The sounds of the forest [patrol]

[♥Rösε]

CATS ON PATROL:
LEADING:SPARROWDASH
JOINING:SWIFTWIND, SHADOWPAW, PEACHPAW,ROWANHEART

Sparrowdash glanced up as Lilybreeze sent Shadowpaw in his direction which was good since it could serve as some training. His blue gaze shifted to Swiftwind who came along with them. His ears flattened slightly the apprentices should know better to ask before they invite other cats along on this expedition for this patrol he was the leader and deserved a bit of respect. Heaving a sigh he turned to see Lily's apologetic look but he smiled lightly at the queen a shrugged he would just have to take a larger patrol than he expected. Turning he signaled to his patrol to move out he wasn't particularly happy about them assuming that anyone could come on the patrol but he wasn't going to just dwell on that he had a job to do. His tabby tail swished behind him as he walked his muscle rippled beneath his pelt at each new movement. His head was held high as he walked, hearing the pawsteps of the others behind him.

"As you all know this is going to be a double patrol. And if you didn't well... you know now."

he mewed strongly yet teasingly at the end. Swiping his tongue along his lips he continued, "We will first go check on our borders and then on the way back stop to hunt so basically we can kill two birds with one stone."[/color] he explained and stopped, turning to face his fellow cats. Eyes gentle yet sharp as he looked at each cat in turn. "Now I had the hunting parties sorted out before hand but an extra cat has decided to join us."[/color] he mewed his tone was calm but you could tell he was a bit displeased by it. His face was serious, which it most of the time was and he sat down curling his tail over his paws. He looked over at the cats counting them in his head there was five no team would be even now which is why he wanted four cats so each team could have two cats. Oh well he would figure something out. His mind mulled over the possible teams knowing one team would have two and the other three. Nodding slightly to himself he looked at them a small smile placed on his maw.

"Team one will be:Myself, Shadowpaw, and Rowanheart. Team two will be: Swiftwind and Peachpaw. These will be the teams you form into after we check the borders together. Any questions?"[/color] he asked and looked at them waiting a few heartbeats before getting back onto his paws, with a swish of his tail started to move towards their first border the WindClan border. His lobes were alert and flicked forward as he listened for any movement when he only detected the soft blow of the breeze over the moor he stepped out of the forest and onto the slight moor part of ThunderClan making sure to stop before their boarders. He parted his lips and tasted the air, nothing but a stale patrol from the dawn patrol cats. He nodded to himself and turned to face his cats again. "Swiftwind, Rowanheart will you two remark our boarders."[/color] he mewed his voice was gentle sounding yet slightly stern before he turned to look down at Shadowpaw and Peachpaw. He beconed to him with his tail.

Waiting for them to approach he smiled encourgingly. "Now you two what can you smell?"[/color] he asked gently he knew that they both probably did this before, well he knew Shadowpaw did with him, but still it was good practice to try and see if they can really distinguish one scent from another which was harder for newer apprentices. He sat down and waited for there analyses his eyes patient as well as his form which was now relaxed so they wouldn't feel pressured to answer, he was a mentor that knew apprentice did not do well under pressure just yet. The tabby tom turned to lick at his white chest fur a few times before returning his attention back to the apprentices beside him. From what he smelled there was a scent of a dawn patrol, two rabbits, one probably killed near this border for the slightest hint of blood was in the air. Then there was a fox scent that was long stale and luckily the scent lead away from their borders.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/sub][/color]

[Night]

