criminal activities of the highest order [closed for the apprentice squad]

ooc; honestly im not going to adhere to much of a strict posting order for this since most of it is banter and antics. just try not too clog it up too much :)

A slight breeze rustled the debris and foliage that made up the walls of the apprentice's den. Twin green pools of light peered out into the darkness, surveying the sleeping forms of his clanmates. Training had been going well but somehow the extra patrols and running of his pads hadn't worn out the apprentice. Cricketpaw thirsted for an adventure. He had lain there for quite some time before stretching out his limbs, careful as possible to not stir the dried moss of his bedding. Glancing around, he found the sleeping forms of his fellow apprentices.

Yewpaw was the closest, with Hailpaw and Driftpaw not far off. An idea had come into his head, a dream that perhaps he could make real on this night. Cricketpaw was going to see a Shadowclan cat and he'd bring his friends along with him to do it. Prodding first his brother than the other two, he kept his voice low, "Wake up. We're gonna go out it's a perfect night. I want to show you all something." With the pale moonlight guiding their path, and the chill seemingly less biting than it had been, it was indeed a good night. Once they slipped through the shadows and out of camp, then he would explain his intentions and lead them through the territory. Hopefully he remembered the way.

Cricketpaw didn't give them time to argue. Instead, he headed for the farthest corner of the den, shifting the walls slightly - just enough for young cats to slip out. There was the matter of the pine needles and twigs, but given he'd been the one to complete this section of the defenses earlier, it was hardly the best work and easy to manipulate. There were soft crackles as his pads gingerly stepped on fallen leaves and he lightened his step. Once through the worst of it, and a fair distance from camp, he stopped to see who was at his tail. If there were arguments about their endeavor, now would be the time to protest.

But regardless, Cricketpaw was successful, he'd slipped from camp.

Hailpaw awoke, eyes clouded with sleep and confusion as he looked up to see Cricketpaw was the one to nudge him. Was something the matter? He was quick to sit up, blinking to clear his vision and watching the others rouse around him.

"Show us what?" he whispered, but by time his question left his lips Cricketpaw was already making for a small break in the den walls. Oh, secret mission? Hailpaw felt no hesitation in standing to his paws and following. Hailpaw didn't need an explanation anymore, he just wanted to get out. He was never a fan of the new rules Bloodstar put in place. The buddy system, the overkill security policies, everything. It made him feel like a rabbit cornered in its burrow with a dog snapping at the mouth. They were a strong clan, right? Why did they need all of these precautions?

Sneaking out certainly made him feel better about it. A silent protest that hopefully no one needed to know about. He slipped through the same way Cricketpaw did, dainty paws carefully avoiding any of the warning twigs until he was in the clear. He felt alight with excitement, knowing full well that he was doing something he wasn't supposed to. "So is this just a romp around in the moonlight or do you have something planned?" Hailpaw inquired, a slight teasing tone to his voice, but his question was genuine.

More oft than not, there was exceptionally limited benefits to having a particularly restless circadian rhythm; the tightly clinched teeth of a naturally imbalanced sleep cycle bringing exceptionally short temperments and painfully fretful sleep. However, fortunately for Elkkit on this particular evening, the stubborn preclude of deep sleep allowed her to quickly catch on to a particularly unusual series of whispers and hasty steps emanating from just a few dens over.

It hadn't proved entirely too challenging to quietly slip from the protective embrace of a snug Nursery, abandoning the lively and cherished heart of the densely-crowded space in favor of chill air and wan moonlight. However, the feat of following suit after the rather unusual gaggle of her older Clanmates out into the unfamiliar webbing of the dark forest was a bit more strenuous- the exertion of having to match pace with such practiced steps evidently a bit more harrowing upon her slight frame and relatively untried legs. It was rather relieving that her unwitting companions had yet to realize their unlikely guest, as Elkkit often found herself ensnared within the prickly grasp of wraith-like thorns, her blatant unfamiliarity with the forest and disparaging size leaving her to the mercy of all life that resides at ground-level. If she happened to emerge with a few new scrapes and scratches, it was thankfully solely between her and the silent eyes of the glittering night sky.

"There you guys are!" Elkkit squawked, soft little voice pitched in equal parts exhaustion and relief at finally catching up to the older cats, heavily plumed tail kinking proudly over the hard ridge of her spine in an unmistakable display of pride, "I didn't think it was gonna be so hard to keep up." The pale she-cat was absolutely bedraggled, soft pelt twisted into odd clumps and heavily entangled with debris that bespoke her difficulty in navigating the outside terrain at such a size and noteworthy inexperience. Speckled in dust and sharp folds of seasonal leaf-litter, Elkkit was practically oozing a vicious layer of smug self-satisfaction as she pranced the remainder of the distance between herself and the small gathering of Apprentices.

