Broken Wings (Closed Plot Patrol)

Pine needles crackled under Redwing's paws as she meandered across ShadowClan territory. Leaf-fall was in the air, bringing a breath of chill wind to the formerly almost-stifling heat. Leaf-bare was her favorite season, beautiful and snowy, but with the perfect excuse for cats to band together and curl up sharing stories with the elders. However, leaf-fall was a good season too. She couldn't wait to get back to camp and eat that mouse she'd caught earlier, almost as big as a squirrel and with twice as much flavor from what she'd smelled. A lucky find on its way from ThunderClan's territory. But as deputy she had many responsibilities- not only delegating patrols to other cats, but leading them as well. Honestly, she hated it, but she had a duty and she would fulfill it. Why was she the only one who seemed to hate being in a position of power? Most cats wanted it, desired it, even craved it. Maybe that was why she was doomed to have it. Filled with these despondent thoughts, the burly russet she-cat found herself arriving at the Highpine, the most obvious marker of their shared border with SkyClan. Her bushy tail waved to her fellow ShadowClanners- experienced Daisyflame, ambitious Lynxscar and the Clan-hopper Cardinalpaw- and she began to mark the borders with her scent. Just this last part of the territory, and she could get back to camp. Poppyheart and Rowanpaw would be waiting.

Despite the tom's growing ambition and even though he was kind of jealous of Redwing for being deputy... he still respected the senior warrior. Thornstar could not choose an apprentice like him so it made sense an experienced warrior would be chosen. However, the tom did not lose hope. He was young, strong and, according to Starclan, he was destined to greatness if he followed the right path! He just had to keep working hard and cooperate with his clanmates.

The scarred warrior patrolled around, looking over his clanmates from time to time as he marked the territory. He was uncertain of what to feel about Cardinalpaw since she wasn't a Shadowclan born cat... and used to belong to another clan like Scorchedbird. However, under Thornstar's command, she was a Shadowclan apprentice and he would respect that. There was nothing to fear about Daisyflame since he was known for being an old, yet experienced and loyal warrior to Shadowclan. The young tom trusted him and he had no doubt that if anything happened, both Redwing and Daisyflame would be there to fight by their side.

Arno was free. As free as he could be, at least. He was not bound to the pledge he made to Tanglekit anymore. Caspian and Calder knew the truth, and now they could protect themselves however they saw fit. It was no longer his responsibilty, now that they were grown. He could only pray that one day, Swallowflight would understand the power of Arno's love for him. Even with all these new revelations, he still felt trapped. He felt drawn to his father. Though he had never known him, and now he never would, Starlord's blood still pulsed within him. The wild mountain spirits claimed his heart. He felt flighty, ready to move and start anew. Clan life did not make him happy. He was restricted and bound. The only needs SkyClan satiated was the competition, the battle, and the rush of a winning fight. He could not think for himself, and he could not be a mercenary. Burningsun proved that. You could not be loyal to those you truly loved, like his littlest sister, Cardinalpaw. She was suddenly an enemy. Tinystar was a cat with qualities to be admired, but he would never understand how to open his eyes beyond the borders of a forest. So it goes. Tabbies don't change their stripes, and why should they?

These days, he went with the flow more easily. All he ever knew was survival and brotherhood. It was all that mattered.

Burningsun, Swallowflight, and Lightfang joined him on this patrol. He was happy to be there, and so were they. Sandblaze joked with them, putting on a comedy routine he made up that morning. He supplied them the perfect mix of slapstick and imitations for the entirety of their short walk to the Highpine, unaware of what was to come. His voice became more hushed the closer they came to the ShadowClan border. Thornstar was a cat nobody seemed to want to cross. He liked his ears not-filleted, so Sandblaze tended to avoid it. However, there was something dubious in the air. He lifted his tail, a signal for the others to stop, as he caught the smell of ShadowClan cats nearby.

"Watch them all be bigger than me," he muttered to Swallowflight beside him, "With StarClan as my witness, I'll run. You watch me run from those gigantic marsh-stompers! You're all on your own!"

Lightfang was not much of a secret-keeper. It was in his nature to be honest, or at least to want to be honest. Life had led him down a different path, however; the older he got, the clearer it became that the truth was a thing to be handled carefully. His fear of heights, his feelings toward Burningsun… At the time, those truths had been best left unspoken. Tinystar had made him a warrior despite his reluctance to climb; Burningsun loved him, had in fact asked him if he loved her first; he’d kept his mouth shut, and no one had gotten hurt. But those were small secrets. This was not.