Peachpaw and the two other cats finally got to the patrol group. Sparrowdash signaled for the group to move, and they were finally out of camp. It had been a while since Peachpaw went on patrol. he liked walking out into the forest and just letting his mind wander while they remarked their borders. Sparrowdash started giving orders for the patrol. "As you all know this is going to be a double patrol. And if you didn't well... you know now." Sparrowdash told the group. Peachpaw didn't know that this was going to be a double patrol. But he didn't tell any one that. it would be embarrassing. He wondered which group he would be in and who he would be with. Peachpaw simply nodded his head. "We will first go check on our borders and then on the way back stop to hunt so basically we can kill two birds with one stone." Sparrowdash explained and then stopped and looked at each of the cats on the patrol. "Now I had the hunting parties sorted out before hand but an extra cat has decided to join us." Sparrowdash meowed calmly, but Peachpaw could tell that he was a little displeased that Swiftwind had joined the patrol. He was about to jump to Swiftwind's defense but he bit his tongue to stop himself. he didn't want to embarrass himself. "Team one will be:Myself, Shadowpaw, and Rowanheart. Team two will be: Swiftwind and Peachpaw. These will be the teams you form into after we check the borders together. Any questions?" Sparrowdash asked the cats. Peachpaw almost squealed when he heard that he was in the same team as Swiftwind. instead he just opened his eyes wide and purred very quietly. Sparrowdash then got to his paws and led the patrol to the Windclan border. Sparrowdash nodded to himself once they reached the border and then turned back around to the other cats. "Swiftwind, Rowanheart will you two remark our borders." Sparrowdash asked the two warriors, and then he turned to Peachpaw and Shadowpaw. he beconed him and Shadowpaw towards him. once they got close he smiled and asked them a question. "Now you two what can you smell?" Sparrowdash asked him and Shadowpaw. Peachpaw parted his lips and took a deep sniff. Peachpaw instantly smelled the strong scent of the dawn patrol and rabbits, most likely one had been killed because of the scent of blood. He then smelled something that was a mystery until he smelled deeper. The scent was fox, and it was old. it smelled like it led away from the border so he knew it wasn't an emergency. "I smell the dawn patrol from this morning. I also smell two rabbits, but from the scent of blood I imagine one of them was killed. Then there is the fox scent, but it's old. and the smell leads away from the border." Peachpaw told the deputy. he had gone through this same exercise with his mentor lots of times, so he knew what he was smelling. Peachpaw waited for the deputy to respond and hoped he didn't miss anything.




Sparrowdash
Peachpaw


Words: 572

[Shadow Da Smiffster]

Swiftwind padded along after the Deputy silently. She had caught his irritated gaze as they left camp. He didn't want to be in charge of so many cats... and she had just invited herself, thinking that their friendship would be enough of a reason to accompany him. A small sigh escaped her maw as they went deeper into the forest. Idly, she wondered if this was the end of their friendship now that he had been promoted to Deputy.

To be honest, Swiftwind was quite worried about the young tom. He'd changed too much in the last couple of moons... and she couldn't help but think it was for the worst. As she finally brought her gaze up to look at the tom in question, she gulped silently. His eyes were so intense these days... changing from wise to sinister. Like Sabrestar....

But Swiftwind flicked her ears forward, masking her fear as Sparrowdash announced the teams for the double patrol. A stab of hurt washed through her as she realized that she would not be with him on this trip, though she supposed she deserved it. Swiftwind had invited herself and Shadowpaw after all....

After receiving orders from Sparrow, Swiftwind marked the edge of her territory. She let herself stare off into the distance, wondering how the cats survived in Windclan with prey running so low. They were probably struggling as much as they were... but at least they didn't have a suspicious leader controlling their every move. So lost was Swiftwind in her thoughts that she didn't realize that Sparrowdash had addressed the two apprentices. Their answers were lost to her as she continued to focus on the horizon.

What was there? Something was moving towards them for sure.

And then, she recognized the figure. Moonshadow, the WindClan Deputy was walking towards their boarder. Swiftwind knew a little about the tom. He was an oddball, that was for sure. He seemed to care little about the fact that there were rivalries between the Clans. He was too open... suspiciously so at times... but Swiftpaw rather liked him for his calm demeanor. At least he didn't radiate an aura of evil like Sabrestar.

"Greetings," Moonshadow cooed as he approached the boarder. "Sparrowdash, Swiftwind, Rowanheart, Peachpaw, Shadowpaw." Swiftwind blinked, wondering how he had managed to memorize all of their names. How in StarClan did he even know she'd become a warrior? That had only happened recently after all. "Morning patrol?"

