Several days came and went without incident, and eventually Dappledpaw managed to put her strange dream aside. Icestar had really pushed up her training, teaching her all manner of complicated combat techniques. He wasn't going easy on her, and her muscles ached more often than not, but Icestar said he was pleased with her progress. She was sure her assessment was imminent and that drove her forward. She was ready to be a warrior; to serve her leader and her clan fully.
Sure enough, one morning as she stretched out just after leaving the den, Icestar appeared before her. "When Sedgepaw wakes, inform them it's time for your assessments." He inclined his head towards the main camp exit. "Weedfur and I will meet you at the training ground after you've eaten." His voice was his normal neutral gruffness, but his slow blink at her as he turned to pad away seemed encouraging, at least to her.
She was quick to dart back into the den once she was sure her mentor's eyes were no longer on her. "Wake up mousebrain!" She hissed urgently into Sedgepaw's ear, shoving her brother roughly in the side with her paws. Rowanpaw was already gone, his nest nearby empty but still warm; he'd left with Kowhaifall for training just before Dappledpaw got up... Thankfully. Dappledpaw didn't want his whining about not also doing his assessment today to ruin her excitement! He'd get over it! He was younger than them after all, and his hunting really was just abysmal.
Sedgepaw groaned as his sibling repeatedly beat him with her paws. "Get. Up!" She barked at him again, wondering if she needed to use claws.
"'Mm up, I'm up…" The pointed tom muttered, rolling over to glare at her out of the slit of one bleary eye. "Where's the fire?"
"Our assessments!" Dappledpaw hissed urgently. It's hard for her to keep her composure as it is, let alone in the face of Sedgepaw's lackadaisical attitude. "We have to meet Icestar and Weedfur once we've eaten, so get your tail moving!" She doesn't wait for a response as he gapes at her, trying to process what she just said with his half-awake brain, and instead whips around and exits the den once more, darting over to the fresh-kill pile.
Luckily the pile was quite full; no doubt the early morning hunting patrol topped up the fresh-kill left over from yesterday. She considers the options on the pile, weighing up something filling that will give her plenty of energy versus something light so she doesn't feel bloated. In the end she pulls out a modest sized thrush, meeting herself in the middle. Thoughtfully (and because she doesn't want him to make her late) she also picks out a blackbird for Sedgepaw, tossing it at him carelessly as he stumbles out of the den; smacking him in the face.
"Eat quickly!" She barks at him.
"Aww, ickle apprentice is panicking about her test." Mottledtail's cackle was unwelcome.
"Go away Mottledtail, I need to get focused. Not everyone can glide through life in a lackadaisical haze."
The young warrior pouted as she padded by, her thick fur looking particularly ungroomed today. "You are hurting my feelings, dear kin of mine! I'm just an annoying distraction to you, am I? "
"Yes!" Sedgepaw and Dappledpaw both insisted at the same time.
"Leave them be, Mottledtail." Horsefoot's deep rumbling voice chided gently. He was waiting nearby with Waspsting, Kauribark and Blackbird. They must be on the morning patrol together. "I can remember you being nervous about your own assessment." Horsefoot had been an apprentice around the same time as her, if Dappledpaw remembered correctly.
"You mean assessments." Kauribark commented pointedly as he licked his paw and cleaned his ears. Rowanpaw's father was much like his son in some aspects. "I recall you failed your first two."
"Can we stop wasting time?" Waspsting growled, impatient as ever. He was built incredibly similarly to his brother Icestar; only his pelt was a more creamish colour than Icestar's white. He was also far more of a loose cannon. Blackbird rested her tail on his shoulder to steady him. He immediately bristled, but Blackbird was such a laid-back cat she never seemed to get herself in too much trouble with anyone. He didn't even spit at her for the physical contact. There was some degree of gossip (never to his face, of course) that he fancied her. Maybe it was true after all.
"Relax, the border isn't going anywhere. Besides, there's never a bad time to tease Mottledtail." Blackbird purred with amusement. The warriors laughed, even Mottledtail, after she pulled a face. Dappledpaw really wished they would all leave. She tore into her meal, hoping they'd get the hint.
"Fine, fine. Let's go. Let the kits stew in peace." Mottledtail turned with an eye roll, noticing how Dappledpaw was ignoring them. "Good luck though, brats, really, I'm rooting for you." Blackbird also waved her tail in a wordless casual support.
