GET YOUR TORCH, MOUNT YOUR HORSE | border return

[SILVERSMOKE]

There had always been a pattern with his anger, something he had recognised within himself, something unbreakable because it was comfortable. Things would escalate quickly, he would cool down over a meal or sleep and he could spend the next moon reflecting on what had happened. He could regret and regret and regret but never change - yet, despite the ramifications, he felt no regret over Raccoonstripe. The other was ThunderClan personified, all its good and evil, all it had taken for granted from his home and all the nothing it had offered in return. He did not like thinking that Figfeather was right to take territory from them, especially without Orangestar's permission, but again, the idea seemed tempting when all he wanted to do was leap back into the fray.

He moved into camp with an unsteady gait, claw wounds upon his chest, and a bite mark upon his leg, neither deep enough to linger forever, but certainly enough to hurt and hinder for the time being. Silversmoke imagined someone's voice now, 'perhaps they'll make you think twice about what you're doing', and had already decided it likely wouldn't. Over and over he looked past his own shoulder, wondering if he would find Raccoonstripe there, wondering if the world would freeze for but a moment so they could finish what they started.

The spotted tabby bit down on his tongue as he peered at the horizon longingly - when had it stopped being about doing the right thing and started being about winning the fight?

He blinked fervently and the trees went back to normal, any pathways back towards the border mentally blocked. Owlishly, his head swiveled back around, awkwardly locking eyes with a clanmate before his gaze shifted to the Leader's Den. A huff escaped him, he didn't know who he was more unenthusiastic explaining himself to, Orangestar or Johnnyflame. When he saw neither around, explaining to another warrior what had happened was almost practice. "Raccoonstripe crossed our borders and attacked me. The amount of insults he's hurled our way and the nitwit can't even take one back, he—" With the way his fur shot to the stars, there was a moment in time where he looked more hyena than feline. Somehow, that felt more like a vent than an explanation. He took another step, felt pain once more, and decided he was entitled to that at least.

"Foxheart. ThunderClan hasn't changed, not if they enable behaviour like his with titles and praise."

[ set after this thread

skyclanners involved: @Bumblebee! , @Owlheart , @CANDORPAW , @TWITCHBOLT ]
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[DOEBLAZE]

" Oh, lovely. " Weary paws wind through the bramble entrance mere moments after Doeblaze and @cloudypaw~, these ones soaked with not preyblood, but their own. The freshly silenced cardinal in her jaws is thrust unceremoniously onto the dwindling fresh-kill pile, easy strides carrying her to the limping party, Silversmoke at its helm. " You okay? " Her muzzle creases with something she insists to herself is some shadowy sibling to worry, rather than the genuine thing. A nasty bite mark is dug into his foreleg, but more pressingly—Candorpaw flanks Twitchbolt, sturdy limbs marred with scratches. She surges forward to meet her son. " Are you okay? What happened? "

Now her head swivels between the patrol members, jade eye insistent for an explanation on what had happened. What had happened to her son, more specifically. Faintly, she feels guilty about not fussing over everyone else the same—she cares for them, she does, but Candorpaw is her baby, her flesh and blood. Silversmoke is quick enough on the mark, his fur puffing up in a way her own spiking pelt doubtlessly imitates. Raccoonstripe. " That— " Her voice tapers off into a string of mutters that are, luckily for everyone around her, too quiet to be heard. " That's the second time he's crossed our border since the snow melted. "

" How dare he. " Her claws curl tempestuously in and out of the needles littering the ground below, pulling up chunks of pine-strewn dirt for her troubles. She kneads them back in, caging her temper like a wayward fire, molten heat searing her paws. Clearly, it's temper that had gotten them all into the mess in the first place, and yet—how many times has she pulled her jaw and been the bigger cat when Raccoonstripe spit insults across the border? How often has she taken his veiled snaps lying down, watching him pull rank with his Clanmates? Doeblaze chuffs heavily out of her nose, pacing a small, restless loop at Candorpaw's side. " Foxheart is right. "

" Cloudypaw, go fetch Fireflyglow. Then you're dismissed for the night. I'll go see if I can't find Orangestar. " If she's well enough, anyways, she muses, though she suspects little would keep the leader from hearing this news. Casting a final glance of wordless agreement towards Silversmoke, she turns and lopes towards the well-beaten track to the elderberry den.

