I know what you're thinking about the last chappie- "Horrible Cliffie". Sorry to keep u hanging so…stupidly.

Oh, and also, I just realized that Thornclaw is actually Stormfeather. Sorry peoples! --; I shall change it now!

Runningpaw gasped. What? The two new warriors had been…killed? Murdered? He innocently swiveled his ears while he finished pulling feathers out of his prey.

"Yes, Mudpelt! It was some kind of cat that killed the warriors! I know it!" Ashstar yowled, replying to Mudpelt's quizzical and horrified look.

"But- but how do you know that it was for sure another cat?" He asked, his voice still in an urgent whisper. "How do you know that it wasn't a predator?"

Ashstar sighed with fury. "I know that it was another warrior, because one of their ribs was practically ripped out of their body!" She spat. Runningpaw noticed that her claws were sheathing and unsheathing with disgust.

"But a badger could do that with ease," Mudpelt argued. "It couldn't possibly be a cat, no cat is hardy enough to actually pull a bone out of a cat that they had just killed!" He growled feebly.

Runningpaw wondered if Mudpelt was just trying to cover for any cat that might have done it- no surprise there. Mudpelt wasn't the sort of cat to just start spitting insults at a cat- he was interested in what the cat had done.

"Mudpelt, why don't you just go and take some prey to the queens. I thank you for your help, but I think I need some help from Cinderhope. He might be able to code this out."

Mudpelt looked horrified. "You mean you're just going to give me apprentice's duties? In case you haven't noticed, I am a warrior now, and have been for about two moons! You think that I will do paltry apprentice's duties just so you can have an excuse to talk to Cinderhope?" He seemed to spit the word "Cinderhope".

Runningpaw stifled a flinch. Mudpelt sure had a lot of gall to stand up- no, speak- to the Clan leader that way. It was one of the most stupid things to do if you wanted to keep your place in the Clan.

Ashstar just sighed. "Mudpelt, you have a point," She started, looking down at her paws, "But we need the most help we can. I mean, I can't deal with so many things at once. I would love the help, Mudpelt."

The dark brown warrior sighed, then gave in. Runningpaw let out a slow sigh of relief at the warrior's reaction. "Yes, Ashstar. I will organize a patrol for Cinderhope immediately," He sneered. He whipped around and bounced to the Highrock, as if it were a privilege to have deputy's duties.

"Being curious won't help you excel," Ashstar mewed, staring off into the distance. "Did you have a question, Runningpaw?"

Runningpaw searched his head for answers, when a perfect excuse came into his head. "Actually, Ashstar, I was wondering if I could speak to you in your den?" He felt his lip curl as he saw Irispetal come curiously bounding up to the leader. "Alone?"

Ashstar nodded and mewed something soft into the she-cat's ear, then set off into her den, ignoring the hurt look in Irispetal's face.

She slowly shouldered her way through the curtain of lichen that sheltered her den. Her pelt looked great in the moonlight as she pushed her way through the rock that had been carved by a river long ago. Ashstar settled herself down on her bed of soft moss and curled her tail around her paws.

"Speak."

Runningpaw gulped. "Well, Ashstar, today when I was out hunting at Snakerocks…" He started. His voice trailed away as he saw the pained face that Ashstar had. "Um, Ashstar, are you okay?" He asked, his sapphire eyes full of sympathy.

The light gray she-cat sighed. "Oh, nothing. Go on," She urged, flicking her tail. Runningpaw winced as he realized that she was hinting annoyance.

Suddenly, a dark brown pelt came in sight and Runningpaw recognized Mudpelt. Was he finished with his duty already?

"Sorry I took so long, Ashstar," Mudpelt meowed apologetically. He bowed his head to her submissively.

Ashstar didn't seem to be moved by the warrior's performance. "That's fine, Mudpelt, but did you rush your duty with the patrol?" She asked softly.

Mudpelt shook his head. "No. Why would I rush? I got to do deputy's duties. Unless you think I'm lying?" He challenged, leveling his amber glare with Ashstar's deep green one.

