Saltmeadow Marsh

[|:| Tundra |:|]

Troutleap trotted along the muddy grass and sod where the riverland met the marsh. Fish were hardly running well today, so she had decided to try her luck at hunting for birds and perhaps small rodents. RiverClan bellies weren't accustomed to this kind of food, but the young she-cat had to bring back something for her Clanmates.

She heard a rustle, and the warrior tensed, hackles rising. A robin, digging for earthworms, pecked busily at the ground a few fox-lengths ahead. It's rather close to the border, she thought, but it's still in our territory. As long as I pounce directly on it, there shouldn't be any problems. She dropped into a hunter's crouch and began stalking the bird, taking care to be as silent as possible.

Just as she was balancing herself for a pounce, the bird, in a split-second, took off, wings flapping in a panic. Troutleap took off after it, sprinting into a leap before it flew too high. She snagged the robin with unsheathed claws as she fell to the earth with a blunt thud. She snapped the bird's wriggling neck and it abruptly fell still.

But as she was standing up, panic overtook her. There the border stood, two badger-lengths behind her. As quick as she could, she hurtled back to the safety of her own territory. They'll catch my scent! she thought, panicked. They'll think I was hunting on their territory! Thinking fast, she dug up a bit of moist earth and threw it onto her scent trail from a distance. That'll do something, she thought, but they'll likely still know I was there. Guilt weighing heavy in her belly, she trotted back to camp.

[furrensic]

Originally Posted by spinachsprite

Troutrunner looked up from where she was laying as she heard her name. She nodded at the deputy, glancing about for Oakflame. She found the tabby tomcat amongst the small crowd of felines lounging in the clearing. There was an air of tension: soon enough skyclan would arrive, and she was glad to be given the opportunity to miss that event.

"Oakflame, did you want to set off immediately?" She asked, smoothing down her blue grey fur and shaking, as had become a habit of hers since her injury, her silvery nape. The wound was in a spot she just could not reach, and drove her insane most days. She eyed Oakflame with a brief, courteous smile; a warrior a fair few moons younger than her, but a fairly familiar face around camp. She was glad to have just eaten, and happy that she would get to return to the territory without the immenant threat of dogs. Removing their scent would take time, but with the influx of cats about to arrive in their camp, she doubted it would hang around much longer

@Rosemew

Oakflame licked his whiskers to rid of any crumbs left from his small snack. He lifted his head hearing his name called, another patrol. His ears perked hearing the border had been moved. He disliked the idea. But was Windystar not keeping an eye on his warriors? Shaking his head, he gave a small nod towards Lionstorm, keeping his eyes on the ground as he stood up. It seemed like the air was thick as he knew skyclan was coming. They already arrived, turning his head. He furrowed his brows, cringing at the now crowded camp.

Looking to troutrunner, her flicked his tail. 'Spiderpaw might want to come...No she's probably doing something else.' He thought, wincing slightly. "Yes, if you don't mind." He meowed with a slight smile.
He started padding towards the camps exit, rushing to avoid the cramped camp. He didn't see how both skyclan and Riverclan would ever get along, let alone live together.

He gave a small groan, padding through the territory. He scrunched up his muzzle as he arrived close to the border, ears swiveling. The brown tabby noted that the marker wasnt moved in the spot he was near. He turned his head to the molly. "The marker isn't moved here, but let's go farther. They must have moved it back up ahead." He told, sending a glance ahead of them.

[spinachsprite]

Originally Posted by Rosemew

Oakflame licked his whiskers to rid of any crumbs left from his small snack. He lifted his head hearing his name called, another patrol. His ears perked hearing the border had been moved. He disliked the idea. But was Windystar not keeping an eye on his warriors? Shaking his head, he gave a small nod towards Lionstorm, keeping his eyes on the ground as he stood up. It seemed like the air was thick as he knew skyclan was coming. They already arrived, turning his head. He furrowed his brows, cringing at the now crowded camp.