Swiftwind narrowed her eyes, but made no move to do anything. She glanced over at Sparrowdash wondering how he would deal with something of this nature. Regardless, before she could see any emotion come to the tom's face, Moonshadow spoke up again, "How's being Deputy treating you Sparrowdash?"

[Possk]

If there was anything Rowanheart detested more, it was early mornings. Early mornings littered with Dawn Patrol duties and noisy, bungling apprentices. It was hard to suppress a groan of agitation when the patrol was constantly held up by meaningless questions and answers about daily life. It did not help to ease her temper when her throat ached this badly; indeed, it felt like a few burrs were stuck in it, clawing their way up and down whenever sound escaped her maw. So when Sparrowdash summoned her for patrol, let's just say Rowanheart was not exactly thrilled at the prospect...

Now there she sat, unhappy and terribly frustrated as she waited for Sparrowdash to get on with his orders already. None of the other cats seemed to pay her much attention; on the contrary, they all seemed content to ignore her and go on with their daily lives. The irritable she-cat sniffed haughtily. That was fine. They could do as they pleased. It's not like they'd ever bothered to deal with her beforehand, so why chose to now? Still, this bit of logic didn't stop her from fluffing out her orange fur angrily. Had she a tail to work with, Rowanheart would've lashed it a few times to show her ever so appreciative Clanmates exactly how she felt at being ignored all this time. Alas though, a badger had stolen it from her many moons ago, so all the she-cat could do was tear up bits of grass with her claws. This could have gone on for quite some while, until Sparrowdash decided now was a good time to issue the directions.

Rowanheart only acknowledged the order with a flick of her left ear, and padded (rather reluctantly) after Swiftwind. Feh, naming her before me in role call. Am I so unimportant to this Clan that even seniority means nothing...? No, Rowanheart was determined to see the day in a bad light, from whatever angle it may come in. When she reached the edge of the boarder, she was so lost in her less than happy thoughts that she nearly forgot to mark it. It took a rather different voice to snap her out of her musing, and that voice belonged to...

"Moonshadow?" Rowanheart blinked in surprise at the deputy's sudden appearance. Stoic, silent, and just strange in general, the cat was well known around the Clans, and not just because of his role in WindClan. His appearance, however, was not one to chill the fury welling up in her veins from the disappointment of a morning thus far. Instead, the tom only fueled the flames with his untimely arrival, and the she-cat would have her whiskers for breakfast if she let him get away without a few choice words.

"Hello, oh so gracious one," Rowanheart mewed tartly, her claws sheathing and unsheathing as she stepped a few paces backward towards the rest of the patrol. Her voice cracked slightly at her words; her throat still hadn't completely healed yet, making her tone sound even scratchier than usual. "May I ask why you have decided to grace us with your presence? Whatever business you have, shouldn't you be giving it to us on your side of the boarder? WindClan may do things differently, but ThunderClan doesn't allow nuisances to put paw into our territory like they own the place!" Her small speech ended with a hoarse snarl and she dropped into a hunter's crouch. Rowanheart didn't spring; she wanted to so badly, if just to relieve the stress she'd been under recently by giving the annoying furball a few scars to remember her by, but the young warrior knew Sparrowdash would have her hide for it. Not like he'd ever agree with me in the first place. Just would be interested in his precious StarClan and their outdated way of doing things...

Still, Rowanheart managed to deliver a baleful glare to Moonshadow as she sunk her claws into the ground. "Get your furry rump off our territory. I don't care if you're the WindClan deputy, you can't just walk over the boundary lines like they're nothing just to make small talk with your other deputy friends!"

