Ask to Join Plot Thread Waiting in the Waves (War for Sunningrocks)

The RiverClan cats didn't have to wait long as a patrol of four ThunderClan warriors, led by the recently recovered Quailcall, came by. Fallstripe, Larchsong, and Stormfall were among the group inspecting the territory here shared by RiverClan proper. 

Quailcall noticed the change in the wind first, bringing with it the invading scent far into their territory. There was no hesitation or call for peace as she rallied her patrol towards the four cats she could smell and rushed towards them, not knowing of the ambush that awaited them in the reeds.

Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
༻❁༺

The mission was dire as she lay quiet and ready to spring the lure to the approaching ThunderClanners. Personally...Merryaster wasn't aiming to add any to StarClan's ranks today if she could help it. Others would do so for her, for RiverClan, even the water would be on their side but there would be no faltering. No doubt.

From the bushes they spotted the group, there was plenty of time to asses that they weren't expecting what awaited them... Then Quailcall pulled ahead, motioning for the others to follow, straight towards them. Now was their time to shine. ThunderClan didn't seem to be in the mood for pleasantries. Springing from her location that was already suspect, her tail lashed as muscles carried her further towards the stream, pleased that the ThunderClanners were following her.

An odd wave of excitement crashing into her as she spotted the ThunderClan cats, Willowspark also leapt out of hiding, her speed, though not quite appreciated much by her anymore, proving quite useful. Gray eyes flashing, she tried her best to stay a certain distance away from both her companions and her pursuers.

Tail lashing as she ran, she prepared herself for whatever would come, ready to unsheath her claws at a moments notice. Were she to fight with her pursuers, she would only dig deep enough into their vital points to render them unable to fight. If that didn’t work, she’d dig her claws deeper.

But, of course, right now she was a decoy, bringing the ThunderClan warriors towards the awaiting ambushers. Though she would miss the peace in the forest, she hoped that she could be a help to her Clan, and then of course, spend some time seeping in the sunlight that Sunningrocks was known for.

Not quite so far from her destination, she noticed a ThunderClan warrior a little too close for comfort. Skidding to a stop and whirling around, she quickly and precisely scratched at the warrior’s muzzle, turning around and running as the warrior tried to regain composure.

Good. I’m a bit farther ahead than those ThunderClanners now. She thought, a small amount of blood still dripping from her sheathed claws.

Briarfang's eyes widened as the Thunderclanners burst out towards the stream. They were willingly giving themselves up? How stupid could they get? The dark tortoiseshell flexed their claws as the battle began quite suddenly. They lunged towards a warrior, catching an ear in their mouth and tearing hard. The older silver tom let out a hiss, which Briarfang merely twitched a whisker at as they turned to give chase to another Thunderclan warrior.

Stormfall hissed as the blood dripped into his eye, obscuring his vision. As he took a quick glance around, he realized his patrol was not prepared for this. His own hind leg was already aching today from his old wound, and these Riverclan warriors seemed...charged. Something bigger was happening, and as much as he hated to do so, he barked to his patrol: "I'm going to alert Moosestar!" The words felt sour in his mouth--choosing to abandon his clanmates in the middle of a fight? What sort of cat was he? But the aging warrior knew his limits, and he would not last with a sore leg in a battle where his long, thick fur could very well drown him. Hoping his party would understand, he turned tail and ran back towards camp.

A grin creeped across Briarfang's muzzle at the new numbers advantage. 

Quailcall, as well as those in her company, thought themselves prepared to chase off a group of scrawny RiverClanners. Their scent ended at the stream's shoreline, as as they gave chase. Fallstripe tailed after a cinnamon she-cat, gaining ground until a timely claw swipe made the tom reel back in surprise at her forwardness. Digging his claws into the ground for traction, he launched himself forward to punish the trespasser...now dangerously close to the waters.

Adrenaline coursed through Larchsong as her form blazed by Quailcall to engage Mintwhisker, maw catching the air as the lithe tom dodged towards the reeds, opening up his quarry for attack. 

