Chapter 8

                Crazyheart organized the patrols as soon as the Clan arrived back at stone hollow. “Moonstripe will lead the dawn patrol to the WindClan border with Roseleaf, Petalfall, and Whitepaw. Breezewhisker will take Ashpelt, Smallstream, and Nightpaw. We’ll also have two hunting patrols. Blazeheart, take your apprentice, Sandpaw, with you to wherever you want to go hunting. Sorrelfur and…”

                “I will go,” Flamestar interrupted.

                Crazyheart nodded. “Okay. And Flamestar, may I speak with you in your den?”

                “Of course.” Flamestar turned in the direction of his den. “Come on.”

                Crazyheart followed him into the leaders den.  She sat down close to the entrance.

                “What is it?” Flamestar meowed.

                “StarClan says that there should always be four Clans by the lake! We can’t let RiverClan starve to death!” Crazyheart wondered if her father would understand. “Please let me go to RiverClan tomorrow!”

                Flamestar hesitated. “Crazyheart, why do you ALWAYS have to think you can solve every problem around the lake? We have our own Clan to worry about!”

                “I know but…”

                “Yes, I get it, you want to do the right thing and follow the warrior code.” Flamestar sighed. “Very well. When the hunting patrols return tomorrow, you will tell them to carry one piece of prey each and accompany you. Except for me, course. Moonstripe will take my place. You will offer the fresh-kill to RiverClan in exchange for being taken to their camp to speak with Pebblestar. If they refuse to take you to camp, you leave without giving them the food. Understood?”

                “Yes, Flamestar. Thank you!” Crazyheart left her father’s den and settled down in the warriors den.

                It was just after moonhigh when she drifted into a dreamless sleep.

                She woke just before sunhigh and padded out of the warriors den. Flamestar came over to meet her.

                “Good morning, Crazyst..I mean, Crazyheart,” Flamestar meowed.

                Crazyheart rolled her eyes. “That’s only the thousandth time you’ve accidentally called me Crazystar!”

                Flamestar looked embarrassed. “I’ve told you before, you look a lot like her. Sometimes when I stare at your eyes I feel like I’m looking at my mother’s gaze since you have her light green eyes. But, that’s not what I’m here to talk to you about. I wanted to tell you that you should travel through ShadowClan territory instead of WindClan territory. Fernstar won’t be pleased if she finds out that you’re going to help RiverClan after they attacked her patrol.”

                “Why should we care what Fernstar thinks?” Crazyheart muttered.

                Flamestar tried to look angry but couldn’t hide his amusement. “We shouldn’t go looking for a fight intentionally. With greenleaf nearly over, we can’t afford to get injured or cause trouble with WindClan. Anyhow, I informed Moonstripe, Sorrelfur, and Blazeheart of the plans for the afternoon. I also told Sandpaw and Whitepaw to swap places on the patrols this morning because I want your apprentice to go with you.”

                “WHAT? WHY? All she’ll do is complain!” Crazyheart glared at Flamestar. “I don’t want her to come with me!”

                Flamestar met her gaze. “You never know, she might actually enjoy herself and be glad to go with you.”

                Crazyheart snorted. “And hedgehogs fly! I bet she grumbled about it when you told her, didn’t she?”

                Flamestar’s silence was an answer in itself.

                Crazyheart was about to speak as Blazeheart and Whitepaw returned to camp. Blazeheart had caught two mice and a squirrel while Whitepaw had nothing in her jaws. I guess that means she caught NOTHING! I bet she didn’t even try!

***

                Crazyheart’s patience was gone.

                They hadn’t even left camp yet and Whitepaw was already complaining. Why did Flamestar have to make me take my apprentice with the patrol?

                “This is really dumb,” Whitepaw huffed to Moonstripe. “This is a warrior job and warrior stuff is boring! Why do I have to go to RiverClan to hunt for them? I HATE hunting!”

                Crazyheart halted and glared at her. “Would you rather I leave you here and you can do battle training with your sisters?”

