Desperate Hunter

[Sparrow]

((Hokori casually turning up on the other side of ThornClan territory to her mother xD))

The sun shone weakly down through layers of browning and golden leaves onto the dusty brown fur of a young cat padding softly across the ground. The cat in question was a diminutive bob-tail, barely over the age of a clan apprentice and still very new to the world. She wasn't in the best of shapes, her ribs showing clearly through her fur as she crept slowly along the shadows. It had been well over a moon since she had left her original home, her pride preventing her from ever so much as dreaming of returning, and food had been hard to come by. Every time she had attempted a hunt she had either completely screwed it up or had heard clan cats coming her way and had had to scram.

She rather regretted running away from her first experience with a clannie over in RapidClan, a she-cat around her own age had even offered to help her learn to fish! She missed that supportiveness, since from that moment on pretty much every clan cat had greeted her by charging full on at her, and she was still far too unsure of herself to consider fighting and so had always run away.

She was getting increasingly desperate though, the hungrier she got the more she took on a cold determination to chase SOMETHING down no matter what deterred her. Today, she reflected, would be a day when she couldn't afford to run anymore. She narrowed her eyes and crouched in the darkness of the shade beneath a bush. There, only a fox-length from her, was a plump mouse. Hokori's eyes sparkled at the prospect of biting into it, her mouth already beginning to water. She couldn't afford to miss out on this, she had to get it right.

The bob-tail froze, paw held slightly in the air, and kept as silent as possible. She'd learned from experience not to make any noise around mice, to keep her paws soft on the ground. Her whiskers twitched as she prepared herself to pounce, then with a silent determination leaped out of the shadows at her prey.

She couldn't help but grin as she caught it, she'd been without food for yonks. With barely a pause she dug in, gulping down the mouse before someone turned up.

[Running]

The world revealed much, to those willing to look. Not through that hungry, brute-force search, which, although sometimes providing immediate results, missed details that proved to be useful later.
A dark, lean tom stepped carefully through the thicket. The wind caught medium length fur, pulling at it, slightly. Ears flicked forward, and to the side. Faint birdsong could be heard in the heights of the trees, but the rustling of ground-prey was far trickier to discern, even with the abundance of leaf-litter. This patch of trees was one of the few in ThornClan territory, and the only one with leaf-bearing trees. The nuts attracted prey, making it a prime hunting ground in the sorely prey-scarce territory. Unfortunately it wasn’t particularly amenable to large patrols-overhunting had rendered the prey stealthy and skittish. Make too much noise, and the bounty was lost for the day.

A rustle. Longstride turned his head and blinked as he noticed the leaf litter had been unusually scuffed a few fox-lengths away. He sniffed the air. Cat-scent. Another sniff-a she-cat, not of any clan. Again.

Well, this was certainly unfortunate. Of course the cat would have to be chased off, but even a chase could frighten prey, nevermind a fight.
Using the bushes for cover, he crept toward the source of the sound , remaining downwind and noting the trail of faintly scuffled leaves. Judging by the size of the disturbance, the intruder was a small one, which he soon verified as he finally spotted the intruder some distance away. She couldn’t be much older than a new apprentice, with her tiny frame and tufts of remaining kit-fur. Golden-brown eyes widened, then narrowed as he noted the she-cat rapidly devouring a mouse. Thinner than most kits her age, from the looks of it, a fact certainly corroborated by the speed at which she scarfed down her catch. He briefly let himself be impressed that a cat so young and frail had nevertheless successfully caught her quarry, although likely her tiny frame would have helped conceal her movements from the mouse.

He scented his surroundings again, but couldn’t catch fresh-scent of any other cats. Nor did the she-kit’s scent resemble that odd tang that was on the prisoner’s pelt. So not a city cat. Well, he could probably have guessed that already, considering it would be awkward for a kit to be in the same party as a Kitkiller.

