Smallpines

[goodacacia]

Floodsight
✦ RiverClan | 21 moons | Mind Reader ; Beefed Up T1 ; empty slot

Her focus turned from the water to the cats that just arrived. Thank the stars Fishfreckle had pulled the molly out of the water. They had been too late for Mudsmoke, but Jayfrost was still somewhere under. Her eyes pierced the bank and otters with cold hatred, but had a slight defeated look.

"Should we get Larkwing back first? And...for Jay..." Her voice trailed off, unknowingly if those were the right words to speak. But Larkwing needed medical attention, so that was a must.

Her eyes once more filled with grief and regret. Couldn't she have done something more? She did absolutely nothing during this whole patrol. Absolutely nothing. It hurts her to see her clanmate all bruised and batter while she stood almost unscathed. It almost felt like history was on repeat. Once again, she felt helpless to the world.

[ @Neptune. @taillow @burntToast @Idiotic.Bean101 @alec @Dark @BEAR. ]

[BEAR.]

The otter fled, and took its friends with it. At this point, Wolfhive was too tired to protest more than a couple grumbles when Duskfish and the Dumbfish decided to help him to shore. He could swim! ... well, not as well when the surplus of his energy was used up.

Second his paw hit land, though? Wolfhive weaseled away from the duo, taking a few steps away from the waters' edge before he sank into a sitting position. He didn't have it in him to try to shake the water from his fur, at least not immediately. The damage dealt to him by the otter was largely the gashes in his flank, but he had received a few additional bites and scratches as they drove the beast back. The extent though, was hard to see beneath his wet fur - and honestly he just didn't care.

Wolfhive didn't like being on RiverClan's bank, the last time he'd truly been over here, outside of the raids, was after they tried to kill him. He'd just been an apprentice then.. with his 'ma and Muddy, and he had to kill in self-defense.

... speaking of the devil. His gaze fell on Larkwing, eyes narrowing. From the other side of the river he hadn't given the tortoiseshell much though, but now that they were on the same side -- the otters were gone -- he knew this cat and his sodden fur raised enough to show the start of a bristle. Had he not been soaked, it might've been more spikey.

What was she doing here? Did RiverClan let back anyone who begged and pleaded? Wolfhive didn't understand this decision. A coward, deserter, lazy sack of fur that had no clue how to keep cats in line - evident by the mouthy shrimp that was going off on Dusklion and valuing the life of this worthless fox-heart over the rest. Hhe personally associated her with the poisoning and ambush; how disinterested she was in resolving that conflict, how his pain never mattered to RiverClan 'cause it was 'just a few cats who inflicted it.'

It's a sour note in his mouth, and the fish were lucky he had self-control because he wanted to take the shrimp and his dungfriend and feed them to the otters in pieces. After breaking all of Fartwing's legs, slowly - fragment by fragment. Of course he'd make sure not to kill either - he'd want them alive, watching as the otters consumed them. Wouldn't matter to anyone else, 'cause it was only him doing it, right?

Wolfhive thumped his tail instead, dragged himself to his paws despite his body's protests, and paced the bank to determine the best route across. The otters were still in the water - haaaing at the patrol - but had kept back, hopefully because they saw how injured one of their own was. He eyed the water a little skeptically before he went in and crossed, a little rough due to fatigue, but made it onto his side and up the bank into the woods.

---

Sedgeflake didn't really get why Dusklion bothered. Once the otter was driven back, he'd been instructed to help the stupid squirrel out of the water - was it really so bad to let him go?? The otters would've been blamed for it, it wasn't like ThunderClan could tell RiverClan let him drown. But nooo.

He ignored the rat for the remainder, simply disinterested and also if he did pay him further mind he might try to kill him. He hoped Dusklion didn't make a habit of fishing out Thunderrats - they weren't worth her mercy.

