CHAPTER THREE:

AshClan Apologizes

Sandstar had just gotten back from looking for the missing kit and they found Strongkit's dead body washed up along the river. Irontail had taken it badly. But she couldn't worry about it. She wondered who would murder a kit like that. Then she remembered that Shroudclaw had been awake when Irontail had went looking for Strongkit. Could he be the danger?

I think I'll have a little talk with Shroudclaw, Sandstar thought. She headed toward the medicine cat's den to discuss it with her medicine cat first. "Poppyseed!" she called.

"Yes, Sandstar?" asked Poppyseed. "What's going on?"

"Strongkit is dead." Sandstar mewed. "He was thrown into the river."

Poppyseed's eyes went wide with horror and shock. "Do you mean murdered?"

"Yes." Sandstar mewed sadly. "And I think Shroudclaw is responsible."

Poppyseed was equally surprised by this. "But Shroudclaw has always been a very loyal warrior! I don't think you're thinking about this rationally."

"He was the only cat awake at the time of the murder." Sandstar mewed. "I would love to believe that he wasn't responsible but the evidence is right in front of our eyes."

"They only evidence is that he was awake!" Poppyseed hissed. "It could've been a rogue or a cat from another Clan!"

"There was no scent besides AshClan near the Nursery." Sandstar mewed. "And I had a dream last night before Irontail woke me up." Sandstar didn't know if she was suppposed to tell Poppyseed but she knew this was the only way to convince Poppyseed. "An old AshClan leader came to me and told me that cats of this Clan are trying to kill me and that they are going to do terrible things to the Clan first. And I think Strongkit's death was the first."

Suddenly Sunclaw ran into the den. "Shroudclaw just took a few warriors to attack BrambleClan!"

"Thanks for telling me." Sandstar nodded. Sunclaw looked surprised by how calm she was but walked out. "And I think this is the second."

"How?" Poppyseed asked.

"Shroudclaw is going to ruin our reputation by attack the other Clans, or at least BrambleClan. So, I say we apologize to BrambleClan personally tomorrow and make things right." Sandstar replied.

"That's sounds great." Poppyseed mewed. "Now, let's go deal with Shroudclaw."

{THE NEXT MORNING}Poppyseed opened her eyes. She remembered what was in store for them today. Poppyseed stood up and gathered all the traveling herbs they would need. She ate hers and went out of the den to give Sandstar hers.

But Sandstar was leaping on the Highstump already to call a meeting. "All cat who are still loyal come meet with me in the clearing by the Highstump." Sandstar changed the words from the regular gathering. All the cats except the cats who had went with Shroudclaw came out. They had been punished by not being allowed to leave their dens except to eat and patrol.

"Poppyseed and I are going to travel to the BrambleClan camp. After Shroudclaw led an unprovoked attack on BrambleClan the least we can do is try to make peace. We do not want war." Sandstar mewed.

"Leafdapple is in charge while we're gone and Sunclaw will be backup deputy just in case." Sandstar continued. "Come, Poppyseed. We will leave now."

"Yes, Sandstar." Poppyseed mewed, forgetting about the traveling herbs.

The walked out of camp and across their territory.

{AT THE BRAMBLECLAN BORDER} "We'll have to wait for a border patrol." Sandstar mewed. They waited for a few moments and then a patrol came.

Skyheart, the BrambleClan deputy, lead a patrol to the border.

"Hello, Sandstar. What brings you so close to our territory again?" asked Skyheart.

"I am deeply sorry for my warriors. I have come to talk to Tomstar and apologize personally to all whom were involved." Sandstar mewed.

Skyheart thought a minute. "Okay, come with us." The patrol led them down a path. Poppyseed was aware of a gray she-cat staring at them.

"Quit staring, Graystone." Skyheart mewed, noticing his warriors strange behavior. "No Clan is stupid enough to show up with two cats, let alone one being a medicine cat, and attacking."

"Sorry." Graystone mumbled.

"Don't scold her too hard." Sandstar mewed. "I'd be causious as well."

Graystone was smiled at the AshClan leader. Poppyseed wondered how long it would take to get to camp. A minute later they reached the BrambleClan camp and a kit started running toward them.

"Trespassers!" the kit was older but wasn't an apprentice yet. "They smell like the cats that tried to kill Emeraldkit yesteryday! the kit growled.

"My warriors tried to kill a kit?" Sandstar mewed, shocked. Poppyseed wondered if she remembered how hard she had tried to persuade Poppyseed that Shroudclaw had killed Strongkit.

"Sadly, yes." Tomstar mewed walking up. "What are you doing here?"

"Yeah, trespassers!" the kit growled. "What are you doing here?"

"Quiet, Sparrowkit!" a queen rushed up and shooed the kit away.

"We are here to apologize for my warriors behavior yesterday." Sandstar mewed.

Tomstar thought for a minute, wondering if he should keep the AshClan cats in his camp. "So, why was it your warriors attacked us yesterday and almost killed an innocent kit?"

"I did not send them. A warrior name Shroudclaw decided to attack." Sandstar mewed.

"And what happened to Shroudclaw?" Tomstar asked. "How did you punish him?"

"Him and his followers are stuck in the warriors den. They can not come out except for patrols and to eat." Sandstar mewed.

Tomstar shook his head. "If I were you I'd tried for a better punishment because that just gives them more chance to discuss ways to overthrow you."

"Intriguing thought." Sandstar mewed. "I will take this into consideration." Sandstar thought of what to say next. "Is the kit that Shroudclaw tried to kill okay?" she asked.

"Yes." Tomstar mewed. "But I want you to apologize to him in person so he no longer needs to be scared."

Sandstar nodded. "I planned on doing that."

The kit came out. He looked scared. "Hello." Sandstar greeted the kit. "I'm not going to hurt you. I'm here to apologize. Yesterday something bad happened and I want you to know that the warrior that did that will never get to you. His name is Shroudclaw and I assure you Shroudclaw will be locked up in his den for a long time."

The kit looked less frightened. "Thank you." he squeaked.

"I thank you as well, Sandstar." Airpelt mewed. "Now my kit won't be afraid anymore."

"My pleasure." Sandstar dipped her head to the queen. "I just wanted to make sure our Clans wouldn't get into a needless dispute. And if you don't mind Poppyseed and I are going to go back to AshClan now."

"Okay, Sandstar." mewed Tomstar. "See you at the next Gathering. May StarClan light your path!" he called after them.

"You too!" she called back as Skyheart and Forestpelt led them back to their territory.