stirring up trouble [emberstrike/cloudleap/open]

    It was cold.

    That's all Emberstrike really cared about. Cold and dark for midday. And he hated it. Of course he'd go on the patrol for Duskstar, who had mentioned something about Thunderclan getting too close to the border. Otherwise he wouldn't be here. He'd be in his den sleeping.

    Dreaming.

    Dreaming of his future power, of his plans, of how he was so close to getting everything he wanted. He had talked to Spiderstep about the previous Windclan leader's "accident." Spiderstep to Spiderstar. It was only a matter of time before Emberstrike himself was leader. Duskstar was only getting older. She was weak. He was strong. It wouldn't be much of a chore to initiate her downfall.
    
    Instead, he was on the sunhigh patrol. Not that he could see the sun.

    He really didn't mind the cats on the patrol. Cherrysong was one of his favourite warriors- ambitious and power-hungry. She could be very useful in the upcoming moons if she was manipulated correctly. From the looks of things, however, Emberstrike didn't feel like he needed to do much talking. Cherrysong already acted as a leader should, and he didn't think he'd mind having her as his queen.

    "Of course Thunderclan is pushing their boundaries," Emberstrike responded, flicking his tail from side to side. "If we see the patrol then we confront them. If they don't show- so be it. We'll re-mark the borders where they should be."

    He had to stay calm. He knew that Cherrysong would judge him based on his reactions, and he wasn't about to take any chances with losing her. Thunderclan had always been particularly greedy when it came to territory and prey, and the impending winter didn't make things better.

    And Emberstrike was aching to pick a fight with the kittypet clan. 

The she-cat watched as Emberstrike calmly responded to her, telling her that they would simply mark the borders as they needed to be. To be honest, she was quiet disappointed with this response, on the outside. It was too simple, too nonviolent for a tom like him. It screamed "I have something to hide! I dont want to draw attention!". She watched his steady breathing, scrutinizing everything about the tom under her gorgeous eyes. With a satisfied hmphh she looked away, focusing back on the forest as she padded along. She stayed along the strong warriors side, not wanting to overstep her bounds. She knew when to hold back her attitude, she knew when to act civil. A mischievous glint shined in her orbs as she thought of how easy it'd be for him to get into an "accident". But she needed him. He liked her, even she could see that. And he would one day be leader. She needed him to be alive, to show her favor. She needed to be his friend, to influence him. The dark tendrils of ambition grabbed her heart, as she realized the dream she wanted since she was a kit could come true. She could lead from behind the scenes the darkest clan this forest had ever seen. And Emberstrike was essential to her plan.

She looked over her shoulder to see Crowslip, who she had failed to see before, padding with Cloudleap. Crowslip was slightly less like vermin than his mentor, but she still considered both of them to be pretty low on her vermin list. She wanted to curl her lip in disgust when they mentioned asking other clans for catmint. They didnt need any of their help. Shadowclan was strong, with few warriors sick. And it was well into leafbare. But she was no medicine cat, and she had no idea how much catmint was really required. She could tell you, however, she was not a fan of showing weakness. And asking for some would show weakness. Enemies can't exploit your weaknesses if you dont show them. When she saw the two padding off to the bushes, she shifted her gaze back to into front of her.

With a sigh, she recognized a Thunderclan cat in their path. She skirted to a halt, instinctively stepping behind Emberstrike. He was deputy, he had the power here. Plus, it was just a young female warrioress. He could handle her, surely. She seemed itching for a fight however. She began pacing the border, fur on edge. Cherrysong huffed at her unattractive display. She was about to say so, when she caught the she-cat looking back up the border. It was then she saw the rest of the Thunderclan patrol and realized they were in trouble. There was about to be a fight. The way this she-cat was acting, she believed the bored was exactly where it was supposed to be. But it most certainly was not. Cherrysong's gaze shifted Emberstrike, watching the tom's reaction. She wondered if he was going to try to reason with them at all, if he was going to go straight into accusing. Shifting her gaze back to the patrol, she realized they were outnumbered. She turned her head to the two medicine cats. Stay close. You might have to run back to get help. She didn't want her voice to be loud, but she wanted them to hear it as well.

She had to make a decision then and there if she was going to fight, assuming one broke out. She looked to the tom beside her, knowing full well he could've handled one lone she-cat by himself, but not an entire patrol. Cloudleap would be too nervous to fight, but Crowslip might come to help if needed. But when it came down to it, she needed Emberstrike alive. And in order to ensure that, she had to stay to fight. She didnt want to. She didnt like getting her claws dirty with the blood of overgrown rats, but she had to. She rolled her eyes within her mind. This was pointless. Her fighting. She could run back now and be back in time to maybe save Emberstrike. But that maybe was too much. She couldn't guarantee that the next deputy, Starclan forbid Ember did die, would show as much potential as he did. So she unsheathed her claws and turned a malicious gaze onto the pacing Thunderclanner. She was daring her to come over the border with her eyes, daring her to start a fight. But she did it with class, with pride. Her pretty nose was held up high; her breathing stayed calm. She was calm on the outside. The malevolent glint in her crystal blue eyes was the only thing showing her true feelings. And she wanted that to be there. She didnt want to say anything to the unattractive rat in front of her, lest she ruin Emberstrike's chance of a diplomatic solution should he so choose he wanted to attempt one, but it was hard work keeping it all in.

