Monster

The rain continued through the night and into the next morning. But by sunhigh, the clouds began to clear. A somber air hung over the clearing as the clan waited for news of their leader. A moon had passed since the two brothers had visited Princess. Graystripe had fallen though the ice once, chasing after a water vole. The striped warrior had to stay in camp by Yellowfang's orders, though he had disappeared several times.

Nightfrost had been meeting Red from time to time; each time, he was hunting near the Twolegplace. The red loner was excited to learn more about the clan ways from Nightfrost. The same black tom was now in camp, waiting for the news as he carried prey to the fresh-kill pile from his apprentice's hunting assessment. His apprentice, Swiftpaw, took a vole to the elder's den.

Suddenly the lichen at Bluestar's den twitched and Frostfur burst through. She raced across the clearing to Yellowfang's den and reappeared within moments with the medicine cat behind her.

Fireheart bounded over to Bluestar's den just as Frostfur and Yellowfang pushed through the hanging lichen. He stopped outside and sat down, his face full of worry.

Nightfrost padded to him just as Frostfur poked her head out of the lichen.

"What's wrong?" Fireheart asked, his voice trembling.

Frostfur closed her eyes. "She has greencough," she told him bleakly. "Stand watch and make sure no one comes inside." She ducked back inside.

Fireheart sat there motionless, shock shown in his face. Nightfrost mewed to Fireheart, trying to get him out of it.

A sharp yowl outside the camp made both brothers turn and look toward the gorse tunnel. Dustpaw exploded into the clearing and skidded to a halt beside Fireheart. "I've come from Tigerclaw," he panted. "I have a message for Bluestar."

"She's sick," Fireheart replied. "You can't go in."

Dustpaw flicked his tail impatiently. "Tigerclaw needs to see her at the Thunderpath. It's very urgent."

"What's wrong?"

Dustpaw glared at him. "Tigerclaw asked for Bluestar," he sneered. "Not some kittypet pretending to be a warrior!"

Fireheart unsheathed his claws. "Bluestar can't leave the camp," he growled. He flattened his ears and moved so that he blocked the entrance to his leader's den.

"Fireheart is right." Yellowfang's rough meow sounded behind him. She had come out of Bluestar's den.

Dustpaw looked at the medicine cat, shrinking beneath her orange gaze. "Tigerclaw has found evidence of Shadowclan warriors in our territory," he meowed. "They've invaded our hunting grounds!"

Fireheart turned to the apprentice, shocked and angry at the news. He curled his lips. "But we've done so much for them!"

Yellowfang, however, wasn't interested in Dustpaw's report. She turned to Fireheart, her eyes filled with urgency. "Fireheart," she meowed. "Tell me, do you know whether there is any catnip in the Twolegplace?"

"Catnip?" Fireheart echoed.

"I need it for Bluestar," Yellowfang explained. "It's an herb I haven't used for moons, but I think it will help her. It has soft leaves and an irresistible scent…."

Fireheart interrupted her. "Yes, I know where to find some!"

"Good," replied Yellowfang. "I need as much as you can carry, and fast."

"What about Tigerclaw?" demanded Dustpaw.

Nightfrost turned to him. "I will go to see Tigerclaw."

Dustpaw's eyes flashed. "But he wants Bluestar to see the evidence for herself. Shadowclan has left the remains of fresh-kill on our side of the Thunderpath!"

Yellowfang silenced him with a growl. "Bluestar doesn't need to see the evidence," she rasped. "The word of her deputy ought to be enough. Now, where is Tigerclaw?"

"Beside the burned ash tree that overhangs the Thunderpath," Dustpaw replied sulkily.

Nightfrost nodded and hurried to the smelly path. He opened his mouth wide and followed it, reaching a small stripe of narrow land between a tree and the path. "Where is Tigerclaw? His scent is right here."

He clamped his mouth shut as he realized exactly where he is standing, his eyes soon widening at the sound of a roar from a monster. Out of instinct from the time he was the Bloodclan leader, he jumped as high as he could onto the tree bark. Nightfrost stayed there before realizing he was clinging to the ash tree, not one of those cold stone walls or fences. He clawed his way swiftly to the high branches and perched there, as the monster roared passed by.

Tigerclaw padded out of the bushes close to the Thunderpath but far enough to be safe. The deputy padded out as he looked around, his eyes narrowed at the empty spot where as certain cat should have been. Tigerclaw sniffed on that thin stripe and looked around. "Nightfrost! Nightfrost! Where are you?!"

The warrior curled his lip and waited for the deputy to pad away from that spot to the safe ground of the forest before pouncing. Tigerclaw rolled and was about to counter attack when he noticed the attacker was him.

"What are you doing, Nightfrost?! Attacking your own clan member is treason!"

"Treason?! Then why were you not there at the spot where your scent was?!"

The deputy simply seem calm. "I was not at the spot because it was dangerous. You could have very easily looked for my scent, but instead you stopped there."

"Lier! Your scent leads there too! If you didn't plan this, you would have waited before the scent trail ends!"

Nightfrost decided to calm himself and lowered his fur. "Two can play in this."

"I'm sorry. I should have thought about this. It won't have ended there."

Nightfrost dipped his head as Tigerclaw nodded.

"Are you alright? You almost got hit by that monster back there."

You're the real monster here." "Yes. Luckily, I had a few incidents back at the Twolegplace similar this, so I know what to do."

Tigerclaw blinked and nodded. "We should teach our apprentices how to make a quick escape from dangerous creatures if they cannot fight back," the deputy thought aloud and padded away.

When the thick brown tail disappeared, he padded back to the stripe and took a quick sniff to make sure. Tigerclaw's scent had ended there. Perhaps he made it by stopping there and jumped to the bushes. Nightfrost hissed as he padded back to camp. He should tell Fireheart.

Figure it'd be better to do this way since its the first time I've done polls.

Sandstorm-4

Cinderpelt-4

Spottedleaf-2

You should know where to vote now, seeing all the fuss I did in the earlier chapter. I wonder who read all the way to the bottom in the chapter "Princess". lol