Chapter 3 is up! Thanks to all that reviewed. Hope you like the new chapter!
The next morning all four cats were awakened by Rex and Silver, who came tearing into the alley in the middle of a fight. As they ricocheted off the trash cans Aurora and Tigerstar leaped to one side, while Boulder jumped onto a dumpster on the other. Seeing her chance, Sasha followed him. All of the spies would be caught up in the fight. She could ask Boulder how he escaped!
"What are they fighting about?" asked Boulder curiously, his eyes on Rex and Silver.
"I'm not sure. Some queen, probably. Or maybe over a piece of rubbish they found this morning. You never know."
Boulder shrugged, the tip of his tail flipping back and forth. Sasha took a breath. "So, Boulder, how'd you get out of here?"
His head snapped back towards her and his gaze grew thoughtful. "Why? Are you trying to find a way out too?"
"Just asking," Sasha meowed guardedly.
He scraped his claws as if he did not quite believe her, but he spoke. "Well, I was one of the spies, you know, so no one had a problem with me sneaking around at night. I waited for a really foggy and cloudy evening, so it would be hard for them to scent me, even harder to see me. I went to the main alley, where there's bound to be a rat or two. Once I heard one, I hit the trash can it was hiding behind. It went running out, and I went after it. Only I never came back with it."
Sasha twitched her ears, wondering. True, Scourge would probably be watching for some sort of escape like that again. Would she have a chance if she copied Boulder's move? She glanced back at Tigerstar. "Can you take me with you?" she burst out, before she could stop herself. "You and Tigerstar, I mean?"
Boulder's fur bristled. "I would do it, you know," he meowed falteringly, "But Tigerstar...I don't know. I don't think you could trust him. He would hand you over to Scourge if it was convienent for him."
Sasha glared at him, not believing it. "But will you?" she asked again.
Boulder stared at her, and she carefully turned her blue eyes warm and soft and pleading, waiting for him to melt under them. He finally mewed, "Okay. I'll ask Tigerstar."
Aurora, sick of watching Rex and Silver rip each other bald, leaped down in between them. "All right!" she yowled. "Are you two done yet?"
Being held back by Aurora, the two tomcats began to spit insults at each other. Meanwhile, Boulder spoke quietly to Tigerstar, his tail flicking back at Sasha all the while. She sat back, waiting, her fur bristling with anxiousness but her eyes trained on Tigerstar. She was certain that he would agree.
"Where's Scourge?" It was Fitz. Sasha turned to see the tom, his brown-and-white fur spattered with forest mud, Rodney just behind. They both looked quite pleased with themselves.
"So, what did you find?" Scourge's cold voice broke off Rex and Silver's fight. They crouched side by side, waiting for their leader to appear. Their collars, studded with dog's teeth, flashed in the morning light. Scourge's claws gleamed in the same way as he appeared out of the shadows. Sasha gritted her own teeth. Scourge's dog-teeth-enforced claws always sickened her.
"Go on," he urged Fitz and Rodney. They stepped forward, and Boulder and Tigerstar turned back around. Sasha's felt the dark tabby's stare pass over her, and she lifted her head high. She wondered what Fitz and Rodney would say.
They launched into a description of the forest, including trees, marshes, uplands, a river, and bountiful prey. Their eyes shone as they described all they had caught. "Not a piece of Twoleg rubbish in sight!" meowed Rodney excitedly. He turned to Tigerstar. "His offer is good, Scourge," he meowed earnestly. "We should take it."
"And the forest cats?" growled Scourge. "Will they be easily beaten?"
"They are lean and strong from the wild," Fitz admitted. "But it's clear that the cold winds weaken them."
"Is the smell of dog in the territory? Anywhere?" It was Tigerstar that asked the question, and Rodney looked at him in surprise. "No," he answered. "Well, a bit, in one place, but it's filled with snakes. There aren't any cats there."
(A/N: This takes place after Tigerstar put the dogs in ThunderClan, but before they attack the camp)
An unreadable expression crossed Tigerstar's face. "I need to return to the forest soon, Scourge," he informed the black cat.
Scourge's eyes flashed. "Fine, then, Tigerstar," he meowed. "I will think on this. It sounds as if your offer is genuine. But is it worth it?" He broke off into a low growl. "I will be in your territory myself in four suns time. Then you will have your answer."
"Good." Tigerstar seemed pleased. "I will leave, then."
He turned to the end of the alley, Boulder at his shoulder. As he passed, he brushed Sasha, and she didn't miss his hissed whisper. "Be in this alley at sunset."