Runningshadow opened his mouth wide to smell. The cold forest breeze was ruffling his fur, but he didn't stop to smooth it down.
He was on the border of ThunderClan territory with Bloodflower by his side. "Is there a scent of anything?" Asked Runningshadow quizzed the young warrior.
Bloodflower opened her mouth. "Fox," She commented, "But it's stale. And…there's something else here…"
"What is it?" Runningshadow asked anxiously. He didn't want any trouble on a patrol, especially the sundown patrol.
"It…it seems like ShadowClan," Bloodflower growled, straining to sniff.
Runningshadow stiffened. "That's strange," He muttered. "ShadowClan don't usually have a good reason to come here…" His voice trailed off. He could think of a pretty good reason.
Hurricanesong. The cruel, unfair ShadowClan deputy that did things like blackmail and trickery to get things like territory, or perhaps something bigger like a cat of ThunderClan's. Like Skycloud.
Runningshadow shook all thoughts of the deputy out of his head. It was highly unlikely that it was him, since ShadowClan had a severe sickness and were laying low.
Suddenly, a huge, bedraggled cat leaped out of a nearby thistle bush. It was a cat that had patches of fur hanging from her pelt and her muzzle was twisted in a snarl that exposed her yellowed teeth.
Bloodflower screamed and jumped back, startled. "Wh-what are you?" She squealed with fear to the scraggly cat.
Runningshadow tried to pick up a scent. This cat was what the strong ShadowClan scent was coming from. It was a she-cat, dark brown, and she looked far from a well-fed Clan cat.
Runningshadow dipped his head with respect and nudged Bloodflower to do the same. "Greetings," He told the she-cat. "I am Runningshadow, and this is Bloodflower. I take it you're from ShadowClan?"
The she-cat gave a noncommittal grunt. Apparently she didn't want to talk to enemy cats.
"You should get off our territory now," Bloodflower hissed. "Any Clan cat knows that it is against the warrior code. Go away!"
But the dark brown she-cat did nothing but jerk her head in a weird way.
"Okay, this cat is really creeping me out!" Bloodflower growled. "Let's chase her out and get out of here ourselves!"
"No," Runningshadow told her. "I can't help thinking that she isn't here to take our territory."
Suddenly, the undergrowth rustled and another cat stepped out. Runningshadow instantly recognized the other cat.
"Hurricanesong!" Spat Runningshadow. "What are you doing here on ThunderClan's territory?"
The dark gray ShadowClan deputy shrugged. "I dunno. Why are you telling me to get off your territory? You're nothing but an ordinary warrior!" He spat.
"Think again!" Bloodflower hissed disgustedly. "Runningshadow is deputy now! So you should give him a bit more respect!"
Hurricanesong gasped loudly. "Oh wow," He purred sarcastically. "So powerful! Let's bow down to the almighty deputy that was sent from StarClan, Mudflower!" He exclaimed, dropping to the ground. "That respectful enough?"
Runningshadow curled his lip in a sneer. "Listen, you have to get off our territory Hurricanesong," Runningshadow hissed. "Unless you have an emergency with our leader."
"Actually, that is exactly why I'm here," Hurricanesong said seriously. "I'm here to tell Ashstar something urgent."
"Surely it is urgent enough to tell us so that we can escort you back?" Bloodflower growled accusingly.
"None of your business," The ragged she-cat, apparently named Mudflower, hissed. "Now take us to Ashstar! And," She added, "You may want to be a bit more respectful to Hurricane…song here." Mudflower had said her deputy's name really slow, especially his surname "song".
Runningshadow and Bloodflower exchanged a look and nodded to each other. "We'll lead on," Runningshadow told the ShadowClan cats.
He nodded to Bloodflower to lead them away and waited until the three others had left before he remarked the territory, overwhelming the ShadowClan scent with his own
He dashed back to Bloodflower and the two others. "How has ShadowClan been?" Asked Runningshadow.
The light brown tom wanted to take that back. "That's none of ThunderClan's business, mouse-brain!" Snapped Mudflower.
"Now Mudflower, be a bit more respectful to the Clan deputy," Hurricanesong told his fellow warrior, emphasizing "clan deputy". "Besides, they may be of some…help, someday." He gave a side-glance to Mudflower and the brown she-cat sniggered.
They had finally arrived at the gorse tunnel which led to ThunderClan camp. Hurricanesong and Mudflower didn't even ask Runningshadow's permission to enter the camp and plunged through the hole that led to the ravine.
Bloodflower gave Runningshadow a weird glance, screwing up her face, and followed after the ShadowClan cats. Runningshadow wondered what Hurricanesong was up to that could possibly need Ashstar's attention.
Runningshadow nervously followed after his Clan mate and into camp. Most of the cats that were out and about looked dazed, as if they had seen Ashstar's den be thrown into the sky. It was very unusual to have ShadowClan cats in camp.
A loud yowl sounded from Ashstar's den. "Runningshadow!" She howled.
Runningshadow's stomach twisted and he felt queasy. He hoped that Ashstar wasn't too angry at him for giving the two cats permission to enter their territory.
Bloodflower flicked her ear to Runningshadow as if to say, "Good luck in there."
Runningshadow gave her a short nod and proceeded to Ashstar's den, where she sat between Hurricanesong and Mudflower.
"These ShadowClan cats say that you let them come into our territory," Ashstar growled to Runningshadow. "Is this true?"
"They said that they needed to talk to you. I asked them but they said it was urgent and private."
Ashstar straightened. "Well, then who am I to deny them? If it really is so urgent, then they should tell me right now," She said, turning her head in Hurricanesong's direction.
Hurricanesong flicked his ear in reply. "Ashstar, I would like to ask you an important favor. ShadowClan have-" The dark gray tom gave an uncomfortable glance at Runningshadow.
"The deputy is welcome here in my den," Ashstar told him gruffly.
"Oh, right," Hurricanesong grunted.
Ha, Runningshadow thought. Now there's proof I'm the deputy and I wasn't lying!
Hurricanesong cleared his throat. "I shall begin. ShadowClan have been in much turmoil. There is a highly contagious disease in our Clan, killing many. We have very few warriors left, and there have been no pregnant queens for moons. We have reason to think that it is the rats that come from the carrionplace that are giving us this disease."
"And what is the favor you were asking?" Ashstar said impatiently.
Hurricanesong lowered his eyes from the ThunderClan leader's face. "We were wondering if you could give us a piece of your land. Our sickness has weakened our warriors and we cannot hunt."
"So why should I give you land?" Ashstar asked. "Your warriors are too weak to hunt anyway."
Hurricanesong realized that he had made a mistake. "Leaf-bare has taken much prey from our territory. All that's left are these killer rats. Please, Ashstar, I beg you."
Ashstar tipped her head. "What I want to know is how you would use my territory. Would you use it to hunt, or just fill ThunderClan with your stinking disease?" She hissed.
Mudflower stepped forward. "ShadowClan really is desperate. These rats are very vicious, they've been eating off not just our kits, but a couple of our younger apprentices and two warriors weakened by the disease. They're using the plague they carry as a defense as well as an advantage to kill us off faster! We need your help!" Exclaimed the dark brown she-cat.
"I shall think about it," Ashstar said calmly. "And at the next Gathering I shall give you my answer."
"The moon is growing fuller," Hurricanesong grunted. "It will be very soon. Are you sure you want such short time?"
"Don't you need it?" Asked Ashstar in a growl.
Hurricanesong dodged a glare shot from the leader and sighed. "They killed him," He said, his voice in a shiver from holding back sobs. "They have killed Sharpstar! Please help us!"