Late Night Stroll (OPEN)

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The brown tabby warrior was stalking quietly through the darkness of the marshes. He was practically invisible, surrounded by the tall pines as they casted their shadows. There was no moon that night to light up his pelt with silver beams. There was no alarm call from an owl to alert anything else to his presence. He faded in perfectly to the dark brown-green landscape around him.

Mudstripe, the ShadowClan warrior, had decided to go out for a late night patrol along the boarder. Things had been quiet- too quiet- lately for his tastes. It was abnormal in his mind for ShadowClan to be so calm. They should have been ready to shred some ThunderClan pelt, or any that crossed their path. What if they got too comfortable in this position? What if the great Clan went soft?

He bared his fang, his blue-green eyes gleaming faintly in the darkness. If any cat, he would not let that happen.

Suddenly, his ears pricked, standing tall and alert. He heard a sound from somewhere nearby, like pawsteps padding lightly over the earth. But Mudstripe couldn't tell which way the sound had come from, nor catch a scent of who it was. "Show yourself!" he growled, allowing the fur along his spine to bristle in preperation.

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Ever since his last meeting with Runningpath, he'd been obsessed with finding the truth. None of the loners could help him and the kittypets were too stupid to even remember. Something kept placing his paws on the border to Shadowclan though. No matter where he went, his paws always took him somewhere close to this clan. He was a loner and they didn't need anyone to live with, but for some reason his heart wouldn't let this go.

This night again found him near Shadowclan, but now he had passed the border. Irratation pricked at his fur as he realized what he had done. Cursing at himself, he stopped and looked around. Now how in the world was he going to cover his scent trail? He didn't want Runningpath to get in trouble for allowing a cat such as himself a happy welcome from before.

Crow kept his ears pricked to hear any new sounds the marsh had to offer. He could never be too careful here, but in fact he felt as if he'd been to this very same place before. No matter how bad he hated the clans, he couldn't help feeling in the back of his mind that the clans could offer him the proof Runningpath and him had been looking for.

Shaking the feeling off, he began to look for some overpowering scent to hide his trail. Sniffling around, he found a patch of garlic. What luck! Quickly, he grabbed some and began to retrace his steps while scattering the heavy smelling herb. Right as he was sure he'd get out of the area without detection, he heard an angry growl nearby yelling in his direction to show himself.

Looking towards the border that was lengths away, he realized he'd been caught. There was nothing else to do, but show himself as asked. His luck had flown away in a flash which he wasn't thrilled about. Dropping the garlic, he carefully padded to where the sound had come from. Eventually, gleaming eyes and the outline of a tabby clan cat came into view. Crow's own fur was darker than this males so it was probably hard for him to see. Not wanting to be tracked down, he padded closer towards the tabby to make sure he was in view, his own eyes flashing.

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The tabby's lips pulled back into a full blown snarl as the shape came into view. Well, somewhat. All he could see was the faint outline of a shadowy black cat. But by scent, he could tell it was a tom, and defiantly not of ShadowClan. This black tom was reeking of loner. Perhaps a lingering tinge of the marsh territory's scent, but Mudstripe was going to assume that it was just from padding around in it.

The warrior gave a deep, warning growl. "You're on ShadowClan territory. If you know what's good for you, you'll start running before I rake your pelt off your skin." Mudstripe's eyes now gleamed with a desire to make this loner wish he'd never been born. Any cat who dare lay paw on his Clan's territory would get what was coming to them without mercy. This cat especially. This stranger wasn't even acting like he'd committed a crime. That calm attitude of his would disappear in the next heartbeat, the brown tabby would make sure of that.

"Loners aren't welcome here. And I'm going to enforce that rule." His stripped tail lashed out behind him as long, curved claws slipped out from their sheathes.

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Crow listened to the cat as he made sure that he understood that no warm welcome would come. His eyes noticed how tense the tom was getting, as if the tone didn't say it all. The loner blinked at the clan cat, wondering if it really wanted to fight. After studying it a bit, he realized it was set on doing just that.