Quailcall was caught off guard by the suspiciously organized attack, but nevertheless engaged. Stormfall, beside her, was assailed by a dark tortie tom, stinking of water they must have came from. Not wanting to distract herself, the older she-cat dived into the heat of battle - at the mackerel mink she-cat. 

Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
༻❁༺

Merryaster could feel the heat from the ticked red she-cat, small but fierce - relentless. She did not doubt Quailall's ability to rush her down. On a unfettered path she may have been overrun, but along the shoreline her paws pushed through familiarty, gaining traction while the older she-cat faltered on the uneven ground. There was little difficulty keeping her attention, but even Quailcall was surprised when a flash of grey shot out from the reeds.

Pressure like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop, whoa. Pressure that'll tip, tip tip 'till you just go pop, whoa.
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Now!

She measured the distance between Larchsongr and the cat she was leading. With a heavy thumping pressure in her chest, the white she-cat engaged Larchsong before she could overtake anyone in the reeds.

Her Clan had advantage in the water even though they were technically on ThunderClans. This patrol would learn soon enough...and maybe they could eventually surrender. but for right now, she would protect her own.

[Let this post ride for after Coldstar initiates Group 2]

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I identify as a threat. My pronouns are Try/Me.

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"Now." Coldstar didn't need to yell as he burst from the reeds and made to tackle Fallstripe, his claws aiming to hook their front legs and send them sprawling across the uneven, rocky ground. 

He, Goosesong, Cottonbright, Sturgeonwhisker and Stormsquall were hidden well among the river plants and the scent of Riverclan was already thick in the air, masking their presence. He'd chosen these warriors for either their size, experience or... personality. 

He knew Briarfang would have more than enough ammunition to get Thunderclan to follow him and he chose younger, lither cats to make the long sprint from the Sandyhollow to the River Clearing. A run only made possible with the exact location of the sand filled training space. And he had a very helpful informant for that information. But now that the runners had lured the forest cats out of familiar terrain it was the grappler's job to drag them into the water and let the weight of their un-practiced bodies do the rest. 

He made to scruff his opponent and haul them towards the swirling current. Coldstar had been eagerly anticipating this since his warrior ceremony. 

Sturgeonwhisker:

There was a smaller she-cat aiming for Merryaster. Sturgeonwhisker barely heard Coldstar's orders before springing out of the reeds and throwing his full bodyweight into the smaller she-cat. It was going to be a bit of a onesided fight. He had the advantage of surprise, of weight and of terrain. And unfortunately for Quailcall, she'd tried to hurt his sister. 

There were very few things in this world that got under Sturgeonwhisker's skin like that. 

Pressure like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop, whoa. Pressure that'll tip, tip tip 'till you just go pop, whoa.
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Instead of pressing the attack Cottonbright shifted her weight low, hooked her forelegs around Larchsong's shoulders. The uneven stones beneath the shoreline betrayed the ThunderClan warrior's footing while Cottonbright's paws found familiarity. Even as Larchsong lashed out, striking against Cottonbright's shoulder as it erupted in blood coating her white coat.

Cold water surged around both she-cats' paws as the current seized Larchsong first. Cottonbright dug her claws briefly into the soaked earth, using the river's pull instead of fighting against it. She gave one final push and Larchsong was swept sideways.

Her ears flattened against her skull, her silence shaming as she stood in chest deep water, and watched long enough to see the young she-cat dip under the current to be dragged StarClan knew where...Still, RiverClan depended on her to back up her clanmates.

With a heavy heart she turned back towards the melee, praying that StarClan would be merciful.

Quailcall hit the uneven shoreline harder than she intended, paws skidding over slick stones. Before she could recover, another impact crashed into her side. She let out a furious hiss as the larger tom bowled into her. RiverClan had come prepared. Her claws digging desperately into ground as she twisted beneath Sturgeonwhisker's weight and threw sharp swipes at both siblings, refusing to yield an inch without making RiverClan earn it.

