A Border Patrol {Open}

[[Hea]ther[/sky]]

<sub>The weather was relatively cool, but nonetheless humid, as thunderclouds rolled overhead and the wind carried the scent of rain. Songheart stepped along the marshy ground lightly, taking care not to sink in when mudholes occurred in the ground. Leaf-green eyes trained on nothing in particular, the StormClan deputy moved with the natural feline grace that all cats are born with, slipping on towards the border line. She'd been rather scarce around the camp lately, preferring to spend her time hunting or exploring. Not like there was any particular new territory, but a cat never knew what to expect.

StarClan had seen them through a particularly nice newleaf, carrying plenty of food and the like for the cats of StormClan. It had provided Songheart with much to do, keeping the fresh-kill pile as stocked as she could. But border patrols were equally important, ensuring that there were no trespassors. It would be a very simple matter for a patrol from a rival Clan to stroll right onto StormClan's terra, set up new markers, and challenge StormClan's previous claims to the land. Better safe than sorry, and it was never a bad thing for the cats to keep on their toes regardless.

Moving on towards the borderline, Songheart kept alert, scanning constantly for anyone from any of the opposing Clans. Not that there were necessarily any trespassors, but better not to be caught off guard. Tiny sprinkling raindrops wetted her pelt a little as she finally reached the borders and renewed the markers. Casually strolling along them, Songheart began to hum a little as she moved.</sub>

[+[{S.E.A.M.I.S.T.}]+]

Shadowfire padded along the marsh, reveling in the texture of the squishy ground. He loved the way the mud sucked at his paw pads, and let go with a sad 'squelch' as he lifted his paw. Of course, this was probably scaring off all the prey from here to Fourtrees.
Speaking of prey...
The tom's keen amber eyes spotted movement along the bulrushes that were ever-present in the marsh. Quick as thought, he jumped onto harder, more grassy ground that wouldn't betray his presence. His paws glided over the ground silently as he stalked forwards, his rump lowering unconsciously, until the smell of vole was overpowering. The jet-black warrior pounced, neatly snapping the vole's neck as he landed - and then slipped on the bulrushes that had helped him catch his prey. With what was probably the loudest 'SQUELCH' he had ever made, Shadowfire hit the marshy mud. Hard. The soft ground cushioned his fall, but his glossy black coat was now streaked liberally with dirt - and so was his prey. He thought of many expletives he could use right there and then, but stopped due to what happened next.

A familiar scent wafted past his nostrils, making him groan out loud. Songheart. He admired the deputy as much as the next cat, and even more so as she was one of the only cats who could take his scalding remarks and fling them back at him, with added sting. Well, there's Crystalpool, he thought, but the medicine cat probably was so tetchy all the time because she actually hated him. Whenever he was ill, their banter was enough to make the other occupants of the den beg StarClan to take them away. He froze, hoping that she would simply go away, but realized that there was no use. Grunting with exertion, he attempted to heave himself up - and then froze again. This time because he was actually stuck.
Ouch,, he thought. There goes my dignity.

[</cloudii>]

"Ick," Cloudmist muttered quietly as she pulled her paw out of the filthy mud. She padded towards the border, her green eyes flickering from side to side, looking for any cats from the other Clans that needed a telling off.
She raised her head and scented the air around her; it was just her own Clan. Songheart, she mused, ...and Shadowfire, she identified her friend's scent. Padding quickly towards Shadowfire's scent, well, doing what she could in the marsh, the tortoiseshell quickly picked out the black pelt of her Clan mate.
"Shadowfire!" the she-cat called out, "Need some help?" her eyes glowed with amusement. "Looks like you need it," she stifled a laugh, though she wasn't doing very well.

ooc - I think I'm losing the ability to RP well...

