Dibs [open for RC/TC]

A sleek silhouette slipped through the reeds and wild grasses, moving as black and fluid as the water itself in the pre-dawn gloom. Bounding from stone to stone, the shape slipped silently into the river, just a bobbing head moving across the moon polished surface to the tumble of stones on the other bank. Sleepywhisker stepped out onto the muddy shore, not even bothering to shake the dripping water from his gray coat as he climbed up, and eased down with a long yawn and quaking stretch.

How much warrior blood had washed over right where he was laying, just for this privilege? No one could say. It'd be easier to start counting all the stars in the night sky. Sleepywhisker closed his eyes just as the sun peaked over the distant WindClan moors, the jagged teeth of Highstones, over the barren crowns of Fourtrees, spilling over the Sunningrocks and the foaming river and filling the air with birdsong.

Right now, with no company but his own, it felt worth it.

It wasn't that uncommon for Nettlesplash to rise during the watery hours that lingered between late night and early morning, a time that was hardly worth bestowing a name upon. Restlessness often resulted in the young tom drifting through the sparse foliage of the territory, usually searching for some little task or another to keep himself occupied until a more reasonable hour. Plus, it offered a little peace and quiet during the more hectic days of the seasons.

It was rather unusual, however, to encounter another one of his Clanmates out and about this early. After the initial surprise of spotting Sleepywhisker had bled from his system, Nettlesplash had been quick to plunge into the steadily steaming river. Giving himself a brisk shake that sent a loud splatter of droplets arching through the air, the red tom set off towards the loose collection of stones that his Clanmate was currently lounging upon. "It's a bit early to be out here, don't you think?" Nettlesplash eventually inquired, head tilted as he gazed over at the dozing Sleepywhisker, "I think even the river is warmer at this point."

The slit of a green eye opened at the sound of approaching paw steps. He caught the tom's scent before he heard his voice. "You may be right," Sleepywhisker granted, giving a lazy flick of his tail along the surface of the water. "But by sunhigh, this spot's going to be crawling with frog-brained apprentices. You know how they get, splashing around like drowning kits. It's almost better to be back at camp then. They're louder than monsters when they want to be." Sometimes in the heat of greenleaf, Twolegs took their monsters out onto the river, filling the reeds with their snarling deep-throated roar, huge bladed claws churning and thrashing the water into a trail of foam behind them and chasing off all the prey within earshot. He hadn't seen something like that since he was a frog-brained apprentice himself. Now, in the depths of leaf-bare and frost and rime choking the banks, it was silent, halfway peaceful. "Trust me. If I sit right in this exact place long enough, it'll be worth it."

Following the scent of the two missing toms, Silvertooth soon realized that both Nettlesplash and Sleepywhisker were at the edge of the borders, where countless battles had ensued over a bunch of rocks next to the river. Before dawn, the young warrior woke up when her long ears noticed how the grey tom left the den "almost" unnoticed. At first, half-sleep, the she-cat wondered if she should follow him to keep him company or maybe ask him where was he going. But before she could make up her mind, Nettlesplash left his nest too. For a few minutes, Silvertooth stayed in her nest, with one eye open in case they would come back but curiosity won over her patience and finally, she decided to follow them even when the sun had not risen up yet.

After travelling through their white-coated territory (and keeping her distance from her two clanmates), the she-cat finally reached the Sunningrocks where the two toms were chatting. Her ears caught bits of the conversation but they were just enough to understand they were just chilling before morning arrived. Was that a common thing to do? Silvertooth wasn't one to "relax". She usually had a lot of energy to spend, enough to use it in whatever task she was needed: hunting, battling, tracking or even playing with the kits or teaching apprentices one thing or two. However, though the dilute calico could not relate to the comfort of silence, the molly had to admit that a good sun-bath in leaf-bare without getting her fur wet with freezing water sounded nice. Even nicer if it was with clanmates. Her paws moved toward the two toms, making her appearance at last and she greeted them both with a quick movement of her head. "Morning. Seems like you two like to wake up early." She purred with a friendly smile. "Sorry for following you all this way here. I was a little curious about why you would wake up so soon but I guess I can see now your reasons, Sleepywhisker." The calmness, the sound of the running river plus the beautiful leaf-bare landscape... despite the cold, it was still a nice season to see each time. It was nice to just stretch your paws and give yourself a little time like this, by just admiring the beauty of the Riverclan territory. Of course, Silvertooth would much like to enjoy by walking or swimming rather than just lay down on some boring rocks.

