Echostar stood in the middle of the camp clearing, sending out a few patrols. "Thornstrike, you and Ravenfeather can go hunting, Almonddash, you can lead Cherrywind, Goldenheart, and Berrypaw for a border patrol."
Thornstrike and Ravenfeather were out of the tunnel when the black and white announced their names. Almonddash made sure Cherrywind, Goldenheart, and Berrypaw were with him before he left the camp.
The RosClan deputy lead the patrol through the forest; Almonddash was silent, Cherrywind and Goldenheart were doing some small talk (something about Goldenheart wanting kits, he wasn't paying much attention), and Berrypaw was following slowly, a bored expression on her face. Which was unusual for the small calico, she was so hyper and eager, but he understood why she was bored. Berrypaw wanted more excitement, she actually wanted a battle; foxes, badgers, rouges, or another clan, and she'd be a little less bored...
He'd only been a part of RoseClan for a few sunsets, and he had learned a lot about the members. Thornstrike and Goldenheart were mates, Silverpaw was Goldenheart's younger sister, the two were former kittypets, Berrypaw was always up for a good challenge, Thornstrike was a former rouge, but he failed to learn much about Echostar's past. All he had learned was that she was a rouge, with actions she regretted.
Was she hiding something from him? Goldenheart, Thornstrike, Silverpaw, and Berrypaw seemed to know, but it was a complete mystery to--
His thoughts were cut off by snarls and hisses, from his own patrol, and another ahead of him.
The patrol ahead of him consisted of four cats; a jet black she-cat with gray-green eyes, a brown tabby tom with green eyes, a dark gray tabby tom with light amber eyes, and, the smallest of them, a a light gray tabby she-cat with blue eyes.
Almonddash instantly took a hostile form; he fluffy his fur up and snarled at the others, "Who are you?!"
Continued in the comments~
Snakefang flattened his ears, arching his back. He stood close to Featherpaw protectively. The dark tom looked at Darkmoon, curious on what to do.
ReplyDeleteFeatherpaw gave a small growl as Snakefang moved closer; she didn't need protecting!
ReplyDeleteDarkmoon snarled at the opposing patrol's leader. "Who are we? We'll explain after you tell us who you are!"
Berrypaw was mentally grinning. Finally! Enemy cats! Maybe things would be more exciting now!
Spade stared evenly at the other cats. It seemed that this encounter was not going to be a pleasant one. He tilted his head and lashed his tail in the air. "The name's Spade," he returned to the snarling Almonddash. "Don't let yerself forget it."
ReplyDeleteAlmonddash's pale gaze flicked as he looked over each enemy cat. He found his eyes resting on Darkmoon more frequently. "We don't have to explain ourselves. You're on Roseclan territory." He unsheathed his claws, prepared to chase these intruders out.
ReplyDeleteCherrywind flattened her ears. She prayed things wouldn't turn into a fight.
ReplyDeleteDarkmoon's hostile edge grew. "I am Darkmoon of TwilightClan, and I do believe that we are not trespassing on TwilightClan territory."
ReplyDeleteAlmonddash took a step closer to her. His pale green eyes stared into hers with a similar hostility. She has pretty eyes...wait what?? "I'll gladly show you the border markers if you'd like." He spat, swishing his tail for his Warriors to get into defense positions.
ReplyDeleteCherrywind got into a unsteady battle crouch. Her amber eyes were wild with fear.
Spade sat down, his tail lashing on the ground. He gave the other patrol an odd look. He wasn't sure if he was to defend this territory or not, so, if all fails- sit down, keep quiet, and give everyone a cynical look.
ReplyDelete(lol)
DeleteBerrypaw and Goldenheart dropped into fighting postures.
ReplyDeleteDarkmoon sniffed the air. Unmarked territory.
Featherpaw was chuckling at the tom's stupidity.
ReplyDeleteDarkmoon rolled her eyes. "Whatever. You said you were a Clan, right? RoseClan, correct?"
Goldenheart was about to step forward, but Berrypaw was several steps ahead of her... "Yup!" the calico nodded. "We're RoseClan! Echostar is our leader! Almonddash, here, is our deputy!"
Spade nearly laughed. He looked at Almonddash with twinkling eyes. "That's right. Now, would you be a kind little furball and not snarl at us?"
