CHAPTER SEVEN:

The Hunt for Shroudclaw

Leafdapple woke up and got up. He had duties to do all the time so he couldn't just sit there and rest in the morning like the other warriors. Being deputy was hard work and Leafdapple loved every second of it.

Dapplepaw, Fernleaf, and Snowpaw were already awake so Leafdapple decided to send them on the dawn patrol, even though it was a little after dawn. He told them and a few moments after they left Sandstar walked out of her den. Leafdapple approached her. "Are we going to send more patrols to look for signs of ShroudClan?" he asked her.

Sandstar looked at him gravely. "That's not working. They are not stupid, Leafdapple. They don't just sit around in our territory waiting for us to find them and punish them. They are out in other territories, Twolegplace, or some other land, waiting for unsuspecting cats to come across them."

"What are you saying?" asked Leafdapple. He had a guess of what she was implying but she hoped he was wrong.

"I think we should gather a group of cats, two from each Clan, and search until they find ShroudClan. Then they attack and kill them, unless some of them want to rejoin the Clans. It's their choice." Sandstar mewed.

He was right.

"And do you think the other Clans will go along with this?" Leafdapple asked. "Sending out warriors to find a group of cats that a murderous?"

"I think they would do it for the sake of their Clans." Sandstar mewed. "Now I want you and Poppyseed to go to each of the other Clans and begin the patrol."

"You want it to start today?" Leafdapple asked, a little bit baffled. They were short of warriors already and now he had to pick another warrior to come with him. Shroudclaw could attack while AshClan was so vulnerable, without deputy, medicine cat, and missing a warrior. "Do you think that's wise, Sandstar? Plus it's the night of the Gathering!"

"I guess you and Gorsefur will have to miss this Gathering." Sandstar mewed. Leafdapple wondered why she had picked Gorsefur. He was a new warrior, having his ceremony only a moon ago.

"If you say so, Sandstar." Leafdapple mewed. "I'll be off then."

He got Poppyseed and Gorsefur, explaining the situation to them. They were about to cross the StrayClan border when they heard a shout. "Hey, Leafdapple!" Leafdapple looked up to see Russettail, the StrayClan deputy, with Marshclaw and Highwing behind him, running toward the border.

They got to the border and caught their breath quickly. "What are you doing trying to walk into your territory?"

"We need to talk to Skystar." Leafdapple mewed. "It's really important."

"If you say so." Russettail mewed. He started to lead to them to the StrayClan camp. Leafdapple wondered why the StrayClan deputy let them enter his territory so freely without a proper explanation. He pushed the thought out of his mind as the scent of StrayClan cats got stronger.

In a matter of seconds they entered the StrayClan camp and were met by Skystar. "What are you doing with these AshClan cats?" the leader asked Russettail.

"They need to talk to you." the deputy replied. "It's very important."

Skystar beckoned them to come into his den. They followed him and sat down in his down. "Now what's all this about?" asked Skystar.

"Sandstar wants to send a patrol out to find Shroudclaw's group." Leafdapple mewed. "She said we could get two cats from every Clan and send a patrol out to find them and kill them."

"That's a good idea." Skystar mewed.

Is he mad? Leafdapple asked himself. "Are you sure you want to do this?" Leafdapple asked the leader. "It will endanger your warrior's lives." If the other Clans refused then maybe Sandstar would abandon the idea.

"Yes. I will send Whitebrush and Marshclaw with you." Skystar mewed. He stood up and walked outside. The AshClan cats followed. The leader fetched the two warriors and told them the plan. They looked excited.

"Let's get going." Leafdapple mewed. "We still have to drop Poppyseed off back at AshClan and go to both SkyClan and BrambleClan."

"I can get myself back to the camp." Poppyseed defended herself.

"Okay." Leafdapple mewed getting the patrol started again.

The were silent for a long time, Poppyseed leaving when we neared the border. All was silent until they got to the border with SkyClan. "Should we wait for a patrol?" asked Whitebrush.

"No." Leafdapple replied. "This is urgent. They'll understand." They didn't get far into the territory before they were stopped by a patrol.

"What is AshClan and StrayClan doing as a patrol on our territory?" demanded Ashstripe.

"We need to talk to Brackenstar." Leafdapple mewed.

"Very well." Ashstripe scowled. "But don't try anything funny."

They went to the SkyClan camp and were met by a barracade of odd looks. Leafdapple heard a hiss from the elder's den. "That smells like AshClan and StrayClan! Are they attacking?"

Leafdapple ignored it and noticed Brackenstar and Duststripe walking towards them.

"What is it, Leafdapple?" he asked.

"We should talk in private." Leafdapple mewed.

They went into Brackenstar's den and sat down. Leafdapple went right to buisness. "Sandstar wants to have a patrol to find Shroudclaw." he mewed.

"Who's Shroudclaw?" Brackenstar asked.

Leafdapple was dumbfounded. He never thought that maybe SkyClan hadn't known that Shroudclaw was responsible for anything bad. Maybe they still thought that AshClan did it. Or nothing had happened at all.

"He's a former AshClan warrior who former a group to ruin AshClan's reputation so the other Clans will attack us and he'll take over." Leafdapple explained quickly.

"And why would I care?" Brackenstar asked.

"Because he's killed a kit in AshClan, an apprentice in BrambleClan, and an apprentice in StrayClan. Your next, unless we can stop him." Leafdapple mewed.

Brackenstar thought for a minute. "What do you think, Duststripe?" he asked the deputy.

"I think we should send cats with them." Duststripe mewed. "If the other Clans are threatened we should be threatened as well."

"Very well." Brackenstar mewed. "Go tell Stormsky and Honeystripe about the patrol and tell them that they'll be leaving immediately so they should say their goodbyes now."

Duststripe nodded and ran out of the den.

"So, where will this patrol be going?" asked Brackenstar.

"Across all of the territories, in twolegplace, and beyond anywhere we've been." Leafdapple explained. "We don't really have any idea where they could be at all."

"I see." Brackenstar mewed. "Well, I wish you all great luck in finding Shroudclaw."

Leafdapple dipped his head to the SkyClan leader and walked out of the den. Stormsky and Honeystripe were already ready to leave so they got on their way to BrambleClan right away.

Stormsky and Honeystripe talked to the other Clan cats but Leafdapple never bothered to respond. Gorsefur always covered for him saying, "He's just thinking, don't take it the wrong way."

Eventually they got to BrambleClan territory. This time they weren't confronted by a patrol until they were very close to camp. Skyheart led the patrol. "Greetings, Leafdapple." he noticed the many Clans in front of him. "What are you doing here with StrayClan and SkyClan?"

"We need to speak with Tomstar. You may here it as well but it's more of a private matter. As in not for warriors' ears." Leafdapple mewed.

Skyheart led them into the camp. Tomstar was talking to another warrior when he noticed the group of mixed Clans walking into his camp. "What are they doing here?" he asked Skyheart.

"They need to talk to us." Skyheart mewed.

Tomstar invited them into his den and they sat down. Leafdapple explained Sandstar's idea to the BrambleClan leader. Tomstar thought for a few moments then spoke. "I will send Tigerstripe and Stormclaw."

"Shall I go tell them?" asked Skyheart.

"Yes." Tomstar mewed. "Tell them they have two minutes to say their final goodbyes and such."

Skyheart nodded walking out of the den. Tomstar led the patrol into the clearing where they waited for the final two members of their patrol to join them. Tigerstripe and Stormclaw came after a few moments and the patrol went off.

The search for Shroudclaw had begun.