She took a few steps and crouched her body to take a few sips of the freshwater. From the corner of her green eyes, she looked at Nettlesplash, whose fur glimmered with the remaining droplets of water on his hair. "And you, Nettlesplash, what are you doing so early before sunrise?"

Every time she was back at Sunningrocks, Wildflower felt a familiar, simmering anger beneath her skin. This was where it had happened - some ThunderClan scum had attacked her during a skirmish and stolen all chances of her ever becoming a warrior away. She could still recall the pain, and worse yet, the sinking, crushing disappointment at her leader telling her that she was unfit to continue her training. She'd been left with permanent vision damage from the attack - one eye being worse off than the other - and had been reassigned to train under Toadsong as a medicine cat. The bitterness towards her new life had long-since melted into acceptance, but the desire for justice against her attacker? That would not fade until the day she met them once again.

"What are any of you doing out so early?" the bulky she-cat cut in, peering around a large boulder in search of fresh moss. "I'd certainly rather be asleep in my nice warm den, but alas, I'm out chasing moss." She reached up with one paw and clawed a large sheet of moss off of the rock face. Her eyes flitted across the river, and her ears flattened a little at the sight of ThunderClan's territory.

"I suppose you're onto something," Nettlesplash conceded after a singular brief interlude, "some of the newer apprentices have the vocal range of a twoleg kit who fell through the ice." A steady collection of droplets continually beaded along the bulky length of his form, a rapidly drying crown of frost that glistened weakly in the low light of early morning. Nose twitching thoughtfully, the red-furred tom was quick to scramble onto the next low-laying shelf of stone above Sleepywhisker- likely giving his Clanmate quite the refreshing shower in the process. "But don't you think you're a bit young to be so tired of apprentices? I mean, we were both still apprentices hardly more than a few sunrises ago." However, before Sleepywhisker was given the chance to fully respond, they seemed to rapidly acquire several new conversation companions in a very short span of time.

Nettlesplash lifted a large forepaw in response to both Silvertooth and Wildflower's question, the dismissive little movement carrying the familiar flavor of good-natured humor that was often exhibited by the young tom. Thick tail curling protectively around his hindlegs in an attempt to ward away the damp chill that was currently seeping beneath the wild curls of his pelt, the ruddy tom clicked his teeth absently. "Is it not obvious?" He questioned, "We volunteered our services to secure the Sunningrocks for the day, it's very crucial work. Somebody's gotta make sure to occupy the best sunning spots, just in case! You can never be too certain when some fishbrain is willing to try their luck."

Sleepywhisker would have rather pretended he had never been an apprentice and flicked his ears dismissively. "Well, so much for peace and quiet," he mewed dryly, only half joking, fluffing out his fur at the icy droplets of water dripping down from his still-soaking clanmate. Not that he minded the company. Having a few clanmates around kept him from starting conversations with himself, out loud. His mind had a way of wandering down twisted tracks when he didn't have something to occupy his thinking, and he loved to hear himself talk, leading him into embarrassment from time to time. But he'd never talked to anyone as charming or convincing than himself.

As a matter of fact, he diligently "secured" the Sunningrocks at least once a day, and Sleepywhisker would stay from sunhigh to sundown if his warrior duties would let him that much time to himself.

"Good morning, Silvertooth, Wildflower. I could ask you both the same thing." Dawn cast a soft gray light over the RiverClan shore, turning frost to glittering stones, the river itself shining and drinking in the early rays, turning to polished silver. "You work too hard. The moss will still be here waiting for you whenever you wake up." It wasn't exactly going to scurry off underground.

Why couldn't he have settled for his current supply of catnip?

The question pounded into Logleap's head as he glanced back out at the growing crowd of Riverclan cats that currently claimed Sunningrocks. Sure, the green leaves were shriveled, and yes, a foolish loner had sat on his primary supply of the herb, but venturing to Sunningrocks to claim leaves of chickweed - it seemed rather mouse-brained in retrospect. The plant was an alternative to cure greencough, which always seemed to return with vigor in leafbare, so he had thought it a necessity. But now that he was stuck between a rock and Riverclan, escaping was his only thought.

Thankfully, due to his petite frame, he had been able to hide himself from the patrol by jamming himself against a slab of stone. They did appear to be more engrossed with themselves then thinking to scan his side of Sunningrocks to his benefit.

