OMG!! I HAVEN'T PUT THIS UP YET?? AM I CRAZY?? I am so so so so so so so SO sorry that I haven't been updating lately. Just today I went to my stories and saw that I didn't update with the other 2 chapters I have! SORRY!! Ok, I promise I'll update much faster now. Once I get back to my laptop, then I can transport the other chapters! And it'll b finished! Sorry again!

There was a loud cry in the air. Runningshadow looked around wildly to see what made the sound, and saw a golden she-cat was the one, breath coming out in clouds.

Runningshadow tried to help whoever this cat was, but there was no use. The blood just kept coming.

He looked over the she-cat's wounds. Clawmarks were spattering blood all over her lovely coat. But where were they coming from?

Suddenly, Runningshadow was looking a huge gray cat right in the eye. The gray cat unsheathed his claws and slapped them across his face. He screamed with pain, but it wasn't just his pain he heard. The rest of the cats were screaming too.

"You are a stupid cat," The gray cat hissed, "Ashstar will be happy when you come up to meet her in StarClan!"

Just as the cat spat the word StarClan, a flash of light came upon his face. Runningshadow recognized this almost instantly.

It was the cat that had haunted him many times before. The menacing green eyes, the scar from Runningshadow on his ear… Hurricanestar.

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

Runningshadow screamed and jolted awake. Chasewind gave him a glare and he realized that he was still screaming. Slowly, he calmed down.

Everything was okay- Runningshadow was in the warrior's den, and no cats were screaming. He felt wide awake and could feel the chill of early newleaf on the air.

The first thing Runningshadow wanted to do is check to see if Cloverpaw was okay. He slunk out of the warrior's den and silently crept through the fern tunnel. All was eerily quiet as soft snow fell in the ravine, he noticed.

For no reason at all, he made his pace a little faster. He desperately hoped that Cloverpaw was okay…but it was just a dream, how could she be hurt?

Suddenly, he plunged head first into another cat. Runningshadow spluttered and tried to get his breath back, and tried to look up to see who this cat was.

It was a brown tabby cat. Runningshadow felt happiness well up inside him.

"Cloverpaw!" He gasped. "Y-you're alive!"

"Yes," Cloverpaw huffed, "You too."

"What do you mean?" Runningshadow asked. "Did you have a dream?"

"Uh-huh," Cloverpaw whispered. "I was so scared…you were dead…I had to see you."

"You mean that you ran with a broken leg all the way to the warrior's den just to see if I was okay?" Asked Runningshadow.

Cloverpaw nodded and let out a low purr. "I can't lose you, you little furball," She teased batting his ear. "Besides, who else would catch my prey for me and teach me to be a warrior?"

Runningshadow purred and gave her a lick. At first, she looked stunned, and Runningshadow was a little ashamed, but she recovered and licked him back, letting out a low purr.

"And my leg is mending anyway," Cloverpaw pointed out. "It is better than before."

"Curse Mudpelt," Runningshadow growled. "I'll pay him back for that, I promise."

"Don't worry," Laughed Cloverpaw, "I think that nick in the ear has done enough for him. All the other warriors are teasing him about a cat younger than him taking a chunk out of his ear."

Runningshadow purred with delight. "Do you want me to get some prey for you?" He asked shyly.

"No, I might as well go to the fresh-kill pile now that I'm here," Cloverpaw meowed. "It'll be good for my leg, eh?"

Runningshadow turned to leave. "Promise you'll be okay?" He asked nervously.

"Yes! For the last time, yes, I know when my own leg will be okay!" Cloverpaw exclaimed. She chuckled and went after Runningshadow as he departed slowly.

Runningshadow tried to keep a slow pace for his apprentice but all she did was skip ahead of him, so he knew that she would be okay at a swift pace.

Runningshadow spotted Deerstripe sitting with Mudpelt with some fresh-kill. The young tom raised his hackles defensively as the dark brown tom gave him a cutting glare.

"I see that your apprentice has gotten better," Deerstripe mewed in defense of her mate. "What happened to her…? Broken claw?" She cackled noisily.

Runningshadow heard a growl come up Cloverpaw's throat and he tensed. Would this turn into another fight?

"Oh yeah, my leg's much better," Cloverpaw replied coolly. "You recovering from that head injury?"

Deerstripe snarled. "I'm smarter than you, because I'm a warrior now!" She hissed savagely.

Cloverpaw shrugged. "And I'm really beginning to wonder why Ashstar let you become one."

All Deerstripe did was get up, leave her prey with Mudpelt, and make a break for the warriors den with a departing hiss.