Larkwing had been scooped out by -- when did Fishfreckle get here?! And they had Floodsight, Catfishwhisker - Mudsmoke was gone, Jayfrost was gone. He wasn't that surprised, he saw Jayfrost go under but Dusklion had been the more important choice. (sorry not sorry)

Then Fishfreckle decided to run his mouth. Sedgeflake snarled back. "You suddenly an otter expert, Fishbrains? Why don't we chuck you in after Mudsmoke and Jayfrost and see how you deal since you know so damn much!" He wouldn't actually - probably - but if Fishfreckle pushed it, maybe. "Stars, a patrol this size could handle MOST predators, and we're trained in swimming if they got in the water. This should've been a breeze. Stop acting like she should've known better when this is new to ALL OF US. If you'd been in her place, more cats would be dead and that's a fact - everyone knows you can't fight for ass."

Sedgeflake looked over at Dusklion, visibly irked but not with her. "You want me to round up a couple cats to see if we can find Jayfrost 'n... maybe Mudsmoke?"

[ @Neptune. @taillow @Idiotic.Bean101 @alec @Dark @goodacacia ]

[taillow]

Dusklion - RiverClan Deputy

No sooner had she turned around did she have a face almost immediately in front of hers. Instinctively her claws came out as her hackles rose, watching with narrowed eyes as Fishfreckle started in on her. His tone was fierce, and all over an ear. Larkwing was fine!! The deputy bared her teeth, a low growl rumbling in her throat. She was still acutely aware of Wolfhive on the bank with them, and the last thing the Clan needed was to implode, again, in front of ThunderClan.

Each and every one of his words was life a knife, and the deputy lashed her tail. "How in the hell was I suppose to know they wouldn't be easy to take down? Have you ever fought an otter, Fishfreckle? 'Nfact, have you ever fought for anythin' in your starsdammed life 'sides you 'n your own interests?? 'M so sorry to burst your bubble, but I didn't drag Larkwing on this patrol - I asked for volunteers 'n she volunteered! Go stick your muzzle in her face 'n yell at her for it 'n get outta mine before I claw it off!"

Bristling fur, tail bushed out, hackles up, the deputy stared with pupils that were nearing slits as the tom practically squared up with her. The threat to kill her earned a barking laugh. "Ha! Kill me, good one. Get in line for that, Fishface." There were plenty who wanted to do that already - maybe they could all work together and take her out of her mistery. A sharp look was cast to Larkwing, then back to Fishfreckle. "Last I checked, Larkwing is a fully capable warrior who can handle herself, not some kit you need to babysit. But excuse me, maybe that's the set-up you both have. Some sort of weird mate thing." She'd be a fool to not recognize how close the two were, how their reunion had gone after she had returned with the warrior after he'd been missing.

Claws dug into the ground, teeth barred. At some point Dusklion faintly registered splashing in the bank and caught Wolfhive retreating back to the ThunderClan side out of the corner of her eye. Great. So the thunder-rat had witnessed all of this. Just great. Narrowing her eyes, the deputy was fully prepared to bark out a few more words when... Blinking in surprise as Fishfreckle apologized, she just stared at him. He was apologizing. Something constricted in her chest and she looked away with a snort.

Sedgeflake laid into him too, then turned to her with a question. Watching Fishfreckle momentarily, then flicking her gaze up to Larkwing, Dusklion eventually looked between Floodsight and Sedgeflake. "Mudsmoke is... gone. Water was... was too red. Jays... I..." Some part of her told her it was useless to look after them. Jays wouldn't just not be here if he hadn't gotten swept away by the stream, or torn into like Mudsmoke. Stars, the water still held a faint red tint to it. She steeled her expression. "Take the patrol back to camp - make sure Larkwing gets her ear looked at." A glance towards the one of the other relatively uninjured cats there. "Floodsight, come with me to look for Jayfrost... see if we can find him further downstream."

[ @Dark @Neptune. @BEAR. @goodacacia @Idiotic.Bean101 ]

[Neptune.]