But, as he had hardly been trained in the ways of a warrior, in Logleap's attempts to carefully maneuver his way to safety, he stepped on a fallen limb of an overhanging tree. It, of course, groaned and snapped under his paws. The medicine cat, now painfully aware of how loud he was, could not muster the courage to leap over the rocks and run towards freedom. His paws were now shaking too much. He, instead stumbled backwards, out of his hiding place, and risked another glance at the Riverclan foes.

"H-hello fish friends!" he managed. Hopefully, they wouldn't eat him.

Before the she-cat could answer to the medicine cat's question, Nettlesplash was quick enough to come up with a smart answer. She tilted her a bit just to see him better from her drinking spot and a half-smile crossed her spotted face. "Well, I guess that if you're doing such noble cause I must insist on joining this crucial work." She purred standing up at last and waving her tail in the process. "And don't you worry, Sleepywhisker. I'm not as loud as the apprentices back in camp..." Though she wished to be. For an energetic she-cat like her, it was hard to imagine spending all morning just... laying on some warm rock. For her, it was most interesting to run, swim or even work.

The dilute calico then fixed her gaze on Wildflower. "Well, I can help you with the moss in the meantime. The more the..." Before the warrior could continue, the sound of something breaking and the trembling voice of an unknown cat made her turn her body in a half-jump. Her green eyes were now narrowed and the fur of her back was starting to rise up, alerting her of a possible danger. Thunderclan... was this cat trying to trick them into something by looking so... cowardly? To be honest, probably not. "Friends? Of Thunderclan? I highly doubt it. I recommend you to not come any closer, mouse-heart."

Before the first syllable of a reply could roll of of Wildflower's tongue, the scent of ThunderClan hit her nose. Instantly, the fur on the back of her neck prickled, and her eyes flashed over to the treeline. There stood ThunderClan's medicine cat, the name of whom eluded her - more honestly, she didn't care to know. Any ThunderClan cat was her enemy. The last time she had met them here had been the day they'd taken away all of her chances of being a warrior - her dream since early kithood. Anger bubbled up in the pit of her stomach.  Stay on your side of the river, or so help me.

The relaxed atmosphere shriveled up sharply at the sudden arrival of the young ThunderClan tom, crumbling to a pitiful remnant of ash that hung awkwardly in the air. Nettlesplash watched as tension coiled beneath the surface in both Silvertooth and Wildflower, some ill-mannered attempt at humor promptly dying on his tongue in an astonishingly quick amount of time. A sharp pinprick of anger began constricting his chest as he observed the expression on Wildflower's features, suddenly unsure about the likelihood of a scrap occurring as he vividly recalled what had befallen the young Medicine Cat. The long-furred tom's gaze drifted into a narrowed point as he observed the blatantly uncomfortable and uncertain young tom, confused and irritated at the demure behavior of the ThunderClanner he failed to recognize. "What kind of fishbrain comes out to the Sunningrocks completely alone?" Nettlesplash inquired lowly, voice too bewildered to contain much rightfully deserved venom, "He's either the bravest cat I've seen, or the most idiotic. Although as far as ThunderClan goes, I'd assume it's safe to stick with the latter."

Knowing the tensions that were all-too high between the clans for Sunningrocks, the deputy had decided to accompany her medicine cat on the trip for herbs. It was hard not to shake her head at the loud noise that resulted from Logleap's somewhat messy footing, with the calico she-cat quickly stepping to his side. The rather timid tom made for an interesting medicine cat, that was for sure. "I doubt he would be coming much closer, considering he is our medicine cat just wishing to collect some herbs." Cloudbreeze replied quite dryly, her gaze quickly surveying just how many RiverClan cats were around. There were definitely quite a few, and it was hard not to blame them. The warm weather made Sunningrocks delightful in leafbare. "I can safely say there is no intent for a fight today. We'll keep to our side, you keep to yours." It was simple as that. She really did not want a scuff with RiverClan under her claws just yet. Sunningrocks was much more worth fighting over in newleaf than leafbare.

SNAP!

Any raggedy thin hope that the rest of his morning might pass in peace evaporated like mist. There were adversaries among them.

If the young warrior was tense around the ThunderClan cats, he didn't show any sign of it. Sleepywhisker barely stirred from his spot at all, watching them through the slit of a green eye. It was rare to get their distinct stench this close up, not just a trace left at the edge of the trees or the chaotic mix of scents at Gatherings. "We can certainly tell he's not a warrior, you don't have to worry about that," Sleepywhisker mewed. Despite the animosity between their Clans, medicine cats and deputies were entitled and used to a certain level of respect, but there wasn't a drop of that to dilute the contempt and flippancy in his tone. "Stomps around like a badger and shakes like a little hare. And you, do they have you picking petals today too?"