OOC : Went to get @Orangestar, sent her apprentice to get @Fireflyglow.

✦

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[SLATESNARL]

Blood. The familiar metallic stench hits his senses, triggering alarm within the warrior. Now more than ever, Slatesnarl is on edge and at the ready to defend SkyClan's camp. He has two newborns to protect, from other clans or predators or otherwise. However, an immediate threat does not accompany the battered and bruised patrol back into camp, just a clawed-up Silversmoke and a frayed-looking patrol. Like the others, the tom is curious about what happened.

He was half-expecting the stink of dog or fox to be clinging to Silversmoke's pelt, but just before the tabby explains himself, Slatesnarl recognized the oaky aroma of their neighbors. Mirroring Doeblaze's anger, the hairs along his charcoal spine bristle with disdain. "ThunderClan has always been arrogant 'n stuck-up, actin' like they have some sort of moral high ground when they've had the nerve to steal from us before." And when they continue to have despicable warriors like Raccoonstripe on their council. Slatesnarl has heard of the prowess of the lead warrior but, while there was a certain amount of credibility for that, his actions today have soured the Maine Coon's opinion of the ThunderClanner entirely. Of ThunderClan, even. Slatesnarl has had quite enough of them, quite honestly.

The reason the fight broke out is not known at this point, but the former lead warrior does not care to find out. There is no weighing of logic or reasoning within the temperamental Maine Coon's mind — he just seeks vengeance.

His eyes narrow as Doeblaze offers to fetch his mate, a bitter reminder that she now outranked him and therefore held higher influence than he did in the eyes of Orangestar. The ginger-splashed she-cat had been more snappish and withdrawn for the past day or so; he doubted that she would want to be bothered with such matters. The leader was overworking herself as it was; Slatesnarl did not love the idea of consulting her for a scrap with ThunderClan.

Lashing his bushy tail, Slatesnarl commanded, "I say we march over to the border and demand to speak to Flamestar ourselves. We can't stand for this!" He pays no mind to the higher ranks present, figuring that they would agree with him if they had any sense in their brains. Only then does the Maine Coon fix his amber stare onto Twitchbolt—a last-minute thought—as he begrudgingly gauges the patchwork tom for a response.

𝟒𝟐𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐆𝐎𝐓 𝐁𝐈𝐆 𝐉𝐈𝐌 𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐊𝐄𝐑 ✹ . + ˚ · 𝐇𝐄𝐒 𝐀 𝐏𝐎𝐎𝐋-𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐍 𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐀 𝐆𝐔𝐍

• 

• 

  — slatesnarl / 43 moons / he/him
  — skyclan warrior & former lead warrior
  — mate to orangestar / father to tbn & tbn
  — lh solid black maine coon w/ rusting, amber eyes. scars litter his form but are prominently present on his face.
  — click for tags

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[Howlfire]

The slight tang of blood is what draws Howlfire's attention to the returning patrol. Suspicion narrows her eyes as she takes in her battered and angry looking clanmates, watching as Silversmoke looked towards the leader's den, but finally revealed what happened.

"You would think after the previous help we have given them, ThunderClan would be a bit more tolerant of us..." She grumbled, listening as Doeblaze and Slatesnarl reacted to the news, pointing out the prior occasions their neighbouring clan had belittled them or crossed the border. She looks wearily in Slatesnarl's direction as he suggests marching over the border and demanding to speak with Flamestar. "Oh yes, that will surely go well..." Howlfire said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. A moment passed and her shoulders sagged. "Still, I don't think Slatesnarl is entirely wrong," She confessed, this time addressing Twitchbolt to gauge his opinion. "Time and time again ThunderClan have proven that they do not respect us. We have all seen the way they look at us from across the border, waiting with sharpened eyes and barbed tongues for us to make a slip up, to justify their attitude towards us." She made a scoff. It was lucky that Orangestar and Howlingstar had stepped in to prevent a fight breaking out after they stole prey from SkyClan, many still seethed after that - Howlfire included - and had harboured negative feelings towards the forest clan. "Orangestar is resting, I know, but perhaps she would be amenable to talking with the rest of her council so we could discuss what to do? I do not think we should leave this as it is. If we do, we only give my uncle more time to spin a convenient lie about what happened."​