He could deny his second name until the day he died—chances were, he would do exactly that—but it wouldn’t change the blood in his veins. Amberdawn and Mintwhisker had known; what if Sagelight discovered the truth, too? Or Spottedleap, or Tinystar himself? Whether SkyClan would see him as a threat or a weak link, it would end the same. To the stars above or the forest beyond, they would cast him out. Until that day came, the only thing he could do was what he’d always done: play the warrior and pray he wouldn’t fall.

Surrounded by his brothers and his mate, it was harder to feel the full weight of it. Lightfang laughed at Sandblaze’s jokes as if nothing was wrong, as if acting the part could make it so. For a moment, it worked. Then the motion of his brother’s tail caught his eye, and he stilled. ShadowClan scent. Even when Tinystar had allowed him to patrol on his own again, he'd kept his distance Highpine for a reason. But, he reminded himself, he wasn't alone this time; if Cardinalpaw was here, he wouldn't necessarily have to hurt her. Secure in this knowledge, the pale tom narrowed his eyes in the direction of the border. A fight wasn't guaranteed—except Lightfang knew his brothers and Burningsun too well to disregard the possibility. All they needed was a spark.

Following behind Redwing, Daisyflame stayed quiet, enjoying the silence as they padded through the territory. The crisp evening air nipped at his pawpads as he padded over crunchy leaves and pineneedles. The patrol occasionally stopped to scent the borders, something Daisyflame must have done a million times over in his lifetime. At this point, the large warrior could probably patrol the territory with his eyes closed, seeing as though he'd walked the borders like clockwork every sunrise. Giving his pelt a shake as they made it to Highpine, the ginger and white pelted warrior opened his maw ever so slightly to scent the air. The faint smell of SkyClanners lingered around the area, but it wasn't anything to be alarmed of as he scented the border with the rest of his clanmates.

Cardinalpaw had really hoped she wouldn't see a patrol today- after the whole Gathering fiasco, she wasn't sure any of Skyclan would be happy to see her. The ever so slight chill of leaf-fall was noticeable, but tolerable. She marked the border, trotting along the line before she faintly smelled some familiar scents. Her brothers. She looked up, finding their pelts through the trees. She continued marking, unbeknownstly into Skyclan land- but it was this shrub that the border ran on, right?

Burningsun was happy. As happy as she could be living under Tinystar that is. She had made a new family. It isn't like Daylily was her blood anyway- her parents were dead and apparently didn't have any other relatives. Since the Trial, she sadly had to put her on the list of suspects. She had supported her father, and not her own daughter. Her mother proved that blood was more important than her, so why should Burningsun bind herself to a cat that rather defend a murderer than her daughter that was gifted the wisdom and permission of StarClan? Between that and lying about her orgins, and the absolute lack of attempt to talk to her, Burningsun decided to move on. Lightfang, Sandblaze, Swallowflight, and somewhat, Firflower was whom she considered her family now. Her loyalty lies with them. SkyClan had proven to not be her clan either. Every day, it was difficult to not run away. Though she loved the trees... She had never felt at home here.

But, this patrol was enough for now. Sandblaze joking and being goofy. Her mate by her side. Swallowflight being Swallowflight. The patrol slowed and a familiar orange pelt, much like her own, appeared. Burningsun narrowed her eyes, and sighed. Taking a step forward in front of the patrol, the SkyClan warrior dipped her head. "You're on the wrong side." She said curtly. Firmly, but not threateningly. She didn't want to fight Cardinalpaw, not at all. But she really did have to learn which clan she was in now.

Despite the semi-light atmosphere, Swallowflight couldn't find it within himself to be happy. Lightfang and Burningsun finally tied the knot, which was great for them, but he felt..nothing inside. A gaping hole appeared in his heart the day Cardinalpaw left them, and the events that transpired after--her reappearance, subsequent exile, Acornfall's death, the reveal of their heritage-- had made the hole larger. Swallowflight felt lost. He didn't know what to do. The trees suddenly felt suffocating, slowly closing in on him with each step he took. He wanted to get out...had to get out..but where would he go? He couldn't leave his brothers, or Burningsun, or Firflower; they were basically all he had left. He couldn't up and leave his only family, the same way Cardinalpaw did to them. 

Speaking of Cardinalpaw...