Larkwing
~<>~
26 moons || she/her || RC Warrior || Kitty Softpaws, Mind Reader, Killer Aptitude T2
scarred, scrawny dilute tortoiseshell; green eyes

Coughing, Larkwing dislodges the water from her lungs, feeling the way it sloshes and makes her almost sick. She’d barely had the energy or the time to register what was going on until now, veins so full of adrenalin that her vision had narrowed solely to the otter and not much else. Now, though, as the threat had vanished for the moment and she was back on dry land, no longer struggling to stay afloat while disoriented, her brain plays a little game of catchup.

The first thing she focuses on is, of course, Fishfreckle. The fact that he was here now, despite his orders not to be without an escort, was something that both grated on Lark’s nerves and something she was incredibly thankful for. Without him, her situation could’ve ended a whole lot differently, even if Dusklion or another on patrol had gotten to her. She registers in another corner of her mind that… they’re down a few patrol members. Jayfrost… Mudsmoke… and they’re up a couple patrol members too, with Fishfreckle and Sedgeflake (when had he gotten here?). The otters are gone. Not defeated, just… gone. It’s a small victory, if you could even count it as a victory. Larkwing doesn’t feel victorious.

There’s a moment where Fish reaches out to her, and the concern and fury swirling on his face an odd mix, and Larkwing found herself almost scared. Not of him, not really, but more like she was scared of what he would do in his anger. He pulls back, though, before he can make contact with her ear (why was he so concerned about it?), and the snarl in his voice has a shiver running down the former leader’s spine. Weakly she gets to her paws and follows behind Fishfreckle as he storms the remnants of the patrol.

He’s angry. She doesn’t think she’s ever heard him be this angry - and on her behalf, no less.

’Look at her, Dusk- look at her ear!’

"My ear?" She murmurs to herself, reaching up a paw to poke at it and hissing when she makes contact. She’d thought the wetness there had just been river water, but when she pulls her paw away, startled by the sharp and stinging pain, cream fur comes back stained red. She swallows thickly, but Fish isn’t done yelling quite yet. "Fish-" she tries to interrupt, but hesitates, guilt and anxiety coming now to replace the adrenaline in her belly. She had half a mind to snap back at him, that she doesn’t need his protection, that she doesn’t need him to worry, that she’ll get involved in whatever she damn well pleases and it’s not on Dusk to keep her out of matters to keep the clan safe. She has half a mind to shout at him. But… she doesn’t. She lets him keep going even as her own expression darkens somewhat. Yelling might ruin all the progress they’d made in their… whatever this was. So she’ll bury her anger. She’ll never look at it again. And he… he seems to have worn himself out anyway.

Dusklion, though...she does the yelling for her, so there's nothing left to say, not really. The 'mate' comment, though- that isn't- they aren't- are they? She feels a little warm at that and shifts uncomfortably.

"Let's go, Fish," she says after Dusklion dismisses most of the patrol back to camp, "did you want to clear every sharp stone and thorn from the path for me too?" There's a sarcastic bite that she hadn't originally planned on letting out. She'd meant to let her anger go, but it didn't turn out that way, it seems, and her tail twitches behind her irritably.

[ @Dark || @taillow || @BEAR. || @goodacacia || @Idiotic.Bean101 ]

[goodacacia]

Floodsight
✦ RiverClan | 21 moons | Mind Reader ; Beefed Up T1 ; empty slot

Between the putrid red waters and the constant yelling, it made Floodsight kind of nauseous. The initial scare of the moment and the adrenaline had faded, leaving her with only a headache. Just like that, they've lost Mudsmoke and Jayfrost. It only took a few seconds for them to be torn into shreds, leaving a trail of red and death amongst what was originally still waters. She couldn't help but just stare numbly at the bank, almost wanting to gag at the fact that the otters were swimming in bl....