The tom slipped silently around the bushes. This must be handled carefully. A kit in need shouldn’t be left to starve, yet it was dangerous to simply let her go free after taking dearly-needed prey with her. There were rogues aplenty in the mountains outside the territory, and to even let the rumor slip that the borders were weakening was to invite future invasions. Small actions done now could have great effects in determining whether a war began later. And with Thornclan set on a possible conflict with neighboring clans, they could not afford to be distracted on their other borders. Confronting head-on would not work well either-likely the kit would flee. She was small, but likely agile, and fear could carry even a starvation-weakened kit far.

Positioning himself some distance behind the she-cat on a leaf-less patch of ground, he crouched. Luckily the sky was overcast, and the tree-shade would mute his shadow anyway. Longstride moved swiftly, leaping and landing precisely onto the intruder, shoving her face into the dirt. His claws were unsheathed, their tips just touching the she-kit’s frame, but he was careful not to let them draw blood.

“I am Longstride of ThornClan,” he hissed. “What right do you have to steal prey from us?”

Except he kind of couldn’t get an answer when he was currently pressing her face into the ground. Oops. Well, at least she couldn’t see the embarrassed grimace that flickered across his face. He shifted his weight slightly, turning her head to the side even as he retained an iron grip on her body. Maybe knocking her out and dragging her away from prime hunting territory before interrogating her might have been a more efficient idea. But what if knocking her out caused some sort of damage, especially to a young kit whose bones he could feel beneath her thin pelt?

“Answer quietly if you know what is good for you, kit.”

[Sparrow]

Hokori was two thirds through her meal when it happened, too intent on finishing to have paid enough attention to her surroundings, she heard the tell-tale rustle of the clan cat's leap too late. She tried to turn around to meet her attacker, but before she could so much as twitch a whisker her face was being pressed into the ground hard, claws gripping her in place as she struggled to push her nose enough away from the dirt to breathe. The earth was hard and cold, with a distinct tang of frost-scent in it, which the small she-cat had the time to appreciate before she was finally allowed to gasp for air, her head just free enough that she could turn it to look at her attacker.

A large tom, ThornClan scent pouring off his fur strong and certain, nothing like the little wafts of scent Izumi had brought back with her after her visits to the clan. He looked determined and big, his claws pricking her skin like little needles, yet not bringing any blood. He obviously pitied her, a small young she-cat that looked a tad too skeletal to have any support of her own, and she didn't blame him. What was she even doing out here? Her family had been right to see her as the weakest of the twins. She was frail and unable to so much as keep a mouse to herself before some bigger cat swept by and stole it off her.

What had Izumi told her about ThornClan? They were harsh, they had little prey in their territories, they chased off rouges and yet accepted them just as easily... Would this tom be one of the sort in favour of accepting strangers? Or would he be like that moody tom Izumi kept talking about who she obviously had a crush on (Nip-something?) and claw her silly before chasing her out? Her eyes widened as she remembered- IZUMI!

Rats! If he thinks I'm related to her he'll take me to camp for sure! Izumi'll make sure she gets me home! Just think of the looks I'll get from my parents! From Hinata! ACK! I have to get out of here!

Desperately she thought of a way to get the tom to just let her go without asking any questions... Aggression? There was no way he'd hurt her badly, ThornClan warriors were above that, even that Nip-clannie, maybe if she had enough of a bad attitude he'd just chase her off without thinking anything of it, and if Izumi found out it would be too late! YES!

Narrowing her eyes in a stubborn look that she so often sported, Hokori snorted at the clan cat's threats.

"None of your business clannie."

She hissed, getting plenty of attitude and vigor into her voice as she did so despite her rather emaciated state. The perfect angsty teenager.

[Running]

Longstride just barely resisted rolling his eyes as the kit snorted at his threat.

Just my bloody luck.

Well, the she-kit certainly had spirit to retort like that when he so clearly held the advantage. That, or a rather healthy dose of stupidity. Then again, he reflected, the two did seem to go paw in paw. His ears swiveled about, and he took in another breath, yet he couldn’t detect any other rogue presence. He flicked his tail irritably as he continued to hold the she-kit in a pin.

On one paw, a kit should not be left to starve. On the other paw, the kit was long past a newborn, and coddling her or even simply letting her go was likely dangerous. An intruder this stubborn could quickly become a nuisance. If he didn’t impress on her some reluctance to encroach upon ThornClan territory, chances were she’d only return to take more prey.