Fallstripe barely had time to recover from the cinnamon she-cat's counterattack before something slammed into his forelegs as Coldstar's tackle sent him sprawling. Pain shot through his shoulder as claws hooked into him and suddenly he was being hauled toward the current as he spat curses at the RiverClan leader. If Coldstar was here...that could only mean one thing, and it chilled his bones as the water lapped at his body. In a desperate attempt he lurched forward to snap at him, claws outstretched.

[Larchsong exit]

Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
༻❁༺

The collision sent Quailcall's attention elsewhere, just as Merryaster had hoped and she didn't hesitate. As Sturgeonwhisker bore the ThunderClan warrior backward, Merryaster darted to the opposite side. The current hissed against them, churning with the recent rain. "Keep her moving!" She called to her brother with a surprisingly steady voice.

Quailcall fought with admirable determination. Every twist of the smaller she-cat's body was answered with claws and teeth, refusing to surrender even as RiverClan pressed their advantage. Merryaster couldn't help but respect that resolve... though it did nothing to lessen her own.

As Quailcall's hind paws slipped across algae slick rock, Merryaster lunged before the old she-cat could recover. She had hooked one foreleg around her shoulder and trusted Sturgeonwhisker to understand their teamwork without words. They had sparred together enough moons for movements like this to come naturally.

Spotting Coldstar's attack on the ThunderClanner that had been behind her, Fallstripe, she thought his name was, she whirled around, ready to help anycat who needed an extra set of fangs and claws.

Deciding that Sturgeonwhisker and Merryaster had Quailcall handled, she turned towards where she had seen Coldstar pull Fallstripe away before deciding that Coldstar had it handled, but might need help. Remembering that there had been a cat that had run to alert the ThunderClan leader, she braced herself, ready for any reinforcements that would come.

Darting over to where she'd seen Fallstripe dissappear behind the reeds and into the water, she decided to help Coldstar keep Fallstripe imobilized in the water. Claws unsheathed, she leapt onto the ThunderClanner, claws digging deep into the cat's flesh. Even if Fallstripe managed to get out of the water, he'd be too wounded to fight very well.

The thrill of the battle--the thrill of an impending victory--drove Briarfang forward. They'd done their work on that older tom, but there were still more warriors. And more to come, it sounded like. So they had better take care of the numbers while it was easy to do so. 

Their sleek, dark fur dashed along the shallow waters of the shoreline. Riverclan's advantage was so strong in this moment, it felt like they could just sit back and watch, but they would never let themself be so lazy. With the rest of the Thunderclan patrol pretty well-spoken for, their paws carried them over to their leader. Letting out a low growl, they aimed a swift blow at Fallstripe's head. "Coldstar, they've gone for reinforcements, it's only a matter of time before we're faced with more."

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I identify as a threat. My pronouns are Try/Me.

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Coldstar pulled back and let Willowspark take over, pushing Fallstripe deeper into the river. Briarfang's strike was probably unnecessary but he would be lying if it didn't bring some sort of satisfaction as the Thunderclan warrior dipped out of his sight.

More reinforcements from Thunderclan... that was good. That meant that the reclaiming patrol would encounter no enemies on their mission. He shook out his fur, now matted and disheveled from the fight and took stock of their position.

No major casualties as far as he could tell. Cottonbright had a claw wound on her shoulder, but every other warrior was still standing. Sturgeonwhisker and Merryaster were handling the remaining Thunderclan warrior.

"Is anyone in your group injured?" He addressed Briarfang in an even tone even with his own blood rushing in his ears. "We will regroup, set a proper battle line. Thunderclan won't fall for another ambush but we have the advantage here. We will push it."

Sturgeonwhisker:

With Merryaster on one side, Sturgeonwhisker toom the other, removing any chance that Quailcall had to recover. The older warrior's yowls turned to terror as the pair pushed her into deeper waters.

Sturgeonwhisker could still touch the pebbled bottom as Quailcall began to flail and used the added leverage to shove his opponent into even deeper water - now treading water against the current as his opponent was swept away. He had to hand it to Coldstar. This was ruthlessly effective.