"Geez, what's wrong with her?" Asked Cloverpaw.

"You little demon," Hissed Mudpelt, "You chased her off with your stupid insults! Take your prey and get away from me!"

"Want another scar on your ear?" Cloverpaw retorted as Runningshadow was dragging her away with two robins.

Mudpelt bared his teeth but Runningshadow couldn't hear the last insult coming from him. He let go of Cloverpaw's tail and set the robin down in front of her.

"Cloverpaw, it wasn't Deerstripe's fault that you got a broken leg," Runningshadow reminded her. "You can't just attack her like that just because she's Mudpelt's mate."

"But she was making fun of me and my leg," Cloverpaw mumbled miserably. "She doesn't give two mousetails that her mate attacked me so savagely."

"Cloverpaw, he didn't attack you," Runningshadow told her through a mouthful of robin feathers. "You attacked him. And you were so brave! You were saving me from Mudpelt because he was jealous. Mudpelt should be afraid of you now. And trust me," Runningshadow chuckled, "He has something to remind him!"

Cloverpaw purred. She had given him a deep cut in the ear. That was where his nick had come from. "I guess you're right," She mewed. "I shouldn't worry about a big mouse-brain like Mudpelt!"

Runningshadow laughed and nodded. "Now eat," He mewed. "It'll be good for you."

"Cloverpaw!" Snapped Mossflower as she came trotting over. "What are you doing out here!"

Cloverpaw flattened her ears. "Sorry, Mossflower," She murmured, embarrassed.

Runningshadow stood up. "Mossflower, I dragged her out here to have a little prey with me. Sorry. She'll be right over as soon as she's done," He meowed.

"Okay, but have her back in one piece!" Mossflower growled. "I dunno how mended that leg really is."

"Don't worry," Runningshadow called back to her. He sat back down next to his apprentice.

"Thank you," Cloverpaw mewed. "That was so sweet of you to stick up for me."

Runningshadow smiled and looked into her green eyes. Cloverpaw was looking into his too. Right then, while looking into Cloverpaw's beautiful face, he felt something…great. It was a warm, melty feeling deep in his heart. And he knew what it was, too.

True love.

"Are you just going to sit there staring at Cloverpaw, or are you going to get going?" Hissed a cat.

Runningshadow looked up from his apprentice's face and saw that Pineclaw was standing over him. "Come on, we must go on dawn patrol."

Runningshadow nodded and gave a small lick to Cloverpaw. "Take good care of that leg," He mewed to her, "And don't let Mossflower claw your pelt off!"

Cloverpaw purred and waved to him with her tail.

Runningshadow went after Pineclaw. "Who else is going?" He asked.

"Brindlerose, Strikefoot, Mangoheart and Poisonpaw," Replied Pineclaw. He didn't say any more.

The two cats met up with the other four at the sandy hollow. They all split up in groups: Brindlerose and Mangoheart, Pineclaw and Strikefoot, and Runningshadow and Poisonpaw.

Runningshadow nodded to the apprentice for him to follow. The gray tabby got up and loped steadily after Runningshadow as they headed for the Great Sycamore.

Runningshadow opened his mouth to smell and instantly the scent of squirrel caught on. He got into a hunting crouch and caught sight of the flaming red pelt of the squirrel. He leaped onto the rodent and gave it a huge bite, letting it go limp in his jaws.

Poisonpaw came over to him. "Great catch!" He exclaimed. Runningshadow was stunned at his deeper, more adult-like voice, but then again Poisonpaw was getting old enough to become a warrior.

"Thanks," Runningshadow replied. "Have you found anything yet?"

Poisonpaw nodded. "Yes, I found a mouse and a vole." Had it been that much time already? Perhaps Runningshadow had spent a lot of time analyzing another scent on the air. It had seemed faintly familiar, and he desperately wanted a better way to smell it, but everywhere he went it was of the same strength.

Suddenly, he caught the scent again. Runningshadow tensed and raised his hackles. "What is it, Runningshadow?" Asked Poisonpaw.

"ShadowClan," He growled. "Leave your prey, let's track down the scent. It's headed for camp…the can't be good."

Poisonpaw gasped. "Perhaps they're invading our camp since we didn't let them have our territory!" He yowled. "Hurry, we have to get back to camp!"

Runningshadow nodded and dashed for the nearest camp entrance. That was through the clump of sticky brambles behind the nursery. It was risky, and Runningshadow would be picking the brambles out of his coat for days, but it was worth it.