Then there was Fishfreckle and Dusklion, who were yelling at each other. Was it now the time? The silver molly wanted to just tell them to shut it; that there's better things to do than blame each other for something they couldn't have imagined. But they were both just scared, scared of the possibility of losing their life, of someone's close to them. But the words didn't come out. She knew it was all true, if she was in his position, and stars forbid it was someone like Waspmeadow, Rainpaw or Raven...she'd be more than angry, scared to death, blame everyone around her if it meant she could get them back and for them to never have experience something like that.

But they can't change the past. Mudsmoke was gone. Jayfrost is...

That's when she heard her name get called. There was no resistance as she looked at Dusklion and Floodsight just nodded numbly. It would've been for the best if she just lied to herself, gaslight her mind into believing there's some random good positive side. But she couldn't tear her mind off of the shreds of...

"Y-yeah. We'll find him...Mudsmoke, too, give Muds a proper burial...a proper," Floodsight wanted to say 'end', but she knew saying that they'll find him was untrue. What are even the chances they could find them and whose to say the otter didn't just keep them for themselves. She turn back, her blue gaze lay upon Larkwing's cut up ears and then to Fishfreckle. "Take care...on the way back."

[ @Dark @Neptune. @BEAR. @taillow @Idiotic.Bean101 ]

[Neptune.]

Larkwing
~<>~
26 moons || she/her || RC Warrior || Kitty Softpaws, Mind Reader, Killer Aptitude T2
scarred, scrawny dilute tortoiseshell; green eyes
[this plot takes place some days AFTER the otter plot !!]

It's in some small effort to return to normalcy that Larkwing invites Salamanderpaw out to go hunting with her. Although not her apprentice, sometimes it's beneficial for the young of the clan to go out with more warriors than just their mentor. Besides, one cat can't teach you everything... if the calico had questions, Lark would answer them. If not, then, well, she wouldn't try and force a lesson.

The hunting location this time around was some ways away from where the otters had built their den. After the failure of a patrol, Larkwing wanted to stay as far from possible from those beasts... but Smallpines was still a great fishing and land hunting ground, and as long as they stayed away from the river... they'd be fine.

"Just remember to watch out for the river," Larkwing reminds the apprentice. This was probably far enough away from where the otters had been, but water creatures are known to swim, so they should still be wary. "Try and stick to land prey if you can." That said, she nods for Salamanderpaw to begin, a silent plea that the apprentice would stay in eye and ear shot goes up to StarClan as well, and the tortoiseshell begins her own hunt.

[ @nyme !! and so it begins !!! ]

[nyme]

WE'LL BUILD A FIRE IN YOUR EYES

── ⋅ ⋅ ── ! ── ⋅ ⋅ ──

SALAMANDERPAW . 7 MOONS . SHE/HER . RIVERCLAN

"Watch out and stick to land prey," Salamanderpaw repeats quickly, already staring out past and Larkwing and into the greenery with a look of anticipation. Right. She can do that. She will do this. She blinks back at Larkwing again, looking just long enough to catch the older she-cat's little nod. Is..? Oh! Yes! Don't have to give her a nonverbal cue twice!

Salamanderpaw moves low and slow and ponderous, staring down at her paws or over her shoulder at her speckled rump. She hasn't gone anywhere at all yet, really; just stalled to try and figure out her crouch and her stalking. Something is off about the way she does it, she's sure of it—how else could she have failed so spectacularly on that patrol!—but she isn't sure what it could be. Her weight rocks dramatically with each step because she's overthinking and underpracticed and she has her butt stuck too high up in an effort to keep her tail from dragging, but all Salamanderpaw can tell for herself is that something is wrong and it's making her slow and bad at this.

Briefly, she considers asking Larkwing. Mismatched eyes dart out, skim the undergrowth. She's hard to spot out here with her muted pelt (and how is she so quiet?), but Salamanderpaw catches the smallest glimpse of a tattered ear. Her mouth opens, a call for Larkwing's attention swelling in her chest...then it clicks shut. The call is snuffed out. Nobody's going to be very impressed with Salamanderpaw if she goes bothering them for help, now, are they? Wow, Salamanderpaw, good job! You pulled it off after demanding to have every little thing broken down and explained for you like you're a tiny little kitten! That's so...average! Eughhh...she shakes herself, looking bitter and resolute. If practice makes perfect, then she doesn't need to go making a big fool out of herself by bothering Larkwing or whoever else it happens to be on any other given day. She just has to practice. Right.