"Are you alright?" He paddled back to his sister's side, ears pricking at Coldstar's battle plans.

Eyeing Fallstripe closely, she tried to push him further down into the water, trying to leave deep and long claw marks on his back and shoulders before trying to push his head even further beneath the water with her free forepaw. Next, Willowspark tried to dig her claws into the back of his neck, attempting to pull herself onto his back to hold him down more firmly.

Now that Coldstar had left, she would have to make sure that Fallstripe couldn’t get back out of the water. Pummeling her back legs to try and leave deep claw marks in the ThunderClan cat’s back, she began attacking ferociously every now and then, wanting to leave the cat many scars to remember her by.

Taking a short break while she sat atop Fallstripe’s back, Willowspark let the water slide across her somewhat bloody claws, watching as a small cloud of red flowed down with the water’s currents. Taking a deep breath to prepare herself for her next attack, Willowspark blinked, her gray eyes flashing with determination.

Trying to land some claw strikes and bites on Fallstripe’s ears, Willowspark got caught in the excitement of the battle, the scent and taste of blood making something inside her jump to life. She was angry. Angry at herself for not trying to engage more with her Clanmates, angry that she couldn’t find it in herself to tell others thing about herself, and angry that Fallstripe had tried to attack her.

Looking up and past the splashing water to make sure the others were doing well, she sighed inwardly, excited for when she would be able to curl up in her nest. Mmm… Eating some salmon would be nice too… Shaking her head to return her focus to the fight, she looked down at the cat beneath her, anger still welling up inside her.

Eyes locked on the ThunderClanner’s throat, she wondered if she should leave a mark that would hopefully get across her message to the cat beneath her. Claws extended, she held her paw to his throat, ready to attack him if he tried to escape. whispering into his ears, her voice a raspy hiss, she hoped that the ThunderClan reinforcements wouldn’t terribly injure any of her Clanmates.

”Don’t mess with me, or any cat from RiverClan. I’m not afraid to shred your pelt, or the pelt of any cat from ThunderClan.” Drawing her head back and continuing to attempt to claw at him every once in a while, Willowspark turned her head to the nearby Briarfang, a calm but serious look on her face.

 “I think I’ve got everything under control here. You can go make sure everycat’s okay. I’ll yowl if I need anything.” Willowspark said, standing atop Fallstripe and trying to pin him down harder in the water, making sure to let him breathe every few heartbeats.

Pressure like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop, whoa. Pressure that'll tip, tip tip 'till you just go pop, whoa.
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The river still clung to Cottonbright's legs even after she'd turned away from where Larchsong had disappeared beneath the current. Every instinct screamed at her to look back. The claw wound along her shoulder throbbed... red staining the white fur of her chest, and as she shifted her weight a sharp ache lanced through one of her hind paws. She winced, lifting it for only a heartbeat before setting it back down. It seemed to bare some weight, but not comfortably.

Cottonbright lowered her gaze as Goosesong came to examine the wound. "I...I think... I-I think I can make it back." She tested her paw again and couldn't stop the discomfort from flashing across her lime eyes. "My shoulder's only clawed... b-but my back paw doesn't feel right." She admitted reluctantly, swallowing slowly. "I may have twisted it on the rocks. I'm not sure if I should continue fighting..."

The words escaped as little more than a whisper. As she drew a shaky breath, her eyes turned up at Coldstar."Would... would you let Goosesong come with me? I-I think I'd rather have Nettleplume look at it... and...I don't think I want to swim back alone."

Fallstripe's claws tore desperately through the rushing water as the current surged higher around him. Every attempt to find footing was answered by another shove from the river, RiverClan's warriors pressing him deeper until his lungs burned with effort. His head broke the surface for only a heartbeat. "Quailcall!" Willowspark's weight bore down and the current ripped his hindlegs out from beneath him. Panic flashed across his face as his body twisted sideways, whisked away by the water.

