Ashstar bristled. "No way!" She hissed. All traces of the warm glitter in her eyes had dissolved now that she had heard the outrageous request.
"We cannot trudge out into the wilderness of our own territory just to suit your needs!" Runningpaw supported. Ashstar gazed down at her apprentice gratefully.
"And give us one reason why you shouldn't!" Hurricanesong dared to say. "ShadowClan is suffering and can't get enough food to eat. We are having troubles all around…we need all of the Clan's help!" He hissed.
"And that gives you permission to come trudging into our territory?" Ashstar snapped back.
"Actually, yes it does! ShadowClan needs your help! Our kits are starving, our elders are dying, our apprentices and warriors are getting weak! We need all of the prey we can get our claws on!"
"I completely understand," Ashstar mewed serenely but urgently. "But if you wanted to hunt in our territory, you should have told ThunderClan ahead of time! If you just told us your concerns at a Gathering, I surely would let you!"
"But that is the problem! We didn't want to share our weakness at the Gathering so that no cats would no we were weak. They would attack us for sure!"
"ShadowClan?" Runningpaw dared say. "Why would they want to come and beat on ShadowClan? Aren't the rest of the Clans practically scared of ShadowClan?"
Hurricanesong looked defeated. His shoulders sagged and his head hang low. His amber eyes were no longer gleaming with the heat of battle, but dull and melancholy.
"Listen," He mumbled desperately. "W- we need prey. Please," He pleaded. He looked up at Ashstar with saddened eyes.
Runningpaw held his breath and looked at Ashstar. At first she was silent, and kept looking into Hurricanesong's eyes. They did indeed look sad and pleading.
"You are a dirty liar, Hurricanesong," Ashstar hissed softly.
Hurricanesong frowned. "What in the world do you mean, Ashstar?" He asked with an honest-to-StarClan accent. As if he was innocent! He had just tried to capture the leader and ambushed an apprentice! Plus was hunting in ThunderClan territory!
"I mean that you are lying to me. You are trying to make it look like you are so poor and need prey." Ashstar scoffed. "Well, I won't take any of this. I'm not hunting you most of our prey, no questions asked." Ashstar started to stride right past the ShadowClan patrol carelessly.
Suddenly, a flash of black rushed past the rest of them, making the grass whip Runningpaw's flank. A shocked yowl came from Ashstar.
Hurricanesong had landed right on Ashstar and was busy clawing at her spine. Runningpaw gaped and leaped over to the warrior, nipping at his feet and heels to get him off. Hurricanesong hissed and ignored him, but kept fighting.
Ashstar was putting up a pretty good fight, actually. She plunged Hurricanesong into the ground and got off of him, giving him enough time to get up. But right as the tom was getting up, she slipped right under him, kicking hard with her hind paws.
Hurricanesong got the wind knocked out of him and he landed right at the paws of the rest of the patrol. The ShadowClan cats looked at the two with worried eyes and slipped off, their tails getting out of sight in moments, Hurricanesong following them as soon as he gained his breath back.
Runningpaw beamed up at Ashstar. "That was wonderful fighting!" He exclaimed excitedly. He had no idea that his leader could fight that well.
"Well, I am the leader and I have to know how to protect my Clan," Ashstar snapped. She probably was still irritable about the ShadowClan intruders. "Now let's go, the whole reason why we're here is to find that kittypet!" She hissed.
Runningpaw's heart sank. Perhaps Ashstar didn't like the idea of bringing a kittypet into the Clan.
Maybe it wasn't a good idea. Besides, the rest of the cats wouldn't include her in almost anything, let alone take pride in being her mentor. But Runningpaw remembered Molly- she was pretty and muscular and strong for seven moons. She would fit in perfectly.
"Well, at least you fought well, Runningpaw," Ashstar mewed kindly. "You were the one that set me free, and I am very grateful. I think that you should become a warrior when we get back."
"Really?" Runningpaw gasped. That would be great! He would get to be a warrior! He wouldn't be an apprentice his whole life! "Oh- th-thank you, that would be an honor, Ashstar!"
"But I didn't say that I would make you a warrior when we get back," Ashstar mewed, a bit more serious this time. "If you prove yourself worthy to become a warrior, then you will be sleeping in the warrior's den tonight."
Runningpaw frowned. He might become a warrior. It wasn't a very good possibility, but he might. Might, thought Runningpaw. Might is a stupid word. Why did the word might have to be created?
But he shook his head arrogantly, wouldn't let his thoughts overwhelm him, and followed Ashstar out of the bloody spot. This time he made sure that he was going at a brisk pace so that he could see the leader.
But would Ashstar keep him an apprentice…forever?