Salamanderpaw starts to amble with a bit more purpose, jaws parted to catch a scent, and Starclan must have a cat or two in her corner because she picks up on the mouse-scent nearly immediately. Yes! Score. Oh, she's going to be great at this. She's going to be great and everyone will say so because she earned it because she's so clever—

snap.

Clever little Salamanderpaw is not watching her paws when one comes down onto a twig. The mouse she'd been sizing up scurries off and the stocky little apprentice chases after it, significantly less quiet than the warrior she's with. She careens after the mouse, biting back curses as she skids and slips moss and old leaves carpeting the ground. The mouse finds safety in a little burrow dug under the roots of a tangly old shrub. Salamanderpaw wedges one of her paws in after it to no avail. It's gone.

Ugh! Why is this so hard! Salamanderpaw withdraws with a huff, thick tail stirring up dust with the way it lashes behind her. Okay. Okay, whatever, so she missed the first one. She's got bad luck with mice, anyway. And birds. And she still can't fish but she's trying to keep that on the down low—not that the river's a viable option, anyway. Salamanderpaw glances toward the sound of running water, which is closer now than it had been before. Huh. She knows she should probably back off and find another mouse to fumble, but...just...just a moment. A moment to breathe, that's all she needs. Chasing stuff is hard work. Missing stuff is even harder.

Salamanderpaw slouches at the water's edge. Wonder how otters know how to hunt and fight. They've got to, right, 'cause they were evidently a huge deal back when everyone was first dealing with them. Last Salamanderpaw checked, though, they probably didn't have otter-apprentice ceremonies and otter-mentors and otter-training...that's just a clan cat thing, right? They've got to be learning it all some otter way. Salamanderpaw's chuckling like a little loon when movement far across the river catches her eye. She bows up instantly, thoughts still fixed on otters, but the thing across the water doesn't look ferocious or bloodthirsty, it's...it's more like a. Like a weird, long mouse, or...oh it's a squirrel! And it's fat.

Salamanderpaw stands, pelt bristling with excitement. That thing looks so easy. Sooo easy. The fat little critter noses at the ground on the other bank, looking all dumb, and Salamanderpaw's claws prick the ground. She could so get that. It's not even funny how gotten that stupid thing could get. Sure, fine, that other bank is Thunderclan's but it doesn't look like there's anything over there right now besides the squirrel. All those pertinent, pressing questions and fears that a clan cat should have—this is rule-breaking, this is dangerous, my scent will linger, I shouldn't, I can't—go forgotten. All she sees is the squirrel and her fortunate path to it, stones bared by the low water, a little path straight across. Maybe she really does have those Starclan cats in her corner, after all.

Salamanderpaw doesn't even bother looking back before making that first clumsy hop to the nearest stone. Larkwing could be right at her side, pinning her tail down, telling her no and she'd probably still do it. She has to.

@Neptune ; LARKWING

[Neptune.]

Larkwing
~<>~
26 moons || she/her || RC Warrior || Kitty Softpaws, Mind Reader, Killer Aptitude T2
scarred, scrawny dilute tortoiseshell; green eyes

Tall grass conceals her form as Larkwing stalks a chipmunk, digging around in the foliage in preparation for the colder moons to come. She's lucky she can even still find land prey at healthy weights. Most of what the Clans can catch in the cold moons are barely fat enough to feed a couple of kits, let alone full grown warriors. So, it's by whatever grace StarClan has left for her that Larkwing makes this catch.

Part of her wants to happily toss the now dead rodent into the air like she's still an apprentice, playing with her food instead of actually eating it. She used to do that a lot in her 'paw days. But, many moons of trauma and training and Larkwing has learned something of responsibility and when and where the right time and place was. This was not the right time, nor the right place, so she buries the chipmunk and turns to check on Salamanderpaw's progress, slipping into the grass and watching from a distance for a short moment.

