You can't be caught unaware [Open for TC to Join]

As Ivystar strode through the undergrowth, she followed the familiar path that she'd often dreamt about a thousand times over. The earth felt well-worn beneath her, an old friend, despite the fire stripping much of the earth bare. It was odd how much sway one's kithood held over them that she felt like she was coming back home when she tore into the heart of ThunderClan territory. RiverClan was hers now, yet her mind longed for the simple times spent in ThunderClan hollows.

Pathetic.

With each breath as she walked closer to ThunderClan camp, she banished the memories and forcefully conjured up the mangled bodies of her apprentices and warriors. Fawnsong laying limp, the wailing of Sootwhisper, Rowanpaw's death and the pained cries of Heronpaw. ThunderClan wasn't home, it was the enemy. There was no love waiting for her here, only hate.

By the time she reached the entrance of ThunderClan camp, she felt nothing but a simmering rage at the sight of the bramble-covered entrance. Here lied the murderers that had harmed her clanmates. Today, she would break them or die trying.

The young warrior followed her leader, determined to claim justice for Fawnsong's death. She was now resting in Starclan with their mother and it was because of Thunderclan. As she walked through the woods, her anger rose inside her heart and her fur bristled. During her Moonstone Journey, she promised Thistleblaze that she would protect her family. She failed... but at least her sister's blood won't be spilt without the right punishment.

This was her first time in Thunderclan's territory and camp but she wasn't interested at all. For her, this place was the home of fox-hearted murderers... the place where her enemy was raised to murder Riverclan cats, just like Spotpaw pointed out the last they went on a patrol together. Her odd eyes glanced at the ThunderClanners, fiercely and with pure hate and anger, trying to look more intimidating.

The barren and partially dead forest of ThunderClan felt alien to Splashwillow and in the still charred trunks of the trees she only saw the unfriendly faces of enemies long gone. Despite the overwhelming scent of the forest-dwelling Clan, the only scent that she could still truly taste was the one synonymous with death. The stiff corpses of Fawnsong and Rowanpaw were branded within the back of her eyes, cursing her with the images of their cold bodies every time she blinked. The herbs and flowers that had decorated Fawnsong and Rowanpaw's bodies during their final village had not erased their wounds or the foul scent of death.

She had held a slight bit of pity within her heart during the aftermath of the battle, quietly mourning the apprentice who had died at the claws of her father. She had known loss in too many forms to ignore the fact that a family was grieving across the river. But now, she only felt a simmering rage within her belly that she had never known before. It felt as if she could watch a ThunderClan kit get torn apart by birds and she wouldn't shed a single tear. The entire Clan could burn for all she cared.

Quietly padding after Ivystar and alongside Silverfang, the calico warrior gazed at the ThunderClan camp with cold unseeing eyes. Perhaps, in another life, she would have been interested to see how different the camp was in comparison to her own, but now she only saw the potential murders of her Clanmates within the shadows of the camp. Halting beside Silverfang, Splashwillow's teeth clenched tightly as she awaited the inevitable appearance of Blizzardstar and Leopardclaw.

The scorched, blackened forest of ThunderClan held no attraction for the fluffy tabby apprentice who padded along behind his leader. Being in unfamiliar territory should have made Scorchpaw uneasy, but the raw anger swirling in his heart far outweighed it. They were here for one purpose, and one purpose only: bringing justice to Fawnsong's and Rowanpaw's murderers. The dead bodies of his clanmates surfaced again in his mind's eye. How dare ThunderClan act all self-righteous and call them murderers for the death of Thistlepaw, only to go and kill two RiverClan cats? Rowanpaw had been an apprentice just like Thistlepaw. The hypocrites. Scorchpaw uttered those words within his mind with as much loathing as he could muster. He had never liked ThunderClan, never liked any clan other than his own, but for as long as he lived he would probably never forget what ThunderClan had done.

Upon entering the ThunderClan camp, Scorchpaw raked his gaze harshly across the gathered Thunderclanners. A cold, fierce fire burned within the depths of his green eyes. Another cat at another time might have been curious to discover the differences between the two camps, but not Scorchpaw. He had nothing but hostility and anger towards ThunderClan; he cared nothing for what their camp looked like.

It was as if Duckpuddle's silent desire for peace had evolved into anger and hatred. Two RiverClan cats had fallen to the claws of ThunderClan, and that was two too many. They both should still be alive. While the brown warrior didn't know them well, she had still felt an aching grief in her heart when she had laid eyes upon the dead and limp bodies of Fawnsong and Rowanpaw. Despite the fact that a rival Clan had killed the two RiverClanners, Duckpuddle couldn't help but feel... saddened?

