Thorns Poking Through the Grass [CLOSED]

OOC: There's not much of a posting order here, we just need to make sure that everyone gets a chance to post before the fighting starts, unless they take too long to post. If we are skipping someone, I will tell you.  

Briarpaw was happy to be going on a patrol with his step father and brother. It was good to get out of camp, away from the worry for Swiftstep and Cloverpaw. Away from the reminder he could do nothing to help them. When Briarpaw had seen Barlytuft gathering a patrol, he had almost ran to him. He needed to be out there more, and not just training with Deerhawk. Maybe once he got more experience, and became a warrior.... Maybe then, he could be helpfull. Still, Briarpaw had only practiced fighting, never used it on an actual cat. He still couldn't get a hang of it. It just didn't seem right. Maybe that StarClan cat was wrong. How was he supposed to become a great warrior if he couldn't fight?  They neared the Gorge, the smell of RiverClan wafting off from the other side. The WindClan patrol was on  neutral territory now, and the stronger than normal RiverClan scent suggested there was another patrol nearby. "Barlytuft... Do you smell that?" Briarpaw asked.

While Briarpaw was no longer the medicine cat of WindClan, Barleytuft still respected him and was feeling rather excited to have the tom on his patrol. The apprentice had not forgotten or forgone all he'd done as a medicine cat by stepping down and choosing to be a warrior apprentice instead; the senior warrior would never understand what had caused the change, but he supported his step-son wholeheartedly. He was eager to show Briarpaw what it meant to be a warrior of WindClan, but most importantly he wanted Briarpaw to be well trained so he could look after himself without drawing extra concern from his mother, Graybriar. They both loved her dearly, and it was on of their closest bonds.

The young tom's progress, however, was slow; Briarpaw struggled with understanding battling techniques, it seemed. Barleytuft was certain it would come with time, and that he was simply slower because he hadn't honed the skills as a kit like most warriors had. Today there was no battling, hopefully. The two toms were accompanied by a few more of their Clanmates as they padded through the Gorge. As soon as Briarpaw spoke up, Barleytuft nodded. "Yes - smells like RiverClan. We're in the neutral land right now, I think, so it's just about the right place for it. I expect we'll see them in a few moments."

Goldenpaw padded along behind Barleytuft and Briarpaw, watching their backs ahead of her. The last time she had been this way, she had gotten into a fight with a RiverClan warrior, and though both had walked away fine she didn't want to risk anything happening again. It seemed that the stars were in disagreement, however, when fresh RiverClan scent wafted over into the neutral area. At Barleytuft's words, she bit back laugh as she mewed in response. "We should still stay on our guard, I was attacked while escorting Aspenpaw gathering herbs in the neutral territory just over there before. Some of the RiverClan cats can be very on edge." Her eyes searched the border for the cats behind the fresh scent, her eyes landing on a long gray pelt that looked oddly familiar.

---

Dappleshine had fallen back into her warrior duties quickly. With Dacepaw now in the apprentice den, she set to work losing the last of the pudginess that had come with her kit, and she had made some excellent progress. Proceeding with the border patrol she was leading, she turned to her companions as they neared the border, the fresh scent of the neighbouring clan hitting her nose. "I smell fresh WindClan scent. Remember, this is neutral territory, so if we run into the patrol keep your claws sheathed." She gazed around at each individual before continuing, one scent in particular catching her attention. Was that.... Barleytuft?

Addershade followed along with Dappleshine and the other cats on the patrol, his natural wariness spiking as they crossed into neutral territory and encountered the strong, fresh scent of WindClanners. He scanned around the area with a worried gaze, very much hoping they would avoid an encounter with the other patrol. He had about zero faith that everyone would be on their best behavior. Quite the opposite; he, as usual, anticipated nothing short of disaster. And yes, sometimes running into other patrols was just a part of job. But that didn't mean he liked it.

"Let's just hope the other patrol does the same," he said in response to Dappleshine, in his naturally quiet tone. He began to unconsciously flick his tail back and forth with a nervous energy, very much doubting they would.

OOC: sorry for the late reply I was out of town (also short post alert)

Larkfeather padded behind Addershade and Dappleshine, the brown tom noticing the patrol cross into neutral territory. WindClan scent flooded the warrior's nose as the patrol came across a WindClan patrol. The brown tom was hoping to not fight, and he was certainly not going to attack them unprovoked.

Salmonpaw was starting to feel a little more chipper in RiverClan. Following behind the group quietly, he bumbled along, watching a butterfly flittering a few feet away.

OOC: I am so sorry for how long I took!

The patrol continued to walk along the border, and Briarpaw couldn't help raising his fur as the scent got stronger. Before long, the RiverClan Patrol was right across the border from them, but still on their territory. Briarpaw gave a worried look towards Barlytuft, wondering what was going to happen. He had only fought once before, and he was ashamed at how he'd ran away. No matter what happens here, Briarpaw told himself, I won't run away

The senior warrior could feel an odd tension crackling in the air that he didn't understand. Barleytuft tried to consider what the source might be. The Gorge had only been neutral for a moon or so, and perhaps a few of the members on the patrols weren't used to neutral territory - sharing land. It could certainly be a point of contention. Had any of the WindClan cats gotten into a fight with RiverClan recently? It was hard to say for sure; skirmishes happened.

The patrols continued to draw near, and it was clear that each had noticed the other. Barleytuft's eyes met Dappleshine's, but the quickly rising stress in the air kept him from giving her anything more than a subtle, emotionless nod of acknowledgment. The creamy warrior looked to his side, catching Briarpaw's worried gaze. Barleytuft rumbled to the tom privately, "Patrols can get tense sometimes; you're doing just fine."

