Skirmish(WC,RC Open)

[Nighthunter]

So Riverclanners are getting more and more obsessed with finding food, and more risky in how they go about getting it. A patrol has crossed the Windclan border, and Hailstar is among them, making this a not so accidental mistake. He intends to hunt for his clan, and will fight if he has to for more territory. All Windclanners and Riverclanners that are of apprentice age and older may join in. All those that join in the thread will get points upon its end. Points total will be 300.

Hailstar


The sun beat down over head, its rays making the ground harder and dry. Riverclan was suffering from loss of prey because of its heat, because of that he had been pushed into action. As leader he was obligated to protect the clan, and he didn't want to lose anyone in it to starvation. The entire situation was nonsense, starclan had not sent word for how he was to solve this threat to Riverclan. He was left to figure it out on his own, and for the first time in a while he felt very small in his position. All of the others were counting on him to know how to act, what to do. In truth he was knew to this all as well, he was a fresher leader, new to the position. It was all still so awkward for him.

None of that mattered of course at the moment, because he was moving, his decision had been settled and he was undertaking a very harsh course of action, one he was not very proud of. The grey tabby's brows scrunched up in realization that he was breaking the code in order to save his clan. His warriors were following him into this mess, and he knew nothing good would come from Windclan from it, but he would carry out the patrol none the less.

Stepping through the reeds on the edge of the border, the strong scent of the moor cats assaulted his nose. It was a stark reminder that he was not home, he was on another's land. Truthfully enough he had been on Windclan ground before for multiple reasons, but never quite for this purpose. Silently he hoped that they would catch prey without incident, but that was highly unlikely. Unless Eaglesstar was lenient on his patrols, or his warriors incompetent, he doubted they would get away with this without a fight.

Hailstar also had it in his mind that he should try going to the moonpool again. Try to connect with the ancestors, but he resolved himself to trying things his own way first. His muscles tensed ready to strike, as he surveyed the open moor. Another reason he doubted they would get away with it, was the open expanse of territory they were trespassing didn't favor those wanting to hide from sight. Scenting the air he could smell rabbits and gophers close by among other types of prey, and thanked there luck. It was irritating that Windclan had so much it seemed, and he was sending out warriors all the time trying to salvage something to eat.

Stepping through the reeds fully, he felt them enclose around him as he passed through, as if trying to drag him back into his territory and dissuade him from entering altogether. Other things pulled at him more, and his deputy was also very much a cause of this venture as well. Willowshade haunted him lately, her news unsettling him. She was having her kits, something he hadn't planned, but hadn't prevented either. No matter the outcome of that, he needed to ensure the kits safe passage into this world, and that meant providing food now. No there was no way he was turning around.

Turning to his warriors, he motioned with his tail for them to cross the border, having gone first in case of patrols. He spoke to them low, with a serious and quiet tone." Spread out and find prey, hunt in pairs and send a warning call the minute you encounter a Windclan cat. We aren't here to fight, but we need to gain prey for the clan." With that he signaled to no cat in particular to follow him and he set off looking for prey.

[Silhouette]

Actions//Thoughts//Speaking

The sky was bright blue above as Mothpaw camp out from the apprentice's den. It was like any other day, warm and dry. Yet something hung in Riverclan's air. The musty smell of the swamp water and fish. It just wasn't the same smell Mothpaw remembered from last year's Newleaf. A new scent, of grass and fresh fish. Snow that just melted and made the rivers swell with life. No, it was musty and old, a dead smell. It was happy, even if the cats around camp acted in a happy fashion. Even those happy faces weren't show by the cats of Riverclan today. Mothpaw's eyes caught sight of pelts leaving camp and she couldn't help but go towards the group.

