Vivid Backlash

Patrol, patrol, patrol. Hunting, gathering, checking the border, anything that needed to be done, Wolfcall would do it. SkyClan was in need of strong warriors, and the leader's son was determined to be one, at whatever cost. So far, it hadn't been anything too far out of the ordinary - by nature the black warrior was a busybody, with an almost obsessive need to stay moving. But he did, on occasion, sneak away for some 'me time' and tonight was one such occasion.

He wasn't sure what in particular drew him towards Highpines, to the border they shared with ShadowClan, and though he told himself that this was strictly a personal foray out into the wilderness, that it wasn't a patrol and it wasn't a mission, he couldn't help but check the border while he was in the area. What could it hurt, anyway? ShadowClan had been quiet since the battle, presumably nursing their own wounds the same way SkyClan was nursing theirs.

Wolfcall neared the border, drawing in a breath that burned his nostrils with icy cold. With it came a scent, one that reeked of ShadowClan but not one that he recognized explicitly. The young warrior had had few one-on-one interactions with any of the other clan cats, so identifying cats by anything other than clan was difficult for him, but either way, it piqued his interest. He flicked his ears, deliberating the course of action that he wanted to follow. He could go back to camp for reinforcement, or he could just continue on his way. There was every chance that it was a ShadowClan loner out early, as he was, checking their border. But it was just as likely that warriors from the shadowy clan had crossed the border for one reason or another. Either way, his curiosity had the better of him by this point, and he followed the direction of the scent. He'd find out if there was trouble, and if he needed to retreat to get backup, he was confident in being able to outrun any foes. Slinking along, Wolfcall traced the border for several minutes, finally getting eyes on the cat on the opposite side. Just one cat. He relaxed a bit, a bit more confident now that his worries of an invasion were dispelled. A single cat, out for a solo dawn patrol. That's all it was.

Stepping out from the shadow of a bush, Wolfcall made himself plainly visible, if anything just to discourage the other cat from doing anything silly like crossing the border. Too late he realized that it wasn't just any cat, it was Thornstar, the ShadowClan leader. Instantly, Wolfcall's ears slicked back, his amber-gold eyes narrowed on the leader, and he couldn't help the almost-inaudible growl that rumbled in his throat. Thornstar. She and her murderous clan were the reason that Beanheart and Leaftwirl were dead. The reason that Foxfire had been so devastatingly injured. And Wolfcall resented her for that above all else.

There was a twinge of regret that he'd shown himself before realizing the identity of the other cat, but there was no turning back now - so he stood his ground, pelt prickling and fur raising along his spine.

"What I'm doing on my side of the border is of no concern to you," Wolfcall bit out, eyes cold. He didn't like Thornstar's attitude, though he would fully admit that he probably wasn't the picture of welcome at the moment, either. The leader was the cause for all the chaos and strife that SkyClan was going through currently, and even though it was far out of character for Wolfcall to actively want to shed another cat's blood, he couldn't help but imagine how satisfying it would be to give the dark she-cat a few more scars to remember SkyClan by.

Almost involuntarily, his claws slid from their sheaths, and his tail lashed once before he forced it to still. It went against every instinct in his body to turn his back to Thornstar, but he did, padding and marking all the way to the section of incorrectly marked border. In his frazzled state, he didn't even realize that it was out of place.

When Thornstar drew close to him, a paw on the border he'd just marked, Wolfcall's first instinct was to back off and give way, to yield to the rolling tide of power and confidence that rolled off of the dark leader. He hadn't come here for a fight, and it would reflect poorly on him if he came back to camp wounded from a border skirmish that could have been avoided. But if he surrendered here, that would make SkyClan look weak, and that was the last thing he could allow.

So he stood his ground, the hair on his spine spiking stiffly. Wolfcall lowered his head defensively, meeting her glare with his own, amber-gold eyes identical to Spottedstar's. "Are you implying that SkyClan is trying to encroach on your territory?" Now that he thought about it, this section of the border did look a little off... but it was almost inconsequential, certainly not enough to shed blood over. His eyes flicked to the scars at her throat, healed, but still clearly fresh. Had his father done that? There was a wicked sense of satisfaction, but that was quickly replaced by guilt. Had that injury been to any cat without the extra lives of a clan leader, it certainly would have been fatal. But he had to admit that Thornstar's current attitude didn't win her any favor or sympathy from him.

He stayed crouched in that position, ready to retaliate if she came even just a bit closer.