Sleepywhisker fully opened his eyes, his delivery almost lazy, but he had unsheathed his hidden paws curled up underneath him. "If there's no intent to fight, how about you make yourself invisible and pick your herbs silently? All of this—" he gestured over the mossy rocks and scraggy chickweed growing between the cracks, "—belongs to RiverClan. In case you've forgotten."

Having been nearby, the sound of unfamiliar cats mewing caught the large leader's attention. Turning towards the commotion, Lightningstar made his way towards Sunningrocks where he spotted Logleap and Cloudbreeze, surrounded by a group of fish-breathed RiverClanners. Why his clanmates were in such a predicament was beyond him, but he wasn't going to let those dung-brains get away with picking on his clanmate.

Picking up the pace, Lightningstar bounded across the group of rocks and boulders, his large paws pounding against them. Skidding to a halt, the burly looking leader let out a low growl of warning, meeting every one of the RiverClanners' gazes. His fluffy pelt stood on edge and his claws remained unsheathed.

"What do you mousefodders think you're doing, threatening a medicine cat while they hunt for herbs. Are any of you even familiar with the Warrior Code?" he hissed, his eyes livid with rage. The indecency they had! Snapping his gaze to the grey tom that had mentioned something about Sunningrocks being their's, the ThunderClan leader wanted to yowl into the stars above in anger. "Is that a challenge?" he snapped.

It was good to know her clanmates were taking the same side as hers. After all... it was Thunderclan they were talking about. How could they don't despise them after all the blood they had spilled? The dilute calico stood by Nettlesplash's side, ready for anything that may come. Silvertooth just chuckled, mockingly at the words of the hot-headed leader that just made his appearance. "Wow! I never imagined a leader would be so fast to jump to conclusions! I would expect that from an apprentice but from you? Well, since you're just a mouse-brained Thunderclan, it can't be helped. We have never threatened your medicine cat. We are just here on our own business, reminding you to keep your distance from our side, nothing more." She mewed with a sweet, yet sarcastic purring.

Logleap may have resembled a frail leaf, trembling as if he were caught in a turbulent wind every time a Riverclan warrior inhaled. But in his mind, he was putting up his best facade of normalcy. Credit to his paws for keeping him upright, though truthfully, he still had not completely forgiven the treacherous limbs for snapping that twig in the first place.  

Logleap's ears twitched as the sudden roar of the Riverclanner's protests overtook any hope of a light conversation. A meager supply of chickweed sat on his left, but it was far too close to the warriors for his liking. He twitched his whiskers in dismay, his mind returning to the conversation as a long furred she-cat began to list her grievances. He was accustomed to being called a mouse-heart -  but he still did not truly understand its meaning. Certainly his heart had to be much bigger than that of a mouse. They were small creatures. The medicine cat turned to Cloudbreeze for reassurance. She, of course, was quick to inform them of his purpose. Logleap's own tongue felt knotted and swollen.

"Um, no. Not brave, not alone." He could say that with certainty. He hoped that reassured the Riverclan tom who seemed somewhat confused.  

The whole scene fell into true chaos the moment Lightningstar entered the scene. The massive tom was an incredible sight in the early morning sun. Logleap thought to raise his tail in greeting, but it refused to do much else but quiver. Despite his desire to simply give thanks to Lightningstar for saving the day - and then to promptly disappear from this situation - he could not let a battle erupt from a need of chickweed.

"Hello, hi. No challenges here. Just chickweed and we'll be zip-zap gone." the medicine cat shakily neared the Riverclan patrol, keeping his eyes locked on a small cluster of the herb.

At the appearance of the ThunderClan leader, Wildflower could feel her anger bubbling over. She dropped her moss. StarClan forgive her if she was meant to be neutral as a medicine cat, but.. Well, if she was being honest, she wasn't sorry at all. She knew her herbs and could heal just about anything at this point, she could afford to throw her neutrality behind her if ThunderClan was encroaching upon their territory and baring their teeth.