ReplyDeleteAlmonddash felt the hostility drop. He let his fur lie flat, but his ears remained flattened out of embarrassment. One pricked at the mention of his name. "Yeah...Twilightclan, you said?" He still couldn't stop staring at Darkmoon.
ReplyDelete"My apologies." He spat a little at Spade.
DeleteDarkmoon nodded, her eyes twinkling at the young apprentice's enthusiasm. "Our leader is Ghoststar; I'm Darkmoon, the deputy of TwilightClan. My patrol is Spade, who's already introduced himself, the small she-cat is Featherpaw, and the other tom is Snakefang."
ReplyDeleteSnakefang still didn't trust the other cats. He stayed on guard.
ReplyDeleteAlmonddash flicked an ear. "Nice to meet you all. This little calico is Berrypaw, the ginger and white she-cat is Cherrywind, and the brown tabby is Goldenheart." He flicked his tail to each cat. "It's good to have a clan bordering us. But there's still this matter of unclaimed territory to deal with. Our clans should meet."
Cherrywind was relieved things didn't come to a fight, yet she knew with a clan at their borders it would someday happen.
Darkmoon nodded in a agreement. She turned to Snakefang. "Snakefang, go back to camp and get Ghoststar."
ReplyDeleteAlmonddash looked at Berrypaw. "You're pretty fast, right Berrypaw? Go back to camp and fetch EchoStar." He mewed.
ReplyDeleteSnakefang was reluctant to leave his Apprentice but obeyed orders. He raced back the way they came, following the scent trail.
ReplyDeleteBerrypaw nodded eagerly and dashed off. When she reached the camp, she was other of breath. "Echostar! The border! Almonddash needs you! New clan cats! Come on!"
ReplyDeleteEchostar was chatting with Nightflame when Berrypaw exploded into camp. Before the calico could say anything, Echostar was out of the camp, following the scent trail the Berrypaw had left.
Snakefang came with Ghoststar at his heels. The pure white she-cat looked excited yet guarded at the same time. She nodded to Darkmoon when she came up.
ReplyDeleteEchostar exploded through some bushes. "So I here that we have neighbors?"
ReplyDeleteGhoststar greeted her. "And I see that is to be correct. I'm Ghoststar, leader of Twilightclan." She sat, her tail tip twitching as she tried to judge what kind of cats they were.
ReplyDeleteAlmonddash sat back to let his leader do the talking now. He found himself trying to catch Darkmoon's eye. What am I doing??
Snakefang still felt unsure about the other cats. "Stay on guard." He whispered to Featherpaw.
Echostar smiled warmly at her. "A pleasure to meet you. I'm Echostar, leader of RoseClan."
ReplyDeleteDarkmoon kept flashing glancing at Almonddash. Why am I doing this? She thought to herself.
Featherpaw didn't say anything, but she did give her mentor a small nodded
Spade looked at the leaders, then huffed, lifting his chin in the air. He kept silent, though he was bent on giving himself an air of dignity.
ReplyDeleteGhoststar was glad she seemed friendly enough. "So, Snakefang tells me we have some unclaimed territory between our clans. How are we going to divide this up." She twitched an ear. "I'd like to do it evenly without blood shed."
ReplyDeleteAlmonddash forced himself to focus on his paws. She has such silky fur..like the night sky. And those eyes! The way they pop.. He had to physically shake his head to get the thoughts out.
Cherrywind noticed Almonddash seemed to be acting odd. "Are you okay?" She asked quietly. The calico tom looked at her and faked a smile.
"Yeah, fine." Again his eyes trailed to Darkmoon. She's from a different clan!
Snakefang glanced at Spade, rolling his eyes.
Echostar nodded. "Of course. Evenly would be perfect."
ReplyDeleteDarkmoon was glancing at Almonddash, silently admiring his shining, pale green eyes and long, glossy fur. She growled silently to herself, and looked away from him; now looking at Ghoststar and Echostar.
Spade looked back to Snakefang. He lashed his tail, barely flicking it off Snakefang's pelt. He looked back to the leaders, waiting to hear how they would settle the issue of territory.
ReplyDeleteSnakefang growled to himself. That little fox-dung better not cross me.