She's just in time to hear the sharp SNAP of a twig and see the mouse the apprentice had been tracking scamper off. The warrior can't help but wince in sympathy for the lost catch, but she's curious to know how she'll recover. Her body tenses as Salamanderpaw approaches the water's edge, and she steps out of the grass to warn the apprentice away, when something in the calico's posture makes her pause. She's spotted... something. At first Larkwing has trouble locating it, expecting to see a ThunderClan patrol and, as such, looking for cats, but she doesn't find anything and has to scan a little harder. And that's when she spots the squirrel - a real fat one - and the sense of dread in her gut plummets. She knows what the apprentice is about to do the second before she does it.

Salamanderpaw starts crossing the river, using a series of stones that poke out of the lower water level as a bridge

"Salamanderpaw!" Larkwing shouts, trying to grab the apprentice's attention even as fear of ThunderClan holds her in place. Or... it's less fear of ThunderClan, more fear of the consequences of her inaction and the fact that she had... not the best reputation in the oak forest. "Get back here! That's ThunderClan territory!"

[ @nyme || @BEAR. for ur viewing pleasure, lark should be in thc by her next post or two :catpeek: ]

[nyme]

WE'LL BUILD A FIRE IN YOUR EYES

── ⋅ ⋅ ── ! ── ⋅ ⋅ ──

SALAMANDERPAW . 7 MOONS . SHE/HER . RIVERCLAN

Salamanderpaw makes her way across the water, hop by step by hop, eyes fixed on the squirrel. It's turned a bit, now, fluffy tail pointed right at her. She wonders if that part would keep well, if maybe it'd be a nice addition to her nest. She hasn't been able to bring herself to decorate it yet, too worried that it might just be another thing to leave behind, but maybe this could change all that. Excitement blooms in her chest. She can do this. She has to. That thing looks fat and slow and dumb and she can be better than it. Even if it's an ugly kill like when she basically bludgeoned that lizard to death, she can get it. She will get it. And maybe Larkwing will be annoyed and mad and maybe she'll never want to take Salamanderpaw out hunting ever again, but that's fine because Salamanderpaw will have been quick and clever and so impressive and she'll come back home carrying a big, giant catch and maybe nobody will mind so much how or where she got it when they see the size of it. Everyone'll be all, like, wow Salamanderpaw, you're a little naughty for what you did but you're also so brave and cool and, wow, this thing is going to keep everyone fed for moons. You're so awesome, you just keep getting better and better at this. You know what, all the best warriors take risks, and you know what else, who even cares about stupid Thunderclan, they can't prove anything—

The call of her name stuns her, though it really shouldn't. Salmanderpaw wobbles, nearly toppling in, and she grits her teeth in alarm. Whatever magical change all young Riverclanners must go through that makes them no longer queasy and short of breath at the thought of swimming has um. Not happened for her, yet; another embarrassing fact she's been trying to keep on the down low. She's sure it'll happen, just like she's sure she'll get her growth spurt and become the tallest cat in Riverclan any day now, but in the meantime the current rushing under her paws is something she's trying very hard not to focus on. Larkwing calls out again, ordering her back, warning her of the rule she's about to go and break. Salamanderpaw still hasn't moved yet, a colorful little lump midway across the river, indecision making her head spin. Larkwing's important. She's someone Salamanderpaw should be heeding, because that's what all warriors are, right? They're big, they're strong, they're better, so they're in charge and their word goes. But, then, hadn't she also thought the same thing of Fadingstar? And look where that ended up, for him and for everyone. Salamanderpaw peeks back finally, a cautious look at Larkwing on Riverclan's bank. She's quiet, not shouting a reply back for fear of losing the squirrel, but it's clear that Salamanderpaw has heard her and recognizes that she's doing something she shouldn't be. But. She's already halfway to doing a bad thing, and nothing bad has happened yet. Just like how nothing bad happened when Waterlily yelled and shoved at Fadingstar, except for how she looked almost dead from exhaustion after, but, Waterlily's already almost dead anyway. Salamanderpaw chews her tongue in thought. There's no one over there. Just be fast. And she doesn't know if she can turn around now without tripping over her own feet and falling into the water. The easiest way forward is...well, forward.