[+[{S.E.A.M.I.S.T.}]+]

Shadowfire's ears pricked at the sound of another familiar voice. AAAUUUGH, he thought. StarClan, what have I done to deserve this?
He had originally wanted to be alone with Songheart, to get to know her a little better. Cloudmist was the only she-cat who was actually close to him, probably because he hadn't been trying hard enough to make new friends since he had rejoined his Clan. However, this was even worse than not being alone with Songheart - now Songheart and Cloudmist would be here to laugh at him.
Well, at least she's not mad at me anymore, the optimistic part of him thought. Which was actually quite small. In fact, he wasn't sure if he had ever heard from it before. Anyways, it really was the first time she had talked to him without snapping in ages.
"No," he mumbled, in a typical tom-cat reflex. The warrior flailed with his paws, trying to gain enough momentum to roll over, but that just made his pelt go from streaked with mud to coated with mud. "...Fine," he snapped, "But you will never speak of this again."

[</cloudii>]

Cloudmist leaned down and roughly hauled him up to his paws. "There," she muttered. "I suppose you'll want me to leave now?"
Her eyes flickered over Shadowfire's face warily as she sat down on the ground, licking the grime off her pelt. She didn't want to get too close to him, as a friend, mind you, so quick, in case he didn't receive it well....Anyhow, she didn't know whether she should trust him yet completely.

The tortoiseshell lost her smile, even though she was facing a thoroughly mud covered Shadowfire. The black tom had always been quite clean, never liking even a little grass on him. [Hope you don't mind! -cringe-]
She glanced at him again and waited for his answer, although she was pretty sure he would snap at her and tell her to leave anyways. She stood up and padded slowly a couple steps away before turning her head around.
"Don't worry, Shadowfire," she meowed, her voice strangely tinged with the beginnings of a snarl, "I won't tell anyone about this." She turned fully and faced her Clan mate.

"I don't betray my friends," her eyes burned, "Even if they betrayed their Clan and their best friend." Sorrow flashed in her leaf green eyes for a moment then it was gone, to be replaced by cold fury.
"Don't think I'll ever forget." With that, she whipped around, her tail drooping and slowly padded away, not caring whether Shadowfire got mad or not.

What have I done?! Despair clung to the she-cat's pelt, dragging her down like icy water into the river. I shouldn't have said that to him! But what else could I say? She plopped down in a patch of slightly muddy grass, not knowing what to do.

[+[{S.E.A.M.I.S.T.}]+]

OOC: Not at all. I think the neat-freak image fits him perfectly. Heather, where are you?? xD
Thank StarClan, she's gone, he thought, though his relief was tinged with bitterness. Honestly, he thought. She-cats are so temperamental. Cloudmist should just pick whether she wants to hate me or not. He suspected it was the latter, but for now, it was the former.
He shook his head. Cloudmist could go and fall out of a tree, for all he cared. If she wanted to be like that, fine. He didn't need her anyways.
Now then... He set about cleaning his muddy pelt, wincing at the taste of the marshy earth. Ugh, he thought in disgust. Must be from all those frogs doing who-knows-what in there. As he rasped his tongue over his pelt, which was starting to turn a glossy black once more, he wondered if he should go and see if Songheart was still there. StarClan knew he needed a pick-me-up...but then again, Songheart was probably Cloudmist's friend. If she knew how much Cloudmist hated him, maybe she would hate him too. Cloudmist hadn't told anyone (Other than Seamist, he groaned), and especially not the deputy, but maybe she had told her not to talk to him. Or something.

As his pelt finally regained its sheen, he padded over to a dryer area and flopped down on his back. Maybe he would send a quick prayer to StarClan to see whether they hated him too. And maybe they would send a lightning bold to smite him for being so petty.
"...I hate my life."

[</cloudii>]

ooc - Are Shadowfire and Cloudmist EVER going to be friends again? Just wondering...

[+[{S.E.A.M.I.S.T.}]+]

OOC: Probably, though something big's gonna need to happen. Mayhap during the Olympics?

[</cloudii>]

ooc - Okay, now I'm gonna stop cluttering the thread -_-