Open to Join How is the View From Hell?

Those who follow blindly will never learn to see the truth. ~Breezewing
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The day was bright and clear, the wind rustled the few bushes on the Moorlands as Breezewing made his way toward the Windclan border. His pelt prickled with anxiety at what he might meet at Trespass Point. A rabbit burst from a bush nearby and took off up the moors headed toward the camp and Breezewings' paws itched to chase it down. It wasn't fish like he preferred but it would be a good distraction. No! He had to stay focused. He wanted to make sure no cats were trying to cross the border. Those mouse brains in Thunderclan and Riverclan always wanted to invade Windclan territory. Today would be different. He would rip the pelts off any cat that tried.

He sat in one of the bushes off to the side of the border to watch, hoping that he would be hidden enough to catch some cats breaking the warrior code. Oh the enjoyment he would get from teaching them a lesson.

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
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Leopardrose crouched low to the ground, her muscles taut. The Thundercan warrior’s heart beat a little faster, her instincts screaming that she was venturing too close to trouble. But curiosity, and perhaps a twinge of defiance, pushed her forward.

She caught the sound of rustling in the distance, the subtle movement of prey or - more likely - another cat hidden among the foliage. Leopardrose's whiskers twitched as she strained to listen, her aqua eyes scanning the treeline. There, just past the edge of Thunderclan's territory, she spotted a dark shape moving along the Windclan border. The scent was unmistakable. Windclan.

Her breath hitched slightly as she considered her options. Confrontation wasn’t her first choice, especially this close to the border where things could easily spiral out of control. But she wasn’t about to let Windclan - or Riverclan, for that matter - think they could encroach on Thundercan territory without reproach.

The hairs along her spine rose as she sensed a presence nearby, closer than she had anticipated. She knew she was being observed, but by whom? Her gaze darted between the borders, seeking the hidden eyes she felt upon her. Was it a Windclan patrol, waiting for her to make a mistake? Or perhaps a Riverclan warrior, curious to see how far she’d go?

The uncertainty gnawed at her, but she knew she had to stay composed. Even here, on the cusp of three territories, she was a Thunderclan warrior - proud, capable, and strong. No matter who was watching, she wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing her falter.

She kept her position, eyes sharp and ears alert. "Remain where you are if you value your life, or at least your dignity!" She called across the border. They borders hummed with tension, and Leopardrose knew that she was standing at the edge of something dangerous. But she was also ready - ready to defend her territory, ready to prove herself. This close to Trespass Point, she could do no less. 

Those who follow blindly will never learn to see the truth. ~Breezewing
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A growled ripped from Breezewings throat. Who was this Thunderclan cat to tell him what to do. Leaping from his bush he bounded the few paces to the actual border, anger flaming in his eyes as he spat, "What would Thunderclan know about dignity??!!"

His claws extended, scraping the earth as he glared at the spotted she-cat. Who did she think she was to threaten him.

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
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 Leopardrose narrowed her eyes, the initial surprise of Breezewing's sudden outburst. She rose from her crouched position, her tall frame arching with young athleticism as she faced the angry Windclan warrior. The breeze caught her fur, making her spots ripple like shadows across her pelt.

"If you were half as focused on your duties rather than impatience maybe Windclan wouldn't be so worried about their borders." She retorted, her voice sharp but controlled, refusing to rise to his level of aggression.

Her claws unsheathed, but she kept them planted firmly in the earth, a silent declaration that she wasn’t backing down, yet wasn’t here to start a fight. The Riverclan warrior's mocking tone from behind the border only added fuel to the fire, but Leopardrose refused to be baited so easily.

She then addressed Briarfang with a cold edge to her words, smooth as the cold waters of Leaf-Bare. "Last I checked, your clan couldn't even handle a few stones without making it everyone else’s problem." Her tail lashed once, a warning to both of them. But despite the odds, Leopardrose held her ground, every muscle in her body coiled and ready for whatever came next.

Those who follow blindly will never learn to see the truth. ~Breezewing
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Breezewing back arched and his hackles raised as the Riverclan cat made their presence known, "And what's it to you, fish bait??!!" These cats were far to close to his territory for him to let them get away without any repercussions. 

Turning his attention back to the spotted she-cat, "If Thunderclan knew how to keep to their own territory we wouldn't have a problem but we all know how you love to expand." His ears flicked towards the Riverclan cat again. His tail lashing back and forth and his claws ripping up dirt he yowled, "You had both better get away from Windclan territory. We won't tolerate ANY intruders." His paws itched to pounce. But not yet. He didn't want them to complain that Windclan cats were not loyal to the Warrior Code.