The cream tabby looked up at the sound of Burningsun's voice, stern yet nonthreatening. He tilted his head to one side as he padded forward to join them, and noticed what was on their side of the border. Cardinalpaw. His blood immediately ignited and his fur stood on end. "Trespassing again, huh?" He spat, mouth full of venom, "you just never learn to quit. Did you forget that was the reason Tinystar exiled you in the first place?!" His tail lashed in anger. Some things never changed. Some things like ignorant, foolish little ex-sisters.

Once the scent of SkyClan grew stronger, so did the sense of dread within Redwing. She knew that their Clans might not be on the best of terms at the moment, at least partially because of Cardinalpaw... who was on this patrol. Of course she was. The russet she-cat winced and turned back to the rest of the patrol, about to warn them, but it was too late. The former SkyClan apprentice had already strayed- accidentally?- over the border, and tensions were beginning to rise. Why, oh why couldn't she just have had a normal patrol? She just wanted to get back and share that mouse with Rowanpaw and Poppyheart! Feeling mildly annoyed, the deputy finished marking the border and purposefully, firmly, but not unkindly dragged Cardinalpaw a mouse-length or so back over onto ShadowClan territory. Her determined forest-green eyes met each of the other patrol's warriors in turn. "We're sorry for the accident," she meowed calmly, every picture the perfect deputy. She could act, if nothing else. "No reason to get upset, Cardinalpaw has been here before so it makes sense that she would get messed up. Rest assured that it won't happen again." The fluffy warrior shot the apprentice a look, a "we'll talk about this with Thornstar" look, a "I hope you didn't just get us in trouble" look. Honestly, this would probably blossom into something none of them wanted. The last thing she needed was a patrol to spiral out of control. What would she tell the leader?

The tom noticed the she-cat wandering too far from them but before he could get her, Redwing did, confronting the snappy warrior. Somehow, seeing Cardinalpaw so small in front of those four warriors brought him bad memories of a certain encounter he had with a Thunderclan warrior when he was an apprentice like her. And... his reserved anger for that event started to show. The large, stocky warrior stepped forward, looking intimidating with his scarred face and piercing, narrowed green eyes. Lynxscar took a step inbetween the patrol and his deputy plus the Shadowclan apprentice, just in the middle of that grey area between Shadowclan and Skyclan border. "I have no idea what your deal is with Cardinalpaw, but she clearly has more brain than any of you, mouse-brains." The tom showed a coky smile, his green eyes lighting with fury. This was not entirely for Cardinalpaw if he had to be honest. The tom's trauma just moved him forward to protect any apprentice or young cat who could be abused by a warrior of any other clan... even if "protecting" meant sparking the tensions among patrols. Unlike his clanmates, he did not mind a small fight. Sure, there would be wounds but all for the greatness of having stronger warriors for the future of Shadowclan. "Despite being Skyclan's in the past... she clearly has to be the smartest out of all you... considering that she knows how to pick the best clan and leave the worst."

Sandblaze's face exploded in a total vision of joy to see his dear sister. He began to approach her, but Burningsun's voice was behind him, reminding him of the rules. He shrugged and stepped back, only for Swallowflight to begin his utter nonsense again. He loved the tom with all of his heart, but he was so boneheaded when it came to Cardinalpaw. One day, maybe he'd get it. It wasn't that day yet.

"Swallowflight, we have enough problems with ShadowClan without you verbally assaulting our- my sister," he growled in frustration. "How are you, Cardinalpaw? Is Scorchedbird doing okay? Have you been up to your own tricks?" Though the moment was gone, his irritation was not yet gone. He hated being distanced from his sister when all he wanted was to lick her forehead and wish her well. Swallowflight was still angry, he didn't understand change, he couldn't adapt.

Whatever. He was the self-appointed patrol leader as soon as he spoke for the group, and he wasn't about to something that petty ruffle his feathers... eh, at least not today. They already looked like morons to the rest of the forest. They didn't have any room to make relations worse. And then, as if on a cue, their deputy stepped out of the bushes.

"Oh, it's not a problem, ma'am. Redwing, right?" he said politely. "Excuse my clanmate. Cardinalpaw is my smallest sibling. I know how scatterbrained she can be. Don't sweat it!"