Looking to troutrunner, her flicked his tail. 'Spiderpaw might want to come...No she's probably doing something else.' He thought, wincing slightly. "Yes, if you don't mind." He meowed with a slight smile.
He started padding towards the camps exit, rushing to avoid the cramped camp. He didn't see how both skyclan and Riverclan would ever get along, let alone live together.

He gave a small groan, padding through the territory. He scrunched up his muzzle as he arrived close to the border, ears swiveling. The brown tabby noted that the marker wasnt moved in the spot he was near. He turned his head to the molly. "The marker isn't moved here, but let's go farther. They must have moved it back up ahead." He told, sending a glance ahead of them.

Troutrunner nodded in agreement, sniffing the cowslip and ferns as she went to try and detect the stench of Shadowclan. She walked carefully to avoid mud and trailing brambles. She ducked beneath a hanging fern, scenting it's green feathers and curling her tail curiously. "I don't smell much different." She confessed, glancing at her tabby companion. The stretch of their territory that met Shadowclan's was fairly long, and so they had a little while to walk. She was relieved; avoiding the predictable terror of Skyclan's arrival was a mild relief. She was a calm and well mannered feline; getting involved in all that argumentation was something she would prefer to avoid. "How is your apprentice doing?" She added, attempting to make conversation. It had been awhile since she had brought up her last apprentice, and she missed the excitement and dedication. "Spiderpaw, is it?"

(Did you want to go ahead with the fox prompt btw? )

[furrensic]

Originally Posted by spinachsprite

Troutrunner nodded in agreement, sniffing the cowslip and ferns as she went to try and detect the stench of Shadowclan. She walked carefully to avoid mud and trailing brambles. She ducked beneath a hanging fern, scenting it's green feathers and curling her tail curiously. "I don't smell much different." She confessed, glancing at her tabby companion. The stretch of their territory that met Shadowclan's was fairly long, and so they had a little while to walk. She was relieved; avoiding the predictable terror of Skyclan's arrival was a mild relief. She was a calm and well mannered feline; getting involved in all that argumentation was something she would prefer to avoid. "How is your apprentice doing?" She added, attempting to make conversation. It had been awhile since she had brought up her last apprentice, and she missed the excitement and dedication. "Spiderpaw, is it?"

(Did you want to go ahead with the fox prompt btw? )

[ Yes please c: , I'll go ahead and get to that part u.u ]
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Oakflame nodded, "Let's continue on then." He said. Padding onwards, he perked his ears hearing troutrunner. "Yes, spiderpaw! She's doing great, im sure she'll be a great warrior." he meowed proudly, grinning. He now hwld his head high, looking at the molly. "Do you have an apprentice?" he inquired.

The warrior pricked his ears smelling a sudden stench. He scrunched up his muzzle, sniffing the scent again. "Fox!" He hissed, flicking his tail towards a fox up ahead, which he just saw.

[spinachsprite]

Originally Posted by Rosemew

[ Yes please c: , I'll go ahead and get to that part u.u ]
_________________________________

Oakflame nodded, "Let's continue on then." He said. Padding onwards, he perked his ears hearing troutrunner. "Yes, spiderpaw! She's doing great, im sure she'll be a great warrior." he meowed proudly, grinning. He now hwld his head high, looking at the molly. "Do you have an apprentice?" he inquired.

The warrior pricked his ears smelling a sudden stench. He scrunched up his muzzle, sniffing the scent again. "Fox!" He hissed, flicking his tail towards a fox up ahead, which he just saw.

Troutrunner shook her silver head, about to reply when she heard the tom's shout. She too scented the air, and noted the musky scent of their rival. Dropping to the ground, she hid amongst the ferns and stared at the russet-furred canidae. It was trotting across their field of vision, where a break in the trees revealed an area of sparse grassland through which their river ran, away from the Shadowclan border and into Riverclan territory. It was a vast stretch of land which eventually meandered off into rich green woodlands and shrubbery, as composed the majority of Riverclan territory. To their left, Shadowclan territory stood as a selection of tall, aimlessly fore-boding pine trees, with little shrubbery, a selection of forest plant life; ferns, bluebells and bramble thickets. The fox was moving slowly, trotting across the grassland, stopping to scent and sniff amidst the cowslips, buttercups and daisies that strained to raise their heads above the long grass. She watched it for a moment longer. It was a shiny creature with a bright coat, likely a younger fox who had left the den last summer; still young, agile, and thriving off their excellent food supplies.

