Neverending Tensions

Fishstar was furious, to say the least.

She stalked stiffly across the moors with Ivyfall and her warriors in tow, ears flattened against her head. This madness with WindClan warriors randomly and purposelessly attacking her Clanmates needed to stop, and it needed to stop now. Shellwater had been clawed to a bloody pulp, Frogjaw's jaw had been smashed, and now, Morningfog could no longer see. The way Ashstar's Clan was acting was beyond kit-like. The last thing Fishstar wanted at the moment, with Newleaf beginning and good times ahead, was another violent conflict with WindClan, but if their leader acted today the way she had with her hare-brained deputy all those moons ago, bloody conflict was inevitable.

WindClan's camp slowly grew larger and larger as the RiverClan leader continued on, and once she was within earshot of the entrance, she spat, "Crawl out of your stinking holes and answer for your disgusting behaviour!"

Thistleblaze followed behind Fishstar, and Ivyfall. She was glad she got chosen to go to Windclan with them. She wanted to sink her claws into the fish faces, but they were here on somewhat peaceful terms, and wouldn't use claws unless absolutely needed. The gray tabby, despite her scared and crippled leg, managed to keep up with her leader and deputy without issue, even though she had to limp.

The warrior kept behind the higher ranks. Though she had her head lowered, and her lips drawn back into a snarl as she waited for the fish brains to show themselves. If they dared to make a move on her leader or deputy she would defend them with her life.

Mottleheart had been on guard. He sat just before the entrance of the WindClan camp and had been doing so for most of the day. It was a boring job but it had to be done and had spent the time lost in thought on odd, random topics in an effort to pass the time but still kept himself on alert for scents or noises. That was when the scent of RiverClan hit his mouth and his whole body grew rigid. In heartbeats he was on his paws as he scanned the moor, panicking rising in his throat as he saw Fishstar stepping into view on the horizon, her cats behind her. No...Oh StarClan no...

Why? Why was RiverClan here? He took a step back as she drew closer before suddenly spinning and ducked into the camp before he could be spotted, hearing the leader of RiverClan call out as he darted across the camp toward Ashstar's den, his heart leaping in fear at the words. What had his Clanmates done? "Ashstar!" he cried out as he jolted to a stop just outside of her den before his voice suddenly cracked, growing quieter as the terror of history perhaps repeating threaten in his mind. "Ashstar...Fishstar is here....And she is not happy." Without another word to see if Ashstar was coming, he spun and headed back to the entrance of the camp as he swallowed his fears. Perhaps...Perhaps history did not have to repeat.

With a deep breath, he stepped back into the opening only to freeze. There was so many of them. The memories of the last time RiverClan was here started to bubble in his mind but he forced them down, focusing only on the leader and not the cats around her. "Fishstar," he tried to keep his voice as calm as possible but the fear that rose in his chest shook his words. "I-I've fetched Ashstar...I can only hope that this will end with no bloodshed. I do not want to fight an unneeded battle," he stated before his voice died. Was it right for him to say this? He wasn't sure but he felt it was good to perhaps try to show Fishstar that not every cat in WindClan was out for RiverClan blood.

But what had happened? What had one of his Clanmates done this time? Anger rose in his chest, but not at RiverClan but at the mouse-brain...No, as Fishstar had put it, disgusting behavior. Did the other cats not see? Unneeded bloodshed only brought more pain...He wasn't sure what his Clanmates had done, but he was unwavering in the idea of doing anything to prevent further bloodshed. This all had to stop.

Twistedtail was suddenly woken up from her mid-day nap as a commotion rose. Looking up worriedly, she sighed sarcastically as she watched Fishstar storm into the camp. Hear comes Fishbreath again, fighting us in our camp, she thought. Rising wearily, she rose and tried to speak kindly to the intruding group. "H-hello Fishstar," she began, "I know you are angry with Windclan, but-" she glanced worriedly at the large group of warriors behind her, "Can you please call off your warriors? I'm no one special that you should listen to, I know, but we have kits and elders here. You can discuss this with our leader if you need to, and it is a vulnerable time for all the clans now. Would you risk hurting innocent cats?"

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Squirrelsong padded out from the Dirtplace, only to nearly fall back in. Once again, Riverclan was in their camp. Shivering, she remembered how Sleetfang had viciously ripped her ear out, along with the surrounding fur. He had also harmed many more cats, she could remember. As Fishstar said those repulsive words, her fur bushed up and she ran forward. Silently growling, the mute warrior stood protectively in front of the Nursery.

