Surprise, ThunderClan!

The sun was just setting, leaving the large boulders of Sunningrock seemingly painted in red. It eerily reminded the RiverClan leader of blood, but as she leaped up on the highest point of the rock formation, she tried to force the thought out of her head. She didn't enjoy fighting, and she'd rather her warriors not be hurt, but Sunningrock was RiverClan's, and that had to be known. The last time ThunderClan attacked, RiverClan hadn't been ready then, but now they were strong and prepared to take back what was rightfully their's.
Taking a seat and looking out on ThunderClan's territory, Froststar kept an eye out for a patrol. All around her RiverClan cats were beginning to set the new border, or just stepping out of the water with water sliding down their sleek coats. Everyone was quiet and tense as they waited for any sign of ThunderClan, and every single cat was prepared for a battle.

Silvershade sat tensed beside her leader, ears pricked up in anticipation and tail swishing quietly. The thrill of battle was already there; she was excited to finally retake the rocks that were rightfully theirs.

Maplepaw pulled herself out of the water, sighing as she shook whatever water clung to her pelt. Her eyes glimmered with faint glee as she took a few steps forward and glanced around Sunningrocks, replaying the moves she had learned over in her head. She didn't want to mess anything up. She had been waiting for this moment for moons; even as a kit she had wanted to take part in the fight that would gain Sunningrocks back to RiverClan...Ah, only if she was a warrior. Than she wouldn't be so freaked out about this. Her fur fluffed up a bit as she tasted the air, wondering when a ThunderClan patrol would come by. Truthfully, she didn't want to fight...What if something horrible happened and she got badly hurt? Or if anybody in her Clan got badly hurt...She wouldn't be able to stand the sight of...No, she had to remain strong. Battling was part of the Clan's life style, and so was being hurt. She had to show Froststar and Silvershade that she was strong enough to be a warrior!

Following after her clanmates, Mintcloud was going to prepare for her first battle as a warrior, or overall, her very first battle yet. Faint excitement shimmered in her eyes, though, she looked extremely calm and patient. Silvershade, her former mentor, had taught her, and she was going to waste all her training to fail the battle. This was the moment that RiverClan would reclaim Sunningrocks! It truthfully belonged to them anyway, so ThunderClan should've just shoved off and they wouldn't be stuck in the battle.

Reedheart stood slightly behind the others, the waves lapping at his white belly fur as he looked carefully at the rocks. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't a bit nervous, but the warrior would never admit that to any of his Clanmates. It was silly. This would be his third battle, and he'd fought in others with higher stakes than just Sunningrocks. Reedheart might have been a forgotten warrior in the ground right now if he had lost his first, just one more star among countless.

Yet the sight of Sunningrocks still felt him with dread even after all these moons, and he wasn't in a hurry to clamber onto them. Reedheart could still see the blood if he closed his eyes... or even if he kept them open. They looked red in the setting sun. That can't be a good omen. Reedheart thought to himself, his heart fluttering as he looked around for his Clanmates. They'd be safe, he knew it.

Besides, RiverClan's power resided in the water. If a ThunderClan patrol came by and wanted to put up a fight, they'd need to lure them away from the trees and out onto the shore.

The forest was always a frightful thing to him. He'd never ventured into ThunderClan territory, but from the river at dark it always looked like a foreboding wall of night. Trees with gnarled ancient roots grew up so tall, and the leafy canopies blocked out the light of the stars while brambles, vines, roots, and rocks all jutted from the ground, ready to ensnare and trap you, like a web. If the overgrown vegetation was the web, Reedheart didn't want to know what the spider was. He hoped he'd never find out.

Was this really necessary? Cinderfur couldn't help but think if it was or not. Well, of course it was. This was Riverclan's pride they were trying to re hold. If they took back these Sunningrocks, everything would change. The young warrior held back as she looked around the strange scene. Were the rocks always that color? She didn't even know since she had only been around them a few times, but it was creepy being out here with the light like that. Without saying a word, the young warrior held back with a few of the other warriors, nerves shaking and exhilarating her as she waited for any sign of Thunderclan. This was going to be her first fight ever. She wouldn't chicken out. She couldn't just flee. She had to stand strong even if it felt like she was shaking like a leaf. Thankfully, if she was making any noise, she had the rushing sound of the river to hide any noise. With a nervous glance around at all of her clan mates, she readied herself for what was to come.