Driftpaw cracked his eyes open, yawning widely as a paw prodded him in the side. "Whassat...? What're you gonna show us...?" Of course he wanted to see it. Heaving himself to his paws, he pushed through the hole made by Cricketpaw and Hailpaw, a prick of apprehension filling his chest. Bloodstar wouldn't be too happy with them...but, they weren't going out alone, right? They were much safer together than alone, that was for sure, so Driftpaw shoved the doubt back down where it belonged and plodded after his friends. He may have stepped on a few twigs here and there in his sleepiness, but his heavy paws and thick fur did well to dampen the noise.

A squeaky voice caught his attention, and he turned on his heel to see Elkkit following them. "Aw, moon an' stars..." he groaned, his voice hushed in case there were any night guards listening. "Elkkit, y'can't be out here, you're too little. It ain't safe, go back to sleep."

The confidence that carried his paws had yet to slip away as the realization he hardly knew the way had yet to come to Cricketpaw's mind. One thing had been accomplished so far - they had managed to slip away from camp, brushing away the debris in their path, and seemingly avoiding rousing the warriors. A grin had plastered itself across his maw as he trotted forward with his head high. It was Hailpaw's speech that caused him to turn his head back towards the little group behind his tail.

He paused a beat to wait until the white apprentice was close enough to bump his haunches playfully into the other tom's shoulder, then carrying on as he spoke, "Come on, Hailpaw, you know I wouldn't drag you out for nothing. We're going to see a Shadowclan cat. And we're going to get right up close so you can see 'em too." At the revelation of his plot, the apprentice's voice became an excited whisper. The idea of cats that hunted in the night was such a strange and wonderous concept. There was a small part of him that worried they would simply blend into the shadows. But maybe the moon was bright enough tonight, maybe they would be lucky to catch a glimpse.

The intent to trod ahead and accomplish his lofty mission was swiftly interrupted by a squeak cutting through the cold night air. Cricketpaw's neck fur briefly stood on end, indulging in some wild fear that perhaps a squeaky voiced warrior was here to put an end to their endeavors. But as he swung around and caught sight of Elkkit, there was a low sigh of relief, an exhale of a breath he did not realize had ballooned within his lungs. Driftpaw swiftly ordered their younger companion back to camp and he was about to agree when it occurred to him... she could just as easily use that high-pitched timbre to draw unwanted clan attention.

"Kits aren't supposed to leave camp, Elkkit you should know that but... we've already walked quite a way." His voice was slightly agitated, betraying annoyance at the dilemma she'd placed them all in. With an apologetic glimpse at Driftpaw, he padded towards the kit and meowed, "Fine. You can come but I don't want you slowing us down. You'll ride on my back." Cricketpaw dipped his head and grabbed her scuff, wrinkling his nose at the debris tangled in her coat as he placed her across his shoulders.

"Alright! Let's go find us a Shadowclan cat."

Hailpaw chuckled at the friendly jab, but it quickly morphed into a gasp as Cricketpaw revealed his plans. "A Shadowclan warrior?!" he asked, his voice an excited stage whisper as to not blow their cover. "They're super sneaky though, we'd have to out-sneak the sneakiest in order to find one." Hailpaw ignored the sight comment, he couldn't afford to ruin their secret mission with whining. He had his priorities straight.

Finding a Shadowclan warrior undetected was one of the most impressive things he could think of, and he had three cats to impress. One he sought to dazzle more than the others, but- wait. Hold on, three cats?

His gaze fell to the much smaller body that Driftpaw was attending to. Elkkit. This was dangerous, both for Elkkit and for the rest of them. If they took her, she could get hurt, but if they sent her home, she might tell Bloodstar. Cricketpaw eventually chose for him though, a choice Hailpaw couldn't help but agree with. "Yeah, I mean, if we are able to see a Shadowclan warrior up close, we can definitely keep a kit safe for a while, right? We are capable warriors." He's switched the moss in the nursery a few times for apprentice duties, which totally made him a capable kit-sitter. Besides, if things did go wrong, which they won't, protecting a kit from a Shadowclan warrior would be possibly the coolest thing he had ever done. The others would have to be impressed by that.