[Fallstripe Exit]

Quailcall's claws slashed wildly through the water, scoring fur where she could, but the fight had already slipped beyond her control. And soon...she slipped too. The river surged against her chest as Merryaster's precision and Sturgeonwhisker's strength forced her beyond the last stretch of stable footing as the river seized her fully. Twisting violently and trying to find purchase, her ticked pelt could be seen one last time before she disappeared. 

[Quailcall Exit]

The clearing was terribly silent.

Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
༻❁༺

The river had swallowed each warrior as intended. "...I'm alright. A little sore...I might have gotten caught by a stray claw." She answered Sturgeonwhisker after a moment of testing herself, shaking out her body. That's when she felt it - a sting across her flank. She smiled reassuringly at her brother. "And you...?"

Coldstar's voice carried over the shoreline, steady as ever and organizing RiverClan's next move. She waded back toward the shallows to rejoin her Clan, ears flicking forward to notice Cottonbright's injuries. Goosesong was already beside her, offering support before Merryaster needed to.

She drew a slow breath before looking to her leader, determined despite the lingering knot in her stomach. "I could escort Cottonbright back. We'll need Goosesong's strength to help fight off ThunderClan reinforcements when they come." Two injured cats were a liability, and while Merryaster wasn't as bad off as Cottonbright, she was just strong enough to help the white warrior swim over to RiverClan territory.

Briarfang nodded at Coldstar's question, indicating Cottonbright with a flick of their ears. They slunk a few paces along the riverbed, trying to gauge how many remnants of a battle there were. A few clumps of fur, some spilled blood, and tussled stones and dirt...but no bodies. Knowing those arrogant flea-pelts of Thunderclan, they'd use any excuse, any interpretation of the scene to fight even harder.

"Should we send for reinforcements?" Briarfang floated. "When Cottonbright makes it back to camp, we could pull a couple of warriors from defensive duties. Thunderclan is now down four warriors, I doubt they'll make it very far if they decide to press us."

"There are more than four warriors left in the camp, Briarfang." Based on what he remembered there would be at least 6 warriors remaining not including the more aggressive elders. And he recalled seeing a massive brown cat amongst their ranks at the gatherings, easily twice his size. He would be a problem even for Goosesong and Sturgeonwhisker. "Moosestar isn't a fool, but I hope at least part of their patrol will be delayed."

Ears flicking Coldstar listened to Cottonbright's request, then Merryaster's. He'd rue being down two senior warriors - and Goosesong had a role to play here. He was uninjured and strangely, didn't seem to bear any sign of the struggle his clanmates had just gone through. 

"Cottonbright. You will take Merryaster and Mintwhisker back with you." Both Merryaster and Mintwhisker were runners - he hadn't included them in his front lines initially, although he appreciated their help. Their absence from the fight wouldn't be amiss. "Mintwhisker, since you are uninjured and fast on your feet you will run ahead and inform Ravenbloom that he is to take Cottonbright's place." 

"The rest of you. The front line is myself, Briarfang, Sturgeonwhisker and Goosesong. Everyone else, stay to the reeds. They know we are here but they don't need to know how many." 

He gave his shoulder a quick lick to smooth out the knotted fur, before taking a few paces forwards - to the line where the river stones turned to soft, black dirt. And waited.

Sturgeonwhisker: 

At Merryaster's wince Sturgeonwhisker checked her over, finding the claw wound along her flank. "It doesn't look too deep." 

He examined himself, finding some raw patches where Quailcall's flailing had torn chunks of his long coat out. Maybe a small knick along his face or legs, but nothing worth fleeing over. 

He shook himself out. Thank goodness only Stormsquall would be here, he wouldn't be able to back up both her and Merryaster. As Coldstar chose the line in the sand, Sturgeonwhisker glanced back over the river - just to make sure that his sister and mentor made it, before looking back towards the treeline. 

Pinning Fallstripe in the water calmly, Willowspark glanced away, looking towards Coldstar and the others, only to feel the cat beneath her being swept away by the currents. Claws outstretched, she tried to grab onto the cat's pelt, to pull him back towards her, but it was too late. Fallstripe was gone, taken away by the rushing water.