Very few rogues were potential allies. Most were solitary, concerned only with themselves. Nevertheless, he would hear her story if she was willing to tell it, and shape his actions accordingly. Besides, beyond his concerns for his clan’s well-being, he couldn’t help but be curious as to why so young a kit was on her own.

Golden-brown eyes tried to meet the kit’s. His face was perfectly placid, albeit stern, as he responded to the rather impudent remark.

“Technically, by invading my clan’s territory and stealing my clan’s prey, you have made it my business, young kit. I’m afraid you’ve renounced your right to privacy on that matter. Take that into consideration next time you think about crossing borders.”

The tom sincerely hoped this wouldn’t become some battle of wills, a war of attrition as it were. Frankly he could be utilizing his time elsewhere, marking borders and hunting to ensure the clan’s strength before the inevitable storm, or discussing invasion strategies, or training the kits.

“So let me ask again, why are you here, taking prey that is clearly not yours?”

[Sparrow]

Hokori narrowed her eyes and glared straight into the ThornClan tom's as he looked at her, feeling all the more justified in her stubborn temperament at the very parent-like expression on his face. He looked like he was making an effort to be calm and stern, the kind of behavior one would expect if he were scolding his own kit. She felt a surge of annoyance once more as she reflected on how she was constantly belittled in this way, sure it was working to her advantage this time around, but she despised the fact that the tom didn't even feel the need to properly attack her. She was so small, so weak, so young, she felt disgusted with herself.

It was obvious he wasn't going to let her go unless she gave him an explanation, at which point the soft-heart would probably take her to the edge of the territory and see her off as long as she didn't let him find out about her relation to his clan mate... What if Izumi had already got wind of her having run away? A thrill of fear ran down the young she-cat's spine, far worse than the weather that cut into her thin fur which was failing to grow thick enough due to her diet (or lack of). There was nothing in the world that her stubborn mind could imagine which would be worse than having to face the shame of seeing her family again in the state she was in. She could never go back unless she managed to make something of herself, she HAD to get out of ThornClan territory.

I need to give him an excuse... Something that'll let him let me go... Something almost true... The best lies are truths after all.

"What does it look like? I'm hungry, so I'm hunting."

She hissed at him, struggling slightly against his grip as she did so,

"I got separated from my family and I'm travelling to find them again. They're in the mountains, but I needed some food before I kept walking."

She shot him a furious glare, everything in her face accusing him of preventing a starving kitten from gathering herself enough to find her long-lost family,

"Now will you let me go! I get it, you want me out! I'll leave and try hunt somewhere else."

She snarled.

[Running]

As the she-kit began to struggle anew, he held his grip, eyes narrowing.

“And your parents didn’t teach you not to steal from clans?” he snorted, shaking his head.

And if she is telling the truth, StarClan help us if her parents start crossing our borders to look for their kits. Desperate parents were a force to be reckoned with, that was for certain.

It was possible the she-kit was lying and to be honest, Longstride wasn’t adept at manipulation or detecting mouse-dung, at least not with cats he did not know. While likely true, it was certainly a convenient tale, one that did evoke pity. He knew the pain of being estranged from family, that was for certain. He took a deep breath, steeling himself. He couldn’t let his personal issues get in the way of clan policy.

Still, perhaps in the long run it did not matter whether her story was true or false, so long as he ensured that she did not intrude in the future.

“Very well. If you give me your word that you will not enter ThornClan territory again, I will release you and accompany you to the border.”

His expression was controlled, but his eyes burned, meeting her accusing glare directly.

“And refrain from making empty promises. I do not like hurting needlessly, but I will not hesitate to flay someone who breaks their word.”

[Sparrow]

Hokori narrowed her eyes stubbornly at the tom-cat as he tightened his grip on her, feeling powerless and deeply annoyed at her own powerlessness.

“And your parents didn't teach you not to steal from clans?”

"My parents aren't from here."

She hissed in response, bob-tail lashing from side to side as best it could for its size. She was starting to get uncomfortable with his claws prickling at her skin, stuck in the same position with this tom looming over her.