"Onward toward Shadowclan," he purred, taking confident strides forward. If only he remembered where it was... but he trusted Cricketpaw's sense of direction. Worse comes to worst they have a fun adventure trying to find it. Nothing else could go wrong.

Being prodded by his brother didn't immediately wake Yewpaw - he was actually quite used to Cricketpaw kicking him in his sleep - but he found himself in a state halfway between two stints of deep sleep, those times usually forgotten in the morning. The hushed conversation between several of his denmates brushed against his ears, the meanings bouncing away. Instead, the sudden chill woke him. With Cricketpaw no longer at his side, what used to be nice and warm was now uncomfortably cold. For a moment he wondered if the tabby had simply gone to the dirtplace for a moment, but that became obviously false at the sight of two other, freshly vacated nests. This was going to be very, very stupid. He could feel it.

The young tuxedo tom heaved himself onto his paws and carefully stepped around the paws and tails of the other apprentices, pushing through the hole in the den wall. So, it was his brother, Hailpaw, and Driftpaw. But, what was that weird lump on Cricketpaw's back? 'Is that... a kit? This is even more stupid than I thought.' Still, Yewpaw knew too well that trying to argue never worked. They might as well get in trouble together if it came to that. And who knows, they might actually get a whiff of a Shadowclanner, if Cricketpaw's words were worth anything. The least he could do would be to keep an eye on everyone. Especially his brother and the kit.

His voice came at a whisper, having the presence of mind to try to not spook the others with his sudden appearance. "I'll close the gap. Go on ahead."

Weight perilously swaying between the exhaustion weakened and woefully untried length of her short little limbs, Elkkit was quick to partially collapse into the sudden grip of Cricketpaw- the surprisingly dense little molly lurching awkwardly within the careful confines of teeth, muddied paws giving an abrasive little kick in complaint as she was promptly deposited atop the older tom's back. It took a few heartbeats of clumsy repositioning to find an adequate sense of balance atop the sharply-skeletal nape of her new mode of transportation, little forepaws carefully linking around Cricketpaw's throat in a gentle daisy-chain of reluctant trust.

Was the humiliation of immediately being made to be carried a slight against the simmering embers of an already fierce sense of self-pride? Yes. Was it something Elkkit intended on adamantly protesting? No; she was tired from the surprisingly difficult trek across unfamiliar terrain, and the last thing she wanted to do was get bustled back to bed in accordance with her defiance.

Tender claws attentively embedded themselves within the downy curls of Cricketpaw's ruffled fur, taking care to avoid the thin skin just a singular brush away, yet twisting close enough to the unblemished and unmarred flesh below that she could safely ensure that no sudden movements would send her nose-first into the cool dirt below. Stretching up so that the sharp jut of her chin rested lightly against the crown of the older cat's head, Elkkit's wide gaze was promptly redirected to the sprawling canopy above- curling tendrils of partially sloughed tree branches interspersed with wide swaths of rich darkness, chilly flecks of icy starlight and wan moonlight occasionally blanching clean through the shifting river of night that poured on endlessly. It was the same sky that often tossed a voyeur's attentive eye between the protective thatching of the Nursery, yet it looked so strikingly different than the usual unimpressive glimpse she oft caught.

"Why're we even going to find a ShadowClan cat?" Elkkit eventually mewed, shrill curiosity shading the preoccupied dredges of her prying question, "don't they smell really bad?"

It seems he'd been overruled, so Driftpaw simply shrugged as Cricketpaw heaved the kit onto his back. "As long as ya keep quiet, Elkkit, we're tryin' to stay secret," he mewed, his voice low. Hailpaw was right, with all of them together, they could definitely take a ShadowClan warrior. He had hardly noticed that Yewpaw wasn't with them earlier until the bicolored tom spoke up, startling him. Hackles raised in alarm, Driftpaw hurriedly smoothed them back down with an embarrassed chuckle, padding on ahead to keep up with Cricketpaw and Elkkit. He was careful to make sure Hailpaw had a clear path; he could only imagine what the white apprentice's already-poor sight was like in the dead of night.

As they walked, Driftpaw's mind wandered. What was ShadowClan like? Shadowy, no doubt, that was obvious. But apparently they all lived in a swamp and only came out at night, which seemed very pointless to him. Nighttime was for sleeping, of course, and daytime was for hunting and patrolling because you could see better. They've got it all backwards, he thought, an amused smile rising to his maw. And why live in a swamp? He would hate to have his paws wet all the time. Elkkit piped up then, her shrill kitten voice breaking the silence the apprentices were undoubtably trying so hard to keep. Driftpaw shushed her gently, then replied, "We jus' wanna see one, I guess. I dunno what they smell like, never met one, but I guess they do since they live in a swamp an' stuff."