Swimming back to shore, her gray eyes betraying the feelings of deep regret and shock, the only thing she could think was that she should have dug her claws deeper into Fallstripe's flesh. She should've saved him. She didn't want to kill him! She just wanted to make him unable to battle when ThunderClan's reinforcements came.

Was this her punishment for not controlling her anger? Or was this some kind of lesson that she needed to learn? What should she get from the experience of fighting in such an important battle? What standards would she begin to form a foundation from?

Yes, she was willing to give her life for her Clan, and even willing to take lives for them as well. However, when it wasn't even necessary for somecat to die, she had accidentally killed them. What kind of life would Fallstripe have led if he hadn't died?

Shaking her head and promising herself to think it over later, she listened to Coldstar as he gave the orders, later heading towards to the reeds to wait in hiding for the ThunderClan reinforcements that Moosestar and Kestrelswipe were probably gathering right that moment. Maybe they were even already on their way there.

Even if she caused the deaths of more ThunderClan warriors, she would not waver. Though she believed that all lives were precious, she knew that sometimes a cat's death was inevitable. Maybe it was Fallstripe's time. Who knew what the Stars had in hold?

WELCOME TO THE NEXT CHAPTER OF THE PLOT! Enter ThunderClan's Reinforces! Ravenbloom will be able to join us in the next few rounds. Here is the turn order:

1. Faux (Oaktall, Leopardrose)

2. Shatter (Willowspark, Skyblossom)

3. Rage (Coldstar, Sturgeonwhisker, Sunstrike)

4. Kitsufox (Stormsquall)

5. Mush (Briarfang)

When Iden joins with Ravenbloom, they will hop in after Mush.

[Exit Cottonbright & Merryaster - they go through the river and towards RiverClan camp]

The oak remembers the storms as warriors remember their battles.
──●◎●──

[After a couple minutes pass]

Oaktall reached the Stream Clearing with his patrol at a ground blurring gallop. Skyblossom, Leopardrose, and Sunstrike was close behind him and slowed to a more precise gait once RiverClan scent entered his nostrils.

His blue eyes swept the opposite bank in a single practiced pass, counting and scenting before judging. Blood scent was evident, but the bodies of their Clanmates where no where to be found - evidence of a scuffle at the banks, pressed reeds. Wet cats. He recognized all three (that he could see). Coldstar and who might as well be his deputy, Briarfang. Sturgeonwhisker if only for his size - it was hard not to notice.

Yet...Three cats seemed too few to do that kind of damage to four clanmates...There might be more, and counted on it. If not here now, then reeinforcements. He stepped forward, paws planted squarely and broad shoulders filling the narrow stretch to the stream.

"Coldstar. What kind of affront to StarClan is this? Leave. Now." Without taking his eyes away from RiverClan, he spoke quietly enough for only the ThunderClan cats behind him to hear. "Don't overextend yourselves. If they push across, hold your ground. Make them climb for every pawstep and show them no mercy"

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
──●◎●──

Leopardrose arrived on Oaktall's heels, her rosetted pelt flashing between the trees before she slowed into a measured stalk. RiverClan was straight ahead. Her eyes lingered on the river there and what the banks had churned up, mud and paw steps from more cats than RiverClan sported.

The absence of her clanmates tightened in her chest. Alive...She had to believe they were alive. Of course Coldstar would be leading them. "RiverClan has no honor. Ambushing patrols for what...? Sunningrocks? Where are our Clanmates?" She stepped into formation just behind and to Oaktall's right, leaving enough room for Sunstrike and Skyblossom. Her weight settled evenly over all four paws as she glared at the RiverClanners.

Now she would just wait until a cat to cross her wrath. She nodded over at Oaktall, indicating that she had heard him, and whispered back. "More must be concealed in the reeds - there are way too many prints, even if we account for Quailcall's patrol." Her gaze remained fixed ahead.

If they wanted ThunderClan territory, she'd happily bleed them for every pawstep.

