across the path [closed]

Murkyripple had been successful in encouraging her sister to go out on a patrol with her. It was certainly to their advantage, more often than not, of the fact that Murkyripple had her name. Firefly had just earned hers as well, and there was no doubt of the pride that she felt with her siblings getting their names. She desperately hoped that Rosepaw would be next, so at the very least most of her siblings had gotten to the point of earning their names. After all, she couldn't be the one carrying the entire set of the youngest siblings on her back. She had to make their mother proud, but she couldn't be the only one doing it. It was why she had convinced Rosepaw to go out with her by the Thunderpath, to see if they could catch a border patrol and prevent any nosy Shadowclan cats from making their way into their territory. She'd scented some other Clans around their borders lately, bothering the warrior deeply. She wasn't about to add Shadowclan to that list, either. "Let's go, Rosepaw. The Thunderpath shouldn't have many monsters this time of day." Murkyripple encouraged as they approached. Sure enough, it was dead silent, and sounded dead silent, too.

Harriertalon stood on ShadowClans side of the border next to the Thunderpath, a disgruntled calico tom standing just opposite of her... on ThunderClan territoy. "Honestly, Batswarm! Whatever is going on in that head of yours is baffling." Her voice came out as a hissing whisper in fear that a ThunderClan patrol might happen to hear them should she outright yell at him. She was right to follow him. "Your vanity will be the death of you. Get your tail back over here, now!"

---

Batswarm had been entranced with the new and seemingly endless ways he could view himself: shiny twoleg garbage was today's most blessed victim. While it was a bit warped, he knew his fur was glamorous and pristine--

Ears flattened as the annoyingly large form of Harriertalon popped up across the Thunderpath. Could she get off his tail for more than day?! Running away and hiding from her was growing old. He wasn't a kit anymore. And vanity? It was not his fault StarClan bestowed such beauty upon him. "Just bug off already! Talking to you makes my fur itch."

He rolled his eyes at the ebony molly, gazing back down at the shiny rubbish that lay flattened against SOLID ground. This place was much better than ShadowClan territory. He could get used to this; Cats here seemed to be neglecting this bit of border. After all, this was not the first time he'd been here.