Cricketpaw nodded along with Hailpaw's sentiment, appreciating the support of his friend. It fueled his pathless paws, giving him the energy to trot forward and seek out an unknown direction. The low voice of Yewpaw caused his whiskers to twitch for only a moment. His brother's presence only furthered his sense of confidence. With Elkkit on his back, the young apprentice had to prevent himself from shaking out his coat, steadying his steps to help her clinging grasp to his fur.

"We're going to see one to learn all their secrets. If we stay far enough away we won't have to smell them I'm sure. But Driftpaw is right, they probably smell like mud and slimy moss." His nose wrinkled up at the thought. With each step further from camp, the dark-striped tabby became increasingly aware of his lack of knowledge of the territory. It seemed like their trek was eternal and that he would never be able to bring them to Shadowclan like he promised. Just when it seemed all hope was lost, a horrible acrid scent threatened to set his fur on end.

"This has to be it! Can't you smell em?"

His ears flicked at the sound of another voice, turning to see Yewpaw had joined them. For a moment, he thought the tom had simply rolled over and gone back to sleep, missing out on their totally cool adventure. He gave a purr and a smile, a quiet welcome and encouragement to follow without words. The more cats the merrier, especially when they could be facing something potentially dangerous. With all of them together, they would be all set. No cat could take on three cats at once, Shadowclan or otherwise! Not that they should plan on fighting a Shadowclan warrior, but you know, just in case.

Hailpaw quietly accepted Driftpaw's help in navigation. He normally used color to help differentiate roots and rocks from stable ground. However, in the dark, everything was swathed in blues and blacks, monochrome. He had trouble enough in the daylight, but without much texture, color, or shadow to tell where to put his paws, he felt completely blind. So Hailpaw stuck close to Driftpaw like glue, both for convenience and because his paws felt particularly drawn to the gray and white cat.

The smell hit him before anything came into sight. Like skunk but somehow worse, bad enough to make his eyes water. "Dear Starclan, I hope Shadowclan doesn't smell like that." Swamp and mud didn't smell great, but this was... something entirely different. He did remember it though when he explored the territory with his mentor. They had barely gotten a whiff before he was told it was the Shadowclan border and they went on their way, never shown the border directly. He wasn't paying much attention during their tour, but he wouldn't forget that scent.

"This is definitely close though. The, uh... lightning path or something has gotta be around here and on the other side is our goal!" Right... the other side of the path with monsters on it that race faster than rapid rivers. From what descriptions he had gotten through, monsters were huge, loud, and stinky. A cat would have to have lost their head in order to have one sneak up on them. He didn't know how in Starclan they could be dangerous. "I wonder if we'll be a border patrol! Come on!" Hailpaw urged. He was starting to feel his own excitement rise. They were getting so close, and even if they didn't get to see a Shadowclan warrior, this whole act of sneaking out and going on a field trip would be enough to keep him peppy for moons!

Loudnose happily padded through the territory, laughing at the paw prints he created in the mud. He leapt upon mice, chased frogs through lily pads, and took a minute to roll in the cooling sludge. And at this point, the tom was a mess. Loudnose enjoyed his alone time, though he wished he could share the fun with a friend. But everyone seemed busy, preparing for Leafbare and all.

As Loudnose buried a freshly caught mouse he heard a rumbling nearby. Taking a few trots closer he quickly realized it was the Thunderpath. Oh! There is sometimes dead prey here, maybe I can get some. The tabby walked parallel to the black line, though making sure the stay far away. His eyes scanned the area for carcasses. Loudnose didn't quite enjoy the smell, though it wasn't bad enough to deter him.

"Yeah, this has to be it!" Cricketpaw chirped, agreeing with Hailpaw. His eyes stared ahead, prying apart the black path and seeking to see what lay beyond it. As a huge beast with glaring eyes roared past, he flattened slightly, careful to keep his back straight so Elkkit wouldn't fall off. The sensation had rattled his bones and filled him with a fear his nearly fearless heart had never known. Paws that were once filled with anticipation were now filled with nervousness. He was on edge, despite the fact that his maw was neutral and his eyes were filled with determination. This was it. The apprentice had managed to lead his ragtag group of apprentices to the promised land. Shadowclan was just on the other side of this dangerous path...