"Shall we pursue it?" She asked her companion. A loan fox would do no more than steal their prey, for they were quiet, lone wandering creatures, surprisingly shy, but territorial. She had met many Street foxes in her time living in twoleg place, but they were different to these well fed farm creatures. She noticed it picking at some carrion; a fat rabbit which had died there not long ago.

[furrensic]

Originally Posted by spinachsprite

Troutrunner shook her silver head, about to reply when she heard the tom's shout. She too scented the air, and noted the musky scent of their rival. Dropping to the ground, she hid amongst the ferns and stared at the russet-furred canidae. It was trotting across their field of vision, where a break in the trees revealed an area of sparse grassland through which their river ran, away from the Shadowclan border and into Riverclan territory. It was a vast stretch of land which eventually meandered off into rich green woodlands and shrubbery, as composed the majority of Riverclan territory. To their left, Shadowclan territory stood as a selection of tall, aimlessly fore-boding pine trees, with little shrubbery, a selection of forest plant life; ferns, bluebells and bramble thickets. The fox was moving slowly, trotting across the grassland, stopping to scent and sniff amidst the cowslips, buttercups and daisies that strained to raise their heads above the long grass. She watched it for a moment longer. It was a shiny creature with a bright coat, likely a younger fox who had left the den last summer; still young, agile, and thriving off their excellent food supplies.

"Shall we pursue it?" She asked her companion. A loan fox would do no more than steal their prey, for they were quiet, lone wandering creatures, surprisingly shy, but territorial. She had met many Street foxes in her time living in twoleg place, but they were different to these well fed farm creatures. She noticed it picking at some carrion; a fat rabbit which had died there not long ago.

Oakflame watched the fox trot to a rabbit with narrowed eyes. That creature would just cause trouble! It had to be driven off! He stalked through the weeds on the ground, closer to the fox. He pricked his ears hearing troutrunner, nodding. "Lets drive it off our territory." He meowed coolly.

The tabby tom crept forward, careful to not make noise. He stopped as the creature lifted its head, looking around. A moment after, it went back to eating the meat. He flicked his tail, pupils shrinking to slits. 'Mousebrain fox!' He thought, creeping forward. He was only a few tail lengths from the fox.

Three...two..one! With that, Oakflame leapt out from with weeds and grass. A yowl came from his throat, the fox jumping back in surprise.

[spinachsprite]

Originally Posted by Rosemew

Oakflame watched the fox trot to a rabbit with narrowed eyes. That creature would just cause trouble! It had to be driven off! He stalked through the weeds on the ground, closer to the fox. He pricked his ears hearing troutrunner, nodding. "Lets drive it off our territory." He meowed coolly.

The tabby tom crept forward, careful to not make noise. He stopped as the creature lifted its head, looking around. A moment after, it went back to eating the meat. He flicked his tail, pupils shrinking to slits. 'Mousebrain fox!' He thought, creeping forward. He was only a few tail lengths from the fox.

Three...two..one! With that, Oakflame leapt out from with weeds and grass. A yowl came from his throat, the fox jumping back in surprise.

Seeing oakflame creeping towards the russet creature, Troutrunner followed suit, lowering her belly into the grass and sneaking forward like a lion on the Savannah eyeing up a plump gazelle. Her nape hurt whenever she stalked, but she ignored the burning, her gaze fixed on the nonchalant creature, which paused every so often to glance about as it picked at the dead lagomorph at its feet. When Oakflame lept, she bunched her muscles and prepared to join the Fray.