One of Cardinalpaw's clanmates, who Sandblaze had never seen in his entire life (and was very clearly younger than all four of Firflower's children!) made the assumption that his passiveness was some kind of invitation. Sandblaze didn't have time for it. "Look, buddy, I don't know who you think you are, but you've got a lot of nerve," he said with a raised brow. A handsome and rugged-looking tom was toying with him. He might as well play along. What a fun game it was, to pretend he had some kind of vendetta and tussle it out. It was a benefit of clan life, for certain. It was cathartic in nature. Fighting was never a serious matter for Sandblaze. "I know how you see us all, but my blood is thicker than water. We weren't planning on starting any kind of trouble with Cardinalpaw, not as long as I'm speaking for the group, and you must think you're some hot mousedung for dragging my kit sister into some stupid clan feud. You're crossing a line, so back. Up." He punctuated his last two words by stepping forward, jabbing his muzzle into the ShadowClanner's face. He winked at Cardinalpaw kindly and decided it was time to go home.

Sandblaze began to turn his back on this strange ShadowClan tom, but he paused in his steps. The game couldn't end there. That wasn't any fun. He didn't care about this tom, nor did he care about honor or respect or any of those dead-ended reasons. But, even so, it was obvious that the tabby wanted a battle. Sandblaze snickered. His eyes swept across the patrol. They landed back on the tom. "If you're looking for a fight, you're better off just spitting it out, frogface," he hissed with a twinkle in his eye. The twinkle said "play with me, tomcat." Hubris to the very last.

That spark didn’t take long to appear. One of ShadowClan’s warriors stepped right over the border and continued onward; in an instant, Lightfang recognized the distinct ginger pelt and tattered ears of his sister. So she was on this patrol. He’d never been less happy to see her. Burningsun didn’t attack, instead issuing a warning; Swallowflight kept his claws sheathed as well, though the words he spat cut as sharp as what he’d said at the Gathering. ”Swallowflight, please.” Lightfang stepped forward to flick his tail across his brother’s flank, knowing it was nowhere near enough but equally sure he had to do something. ”We don’t need a fight.” Another ShadowClanner, a red she-cat Lightfang vaguely remembered seeing at the base of the Great Rock, emerged to pull Cardinalpaw back. To Lightfang’s relief, Sandblaze accepted her apology. As if Cardinalpaw’s presence hadn’t been enough reason to keep this solely diplomatic, the deputy had to be here as well; the last thing they needed was to tangle with a cat so important to ShadowClan.

Just as Lightfang began to believe cooler heads might prevail, a third ShadowClan warrior placed himself firmly between the patrols in an obvious attempt at intimidation. Tail swaying back and forth, Lightfang met his eyes evenly. He wouldn’t argue the younger tom’s assessment of their respective Clans—ShadowClan was at least safer for Cardinalpaw than SkyClan ever could have been; in that sense, it was better—but to him, it seemed clear that all this cat wanted was a pointless fight. No territory was on the line. Redwing had apologized, SkyClan had accepted; it should have ended with that. StarClan willing, it would. Sandblaze said his piece, then turned away from the border.

…And turned back. After all, he hadn’t gotten a name like Sandblaze for nothing. Lightfang looked away from the scarred ShadowClan tom for the first time since he'd appeared, now searching for the rest of the patrol. Four of us, at least three of them. If it came to battle, they would be close to evenly matched—though the potential repercussions of going toe-to-toe with a deputy made his fur stand on end as much as the tension in the air did. Not to mention Cardinalpaw… In as close to a whisper as he could manage, he hissed to his brother, ”Are you sure about this?”

The heat under Burningsun's pelt rose. The familiar anger she felt as an apprentice started like a small flame in her tummy, slowly gaining heat as she narrowed her multi-colored gaze at the large, scarred ShadowClan warrior. Who did he think he was? As Sandblaze spoke, her rage only grew. Slowly, she backed up. While everyone's attention was focused on the ShadowClan warrior and Sandblaze, staring each other down, she quietly climbed the nearest tree. Stalking low to the branch, she crept to the end. Just watching for now. Waiting for a cue. Perhaps she wouldn't fight. But, she would. Feeding off of Sandblaze's energy, she allowed the rage and fury she was born with partner with the claws and brutality taught to her by Hawkstrike all those moons ago. For the first time, Burningsun really lost her cool. With a yowl, she leapt. Claws outstretched, she slammed onto the ShadowClan warrior's back and started furiously swiping with her claws, aiming for the eyes and jugular.

Burningsun used Sky Drop on Lynxscar causing -13 HP and using 15 HP.