[♥Rösε]

Sparrowdash could sense something was wrong when he lifted his gaze to Swiftwind. She seemed rather well, sad as he searched her face with his blue eyes. He sighed she must think he was a big jerk for calling her out earlier but it was like once he became deputy everyone felt that they could do whatever they wanted when he was around. All he asked for was at least the courtesy to ask him before just assuming she could come along, what if he had been over booked with cats, then what? He almost felt like no one appreciated him as deputy, not like they did Barkstar when his father was deputy everyone asked him permission everyone did as they were told to everyone loved and respected him, so what was wrong with him? Maybe he just wasn't cut out for this job. Still he made a mental note to apologize later, or do something. His ears twitched as he remembered the two apprentices before him and turned to look back down at them. Maybe this once he could switch the patrol group around, Rowanheart may be a bit snappy but she could probably teach Peachpaw a thing or two since his mentor was missing.

That and he could tell she felt a bit unappreciated herself and so why not give her some respect and responsibility, and maybe if he was lucky he would receive some at some point. Why was he always trying to make everyone happy? It was hard but he knew he couldn't please everyone that would be pointless. His ear flicked as he heard Peachpaw speak, "I smell the dawn patrol from this morning. I also smell two rabbits, but from the scent of blood I imagine one of them was killed. Then there is the fox scent, but it's old. and the smell leads away from the border."

Sparrow just nodded slowly, his face cool and expressionless. He could have gave Shadowpaw something to answer, but he imagined that thought did not cross his mind. "Good Peachpaw I see Black Thunder has taught you well in scenting."[/color] he mewed his tone calm and pleasant as he nodded and gave a soft smile to Shadowpaw they would do some scenting practice later even though he knew Shadowpaw was just as capable to answer the same as Peachpaw.

"Moonshadow?"[/color] Sparrowdash lifted his head from the apprentices over to Rowanheart and then to the WindClan deputy. A small smile played at his lips before he got to his paws and walked towards his fellow warriors. He listened as the tom cat spoke all of their names in turn, and Sparrowdash dipped his head in greeting. Believe it or not Moonshadow was one of Sparrows best friends, they met at a gathering as apprentices and hit it off rather quickly. He knew he could depend on him if needed and him the same, though they both knew they had to be deupties first and friends after, but Sparrow was happy to see him, the only cat who acknowledged his rank and made him feel like he actually was meant to have his position. "How's being Deputy treating you Sparrowdash?"[/color] Sparrow sat down at the edge of Thunderclan's border. "Well I suppose..."[/color] how he wanted to tell Moonshadow how unappreciated he actually felt right now but said nothing. Though the look in his eyes was telling the other deputy that they would have to talk next gathering. "I suspect that you are doing well in your new rank?"[/color] he mewed his tone actually full heartedly warm.

Get your furry rump off our territory. I don't care if you're the WindClan deputy, you can't just walk over the boundary lines like they're nothing just to make small talk with your other deputy friends!"[/color] Sparrows eyes snapped to Rowanheart, his gaze hardened one that told her to keep her trap shut, she was lucky it was only Moonshadow because if she pulled that off with some other patrol there probably would have been a fight thats the last thing ThunderClan needed. However, she was right they could not bend rules like this, and expecially in front of his clanmates they would think him a traitor. Sparrow put on his serious face his gaze calm collected as he mewed, "Please excuse my warriors rudeness, but she has a point. It might be best if you get going. I imagine Crookedstar is looking for you to lead your own patrol. It was nice seeing you, we better be on our way we have a patrol to finish."[/color] he mewed plainly but he knew Moonshadow would get that it was meant in a wise manner, with a final dip of his head he started to walk away. His head lifted to the sky as he already noticed it was sun high. They already wasted some time not entirely on moonshadow but on this border. Blinking his blue eyes in deep thought he turned to his warriors. "by the looks of things i need to quicken our pace Rowanheart will you lead Peachpaw to the RiverClan border and remark our borders. And if you can, hunt on your way back to camp. That means Shadowpaw and Swiftwind will be coming with me to hunt."[/i] sparrow mewed his tone was wise he was mainly trying to save them all some day light. Turning his head to swiftwind and shadowpaw he beconed with his tail for them to follow before padding back towards the trees.
[/blockquote][/blockquote][/sub][/color]

[Shadow Da Smiffster]

"Temper, temper," Moonshadow chuckled as Rowanheart mouthed off to him. "In case you weren't aware Rowanheart, I am not breaking any rules by speaking to you behind my own scent boarders, but I admire your willingness to protect ThunderClan. You have the markings of a truly good warrior in the next moons to come. StarClan have mercy if I were to meet you in battle!"

