Runningshadow was even more surprised than when Ashstar had said that his father was alive. "What did you just say?" He asked, trying to clarify the reality of what his leader had just said.

"I said that your father is a traitor. To ThunderClan."

Runningshadow shook his head. "No. No, he isn't!" He yowled. "My father was a noble cat, he died, supposedly, for a noble cause!"

The young warrior scoffed. "Then if he's alive, where is he now?"

"No cat knows," Ashstar meowed gravely. "Some cats describe him as a 'roving male'. That means that-"

"That my father was just a rogue, an outcast that goes to every Clan and picks up lonely she-cats!" Spat Runningshadow. "So what does that mean? That means that I'm just an unwanted result of my father rolling around with random she-cats!"

"That is not true!" Cried Ashstar. "You are not unwanted, you're the best cat in my Clan! I bet that your father would be proud of you if he just stayed here!"

"No he wouldn't! And that's because I'm just the accidental result of- of sexual activity between my father and my mother, who was a perfectly loyal ThunderClan cat!"

"Yes, Runningshadow, he would!" Ashstar yowled. "Get off of the subject. I should have never told you, you were never ready."

"And my mother is dead because of my father too!" Runningshadow spat. "Roving males just get it on with random she-cats and then they kill them! What a…a piece of fox-dung! Why is he even worth anything?"

"All four Clans are keeping an eye out for your father," Ashstar said coolly. "They're examining their kits for any marks of your father!"

Runningshadow nodded. Some voice inside him told himself to calm down, to quit thinking about his living father that had…killed his mother and any other poor unfortunate she-cat to fall into his trap.

"What's his name?" He asked.

"His name?" Asked Ashstar. "His name is Crimsonstone."

Runningshadow nodded. "Oh yeah? Crimsonstone?" He asked. "Well, I promise you, Crimsonstone, that I'll track you down like a cat and its prey! And when I do, I promise that the last cat he'll ever see is me!" He snarled.

"Runningshadow, calm down, everything is okay," Ashstar mewed. "He is somewhere in some secluded land, looking for more she-cats. She isn't in this forest anymore, just don't worry." Ashstar felt sudden guilt rush over her for telling lies. But she had to, right? She didn't' want this wonderful, strong and loyal young warrior to go in the wrong path- the path of murder.

Suddenly, another cat rushed into the den, brittle lichen hanging from the entrance crackling. It was Summerheart, and she had blood all over herself. "ShadowClan," she huffed. "Attack!"

Ashstar stood up immediately. "Runningshadow, this is your chance. Today, your goal isn't to get angry over your father, but avenge him by being the best warrior you can be. Put the past behind you and think about your Clan."

"But this isn't the past, Ashstar," Runningshadow dared mew. "This is the present. And my father, Crimsonstone, is still out there, is still living. There is no way that I can prove myself from what he done and is doing."

Ashstar nodded. "But Runningshadow, yes there is. Get out there and fight, defend your Clan. I know that Crimsonstone never did that."

Runningshadow nodded. She was right- this was the way that he could prove himself better than his father to the cats that knew it- he wasn't just some other kit that was made from a traitor- he was Runningshadow, warrior of ThunderClan!

He pushed his way out of the den and followed Summerheart to where the ShadowClan cats were fighting.

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

It was chaotic outside the den. Howls and screeches of fighting cats filled the air- it wasn't pleasant.

Runningshadow dashed into the clearing and hurled himself on the first cat he saw, a ginger one. He leaped on top of the ginger tom and raked his claws down his back. The ShadowClan tom howled, but didn't flee.

The ShadowClan warrior flipped Runningshadow over, knocking the breath out of him. Runningshadow winced and tried to get the warrior off, but it was too heavy to kick.

Slowly, very slowly, Runningshadow felt the breath leaving him... This is dying, he thought gravely.

The ginger cat's shoulder was digging into Runningshadow's throat, and there was absolutely no hope for him.

So much for defending my Clan! Thought Runningshadow bitterly.

Suddenly, a brown shape hurled through the air and flew on top of the warrior, clawing at its soft belly. The ginger tom squealed like a kit and took himself off of Runningshadow.

The young warrior looked up to see who had saved him and was surprised to see who it was. Molly! He beamed at the former kittypet.

"Molly!" He cried with joy. "How did you do that? You were…you were so brave!"

She shrugged. "Well, I heard the fighting going on and I saw you were getting nearly choked by that big thing." Her eyes rolled. "I just remembered what I did fighting you, only this cat was bigger and scarier."

Runningshadow dipped his head. "Thank you. Can you help us? I mean, you are a part of ThunderClan now."

Molly nodded. "Right!" She mewed brightly, and skipped off to where Summerheart was, trying to heave a ShadowClan tom off of her.

Almost suddenly, Runningshadow felt another tom bowl into him. He skidded across camp and back onto his paws, ignoring the rain that started to pound down onto his back.

He searched around for whoever had knocked him over, instantly smelling ShadowClan. But there was another scent under that…it was…ThunderClan? What cat would have two scents on his fur?

Runningshadow looked around frantically until his eyes rested on a cat right in front of him, glaring at him. His ice-blue eyes widened and his heart sank at what he saw.

It was Skycloud.