Death Comes Calling [Starlingflare]

Birdsong's fur was ruffled by a cold wind, though she pushed on, eyes focused ahead and ears swiveling as her patrol spread out. Mark the border, bring back prey if any could be found. A simple enough task, but simple tasks so often went awry, and being so close to a contested border, Riverclan always needed to be alert.

Birdsong turned, following the soft scuffle of paws above her head. A squirrel braving the elements in a desperate search for food, just like everyone else, it seemed. It was perched on the lower branches of a tree around sunningrocks, and Birdsong wouldn't let that go to waste. Riverclan's territory had significantly less trees than Skyclan, but she hadn't forgotten how to climb or hunt. And the clan needed prey, regardless of source.

Scaling the tree in silence, Birdsong flitted from branch to branch, careful of the snow that lay across them. The moisture would weaken the branches soon enough if they didn't snap from the weight bearing down on them, but the trees here hadn't been touched by the fire that had ravaged Skyclan territory before her birth, and as a result were stronger, even now. A final leap saw her claws pin the squirrel in place, teeth quickly severing the prey's jugular. Birdsong leapt back to the ground with her catch,, stashing it within a crevice between two of the sunningrocks for retrieval later.

The wind carried the fresh scent of Thunderclan, and she glanced up, pale green eyes sweeping over the snow-covered undergrowth. This was Riverclan territory, surely they knew better than to step foot on it. She'd rather things not escalate into violence, but if she needed to she would defend Riverclan's territory.

A single yellow eye peered from the bushes. Watching.. Observing carefully. Starlingflare crouched low, not exactly trying to hide but to remain out of clear view.. Most likely to stay clear of the cold wind as much as he could. The dilute gray tom watched as the Riverclan she-cat found prey so easily on territory that should have been Thunderclan's. He couldn't help but let out a low growl. Of course with the wind blowing from behind him it was easy for her to notice his scent. He stood from his spot, beginning to approach the she-cat, wanting to get something out of his visit to the border, but it seemed Starclan had other plans..

Starlingflare froze in his spot. Yellow eye fixed behind the she-cat instead of at her. Just a few tail lengths behind the she-cat stood a Fox. The orange creature looked thin and frail, desperate for food.. And it had just found some. Either the cat's prey or the she-cat herself. He stepped forward again, ready to call attention to the predator that lingered behind her, fear in his eyes. The words dying in his throat as soon as the harsh wind shifted. The scent becoming obvious.

Birdsong's gaze found a single-eyed Thunderclanner in the undergrowth. Strange... Only seemed to be the one, and there was fear in his gaze. She opened her mouth to call out to him before the sudden, overwhelming scent of fox overwhelmed her.

Birdsong quickly glanced behind her, then shifted carefully so that both fox and Thunderclanner were in her line of sight. The fox remained still, amber eyes fixed on her. Surely the Thunderclanner wouldn't attack her, a fox was a common enemy to both of them and wouldn't care about clan boundaries.

"Fox!" She yowled out, hoping that somebody in her patrol was close enough to hear.

Starlingflare remained frozen. His ears were folded back to his head, the fur rising on his body at the sign of danger. The only movement seen from the Thunderclan tom was his single yellow eye looking back and forth between the she-cat and the fox.. Help.. He needed to help her. If he didn't she would die! But why? Why should he help those who refused to help his clan in their time of need? The gray tom took a step toward the fox ready to help, but he froze again when it moved..

The fox paid no mind to the other cat, only to the one who had smelled of blood, of fresh prey. Surely she had it.. She knew where it was.. and she stood between it and it's food.. or rather.. maybe she could be food as well. The orange creature launched itself forward causing the other to stop in it's tracks as it pinned the she-cat to the crowd, jaws snapping at paws, and other fleshy bits it could get ahold of.

The Thunderclanner's ears flattened, but he made no move towards her, seemingly just as frozen as Birdsong was. Then the fox lunged forward, slamming into her and dragging her to the ground with it. Birdsong snarled, unsheathed claws furiously slashing at the fox. It was, perhaps, even more desperate for food than she was... But she had kits to feed and a clan to protect. She would fight here way out of this if she could. Her patrolmates weren't far... She'd have backup.

...Right?

The fox growled out at the pain from the claws form the she-cat. The jaws of the creature snapped at the chest of the she-cat, the blows from Birdsong throwing off it's aim. It's paws digging into the ground near the she-cat as well as the skin where it had her pinned. It heaved up more effort, more energy than it seemed to have, perhaps in the desperation for food, and bit down on the she-cat's throat, holding there until the cat fell limp. Once she had, the fox stood up eyes looking for the other cat.. maybe another challenge only to see it had gone. The orange creature went for the stashed prey before disappearing. It couldn't risk another fight.


Starlingflare watched and waited, more out of fear than anything, but something changed. Finally the image and the sounds seemed to resonate in his mind. The call she made originally.. The fear in it.. Oh how sweet it sounded. Some part of him wanted to hear more, to see more violence but he knew if he stayed then he would wind up Fox food as well. Just as the final blow was dealt, the tom turned and disappeared into the brush, further into Thunderclan territory. A smirk on his face. He would have to commit that scene to memory. He couldn't forget that sweet sound, or the sweet scene he had witnessed.

Birdsong clawed weakly at the fox, the beast's strength was overwhelming, and the intensity of it's attacks gave her little room to breathe, let alone create some distance between them. It was impossible. And still, no help came. The Thunderclanner... Her patrolmates... Nobody. Where were they? She couldn't... Couldn't fight this fox off on her own, but she had to try.

She redoubled her efforts, panic making her lash out wildly. Then fangs sank into her throat. The gray she-cat choked, struggles becoming weaker and weaker as blood flowed freely from the wounds. Her vision faded, and she sank to the snowy ground, hardly seeing the blood pooling around her. Suddenly the claws and fangs that had been tearing at her vanished... Not that that did much to dull the sense of agony and fear she felt. She couldn't move. Why couldn't she move? A final, gasping breath escaped her before her movements ceased.

Birdsong has died.