                Whitepaw curled her lip in disgust. “Battle training? NO WAY! I don’t ever want to participate in a fight! They’re pointless and for mouse-brained fools!”

                “The only mouse-brained fool here is you!” Frustration welled up inside of Crazyheart. “Now grab that rabbit there on top of the fresh-kill pile and maybe carrying that will keep your mouth shut! Because the rest of us don’t want to hear your ceaseless complaining!”

                Whitepaw wordlessly stomped over to the fresh-kill pile. Crazyheart and the rest of the patrol followed close behind. The ThunderClan deputy selected a plump thrush while Moonstripe took two mice and Sorrelfur took a squirrel. Blazeheart carried a blackbird that she’d caught herself.

                Crazyheart padded out of camp and the sound of pawsteps behind her told her that her Clanmates had followed. The leaves of the trees had begun to turn red, orange, and brown, the first sign that leaf-fall had arrived.

                She took a route close to the lakeshore, passing the Sky Oak and making sure she was able to see the lake at all times. The patrol crossed over the Twoleg path and stopped near the half-bridge at the ShadowClan border.

                Crazyheart sniffed the air and looked a few times, but there was no sign of any ShadowClan cats. She led on into the dark, shadowy pines.

                They passed through a muddy clearing and then passed by the trail that led to the camp entrance. Crazyheart signaled for her cats to keep down and even Whitepaw had the sense to obey. They were close enough to see the thorn tunnel that was the entryway to camp and even to see that warriors stationed on guard. Luckily, the patrol went onwards without being caught.

                The fishy stink of RiverClan hit Crazyheart’s nose and she turned to her sister. “What’s this? I thought the border was farther up! RiverClan never had this stretch of pine trees!”

                Blazeheart shrugged. “I don’t know. The less ShadowClan territory we have to pass through, the better.”

                As they were about to cross over the scent-marks, a growl came from behind them. “What are you doing on ShadowClan territory?”

                Redfeather, one of ShadowClan’s senior warriors, and his apprentice, Rainpaw, were hurrying over to them.

                Crazyheart muttered under her breath. “Why did they have to catch us now? We were almost there!”

                Rainpaw’s eyes widened when he saw the fresh-kill dangling from their jaws. “Prey-stealers!”

                At least Redfeather has always been one of the friendlier ShadowClan warriors.

                Crazyheart hurriedly shook her head. “No, no, it’s not like that, please…”

                Her heart sank as she saw a cat pelting towards them at full speed, the light of battle already in his eyes. Mudblaze! He’s the most bloodthirsty ShadowClan warrior I know!

                Mudblaze leapt at Crazyheart. “HOW DARE YOU?”

                Crazyheart sidestepped and was surprised to see Redfeather grab Mudblaze by the scruff. He dragged the young brown tom backwards.

                Maybe we should make a run for it, but then we’d look guilty…and besides, they might catch us.

                Redfeather turned a cold glare towards the ThunderClan cats. “We will let the intruders explain themselves first.”

                “No! They all have stolen prey!” Mudblaze flailed around wildly, trying to escape the older warrior’s grasp. “We must take them back to camp and they can EXPLAIN IT TO OAKSTAR!”

                Please, StarClan, no! We don’t need trouble with ShadowClan! We were only trying to help RiverClan…

                Redfeather hesitated. “I suppose you’re right. Very well. Follow us.”

                “Do we fight them?” Blazeheart hissed.

                Crazyheart began to pad after Redfeather. “No. We do NOT want trouble with ShadowClan for no reason.”

                Rainpaw ran ahead to warn Oakstar, so the ShadowClan leader was already waiting in the clearing when they arrived.

                Whatever I think of the rest of ShadowClan, Oakstar is a noble cat. I hope he will listen to me and at least give me a chance to explain what happened.

                As soon as the ThunderClan cats emerged in the camp, all heads turned and the cats crowded around them, many with claws unsheathed. Even from the direction of the nursery, a kit squealed, “Die, ThunderClan prey-stealers!” Crazyheart heard the excited cries of his siblings as he attacked them.

