Warriors: Divided || Public

(Can we please slow down a bit? I'm having trouble keeping up and I'm on the more active side here)

.::Skyeyes::.

Mentions: Pebblepaw

The former warrior's old instincts kicked in and he felt the urge to launch himself out of the cavern, through the forest, and into whatever threat had come upon his clan. However he knew that was stupid. Who would heal him if he became injured in such a fight? He quickly pushed the idea away and came up with a plan: if any kind of battle had broke out, his clanmates would need healing. If not, it wouldn't hurt to have numbers on their side, even if whatever the threat was didn't know he wouldn't engage unless absolutely necesarry.

"We bring healing herbs and defend our clan, if we must. Unless I say so, I want you to stay behind me. Do you understand?" he locked his gaze with Pebblepaw's for a split second, hoping to imbue the serious tone of his words in her. He nosed through the stacks of herbs and scooped up a fair amount in his jaws. He waved his tail, signaling that this was all they needed, before darting from the medicine cave. He tried not to go too fast, but resolved that Pebblepaw could track his scent if she fell too far behind. After all, the lives of his clanmates could be at stake. It was on the way to the border he kicked himself for pushing off Pebblepaw's defense training.

-==Raven==-

Mentions: Murtagh

"Well, aren't we so humble?" Raven purred, whiskers twitching in amusement. She thought back to her own home. It was a nice thought to have, out here under the cool shade of the trees in the expansive forest, that land belonged to everyone. On the hard gray nofur paths, every tail-length meant another scrawny mouse that could almost fill a cat's belly. Her family had been lucky enough, fending off the occasional lone tom from a quaint patch near the outskirts of nofur lands. Even out here, she imagined, there was only so much prey, and so many mouths to feed in the clan alone, not to mention outsiders like herself and Murtagh. She pricked her ears and listened as well, crouching closer to the older and wiser tom out of fear.

"If that is the case, I'd rather meet them another day." she whispered under her breath, following the silver tom's steps. She heard many voices, some hostile, some urgent, and some rather bored. When his tail flicked out she stopped, pressing her body against the ground and sitting dead silent.

Pebblepaw (F) | Med Cat App | Location: Camp | Mentions: Skyeyes

The apprentice swallowed nervously at the sudden graveness in the medicine cat's voice. Defend the clan? But...she never learned any combat moves! "Y-Yes sir," Pebblepaw responded hesitantly, deciding to nervously shuffle her way into the herb stores and snatch up the cobwebs. With the cobwebs in her jaws, she retreated from the medicine cat den before dashing after Skyeyes, who had already vanished from RainClan's camp. Panicked about getting left behind and being alone in the forest with whatever monsters were threatening the patrol, Pebblepaw did her best to pick up the pace.

Once more, her tiny mottled paws slipped on the damp cave floor right before the waterfall, causing her to briefly flail about until she slid across the stones. Nonetheless, she immediately picked herself back up, now with mud plastered to her right side, and pursued Skyeyes with the cobwebs tightly locked in her jaws. I hope they're ok!

----

Murtagh (M) | Rogue | Location: Forest | Mentions: Raven, patrol 

Already, the tom was silently back-pedaling, carefully avoiding any twigs or crunchy leaves that might give his presence away. "Another day it is." Murtagh agreed in a silent rumble, ears flattened against the skull to ensure that he wasn't spotted. He continued to back up, occasionally checking his footing before flittering his cerulean gaze back to where the clan cats and confronted rogues were. Once he felt that he was a safe distance away, Murtagh turned on his paws and picked up the pace. 

The lynx point weaved through the trees until he felt safe and secure within the confines of the woodland, away from RainClan's border. He finally slowed his pace and turned back to where he had gone, patiently waiting for Raven in the event that she decided to follow. If she wanted to stick around, that was cool with him- but he wasn't going to tell her how to live her life. He was hear to give her advice, not orders like some clan deputy or rogue clowder leader. 

(sorry for the recent short responses, I've been busy and now I'm in school rn)

Moon - Rogue - Tags: Hopestar, Patrol, River, Chipper

The leaders gaze intimidated Moon, so she she looked down at the rabbit that sat at her paws. "My name is Moon." She sat quietly and listened as the two other toms next to her introduced themselves as River and Chipper. "What are you going to do with us?" She asked nervously. 