He hurried past the apple blossom clearing and even ignored two squirrels that were skittering beside each other in plain sight. Every once in a while Runningshadow checked behind to make sure that Poisonpaw was still there, and each time the apprentice was. Good, he thought, no ShadowClan warriors have taken him.

Before he knew it, the two were at the entrance. The ShadowClan scent was prominent and very strong here. Runningshadow could swear he heard brawling cats not far away.

"Okay Poisonpaw," Runningshadow mewed hurriedly, "The only way back into camp is through those brambles. Close your eyes and ignore the bush, it's our only way."

"But I can't!" Poisonpaw mewed. "I don't want to go through there! It's the prickliest bush on ThunderClan territory!"

An idea came into Runningshadow's head. "Fine, if you don't want to go through the bush… can you run fast?"

"Yes, Runningshadow," Poisonpaw mewed. "Very fast. I beat all the apprentices in a race once."

"Really?" Runningshadow replied. "Great job. Anyway, do you think that you could gather all the other cats on the patrol and alert them? I would love for you to do that for me."

"Yes, sir!" Exclaimed Poisonpaw. He seemed greatly happy at not having to go through this bush.

"Do you know where the other two groups are?" Asked Runningshadow.

"Sure do," Poisonpaw replied. "At Snakerocks and Tallpines."

"Good. Go, now, hurry!" Exclaimed Runningshadow, whipping his tail in annoyance.

The apprentice turned around and made a beeline for Snakerocks, where one of the groups was hunting.

Runningshadow trod his way through the thorny bush and tried to get through to the camp. The bloodcurdling cries were very evident now. He felt himself shiver.

Right as he got through the bush, Runningshadow felt like pulling the stinging burrs out of his shaggy winter coat, but he had to help his Clan. Instantly the reek of ShadowClan went up his nose like water. He curled his lip in disgust.

Suddenly, a cat flew out from the shadows and onto Runningshadow. He wailed with fear. So it was true! Hurricanestar was so angry with Ashstar for not sharing her territory that he had gathered his warriors to attack on ThunderClan and invade their camp!

The ShadowClan warrior constantly clawed at the light brown tom, and Runningshadow struggled under the cat's heavy weight. He blindly waved his paws around to find a good clawhold and caught a claw on the cat's ear.

The ShadowClan warrior wailed as Runningshadow shredded its ear and immediately dropped off of Runningshadow as a tick would with mouse bile. It headed for the torn thorn wall.

So that's how they got in, Runningshadow mused. But who led the ShadowClan warriors to the camp?

It could have easily been a rogue, but by now wouldn't they have forgotten where the camp was? Suddenly, a disturbing thought came into Runningshadow's mind. What if it wasn't a rogue or another ShadowClan cat? What if it was a cat of ThunderClan's, who, of all cats, would know the Clan's territory like the back of their paw?

As if Runningshadow couldn't guess who it was! His stomach felt like it was tying itself in knots. How could he have not known this whole time that Mudpelt was betraying them? It was right in front of his nose!

His mind foggy with exhaustion and fury, he didn't even notice that there were five ShadowClan warriors stealthily heading for the nursery. Unfortunately, one of the five were mewling a little too loud and made it so that Runningshadow could detect their nearby presence.

Runningshadow gaped when he saw them. He knew why they were headed for the nursery- this was the best time for ShadowClan to take kits, when there were eleven in the nursery with more coming!

He started to run off after them, but his common sense got the better of him and he turned around to round up some warriors.

"ThunderClan! Help! ShadowClan- the nursery!"

Chasewind was nearby, and pricked his ears. He bounded to Runningshadow's side, staring into his eyes. "I've got your back," Meowed Chasewind.

Runningshadow dipped his head in thanks, speechless. Perhaps that his position of deputy was earning him some respect, especially from the warriors that disliked him. Well, most of the warriors that disliked him. It was great that Runningshadow had another cat that was his ally.

Runningshadow also gathered Thistletail, Spiritwing, and Thornclaw to help him ward off the invaders.

Runningshadow leaped in front of the five cats. And, to his amazement, standing right there, was Skycloud.

Oh noes! Skycloud! What r u doing? Ok, review and u shall get a Shadows plushie collection: all the shadows characters for being such loyal reviewers!! Ok, that's a little too much...ALL The shadows characters in ThunderClan! Even if they're dead! That's right, u get cinnamonpaw and featherstream and stormfeather, all the cats from the first book 2 here! right, even cinderhope! and even A- whoops. Uh...pretend u don't kno who the last cat is, kay?