Chapter Text
Water splashed up against the side of the earth while trying to get up on the grassy surface. The small Thunderclan border patrol was walking down to Sunning Rocks, well the sunset border patrol. During sunhigh it started raining, washing away their markings, now that the sky cleared it would be a surprise if they didn’t find a Riverclan patrol meeting them at the border. The patrol had only three cats, Graythrift, Nightmare, and- of course Nightpaw.
Speaking of her, Nightpaw couldn’t focus on the task at paw. This was now- what? Like the 20th time she caught herself zoned out thinking of those two rogues? I should’ve told Father sooner, but Goldenpaw-. She shook her head trying- and flailing- to clear it. Nightpaw gave a weary sigh, she wanted to- dear Starclan by the code she pretty much had to! but she couldn’t. Goldenpaw would hate her if she did. Why do I even care so much about what that mousebrain thinks? If I tell on them, I’ll be helping my clan! Heck, maybe even save it, who knows what those two can do? She bit her lip, a small snarl echoing out of them. It wasn’t the full truth that they could do much harm right now, what two apprentice aged rogues killing your average clancat? Maybe if they worked together- but in all honestly they wouldn’t be too dangerous until they were full grown and well they definitely will get caught way before then.
“Nightpaw, you here? Can’t have anyone behind,” a stiff growl forced her back into reality- again she was gone thinking about those two cats. She looked up to see Nightmare looking back at her, the half-blinded she-cat was the patrol leader. Unlike some cat would, Nightmare never let getting something like that go to her head. Nightpaw respected that- she always liked Nightmare for it too. Nightmare seemed to like her as well- seemingly sometimes more than her own apprentice, it could be Goldenpaw hated but Nightmare standed him enough to like him.
“Of course!” She yelped, shaking her head to try to clear it once more. “Just thinking about stuff,” she added while mumbling.
“What?” Nightmare titled her at Nightpaw, “Goldenpaw too, talk with him about it. Maybe y’all can start getting along better.”
“You’re the one saying that, Nightmare?” Purred the gray tom next to her- Graythrift, “maybe you really should take your own advice!” She rolled her eyes, after a pawful of moments she shoved him and Graythrift broke into another string of laughter.
“Whatever,” Nightmare snarled, “We’re getting close to Sunning Rocks- and meaning we might meet Riverclan. So be ready- that includes you, Nightpaw.”
Nightpaw looked back up at Nightmare and nodded. As they kept trodding she stifled a snarl, of course she knew it included her! She wasn’t mousebrained, plus just because she kept zoning out didn’t mean she couldn't keep up! Nightpaw closed her eyes as she kept walking- the slightly chilled breeze running through and brushing her long fur, the sun which still burned gently against her pelt, and the soft repeating sound of the water angrily lapping against the upcoming stones. For a moment her mind traveled back to the border- this border not the one close to twoleg place. It was strangely calming for her- and probably for her alone. Riverclan scent drifted to her mouth as she tasted the air- and so she quickly opened her eyes.
A paw full of cats sat on the other side of the river bank. One of them stood out from the rest- or at least for Nightpaw; they were a blue sam and gray plus sky blue wave markings- Riverpounce. The sam already was trodding to the end of their side of the river. Nightpaw knew them- one of her mothers old friends it wasn’t difficult to notice them. Nightpaw watched as Nightmare bristled, a growl slipping away from her jaws.
“Calm down, I’m just your normal Riverclan cat.” Riverpounce tried to ease, “I’m sure Lavendermask would agree!” They then chipped, which- obviously- wasn’t the right move to make.
“What do you know about her? Lavendermask and you were only friends when you were apprentices! Not warriors,” snapped Nightmare. She thought it would be impossible for Nightmare’s pelt to ever lay flat again at this point.. Nightpaw blinked and- ow! The older she-cat’s tail smacked her in the muzzle while lashing it.
“Woa, give me a moment, ma’am! Didn’t mean to ruffle your feathers there!” They flew silent for a few seconds before adding, “we do have a question for you and your friends though.”
“What is it?” Graythrift narrowed his eyes, walking up to meet them. His head was tilted slightly with his ears bent backwards. “Better not be mouse-brained!”
“Oh I swear by Starclan that it’s not fish-brained! It’s just that,” they sat down, throwing their tail over their two front paws. “Well there’s been rogue activity on the border! So we’ve been wondering if you've seen the same!”
Rogue activity? Starclan damn it! She knew her clan didn’t know but the others? How was she so mouse-brained to forget those! Well it’s not like I can just trespass- heck it’s been hard enough already to try to block Thunderclan from finding anything out with being an apprentice! I can’t even think of trying to do anything with the other clans! She shyly spoke up, “I haven’t heard anything about it,” Nightpaw then turned to Nightmare and Graythrift and nodded.
Nightmare took the chance to lick the pad of her paw then speaking up, “listen with all my seasons as a loner myself, I know where I rogue is in the area and it ain’t pretty.” Flicking her ear with her paw she continued speaking, “none in Thunderclan, maybe it’s just a Riverclan problem?” she suggested coaxingly.
“Maybe.. but watch out for rogues!” They mewed the warning friendly. Like their tone was one of a warm Green-leaf day- she could see why her mother was friends with this Riverclan sam. They gave a simple nod, their tail flicked up calmly, starting to lead their patrol away. Before they fully disappeared from line of sight Riverpounce called back, “May Starclan light your paths!”
Graythrift nodded, “may Starclan light yours as well!” He called back to them as they started to finish marking the border.
As they walked, Nightpaw let her thoughts run wild. Why were Goldenpaw’s littermates so mouse-brained! She let out a sigh as the sun started to go down and the patrol went back to camp.