~Ashclaw~

Ashclaw paws thundered as he walked along the wet path. His pelt drenched with rain. Scorch padded in beside me, his eyes glistened and he had a smirk on his face.

"This will be a day to remember, this is when Deathclan becomes the most powerful clan in the forest!" He growled. Ashclaws heart was in his stomach. How can i betray my friends? How can i betray Mistyheart? He gulp as the second in command Fang of Deathclan padded up to him. His gaze was calm, but his voice was strong.

"You did well Ash, even though it took longer than most of us thought it would. You will be very high up in the ranks of Deathclan now" Ashclaw didn't say nor move, it felt weird to be called Ash again. Scorch was looking at him with a questioning look. Than he remembered he was supposed to replie.

"Thank you sir" Ashclaw said with a dip of his head.

"That is not all Ash, our lead wishes to speak with you now, before we start the attack" Fang told him with a stern look.

"Yes sir, i shall go right away" Ashclaw had never met the leader before, most cats didn't. The only one that ever saw him was Fang. Ashclaw started up the hill, looking for his leader. He heard a sigh from behind him.

"Ash, you don't know where he is! Let Fang take you there" Scorch said with a growl.

"Oh yea..." Of course i wouldn't know where he is, i don't even know what he looks like! I'm such a mouse-brain! Ashclaw padded back to Fang, who escorted him away from the rest of the patrol. "Where are we going?" Ashclaw asked.

"To our leader, where else would you think" Fang snapped, Ashclaw could tell he was on his last nerve. No matter how much Fang hid it.

"Sorry, i guess i'm just out of sorts, i'v been gone for awhile" Ashclaw mewed.

"I know that! I hope that doesn't and shouldn't change anything Ash!" Fang said with a stern look of warning.

"No, not at all don't worry i think i'm back to normal now" Ashclaw said in a hurry. They walked quietly for awhile, in till Ashclaw broke the silence. "What is the leaders name?"

"Its nothing you need to know" Fang said not even looking at him. Only at the path in front of them.

"But i think i would be able to make a better presentation of myself if i knew his name.."

"Look! I get it you where in there for awhile. But i think you should know and respect my decisions, and you know not to talk back to me! I said it is not information you need to know!" Scorch snapped, his voice was furious.

"Yes, of course sir...I'm sorry sir"

"As you should be... Now we are almost there, i don't want you to say anything in less asked a question. Make sure you are more respectful than you have been, and make sure you speak loudly and clearly" Scorch told him with a nod. "Which i suppose shouldn't be hard for you, since all you have done since you got back is speak out against my wishes" Fang grumbled. As they finally reached a thorn bush, Fang nodded for me to go in. It was dark, and the bushes seemed to go on forever. I saw another cats pair of eyes, they where yellow. And they where looking at me up and down.

"You must be Ash..." A voice said, but i surprised it was a gentle, percussive voice. But what was surprising it wasn't a toms voice at all. But a she-cats.

"Yes, sir...I mean Mame...I mean-" Already making a fool of myself he thought. He heard a laugh beside, was this she-cat laughing at him? He had the urge to unsheathe his claws, but he knew that would be the wrong move. He bet that this cat could rip him to spreads in a second. The cat began circling him, her seemed to have fire deep within them.

"I bet you are wondering why i called you here"

"Yes, mame i em" He began to feel uncomfortable being here. Back when he was only four moons, he would of enjoyed this. He would of taken great honor in this. But that was before...Everything...

"Well first on want to congratulate you" congratulate? She was making it sound like they had already won. Before he could ask her anything about that, she was moving on. "I'm sure Fang already told you, you will in higher ranks now"

"Yes, he did mention it..."

"Well, than that makes everything more easily explained. You are to be third in command of Deathclan. The only cats above you is Fang and myself. Remember that. Don't let anyone else boss you around. I'm sure you will be glad to boss Scorch around" She said with a small laugh.

"But-But, i thought only older warriors where aloud to have that position. And you have to at least train one apprentice, and fought in at least one battle" Ashclaw said, everything seemed to be twirling changing.

"Well, i thought we could make a exception for you. We haven't had a third in command since Red died" Ashclaw remembered Red well. He had died just before Ashclaw had left to Riverclan. Scorch had been trying for that spot ever since Red had died. Ashclaw remembered back to the day he left, Scorch had been trying to kill him in there fight to the battle. It wasn't anything new, most mentors tested there apprentices like that. But Ashclaw knew if he had killed him, than Scorch would of became the third in command easily. "Well aren't you going to say something" the leader spat. Ashclaw shook his head to clear his thoughts.

"Yes, thank mame it...Means a lot to me" he could tell she was smirking.

"Good, now i will see you at the battle. And remember, even those closest to you, can still betray" Was she talking about him and Mistyheart? Was that the target she wanted him to go after? Had she been watching him all this time?