A Trio of Toms (Open)

[Amber]

The red tabby she-cat hoped that the mousebrain she had traveled with had long gone. It would be better for all of them if he just disappeared for a while. But still it would be worth it in the end, to see the look of fear on his face. The ShadowClan cats did not scare her in the least little bit. So what if there were four toms and it was just her, obviously since her clanmate had left. She could take them if need be. Fighting was such a wonderful thing. The taste of blood and tearing into the flesh of another, her mouth was almost watering.

The ginger tom had spoken, and her eyes traveled to him. The spark in his eyes when he spoke to his clanmate was something she couldn't dismiss. Now why couldn't there be someone like that in RiverClan? Would ShadowClan trade him for Finchnose? She listened to him speak and smirked. "It seemed like it was more than just a chat. And here I was hoping I would see something interesting. Oh well, I guess I must be entertained elsewhere."

It seemed like as soon as she had spoken to the tom, she was joined by a clanmate. Finally someone who didn't have mush for brains! Fawnstep was a strong she-cat, and would be an asset if it came down to battle with these four toms. "Yes, it sure is. It seems they were chatting loudly, and I thought it would be amusing to see how it would turn out. Unfortunately without any bloodshed." she turned to the warrior, a hint of disappointment in her eyes.

The other ShadowClan cats just had to speak now. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Ravenflight. Her fur bristled as she heard him. "You dare insult me? You think I would lie to you? You must be too dense to realize how much of a mousebrain you are being at the moment." she hissed. Now this was a tom she didn't like...at all. "But yes, you are right. It would be no contest who would win a battle here. Clearly I would be the victor." her confidence was shining bright. Ignoring his other comment she looked back to Fawnstep. "No, this is a cat that would be no such coward. I believe you should beware of this she-cat, aswell as myself."

When the third of the four cats spoke she sighed. This was becoming tiresome. "I will leave shortly, I just wanted to make sure everything was alright over here. Though it seems like you four have your own problems." The fourth cat, she didn't mind at all. He was silent. Perfect.

[Yellowstar]

Foxclaw's icy gaze slid once more over to Ravenflight, glinting dangerously despite the presence of the RiverClan cats. The other warrior's arrogant attitude was quickly getting on his nerves, and though not caring for himself to be seen snapping at Ravenflight in the presence of cats from the other Clan, he allowed himself to glare conspicuously at the tom. So quick to go from insulting to charming, it made him want to roll his eyes.

But Foxclaw did take in the sight of the other RiverClan she-cat, one he did not recognize so he figured she was just a warrior. Noting the aloof, yet critical way she spoke and how she kept her alert gaze on the group of ShadowClan cats, Foxclaw found that he and this cat seemed to be rather similar. He held the she-cat's gaze for a moment before looking to Crowclaw as he spoke. The fellow warrior said it well; there was no need to add on. Of course Foxclaw couldn't have cared much even if the two she-cats stayed. He would move on, not minding whether or not they stayed on their side of the precious border. That wasn't his problem, and if they ended up taking ShadowClan prey, he could steal RiverClan prey right back. It was simple, he didn't understand what was so important about the border thing.

As for Cherryfur, he found her attitude a bit irking. Deputy or not, and with another warrior or not, she should be more cautious when dealing with four warriors of an enemy Clan. She was cocky, and Foxclaw wasn't aware that those were traits Palestar liked in a deputy, but at least she wasn't fearful. Too bold, more like. But he held back a smug grin as she snapped back at Ravenflight; turns out she had some sense. The look Ravenflight had on his face right now was probably priceless.

"There is nothing to worry about here," he said, flicking his tail as his deep voice spoke out before any of the others had a chance to. "We're just a border patrol. But we'd appreciate it if you both went on your way, as Crowclaw said." His tone was pointed and dismissive, though his eyes sparked a bit as he spoke. This had been an unusual but interesting encounter so far.