“Very well. If you give me your word that you will not enter ThornClan territory again, I will release you and accompany you to the border.”

FINALLY!

“And refrain from making empty promises. I do not like hurting needlessly, but I will not hesitate to flay someone who breaks their word.”

Hokori snorted, wriggling a little again in the hopes that the tom would make good on his offer to let her go.

"Oh, trust me, I'm not coming back here again. I'm trying to find my parents, or at least a place where I can eat in peace, and obviously neither of those things are here."

[Running]

As Longstride felt the she-kit wriggle beneath his grasp, he sighed. She was certainly eager to get on her way, that was for certain, especially given her immediate agreement to his terms, if in a rather obstinate manner. Such was the way of many kits that age, and quite a few adults, for that matter.

"Very well," he said. With care he relinquished his grip on the she-kit and took a step back, tail twitching behind him. The warrior was prepared to race after her if she broke her vow and bolted. Likely she was rather speedy, but he had endurance on his side, and it would be easy to track her down.

With quick motions he buried the prey beneath some needles, lest it attract unwanted attention. "Follow me," he commanded, starting to pad forward, with a stern glare indicating that she was to immediately comply and not finish her meal. Although this detour would take valuable time, leaving this patch of trees silent for a while might coax more prey to the surface, for while their confrontation had not spooked the prey irreparably, it might have rendered prey more cautious. Besides, by the code, it was his duty to ensure the well-being of kits.

He looked at the she-kit, another thought coming to mind. "What are your parents' names, by the way? In case they also end up wandering here looking for you?" Longstride asked, tilting his head slightly. A second later he recalled that he didn't even know the kit's name, but he bit his tongue, reluctant to reveal the mistake in courtesy. Admittedly it wasn't really an error, but he still felt a tad awkward. After all, it wasn't common to ask intruders for their names while you were driving them out, but with kits, the situation was different.

[Sparrow]

As the tom let her get up Hokori scrambled gleefully back onto her paws, debating briefly whether she should bolt or not, the weakness in her limbs and the clannie's twitching tail warned her otherwise however. There was no way she'd make it more than a few seconds of sprinting before he caught up with her. She was underfed, and she could feel it deeply, no way was she a match for a full grown warrior.

Not that I'm a match for anyone it seems

She thought bitterly to herself, tail twitching as images of her golden-girl sister floated before her eyes. With a sigh she let herself deflate and hung her head a little, watching painfully as the tom brushed pine needles all over the half-mouse carcass she had been enjoying... At least she had managed to get a few good gulps down before her meal was stolen from her...

She couldn't help but shoot the tom a glare as he indicated for her to follow him, dropping into step obediently and looking away with a stubborn pout in her features. His question threw her off balance however, and she was glad that she had been looking away from him when he asked as panic flew across her face. Izumi had been with the clan long enough that it was fair to assume cats would know her brother and sister-in-law's names, so there was no way she was going to be able to tell him any real names, she'd have to come up with something fast...She didn't break pace though, and turned her head to him with the same stubborn expression as before.

"Fang and Wind."

She mewed fluidly, the half-lie leaping from her tongue so naturally that she had to make a stubborn huffing noise to try and hide her surprise with herself. She quickly followed it up by moving the subject on,

"My name's Earth, in case someone asks... I'm gonna head for the mountains if they ask where I went. There'll be fewer cats to steal the food I catch."

[Running]

Longstride did not miss the kit’s glare or her pout, although he chose to ignore it. There were far more severe consequences for trespassing. He led Earth along the shortest route to the border, scanning the territory even as he kept some of his senses trained on the kit.

They proceeded in silence for some time before the warrior spoke again.

“Have there been any…odd travelers in the lands beyond the clans recently?” he asked, looking back at Earth.

Likely if the bobtail had encountered any of the city cats she would not be standing here today, but it was worth a shot. Perhaps news had passed through the outsiders.