@Shatter

Eyes locked on the three RiverClan warriors before them, Skyblossom stared at Coldstar, having never been this close to him before. He looked even more intense up close…

Pushing away her inner thoughts and monologue, she glanced around the battlefield, taking in the sights of cats’ paw prints, crushed reeds, and the faint scent of blood. Spotting the slightest movement from the reeds, she wondered if it was the wind. Then again, the faintest scents of cats who were not in front of them led her to wonder if the RiverClan cats had warriors waiting in ambush…

Taking a defensive stance and unsheathing her claws, she stared at the two warriors that seemed the most dangerous to her: Coldstar and Briarfang. Sure, Sturgeonwhisker was most likely quite a strong and noteable warrior, but the way Coldstar and Briarfang seemed to carry themselves with made her extra suspicious and wary of them.

”Though I care not for pointless skirmishes about land, I cannot overlook the fact that my Clanmates have most likely been killed. Prepare yourself, Coldstar, for even if my Clanmates did not fight with me, I would not hesitate to shred your pelt, or any other cat’s!” Skyblossom screeched, launching herself towards Coldstar, hoping her claws would not fail her.

Coldstar:

Sturgeonwhisker intercepted Skyblossom's charge, allowing Coldstar a moment to collect himself, his ears pressed flat against his head. Both at Thunderclan's threats and at Goosesong's treachery. Now was not the time to make statements about loyalty and morals. Goosesong had abandoned his clanmates in a dangerous situation. The grey warrior had better pray that nothing came of his recklessness. 

"Thunderclan isn't in a position to be making demands." He bounced away from the ongoing scrap, muttering to Briarfang under his breath. "I want two cats on Oaktall."

Sturgeonwhisker could handle himself. Which left Sunstrike and Leopardrose. Coldstar would be lying if he said he hadn't wanted to dig his claws into her spotted pelt for a while."Your warriors have threatened tresspass numerous times, and you hold land that rightfully belongs to us. Consider this the consequences of your actions." He flicked his tail at Leopardrose for emphasis. "You'll find your clanmates downstream I imagine. For your sake, I hope the River was more merciful than I am." 

He unsheathed his claws, and signaled for the hidden warriors to attack. "We own Sunningrocks. And there is nothing you can do about it." 

---

Sturgeonwhisker: 

Skyblossom's attack was somewhat preemptive and Sturgeonwhisker was suprised that he moved fast enough to be able to intercept. 

She wasn't kidding about shredding his pelt either; he could feel her tearing chunks out of his long fur even as he pressed his weight advantage. With her barrage of attacks, her back legs should be unsteady, and he lashed out with the intent to take her support out from underneath her. 

----

Sunstrike: 

Skyblossom was a blur past Sunstrike, but she hesitated - looking to their designated patrol leader for a signal. "Look down... where is Quailcall?" The muddy ground gave nothing away besides the evidence of a struggle; quickly vanishing under the new footfalls. 

"Oaktall - where is the rest of the patrol?" Skyblossom had said that Moosestar and the remaining warriors in camp would meet them here. Surely the camp was closer to the River Clearing than they had been. Her tail flicked nervously, and she scanned behind them, looking for any sign of approaching cats. 

Briarfang nodded at Coldstar's commands, keeping their eyes on the large tabby. Goosesong's cowardice itched at their shoulders like a tick, but there was no time to address that now. Perhaps later, once Riverclan asserted its dominance. 

They held their ground as Skyblossom launched an attack, impressed by Sturgeonwhisker's quickness to react. The younger warriors always had that brashness that seemed to work for them. Gave Briarfang more time to formulate a plan against Oaktall. Perhaps they'd pull Willowspark to help. They stood poised, ready to move at Coldstar's word. 

[OOC: Previous post from Shatter, moved to proper turn order]

Skyblossom:

Falling to ground after Sturgeonwhisker knocked her hindlegs out from under her, Skyblossom struggled her way upward, her green eyes widening as she heard Coldstar's words. Swept down the River...? And did he really think that the River would be more merciful to warriors who could not swim? Surely slitting the cats' throats would have been more merciful that drowning them?

