smuggling illegal peaches (semi-open)

Peaches rested quietly on the fence separating the farm from the rest of the forest, amber gaze lazily watching the day go by. She had stumbled across this place after exploring for a bit, and while it was a little farther from home than what she had expected, it was a nice place to hang out. The barn was always warm, with rodents scurrying about (to make a wonderful meal out of) and plenty of hay to make bedding. The farm also had a big yard and weird animals to interact with as well. Besides that and the occasional upwalker, the farm was relatively empty. Not that she minded the quiet, but things did get boring when all you had to talk to was a dead mouse or a wall. 

A heavy sigh escaped the mottled black and ginger cat, and she gave her feathery tail an agitated swish. Even with a variety of things living here, Peaches couldn't help but find herself feeling..alone. Sure, she had her very own upwalker back home, and talking to prey or a wall wasn't so bad, but they couldn't reply. No one liked having one-sided conversations, not even a cat that would talk to a wall if she was bored enough. She had not seen another cat since she left twolegplace! And sure, there were plenty of scent markers that proved there were cats, but she wasn't dumb enough to seek them out. She had heard about the forest cats; just thinking of them sent chills down her spine! She hadn't met one before, so she really couldn't judge, but the stories she had been told as a young kit were enough for her. So, here she was, perched on a fence, waiting for something interesting to happen. And something did: a nearby rustle had caught the she-cat's attention, and she found herself hopping down to give the bush a good sniff. Probably not the smartest move, but what did she have to lose? Tentatively, she padded over, curiosity taking over. What could it be? A bird? Another mouse? Or maybe even..a cat?

Otterpaw, still mostly foreign to her home, had spent much of her spare time exploring Riverclan since she had arrived. She still hadn't completely grown used to the river that surrounded her camp; after all, her only experience of water before then had been the large lake that lay next to Riverclan's makeshift camp after the flood. However, despite her underlying nervousness, she enjoyed meandering around and taking in the new territory. Today was no different; Otterpaw wandered aimlessly, weaving through the tall fronds and grasses and relishing the late morning's warmth.
Her paws grew damp from dew and moist ground, but she had since grown used to the icky feeling of mud. Besides, it didn't matter if she was looking pretty because no other cats would be around here, right? Yes, it was too far south for any of the cats to be walking around - what was that smell? So many unfamiliar scents rolled into one! Otterpaw crouched down, having been pulled out of her thoughts, and hissed a low growl through clenched teeth. She had never been down this way before; perhaps this had been a bad idea. She peered through the reeds, and for the first time noticed in the distance a long, grey thing; tall and formidable, it stretched across for what felt like forever. Otterpaw looked back - she considered bolting away to camp, perhaps asking Scorchclaw what it was - but her curiosity got the better of her, and she scampered up to it, crouching in a low shrub, and for the first time noticed the scent of cat. It certainly wasn't Riverclan, or any other clan for that matter, but she could see through the leaves a mottled tortoiseshell with a lazy amber gaze reclining on top of the grey thing. Ears flattened, she considered leaping out and confronting her, but decided instead to crouch as still as she could and simply watch. If the cat was dangerous, she had no doubts she could take her on; however, she might find out who the cat was if she was patient which, to be fair, wasn't something she was famed for. Otterpaw didn't have long to wait, though, as, in her excitement, her head bumped against a branch. No! Cursing under her breath, she watched as the cat came over to investigate. There's not much point in me hiding, then. As the tortoiseshell leant forward to sniff at the bush, a grey-and-white head suddenly poked out, and the lithe little she-cat stared forward with wide green eyes.

"Who're you?"

It had been a long half-moon for Night, but yet, he endured.

Once the mixed group of Clan cats had reached the base of Highstones after their tiring journey back to familiar territory, the dark-pelted rogue had taken his leave under cover of darkness.  It had been hard keeping his head low for so long and trying to blend in with the crowd, sleeping on the edges, but eventually, the tension brought from being so close to Tinystar again had given him a stomachache; it was time to set out on his new adventure.  Those first few pawsteps had been the most difficult to force, but he just kept reminding himself; I can find my own path.  I can find happiness outside of the Clans. I won't be alone for long.  Soon enough, the light had returned, and he had watched from the cracks of the old abandoned barn as the Clan cats returned home, streaming out onto the moor as the sunrise turned their forms to silhouettes.

Despite his own promises though, he hadn't gone very far.  In fact, the next day he had left the barn and traveled across the moor into the shadows of ThunderClan's forest, skirting the border quietly while his nose was pricked for scents.  A sudden thought had occurred to him; he wanted to say goodbye to Ridgelight, the young ThunderClan molly who had traveled with him beside the lake.  He had decided soon before they reached Highstones that his goodbyes to Fernpetal and Amberdawn would have to suffice.  As much as he loved his friend and former medicine cat, there was no way he could risk sneaking onto SkyClan territory to see them.  Tinystar probably had a bounty out on his head, and he refused to fall to that tom's twisted view of glory.