Keep it up - maybe one day you'll join the Lionhearts as some of the best hunters in the Clan. The memory rings louder than Larkwing's voice. Hardheaded and deluded, Salamanderpaw sets her jaw and turns to take another jump to the next stone. Look, she's all agile and stuff—she really is getting better already, isn't she?

Salamanderpaw pauses on the final stone, river water splashing at her feet. She's down in her abysmal hunting crouch, lurching unsteadily as she tries to adjust and readjust her footing on the slick rock. She's close enough to reach Thunderclan's side with another jump, but she's worried the squirrel might notice her if she's not quick. So she has to be quick. She takes a deep breath and jumps! And sticks the landing! And runs—! Aaaand so does the squirrel, alerted by the clunky footfalls of an overenthusiastic predator. Salamanderpaw barrels after it and into the pines, only coming to a stop within a whiskerlength of ramming her face into the tree that the squirrel darts up.

"You! Cheater!!" Salamanderpaw howls her defeat, clawing at the pine trunk. She even tries to haul herself up it only to skid down and tumble back onto her bottom gracelessly. She does that twice. This cannot be happening. This isn't how it's supposed to go.

@Neptune ; LARKWING

[Neptune.]

Larkwing
~<>~
26 moons || she/her || RC Warrior || Kitty Softpaws, Mind Reader, Killer Aptitude T2
scarred, scrawny dilute tortoiseshell; green eyes

Salamanderpaw turns to look back at her, and Larkwing is certain the apprentice is about to turn around and come right back, embarrassed by the act of being caught doing something wrong. Salamander, however, has other plans. She keeps. Going. It's all Larkwing can do not to shout any louder, paranoia that a passing patrol might hear them and kill the apprentice ringing heavy in her mind and, for the first time in so long, she starts seeing the eyes again.

But Salamanderpaw keeps going, focused in on that squirrel like her pride depends on it. It's stupid, but Larkwing understands, to a degree... she's had her own run-ins with pride's ugly maw before. It hadn't ended pretty for her. She doesn't want Salamander to meet a fate similar or, StarClan forbid, worse.

She's about to call the small calico back across the border again, to insist harder, but she doesn't get the chance. Salamanderpaw is leaping that final stretch, landing hard and scaring her quarry away only to bolt after it.

"SALAMANDER!!" She shouts, more out of fear than anger. She needs to chase her down and drag her back, but... that means crossing the border. That means stepping into hostile territory and the eyes are there. ThunderClan would sooner skin her alive than let her leave merely injured if they found her on their territory - she's sure of it. But, swallowing hard, she doesn't see nor scent any recent ThunderClan sights or scents so... if she's quick, if she grabs Salamander by her scruff and drags her home without stopping to so much as breathe... she can mask their scent and ThunderClan would be none the wiser. Right? Stormstar would need to be told, but... not ThunderClan.

It's risky, it makes her skin crawl, but she doesn't have a choice. So, moving a little stiff from anxiety, Larkwing hops the stones and crosses into enemy lands, not wasting a minute to do more than quickly scan her surroundings, tail swishing anxiously behind her, as if she were swatting away flies. Luckily, Salamanderpaw hadn't gone very far, and Larkwing catches up with her easily.

"What do you think you're doing?" She hisses, glancing over her shoulder. Did that bush just rustle? "You could get us both killed! C'mon, we have to smother our scent - quickly - and go."

[ here's ur leg on a silver platter teehee, pp perms to do whatever :cuteandsweet: ]
[ @nyme || @BEAR. ]