that can change ;:; open

[SPIDERSTAR]

Spiderstar's short black fur creased as another gust of wind announced the wet newleaf's arrival. She braced her legs, turning her head away from the wind to preserve her breath, casting her emerald gaze across the greenleaf Twoleg place. There were no Twolegs here yet; it was far too early in the season, though prey was running freely again. Spiderstar stepped forward several paces as the breeze calmed, pausing as her pads hit the edge of the Thunderpath. The stench itself was irking enough, but did Twolegs really have to build such a dirty, coal-dusted path to herd their monsters over?

The RiverClan leader twitched her left ear thoughtfully, flexing her paws against the tar path. This was the ShadowClan border. She could see the familiar conifers that formed the territory of the rival Clan, and the horrid smell that wafted towards her from that general direction was enough to send any self respecting RiverClan cat dashing in the other direction. Spiderstar fancied herself as not just a RiverClan cat, though. She was a RiverClan leader. The RiverClan leader. This proud thought made the she-cat twitch one side of her mouth upwards in a half-smile, the scar running down her face catching the light as it moved. Patrolling borders solo by the light of dawn- that was the way Spiderstar liked to live.

It wasn't that she loathed her Clan. The RiverClan cats were great, in more ways than one. They were skilled fighters, stealthy hunters, and good lookers. The black she-cat that lead them only valued her privacy. That's why she sneaked out of camp early on occasion to wander the border solo. She had even caught some plump, juicy prey this way. Flexing her pads against the edge of the Thunderpath again, Spiderstar imagined a sound in the distance. Or was it real? It seemed to come from ShadowClan territory. Her green eyes squinted in concentration towards the dark forests.

[Cricketstripe]

-- cricketstripe
Yawning, the chocolate tom flopped over onto his side, tail and all four paws dangling off of the thick oak branch. The sun had just peeked over the distant mountain tops, and the warmth of it's vibrant rays was being soaked up by his fur like a sponge. He would head back to camp soon, before his clanmates began wondering where he was.

Ha, as if they would notice.

No one really cared for Cricketstripe; after all, he was a half clan cat! He was stupid, and a waste of skin- right? The young warrior purred to himself, amused by the way others treated him. Why did blood matter so much? The Clans spilled it often enough, anyways. He licked and dragged his forepaw over his ears a few times until he was satisfied. Springing down from the tree, he began padding slowly in the direction of the RiverClan camp. The cool, newleaf breeze buffeted his pelt, and it came from no place else but the ShadowClan territory. Digging his claws into the moist peat moss below paw, he halted and filled his lungs with the crisp air of the wilderness. After a moment of silence, Cricketstripe's orbs flitted open.

I wonder how Daisynose is?

Sighing, his head began to fill with the memories of romping around in the nursery with his sister. But, she was a WindClan warrior now, and just because of some code laid down moons ago he had to act as if she didn't really exist; oh joy. Flicking his whiskers, he dismissed the thoughts, and continued onward. It was then he noticed a fresh set of feline tracks in the mud... and... Spiderstar's scent? Of course it was; how could you mistake your own leader's scent? He knew that the she-cat often went out on patrols by herself. He knew that she preffered the privacy that her demanding position often snatched away. He knew a lot more than any of the other cats in the Clan, because he took the time to study each and every one of individuals around him. Sometimes, he could even feel other's emotions. It was like... a sixth sense.

Sure enough, he spotted the black feline pacing along the Thunderpath that divided them from ShadowClan.

What is she doing so close to the border?

[SPIDERSTAR]

Spiderstar twitched her nose, checking for scents. Nothing but the drowning stench of the Thunderpath. That was strange- she could've sworn she had heard something. With an irritated flick of her long black tail, the RiverClan leader turned from the border towards the lake. Newleaf was young, but there was still plenty of fish in the lake, and her Clan could use the prey. Spiderstar turned and licked her shoulder, trying to rid herself of the horrible ShadowClan smell. It would take sunrises to get out of her fur! Cursing silently, the black she-cat started towards the lake at a steady trotting pace.

She stopped when she reached the shore and glanced into the icy blue water. Reflected in it was her own image- thoughtful emerald eyes, pointed black ears, and sloping, arching body. Spiderstar was surprised how different the cat in the water looked. It was like a stranger. She had grown over the moons. The RiverClan leader withheld a shudder and reached out with a hesitant paw to test the lake. To her delight, the water wasn't as cold as she thought it would be. Staring at the surface of the water, she watched the shadow of a fish go by, and splashed her paw in quick as an arrow to fling it out of the water.

[Cricketstripe]

--cricketstripe
The tom continued to watch his leader with slitted eyes, a large juniper bush shielding him from the now bone chilling winds. Then, with a few glances over her shoulders, the she-cat skittered away in the direction of the lake. Cricketstripe wasn't one to spy on others (especially his leader) but curiousity got the best of him and he silently followed a fair distance behind.

Being scrawny had it's adavantages; you could move around, even on dry leaves and twigs, and still go unnoticed. By now the distant sound of waves could be heard, and it was obvious he wasn't that far away from the lake. Ocassionally, Cricketstripe would catch a fleeting glimpse of the black feline weaving in and out of the willow tendrils. A few times he came quite close to bumping into Spiderstar, but luckily, the strong scent of honeysuckle overpowered his own and his earthy toned pelt blended in rather well with the surronding terrain.

He then came to a halt at the crumbling embankment that led down to the shoreline, grimacing when several stones tumbled down ahead of him. She didn't seem to notice, though, as all of her senses were pinpointed on the water in front of her. Then, like quicksilver, the glimmer of scales shot out of the water, guided by the clearly experienced curve of the leader's paw.

Suddenly, a strong gust of wind came up from behind, and to his demise, carried his scent straight down in the direction of Spiderstar. Embaressment flooded through his fur like fire, and although he pinned his frame to the ground, he knew it would be no use.

Good one, mousebrain!

[SPIDERSTAR]

Spiderstar's eyes flared with pride as the silver-scaled fish was thrown out of the water and landed, flopping, beside her. She ducked towards the flailing prey and sunk her teeth into its neck, the still cold water dripping down the scales as she gave the killing bite. The black she-cat lifted her head again, this time with the fish still in her jaws, and closed her eyes briefly. Thanks, StarClan, for this prey. She wasn't fond of the ritual thanksgiving, but who was she to anger StarClan?

The leader dropped the fish in front of her and lifted her paw to her muzzle, wiping off the fishy water from it. At the same moment, a cold breeze blew past, chilling her nose and with it, carrying a familiar scent... Cricketstripe! What's he doing out here? I thought I was alone! Spiderstar froze on the spot, and her once cheerful eyes turned cold as stone. "Cricketstripe!" She yowled. The warrior was probably nearby, otherwise his scent wouldn't be strong. Then again, it could just be the fish on her muzzle. The black she-cat turned away from the lake and the fish, glancing behind her for any sign of the tom. "What might one of my best warriors be doing tracking me like prey?"

Spiderstar shivered as another breeze blew by. It was cold, for a newleaf. The watery RiverClan territory made sure that its inhabitants never felt a minute of relief from leafbare's sting.