 

[Owlheart]

She's quiet in her seething, ThunderClan had crossed their border once again. They had received the worst of it once again, it wasn't as if they left unscathed but those fox-hearts are given too much grace. She's not one to advocate for violence or consequence in such a way but Slatesnarl makes a point, they shouldn't have to stand for this at all. "There should be a meeting with Flamestar at least, even if it's... not so dramatic" she frowns in concern for her mother. Would putting that kind of stress on Orangestar be a good idea? Should a meeting be organsied by Twitchbolt then? Even if he was directly involved she'd trust a level of objectivity from the deputy.

"A lead warrior should be able to hold his temper, it's kittish of Raccoonstripe to have crossed the border" she shakes her head with a dismissive swish of her tail to follow. Granted there had been provocation from Silversmoke, so soon after the tragedy that was Skyclaw's reign. That didn't give them the right to break boundaries and disrespecting the code once again. If they were going to be so upset over words then maybe they should think before verbally shredding every single thing SkyClan stands for.

Howlfire brings up a good point, what could their patrol even be reporting back to ThunderClan? She tries to not dwell on it, there isn't much that she can do anyways. Prodding at the flesh of her gums with her fangs she sighs, turning to go find Crowsight and Oddgleam. Stopping beside Silversmoke for a moment before she leaves she nods at his direction. "You're right for what you said, it's good that you didn't bite your tongue" she knows that he's not seeking approval but she felt the need to let slip one last remark.

// out!!
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[Johnnyflame]

MY WORLDS ON FIRE, HOW 'BOUT YOURS?
THAT'S THE WAY I LIKE IT AND I NEVER GET BORED."​

---

”Raccoonstripe crossed our border and attacked me.”

What?

Johnny turned away from the conversation he’d been having with Quillstrike to take in the ruffled sight of his mate, bloody and bristled, and was on his feet in an instant. "Fucking Thunderclan.." he half-growled softly to himself, patience wearing dangerously thin at the sight of Silversmoke struggling to put weight on his left. The bobtail always tried to keep things civil with the other clans, but he wasn't so foolish as to think their groups were friends- no anymore. He could admit he'd struggled for a moment with it back then, but too much had happened in his time with Skyclan to know that the other groups could never truly be known, and therefore could never truly be trusted.

But he was wondering if that civility and attempt to keep things friendly was worth allowing cats like Raccoonstipe to keep his ego in tact.

The tension between them and thunderclan had been building for some time now, but much of it was done with some manner of sneakiness- the thunderclan hunting patrol that had trespassed had not done so in the presence of a full Skyclan border patrol, just as Fig and Silver had not tried to mark that tree in front of a hoard of Oak dwellers. To hear Raccoonstripe had attacked Silversmoke was not in itself a surprise after all that’d been happening, but to hear he’d attacked him in front of a full patrol felt different. Bolder.

”Stars- can’t keep you out of trouble, can we?” he huffed as he moved to carefully press against the injured feline to bear some of the weight on their bad side. His tone was not completely chiding though, a clear and heavy note of fondness woven into it. Johnny was annoyed, but not with his mate. Everything about Silver was sharp, from his tongue to his claws, and he’d be a fool to expect that to change. It was one of the many things he loved about the other cat, and he wouldn’t strip him of that fighting spirit even if he’d had the chance.

Besides, it’s not like Skyclan was the one trespassing this time.