Laurelpaw was bored; extremely bored. She had not yet been able to go out with her mentor yet, even though she had been apprenticed for two days now. She had decided to practice her fighting and hunting skills on the rocks and patches of plants in camp, but that quickly grew unexciting. Now she lay gazing at the camp entrance, wishing for something to happen; when something did. A group of unfamiliar cats trotted into camp, and a few of the warriors greeted them with wary eyes. The young she-cat's curiosity was piqued; these cats had a scent she had never encountered before, and their large, bulky frames were none like WindClan. Could they be from another clan?

Not waiting for permission or an invitation, the young molly dashed up to stand beside Mottleheart and Twistedtail, spraying dust in her wake. Her ears perked, she continued to sniff the newcomers while staring. Her eyes flashing with suspicion, the small she-cat hissed "Who are you, and what are you doing here?"

Sandybreeze glanced up from her spot in alarm when the overwhelming scent of RiverClan assaulted her nose. She quickly rose to her paws and was about to fetch Ashstar when she saw Mottleheart beat her to it. Her worried gaze raked over the group of warriors behind the RiverClan leader, and all she could think was that there can't be another battle. They'd been growing stronger and they couldn't afford another fight with RiverClan. Then her mind wandered to why they could be here. What had happened? Surely another warrior hadn't mauled another apprentice. Surely after the last time they had learned their lesson, but her mind doubted her faith in some of her clanmates. Who could have done it? Why would they do it? She shook her head slightly and stood facing the cats gathered in their camp, ready to leap into action if need be.

Ashstar bolted up as the scent of RiverClan entered the camp. Oh, StarClan, no, no, not again! Her hackles raised as she heard Fishstar's voice insultingly demand she show herself. At almost the same moment, Mottleheart rushed in, looking stressed. Remembering the conversation they'd had not too long ago, the leader was worried for him. But not as worried as she was for her Clan. The mottled tom ran back out and the WindClan she-cat stood up, inhaling a deep breath. StarClan, give me strength. I swear, Smokepelt, if this is your fault again, I'll tear your pelt off myself.. Never had she been so exasperated with her warriors as she stalked out of the leaders' den, green eyes full of fury. The last thing she wanted was another unnecessary battle. Her warriors' actions last time had been inexcusable, but so had Fishstar's. This time, if the leader was willing to be reasonable- and if the situation called for it- hopefully, they could reach a better solution than both Clans' bloodshed.

"Calm down, Fishstar. What is it this time? I can't answer for what I'm not aware of." Ashstar strode up to the RiverClan patrol. Thankfully, they didn't look outfitted for battle this time. That was encouraging. "Mottleheart, Sandybreeze" she commanded the WindClan warriors, "go get your Clanmates. I'm sure what Fishstar has come to tell me will apply to all of us." Please, StarClan, let this be nothing more than a trivial matter. The last thing I want is a fight. Please.

Nectarpaw was not doing much when the scent of RiverClan hit his nose. What was RiverClan doing here? Nectarpaw ducked his head nervously, he hadn't learned how to fight yet! Nectarpaw knew he would battle if his clan needed him to, but he hoped that he wouldn't have to.

"Naturally, you don't know about it... Are you even a leader, or is that -star at the end of your name merely a fancy title? Did StarClan not bless you to lead? How do you not know what goes on in your own clan?!" It was ridiculous at this point, how could one chosen by StarClan be so useless? Did WindClan never report to Ashstar? Was WindClan even a clan at this point or a mishmash of rogues that hunted together?

The silver tabby sighed, before stepping back when she realised that she was overstepping her bounds in her anger. She deferred to Fishstar, ducking her head in apology to her leader. It was hard to stay calm at such an absurd situation, it was a miracle that she wasn't bristling and spitting right now.

Brindlewhisker's eyes narrowed to slits as she observed the party of Riverclan cats entered the camp, her nape fur bristling slightly at Fishstar's words- disgusting behavior? What had they done now? The heavily-scarred she-cat felt a tremor of dismay at all the possibilities of what they could of done now. Hauling herself to her paws, Brindlewhisker hurriedly padded towards the growing crowd, pupils going wide as she heard some of the insults being tossed back and forth already. Silently, the young warrior moved closer to where Ashstar stood, ears perked as she observed the mounting tension.