Turn each obstacle into an opportunity. That was the source of ThornClan’s strength. Spiked trees and undergrowth were hazards, but also trained one to step carefully and quickly. Rocky earth scd paws, but hardened them. Exposure to the elements taught them not to complain about the chill or the blazing sun but to think about how they could be used against a weaker-minded enemy. RapidClan claimed power because of its wealth of prey, The Tribe clung to its spiritual connection, DuskClan to its slyness and command of the night, and SmokeClan to its brute strength, but only ThornClan knew how to turn suffering-the only constant of life-to power.

[Sparrow]

Hokori glanced at the warrior in honest puzzlement. What did he mean odd? Was there some merry band of eccentric cats roving the lands at the moment? Had she missed out on the cat equivalent of running away to join the circus?

"Afraid not. The only other cat I've bumped into since I got separated from my parents was a RapidClan apprentice. She didn't want to drive me off, does that count as odd for a clan cat?"

She mewed, bob-tail flicking absent-mindedly as they neared what she thought smelled like the border with DuskClan. It had a tangy aroma, like a strong plant... That was at least one great advantage of having aunt Izumi visiting and telling stories, she knew the rough clan borders and had been given a description of the scents. She paused as they got to the edge though, sure she'd been told that the border was further in. Was ThornClan invading another clan's territory? She wasn't really sure, perhaps she'd just remembered the borders wrong? No. It had certainly moved from where Izumi said it was. DuskClan must be getting weak.

"Well I guess this is where I'll leave you. Cheers for the escort and everything."

She mewed at him, getting ready to spring off into DuskClan territory and start the whole cycle anew. Hopefully if this clan couldn't hold their borders they wouldn't mind a little she-cat filching away a mouse or two?

[Running]

Longstride resisted the urge to slap a paw to his face as the kit seemed baffled. That was probably not the most effective way to phrase that question. What were words?

"Depending on your point of view,” he mused, acting as if he hadn’t messed up his words. The warrior noted the piece of information, even if it likely didn't matter much. Then again, on the off-chance that the she-kit was some sort of spy or ended up blabbing about her encounter to someone else, whoever she was reporting to wouldn't be alerted to the fact that ThornClan not only was aware of the city rogues possibly nearby, but had captured one of their number.

Speaking of which, when would that tom wake up? There was only so much information they could glean from a prisoner that wasn't awake. During his one assignment on guard duty in the medicine den, Longstride had spent some time surveying the unconscious tom's frame, it's not like he really had anything else to do, even if his observations merely corroborated what Emberstep had likely already observed. The tom wasn't particularly powerfully built, and his dull and tangled fur indicated some level of malnutrition. Longstride was no medicine cat, but he could discern in the places not concealed by thick fur and bandages that the tom bore numerous old wounds. Of course, it was difficult to derive the source of said wounds, and with that any information they might give him. Springstep's stories indicated that city life wasn't particularly easy, even for those who were in the favor of Seul. He didn’t bear a collar like Adder, but that could be for the sake of inconspicuousness just as much as it might be due to a lack of favor with his leader. All his claws were intact, so he hadn't been marked with that particular badge of shame.

He broke away from his pondering about the mysterious prisoner as the border scents grew stronger and they finally came to a stop. He sniffed the air, brown eyes peering into the swathe of trees, searching for signs of movement beyond the faint sway of branches in the wind, pawprints or recently scuffed up needles. The scents along this border were stronger than on the SmokeClan border, but there still no aggressive response to the ThornClan intrusion. He couldn't detect any traces of illness, stress, or fear among the scents, and it seemed a variety of cats had made the border markings. Was it a message back to ThornClan that DuskClan didn't consider their threats worth their time? After all, ThornClan had been the butt of the more prosperous clans' jokes for seasons, and such a subtle retort wasn't unlike those night-stalkers. Perhaps DuskClan was just biding their time until some hapless ThornClan patrol came upon the small intrusion at the same time as a conveniently placed ambush. It would be a simple way to weaken any threats, preventing a greater battle and minimizing casualties on the attacker's side. However, it appeared as if there was no present threat of ambush, especially considering the wind was blowing toward them at the moment.

As the kit spoke, Longstride turned his attention back to her, shaking his head as he noted the direction of the kit's excited gaze. So much for learning one’s lesson.