"Mercy? Mercy?! Making somecat drown in the River is merciful? The pain they must have felt... Do you even understand that?! A warrior who believes killing is merciful is not a warrior at all! You are not worthy to hold nine lives if you believe that!" Skyblossom growled.

Swiping at Sturgeonwhisker a few times before darting away, she didn't even bother to notice if her claws had hit or not before launching herself back towards Coldstar. Sure, she had underestimated Sturgeonwhisker's capabilities, but that didn't mean she was willing to sway her attention away from her target. Something about Coldstar's actions made her want to dig her claws into him as deep as she could.

But... somecat leapt on top of her as she was in the air, knocking her to the ground and scratching her underbelly, leaving long, slightly deep, bloody marks in their claws' wake.

Struggling beneath the cat's paws, Skyblossom managed to move her front legs fast enough, clawing at the cat's neck and dragging her claws down to the cat's chest, unsure how deep her claws had been, but sure that the attack had hit by the feel of fur and flesh within her claws and the blood dripping from the wound she had left.

When the cat shifted her weight off of her, Skyblossom dashed out from under her paws, still bleeding, and launched herself back towards Coldstar,

Willowspark:

Shuffling behind the reeds, she noticed a young cat watching the general area she was hiding, noting that the young cat had keen eyes. And then she saw the cat launching herself towards Coldstar, only to be intercepted by Sturgeonwhisker.

Seeing Coldstar's signal, she darted out from the reeds, unable to keep her eyes off of the speedy young warrior that she believed was called Skyblossom. She was quite fast, almost as fast as Willowspark when she was an apprentice, maybe even faster.

Launching herself into the air and falling onto the she-cat, Willowspark pinned her to the ground, scratching the young cat's underbelly hard enough that it would leave a scar, but barely deep enough to be life threatening. At most, she'd probably have to spend some time in ThunderClan's medicine den.

And then the struggling cat clawed at her neck, dragging her claws downward. Screeching at the sudden and unexpected pain, she accidentally shifted her weight, allowing the young cat beneath her to dart away.

Turning her attention away from Skyblossom, afraid that she wouldn't be able to keep the cat subdued on her own, she turned her eyes towards Oaktall, knowing that he would be a main target for at least two other warriors. If Skyblossom launched herself at Coldstar again, there was no doubt in her mind that either another RiverClan warrior would intercept or that Coldstar would be able to dodge. Even if he didn't, he could handle one young warrior easily.

Sturgeonwhisker:

Sturgeonwhisker lost track of Skyblossom, his follow up pounce falling short as the she-cat scrabbled out of the way. Perhaps his slow reactions were a mercy, however as Willowspark backed him up and he was given the chance to position himself between the raging warrior and his leader. If she had a one-track mind on this matter, so did he. He could predict where she was going to go if her attention was focused on Coldstar. He braced himself as the she-cat flew at him; rearing up for a downward strike. He needed to grapple her and keep her out of the fight - and he was willing to sacrifice a bit of skin over it.

Sunstrike:

Sunstrike's paws darted forward as her clanmates followed Skyblossom's lead - if nothing else she could take the pressure off Oaktall and make sure his attack landed. Skyblossom's words made her hiss in rage - a rage she didn't know she had in her - and she leapt at the Riverclan warrior who was sprawled across the muddy ground with the intent to make a mess of Willowspark's ears. How dare they mock her family! How dare they mock Thunderclan!

Coldstar:

Coldstar pointedly ignored Skyblossom's raving, responsing cooly to Oaktall's retort. "Bloodstar isn't here. I am. And I certainly don't need to explain myself to you."

Oaktall's attack wasn't unexpected but the length of his stride was. For not the first, nor last time, Coldstar found himself envious of his opponent's sheer size. Still. He had several tricks for such a situation. Coldstar threw himself forwards, downwards, underneath the outstretched claws of his much larger opponent and tried to position himself to the right of Oaktall; allowing himself a chance to rake his claws down the Thunderclan warrior's flank as well as give the Riverclan warriors behind him the chance to launch their own counterattack.