All these kindhearted words were truthful, but also filled with his usual tone of mocking mischief. It wasn't that he was trying to make things worse, but Moonshadow was a smart cat. He wasn't easily bothered by others simply snapping off to him. He was just... kind of an oddball in that way. It took a lot more for him to get riled up.

When Sparrowdash apologized, Moonshadow merely shook his head in response, dismissing that it had even happened. They were close friends, and Moonshadow had no qualms about showing his feelings towards other cats no matter what clan they were in. One day, he would be accepted as a cat loyal to both his friends and his clan, but for now, cats like Rowanheart would continue to mouth off to him. He didn't mind. All it took was patience.

"Thank you for your concern Sparrowdash, but I've already organized and finished patrols this morning. I am a creature that rises early and sleeps in the sun. There's a reason they called me Moonshadow aside from my special little crescent marking. Ah, but... that doesn't matter. May StarClan light all your paths."

Moonshadow sat down as the ThunderClan patrol started to walk away, and his tail wrapped around his paws. A frown crossed his maw as they vanished down the pathway. He had been hoping to catch Sparrow alone, but it seemed that with Sabrestar in charge, he was cutting off any and all ties the ThunderClan deputy had to other cats. Maybe even in his own clan too? Moonshadow shuddered at the thought. No, what leader would be cruel enough to do that?

***

Swiftwind padded off to the side of Sparrowdash and Shadowpaw, her head lost in the clouds. She was still bothered by earlier, and also bothered by the appearance of Moonshadow. There was something eerie about that cat... how he seemed to know way more than he was supposed to. Was he just naturally gifted in that way? Probably. Swiftwind was similar, though her inclination was to facts, not feelings. Moonshadow was her polar opposite in that way.

Suddenly though, Swiftwind's ears pricked up. The shuttering of a bird had caught her attention. Stopping, she looked straight up at the tree she was under. On the lowest branch was a blackbird, singing its afternoon song, and ripe like a fruit for the picking. It was uncommon for ThunderClan cats to climb trees to get their food, but Swiftwind was unusual. Her back legs were longer and more powerful than her front legs, and over time, she had learned to become a miraculous jumper. Bunching her muscles, the she-cat lowered herself to the floor.... and then, like an arrow, she shot up, paws extended, and mouth open in a silent snarl that looked to be as menacing as a dogs'. Within moments, she felt her front claws rake along the bird's wings, and with a terrified chirp, it fell from its perch. Swiftwind came down on it quickly, silencing her prey with a bite to the neck.

"I need to work on my jump some more. One of these days, I'll just be able to perch on that tree like a bird," she resolved. "Otherwise my catches are just not so clean. Maybe I should stick to ground prey."

[Night]

Sparrowdash nodded his head. "Good Peachpaw I see Black Thunder has taught you well in scenting." He told Pechpaw. Peachpaw's eyes sparkled with praise from the deputy, though his heart was sad as he remembered his former mentor. Black Thunder was the best mentor a cat could have, and he would never leave Peachpaw's heart. Rowanheart's voice broke into Peachpaw's thoughts, and he glanced around Sparrowdash to see her glaring at Moonshadow, the Windclan deputy. "Moonshadow?" Rowanheart meowed. "Greetings," Moonshadow cooed to the thunderclan cats. "Sparrowdash, Swiftwind, Rowanheart, Peachpaw, Shadowpaw." He meowed. "Morning patrol?" Peachpaw meowed a greeting to the Windclan deputy. at least he wasn't aggressive towards them. "How's being Deputy treating you Sparrowdash?" Moonshadow asked the deputy. "Well I suppose..." Sparrowdash began, but then changed the subject. "I suspect that you are doing well in your new rank?" Sparrowdash asked the Windclan Deputy, his voice full of warmness. "Thank you for your concern Sparrowdash, but I've already organized and finished patrols this morning. I am a creature that rises early and sleeps in the sun. There's a reason they called me Moonshadow aside from my special little crescent marking. Ah, but that doesn't matter. May Starclan light all your paths." Moonshadow told the cats. Peachpaw nodded his head at the Windclan deputy and turned to his own deputy. "by the looks of things i need to quicken our pace Rowanheart will you lead Peachpaw to the Riverclan border and remark our borders. And if you can, hunt on your way back to camp. That means Shadowpaw and Swiftwind will be coming with me to hunt." Sparrowdash told the cats as they started walking. Peachpaw's heart sank as he realized he wasn't going to be on the same team as Swiftwind anymore. but he did what the deputy told him to. He watched as Swiftwind walked away with other two cats and waited for Rowanheart to lead the way.