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
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 Leopardrose felt the tension mount as another Riverclan cat joined the fray, adding their voice to the confrontation, but it was none other than the Riverclan deputy. Breezewing’s words echoed in her ears, his aggression barely held in check, but it was Coldgaze's remark that threatened to strike a nerve.

"Twolegs and their monsters?" she hissed, her voice low and expression dubious at best. "Warriors are supposed to defend their borders - its not my fault that Sunningrocks was lost to you generations passed. I had no personal paw in it. "

She let her gaze shift between the three cats, calculating her next move. She slid her claws back into her paws, weighing her options. She was outnumbered, but backing down now would mean admitting weakness, and she would not give them the satisfaction. "I for one don't want to burden our medicine cats with frivolous fighting." To punctuate her statement, she stepped forward with all the casual airs she could muster and did what needed of her clan but freshly marking the exact border where Thunderclan had marked their borders before, time and time again.

Those who follow blindly will never learn to see the truth. ~Breezewing
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At the mention of medicine cats Breezewings shoulders drooped a little. If he had to see Rowanglade due to injury he didn't know what he'd do. That she-cat really seemed to have a problem with personal space. "Just make sure you all stay on you're own sides."

He padded forward and placed his own marker while staring directly at the Thunderclan she-cat. When he was done his gaze drifted to the Riverclan cats. "You all should really take Sunningrocks back from them soon. Maybe then you'll steer clear of Windclan territory!" Just a little nudge to get them to focus on the brainless she-cat in front of him. That's all it was. Maybe if they focus on her he could slip away. He didn't like his chances here with all these cats. Where was a Windclan patrol when he needed one?

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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Aspenberry was on a solo patrol, trailing herself along the borders, she had passed fourtrees, gazing past the four grand oaks into the hollow, briefly thinking back to the most recent gathering. Her pale eyes flitted over the other clans territories, places she could not touch before the scents of many drifted to her nose. Odd. It smelt not like one clan, but many; and nearby. Too close to WindClan's territory and Trespass Point.

She picked up her pace, swiftly swerving in and out of the trees until the confrontation came to view. RiverClan, ThunderClan and WindClan. Luckily, or unluckily enough Breezewing was the only WindClanner there, and the only other she could recognise was Coldgaze. The deputy of RiverClan. Stepping forward to reveal herself, she gazed at the group with concern flickering over her face. There was tension, and a fight was unnecessary. She stepped forward to Breezewing's side, placing her tail on his shoulder before before leaning over to whisper to him, 'Calm. There is no need to be hostile, please explain what has happened' she said before lifting her gaze to the group again, 'Is there a reason for this gathering here?'

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
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Leopardrose’s gaze flicked to the newcomer from Windclan, Aspenberry, her expression remaining unreadable as the situation continued to evolve. The presence of the Windclan deputy added a new layer of complexity to an already tense standoff, and Leopardrose could sense the delicate balance that was being maintained. One wrong move, and the fragile peace could shatter, but it wouldn't be from her.

She held her ground, though her claws remained sheathed, a sign that she was still willing to let words take precedence over violence. Coldgaze’s words, however, made her blood simmer beneath her pelt. His tone was sharp, filled with the weight of generations past, and she felt the sting of his accusation.

Leopardrose’s voice remained calm, though a cold edge cut through her words. “I don’t deny the blood spilled over Sunningrocks, Coldgaze. But Thunderclan warriors don’t live in the past. We honor our ancestors by defending what they fought for, not by endlessly seeking to reopen old wounds.” Her eyes narrowed as she met his gaze, unflinching.

She glanced toward Aspenberry and Breezewing, acknowledging their presence with a slight dip of her head. “I'm not here to cause unnecessary trouble, Aspenberry. Seems to be nothing more than a border dispute.” Her gaze slid back to Coldgaze, her voice softening slightly as she stood on her own side of the border. “Let’s not make this more than it needs to be." Leopardrose’s stance remained firm but non-aggressive, a testament to her willingness to deescalate the situation if the others were inclined to do the same. She had made her point, and now it was up to the others to decide how this confrontation would end.  

Those who follow blindly will never learn to see the truth. ~Breezewing
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Breezewings pelt began to lie flat as his deputy made their presence known. "I caught these... rat-brains trying to invade our territory." He glared at each of the three others, as if daring them to deny. "I thought what better way to run them off than to pull a few clumps from their pelts." His tail flicked angrily back and forth. These cats wouldn't get the best of Windclan. He would make sure of that. No clan would question if Windclan was weak if he had anything to say about it.

"Aspenberry, lets take care of them." His claws scraped the ground beneath him, pulling up little clumps of dirt. The thrill of a fight was causing his blood to pump furiously.