Unlike the other warriors, Nightbird stayed back in the water. This would be her third battle; a little sad to know, considering how young she was. Her black pelt camouflaged her against the lengthening shadows. She slitted her eyes to keep them from reflecting too much light, which would give away her location. Only eyes, ears, and nose stayed above the cool river. During their last battle with Thunderclan, the small cat had just been an apprentice. Now a warrior at long last, she gazed around at the cats moving into position. Riverclan had seemed to have expanded over the last few moons. Excellent. If they show their faces, we'll be kicking some furry tail!

Duckstep stood besides Mintcloud, his ears twitching as he stared at the dark shapes of the trees stretching towards the sky. He sat back on his haunches, curling his bushy tail over his paws. His- no, their -first battle. Would it even come to that? He hoped not. Besides, the boulders belonged to RiverClan anyway; ThunderClan shouldn't even attempt to fight.

Reedheart held his breath, but no ThunderClan cats even showed a whisker. He stared intensely into the dark maze of trees, wondering where in StarClan their patrol was. Surely they'd be checking at this time of day? "Perhaps there won't be a battle tonight." Reedheart suggested, still on edge. "Maybe they'll surrender it to us peacefully?"

Mossstar slowly led the patrol of every warrior and apprentice he had that was able to fight to Sunningrocks. A low snarl could be heard as his massive black figure emerged from the shadows. "I don't think so." He spat in disgust at Reedheart. How dare they try to claim a part of ThunderClan territory! he thought, his glare landing on Froststar. He knew his Clan would lose but he wouldn't give up Sunningrocks without a fight, even if it was a short one.

Reedheart's hackles raised and he let out a hiss, mostly out of surprise. He hadn't even noticed the black-colored tom in the darkness. "Just give up." he said in reply, lip curling into a snarl. "Sunningrocks has been RiverClan's since the dawn of the Clans, you have no right to try and hold it from us!"

The tom looked from tree to tree, trying to spot more warriors. Surely, if one ThunderClan cat was here, there were more close by... But it looked like Mossstar wanted a fight. Well, if it was blood he wanted, it would flow freely tonight.

Duckstep's fur bristled as the cats emerged from the forest. He flexed his claws instinctively, and his ears flattened to his head. Despite his battle-ready appearance, a hint of fear flickered in his amber eyes.

"Who are you to speak?" A challenge came from the she-cat who kept pace with Mossstar as he emerged from the shadows. As they slowly revealed themselves, the scratches and wounds she had just earned became visible. Some were close to healed; others would scar permanently. But such was their way of life. They probably would lose this, but she was going to bring down as many enemies as she could. That one. He's going to lose his eye. "Can your leader not speak for herself?"

As the ThunderClan leader appeared, Froststar raised her chin. "His leader can speak perfectly fine for herself, thank you." She replied calmly, her eyes resting on the battle scarred she-cat until the returned to the larger tom. "Mossstar, I am not looking for a fight. I am merely taking back what is rightfully RiverClan's. If you agree to surrender it to us, no one will have to be hurt. Sunningrocks is all we ask from you. After this, our clan will leave yours alone. Surely we can settle this peacefully? After all, It is apparent who has the larger patrol, isn't it?" The she-cat tried her best to reason with the cat, but she had little hope in that tactic. Froststar wasn't a fighter at heart- she never had been, but if that was what she had to do she'd attack with everything she had.

Mossstar growled in fake defeat, seeing his patrol was outnumbered. He turned his back to the RiverClan warriors and mouthed Fake retreat before he looked back at Froststar with a glare before he stalked into the forest, just enough so he was unseen. Then he whipped around and stood there, waiting for his Clan to do the same. The Sunningrocks were ThunderClans and he wouldn't give them up without a fight.

Mossstar is charging Lightning Strike.