Burningsun
60 / 60 HP
185 / 200 SP

Lynxscar
27 / 40 HP
160 / 160 HP

Sandblaze's mouth hung agape as Burningsun's fiery pelt swooped past him and struck his possible opponent before he even had a chance to size him up completely. His tail fluffed up in a defensive puffball and his ears pinned against his skull. With owl-like eyes, he whipped around to face Lightfang.

"Not my decision anymore, clearly!" he yowled. "Back her up, go!"

As the rest of his patrol ran into the fray, he caught his little sister's eyes and felt his stomach drop. How embarrassed she must have been. He silently begged for her to forgive him. This didn't feel so much like a game anymore. What he had meant to turn into a one-on-one wrestling match had turned into a border fight, and all of his siblings were in danger. The confusion was a decent cover, and the second most powerful cat in ShadowClan was defenseless. Impishly, Sandblaze's eyes narrowed to sapphire slits. He bunched up his haunches with the power of a cat raised on tree bark. Barrelling forward, he grabbed onto Redwing's scruff and leaped onto the first rung of the Highpine. Up and up he climbed, long claws hooking into the tree and sending bark sputtering through the air. Though she struggled against his grip, it wasn't enough to stop him from flinging her to the far side of the branch he had dragged her onto.

They stood on either side of a long and sturdy branch. Sandblaze heaved from the effort on the side closest to the trunk, watching Redwing bob up-and-down, up-and-down as the tree held her weight. He giggled in childish delight as he shook out his pelt and stretched his legs.

"Don't look so mad!" he hooted, "Your warrior started it. Can you fight ten fox-lengths up in a tree, deputy?" He bounced up and down, listening to the gentle rustling of the leaves and the faraway sound of hissing and spitting below him. Without their ringleader, how well could ShadowClan really be fairing?

Sandblaze used Run-and-Tackle, costing 10 stamina and dealing 10 damage (+3 for unfocused target).

Sandblaze
60/60 HP
190/200 SP -10

Redwing
87/100 HP -13
280/280 SP

Redwing thought everything was over. She had apologized, and that warrior- bless his heart- had accepted gratefully. Then, everything went to the Dark Forest. Lynxscar. That mouse-brain. Lynxscar boasted, bragged, insulted the warriors on the patrol, and inevitably they began to get angry. She saw pelts prickle, hackles raise. There was no way that this was going down without a fight. Fury and frustration rose together all at once, and with seething green eyes she turned on the young tom. She normally never got angry, but this was an exception. They were all in danger now! "Lynxscar," she hissed dangerously through clenched fangs, "you absolute-" Before she could lay into him, he was dropped on by a furious mass of teeth and claws that smelled like SkyClan. Her jaw dropped, and after a tense moment she was about to drag the attacker off of her fox-hearted Clanmate when something slammed into her, sharp teeth set into her scruff, and suddenly the muscly she-cat was being dragged, up, up, who had her, where was she going-

After a few blurry moments, she found herself tossed onto a tree branch, where she scrambled desperately to stay on. She was up. In a tree. StarClan. Her eyes sought the ground, dizzily noting how high she was, as terror struck her heart. From below, her Clanmates were mercilessly attacked. But there was no way she could get down.... Panicked breathing began as the distance between her and the grass beneath. But the voice of the tom who had dragged her up here brought her back quickly to reality. Yes, she was stranded in a tree... she, a senior warrior, a deputy, was alone with some young hotshot who was mouse-brained enough to not only be part of this fight, but test her in battling prowess. He'd regret being part of this fight, he'd regret dragging her up into this high piece of Dark Forest. And once she'd taught him a thing or two, every single one of these mangy flea-pelts and Lynxscar were going to get a piece of her mind. And then Thornstar's. Oh, Thornstar would not like this. Her terror at the height fueled into rage, the russet she-cat lunged at the cocky tom in front of her, fangs bared. A yowl tore out of her throat. "You mouse-brain! You fox-heart! I apologized!" Some attack that won't make me fall off this StarClan-forsaken branch. She slammed into him, her teeth sank into his ear, and she slashed wildly at him with her claws. Normally she used more conservative battle moves, but this wasn't a time for calculated strategy. She had to overpower this piece of fox-dung so she could get off this tree.

Redwing used Teeth Grip on Sandblaze, dealing 13 damage and costing 20 stamina. Sandblaze is gripped for 1 turn, dangit dice.

Redwing:
87/100 HP
260/280 SP

Sandblaze:
47/60 HP
190/200 SP