Maplefur - Elder - Tags: Hopestar, rogues, Moon

Maplefur scrutinized the unfamilar cats. They seemed quite calm, with an exception of the small, young white she-cat, who seemed to be shivering. Most likely nerves. They didn't seem too dangerous, but looks can be deceiving. He looked at Hopestar and spoke, "If everythings settled down now, I'm going to go back to the riverbank and pick up the shells and feathers I dropped."

Halfpaw {} Nonbinary {} Apprentice
|:| Mentions: Hopestar, Maplefur, Rogues & Others |:|

Halfpaw looked up at Hopestar. She hadn't acknowledged that their clanmates had come to the rescue. They could hear the faintest rustling in the undergrowth as someone moved away, no doubt Kestrelheart herself. Knowing the she-cat, she was probably going to follow Shadeheart. They hoped the tom was okay...
Holding onto the kestrel remige tightly, they listened as some loners hesitantly told their leader their name, and then as Maplefur stated that if all was well, he would go back to his previous job before seeking out the patrol.
Still, Halfpaw was on edge. Surely Hopestar didn't intend to... befriend these loners, right? They believed that all they needed was the clanmates they'd grown up with. Would they even be able to feed these many cats if they joined the clan?
Thoughts raced through the young cat's head as he looked back at the rogues.

Dusk {} Male {} Loner
|:| Mentions: Cosmos, Shadeheart, & Kestrelheart |:|

Dusk grunted quietly. "Don't try to trick us, nice guy." He said, converting to a more aggressive tone. He stepped up beside Cosmos' hind legs, staring down at the dark tom.
"I've seen your kind attack unprovoked. The loner does nothing at all, but they have to pay for it because you only want your blood in these forests. You can lie all you want, but the truth still remains in the air."
Taking a deep breath, Dusk released it with a chuckle. "Now, stay light on your toes, Clan cat, because the possibilities of dancing are high right now~"
Tensing his body, he was about to pounce before he was a striking blue jay feather flutter down beside the dark tom's paws. What is this? He wondered. Looking up briefly, he saw no birds in the sky. 
Pointing his ears behind the Clan cat, he listened intently, and could indeed hear the breathing of another cat. "We've got company." He whispered to the Siamese, low enough for him only to hear. "Be prepared for anything."

Kestrelheart {} Female {} Warrior
|:| Mentions: Weepingpaw, Patrol, Shadeheart, & Rogues |:|

Kestrelheart kept her apprentice steady, shaking her head. "Looks like we won't be needed after all." She whispered, her tail tip twitching in frustration. Even though Halfpaw had shown Hopestar her feather, she went about it unnoticed.
With an internal hiss, she laid down her muscles stiff as she waited for something to happen. Just wait, she thought, claws sheathing and unsheathing in a strange rhythm to something in her head.
If these rogues get on my bad side... they'll regret it.
Seeing as Shadeheart was gone from the patrol, and she'd seen him come along, the she-cat looked around, ticking her ears. Where was he? Did a rogue escape? He could be injured and they wouldn't even know. With further concentration, Kestrelheart found his scent trailing up a tree.
"Maybe I can help elsewhere... I'm sure more backup is coming. Stay here." She said in a low voice. She crept along the forest floor as she followed the scent of her clanmate and a loner, but from the ground, expecting Weepingpaw to stay as she was told.
As she got closer, she could hear aggressive words. Poking her head out from behind a bush, her aggression flared drastically as she saw a large tom and a much smaller one standing side by side, confronting Shadeheart boldly. The dark tom was brave, standing his ground, but how long would he be able to?
As soon as they attack, I will fight by Shadeheart's side. First, I must let him know I am here.
Since Kestrelheart didn't have her feather (which she planned on taking back from Halfpaw as soon as they got back to camp), she looked around and found a blue jay feather. She let it go in the wind, and, as she'd hoped, it landed beside the tom's forepaws. Now, to wait.

.::Skyeyes::.

Mentions: patrol, rogues at the border

The pale tom breathed hard through his nostrils, choking on the pungent herbs between his teeth. He slowed his pace a few fox-lengths from the border, not wanting to announce his presence. His ears were pricked and swiveling for any sounds of the cats ahead. Hopestar's commanding tone rose above the murmurs of the forest. Other voices were quieter, and to his relief none sounded aggressive. He stalked through the undergrowth carefully, until he could glimpse the gathered cats.

He quietly dropped the herbs onto the ground between his forepaws and watched intently. Thank StarClan there's been no battle--yet.

