West Border

[Riverstar]

West Border

The west border is shared between QuakeClan and FireClan. A few sparse trees cross over into the QuakeClan territory with a little bit of grass so that the warriors of the cracked lands might teach their apprentices what the plush clans live on. The FireClan is well sheltered with thickets and underbrush, making it easier for their patrol to stay hidden. Patrols come here to remark the borders.

((Picture coming soon))

[Crackedstar]

Crackedstar followed the white warrior out into QuakeClan territory, the cracked earth warming slowly but surely under his paws. He reveled in the feel of the packed ground under his paws, thinking back to his apprentice days before frowning, remembering his lost love...
The built tom shook his head, as if to get rid of the mental images flashing in his mind.
"Remember, if you scent anything don't hesitate to hunt. The Clan can always use more prey," The tom meowed, wondering what to say in order to fill the silence for the trek ahead. He didn't really spend too much time with cats, let alone she-cats...

[Riverstar]

Cleargaze had practically jumped at the opportunity to go on this little escapade with her leader, but now it seemed that an owl had her tongue. She couldn't find things to say, let alone hold a conversation with him while she was walking to the FireClan border. When he spoke of hunting for the Clan, the she-cat immediately began to hold her mouth open. Leafbare was a killer upon all Clans, and any extra prey would bring joy to someone's belly. "Of course Crackedstar." The warrior clicked her claws out a moment to touch the cracked earth lightly before continuing on her way to the border. They were going for moss to line their dens, a long trek for comfort.

[Crackedstar]

Crackedstar flicked his ears in annoyance at himself, grasping for a topic of conversation with Cleargaze. Surely there was something he could talk about...but there was nothing he could think of easily. He felt a pang of brief sorrow, thinking about how it had been so easy to talk to Pebblefur...
"Hopefully Leafbare won't be too bad," the tom commented at last. "I remember an occasion where no one but the elders and queens ate for a few sunrises," Crackedstar recalled with a shudder. He had been an apprentice at the time, and he remembered what it was to starve.

[Riverstar]

Cleargaze twitched her ears towards Crackedstar. Their leader had many moons on her. She had been born when he was a warrior, but she could easily clear the gap between them if she so chose. Turning those great blue eyes of hers toward the noble leader, she shook her head. "That won't happen. Not while I'm around at least. Leafbare isn't normally that bad. As long as the shakes don't come and scare the prey this season, we should be good." The she-cat nodded at that fact before leaping forward again. A scent wafted into her mouth when she landed, and instinctively she fell to a crouch. The lizard had decided today was a good time to come bask in the cold. With claws outstretch, Cleargaze leapt, silencing the meal quickly. Once it was dead, she held it triumphantly by the tail. "Schee? I cauff one."

[Crackedstar]

Crackedstar's chest burned with pride for his warrior at her bold statement. He admired her ambitious nature, and thought that more cats should adopt her attitude.
"Yes, a fine catch indeed. QuakeClan could use some more warriors with your ambitions," the older tom commented proudly. "If you can help it, please see that your future offspring carry the same attitude." Others might have seen the leader's comment as a joke, but he was being serious.

[Riverstar]

Although it was partially an awkward thing to hear from Crackedstar's jaws, once it sunk in, it was very characteristic of their leader. Power before wit would lead QuakeClan though their troubles. With curled ears almost curling in further to her head, she purred joyously. This was the closest that Crackedstar would come to a true compliment. Stopping a moment to set the lizard down, Cleargaze mewed, "Thank you Crackedstar. I shall make sure to do that. Of course, I guess it is in whomever wishes to take me as their mate." By now they had arrived at the border. She hid her prey under some tall grasses before going to the nearest tree on their side of the border and began to scratch at the moss.

[Crackedstar]

"No doubt there are many toms that are worthy of passing on their genes in QuakeClan. There are many strong warriors," Crackedstar commented, not really thinking the point through. He was busy scraping off moss from the tree a few fox lengths away from Cleargaze. The leader felt that having a mate would just burden him unnecessarily and make him inefficient as a leader.
Would it be the same way if Pebblefur were able to be your mate? His inner voice spoke up, prodding him without mercy.

[Riverstar]

Indeed, Crackedstar was correct in his understanding that all QuakeClan warriors were noble in their actions according to QuakeClan policy. Their thoughts were ambitious and the kits were often easily excitable to become an apprentice. Her ears leaned back a moment though, as Crackedstar still seemed a little broken from Pebblefur's death. She had been very young when Pebblefur had perished, but the story of vicious snake bites still were carried down from mentors to their apprentices. "You are right Crackedstar. QuakeClan had pure blood, and we shall never fault in that." Finishing with her ball of moss, she rolled it to the bush, setting it next to her lizard.

[Crackedstar]

"Never..." Crackedstar agreed with a certain proud that tended to be quiet. He thought of his strong warriors, each and every one of them capable with their training as apprentices. Every cat was proud to be apart of QuakeClan, and the tom allowed a small smile to escape at this thought. "Hopefully the blood will never be tainted with those weaker Clans," he growled. Just the thought of half-Clan offspring made his whiskers curl. The QuakeClan bloodlines should be kept as pure as possible, and the other Clans mixing with their blood would make them weak.

[Riverstar]

((Oh how little they know.))

Cleargaze rolled her mossball beneath her paw, her whiskers shivering at the thought of any half-Clan offspring. Vile taints of blood that were unnecessary and whould not be condoned by other leaders. Thankfully, no such thing had happened and all was right in their world. Looking around, she eyed Crackedstar with a glimmering eye before nodding once more. "I have all the moss I need. Shall we return to camp now?"

[Crackedstar]

"Yes, I have as much as I can carry as well," replied Crackedstar. He held a large wad of moss under his chin as well as in his mouth.
At least I have an excuse not to talk on the trek back, the tom thought, relieved. He wasn't much for talk, but action instead. Which is why QuakeClan was in so many territory skirmishes. Not that he minded, of course, because he encouraged it. He started back to camp, thinking of the duties ahead.
"Cleargaze, would you care to mentor Stonekit?" Crackedstar managed to get out over his mossy burden. The kit was soon to be apprenticed, and Cleargaze was more than capable to handle an apprentice.

[Riverstar]

Cleargaze moved the lizard and the moss together, taking it all in between her teeth as best as she could. She hadn't intended upon replying to any words that passed between them, but clearly Crackedstar had other plans. To be awarded with her own apprentice was clearly worthwhile though, and she nodded her head enthusiastically. Stonekit, Rockclaw's daughter, seemed to be worthy enough for training now. "Fur," Cleargaze muffled out, twitching her ears.

[Crackedstar]

Crackedstar was hit by a sudden jolt of pure terror, unlike anything he'd ever felt. He stopped in his tracks for a few heartbeats, shocked.
Maybe it's a sign? he thought, glancing at the she-cat beside him. What dark intentions could StarClan have in store for the cat?
"Maybe it would be best for another warrior to mentor Stonekit," he suggested. Crackedstar knew that Cleargaze would probably resist, but he felt something wasn't right.

[Riverstar]

Cleargaze paused a moment when Crackedstar suddenly mentioned that it may be best if Stonekit was mentored by another. Crackedstar was speaking, but her happiness melted into a mild rage. Was she not good enough to mentor that kit. Her tail and spinal fur fluffed out and she grumbled through her moss ball and lizard tail. "Af ya wiff." She padded on with little words at that point, pushing herself along. Soon they would be back at the camp and she could go about her warriors duties quietly.