"The mighty ThunderClan leader feels threatened by a couple of new warriors?" She chuckled dryly, humorlessly. Always quick to draw blood and stick their noses in where they didn't belong - quite literally now, they physically did not belong on Sunningrocks. If their so-called wise leader was acting so rashly, she could only imagine what the rest of his Clan was like. "Don't get prickly because they're telling you and your Clanmates off from trespassing."

She couldn't help but flash the other medicine cat a look. So pious, are you?

Watching the ThunderClan Leader immediately dissolve into a tantrum worthy of rivaling the most insufferable kit was... quite disconcerting, almost enough to make Nettlesplash recoil with secondhand embarrassment for the entire Clan. How could any cat find this abhorrent behavior befitting of any Warrior, let alone a Leader?

The red-furred tom merely rolled his eyes at Lightningstar's initial words, ears twitching as his Clanmates heaped on the well-deserving scorn in scathing doses, dark amber gaze briefly shifting to evidently much more respectable and capable Cloudbreeze. Logleap was nearly dismissed entirely in his eyes, even as the young Medicine Cat came gradually closer to the collection of stones, timid presence completely lost in the aftermath of Lightningstar's next blathering statement. The young tom's stark teeth flashed in an amused little smirk, the rapidly brewing absurdity and ridicule of the entire situation finally crumbling the little bit of resolve he attempted to adhere to. Cloudbreeze's earlier statement had seemed to be enough- well, at least enough to prevent anything more than a bit of fair jeering and rightful taunting of their Clan's lack of rights towards the prized stones. But now? That definitely did not seem to be the case any longer. Nettlesplash remained at leisure alongside Silvertooth, even as she practically radiated sugar-sweet venom, equal parts amused and intrigued by her immediate willingness to so openly throw the Leader's words challenge back into his face.

"I don't know if the poor she-cat that was unfortunate enough to call herself your mother made this obvious, but arrogance and stupidity rarely work well together." Nettlesplash eventually drawled out, voice rough with a scorching mixture of faux pity and condescension. Thick tail giving an agitated little flick, the red tom's sharp gaze was quick to dart over to where Logleap was currently inching ever closer to the the collection of RiverClanners, a thoughtful little gleam evident in the dark depths of his stare. "But, thankfully I think your Medicine Cat seems quite aware of this- in fact, I'm even in agreement with him! There is no challenge here, because a challenge requires rights to the Sunningrocks. Rights that ThunderClan sorely lacks, if the current borders indicate anything."

They squawked and trilled all around him like sparrows. He had only wanted to soak in the sun on his own time before patrols and ceremonies and all the rituals and errands of warrior life, maybe fish from the shore or root out a fat vole from the cracks between the rocks. Of course, ThunderClan would never let them peaceably enjoy even something as minor as that. Medicine cat or not, leader or not, deputy or not, they were dangerous to his Clan.

When Lightningstar swooped in among them, the young warrior was finally obligated to stand to his feet, hackles bristling. Masking his heightened tension, he glared defiantly at the ThunderClan cats, stamping a paw over the base stem of the chickweed and uprooting it with a lazy flick behind him. "Don't cite the warrior code at us. Take one pawstep over our scent markers, pluck one leaf off Wildflower's herbs, and I'll bring back your pelt." Defend your Clan. Challenge all trespassers. Sleepywhisker didn't care for some arcane loophole that let enemies rove all over their hunting grounds and take medicine away from RiverClan kits. He stepped up alongside Nettlesplash and Silvertooth, tail lashing.

"Hmph."

Realizing what he'd gotten himself into, Lightningstar stood up straighter and gave his fluffy pelt a shake. "Cloudbreeze, Logleap, I'm done wasting my time here. My quarrel is with Lichenstar, not this mouse-brained lot," the large leader mewed calmly, looking down at the group of RiverClanners, his gaze piercing their pelts with disgust. He didn't have time to stand here and argue about borders when there were more important matters to attend to, like getting his clan fed.

Turning around, he turned his gaze to his daughter. "We'll deal with this later. Right now, there are more important things to do instead of laying around like a bunch of fat, lazy kittypets. Let's go," with that, Lightningstar hopped down from the rocks and disappeared into the forest brush. He would make sure that Lichenstar knew of her clan's... antics, but for now, he didn't have the time nor the energy to stand there and bicker back and forth about some dumb rocks. There were plenty of places to sun bathe in the forest, and quite frankly, he didn't care about that particular spot, seeing as though it wasn't all great with its exposure to attack and snakes burrowing in the crevasses... but if RiverClan wanted to waste their time and be stingy about it, then so be it.