"No, Mudpelt. But…" The leader's voice trailed away. Runningpaw knew that she was going to say, "But I never invited you into this private conversation," but fortunately Ashstar kept her mouth shut. "Go on, Runningpaw."

The apprentice felt nervous to speak in front of the defiant warrior, but knew that he brought this on himself in asking to have a word with Ashstar. He took a deep breath and went on. "Well, when I was hunting, I smelled something that was unfamiliar." He squared his shoulders and made sure that she was ready for the news. She nodded and flicked her ear in reply. "I scented kittypet."

Smoky gray ears flattened on Ashstar's head and she frowned. "What?"

Runningpaw nodded. "Yeah, I am absolutely sure that it was kittypet. Actually," He mewed, kneading his paws silently. He hoped that his leader didn't see this sign of weakness. But she ignored it and raised her eyebrows. "Actually, Ashstar, I saw the kittypet. At first we started fighting, but-"

"I don't want to know what you did with this kittypet!" Ashstar hissed. She seemed in a hurry. "Just get to the point already!"

Mudpelt nodded and gave Runningpaw a hostile glare, but Ashstar elbowed the warrior and gave him a hard glance.

The apprentice wondered why the leader was so edgy, but didn't dare ask. "Anyway, when we fought, she seemed like a pretty satisfactory fighter." He made sure that he didn't include that the kittypet had beaten him. "And she asked to join the Clan." This wasn't exactly true, as Molly had said that she would think about it. But Runningpaw just said nothing and waited for the leader's response.

At first she was silent for a few heartbeats, and it seemed to take forever before she finally mewed, "Oh. I see."

"So you're trying to tell me is that you didn't get your Clan much prey because you were too busy negotiating with a she-cat! And a kittypet at that!" Spat Mudpelt.

Ashstar glared down at the warrior coldly. "Hush, Mudpelt. Let Runningpaw finish his story."

"So, um…I was wondering if you could maybe put it into consideration…" Runningpaw looked down at his paws nervously. "And…um…give the kittypet at least a chance to join the Clan?"

At first, Ashstar thought that it was a joke. She smirked and started to purr silently, her entire body rumbling with amusement. Mudpelt looked twice as hysterical, his tail flicking back and forth.

Finally, the smoky gray she-cat pulled her act together and spoke. "I see. I…I wonder…"

Mudpelt scoffed. "Are you kidding me? Did you just ask the Clan leader to let a kittypet join our Clan? What would the other Clans think of us, bringing in helpless kittypets to join our Clan! How mouse-brained!" He spat, his hackles raising.

Ashstar tried to quiet the cranky warrior, but he kept going. "Ashstar, what would happen at Gatherings when there are other cats from other Clans around, and we tell them that we have a kittypet in our midst? They would laugh at us for moons! Imagine how the ShadowClan leader would take it! It's practically an invitation to attack us!"

Ashstar dipped her head in thought. She thoughtfully licked a paw and drew it over her ears, then narrowed her emerald eyes. "You have a point, Mudpelt," She mewed, looking ahead her paws at what seemed like nothing.

Runningpaw looked down at his paws with disappointment. True. Mudpelt sure did have a point- it was a dangerous idea to welcome a kittypet into the Clan, as the other three Clans would get angry at them. It was a wonder what it could do on a Clan when the other three Clans were angry at them and when they didn't have an ally to be on familiar ground with.

"But we do need more warriors. ThunderClan had a long, hard leafbare, and not many litters of kits. It has been hard on us, and we have just had two of our newer warriors pass away." She sighed and looked up at the ceiling of the den. "StarClan have shone onto us when they sent us this cat so enthusiastic to be joining the Clan."

Mudpelt shrugged. "I agree... We need more warriors, and it just makes more sense to me because of Leafbare. If Runningpaw wants to practically invite outsiders into our Clan, so be it. But let me warn you," He mewed, his amber eyes drilling into Runningpaw's fur like fire, "That when you invite a kittypet into the Clan, you're only inviting danger into here."

And with that, the dark warrior shouldered his way out of the den. Runningpaw couldn't help but wonder if Mudpelt was trying to take Cinderhope's place so that he could be replaced with the deputy. It would only make sense with the treacherous cat.