She had no idea how she felt towards StarClan at this moment, but she did have a secret suspicion that the RiverClan deaths had been influenced by them. Her mind flashbacked to watching Darkspirit be mercilessly thrown against a tree. Sure, Darkflight hadn't have been murdered, but her death had happened so close to the others. They had all occurred far too quickly to be a coincidence. However, now wasn't a time to blame StarClan, now was a time to discover who the murderers were of the apprentice and the warrior

Spotpaw had been surprised to be chosen. He thought Ivystar would have made him stay behind because of what had happened near the beginning of his apprenticeship. As he walked into Thunderclan camp, he made a route map in his mind. Now he knew what Thunderclan's camp was. He wasn't planning on defending anyone, and he would help however he could.

Riverclan would avenge their Clanmate's deaths.

ooc: TC can join now

"Blizzardstar! Leopardclaw! Show yourselves!" The silver leader yowled from where she lingered outside the camp, her green eyes bright was anger. Her fur bristled as her whisker laid flat against her muzzle with fury. She was a fur-length from snapping, a loaded pounce ready to kill. She wanted the names of those who'd killed her kin, and she wanted to flay them for this.

Flickerpaw's face drained as she sat up scared in her nest. Ivystar had come for her. Her fur was spiked in fear. She was going to DIE. Why did I have to be on that patrol?! She collapsed into her nest, pale and regretful. There was only one way in and out of camp. She was trapped.

Dappledpaw could feel his sister tense beside him. His eyes fluttered open, and the overwhelming stench of RiverClan flooded into his nose. StarClan, no. He quickly sat up, his eyes wide. What were they going to do? In his tired, sleepy mind, he put two and two together. No. Not Flickerpaw. I won’t let them have her. He stood quickly and moved defensively in front of Flickerpaw. ”Flickerpaw. Listen. You have two options. Either you stay at the back of this den, hidden, or you go out and face Ivystar.” He said in a hurried whisper. His sister was brave and courageous, so he knew she wouldn’t listen if he told her she had to hide. Still, he knew what he had to do. He had to keep the beasts away from his family. If he failed to do that, he had failed as a brother.

Emberheart leapt from her nest, where she had been taking a much-needed rest, at the sound of the voice of the RiverClan leader. She knew it, knew that Ivystar would come for them - paranoia wasn't always completely unfounded. Slowly, she made her way out of the warrior's den, ready to defend her Clan if it was necessary. But really, with a furious leader from another Clan invading their camp, she was almost certain it would be. She moved as far from her den as she dared, just a few tail-lengths, and observed the cats the RiverClan leader had brought with her. She didn't recognize any of them, herself - she had seen them at the battle for Sunningrocks, certainly, but didn't know any of their names.

Heatherpetal followed Emberheart out of the warriors' den, her fur fluffing up immediately when she saw the RiverClan leader leading a patrol right into ThunderClan camp. And she looked livid. She knew that Ivystar was here for the cats who had killed that RiverClan warrior and apprentice. While she felt horrified for her Clanmates who had committed such sinful crimes, she couldn't deny she was more than relieved that she wasn't any of them right about now...

Birchheart, Newtpaw and Wildpaw were huddled together, sharing stories from the day as well as a squirrel. The three if them weren't going to take too much prey since prey was scarce. When Ivystar was heard, Birchheart drew the tow of them close to her with a growl and narrowed her eyes at the entrance.

"O-oh StarClan no!" Wildpaw hissed under her breath, pressing into the two others.

Foxfire knew it. He had been prepared. The second Flickerpaw confessed to her chrime Foxfire just knew RiverClan would be here soon. He raked the ground with his claws, tail lashing, fur bristling.
———
Ivypaw didn’t know exactly what happened, but she knew she needed to be on guard and that the chances of a RiverClan confrontation were high. She wished she had been even more on guard, because she didn’t realize Ivystar would be here that quickly. Her stomach dropped at the sound of the RiverClan leader’s yowl of rage.
She watched the RiverClan warriors, holding her breath.

Swoopnose was instantly on alert at RiverClan scent, his claws unsheathed and a growl in his throat way to quickly for him to be comfortable with. His hackles raised as he saw the RiverClanners burst into camp, wondering if they were here because of what Flickerpaw had done. Probably. As he looked at the assembled RiverClan cats, he recognized three. Ivystar, obviously, the one who had pinned Birchheart leading to her tail being removed, and the one he had fought. What were they going to do? Hopefully not attack them right then and there.

Ever since the two apprentices had confessed their sins to the clan, Leopardclaw had known this moment would come.  His stomach twinging apprehensively, the golden spotted tom rose from his place beside the nearly empty fresh-kill pile and approached the RiverClan leader and her patrol, the familiar fishy scent that defined them mixing with the comforting forest scents of ThunderClan in an unpleasant way.  Facing Ivystar directly, the younger tom stood up to his full height and dipped his head in a polite, but tense, greeting.  His stony face didn't crack as he began to speak, but his voice was layered with many emotions; apprehension, anger, pity...

"Blizzardstar will join us shortly, but until then please feel free to tell us why you have come here, and what you want to discuss, Ivystar.  Though, if I'm correct in assuming, I'm afraid it won't be much of a revelation"