Goldenpaw held her tongue as the RiverClan patrol came closer, being sure to keep her claws sheathed. The she-cat she had once fought - Ivybrook, that was her name - was not in sight, but now that they were closer she recognized the face of the RiverClan she-cat who had been with Raventail during her first Gathering. Managing a stiff nod, she started to turn her attention elsewhere, feeling herself relax slightly. She was a friend of Raventail's, so surely she must be at least half decent, other clan or not. Even as she relaxed though, a weird tension lingered in the air, and she turned a questioning glance to Barleytuft.

---

"I'm sure they will. If not, however, it will not be RiverClan that makes the first move. Salmonpaw, this is a good chance for you to experience passing another clan's patrol, and seeing how we react to each other. Luckily it will be in neutral territory, so there shouldn't be much to worry about, provided you don't wander into their territory from the neutral zone that is." Even as she said the words, something seemed wrong. She couldn't put her paw on it, but there was an unmistakable tension in the air. Had something happened that she wasn't aware of? Despite it, she led the RiverClan patrol by the WindClan one, pausing for a moment to say a greeting. "Hello, Barleytuft, and Goldenpaw, was it? I hope the prey is running well in WindClan. Any trouble on the moors?" She spoke, nodding respectfully to Barleytuft who she had assumed was the leader of the patrol and a small smile.

If there was more tension in the air than normal, Addershade didn’t notice, seeing as he was naturally always tense and alert. He stood stiffly, his tail still flicking anxiously. “Yes,” he said, agreeing with Dappleshine’s comment to Salmonpaw. “Hopefully there won’t be a problem, as long as everyone stays where they’re supposed to be,” Privately, though, he was still very worried. He had very little faith in logic and good behavior prevailing over random emotion. As they approached the other patrol, Addershade followed Dappleshine’s lead and nodded in respect. However much pessimism he had for a patrol encounter going well, he certainly wouldn’t be the one to start something.

Larkfeather saw the WindClan cats, although he didn’t recognize any of them.  The brown tom made sure that he wasn’t crossing the border, and he gazed at the patrol on the other side of the border.  The atmosphere was more tense than usual, and Larkfeather calmed himself down.  Although he didn’t want to fight, he was mentally preparing to skirmish with the WindClan cats.

Salmonpaw's ears perked up as Dappleshine said his name, but he quickly zoned out, more focused on returning home then fighting. However, the patrol came to a stop and he stood next to Dappleshine. He peared at the other apprentice. "Why are you so skinny?" the tom blurted out, comparing the tom to himself and the RiverClan cats.

What?! Briapaw’s head snapped up, and he scowled at the other apprentice. “Excuse me?!” Briarpaw said, stepping forwards until he was at the edge of the border. Who did this kit think he was?! He’s taunting you. a voice inside him whispered. He thinks your weak, that you can’t do anything right. That your still useless. The more he thought about the harmless question, the angrier he got. He unsheathed his claws, as the fat young apprentice looked back and forth between him and the other RiverClan cats. He thinks he’s better than you. The voice inside him whispered. Briarpaw was furious, his hackles rising as he dug his claws into the ground. A red haze started to cover his vision, and he longed to leap at that annoying apprentice, teach him a lesson. Breath, one, two, three, one two…. HECK WITH IT! Briarpaw gave in to his pent up anger and frustration, leaping onto the apprentice and digging his claws into his back. He was not useless!

Briarpaw uses Leap-and-hold, dealing 6 damage and coasting 10 stamina. Salmonpaw is pinned for one turn

Briarpaw
20/20 HP
70/80 SP

Salmonpaw
14/20 HP
80/80 SP

The member 'Fox' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Effect Dice' : 1

Despite his words of reassurance, Briarpaw still seemed quite on edge. Barleytuft's tail-tip twitched; he wasn't sure what to make of it, and as he glanced and caught his daughter Goldenpaw's gaze he realized that she didn't understand either. The pale tabby tom shrugged ever so slightly before turning back towards the RiverClan patrol again, his eyes meeting Dappleshine's. The fair, even-tempered she-cat greeted him as they drew within a fox-length of each other, and Barleytuft nodded respectfully at her question.

"No trouble today - at least, I hope not. It seems quiet today," he responded, giving no more information than necessary but hoping that he was clearly looking for peace.

The patrols had stopped just across from each other now, and a RiverClan apprentice blurted out curiously, "Why are you so skinny?" Barleytuft's response was a short laugh and a quick, amused but questioning look towards Dappleshine. He had found it funny, but Briarpaw's voice suddenly snarled up beside the senior warrior. Startled, Barleytuft's dark hazel gaze immediately landed upon the silver-and-white tabby tom who was suddenly looming at the border. "Whoa, whoa, Briarpaw, it's alright - I don't think he meant anything by it--"

Then suddenly the former medicine cat was flying over the border, bowling into Salmonpaw with a yowl of rage. Both patrols immediately burst into chaos, and all Barleytuft could think to do was spit out, "Crow-dung, what in StarClan's name?!" before he had to join in the fray. The lean tabby tom threw himself at Dappleshine, to keep her from tossing herself into the fight that Briarpaw had started. His slender body hit hers awkwardly, sending the two of them sprawling uncomfortably in a tangle of each other's fur. Shoot, please don't hate me for this, Barleytuft thought, aiming a sheathed swipe at the thickest part of the fur on her shoulders.

Barleytuft used Front Paw Blow on Dappleshine, using 5 stamina and dealing 12 damage.

Barleytuft (Tier 5 as of this patrol)
100/100 HP
275/280 SP (-5)

Dappleshine (Tier 3 as of this patrol)
48/60 HP (-12)
200/200 SP