NO ESCAPE. THE RUNAWAY

CHAPTER 2

The next morning everything was normal. Patrols, sharing tongues the usual. Alligator Creek was padded out of the medicine den, mouse-bile in his jaws.

"AlligatorCreek..." BlackBird called and jumped off his rock to greet the young tom.

"Yes BlackBird...?" Alligator raised a brow in confusion as he turned to look at his deputy.

"Have you seen AdderFur...?" He called out with a soft smile.

"She's in her den...but don't wake her...she's finally asleep..." Alligator warned and padded across the clearing to the elder's den. BlackBird peered through the medicine den. AdderFur raised her head to the sound of pawsteps approaching.

"BlackBird...?" Her eyes softened as she looked up at him. BlackBird smiled and padded into the den. He curled next to her with a loud purr. He rasped his tongue along the she-cat's head.

"Did you just come in here because you miss me...?" She chuckled and rasped his ear with a smile.

"Maybe...But I also wanted to ask you something..." He smiled.

"Oh...?" She chirped awaiting his answer.

"Have you gotten a message from StarClan...?" BlackBird sighed. eyes lit up.

"Not yet..." She sighed and bent her head.

"I'll be off on patrols..." He purred and got up. "I'll see you later..." He smiled and rasped his tongue over the she-cat's head before padding out of the den.

Moonhigh has now begun to rise. BlackBird padded onto the soft clearing of Fourtrees to his rock as he greeted DawnClan, SunriseClan and SunsetClan. AdderFur stood with AlligatorCreek beside her. CrowStar leaped onto the great rock beside FinchStar. The noise died down as the leaders awaited to speak.

"Cats of all clans!" CrowStar yowled. "Thank you for attending the gathering tonight...We have a few other announcements since last leaf-bare...We have a few new warriors...FrostedBite, GooseChatter and CherryFlame..." CrowStar smiled as the three sat next to each other. "Honeybriar also has new kits! The prey is running well in DuskClan as well as the herb stalk...everyone is grateful that Leaf-Bare is over and we can start a new league as DuskClan!" CrowStar smiled. AdderFur looked uneasy, Blackbird had the urge to comfort her, but he could not. 

"I am thankful that Leaf-Bare has passed...but MorningClan has a request from DuskClan...This beginning new-leaf has been rough...we wish to have access to your rivers for water in exchange in water in our territory...if you'd like..." FinchStar bowed his head. CrowStar looked down at his clan. EvergreenFrost growled in defiance, "Never! He will use our territory to steal and eat our kits!"

"Calm down Evergreen..." CrowStar flicked his tail. BlackBird then nodded.

"I think it's a good exchange, and if they do steal prey or anything beyond drinking from the rivers in our territory, we can take matters into our own paws..." BlackBird bowed his head to CrowStar.

"Very well...you have access to our rivers...but nothing else..." CrowStar bowed his head. The clouds began to clear and reveal that the moon was setting into Dawn.

"It appears this gathering has come to an end...DuskClan back to camp!" CrowStar yowled. HazelPaw sighed, she looked back at VioletFall with a pleading look. She nuzzled her mother and rasped her tongue over the she-cats ear in a goodbye.