Glass Houses [Closed]

Their patrol has strayed close to the Thunderpath. It was close enough to Shadowclan territory to be wary. However, they were still separated by the occasional rumbling of monsters. The area was dangerous enough to prevent a fight from breaking out easily. Her eyes scanned the area for sight of anything darting through the deadened trees. Although, it appeared that there weren't many squirrels traipsing the branches. Nor did birds sing sweet nothings as they flitted about. The entire area was extraordinarily quiet and did not make much for a successful hunt. Somewhere off in the other branches were her clanmates. All were likely close enough to call for but not close enough to be seen. This patrol had been very lax. Besides, from up here, their foes across the border had little way to make much in the ways of a battle. Redwing's death, which had started this whole thing, had proven that. She looked around, settling down in the branches for a moment. Finally, Basilpaw's eyes locked on a flicker of a shadow from across the border. This was sunrise after all. Were there still perhaps some cats lurking in the marshlands?

Nightpaw padded in silence. His black tabby coat hid him among the shadows of the thick trees as he moved around the edge of the strange thing that stood between ShadowClan and SkyClan territory. His nose scented a strange smell that was thick on his nose and the roof of his mouth, but padded forward cautiously to take a closer look. The light of dawn caught his blue eyes briefly as he glanced towards the light with a baleful hiss of discontent.

Daylight was a terrible thing. It made it harder to hide, brought noise to the thunderpath, and worse. It meant he had to wake up. His jaw clenched shut as he huffed in displeasure at the thought of going to his nest, only to be roused out of it immediately. It was hardly fair, but he huffed again as he placed a paw on top of the thunderpath curiously. It didn’t roar or grumble like it did in the day. The dark path stayed cold and silent beneath his paws as he leapt over it in great marsh-hopping bounds.

She watched as he darted across the path. His leaps were impressive. If it weren't for the fact she had watched him hail from the marshlands, perhaps Basilpaw would have taken him for a cat with Skyclan blood. The she-cat picked her way through the branches. Once she was above him, she prepared to fall from the sky. For a moment, her green eyes studied him. He seemed more like a shadow than an actual cat. It was curious as to why he had crossed. Perhaps she should have seen him as more of an enemy figure, given the bad blood between clans, but instead she was hesitant to launch a full attack. Glancing back in the direction of the patrol, she took a deep breath and then fell from above and landed squarely on the Shadowclan apprentice's back. From just behind his ears, she chimed, "Whatchu doing, stranger?"

Basilpaw used Sky Drop on Nightpaw, dealing 7 damage and using 15 stamina.

Basilpaw
HP: 20/20
SP: 65/80

Nightpaw
HP: 13/20
SP: 80/80

The large trees of SkyClan’s territory loomed over Nightpaw. His blue eyes admired the sheer height of them for a long moment, before his gaze dropped to a forest floor that was oddly empty. ShadowClan’s territory was full of bushy plants and mud. There was hardly ever actual space, but here there were clear trails. Even though the early signs of snow had fallen onto the ground, there were no choking bushes or deep enclosing canopies of the ever growing pines.

He was so lost in his observations, that he didn’t even feel the SkyClan cat until it was too late. She landed squarely on his back and the black tabby tom yowled fiercely and whipped around. His foreclaws unsheathed as they swiped his opponent across the face, which allowed him enough time to sprint a couple strides then turn back to face her.

“I was admiring your trees.” Nightpaw’s eyes narrowed at her question. Her voice had been… cheerful, despite the attack. It threw him off. He looked at her more closely. She had the signature build of SkyClan from what he had been told. The fact that she was his size meant she was likely an apprentice as well. Well, his mother might not kill him if he tells her he fought an apprentice. Unlike some apprentices, he had enough sense not to attack fully grown cats who could knock you out in one blow.

Nightpaw used Front-paw strike

Basilpaw
HP: 13/20 (-7)
SP: 65/80

Nightpaw
HP: 13/20
SP: 70/80 (-10)

As soon as she landed on his back, digging into the thick, warm fur with her claws, the apprentice was easily dispelled by her opponent. Basilpaw regained her footing on the earth and stood across from him. There was a soft stinging across her maw from the attack, which should have been expected. This was supposed to be a border dispute after all, he was trespassing. However, when he noted he was admiring the trees, her head tilted. There was a brief pause before a soft laugh caused her whiskers to twitch. Her green gaze glanced to the looming trees that dotted Skyclan territory, "They sure are beautiful, aren't they? But why's a Shadowclan cat so interested in our trees? I thought you all preferred to roll around in the mud at night." It was perhaps the most stereotypical Shadowclan thing she could think of, and the light edge to her voice betrayed how she was messing with him. Her mind flickered briefly to the last she had heard of a Shadowclan cat in the trees.

Redwing. The name that came to mind bore to face in her head. Shadowclan's former deputy had fallen from one of the bordering trees. It was the very thing that caused contention between their clans, and lead to the death of her mother as well as others. Basilpaw sought to push away the unpleasant thoughts, instead focusing on the good she knew from their enemy. Flintshard was her friend, and perhaps this tom knew him. She studied the tom and his expression, realizing he had a similar dark coat and imposing appearance as most of the Shadowclan cats she had met. After a moment, she had come decidedly to the conclusion he was handsome. It was a thought to keep to herself. There was nothing wrong in admiring the appearance of another cat, especially not of one with such stunning eyes. Basilpaw found herself staring into the depths of his gaze as she awaited an answer. Her paws were rooted to the earth, decided in the fact that she would drop the hostility, if indeed he was just here to look at the trees.

He waited for the next attack. His body crouched to resume the fight… but she didn’t. Instead her green eyes met his, and for a moment… his breath failed him. They were as green as the pine trees in his own home, which never wilted with the weather. He shoved the thought out of his mind. Now was no time for such things. He was to be a warrior soon, he couldn’t be distracted by a she-cat whose eyes just happened to capture his.

“They’re tall.” Nightpaw explained. His head tilted up towards the sky. Towards the branches that he could imagine in green leaf must look beautiful. He could almost see them in his mind… “I bet it must feel like flying when you’re up there.” he looked down at her, then scoffed. Bringing back his cold exterior. “Not that I care.”

Their eyes met for a moment and she stared into twin pools of deep blue that reminded her of a frosted stream. Basilpaw stared longer than she intended, and blinked when he finally looked away. She followed his gaze to the nearly barren treetops, coated only by flakes of snow and frost. The way he looked at them with such curiosity, it reminded her of her own passion for the territory. Even if it was strange for other clans to look to the trees with such admiration, Basilpaw decided the beauty of them was far to vast to be beheld by Skyclanners alone. If he wanted to share in that, he could, why not? The dark coated apprentice scoffed, claiming he did not care but she had already caught the look in his eyes. What he said wasn't true. She drew closer as a chill riffled her fur and she sought to continue their conversation. The Skyclan she-cat envied his thick coat for a moment and pondered how nice it would be to snuggle up inside.

That was something to think about later. Just like her and Foxfire had in time found their place up above the territory, she sought to satiate this Shadowclan tom's curiosity for it too. Her paws buzzed with excitement at the prospect of sharing that wonder with another cat, "It does feel like flying... I can show you, if you want. Climbing isn't all too hard and we can stay close to the ground too. I'm sure no cat would mind as long as we stick near the border. Oh! And don't catch any prey too. Not like there is much... but that's definitely something Spottedstar wouldn't be happy about." Basilpaw looked up at the tom with expectant eyes. Even with his momentarily cold exterior, she could already tell there was no way he could refuse her offer.