seldom there."

A murmur of approval spread through the crowd. Summerheart beamed with joy.

"I say these words before Summerheart, so that she may hear and approve my choice," Ashstar called out. "The new deputy of ThunderClan is Runningshadow."

Joy leaped up in Cloverpaw like a lion roaring with pride. Runningshadow! Her own mentor, and close friend! She leaped in the air and yowled triumphantly.

The other cats seemed very approving. They looked at eachother thoughtfully, and nodding to eachother.

"Runningshadow! Runningshadow!" Chanted the Clan. Runningshadow stepped forward, surprised.

R.U.N.N.I.N.G

(Runningshadow's POV)

Runningshadow was stunned. Him? The Clan deputy? He had asked himself that question for a moon now and now…he was the deputy!

He tried to feel joyful about this…but something in his heart tugged at him like a stubborn thorn.

Mudpelt. He had been begging for the position of deputy for moons. To Runningshadow, he was going to be the obvious choice. The dark warrior could go pretty far lengths to be deputy…

Runningshadow hoped he would live to see the next day.

"Runningshadow! Runningshadow!" Chanted the Clan. He stepped forward, a surprised look on his face.

Runningshadow searched the crowd for Mudpelt as he came up, but before he saw the dark brown warrior, Cloverpaw caught his eye. She looked so proud of him. It warmed Runningshadow's heart to see her so happy.

Not bothering to catch Mudpelt's look, Runningshadow stepped forward confidently. He was the Clan deputy! Runningshadow had no idea that he would rise to such heights in the Clan.

"Runningshadow, I hope that you shall serve your Clan well. You have proved yourself a noble and worthy warrior." Ashstar set her muzzle on Runningshadow's head as if he had just become a warrior.

"Thank you, Ashstar," Runningshadow murmured. He turned to the Clan. "Cats of ThunderClan," He called out. "I promise to fulfill my duty as deputy."

Now Runningshadow swept his eyes over the crowd to spot Mudpelt. He was sitting right in the center of the crowd, and was glaring at him with all the hate in his heart.

But Runningshadow wasn't daunted. Mudpelt could do whatever he wanted, but even with Runningshadow dead, he would never become deputy.

Runningshadow backed into the crowd to be congratulated by several welcoming purrs and warm licks.

Cloverpaw leaped up to him and nearly bowled him over, giving him a huge lick on the ear. "You did it!" She cried. "You're the deputy!"

Runningshadow nodded. "Are you happy to be the apprentice of a deputy?"

Cloverpaw nodded, but didn't say a word. Runningshadow knew she was thinking of becoming a warrior.

"Don't worry, you'll be a warrior any day now," Whispered Runningshadow. Before Cloverpaw could reply, he decided to thank Owlpaw and Oakpaw for giving him good praises.

After the two apprentices had left for training, Ashstar clambered down from the Highrock. "Runningshadow, I know that you can do a great job as our deputy," Ashstar mewed. "I chose you because you are such a great warrior, even though your past was dim."

Runningshadow knew that she was talking about his father, Crimsonstone. He was a tom that went around mating with many she-cats from different Clans, and after they had his kits he would think of them as no use to him anymore. Runningshadow shuddered at the thought of what happened to his mother, who had been killed, and wondered how many other she-cats shared her fate.

"Thank you, Ashstar," Runningshadow replied. "I consider it an honor."

Ashstar dipped her head and went away to gather her sundown patrol.

"Runningshadow," Called a voice from behind.

The light brown tom turned his head around to see who was talking to him. It was Mudpelt, whose gleaming amber eyes were focused on him.

Mudpelt gestured to the new deputy to come over to him.

Nervously, Runningshadow followed. It was too surprising that Mudpelt would congratulate his new position. What did he want?

"Great job," Mudpelt growled as Runningshadow sat down beside him. "Clan deputy, that's a huge position."

Runningshadow smiled. "Um, thanks…" He meowed, unsure if he should be nervous or happy that Mudpelt was being so kind.

Kind? He didn't think so! Runningshadow remembered what happened to Cinderhope, the former deputy. He had received a dream that Cinderhope was drowning, and the first scent he had made out in the former deputy's position was Mudpelt's. Had the dark tom really killed his old mentor?

Suddenly, Mudpelt unsheathed his claws. Runningshadow's eyes bulged.

"Explain to me why Ashstar didn't choose me as the next deputy," Hissed Mudpelt. "And why she chose a worthless cat like you!"

Runningshadow felt his heart sink, but tried not to show it. His eyes dulled.

"Yes, I know who your father is!" Spat Mudpelt. "That traitor, Crimsonstone! You're not a warrior, you're just the result of Crimsonstone doing his job!"

Runningshadow yowled with rage. "How did you find out?" He snapped. He was sick of pretending to be respectful to Mudpelt. This warrior didn't deserve it anymore!

"I was listening in on you and Ashstar after you became a warrior," Mudpelt explained. "I was going to tell Ashstar that my patrol had scented ShadowClan, but you were in there with her, so I waited a bit!"