He saw something. The air had become strangely still after the monster raced by, as if it too was holding a breath tight in its lungs. There came a soft thudding sound from the other side and his fur began to raise. Eyes glared at them from the darkness. An enemy cat was there and a big one from the sound of it. Cricketpaw, realizing how much the kit on his back would slow down a retreat, felt a chill creep down his spine. They had been spotted. Shadowclan cats were vicious and smelly creatures. From this encounter he'd learned they had a stench that could knock a cat right out. Swallowing, the dark-striped tabby took a few steps back. Enthusiasm had been drained from his paws when in the face of a real enemy cat. But he had to stuff down his fears in front of his peers. After all, it had been him who had put them in this position.

"I see something, and I think it sees us. We saw a Shadowclan cat now lets get out of here." His voice was shockingly composed for how he felt. Cricketpaw didn't want for protests as he forced himself to straightened up and turn tail to head back towards where he hoped their camp was. Maybe one of the other apprentices would remember where they had came from. Surely Yewpaw would, his brother seemed to think of everything. Or maybe Driftpaw... his thoughts were cut short as he slammed into a wall of fur and muscle. The impact was so jarring Elkkit would have likely fallen if she had not been gripping his coat. Cricketpaw's features betrayed his shock and he took a step back.

Bloodstar.

Bloodstar woke in the middle of the night with a full bladder. He was very tempted to just lay there and try to ignore it until morning, but the longer he waited, the more it ached and the more obvious it was that it was only going to keep him awake. He sighed in defeat and left the leader's den to take care of business. He figured he might as well use it to mark the borders near Shadowclan if he could hold it that long. He made his way toward Highpine, eyes, nose and ears alert for danger. A single warrior had followed him without him having to ask. Good... it seemed everyone was aware of the rules and willing to follow them.

Or... so he thought. He ran across a fresh scent trail that he hadn't been expecting. Apprentices? He bent his nose down to the ground and inhaled deeper. Yes... Skyclan apprentices. His fur bristled and his agitation increased. "Go up in the trees and tell me if you see these aggravating little bastards." He ordered the warrior behind him. Up the nearest tree they went without question. Bloodstar would follow the scent on the ground.

The warrior in the trees didn't take long to spot the group of apprentices and made... was that an attempt at an owl noise? .... Anyway... They gave a signal that they were spotted. Bloodstar had tracked them nearly to the Thunderpath. Why would they come all of the way out here? Bloodstar picked up the pace, his full bladder aching mercilessly now. It only added to his foul mood.

And suddenly... the patrol of apprentices literally walked right into him. Cricketpaw... He gave the apprentice the nastiest scowl that he could and an accusing glare in his acidic green eyes. ... Was that a kit on his back???

"You better explain immediately to me what you all are doing out here with a kit... in a second..." He couldn't handle it anymore. He had to go. He trotted swiftly towards the border with the Thunderpath and practically let loose a fire hose of a stream to mark it. With that finished... and dear stars did that reek... he returned to the apprentice patrol and gave them all a harsh, unapproving glower.

"Explain. Now. It better be good."

The ensuing seconds, infinitesimal in origin and dredged in the calamity of a wholly unanticipated interruption, surged by with a rancorous vigor that had every flighty flutter of Elkkit's rapidly pounding heart dragging by for what felt like hours; the unrelenting passage of time splintering under the frigid flood of adrenaline, her little claws curling hot and low against the thick fur of Cricketpaw's nape. The unfamiliar figure lurking against the sinister backdrop of the unnervingly busy Thunderpath remained firmly entrenched within the shaded regions of her flicking vision despite the hasty retreat immediately signaled, a strange ghost that sent a wan chill of misery and discontent lulling down the prickling length of her kinked spine. The hot beginnings of a blossoming complaint were stirring to life on her tightly-clinched tongue, the exhaustion and lingering unease of the slow-going evening gradually seeping beneath the debris curled weightily against her unkempt coat- ​however, whatever hollow plea for misguided direction had begun to stir the young molly immediately died within her frowning maw upon her noble steed's abrupt collision with Bloodstar.

"Bloodstar!" Elkkit immediately trilled, entirely oblivious to the newfound dire consequences of their unfortunate little adventure, dirt-riddled features perking up considerably at the sight of the grizzly old tom, "Guess what- I followed 'em all the way out! Nobody caught me til I said something!"