Smallpines

[BEAR.]

Wolfhive hadn't been planning anything particular, he'd just been out monitoring the territory (read: avoiding the other sick cats) when a commotion caught his attention. Yelling near Smallpines.. yet the voices weren't immediately recognizable.

As he approached the border, it became clear very quickly there was a reason why he didn't know who was making the ruckus. The smell of fish wasn't easily missed.. and to make matters worse, they were STILL THERE. In his land. And one appeared to have been trying to hunt, given how she was gawking up a tree like a fish out of water. ...Which was fitting, actually.

His focus wasn't on the wannabe hunter though, but her companion. Because he recognized the hunter seemed to be an apprentice, but the warrior..

The Stars must be smiling on him today, why else would Larkwing be on his territory?

She hadn't noticed him yet, he had waited until her gaze returned to Salamanderpaw before he crept forward. Then he lunged.

It'd be easy to catch her by the shoulder, pin her down, kill her. Wolfhive wasn't interested in outright slaying her - he wasn't here to terrorize a child more than necessary, but he did want to make Larkwing hurt. For the poison, for the ambush... For every crime RiverClan committed under her watch, when she cared little and did nothing to stop it. So instead, he grabbed hold of her tail and yanked her whole body backward - the force causing it to audibly CRACK.

The second she turned to lash at him, to get him to release - he'd do so, at the cost of grabbing hold of her front leg and twisting it hard in the wrong direction. Breaking it was clean and quick, and would leave her collapsed in pain but not entirely incapable of walking. "You don't understand how lucky you are," each word dripped more venom than the toxins that destroyed him. "How I've longed to make you bleed and cry for what you've done to my Clan, me. Be grateful you have your life and your tail - the next time we meet I plan to take both, and.." His nose wrinkled now that he was close to her, and the scent was more distinguishable than the general fishiness. ".. you better pray to your ancestors those kits of yours aren't around to see it." Seriously, who the hell would have kits with her? She couldn't handle a Clan, why would anyone entrust her with children. He'd be amazed if they survived kithood or grew into respectable cats, as to him Larkwing was worth less than dung.

"Now get the hell out of my territory Larkstar!" He'd aim a swat toward her to send her rolling away from him, before his sharp and unwavering gaze rested on the apprentice. He didn't plan on attacking Salamanderpaw, but if she didn't kick into gear he would make her. The fact he hurt Larkwing with no visible blood should be ominous enough to make her think twice before crossing into ThunderClan again.

[ @Neptune. @nyme ]

[nyme]

WE'LL BUILD A FIRE IN YOUR EYES

── ⋅ ⋅ ── ! ── ⋅ ⋅ ──

SALAMANDERPAW . 7 MOONS . SHE/HER . RIVERCLAN

It's Larkwing's audible panic that finally clears her tunnel vision. Salamanderpaw had expected her to be mad, to storm in and chew her out for being a rascal, a pawful. Salamanderpaw knows how to handle that; she's been a pawful all her life. Larkwing's frustration would have rolled right off her back, water off duck feathers. Her fear, though...Salamanderpaw has no idea what to make of that. Warriors don't get scared. Fear is the first thing strength cauterizes.

But Larkwing is scared right now.

Salamanderpaw pulls her claws out of the pine, blinking as the world comes properly into focus. She can hear the squirrel high above barking its strange little warning cry, smell the pine forest and something else that doesn't register immediately because she's still trying to wrap her head around Larkwing's reaction.

"Killed?" She echoes, sounding smaller than she means to. That's...that's not right, is it? Sure, cats get killed. Cats are always getting killed, she's heard plenty of that. But it's always been cats somewhere else: cats outside the nursery's walls. Cats outside the camp. Traitors executed because there was no other option. Warriors felled in battle. Nebulous whoevers lost to vague whatevers. Someone else, in some other world leagues away from hers. Not her, though, right? Salamanderpaw can't die. She's...she's tough! And impressive! And she has grit! And, she's...cool! She's supposed to be a great hunter someday, and the best fighter! And Tinymama would miss her if she died, and Seapaw, and—andandand...and not once had Salamanderpaw ever stopped to consider that any of those nebulous whoevers lost to vague whatevers were missed by somebody. Were skilled in their own ways. Had potential just like hers. Had been killed, all the same.

Imagine that.