DeleteGhoststar looked around, getting to her paws. "Okay, let's see." She walked around the territory. "How far is your border from here." She jumped onto a stump, using it as a reference point.
ReplyDeleteAlmonddash noticed the way she looked at him too. She's looking at me too...does she like me? Do I like here? I can't! Yet, it made his heart skip with joy at the thought of her liking him too.
Echostar walked towards a dead tree. "This is border. And it looked even... So, should the tree stump be the new border?"
ReplyDeleteGhoststar looked back toward her territory. That seemed even. "Yeah, that should work. Snakefang, Featherpaw; follow this from the tree stump and set the new border."
ReplyDeleteSnakefang nodded, getting to his paws and began marking the new border.
Featherpaw did the same.
ReplyDeleteGhoststar hopped off the stump. "It's the full moon tomorrow night. We should have a gathering." She couldn't hide the excitement in her voice. We're a real clan now! Though, she still felt like something was missing...Again she was reminded of her dreams. It was her dreams that told her she would find something here. Coincidence?
ReplyDeleteAlmonddash pricked his ears. A gathering? He could see Darkmoon again, and maybe talk to her. He longed to talk to her now, but didn't know what to say and just conversation felt forbidden.
Echostar smiled and nodded. About here? So we'll remember where we first met"
ReplyDeleteSpade flicked an ear at the unfamiliar word. A gathering? He dared not to ask, because he had to seem like an extremely intelligent cat. He huffed and curled his tail around his paws, stilling it from lashing it constantly.
ReplyDeleteThe white she-cat nodded. "Good idea. Tomorrow then, EchoStar." She dipped her head respectfully, waving her tail for her cats to come to their side of the new border.
ReplyDeleteFeatherpaw followed Ghoststar. "Bye!" she called back to them.
ReplyDeleteEchostar looked at her Clan. "Let's head back to camp.
Snakefang followed behind Featherpaw. "Remember, keep you guard up." He mewed, though he noticed a bit of her friendly self come back.
ReplyDeleteAlmonddash lingered for a moment, looking at Darkmoon. I'll give her a smile and maybe..she might smile back? He hoped to catch her greenish eyes.
Darkmoon looked back at Almonddash, and waved her tail at him.
ReplyDeleteFeatherpaw looked up at him, and nodded. "Got it."
Almonddash felt his stomach stir and he had to purr. He followed after the others with a trot. He suddenly couldn't wait for the Gathering.
ReplyDeleteSnakefang flicked an ear. "You seem more chipper."
Featherpaw shrugged.
ReplyDeleteGoldenheart looked at Darkmoon and turned her gaze to Almonddash, curious why he was giving her those looks.
Spade followed his patrol with a skip in his step. His tail took its place in the air, waving as he moved. There was no battle, which was a relief to him.
ReplyDeleteSnakefang sighed heavily, giving up on talking to his Apprentice. I visited her everyday when she was hurt and have held back on kitty-pet remarks just to be ignored or have my head bit off? He scowled. I thought we could be friends..maybe..no that's not going to happen. He cared about her but she obviously wanted to distance herself from him.
ReplyDeleteAlmonddash noticed Goldenheart looking at him and pricked his ears with a friendly look, trying to cover up. She didn't notice that did she?
Ghoststar walked next to Spade. "So, your first warrior patrol was exciting huh?" She mewed to him.
Spade flicked his ear and averted his gaze to look at Ghoststar. He gave a small shrug. "I suppose so. We got more territory, and that is always a good thing. Means more prey." He ran his tongue over his lips at the thought of a feast of little rodents and birds.
ReplyDeleteGhoststar nodded. "Yes, it will also be exciting with a clan at our borders." She hoped there would be no fighting.
ReplyDeleteSpade tilted his head. These cats wanted more cats near their borders? Definitely strange. They wanted to have to fight for prey? He almost scoffed. "Yes, very exciting, very eventful."
ReplyDeleteGhoststar heard a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "I hope you don't fear fighting." She said with a mischief in her gray eyes.
ReplyDeleteSpade snorted, and defended himself. "Of course I don't. My life featured many scuffles over territory and prey." He paused to deliver a lick to his shoulder, keeping his air of dignity.
ReplyDeleteGhoststar laughed almost. "Of course you have. I noticed that trait about you since the moment you came." She teased. They got back to camp.
ReplyDelete