With a deep breath, the warrioress moved closer to Emberstrike, her fur mingling with his. She was a relatively large she-cat, not fat, just broad. She had the body of an average tomcat, so she didnt have far to reach up to the deputy's ear. Let's stir up some trouble. Whaddya say? She looked in disgust toward the pacing she-cat. Cherrysong returned to her normal pose, taking a step away from Ember. There was no way anyone but Ember had heard her - if they did they would've had to have super hearing. As the Thunderclanner continued to pace, waiting for her patrol to catch up, Cherry saw an increasing chance of a fight. If a border fight broke out, and it was Thunderclan's fault, then more Shadowclan warriors would see the need to take over their neighbor. Otherwise, they might be taken over first. Plus, Cherry really disliked this Thunderclanner. She didn't dare let it show, or let it raise her blood pressure. But the she-cat shouldn't have been this far in front of the patrol anyways. Cherry could've easily dragged her small body into the pine forest as Ember slit her throat. And no one would've known until they got back to camp. Ignorant vermin these days. They were getting increasingly more stupid as they moons went on. Cherry finally got to the point where she couldn't hold it in anymore. She had to say something. This she-cat was just too antsy, goo impatient. She was itching for a fight - a fight that would help Cherrysong in achieving her dream. All she needed was a little provoking. Just a little.

Cherry took a step forward, calm as undisturbed water on her surface. With her melodic voice, she spoke out. Impatience is so unattractive on you, my dear. Cherry clicked her tongue in disapproval toward the Thunderclanner, taking another step toward her. Your pacing the border like an eager kit ready to become an apprentice. Why don't you come across here, and I'll show you what a real warriors like. This is my land. Since you obviously think its yours anyway, come across and defend it. Or is the overgrown rat going to wait for an order?" Though her voice was sweet as honey, her words flew through the air like darts. She wanted this fight. She wanted to show Shadowclan how desperate they needed to take over Thunderclan before they took over them. Cherry was still well across border, on the Shadowclan side, and if the antsy warrioress jumped across, the fight would be her fault. Regardless if Cherry provoked her or not. She looked to Ember and winked, hoping she was right about him.

C H E R R Y S O N G

Cherry watched as the scene unfolded before her. And suddenly she was overwhelmed. Overwhelmed with disgust. This she-cat deputy, Quietstep, walked into the conversation just as Cherry had finished taunting the ruffled she-cat. She listened with intent as she scolded the warrioress for running ahead. Her eyes shifted to Ember as the other deputy spoke to him. Cherry saw the expression on his face and realized he was trying to find a diplomatic solution to this. She was surprised, but dared not show it. Her icy stare found its way onto movement on the Thunderclan side of the border, a tom was just now coming in. She rolled her eyes. First a trigger happy apprentice warrior, and now a slug of a warrior. What was with this patrol? If she was in charge, Cherry certainly would not allow this to happen. Especially in front of a deputy from another clan.

She couldn't believe that Quietstep's excuse to the border being pushed was that Thunderclan needed this land. This land? Of all lands? Prey wasn't even that plentiful here. Through squinted and mistrusting eyes Cherry ran her gaze over the deputy. The she-cat was thin and small, and her size would make it easy for either Ember or herself to overpower the deputy. She the glanced to puffed up ginger she-cat, her gaze turning even colder with malice. She didnt try to hide her disgust. Right now, this she-cat was number for lowest of the low on her vermin list.

She was even smaller than the deputy, and opposed no threat to Cherry. She might be able to run quicker, and be more nimble, but power always won in the end. Cherry also assumed she was young, still inexperienced. Knowledge and patience would a fight against her. Her crystal eyes shifted to the new character, who seemed to not really pose any threat at all. He was stronger than the Thunderclan she-cats, but his movements were slow. She guessed he would be a slow fighter as well.

She looked to Ember, knowing full well he was probably thinking the same things. The burnt orange she-cat moved closer to the tom, once again reaching up to his ear. We can take them in a fight. They may out number us, but they are weaker. Inexperienced. We have wisdom and power on them. Not to mention, if we let them have this much land, who's to say they won't try to tale more? Give them a chance to leave, but if they don't take we'll have to force them. That is, if you want to appear like a strong clan. But its your choice, Ember my dear. Cherry's voice was honey sweet and soft, floating to his war like lofty feathers. She loved her voice, for every word she spoke was like a song. She backed away from him, letting him think about the words she had spoken. There was no way the others could have heard her, for her voice was but a soft whisper. Tail twitching, claws unsheathed, her muscles prepared for anything to happen.

C H E R R Y S O N G