The fox stared at oakflame, startled for a second, and hissed, it's fur arching and teeth bared. One cat was rarely a match for such a wily and foreboding creature. Troutrunner too lept out of the foliage, hissing and making herself look particularly large. If they could avoid a fight and simply intimidate the creature into leaving, they would be far better off. She hissed, spitting, and swiped at the canidae's nose, Standing quite close to Oakflame so they could appear a bigger and stronger adversory.

[furrensic]

Originally Posted by spinachsprite

Seeing oakflame creeping towards the russet creature, Troutrunner followed suit, lowering her belly into the grass and sneaking forward like a lion on the Savannah eyeing up a plump gazelle. Her nape hurt whenever she stalked, but she ignored the burning, her gaze fixed on the nonchalant creature, which paused every so often to glance about as it picked at the dead lagomorph at its feet. When Oakflame lept, she bunched her muscles and prepared to join the Fray.

The fox stared at oakflame, startled for a second, and hissed, it's fur arching and teeth bared. One cat was rarely a match for such a wily and foreboding creature. Troutrunner too lept out of the foliage, hissing and making herself look particularly large. If they could avoid a fight and simply intimidate the creature into leaving, they would be far better off. She hissed, spitting, and swiped at the canidae's nose, Standing quite close to Oakflame so they could appear a bigger and stronger adversory.

Oakflame clawed at the predator, it jumping back a bit with a gnarly hiss. The tom leapt forward, staying close to troutrunner as he followed the canidae who was backing up. A few more swipes from him and the molly caused the animal to scamper away. Darting off somewhere in the bushes and greenery.

He looked at troutrunner giving her a respectful nod. "I suppose scaring the fox off helped us walk here!" he said in a joking tone. He sniffed around the border, ear flicking. "They have moved the markers back!" he meowed in Surprise, tail flicking.

[spinachsprite]

He looked at troutrunner giving her a respectful nod. "I suppose scaring the fox off helped us walk here!" he said in a joking tone. He sniffed around the border, ear flicking. "They have moved the markers back!" he meowed in Surprise, tail flicking.
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Troutrunner looked triumphant as the fox scattered off through the undergrowth, abandoning it's prey and leaving them to continue their journey along the border. She scented and sniffed where Shadowclan's scent lingered, tail thrashing and scowling as she noticed the difference, where the scents mingled together. "We can scent along here and then head back," the Molly said, glancing in the direction that the fox had headed, across the border and into the pine grove that followed. "And let's hope we don't see that fox again. I've had enough of canines for the rest of my moons after the last few ordeals we've had." The mark on her nape boar a painful reminder for the Molly, and she shook her head slightly, rooting through the thick grassy undergrowth.

(@rosemew sorry for the wait!)

[furrensic]

Originally Posted by spinachsprite

He looked at troutrunner giving her a respectful nod. "I suppose scaring the fox off helped us walk here!" he said in a joking tone. He sniffed around the border, ear flicking. "They have moved the markers back!" he meowed in Surprise, tail flicking.

Originally Posted by spinachsprite

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Troutrunner looked triumphant as the fox scattered off through the undergrowth, abandoning it's prey and leaving them to continue their journey along the border. She scented and sniffed where Shadowclan's scent lingered, tail thrashing and scowling as she noticed the difference, where the scents mingled together. "We can scent along here and then head back," the Molly said, glancing in the direction that the fox had headed, across the border and into the pine grove that followed. "And let's hope we don't see that fox again. I've had enough of canines for the rest of my moons after the last few ordeals we've had." The mark on her nape boar a painful reminder for the Molly, and she shook her head slightly, rooting through the thick grassy undergrowth.

(@rosemew sorry for the wait!)[/QUOTE]
(( Its fine! ))
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Oakflame scrunched up his muzzle , sniffing the rest of the border. He couldn't believe shadowclan would do this! An image of his sister popped up in his mind. No, she wouldn't be apart of this. Shaking his head, he followed after troutrunner. He gave a nod at her words, and the merge definitely wasn't helping.

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