[Grim]

An impish sparkle had slid into Fawnstep’s twin jade eyes during Cherryfur’s greeting. Her eyes narrowed slightly, still focused on the toms, and her lips curved into a roguish grin. She flicked the tip of her long tail and glanced sidelong at her companion, her expression nothing short of mischievous. ”Yes, well, that’s ShadowClan for you. They like to play as if they’re big and bad, but it’s all for show isn’t it, boys?” When Fawnstep spoke, it wasn’t in the typical feminine tones one expected from a she-cat. Her voice was a tad deeper, huskier. Not masculine, exactly, just rougher. Fawnstep considered it an asset, actually. She turned smugly to the ShadowClan toms, her gaze daring them—encouraging them to defy her words. Fawnstep played a risky game, she knew, but her teasing nature wouldn’t allow her to let them leave with a peaceful mind. Besides, Cherryfur was positively fearless and it seemed, for all of StarClan, that she was trying her best to goad the cats, too. Between the two of them, the RiverClan she-cats created a wicked team.

”Would this lovely cat be the cowardly friend to which you refer?” Fawnstep stiffened at the dark tom’s words, but eased her muscles an instant later. She laid a calming paw over the livid she-cat within her and slipped a sultry glance towards the tom that had spoken. His wolfish demeanor aroused her curiosity. The way that he referred to her, though, made her long pelt itch like the sun did on a hot green-leaf day. Here was a tom that she could play with, that she could test. How short was this tom’s temper? How hard would she have to work to make his devil-may-care attitude waver? Her coy gaze slid down the length of his lean young body in a very pointed fashion, but her Deputy’s voice drew her away from admiring the tom.

Her ears flicked back unabashedly at her Clan-mate’s words and she lifted a large paw to casually groom it, clearly preening under the RiverClan Deputy’s praise. Her eyes glimmered when she looked up from her actions, watching Ravenflight from beneath multi-hued lashes. His Clan-mates plainly wished to continue their little jaunt along the borders, but the she-cat was reluctant to let the tom out of her presence. Rival tomcats were the most amusing to toy with, in Fawnstep’s experience. Now that she had found the perfect tom, she wasn’t exactly willing to let him go.

”Very well,” Fawnstep sighed, turning her gaze to her Deputy. ”You can always arrange a patrol later to verify whether or not they’re detestable prey-thieves,” she suggested, shrugging her broad shoulders. ”Although I doubt they’re mouse-brained enough to provoke us,” she continued smoothly, baring her fangs just slightly towards the end. Her gaze lingered on the cheeky black and white tom and a demure smile spread across her lips, quietly daring him to say something.

[yoko]

Ravenflight, not at all displeased with that look Fawnstep gave him, ignored the obvious searing glare of Foxclaw who was in no danger whatsoever of being attacked while Ravenflight was preoccupied by the she-cats.

"Whoa, whoa, chill Cherry-Brain, it was only a joke," he glanced at silent Swiftfoot who, at the least, would not contradict him. "With a Deputy like her, RiverClan doesn't need enemies."

Fawnstep's final words caused a slight flick of his ears, his honor not at all insulted by this. "Ahh, and if we provoke you what will you do, scratch our bellies?"

Crowclaw closed his eyes momentarily to prevent himself from smacking Ravenflight at this point. He looked over the border coolly at the two RiverClan she-cats. He did have the upperpaw with four warriors to two, but he was in no hurry to put his recovering Clan into another war.

"And we trust that you will not set paw over this border, for any purpose whatsoever. We suspect that RiverClan has more honor than that. I put my trust in you, Cherryfur, as a Deputy of your Clan, that you will not put your clanmates in harm's way for the sake of a joke. In any case, my Clanmates and I have a Clan to serve, and we'll be on our way."

He rose to all four paws and padded away along the border rather pointedly. No mistake must be made, Crowclaw had no fear of a border skirmish and if he should find a hint of RiverClan scent, or worse, if those she-cats dared to set paw on this side of the border for a joke, he would have no qualms in ripping their pelts off.



"Well, seems our little game has come to an end. We'll play again sometime, and hopefully it'll be more to your liking," Ravenflight mewed, making it unclear to which she-cat he was speaking. Swiftfoot suspected that he meant both.

The slender feminine tom wasted no time in darting to Crowclaw's side. This might be interesting, Swiftfoot glanced back, wondering if the two she-cats would be such arrogant fools as to continue playing around the border. Ravenflight was last to follow them, smirking daringly at Cherryfur. The battle-ready tom seemed to have an earnest wish for them to cross, but surely no enemy cat would be so stupid.