"But. But," Salamanderpaw fumbles. Her first instinct is, of course, to argue, but it's not Larkwing that she's protesting so much as it is the very real truth of this situation. The one she caused. The one they're both in. The one Larkwing seems sure can kill them. Her fear is catching, and Salamanderpaw's stomach does a queasy flip. "There's nobody here, can't we just—"

She's right about that until she isn't. The stranger might as well have been a shadow cast by one of the trees, lashing out and growing teeth to snatch Larkwing back by the tail. It's fast, what he does to her, but Salamanderpaw's eyes are stuck wide open through it all. Intuitively, she expects blood. It's somehow worse that there isn't any. How I've longed to make you bleed and cry for what you've done to my Clan, me. Bad blood from before her time, then. Of all the Thunderclan cats they could have bumped into out here, it's one who's been waiting ages to rearrange Larkwing's skeleton. Salamanderpaw wonders whose bad luck is to blame and then she wonders how Larkwing's leg is ever going to be put back into the right shape and then she wonders, what did he mean, those kits of yours? Larkwing doesn't—does she?—no, she doesn't...oh. Ohh.

Salamanderpaw wishes she'd slipped and cracked her head on those stupid rocks. It's that overwhelming guilt that keeps her from bailing entirely, though by the time Wolfhive turns his eyes to her she's crept back to the water's edge, leapt onto that first stone to safety, and flattened herself as best she can as if she could grow small enough to disappear completely through sheer force of will. She doesn't want this cat anywhere near her or her as-of-yet perfectly functional legs and tail but she won't leave until she sees Larkwing get up. She can't. She owes the older she-cat more than she knows, now, and the only way she can think to even begin paying it back is this one, meager courtesy.

"I'm going. I promise," Salamanderpaw croaks quickly, holding his gaze because it's the best she can do right now. "With her." In her mind's eye she pictures herself unloading on this guy. Just tearing into him. Verbally, physically, you name it and you've got it. In reality, though, the bravest thing Salamanderpaw can manage to do is not run back home immediately. Is cower on that slippery stepping stone, watch the Thunderclan tom, wait for Larkwing to move, and hope that she moves soon because Salamanderpaw's courage is drying up fast.

"Larkwing," Salamanderpaw knows damn well that it'd be insensitive and insane of her to tack a hurry up onto that, but the sentiment is implied.

@Neptune ; LARKWING
@Bear ; WOLFHIVE

[Neptune.]

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

It's the will of that Dark Forest tom she met during her 'leader ceremony', or it's simply bad luck, but Larkwing is inclined to believe the former. Surely her luck can't truly be this poor? But, all at once, her tail is grabbed and pulled backward. Hard. Hard enough that she hears the S N A P before she feels the pain, before she even turns to see who or what her attacker is.

She does turn, though, maw contorted into a snarl even as tears prick the corners of her eyes from the pain, paw lashing out to slice whoever this is on the nose. And... she vaguely recognizes this cat from the sea of ThunderClanners who invaded her camp twice. She does not know his name, but he clearly knows her. And the vitriol in his gaze and his snarl as he grabs hold of the paw she lashed out to swipe at him with isn't a joke.

He grabs her leg, and he T W I S T S. The snap is audible and excruciating, and Larkwing growls deep in her throat from the pain of it, but, try as she might to stay standing, her vision dances in front of her and, for just a minute, she goes light headed and collapses to the floor, blinking the spots from her vision and thinking to herself 'I'm at his mercy, now.'

His words are a buzz in her ears. She hears them, but they don't register properly. Still, she knows when she's been beaten, caught entirely off guard and in enemy territory. Salamanderpaw is urging her onward, and Larkwing has half a mind to shout at her, but she doesn't.

It isn't easy, rising again to her paws, but adrenalin is her aid in keeping forward, and she makes it after Salamanderpaw and across the stepping stones, glancing back only once to see Wolfhive, his person flanked by uncountable eyes, open wide, bloodshot, drilling into her very being. She feels her blood turn cold.

"Go- back, back to camp," she urges, letting the apprentice lead. But- crap, she still has a chipmunk to collect. It's stupid, it's probably not very smart, but her brain is a little frazzled at the moment. She limps over, half hopping, sides heaving from the effort as each movement causes another shock of pain to rocket through her. She manages to uncover and grab the prey. And then she and Salamander are on their way again.