Instead, here he was, trying to seek out the scent of a cat he barely knew, yet wanted to say goodbye to.  A bit odd maybe, but...it felt right.  She had kept him company during those cold nights on the lakeshore, and Leopardstar was likely to be a bit more lenient about finding a rogue on his land.  But it seemed the dilute calico she-cat was eluding him; his brief forays across the border yielded many scents, but not the one he wanted.  For such an adventurous she-cat, it was odd that he hadn't caught her on the edges, but alas.  This specific day, quickly leaving the territory once the sounds of patrols began to ring in his ears, Night had decided to explore a bit himself.  After all, if he was to become a traveler, why not practice?  So, he set off towards the river.

His paws halting on the edge of the bank, Night of Stormy Gales took a long, deep breath, green eyes glowing in the mid-day light.  The fresh breeze dancing on the surface of the water was refreshing, and if he had been so inclined to expose himself in enemy territory, it would've been a good day for a swim, but he quickly turned his face upstream.  Hopping across a stone just above the river's surface, he entered RiverClan territory, alert for the sounds of patrols or lone wanderers.  He remembered vividly the days of Ivystar and her abrasive rule, and those thoughts spurned his paws onward, hopping from patch to patch of watergrass to best disguise himself.  Soon enough, he came to what seemed to be the end of their markers, the imposing figure of a Twoleg building towering above the trees.  It looked similar to the barn across the moors, just much less run-down, and his curiosity called him to investigate.  After all, the other barn was teeming with mice...

"Who're you?"

For a moment, the accusatory young voice sounded so close by Night wondered if he was supposed to be the recipient, but seeing no way the voice's owner could've been alerted to his presence, he relaxed.  Brow raising slightly, he pushed through the weeds, following the sounds of voices until he caught sight of two she-cats; one white and gray, and the other tortoiseshell.  The ginger and black molly was lounging on a fence post, while the defiant apprentice-aged one smelled of fish.  Hmm...a RiverClan cat...the tortoiseshell must be an intruder.  Well, I guess I am too...I'm in no position to judge.  Might as well see where this goes...  Lowering himself down in the shadow of a berry bush, Night watched, content for the moment to observe, though some deep longing in his chest urged him to step forward and join them...

The sudden appearance of the gray and white head certainly did take Peaches by surprise; she jumped and arched her back, fur prickling as she gazed in astonishment at the other cat. Definitely wasn't expecting that; what an entrance! "Who're you?" the other, smaller cat demanded, probably trying to intimidate her. The young tortoiseshell blinked, dumbfounded for a second, but a smile quickly grew on her face. Why was she so frightened? This cat was clearly much younger than her, and smaller too. Plus, she knew how to fight. Strays were always battling for scraps at twolegplace, so you do eventually pick up a thing or two about self-defense after getting bullied for food. She could probably beat this cat easily! Still, that odd, familiar scent of of fish and mud lingering from the cat put the loner on edge..

"I don't think you're really in any position to make any demands, kit, but what's the harm? I'm Peaches. Peaches the..the housecat with commitment issues!" Peaches snickered at her own joke before continuing, "I don't really do the whole 'stay inside' thing. I wanna see the world. Anyways, you are?" She bounced on her paws a bit as she excitedly awaited this newcomer to tell her their name. She knew exploring the barn was a good idea! "Good job past Peaches!" She mentally praised. There weren't many cats to befriend at twolegplace, since they had a 'survival of the fittest' mindset and would usually just attack on sight, unfortunately for her. Despite the trauma from walking up to a stray and getting her hindquarters handed to her, the black and ginger cat was still very willing to become friends with the stranger.

Otterpaw's back fur quivered at the stranger's remark about her age; just because I'm smaller than you doesn't mean I can't beat you! Though she may have been overly confident, however, she still felt a bit conflicted about actually interacting with the strange she-cat. Should she pounce? Give up and bolt? Despite the nagging feeling that something was up, she decided to continue speaking with her, or 'entertain this weirdo' as she put it. A white paw that seemed too large for the little she-cat's body emerged from the branches as Otterpaw sauntered out, her slender tail twitching. She wasn't scared of this newcomer, however odd they may have been, and even if she was nervous she certainly didn't show it. The apprentice stood casually and confidently in front of this so-called 'Peaches' - and what a weird name she had! No suffix, not even 'paw'! And a housecat? Did she mean she was a kittypet? Otterpaw huffed; if this cat couldn't even live on her own, she certainly couldn't be much of a threat.

"What a weird name. It's Otterpaw, by the way," she took on a proud grin, "And I'm the best apprentice in Riverclan!"