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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There was clearly some sort of growing tension between those of RiverClan and ThunderClan; something WindClan needed no part of, and Breezewing had to understand that. As Coldgaze turned to address her, her pale gaze turning to meet his. 

'Wise words come from Coldgaze's maw. No one has overstepped here, and there is no reason for bloodshed. If it comes to it, WindClan has no quarrel here. Breezewing and I will be making out leave, and I hope each of your clans can do the same, respectively'. She padded ever so slightly in front of Breezewing, blocking him from the others, or perhaps blocking the others from him. To her, the warrior was unpredictable. If he attacked, she would have no choice but to join in. Never could she leave a clanmate defenseless, even if he was in the wrong. 

Breezewing... would be hard to reign in. Her presence seemed to calm him in a way, but she still felt tension seething from the warrior. One that, if not settled would cause the spilling of blood. 'Breezewing, these cats.. they have no reason to invade us, especially here with so little of them. This is a chance encounter.' Or, a hance encounter from what she could determine at least. Despite still on the younger side, maybe lacking moon of experience, she trusted her own judgement. She then turned to face her warrior, attempting to nudge him so he faced her. 'I know you are fiercely protective of our borders, something I see extremely worthy in a warrior, but I would like you to just think for a second. How did you come across them? I can't smell any scent over our line, and everyone seems as hostile as each other. Perhaps this is all a misunderstanding; I can't control you; I don't desire to control anyone, but I recommend you stand down, for I don't plan to defend you in front of Fawnstar if things turn nasty.' She almost winced at her harshness. Really she could have been much worse, but for her this already was a lot. During her time as deptuy, she had no need to use her authority, simply guiding others down what she thought was the best path for them. She didn't like talking to her own clanmates like this, but Breezewing needed to reevaluate the situation, and if even after he still wanted to fight; well then maybe a proper one on one talk might be needed...

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
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  When Coldgaze spoke, his voice steady and filled with a calm authority, Leopardrose felt a small spark of relief. Aspenberry’s intervention had been wise, and Leopardrose admired how she managed to calm her own warrior, reining in Breezewing’s aggressive impulses. It was the kind of authority Leopardrose herself aspired to wield one day.

But then, Coldgaze turned his icy gaze on her, his tone shifting to something far less diplomatic. Leopardrose’s heart pounded in her chest as the Riverclan deputy approached, his threat clear and unmistakable. She held his gaze, refusing to flinch, even as his words sent a chill down her spine.

Leopardrose’s mind was racing. She wanted to say something sharp in return, something that would prove she wasn’t intimidated, but she knew that would only escalate things further - and more importantly, Leopardrose was outnumbered. Exhaling softly, she took a measured step back from Coldgaze. “Thunderclan has no interest in intruding on Riverclan territory, and we expect the same in return.”

She flicked her tail, signaling her readiness to leave. The message was clear: they would retreat for now, but Thunderclan was not to be underestimated. Leopardrose’s eyes narrowed slightly as she met Coldgaze’s gaze one last time before turning to move away, her movements smooth and controlled, masking the unease she felt.

It was a test to see if the other cats would retreat as well - or see this as an opportunity to invade. Leopardrose had the advantage of her camp being close at paw. She'd bring down a whole clan on them if they choose to break the Warrior's Code.

Those who follow blindly will never learn to see the truth. ~Breezewing
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As his deputies words fell over him, Breezewings shoulders slumped. Here he went again making a fight where there was none. What would Barleyswipe say? He hoped Aspenberry wouldn't tell the old she-cat.

"You're right Aspenberry. I apologize." Gazing at the other cats around him he mewed icily, "There will be no fight from Windclan today. But make no mistake, if you do ever cross our borders my claws will not be sheathed." His eyes fell on the bengal she-cat from Thunderclan. He flicked his tail at her and turned to leave, making sure to wait for his deputy.

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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With an inward sigh of relief, Aspenberry was glad to see Breezewing had come to his senses. She gave a nod towards the other cats, indicating her leave, knowing that Breezewing would follow after her.

She knew there was no quarrel, at least not with WindClan. Coldgaze had made that clear, and she respected that. She trusted what he said was true as well, for what reason was there to lie in such circumstances? Coldgaze had never done anything to breach her respect or trust now, or when she was merely a warrior, and things would not change now. As for the lone ThunderClan warrior, she seemed to get the hint, finally taking a step back while still remaining a level of fierceness, something which Aspenberry knew was the right choice for the warrior to keep. With her back turned to the group, she gave her tail a slight wave in goodbye, hoping her leave was the right thing.

Once out of earshot of the other clans, Aspenberry faced Breezewing, wanting to reasure the warrior as she felt he still might be on edge. 'If you want to, we can come back and check the border tomorrow, and make sure everything is in order' she offered, her pale gaze softening a little.