Mothpaw wasn't sure what was going on yet as she noticed her leader leaving with a group of mostly warriors and a few other apprentices. She caught up to them pretty quickly and she knew she should follow. She guessed the group was a hunting patrol for Riverclan had been very low on food, which was unusual. Riverclan was always the clan who had food, their bodies showing it. They were always thicker built then any other clan cat. The rivers kept them this way, Mothpaw had never been hunger in her life.. until now. Luckily, as a smaller cat she didn't eat much to start with. Yet she watched other in her clan talk about the lack of food. Warriors often worried about the situation or giving up a meal for a younger or older cat.

Mothpaw didn't realize this was what the leader was leading them too. He was leading them to their way to survive. She felt it in her paws. She was a smart she-cat and she knew the way to the border. It wasn't hard to figure out the tom's plan as he stopped by the reeds that split the clans apart. He was going to save his clan, even if that meant breaking warrior code. Mothpaw wasn't one to ever cross border in her life. She was always told to stay inside Riverclan and do not venture. It would only cause trouble. Hailstar had lead them to the border and Mothpaw felt herself hesitate. Did she really want to cross? Or go back to camp and stay safe in her den. Warriors around her gave each other questioning glaces and whispered to each other in surprise. They also, realized Hailstar's quest.

His pelt disappeared into the reeds and Mothpaw watched other's follow him. Disappearing to the other side. Few hesitated like her, but most fell right in. Their leader was always right, he had a plan and they would follow him and protect him. That was the warrior code, yet weren't they breaking it already to cross into another clan's territory? Mothpaw could hear her heart beating in her ears. Her whole body shook, but she took the step forward. Pushing the reeds aside, which wasn't hard since so many others already step through them and she was so much smaller then them. It was like stepping into a whole new world. Before her, a field opened up and the smell of the moorland filled her nose. She gasped quietly, her eyes wide with awe. The land seemed to stretch on forever. She just wanted to run through the grass and feel the wind in her fur.

"Spread out and find prey, hunt in pairs and send a warning call the minute you encounter a Windclan cat. We aren't here to fight, but we need to gain prey for the clan." Hailstar's voice, even quiet was heard by the whole group. Mothpaw's head cleared, this wasn't time for play. This was serious and dangerous. She looked around as cats paired up, not sure who to go with. She was the klutz who no one ever wanted to hunt with. This wasn't time of training or anything else of the sort. She felt small and as if she should just stay were she was. Well it was more like she felt so small she was almost glue'd to the earth under her paws. Hailstar had already left and many of the warriors were gone also. Maybe it would be better if she just went back to camp..

[silent]

Frustrated grimace set in place, Badgermask had set out from the camp. Truthfully he was annoyed that he had gotten forced patrols for a moon. A warrior should not be given punishments, but he however knew he was honestly deserving of it. He had disobeyed an order, and had wandered away from his patrol to watch a training session and give pointers to those taking part in it. His patrol had spent the evening looking for him, since he hadn't really told them he was wondering off. It was embarrassing to be scolded like an apprentice once he had returned, its not like he had meant to go missing, he had just gotten side tracked was all. Battle training was his strong point, as was fighting, and he meant to use his skills well. If he couldn't fight then he would teach, though only those promising enough to be taught, he didn't have the patience for it otherwise.

Scenting the air he picked up the drifting odor of prey nearby, and then something else, Riverclan. That in itself wasn't odd since they owned the land on the other stretch of the border, but it was stronger then usual. Well they do smell as bad as the fish they eat, so that's not surprising. Muttering under his breath about smelling like fish all night, he made himself move closer reminding himself of his punishment and noting that he was supposed to assess the borders. What he saw was not what he expected, though made sense. A lone she cat, a tiny one was on there side of the border. Riverclan was on Windclan territory, and he was already moody as it was, so it wasn't surprising when he let out a menacing hiss and stormed down the hill heading straight towards her. He wasn't trying to hide himself for a stealthy attack since this was his land. Launching off his paws he sailed towards her, though he knew not if he had been noticed in time for her to react.

