Chapter 15

One moon seemed to fly by. No cat was really looking forward to meeting this so-called "BloodClan"…but it was a choice between survival or death. Every animal's natural instinct was to survive. So at dawn Burtail distributed strength herbs between cats—" Just to be sure" she had said—and the warriors set out to Fourtrees.

" Goodness, I hope BloodClan is nicer than they sound!" Bluefire exclaimed.

RiverClan stopped at the ridge and looked down into Fourtrees. Three cats sat waiting.

" Somehow I don't think they are," Ashwinter replied.

Leopardstar signaled her Clan and they plunged down. Leopardstar stood in front of Tigerstar. Next to him was a small black tom with one white paw and pale yellow eyes-- "like the sun behind thin clouds" Ashwinter observed—and beside him was a bulky white and black tom. Each wore a kittypet collar—studded with teeth. Cat teeth.

" I think your right, Ashwinter," Bluefire whispered.

" Unfortunately, so do I," she meowed back.

Dustrise and Winterfury padded up and stood next to the she-cats.

" I don't like the looks of these cats," Winterfury commented. Dustrise nodded.

" Greetings, Leopardstar." Tigerstar dipped his head.

" And to you, Tigerstar." She replied.

" I would like you to meet the BloodClan leader and Deputy. Scourge and Bone," Tigerstar gestured towards the small black cat then the massive one. The small black tom stepped forwards.

" I am Scourge, leader of BloodClan. I thank RiverClan for joining us. I promise you have made the right choice." The tom meowed with quiet authority.

' His voice is so smooth…he doesn't seem all that bad,'

Leopardstar dipped her head. " Nice to meet you, Scourge and Bone,"

" Yes, quite. I am grateful, really I am, but BloodClan expects a…small payment for your joining," Scourge meowed.

Leopardstar stiffened. " What payment do you speak of?"

A flash of amusement flickered in Scourge's eyes. " That has yet to be decided," he replied.

" Then I will ask you to be reasonable in your reque—"

Scourge whipped out his claws—also lengthened by teeth and claws—and ripped them across Whitetail's throat. She gasped in shock before keeling over, never to move again. The rest of RiverClan watched in horror.

" No cat will ever ask anything of me! I make my own decisions, and anyone who disagrees will be cut down like the Twolegs do to trees!" he hissed. Bone grunted his agreement.

" Oh, great StarClan…she just happened to be closest…" Bluefire gasped.

Leopardstar nodded to Scourge. " Then you may take what is ours and we will not ask for anything in return,"

Scourge sat back down next to Bone. " Good. Be ready…soon I will come to your camp and take whatever I like as your payment,"

Tigerstar's amber gaze hovered over Leopardstar. " You have met BloodClan. Take your dead and go."

Leopardstar didn't need to make any signals. Aspenmoon and Blackfeather picked up Whitetail's body and followed their Clan out of Fourtrees. Honeymallow stopped at the top of the ridge and looked back down. Ashwinter padded up to her.

" Are you alright?" she asked.

" Yes…yeah, I'm fine…those cats are creepy!" Honeymallow's voice shook.

" Yes, I agree…let's go before we get left behind!" Ashwinter pushed Honeymallow lightly with her muzzle. Hearing voices back down, she pricked her ears.

"…Have you chosen what you will take from RiverClan?" Tigerstar was asking.

" Yes. But let it stay as a surprise to you, Tigerstar," Scourge's honey-smooth voice replied.

Ashwinter let her ears lay flat, not wanting to hear more.

Padding through the woven-reed entrance, Ashwinter walked between Bluefire and Honeymallow, trying in vain to calm both her friends down. Leopardstar leaped to the Hightree. The cats gathered beneath it as soon as they were in camp.

" RiverClan, we have met a band of ruthless cats. We may think BloodClan is nothing more than a mangy band of rouges and have-been kittypets from Twoleg place. In a sense, we are right, but we must realize these cats will shred anyone who defies them to bits. Already over the course of one moon we have lost two great warriors. We cannot afford to lose more. Expect anything when Scourge arrives for something to seal our loyalty," Leopardstar meowed. She jumped down and disappeared into her den. " My warriors, take this day to calm down. I want one hunting patrol and two border patrols go out today," she instructed.

" Blackfeather, Bluefire, Winterfury! You go out to hunt. Russetclaw and Honeymallow, take Yellowpaw and Flamepaw out to patrol the ThunderClan border. Echosong, Skyleaf, Burnpelt and Darkflower, patrol the WindClan border and meet up with Russetclaw's patrol on the ShadowClan border." Stonepelt ordered. The three patrols raced out of camp. Ashwinter settled down in the shade of the Hightree. Dustrise lay down next to her.

" Are you alright?" he asked.

" Of course I'm alright," she mumbled.

" Right. Just making sure."

" Thanks."

" I want you to know, we will get through this. Whatever happens, I'll be there for you," Dustrise mewed.

' Random…Does he sound awkward?'

Ashwinter looked up at him, and he looked down at her.

" I know. And I'll be there for you, just like any good friend, " she replied.

" Yeah, uh, like…friends."

" We better get to sleep. Just to be prepared," Ashwinter sighed.

" Okay," Dustrise followed her into the warrior's den.

Ashwinter curled up, tail over her nose, and tried to fall asleep, although it was difficult. Dustrise breathed slowly next to her. She was still awake when the cats from the patrols padded in and fell asleep. Finally, sleep overcame Ashwinter and she closed her heavy eyelids.