The tom took a step towards the tom, to allow what light a new moon gave to rest upon him. It didn't really help because new moons are basically nothing. Still, he wanted to show this clan cat who he was dealing with and that he gave no harm to this territory.

Waving his tail in the air, he turned his glowing eyes straight into the glowing eyes of the other tom's. "I'm sorry to hear that. Now you need to know that I accidently crossed the border for certain reasons and I deeply apologize."

The apology wasn't a full one though to him. He had crossed the border intentionally for his paws had told him to go this way. Something was pulling at him towards the clans and he needed to figure out why. Perhaps it had something to do with the distant meows that he thought was coming from this territory. Everytime he'd gone towards the border it had gotten stronger, but no cat was ever in sight. The thought of it made him shiver inside. Putting that feeling and thought aside, he kept looking at the clan cat who was bravely standing against another tom who he didn't know and could barely see.

"I don't really want a fight, but if you insist, I'll give you one," he bravely meowed. His body went into a defensive stance, but he still wanted peace. Crow wouldn't be chased out of these lands! He would leave as a distinguished loner should, walking his own way out without an escort. The loner was a proud one and wouldn't let a clan cat do anything to ruin that pride. Plus, all the other loners would have something to say later about it when they smelled Shadowclan territory upon his pelt or saw the huge claw marks on his pelt. No one was going to make a mockery of him, even a cat raised to fight for clan lands.

"I will leave by myself if you so please. I will not tolerate you forcing me to or hurting me to do so. If you so wish for me to leave then give me the word and I will. None of this forcing and giving me an escort business, mind you," he sniffed. One could take what he said a bit harshly, but he'd used the manners he could still find in the back of his head. The rudeness of this cat wasn't making him so happy either. Oh, whatever. I'll just ignore the rudeness of this cat and be off if he politely tells me too. A clan cat should at least be able to ask.

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Mudstripe spat when the opposing tom took a pawstep closer, and did the same to match. "Apologies don't cut it with me," he rumbled deeply, lashing his tail out behind him. "And neither do accidents. Even if you didn't mean to step over the boarder, that means you were still empty-headed enough not to detect the scent markers, which is unlikely. Unless..." The tabby paused. Then his ears fell back and another snarl sounded through his fangs. "Unless you've gotten a little too comfortable crossing it before!"

The warrior's eyes narrowed when the loner fell into a battle-ready stance. Perfect. He began to circle the black loner, his eyes never leaving his treacherous pelt. "No cat gives a mind to what a loner wants or doesn't want. If you don't fight, I'll do your share for you." Mudstripe licked his jaws anxiously. No more of this pointless waiting around.

"You're not leaving without a good scratch!" The tabby spat, quickly turning in from his circular path and leaping right at the black loner, claws aimed to either knock the intruder over or dig into his pelt.

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Crow didn't really like the spitting at when he had gotten closer, but he excused the tom. The clan cat even got closer to him when he did. The loner narrowed his eyes as he listened to this tom. Soon, he was certain he wouldn't get out of here without having to fight as the clan cat started to circle him while using threatening words. Crow's eyes opened in surprise as the cat realized he had been over the border before.

He merely kept his position and watched the opposing cat with a hint of boredom. His ears twitched at the new tone delivered as the weight shifted on the cat as he jumped straight at him, claws unsheathed.

Crow understood he didn't have enough time to get out of the way appropriately, so he quickly sank to the ground and rolled off to the side. He wasn't quick enough to dodge a scratch into his pelt by one of the cat's paws. It burned as he stood up with a lashing tail. Must everything resort in violence?

Just as fast as the opposing male lept at him, he did the same. He shifted his weight and lunged towards the clan cat with enough power to hopefully knock the tom over or pin him down with his shear weight. Crow kept his claws sheathed until he lept, there the came out as sharp as daggers.