So, his guesses had been correct; as the two she-cats sparked an unevenly tense conversation, Night managed to pick up most of it, dark ears pricked and swiveling.  Otterpaw, the name sounded vaguely familiar, and he could've sworn he had heard it in passing, perhaps while on the journey back to the forest from the lake.  This Peaches though was an enigma.  'A housecat with commitment issues' sure sounded a lot like a loner to him...a cat who took food from Twolegs but still lived outside, as SkyClan had taught him.  Living with the clan situated right next to the red-stoned structures those hairless creatures occupied, he had seen his fair share of kittypets, loners, and rogues, and had even fought a couple.  Over a meaningless scent boundary...the Tribe was always at peace because they allowed visitors and wanderers to pass through without issue.  The Clans though seem to think any claw not belonging to them on their land will kill their way of life...nonsense.  One lost piece of prey for the sake of a starving cat is worth the intrusion.  As his mind wandered through, Night knew that just sitting around eavesdropping was a useless feat, and his paws kept tugging him forward to join them out of simple curiosity...and perhaps a bit of loneliness.  

Smiling, Night of Stormy Gales arose from his spot behind the bush, flicking a branch out of his way with his tail to give the she-cats fair warning before stepping into the clearing, well-groomed black pelt shining in the sunlight.  Meeting the gaze of first Otterpaw and then Peaches, he dipped his head in respectful greeting before purring, his leaf-green eyes sparkling with a unique, vaguely mysterious aura that matched his deep-voiced yet quiet accent.  "Forgive my intrusion, I mean no harm.  If it's alright, may I join you two?"  Sitting down - carefully wrapping his tail around his front paws - he faced Peaches as he spoke, head tilted slightly to emphasize his laughing tone.  "You may call me Night...the wanderer who doesn't wander too far."

"What even is a Riverclan anyway?"

Otterpaw's tail puffed up in a jolt of shock. How could this strange she-cat not know Riverclan, especially when she lived so close to it? Why, even disregarding the fact they were the best clan in the forest, she must have strayed onto Riverclan territory or met one of her clanmates at least once! After her initial surprise ebbed a bit, she opened her maw and was about to tell 'Peaches' what's what - but, before she could, she was interrupted by yet another weird cat. This one, however, bore a vague sense of familiarity; she narrowed her eyes at him, attempting to recognise where she had seen him before. Perhaps she had met him briefly at a gathering or on the journey back to the lake territories. She leant forward to sniff at him, and, through the strange smell he bore, detected just a faint trace of Skyclan. She wrinkled her nose, but decided not to speak up until he had finished speaking. This one had an odd name too - Night - and seemed to be more interested in talking to this assumed kittypet than her. She grunted indignantly to get their attention, her nape fur spiking.
"Hey, lovebirds, what I wanna know is why you two are so close to Riverclan territory. Night, you must have been trespassing to end up so close without us seeing you!" She then whipped around to face Peaches, sounding more surprised than irritated. "And how could you not know Riverclan, especially when we're easily the greatest forest cats to live around this lake! After her tirade, she took a deep breath, shaking her head slightly. "I just don't know why you two don't understand what I'm saying!"

Night's sleek head tilted in mock curiously as Peaches re-introduced herself, noting how her voice had suddenly changed from confidence to flustered uncertainty with a kind-hearted smirk.  It seemed though, despite the loner's youthful appearance, she had a sharp mind.  For a moment, he felt a sudden prick in his chest as she noted his bit-too-smooth entrance, but in the end, conceded with a soft laugh, eyes dropping to the ground apologetically as he dipped his head.  "Well spotted, I must say.  I apologize, it wasn't my intention to eavesdrop, but as a cat amid strange lands and surrounded by potential enemies...I've learned to be careful whom I speak to."  Lifting his head back up to meet the tortoiseshell's gaze, he purred, jade eyes sparkling in a teasing manner.  "As a self-proclaimed 'house cat with commitment issues' yourself, perhaps you understand where I'm coming from?"

As Otterpaw's voice piped up from behind him, Night's tail twitched abruptly; he had for a moment forgotten she was there.  Turning to face the much younger she-cat, her accusation of romantic tension both made him want to burst out laughing, along with shrink back into a corner.  Of course not...even in death, Frostwing is the love of my life.  He missed his beloved mate with such a deep passion thinking about it made his stomach churn, so he quickly pushed away her eyes from his mind and focused back on the gray and white apprentice.  The familiar competitiveness of a Clan apprentice warmed his heart, but he reminded himself to be careful.  This was her territory, and she had every right to run back to her camp and fetch Jaystar to chase them away.  The fact that she was still here at all must've been a sign of her own curiosity.  Bending his head once again, he spoke with a smile; "Wrong, little one.  I know full well about RiverClan, and I assure you I meant no harm by my trespassing.  It was out of simple curiosity that I wanted to see what lay beyond the river, and it seems I've found friends, wouldn't you say?  Not every cat you don't know is an enemy."  His last sentence was paired with an oddly serious glance before the pitch-black tom sat back on his haunches to groom a rough patch of fur on his chest.  Clan cats were always so uptight and suspicious...it saddened him.  How will you learn about what the world has to offer if you only stay cooped up in one place with one train of thought?  Ha...look at me, talking like I'm a true rogue!  I was a Clan cat once...but that life isn't for me.  Not anymore.