”You’re alright, though?” he asked, voice going soft as sun-gold eyes dragged along their scratched chest and down to the bleeding leg. He’d seen enough injuries in his day to know that neither were life-ending, but also knew enough to understand it wasn’t pleasant. "Trust you left him bloody, too, aye?" he added after a moment, and attempt to lighten things; to ensure he wasn't angry at Silver. Well-- unless the other told him right now that his attacker had gotten away completely unharmed.

Around them, a mob spoke of consequences and a demand for answers, and Johnnyflame found himself nodding at Howlfires words. Thunderclan was constantly lying in wait for them to slip up, using any excuse to turn things back on them- but a new daylight warrior putting a paw over the border while learning the ropes wasn’t the same as purposefully killing another clans prey. It was definitely still unacceptable (borders existed for a reason), but no harm done should have remained as no harm done.

Thunderclan was always escalating it though. Maybe Skyclan should, as well.

”Not sure if a simple meeting will be enough to do it, though. Thunderclans been out of control for moons now. Hunting our lands, insulting us while using our healer, killing their own- don’t you think if they had the ability to keep their cats in line, they would?” he wondered aloud, noting that the other clan couldn't even force a pretense of civility when Skyclan was being nice and helping them out by lending them their medicine cat.

What was Flamestar really to do? Ban Raccoonstripe from their border? Demote him? Send him away to cause trouble from a distance? Yeah- that wouldn’t grow any more animosity toward them all. And maybe it would work, but maybe it wouldn’t- that unsanctioned hunting party into the pines hadn’t been small after all, which meant the Thunderclan tom wasn’t the only one willing to go behind their leaders back.

---

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[Orangestar]

"I'm here."

When Doeblaze returns with their leader in tow, it would become very quickly apparent that Orangestar has made little effort to appear put-together as usual. Exhaustion seeps into every line of her being, ochre eyes underscored by heavy bags as they descend upon Silversmoke and his injuries. He carries himself with his usual indignant flair, meaning he couldn't be that injured.

"If he crossed our border, you did the right thing defending it." She meows, the gravel of her meow full of sharp edges. She feels no drive to right this wrong as forcefully as her Clanmates demand, swaying slightly on her paws. Her attention drifts briefly to Twitchbolt, then to the other members of the border patrol, and finally returns to the group as a whole.

"If they cross onto our lands again, treat them as rogues. Clearly the warriors ThunderClan has left behind have no respect for the code that separates the Clans from alley cats." Her tail twitches. This chance to put her paw on Raccoonstripe's throat, Orangestar decides, would be her single gift to Flamestar. The thought of the lead warrior brings a bitter taste to her tongue, the reminder of the kit she'd left in her den for a few short moments. She couldn't allow her daughter to share a name with such a fox-heart.

"Go and see Fireflyglow." She orders Silversmoke, searching for crimson stains on any of the other patrol members' coats. "I will speak with my council, and Flamestar, should this happen again."

ooc ✧ 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘦

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  [ art by pin ]
• ORANGESTAR ✧ she/her, leader of skyclan | six lives
  
  
  — "a scarred white-and-ginger she-cat with brown eyes."
  — mate to slatesnarl ; no apprentice
  — speech is in #D2977D
  — tags | penned by mercibun, contact on discord for plots.
  
  
  
  

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[Bumblebee!]

Radio Silence ♥​

---

Bumblebee had noted the tension during the patrol, but to start a fight? Was quite an unexpected twist, luckily things had ended at the borders as swiftly as they began, and the mute warrior had only been a bystander during the whole event but still. Why would Thunderclan allow such things to continue, especially with one who was supposed to be held in high regard? Racconstripe needed to face the consequences of his actions.

The mute watched the angry forms of his clanmate before adjusting himself to look towards Orangestar calmly, "If you need anyone for a patrol to thunderclan, I am unharmed" the mute gestured slightly before looking towards Silversmoke and the others who had been injured. They only went after the instigators besides Condorpaw or had only been an innocent bystander to the situation just as Bumblebee was. He only hoped that Flamestar would immediately take action over what had happened.​

"speak""Thoughts"​