"Wouldn't recommend traipsing too deeply into there, Earth. Fog seeps through much of DuskClan territory, dulling your senses, and their warriors are rather adept at ambush," he warned. There wasn't any fog on the border, of course, but from his brief scouting forays into the territory he had found it had a tendency to creep up on you some distance in. "The quickest route out of the territories is that way," he said, gesturing with his tail in a direction into DuskClan territory a little off from where Earth had seemed to intend to spring off into. Prey would be sparse once she left the clan territories, that was true, but there were consequences to stealing. Of course he had no control over the she-kit's actions once she crossed the border, but he might as well advise her not to do something too flea-brained.

Plus he didn’t want to give her a taste for what might soon be ThornClan territory.

[Sparrow]

Longstride's warnings went in one ear and promptly out of the other, Hokori's stomach being the strongest opinion that the teenager was planning on listening to. She had only had a few bites of that mouse after all, so her belly was crying out for more from within her skinny malnourished frame. It was like she'd just been teased with a starter after days of no full meals.

Fog huh? All the better to hide in.

She thought to herself, seemingly unaware that DuskClan cats would probably be a lot better at navigating in the fog than she was. None the less she might as well LOOK like she was heading the way he told her to, or he might think twice about letting her go. She couldn't afford to let him change his mind now that she was so close to getting away.

"All right then, I'll head that way."

She sighed, wrigging her bob-tail and bounding away into DuskClan territory,

"BYE LONGSTRIDE!"

She yelled over her shoulder, speeding up until she disappeared into the foliage.

((Hokori to DuskClan territories))

[spottedfur]

<Trenchpaw from Dusk Camp>

The scraggly apprentice stepped through the mist ridden land, feeling a sense of tranquility from within the darkness around her. As she stepped through the dense forest, small wisps of fog parted and snaked around her paws before settling back to coat the forest floor. For her it felt as if the darkness, the mist and the fog were living things; clanmates that were always at her side to support her. It was like the forest itself was breathing in synce with her.
Trenchpaw's eyes glowed eerily as she moved, silent as a shadow, navigating through the maze-like territory. She had long since felt comfortable here and she no longer got lost; for it was a common thing for new apprentices to lose their way once in a while. There was an old belief in her clan, that a cat must get lost a few times before they could truly find themselves and their destiny. She didn't think much on such things and she had never noticed the confidence she had found in her training (having never lacked any to begin with).
She let her mind wander and willed her bothersome thoughts away, hoping that they would get caught in the branches and get lost in the forest. Soon she found herself nearing the border and she slowed down her pace. She paused when she noticed a lack of fog and shadows, almost instinctively shying away from the clear lit territory beyond. She felt the wind blowing into Thornclan and knew that if she went any closer she would surely be detected. She was far away now for her to remain unnoticed but she would have to get closer... 
Remebering her training she lowered her body and slipped into shallow dips in the earth, staying behind trees, logs, or rocks as she let the moisture soak into her pelt. She took to this part of her training very well due to her past and was quickly growing very skilled at it. She was getting closer to the border now, but hesitated. Peering around a tree she spotted two cats and she froze. She was too far to hear them and couldn't scent them but she could see that neither was the cat she had hoped to see.
Trenchpaw sagged slightly and glanced at her paws, before looking back at the two cats, suddenly wondering what they were doing so close to Duskclan.
She saw the smaller feline move away and she frowned. Was he sending off an apprentice? Seemed strange...
The apprentice then slowly turned her gaze back to the other cat, wondering what she should do. It would be stupid to confront them, but should she do nothing? Then an idea occurred to her and she stretched casually, letting her claws scrap against roots and stone. She got to her paws and stepped into view, her head turned to the side, eyes focused on the Thornclan Warrior. The wind she had avoided now brushed against her and carried her feint scent, weakened from moisture and blending so well with the border markers. She remained in the shadows and could still sense small tendrils of fog curling around her.
Trenchpaw stood there for only a couple heartbeats before she stepped behind another tree, out of view, where she allowed the forest to swallow her up. Her very presence disappearing as she moved deeper into her territory. She wanted to remind those bristle brained cats that there were still plenty of Duskclan cats patrolling the border.
Now she would find out about that other feline...