Nightheart came back to camp with a couple of her clanmates, carrying a rabbit on her jaws, when she noticed the group of RiverClan cats waiting outside the camp with clear aggression on their eyes and tense postures Oh no, please not again…please StarClan, don’t let this end in yet another fight… In all honesty, the dark warrior was too tired to fight against their neighbors, especially since unlike many of her fellow clanmates she still respected and considered RiverClan warriors as honorable cats thanks to the many times they had proven such thing to her in the past.

She quickly made her way past the RiverClan group, placing down the rabbit she was carrying on the fresh-kill pile before turning to look at them with a mix of curiosity and worry. Her eyes landing on her brother for a couple of seconds before landing on Fishstar. It was clear that many questions ran through her head, but decided to say none, allowing the leaders to talk between them without interruptions.

Padding through a small hole in the side of the camp wall, Smokepelt's heart dropped when he spotted RiverClan cats in the camp. Dropping his prey, the lean dark grey and white tom trotted over to Ashstar's side, fur bristling. Unlike the last time they were invaded by the weird, fishy smelling cats, he hadn't done anything wrong, so what in StarClan's name did they want now?

Letting out a low growl from his throat, Smokepelt's gaze snapped to Ivyfall when she spoke. 'How dare you speak to Ashstar like that! You lowlife, fish eating scum,' the tom thought to himself, his eyes narrowed. But no, he'd made a promise to his mother, and while the only thing he wanted to do was claw her sorry pelt, he knew that he needed to stay calm and not cause trouble. 'At least I have some dignity, unlike someone...' he reminded himself, digging his claws into the ground and not letting his eyes leave her's, wanting oh so bad to laugh at the other deputy's stupid and pointless antics.

But the question still remained... why were they here?

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Having been taking a day time nap, Kindleblaze jolted awake at the commotion outside of the sleeping area. What in the world... Letting out a yawn and padding into the camp clearing, her eyes widened at the sight of RiverClan and her chest started to pound. While she'd prayed that what had happened a few suns ago wouldn't make its way to her clan, the river cats were here, and they were here for her.

With her head hung low and legs practically shaking, Kindleblaze stayed where she was, not wanting to get any closer to the tense group of cats, seeing that they probably wanted her head. 'Oh StarClan, please have mercy on me. I didn't mean to blind that cat!' the tall she-cat prayed to herself, squinting her eyes shut, scared for what ever was to come.

Smokeface padded in with Fishstar, Ivyfall, Rainstorm and Thistleblaze, eyeing the WindClan cats venomously. He couldn't help but be disgusted at their surprised, innocent glances, but his mate, daughter and friend were in no possition to lie about WindClan. "Hey, cat-mauler." he hissed under his breath at the deputy, eyes fixed into his for a brief second before he straightened his back besides the other two RiverClan warriors.

Sandybreeze nodded quietly to Ashstar's command before dashing off to do as she was told. After rounds up most of her clanmates, she returned to camp and took a place near her father, Smokepelt, feeling a bit protective of him. Her father wasn't a monster. He wasn't evil. That was proven when he had taken in most of her siblings, including her, and raising them as his own. Sure he'd made some wrong turns and some really bad mistakes, but she could never turn her back on him no matter what. She stood, a look of determination and worry crossing her delicate features, tail twitching anxiously as she waited for Fishstar to explain.

ooc: srry i took 78 years to post here i'm 'tarded

Fishstar's eyes narrowed to slits. "You really have no idea what's happened, do you?" She scoffed. Seeing Smokepelt did nothing to douse her temper, either. His presence was fueling it, like a log in a flame. For the damage he'd done to her son, she hoped the injury she'd inflicted on him was still a burden. "Do you have any control over your Clan whatsoever? Any mind of what they're up to during the day? That's the way it seems to me, because now, three of my warriors are now living with lasting injuries due to needless violence against them from your warriors. Morningfog came back to camp a sunrise ago with bloody clawmarks in her eyes. She will never see again, Cloudstone tells us, and it was the fault of one of your Clanmates." The RiverClan leader's eyes raked over the crowd of gathered WindClan cats, searching for the cat responsible. Of course, she didn't know them by appearance, but they would be rooted out somehow. "These attacks cannot continue, Ashstar. This is out of control, and it needs to stop. I don't want any more bloodshed, but if your Clan keeps initiating it, I will respond with it."