Caɾղaցe Ɱօօղ ~𝙰 𝚆𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚛𝚜 𝙵𝚊𝚗𝚏𝚒𝚌

30 🌙

As the ground rose and then dipped, Crescentpaw padded down the steep side of a brambled slope. Her white paws got muddy again, and she began slipping as she nearly fell into a grass hillock. The apprentice wasn't used to Shadowclan territory and was forced to slow down after that.

It was nearly an hour later when the tabby-and-white she-cat finally stalked across the Shadowclan-Skyclan border. Both sides had weakened scent-markings; but Shadowclan's much more predominantly so. Crescentpaw nearly stepped on two frogs. Despite her hunger, the animals smelled so peaty and fetid that she didn't try to catch one.

She had forgotten that at the utmost top of the lake, Thunderclan Shadowclan and Skyclan's camps were all much closer together. Although their territories were long and vast, they were more vertically stretched than Riverclan's seemed to be.

I love our clan so much. It's got the Horseplace separating us from Windclan, and the Small Thunderpath separating us from Shadowclan. The borders were also much more recognizable.

The apprentice caught wind of overlapping scent trails leading towards the Skyclan camp.
She paid attention to the twittering birdsong up in the trees, pricking her ears.

Birds were not Riverclan's specialty, but Crescentpaw was beginning to grow desperately hungry. Traveling so far without any traveling herbs was taking its toll.

But I can't hunt in another Clan's land, even if I had the claws to try. Especially when Skyclan's border markers were fresh. She sighed aloud. It was such a beautiful day for hunting.

Despite her rumbling belly she felt proud of herself for already reaching the second clan's territory. I should stumble upon their camp soon. Crescentpaw had been padding on Skyclan's land for quite some time now. Massive oak trees with gnarled roots had replaced most of the pines. Their bark was much lighter and drier, smooth and thick with less crevices.

Barely any sunlight reached through the thick tree canopy above. Crescentpaw found it reassuring, though. Until she remembered that she wouldn't be able to climb any of these trees if she needed to.

I hope Tinypaw and Cheetah are doing alright. If Tinypaw is found out while I'm gone she might be thrown out before I return. And Cheetah could end up annoying the wrong cat...

Not to mention the more-likely-than-not chances of a wolf visiting the camp tonight.

"Hey, you!" The overpowering leafy scent of Skyclan bathed Crescentpaw's nostrils as she panicked and looked around. Instinctively the apprentice tried to unsheathe her claws. Nothing slid out of the sheathe sockets and she was forced to stand there with her hackles lifted and eyes wide, neck twisting around like a frantic pigeon.

A group of cats appeared over the swell of earth behind her. They climbed over it with confident pawsteps, padding closer and closer as they glided beneath the trees.

The patrol consisted of two she-cats and a hulking thick-furred tom.

"You're Riverclan aren't you? What are you doing here?" The long-haired cat sounded hostile. Giant scars crisscrossed his jaw and muzzle. Both of his ears had rips. One foreleg still had a long, bloodied tooth gash. Most of the leg was covered with a plaster of goldenrod. The rest had fallen off, revealing a snaking wound underneath.

"I'm, uh." Crescentpaw's eyes were widening even farther as she recognized Jadestar. The Skyclan leader had distinguishable pale-grey fur with interloping patches of tan-yellow. Each splash of tan was scored with darker tabby lines, as per usual of a calico-type cat.