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

Hailpaw stared past the black path, his fuzzy vision trying desperately to lock onto anything feline-shaped. It was then that he noticed a brown mass on the other side of the strip. He froze, eyes narrowing into a squint to try and see better.

He didn't care how well a cat's vision was, no one could convince him that was a cat. He could just get the glint of eyes within the marsh, their body almost one with the swamp with all the detritus that seemed to grow from their pelt. Shadowclan must employ monsters and beasts to patrol their boundaries, and Hailpaw wasn't too keen on the idea of testing the monster's might. Once he regained the use of his legs, he lightly pressed his shoulder into Driftpaw's to urge their retreat. "Yeah, I think we finished what we needed to do." They weren't running, they had just finished their task and were ready to return home.

However, just as he was about to turn and return to the safety of their own trees, a massive bulk of fur blocked their path. His fur prickled in fright, nearly jumping out of his pelt as he was so convinced a Shadowclan cat had cornered them only to realize who it was. Their leader... perhaps he would have preferred a Shadowclan monster over this.

Bloodstar normally wasn't as intimidating to him as most. From a distance, his scars and muscles blurred to nothing until he was just a grumpy-looking blob in his vision. However, this close, he finally understood why clanmates found the tabby tom so frightening looking. More scars than fur, study enough that he was pretty sure Bloodstar could crush his skull with little effort, the large tom was certainly a terrifying sight. Hailpaw was on the edge of bolting across the thunderpath clas facing the monsters there felt like a safer option.

It was only when Bloodstar took a step away to... thoroughly mark the border that he was able to close his mouth and breath again. They were in so much trouble, his mind racing to try and do damage control. Elkkit wasn't helping and it took most of his willpower not to slap a paw over her maw to quiet her. Shuffling on his paws, he quickly brewed up a lie.

"We... We were just doing a border patrol. We were so inspired by your will to protect camp that we wanted to follow your example! We should have asked first, we're sorry for that, but we just wanted to make you proud, that's all..." He bowed his head, his ears and tail tucking in to better play the act of a sheepish and remorseful apprentice... a role he didn't have to try hard to play. "We only took Elkkit along because she snuck out and followed us. We would have returned her, but what if she snuck out again and got hurt?! The other clans probably didn't take so many precautions over predators as you did, if she crossed the border she would have been in real trouble! We just wanted to keep an eye on her..." Hopefully a little kissing up would save them a little scorn.

With their exit concealed, Yewpaw followed his denmates in dead silence, ears swiveling and straining towards every sound just in case it was a fox or owl - or worse, a warrior. He gave his hums and huhs when the conversation called for it, distracted by the noises of the night. He had to admit that his coat would have served him well as a ShadowClan cat, if the rumors were true that they lived in the darkness and slept the days away, something he could hardly imagine doing when he and his brother spent most of their time up in the trees. What exactly did they eat? How could they hunt enough to feed all their Clanmates when it was so hard to see?

He could smell the Thunderpath before they came upon it, with its strange, acrid scent, almost like that of rotting fruits and egg. He scrunched up his nose. “ Eugh. That’s strong. We should hardly ever need to mark the border, this place smells enough on its own.” Yewpaw peered out to the other side with the rest of them, straining to see a cat that may never appear. Eventually, however, something that resembled a cat did appear, slinking through the shadows with great confidence. Were they alone? Or did they have comrades hiding further in the trees, watching? Did they know that he and his denmates (plus Elkkit) were here?

While Cricketpaw chattered about heading home, a silver-skinned monster raced by to scatter grit in their faces, letting out a fierce and chest-shaking growl as it passed. ‘StarClan, are they all that huge?’ When his brother stopped talking, Yewpaw turned his head to see their worst nightmare standing before them. The tuxedo debated trying to say something, but it seemed like his buddies had it covered. He couldn’t think of anything to say.  It wouldn’t have been very well-thought out anyhow, not enough to dissuade Bloodstar from doing what he wanted. Still, Yewpaw’s reluctance to speak didn’t stop him from openly staring at the large tom. He took his rising apprehension for what punishment was to come and forced its head back down. They’d done it now and there was no point in trying to get out of it; Bloodstar had never been known as an understanding cat. Being anxious about it would only be a waste of energy. Nothing would change his mind, regardless of what they said. So, he’d avoid answering the question entirely, and maybe Bloodstar would forget that he wasn’t supposed to be there. He didn’t actually believe that, but it was a funny possibility. His voice came quiet as ever, though it pitched up with a sudden yawn. “Let’s just get home. We’re done here.”

shh im not actually expecting this to continue i just wanted to get a post in;;;