<Trenchpaw to Duskclan territory>
[ooc: though she never left her territory.]

[Running]

The tom shook his head, a small grin on his face as the kit dashed off, yowling her head off. Kits these days. Unfortunately her frame was swallowed by mist and shadow long before he could discern whether she intended to take his advice.

He wished her well.

At a faint scratching sound, his ears swiveled, his head following a moment later. His eyes fixed on partially glowing eyes. The wind carried her scent to him, yet even at this close range, her form was blurred by shadows and residual tendrils of mist.

Just a faint hint of fear shot through Longstride, even if his face remained dark and stoic, moons of training kicking in. His ears pricked even as he redoubled his efforts to sense his surroundings. Hair rose just slightly on the back of his neck. A part of him realized how foolish it was to have ventured so close to the border unaccompanied. Sure, he had done solo scouting and thievery missions into DuskClan a few times before, which was frankly far more dangerous, but that had been before they had pushed their borders, if only slightly.

Apart from the faint call of a bird and the creaking of branches, it was silent. He could not detect any other motion, although it could have been cloaked by the ever-shifting mist. Still, long after the cat on the border vanished, he remained, alert. Perhaps he should have fled immediately, yet something held him there.

Seeing a DuskClan cat in their own territory wasn’t an unusual thing, of course, yet their pose unsettled him. She wanted to be seen. A warning, perhaps?

Several moments later he mentally slapped himself as he realizing that sending Earth off might be interpreted as him possibly sending an apprentice into DuskClan territories to steal from them. They were upwind of DuskClan, after all, so she might not have been able to detect Earth’s scent. Of course, likely the DuskClan cat would hunt down the intruder, and then rule out that possibility. Still, he needed to think more through his actions, rather than relying on simple principles. The best warriors were not the strongest or the fastest or the stealthiest, but the ones who could best predict the consequences of their actions.

He lingered on the border, staring into the mist, which churned and tumbled in the faint breeze. Longstride was a child of the Great Return, apprenticed as the clans left the old territories, his education spanning a harsh journey across barren lands and twolegplaces and the discussions and debates as the clans settled into their ancestral territories. The days of war were things of legends, and from what he heard from other clans at gatherings, the other clans seemed to hold to that assumption. Each of the ancestral territories held all that each clan needed to survive, and each clan was best adapted to its own territory. Apart from external invasions, there would be no war here. Some even claimed it was StarClan’s decree, especially in the early days. He frankly wondered how much the other clans believed in it anymore, beyond just using it as an excuse to maintain the status quo.

Nevertheless, there was truth in it.

He still couldn’t determine whether he found the mist-filled territory more fascinating or disconcerting. In the mist, his senses were clouded, things that he usually employed to understand his surroundings were blurred and distorted. It was a challenge, he figured, but he couldn’t deny that he felt uncomfortable-vulnerable really, in such a place. DuskClan, accommodated to the nights and the mist, would have an inherent advantage in any combat here, and if ThornClan did seize more territory, then DuskClan would have a tactical advantage in any attempts to take it back. To even have a chance of holding such territory, ThornClan would have to…to truly crush DuskClan. Even that strategy was tenuous, and how would the other clans react to such brutality?

Consequences. It always comes down to consequences.

The tom was adept at analyzing a situation after the fact, piecing together cause and effect, and at gathering intelligence of the current state of the world, yet for all his expertise in the past and present, the future was as hazy as the mists.

The foggy and dark territory could be something that the clan could adapt to and learn, and perhaps come out the better for it. Yet he worried that ThornClan, in its belief that it could handle any territory after surviving in the most barren, would not recognize the inherent dangers of seizing that territory.

I am loathe to back down from a challenge…but I can’t help but feel seizing SmokeClan territory would be the wiser strategy.

As a young warrior, he had little influence in the matter, but at the very least he could report on his observations.

A part of him wanted to survey the whole border, yet with tensions as high as they were, it wasn’t worth falling prey to a possible ambush. Instead, he stared a little longer into the mists, troubled, before slipping deeper into ThornClan territory to continue with his hunt.

[Longstride to ThornClan camp…eventually]