[ will make a post in the clearing right after this - ty both for this plot teehee ]
[ @nyme || @BEAR. ]

[BEAR.]

"Be quick, or there won't be much left of her to go with." It was a threat of escalation, clear as day, if they didn't get moving. Wolfhive didn't plan on going through with it unless they didn't take it seriously, though. It was funny, in a twisted sort of way - how he recognized and understood her fear in a way Larkwing never could.

Because he was that apprentice, but his horrors were what stained Larkwing's paws red in poison and blood. Though this would leave a mark on her, he considered it the lesser of all evils: Larkwing lived through his mercy. Her wounds would heal, and no blood was drawn. Even her kits might survive this encounter, though if they didn't... what did she expect, traipsing around ThunderClan land so carelessly?

Larkwing hobbled away, and it is only when they're gone does Wolfhive's body relax. A few haggard steps from the border were his only respite before he felt bile rise up in his throat and he had to bee-line for a bush. HRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRK

Well, better there than on some RiverClan scumbag, he supposed. Couldn't let them see weakness.. especially not the Poisoner. Now that his adrenaline had faded he just felt awful, and opted to try to head back to camp (whichever camp aligns with the timeline, of course.)

[Beaan]

- Wolfpaw -
- He/Him - 8 Moons - ThunderClan Medicine Cat -
- A large dark brown tom with a darker back and lighter underbelly, a missing hind leg -

Wolfpaw figured it would be good to go restock some herbs, maybe get some training with Bumblestar too, so the medicine cat talked to bumblestar, and they were out. The medicine cat hobbled along, staring off into the distance as they walked. Soon, they reached the end of the forest line, separating into a clearing. Wolfpaw scrunched his nose up at the strange smell. Now that he thought about it, it was the same smell from when they arrived at the gathering, and RiverClan was the only one there. From that information, Wolfpaw could declare that this was the border with RiverClan. Once the medic figured out where the scent markers were placed, he turned back to Bumblestar. "Can tell this is RiverClan border, same scent from when we arrived at the gathering," he muttered, adjusting his stance slightly so he's not leaning on the side with one paw.

"Was thinkin we could grab some Marigold - they help with infections as far as I know - and cobwebs since we're running low. Gonna also see if I could try ta find Wild garlic. It can be found on the forest floor. They got a sharp n tangy scent, and grow in patches, n have dark green leaves. Can be used for rat bites," the young tom said, breifing the leader on what it looks like and a quick explanation of the use. After talking to the leader, the medicine cat got to work searching for herbs. It felt strange with the RiverRats nearby.

[ Roll: 5, 3, 20 ]
[+2 marigold]

Unlike last time, Wolfpaw got lucky searching for the first herb. The medicine cat found some marigold - not a lot but some. He grabbed a few stems before resuming his search. This time, for cobwebs.

[ Roll: 11, 3, 5 ]
[+2 cobwebs]

Success!! Almost right after starting his search for cobwebs, he found a small bundle. The brown cat grabbed a few before going back to his search.

[ Roll: 14, 14, 7 ]
[+1 wild garlic]

Huzzah! It took a bit of searching, but Wolfpaw eventually found a small patch of Wild garlic. He grabbed a few, and now he couldn't carry anymore. He was about to call out to the leader when he smelled something. Pinning his ears behind his head, he called out "RiverClan!" The medic quickly grabbed his herbs and hobbled over to Bumblestar, hiding himself behind her. "Are they gonna hurt us?" he asked, green eyes searching for the other clan cats, and perhaps who they were.

[ @dino. @squidz @taillow ]
[cue berry and storm]

[squidz]

| BERRYSHINE |

small & nimble dark brown she-cat with darker flecks and light, leafy-green eyes | the collector

[ riverclan medicine cat | she-cat | 12 moons | timid, kind, hardworking ]

—

Berryshine was chatting quietly with Stormstar as the two headed up into Smallpines. It wasn't often that she got too near to the borders, but when duty called, sometimes she had to get a bit closer to get the herbs she needed. And as leaf-fall settled in, they were becoming scarcer, causing her to need to go a bit farther from camp.

Pausing near the scent marker, Berryshine flicked her tail to some marigold she saw growing in a patch. "Would you mind grabbing some of those yellow and orange flowers for me? It's marigold," She asked kindly, smiling at Stormstar, whom she was grateful was tagging along with her. Berry had never properly explored the territory prior to RiverClan's exile, so all of this felt mightily unfamiliar despite being her 'home'. Better late than never to explore it, she supposed.