                Oakstar usually remained calm. But now, his body quivered with fury and hostility flickered in his eyes.

                Crazyheart nervously waited for him to speak.

                “I trusted ThunderClan.” Oakstar’s voice was edged with scorn and icy disapproval. “I thought Flamestar was a decent cat. Apparently, I thought wrong!”

                “Oakstar, please!” Crazyheart pleaded. “It isn’t what you think it is! Please, I beg you, let me explain to you in your den, alone!”

                “I’m a fool,” Oakstar muttered. “But alright. Make it quick. I don’t want to hear excuses though. I know very well that ThunderClan isn’t starving! The forest is prey-rich after a long greenleaf.”

                Whitepaw leaned over to Sorrelfur and whispered something in her ear. I bet a moon’s worth of dawn patrols that she’s asking where the medicine cat den is.

                Sure, enough the white-furred she-cat soon bolted over the medicine cat den, which was just behind Oakstar’s den. “Hi, Pinestripe! Do you have an apprentice?”

                A golden brown tom named Beetlepaw padded into the den. “Yes, she does! He’s right here! Now, get out, ThunderClan scum!”

                Crazyheart decided to forget about her annoying apprentice for a little while. She turned around and watched as the tip of the dark brown tabby’s tail disappeared into his den.

                Oakstar poked his head out of the den. “Are you coming or not?”

                Crazyheart rose to her paws. She hesitantly walked through the entrance to the large bramble thicket.

                Inside, it was large and spacious. Oakstar’s nest had more than likely just been arranged by an apprentice. Fresh, soft moss laid in one corner and a few feathers had been placed neatly on top to make it even more comfortable. A fat squirrel had also been left for the ShadowClan leader to eat.

                Oakstar settled down in his nest and gestured for Crazyheart to sit as well. “What do you have to say for yourselves?”

                “We didn’t steal the prey from your territory…”

                Disbelief flashed in Oakstar’s eyes. “I’m supposed to believe that? And hedgehogs fly!”

                “No, really, I swear by StarClan, we brought it from ThunderClan territory!” Crazyheart hoped Oakstar heard the truth in her words. “We didn’t so much as look at any prey from your land!”

                “Really?” Oakstar sniffed at the squirrel but didn’t take a bite. “Why would you drag so much fresh-kill halfway around the lake? How would that benefit ThunderClan?”

                Crazyheart dropped the thrush to make it easier for her to talk. “It wouldn’t. But we were going to help RiverClan. They looked like they were starving at the Gathering.”

                To her relief, the fury evaporated from Oakstar’s bright green eyes. “RiverClan. They’re going through tough times. Troubles I wouldn’t wish upon any cat.”

                Why didn’t I think to ask Oakstar about RiverClan at the Gathering? He shares a border with them! Obviously Fernstar wouldn’t be helpful but maybe Oakstar can tell us the problem!

                “What’s wrong with RiverClan? Do you know?” Crazyheart asked curiously.

                “Twolegs and their horrible monsters.” Oakstar nibbled thoughtfully at the squirrel. “Their roaring was so loud as they demolished RiverClan’s camp that you could hear it all the way over here.”

                Crazyheart’s heartbeat quickened. “Their camp is ruined?”

                Oakstar nodded. “The Twolegs have also been moving soil to fill in the stream. RiverClan can’t fish anymore and they don’t have very much territory left even if they could hunt land prey.”

                “That’s horrible!” Crazyheart felt awful for the RiverClan cats. “I really do hope we can help them!”

                “ShadowClan wants to help too.” Oakstar tore off a mouthful of meat and chewed slowly before swallowing. “We will send warriors to come with you, if you don’t mind.”

                “We don’t mind at all! Thank you!” Crazyheart exclaimed.

                Maybe it wasn’t so bad that we got caught by ShadowClan after all…

A/N: Hope you enjoyed! I tried to be really detailed and give good descriptions! This is a super long chapter so I really want to hear your thoughts, I seriously think this might be my longest chapter ever(it is at least so far! It's 5 pages for StarClan's sake!) Please comment with your feedback!