-==Raven==-

Mentions: Murtagh

Seeing her acquaintance backing away, Raven followed suit. Utilizing her long tail and whiskers, she painstakingly avoided any leaves or debris that could give her location away. She caught a glimpse of the monochrome tom turning around and did the same. She still kept her posture low, paranoid someone might see her.

She had no idea where else to go, so stuck near Murtagh. After all, if he were to help her find a way into the clan, she had to stick around him. Or at least be able to locate him again.

"Is there often trouble near their borders?" She asked once she had caught her breath. 

Smokey || Rogue || Tag: Moon, Patrol, Rogues

The long-furred russet she-cat who introduced herself as Hopestar, leader of RainClan. Smokey took her in through narrowed amber eyes. She looks awfully young to be the leader of anything, Smokey thought to himself. He stretched out his front paws before answering Hopestar's question. "My name's Smokey," He said somewhat nonchalantly. "Are we heading back to your camp?"

Hopestar || Leader || Tag: Smokey, Kestrelheart, Maplefur, Skyeyes || Mentions: Patrol, Rogues

At the charcoal tom's question, Hopestar flicked her tail with irritation. "No, you will not be brought directly to our camp, but near it." She replied tersely. When Kestrelheart appeared through the undergrowth accompanied by Weepingpaw, Skyeyes, and the others, she felt a small wave of relief wash over her. Hopestar acknowledged Kestrelheart's words before the she-cat dashed off after Shadeheart. At this, Hopestar let out a small growl for she had not instructed the she-cat to do anything. She needed as many of her warriors here!

"We're going to move now," Hopestar announced to her warriors and the rogues. "Tansyvine, Thistlepaw, and Sootpaw: take up the rear. I want Maplefur, Halfpaw, and Weepingpaw with me at the lead. Skyeyes and Pebblepaw: walk with me as well."

She lashed her tail as she began leading this enormous group in the general direction of the camp, but not quite. Hopestar thought to bring them to a hollow not far from the camp that was surrounded with dense bramble. It should be big enough for this group of loners. Great StarClan, she thought, what am I going to do with them? That's when she turned her attention to Skyeyes, "Any advice?"

Seeptail | She-Cat | Warrior | 35 Moons | Location: Forest clearing | Mentions [Direct]: Smokey, Hopestar, | Mentions: [Indirect] The rogues, The Patrol!

Seeptail had been grooming herself while keeping an ear and eye out for the group. She watched Kestrelheart leave and tail Shadeheart's path. She perked her ears at Hopestar's voice and cocked her head. She passed Smokey on the way and nodded to him ."Hopestar", Seeptail addressed her respectively and trotted up to the russet she-cat. "You had put me in the back on your first orders, do you still want me there?" She nodded to Skyeyes in apologies for interrupting their conversation. It was good that the loners were acting accordingly. SHe hoped it would only stay that way for the rest of the trip. 

Cosmos | Tom | Rogue | 33 Moons | Location: Forest | Mentions [Direct]: Shadeheart, Dusk, Kestrelheart Mentions: [Indirect] Open

Cosmos lashed his tail aggressively. "Exa-", his attention was stolen by a vivid colored Blue Jay feather. He looked at Dusk and then also turned to the skies. The canopy wasn't thick, they were sure to see a bird, but oddly, they didn't. Cosmos nodded slightly at Dusk's words then thought for a moment. He shot a glare at Dusk, then to Shadeheart, then back to Dusk. Immediately after, Cosmos slipped into the shadows silently without a word. Cosmos may be insane and irrational at times, but he knew he was smart. The feather didn't blow from a tree, but from lower on the ground. A bush, perhaps? He silently stalked through the undergrowth in the shadows and approached a small tree. Avoiding dead leaves and brittle branches, Cosmos leaped up the tree and was pinned against a thick branch that proved sturdy. He crawled along the sprawled branches of the tree, eyes scanning the bushes below him. 'There!', he yelled to himself. With one fluid movement, the Siamese aimed to drop directly onto the she-cat that sat peeking behind a bush at Dusk and Shadeheart.  This other clan cat looked similar to Dusk, however, her fur wasn't as long and her body wasn't as large, and she had white mittens on her front paws. He twisted midair, just enough to lock eyes on her dark blue ones and smile. Cosmos unsheathed his claws midair and aimed for the orange cat's shoulder blades. "Hey pretty feather lady", he whispered so Shadeheart couldn't hear and laughed to himself. 

