Scourge woke up, remembering his promise to himself from the other night.

"Bone!" He yelled, getting up and trotting out of his private alley, he swung his head from side to side until he spotted his faithful deputy racing towards him.

"Good morning sir, what is it that I can assist you with" Bone stated emotionlessly, staring straight ahead.

"I want you to find me a mate" Scourge said bluntly.

Bone was obviously surprised at this request "ah...sir...I cannot simply find you a mate, you must find her yourself" Bone tried to explain to Scourge, who had only ever known blood, that a mate wasn't a simple matter that you can get other cats to do for you.

"A mate is someone you love for life...you can't just get another cat to find your true love for you..." Bone tried hopelessly for hours to get Scourge to understand, and when he did, he was angry that he had to do something himself.

"Ugh, but I don't like any of the she-cats in our clan..." Scourge complained.

"What about Viola, she's smart" Bone tried

"But she's smug as well"

"Sifta, she's beautiful"

"Too prissy"

"Leap, she's strong"

"But stupid, I told you, I don't like any of the she-cats in our clan" Scourge snarled frustratedly, his proposal had seemed so simple last night, but someone to love for life was a big thing and took up much of his time.

Scourge hated it.

"This is so difficult!" He whined, stomping his one white paw on the ground, his eyes blazing with anger.

"You'll know true love when you see it" Bone said, patient with his master as he stroked Scourges back with his tail, trying to get the whining cat to believe in himself.

Scourge looked up at his emotionless deputy, and really looked at his scarred face and haunted eyes "do you even have a mate?" Scourge asked angrily.

"Well, no...I pledged all of my loyalty and attention to you as your deputy...so that means no mate or kits to get in the way of my duties"

Bone said, his tail slipping off Scourges back and falling to the earth, Bone looked at the ground, sadness hinting in his usually emotionless eyes.

"Well that's stupid, you should be able to have a mate if your going to advise me on the matter" Scourge said smugly looking at his depressed deputy.

Bone looked up in surprise "But that rule was made by the Rouge Queen! Before BloodClan! 'A deputy will have no other allegiances but to his King or Queen, including favored friends, a mate, and kits'"

"Yes, but is Ragged the Rouge Queen still alive?" Scourge asked, U sheathing his terrifying claws and rearing on his hind legs to tower above Bone.

One paw rested on Bones shoulder and one of the others talons went under Bones chin, forcing him too look up, or the long claw would pierce his chin.

"No, she isn't? And why would that be? Oh yes! I killed her!" Scourge said, returning to all four paws at the last sentence and reaching up to snarl in Bones face.

"You, my deputy may have favored friends and a mate as well as kits, you have earned it with your undying loyalty" Scourge said before turning around and stalking away.

"Oh yes, and never mention Ragged again, I want to hear nothing of the former Queen of Rouges, because I am leader now!" Scourge turned is head and spat before walking away.

Ugh, how am I supposed to find a mate when Bone is the only one that I can put up with?