Guard Camp, They Said; It Will Be Fun, They Said [Bloodstrike]

The newleaf air was humid, the sky above cloudy as the last few cats in Skyclan's camp settled into their nests for the night. Falconmoon had left with a patrol, and that left the camp clearing all but empty except for Stoneheart and the heavily-scarred tom she was sharing this camp guard rotation with. She knew little of the tom, save that he was leader sometime well before she had been born. He wasn't now, though, and while he'd returned to the clan Stoneheart hadn't seen much of him beyond a pawful of shared patrols here and there. He seemed like the no-nonsense type, and that was good enough for Stoneheart. And, she suspected that she wouldn't have to prod him into staying awake. Unlike her former mentor, who was probably fast-asleep by now.

Stoneheart stretched, grumbling at the humidity weighing down her thick fur. The sky above threatened rain, and she glared up at it for a moment. If it was going to rain, she hoped it would at least hold off for a little while. Preferably until she was in her nest come morning.

Bloodstrike's eyes were hard, boring holes into the back of the white and gold tom as he left. He was personally flabberghasted that the suspicious relative of his had caused no trouble. It didn't prove his innocence of course, but Bloodstrike hadn't known what to do with that fact. He would cause his family no undue pain, especially if somehow he was wrong. However, he would also not allow anything or anyone else to cause his family pain, or the consequences would be written in blood.

A barn owl screeched, causing the on-edge tom to lurch forward before he realized what it was. He spat and plopped his rump back onto the floor. It was only then he cast a glance at Stoneheart, indifferent to the humidity growing in the air.

"I'd never want something to happen to my clan, but I wouldn't mind a badger or two to rip to shreds." He hated sitting in one spot. He hated not working. Sure, guard duty was work, but when nothing was happening it may as well have been the Asylum's prison all over again.

Bloodstrike seemed on edge, the screech of an owl causing him to lurch forward. Stoneheart shifted on her paws, the suddenness of it making her restlessness grow.

"It is boring." Stoneheart agreed, "I know someone has to, but that doesn't make it not." She wasn't normally much of a talker... But sitting here in silence wasn't it. Maybe that would make the time go faster?

"I'd almost want to be on that patrol. Almost." There were no more twoleg traps in the forest, but birds of prey seemed to have taken their place, and Stoneheart's pelt bore a few mostly-healed scars to show for it. "Think they'd have better luck without me, though. The birds find me interesting, apparently."

Bloodstrike stretched, hoping it would take the restlessness out of his limbs. Of course it didn't. He wanted to at least pace or something, but that would look weird wouldn't it? "I find birds interesting. They fill my belly." A lazy attempt at humor. He didn't blame her if she didn't even chuckle. "At least you can go look at the river if you want to. I haven't seen it in moons. As soon as Perchstar kicks the bucket or loses leadership I'm jumping in out of spite." He probably wouldn't, honestly. But it was tempting. It would be more tempting if he could manage to hold Perchstar's head underwater.

"You want to patrol the edges of camp with me? I'm going to explode if I stay still too much longer."

So the old tom had a sense of humor... Or tried to. A hint of a smirk made the corner of Stoneheart's mouth twitch up before he continued.

"Riverclan can keep their noses in their own territory." Stoneheart simply shrugged at him. "It's not like we're all cramped together in fourtrees for them to notice. I'd rather tear my pelt off than live there again."

At the idea of patrolling the edge of camp, Stoneheart stood and followed. Sitting around and doing nothing was boring... They may as well move around if only so that she didn't fall asleep doing the most mindless, boring task there could possibly be.