Rowanheart
Sparrowdash
Moonshadow

Words: 395

[shadowclaw]

Shadowpaw glanced up at his mentor’s judging hard eyes as he began after the patrol, staying to the side near the back of it as they made their way slowly deeper into the forest. Sparrowdash stopped only a little ways in to explain the patrols plans.

Shadowpaw felt slightly idiotic for not knowing that it was a double patrol, and a little unhappy at the thought. It just meant more work, but that’s what he’d gotten himself into when he decided to hide the fact that he was partially blind in one eye. Feeling his jaws involuntarily stretch as they continued on, he realized how heavy a scent the emotions of the patrol were. He flinched lightly, ear and tail flicking at the sudden overwhelming emotions.

Rowanheart seemed to be in an increasingly bad mood, her claws digging angrily into the grass beneath. Swiftwind seemed terribly upset over something, even though Shadowpaw wasn’t quite sure of what until he watched her eyes flick to stare unhappily at Sparrowdash.

He began to piece the little things together to realize the problems in the group, growling in his throat at the fact that he didn’t like to know what was going on. It was too much on his plate for him to be able to scarf down.

When Shadowpaw heard the news that he’d be with his mentor, he wasn’t at all surprised, but glanced over at Peachpaw to see his expression brighten to know who he was to be grouped with.

Sighing, the patrol finally reached Windclan territory, Sparrowdash automatically taking over once more to different pairs of cats to his bidding. Walking over to his mentor, he looked up at him, mouth already opened for the test.

Closing his eyes to concentrate, Shadowpaw began to pick up all of the scents quickly, his fading eyesight giving him the advantage of smell. He could scent all of the things that Peachpaw proclaimed to scent, ears tilting backwards as he suddenly picked up another scent that was coming their way. His eyes snapped open and with his good eye caught sight of a cat coming down the hill.

His tail raised into the air and his hair began to stand, him blinking at his mentor who dismissed himself from the lesson to speak with the deputy of Windclan. How the feline knew all of the cats names so easily lost him. He’d only met the tom once in his life, and surely didn’t know the deputies name until he heard one of the other cats speak it.

Sighing, Shadowpaw sat down, not wanting to get into the argument that Rowanheart was trying to start. Thankfully Sparrowdash got it under control once again, pointing it onto a hopefully better part of the day as he dismissed the patrol into two groups.

Glancing to the side, Shadowpaw realized how the groups had been switched up, Swiftwind now coming with his own patrol, the disappointment crossing over Peachpaws features.

Flicking his tail lightly as he watched Rowanheart and Peachpaw take their leave in the opposite direction, Shadowpaw followed after, keeping slightly behind to get a better scope on things as they passed ahead of him.

He watched with keen, curious eyes the easy catch that Swiftwind made with her strong back legs and claws. Purring, he began to wonder if he would be able to jump that high one day. Once he’d finished watching her, he began on the basic crouch that his mentor had already taught him, how to stalk a mouse, in his case it’d been a leaf his first time, but he’d see how he faired on even terms of one living creature to another.

Crouching down low to the ground, he set his paws easily and quietly across the ground, ears twitching from side to side in a hopeful search of his prey, mouth opened partially to catch a trail of direction.