"You fox-heart!" Runningshadow hissed. "Perhaps Ashstar didn't make you deputy because you're a mouse-brained, shadow-hearted heap of fox-dung!"

Mudpelt's eyes flew open. He snarled with rage and flew onto Runningshadow, raking his claws down his back.

Runningshadow yowled with fear and pain, whipping his claws out, and dropped to the ground, squashing the brown tom. He cried out for another cat, but no cat came. Where was everybody?

That didn't stop Mudpelt. He felt weaker, but he shot up and raked his claws across Runningshadow's cheek before he could act again.

Ignoring the oozing blood that was crawling down his face and dripping off his chin, Runningshadow struck out with his paw and gave Mudpelt a hard knock on the top of his head.

The blood was getting into Mudpelt's eyes, but that wasn't stopping him. He clawed Runningshadow's leg, snagging his claw on it, and flew over to the other side of the light brown tom.

Runningshadow wailed and dared take a look at his leg. It was flowing with blood, and he saw a huge scar that was as long as two mouse tails.

Runningshadow tried to attack Mudpelt from his other side, but Mudpelt had already slipped under him.

The dark brown tom dragged his claws down Runningshadow's belly with his hind legs and kicked him hard across the clearing.

Runningshadow fell hard in the ferns lying beside the nursery. He felt stunned, and told himself not to give up. But he felt dizzy from so much blood loss, and had to sheathe his claws in defeat.

Mudpelt bounded over to Runningshadow and stood over him, chuckling. "Ha," He cackled, "Look at the noble warrior Runningshadow, laying on the ground half dead!"

Runningshadow's eyesight clouded, and his head fell to the ground, exposing his bloody belly.

Mudpelt spat at the deputy and held his jaws right over his neck. "I'll see you in StarClan, Runningshadow!" He spat.

Runningshadow struggled to breathe, but couldn't. He let out feeble gasps, trying to get up from under the enemy's grasp, but Mudpelt's grip was too tight to do a thing.

Slowly, he felt himself losing consciousness….

Suddenly, he felt the grip being loosened. Runningshadow gasped for breath, sucking it in greedily.

He looked up to see who or what had gotten Mudpelt off of him. A tabby pelt rolled past him, and he recognized Cloverpaw.

She was fighting pretty well- it almost looked like Mudpelt didn't stand a chance. But suddenly, there was a small lapse in Cloverpaw's technique. Mudpelt cackled and flipped the she-cat over harshly, and a sick crack filled the air.

"Cloverpaw!" He cried out with fear. Runningshadow leaped into the tussle and flung Mudpelt off of her with all the anger in his heart.

"Get off of her!" He caterwauled, rapidly clawing at Mudpelt's long fur.

Mudpelt snarled ferociously and flipped him over, raising his paw to claw them down his belly.

Runningshadow squinted with defeat. There was no way that he could beat Mudpelt- he was way too good and had more stamina than Runningshadow.

Suddenly, he caught sight of a patch of gray fur. He got up and saw Ashstar there, with Summerheart by her side. "What do you think you're doing?" Hissed Ashstar.

Mudpelt got off of Runningshadow in a flash. "Runningshadow!" He snarled. "How dare you attack a senior warrior in the camp!"

"I saw you, Mudpelt," Summerheart growled. "You attacked Runningshadow."

Runningshadow didn't talk. Anything he said could go against him, and he didn't want to end up as the suspect for this.

Ashstar shouldered her way past her former deputy and stood less than a claw's length away from Mudpelt's face. "Is this true?" She asked in a whisper.

Mudpelt didn't do anything, just kept staring his leader in the eye. Then he slowly nodded. "Yes," He hissed. "Why would you care?"

"Why would I care?" Ashstar cried. "You have just attacked another warrior, and the Clan deputy at that!" She spat. "And if you won't tell me the truth, I'm sure that poor Cloverpaw will."

Mudpelt curled his lips in a sneer, but let her go on.

"I shall wait until Cloverpaw is better to speak to her about this. As for now, you shall be severely punished for this."


 The dark brown warrior gave a grunt as he stared down at the apprentice.

Ashstar sighed. "Mudpelt, I hate to say it, but for now you shall join the apprentice's den. You shall be treated with the respect of an insolent kit. You shall be kept inside camp for a moon and a half, and privileges taken away."

Ashstar turned to Runningshadow. "Come with me," She mewed. "I'll call the ceremony now. Summerheart, call Mossflower for Cloverpaw, please."

The yellow tabby nodded and zipped off through the fern tunnel to the cracked rock that was the medicine cat's den.

"Longpaw," Ashstar called to the passing apprentice, "Fetch another apprentice to take Mudpelt please."

The black and white tom looked confused, but nodded and took off to the gorse tunnel to drag Shadowpaw away from his patrol.

With one last glance at Summerheart, Runningshadow desperately hoped that his apprentice would be okay.

What a horrible ending! Oh well, stay tuned for chapter 8!