[Silhouette]

Actions//Thoughts//Speaking

Mothpaw watched as all the cats around her mostly disappeared into the land around her. Going off to find prey as Hailstar had said too. Everyone had partners but herself, of course no one wanted to pick an apprentice. Then again no one probably even noticed the small she-cat. Maybe she should have followed Hailstar. The tom was very nice and had taught her some swimming tips before. Yet he was the leader and Mothpaw was horribly clumsy and often just caused more trouble. He needed to be focused and not be caught baby sitting.

She looked around and got onto her paws. Taking a few steps away from the reeds and sniffing the air. Everything was so different then she was use too. It smelled of grass, not a watery-fishy smell. The scent of Windclan was so strong it was if a Windclan cat had just walked through the place. She shivered, she was even worse at fighting then she was at hunting. In fact, the only good thing she was good at is running away. Being so small she was very fast, yet she wasn't as fast as Windclan cats. That made her wonder what she would do if caught by a Windclan cat. Yet she was sure that wouldn't happen. There were enough Riverclan cats around to protect her and bump into a Riverclan cat before they found her sitting by the border.

That was what she was going to do. Just sit by the border and wait for everyone to come back. It was the best plan she could think of, for she didn't want to seem like a coward. Plus she was sure the warriors would need help bringing back prey. She could carry some and help out. And hey, maybe a mouse or something will find it's way to her and she will even looked as if she helped some. She grinned, smiling as she found a place to sit by the reeds. It seemed like a while when she heard a noise. Not paying close enough attention, she figured it was just a Riverclan cat coming back with some prey. She was looking at the dirt on her left paw. and went to lick it off when a hiss came from the direction the noise was at.

Mothpaw felt herself jump up and looked to see a large cat flying at her. She felt like a deer in headlights, freezing and just having enough time to yowl as the tom landed on top of her. He knocked her onto her back and she tried to kick him off of her. "Get off me!" she screeched and bit into his shoulder. She could only react in instinct. In the few moments she forgot all her training and just did whatever she could to get the tom off of her.

[Nighthunter]

Burningpatch- Borderline...~

The smokey grey tabby, his long full spiked out in an alert fashion took in his surroundings and measured his chances of getting away from Windclan with little to no confrontation. He was a strong warrior, no doubt, but he hated the burden of having to do such things. It was troublesome and pestering, and if the clan wasn't starving he would have gladly avoided the task all together. As it was he was also barred from not attending, since his recently aquired apprentice Mothpaw had been elected to go. That automatically called for him to attend, and Hailstar knew it, it was down right frustrating. He liked her as an apprentice, though he rarely showed it. His mentoring was decisive, short clipped and not something he liked having to repeat. Burningpatch knew he asked alot of her sometimes. He was fumming that one time when Hailstar ended up teaching her to better her swimming skills instead of himself, that was a blow to his pride as a mentor eventhough Hailstar hadn't meant it that way. In truth he had avoided her, seeking his solace alone. Still she proved a good apprentice in that she always tried to please him, and that to him was worth something.

When they had crossed the border he had meant to tell her to stick with him, but had caught sight of what he thought was prey and hoped she would stay put since he hadn't directed her to. Upon his return, a lanky and older rabbit in his jaws, he noticed a black and white shadow running down the hill at an unsuspecting Mothpaw. His eyes looked on in horror as the furball, a vicious Windclanner he recognized from previous fights as being Badgermask, was jumping towards her as she bent to clean her paw. Mentally he noted to thwart her for not paying attention and being so mousebrained as to distract herself in such a tense situation as this was turning out to be. Time seemed to slow as he watched her fall and then sink her teeth into his shoulder while yowling at him. He had to give her credit, Badgermask was an intimidating warrior to most apprentices. Droping the rabbit unworried it would disappear, he sprinted and flung himself on top of the Windclan warrior, his claws arched out to try and snag into his fur and rip him off of his apprentice.