As she went just a few paces away, Berryshine also spied a few poppy flowers — bright red dots amidst the greenery of the forest. Doing her best to carefully inspect and pluck them, she nipped the stems, taking out the good ones and leaving the damaged ones behind.

[ Rolls: 15, 6 | +2 poppy flowers ]

Next, she spied some goldenrod — the yellow, fuzzy-flowered plant that always made her sneeze. Making sure to stay in sight of Stormstar, Berryshine plucked some of the stems, letting out a small noise of frustration as she accidentally ripped all the flowers off one of them. Stars, so close... oh well. At least she got something.

[ Rolls: 11, 12 | +2 goldenrod ]

Making her way back to the gray-furred leader, Berryshine was happily in her own headspace, pausing by some borage she saw sitting by a tree's roots. This one was closer to the border, but still on RiverClan's side. Warily she slunk up, plucking off some of the large leaves and flowers to take back.

[ Rolls: 4, 1 | +0 borage ]

But in a moment she heard a low, worried voice, making her head jerk up in alarm, accidentally ripping (and thus ruining) the borage. Letting out a small huff of frustration mixed with fear, Berryshine froze, her eyes scanning the border. The scent markers were so overpowering that she hadn't even noticed the distinct scents of two individual cats nearing it as well, in addition to the somewhat-familiar voice she'd just heard. Fur bristling a bit, Berryshine took some careful steps back towards Stormstar, wanting to open her mouth to say something — but finding her throat dry.

Of course it wasn't outrageous to find ThunderClan cats on the other side, but she'd really hoped to avoid them at all costs. Having them this close, with just her and Storm here... it reminded her of the ThunderClan raid all that time ago when she was just a kit. And on top of that, the more recent raid that'd resulted in their exile... swallowing hard, Berry glanced up at Storm with wide eyes, as if wanting to know if they should bolt or confront the cats who'd clearly just spotted them.

[ @taillow - storm | @dino. - bumble | @Beaan - wolf ]

[Fox'Paw]

Fox'Paw padded up to the border,sniffing it curiously "Oh my Starclan! my first patrol!" the new apprentice thought excitingly

[stickpaw gaming]

ORP ...¨Im starting to think that maybe that deer wasnt actually telling that there was a golden stick and that its one of those hallucinations from those funny smelling herbs that felix mixed into my pumpkin spice latte which i got from the container that the twolegs throw empty boxes and wrappers into...Nah he was probably telling the truth.¨ Stickpaw had been raving to himself about sticks for the past 30 minutes and didnt show any signs of stopping.

[Sageflower0714]

Goldenwing joined the patrol with her sister and Treeclimber. Her mouth hung open slightly as she scented the faded markers, placing her own on pine trees as they passed through.
@Levanya @Spottedraven

[Levanya]

Songfeather

She/her l 20 Moons l Warrior

Coming from the RiverClan camp, Songfeather padded with her two clanmates straight towards Smallpines. Her paws making almost no noise as she moved through the forest, watching and listening for signs of otters and ThunderClan as the patrol moved closer and along the border. She did as her sister, opening her mouth, scenting for the markers. On some she would place her own if the other two didn't do it before her. She was focused and very alert. She didn't want to fight, neither otters nor ThunderClan. That didn't mean that she wouldn't if she had to though. Songfeather was loyal to her Clan, and would defend it with her life. Especially if her sister was in danger. With that thought, the beige cat looked over at Goldenwing. "How have you been? We haven't talked for a while now..." she meowed softly towards the golden and white cat. She gave her a kind look, hoping she didn't sound too accusing. That was not what she intended at all.

As they moved through the forest along the border, Songfeather looked over to Treeclimber as well. "Maybe we should try to bring back some freshkill, too. If we can find some I mean. What do you think?" she asked both cats. The young warrior didn't want to sound bossy or anything, so it felt better to just ask the others about their opinion. They would be back faster if they just marked up the border. But they would probably be send out to go hunting later anyway. If they wouldn't go training with their apprentices... did they have apprentices? Songfeather was unsure about Treeclimber, but her sister didn't have one yet. At least not that Songfeather could remember right now.

@Sageflower0714 @Spottedraven