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Mudstripe growled when the tom rolled out of his way, but at least he had felt a claw score the other cat's pelt before he landed. But that's not enough! he reminded himself scoldingly. It's not enough until he lays broken on the ground.

He had enough time to glance over in the loner's direction before the black mass of fur flung straight into his flank. The warrior hissed in surprise and fury as he felt himself hit the ground, hard. First he felt his shoulder slam into the earth, sending the shock of pain down his leg, and then found himself continuing on onto his back, looking up at the intruder. The black tom's paws had him pinned near the shoulders, their claws slipping into his flesh.

The tom spat at the great amount of pain there and began to struggle. "Fox-dung loner!" His eyes flashed as ideas of rebuke went through his mind in the great speed of battle. Finally, Mudstripe raised his hind legs, bent them close to his belly, then extended with all the power he could muster through his pads and unsheathed claws. He hoped this would cause his opponent to be thrown off, or at least loosen his grip on Mudstripe's shoulders.

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Crow was granted a successful pin on the tom clan cat along with a hiss and an insult. He may be a loner, but loners had to learn how to fight to survive...well and he might have seen a few warriors training before.

He kept his claws on the tom and didn't let up until he caught the cat's eyes. It was struggling, but he kept his hold as best he could. The clan cat needed to learn respect.

"Now than-oof!" Crow was cut off by the force driving into his stomach. He then was forced off the tom and into the air. The claws of his opponent had clawed at his stomach the same time. His stomach prickled as blood droplets fell from his stomach. Crow quickly got back onto his paws, as the scratch on his side started to burn just as bad.

Dang it! This tom is out for blood! He wasn't going to back down though even though fear was starting to build up. This was the clan cat's territory, not his, so why was he fighting? Pride was the answer he figured out. He had to keep face.

Crow did notice that the tom was bleeding in the shoulders where he had pinned him. A satisfactory smile lit up his face. Bet the tom didn't see that coming.

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She was just walking in the pines, or rather, swamp. She felt odd, she was confused. Did she really have a kin? She wanted to know so bad! She wasn't paying attention to where her paws were leading her-- right where they met.

She stood there, and blinked slowly, her ears perked up. She wanted to at least get some fresh-kill, but she knew what she was listening for-- Crow. Yet, all she heard, was fighting. Hisses, shrieks, something. She couldn't tell. Most of all, two of them sounded alike.

Without thinking, she started dashing in that direction, her eyes opened wide. She was nervous. She was scared.

RunningPath had her paws slam down hard upon the ground, until she saw it-- Mudstripe and Crow. All she could do was scream or get in the fight.

"Stop! Crow, MudStripe, Stop!" She screeched that, trying to bowl herself in between the two toms, "Please!"

Why am I doing this? I'm going to die! she thought to herself, for she could of just made a deathwish, getting in between two toms fighting.

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Mudstripe snarled again as the loner's weight was lifted from his body. There! The tabby flung himself back onto his paws. He sunk his claws into the earth, just to make sure the intruder didn't come back at him again in a surprise attack. The loner did no such thing, however. Only smirked at him. But that was no ray of sunshine, either. It irritated the warrior to no end. Mudstripe was just about to again launch his body at the black cat, claws prepared to shred that smirk right off his muzzle, when another mass of black fur came between himself and the loner in his field of vision. His eyes widened in recognization. "Runningpath?" he mewed in both surprise and confusion. His tailfur was e en puffed up a little. "What are you doing? That's a loner you're in my way of!"

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RunningPath looked so identical to Crow, the other black tom. No cat could mistake that they had some sort of relation in between somewhere. She knew it, but she didn't want to believe it. Even though she believed no such thing, she still didn't want Crow to get harmed.

She looked over at Mudstripe, and hissed irritably, "I know that!"

Her ears flattened against her head, while her tail was swishing side-to-side. She looked over at Crow and then back at MudStripe.