Dusk {} Male {} Loner
|:| Mentions: Cosmos, Shadeheart, & Kestrelheart |:|

Dusk looked at the Siamese before he slunk off into the shadows. Before the Clan cat could react and follow, Dusk threw his full weight onto him, pinning him on the ground. With a grin, he pressed his face into the dirt.
"Eat it, kittypet! There no one to help you now!"
Laughing lightly, he waited, strangely patiently, for his opponent to make a move. 

Kestrelheart {} Female {} Warrior
|:| Mentions: Shadeheart, Cosmos, & Dusk |:|

Kestrelheart did not hear the other rogue coming, but he did see him leave and walk off into the darkness. This made her unsheath her claws and look around, but she wasn't ready when she heard "Hey pretty feather lady" from above as she felt a sharp pain in her shoulders.
"Who are you calling 'pretty'? Think I'm a doll?" She hissed, rolling onto her back and kicking the tom off of her, right in the gut. Rolling back on her forepaws quickly, she rammed her body into the rogue's before he had a chance to get up. Aiming a blow at his face, she wasn't sure if it'd made contact or not before she lept away, putting herself in a defensive position.
"Mind you, this 'pretty feather lady' has been ferociously trained and adamantly holds onto her teachings." With a silent smirk, she twitched her ears subtly, awaiting his next move. As she did, she replayed what he'd said in her mind. Even though he was a serious threat and could kill her under the right circumstances, no one had ever called her pretty before. It just sucked the first time had been in this situation.
Kestrelheart being Kestrelheart, she even took the time to wonder if he meant it, but did not take her eyes off of him.

Pebblepaw (F) | Med Cat App | Location: Camp | Mentions: Skyeyes, Hopestar

After the naïve feline had slipped and later regained her footing, she could find her mentor nowhere in sight. The silver tabby froze in place, glancing around the forest as distant voices vibrated the fuzz within her ears. It'll be ok, it'll be ok... Pebblepaw told herself over and over, looking around desperately in hopes of catching a glimpse of Skyeyes' golden fur. She could see nothing, but then reminded herself to trust her senses. After a moment of hesitation, Pebblepaw was able to pick up the scent of the medicine cat, mingled with the bitterness of herbs. She followed the scent trail to the noises, where she found the patrol confronting some rogues. 

The skittish feline swallowed nervously and shifted her way over to Skyeyes when she found him, and stood behind him as he had ordered. The strangers at the border didn't seem particularly mean, and at once, she found herself being somewhat reassured. One of them even looked as young as herself. However, the noises in the distance still persisted. There must have been cats fighting or getting into an argument, perhaps part of the patrol. 

Although anxious about the strange situation (her first real emergency as Skyeyes' apprentice), her amber eyes seemed to glow in pride when Hopestar called upon Skyeyes and herself. Pebblepaw had stood close enough so that her soft fur gently touched her mentor's, for the sake of comfort. Now she curiously moved to her leader's side at Hopestar's command. When the red-furred leader asked for advice, Pebblepaw remained silent. She had seen StarClan- but Skyeyes was the skilled one. Pebblepaw was merely here to listen and learn. 

----

Murtagh (M) | Rogue | Location: Forest | Mentions: Raven, patrol 

"...Unless you consider myself trouble, no. The occasional rogue comes by to0 rile them up, and sometimes some of the RainClan cats are particularly hostile. But things aren't usually this...intense." He spoke in a purr at first, although his features grew grim as he continued on in a stoic fashion. It was good to have fun and all, but this was a serious matter. In the distance, he could hear that things had intensified, as if a few cats had initiated a fight. Whether they were just clan cats attacking rogues or "rogue-on-rogue", he couldn't tell. Regardless, he knew he was going to continue to head in the opposite direction of that sound. "I might revisit the border later on, when they send out their other patrols. I've chatted RainClan up a few times, so I'm sure some of their cats have an inkling of sense and understand that I'm no threat."

The ghostly lynx point allowed the shadowed she-cat to catch her breath before he decided to continue into the depths of the forest, where safety could be ensured. He could continue to lecture her on boring clan politics later. The tom was yet to include other information, like the clan's moral code, and how they had ranks and whatnot. It was about as organized as a skilled, merc-style rogue clowder.

...He would know all about that. 

Murtagh's eyes darkened at the memories, but he once more pushed the thoughts out of his mind. "...Now, I know that I've had breakfast. What about you?"