"Who started the fight? You, MudStripe? I wouldn't doubt it," she growled, her claws flexing in and out of their sheaths, "Do it again, and I will shred your pelt."

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The warrior's blue-green eyes erupted in flames. All of his attention was focused on his Clanmate now, rather than the loner. He hadn't even bothered to make a connection between the two cat's similarities. In his mind, they were just two black cats. So what? There were plenty of those it the forest. The real difference between them was that one was a supposedly loyal ShadowClan cat, and the other was a fox-hearted loner.

Mudstripe spat in her direction. "You know the code! As warriors, we're supposed to drive off any invader that crosses out boarders. That's how Clans work." The tabby's ears fell back against his head once more. "So of course I made the first move. I'm not about to let some loner make himself comfortable on our territory." Why was Runningpath trying to protect this worthless flea-bag? He was just a loner as far as he could tell.

At her threat, his lips pulled back into an offensive snarl. "And why would you have reason to do that? What does he mean?" He nodded sharply toward the black tom, eyes not leaving his Clanmate's pelt. "Why do you care?"

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The she-cat looked behind at Crow, and couldn't help but get hot under her pelt. She felt utterly embarrassed, but... What was she supposed to do? Let her kin get clawed? She knew Crow had no chance. Mudstripe would never stop, either. It was amazing that he stopped now, at least, she thought it was.

She looked back at him, her muzzle holding a rather large smile.

"That's not your business," she chuckled to herself, "I'll tell SpottedStar about it, later. You don't need to know."

She smiled a bit, and started to act rather strange. She looked at Crow, her whole face rather stern now.

"Crow, leave. You can go by yourself, I know you can," she then purred a bit, "Mudstripe won't come after ya, believe me."

She looked back at MudStripe, and grinned just a tad. RunningPath tilted her head to the side, while her black tail swished side to side.

"Aren't I right, MudStripe?" She asked, her claws still flexing in and out of their sheaths.

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His eyes flew from one black pelt to another during the strangeness of his Clanmate's speech. What she was doing went against every belief he held dear- not just getting in his way of getting rid of the pesky loner, but letting him go freely and calling him by name as if he were some long lost friend. ShadowClan cats were supposed to be better than this!

Mudstripe shook his head violently, as if in an attempt to clear his mind, before refocusing on Runningpath with the same hostile glare. "So now you know his name? What, have you met up with that scum before?" He had been the one to guess that this hadn't been Crow's first time for stepping over boarders. But could this she-cat possibly be the reason. Possibilities began to run through his head of some sort of connection between them. Is she hiding a loner mate from the Clan?

He snarled at the idea but didn't deny it. This treacherous she-cat could be up to just about anything with this tom. He looked beyond her for a moment to catch of glimpse of Crow's equally black pelt on the other side of Runningpath, hissed is distaste, and then focused back on Runningpath. "Yes, I suppose he can go for now," the warrior growled slowly. "I see ShadowClan has a bigger problem on their paws. One that hides out right in the middle of camp!" His striped tabby tail lashed out behind him. "You tell Spottedstar any of this, and she'll see right away what a traitor you really are!"

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RunningPath couldn't help but snort. She was actually taking this in quite easily. She didn't show how upset she really was on the inside; she loved Shadowclan dearly. She only met up with Crow so she could really see if they were kin; she knew it either way.

"Mudstripe, calm your mice and eat your crowfood," she calmly meowed, and took a step forward. She couldn't help but smirk lightly, and looked back over at Crow. She showed no hostile look, more friendly, yet it was looking as if she was trying to tell him to go.

She looked back at MudStripe and gave a weak nuzzle against his muzzle, but only to distract him.

"Traitor? Think twice about that," she purred, "Let's get back to camp, shall we?"

She gave a sly smile, as if she was being flirtatious. Oh, she was, but only to distract him. To tell the truth, she didn't like this tom one bit.

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