"You will both do well. You are going to be fine warriors." Horsefoot offered in his usual calm way as he padded off towards the exit. Waspsting followed him, only glancing at the apprentices with a snort of dismissal. Sedgepaw often liked to say that he wasn't sure that tom liked anyone or anything. Dappledpaw could defend his strength, and his utter loyalty to Icestar and his strong desire to protect the clan… but he was grumpy and rude.
After the interruption, they were both quick to down their birds and race off towards the training grounds to meet their mentors. Icestar and Weedfur were sitting in a calm silence in the grounds, about a cat length apart from each other; heads tilted slightly upward to take in the morning sun's rays.
"There you are." Weedfur greeted as they arrived, opening his eyes that had been shut in enjoyment of the warmth. "I hope you both got down a meal; you will need your energy today."
Icestar said nothing, merely observing both of the apprentices in that neutral way where you could never tell what he was thinking.
"We're ready." Dappledpaw took a confident step forward, putting the effort in to ensure her voice was steady and certain. Sedgepaw couldn't help but look nervous, and swallowed quickly before nodding along.
"Good. You will run a length of our border each; acting as if you were on a patrol, as well as hunting as the opportunity arises. Sedgepaw, you will take our western border from the top of the northern cliffline down to the rivermouth point that touches both Fernclan and Tussockclan land. Dappledpaw, you will take the eastern border with Flaxclan; same as Sedgepaw, top to bottom. Be careful of any enemy patrols; we are not popular right now. Do not let them see you; an apprentice alone is an easy target." Icestar instructed with his rumbling voice. "We will be testing to see how you function as a warrior in a day-to-day scenario."
"What about testing our combat skills?" Dappledpaw inquired, though she quickly flattened her ears as Icestar narrowed his eyes at her. Ugh, she really needed to learn to stop interrupting him with questions!
One of Icestar's small black ears twitched, but he carried on without showing any anger, if he was feeling it. "Weedfur and I are well aware of both of your battle abilities already, at least as much as we can be outside of a real attack scenario."
"We will be watching. Don't try to find us either." Weedfur added, staring directly at Sedgepaw, who chuckled awkwardly. "You have until the sun is at its highest to meet us back at camp." He inclined his head. "Good luck."
Dappledpaw hoped Icestar would also wish her luck, but he simply blinked and said "I expect good things from you," before turning and melting into the undergrowth with Weedfur.
Okay, no pressure… She took a deep breath. She could do this. Icestar had picked her out for greatness after all; passing her assessment would be easy. "Good luck brother." Dappledpaw rested her tail on Sedgepaw's back a moment. "I'll see you on the other side."
Sedgepaw chuckled nervously, but straightened up and touched his head to hers quickly. "Yeah, we'll be getting our warrior names tonight for sure. Mine is going to be something cool like Sedgefang… oooh, or Sedgetalon!" He grinned as he started to pad away, glancing back over his shoulder. "...And we can rub Rowanpaw's nose in it."
With that delightful thought in her mind, Dappledpaw headed northeast to begin her patrol. She left the rocky scattered scrub behind; the plant-life around her growing thicker, taller and greener as she neared the northeastern corner of their territory; snug up against a sheer cliff topped by the thick mountain forest. In a valley not far from here was the path to the Starfalls; the place where leaders and herbalists went to communicate with Starclan. All apprentices of Gorseclan had to make the journey once before becoming a warrior as well; acting as escorts. She wasn't sure if any of the other clans had that tradition. She, Sedgepaw and Rowanpaw had all gone together; escorting Longfang a couple of moons prior.
Once she reached as far as the cliff allowed, she found the scent of Flaxclan at the eastern border. The scent was pungent; a slightly swampy odour. Her nose crinkled slightly. Ugh, she was going to have this stink in her nose all day? At least Sedgepaw got to follow the Fernclan border; Fernclan scent just smelt like a forest after rain; strong smells of moss and fern and fallen leaves. The marker from the proper Gorseclan dawn patrol was here too; the fresh, subtle odour of warm stone.
Despite the fact the patrol had already been by, she quickly left a marker of her own. A nice reminder for those uppity Flaxclan cats, and she needed to make sure she did everything correctly, as if she was on a real patrol. She needed to make sure that she remembered to keep an eye out for chances to hunt too… Dappledpaw felt like she was being watched, and she was sure she was. Icestar doubtless was hiding somewhere nearby; just out of her area of detection.
She padded along the border; not at a creep, but a purposeful slow trot, weaving around tree and rock, her blue eyes darting all around and her ears matching the quick movements. The apprentice knew that she needed to take in everything. She couldn't miss the smallest detail on what Flaxclan's border movements were, nor any prey in the area. By the time she'd left the forest behind and was about halfway through her patrol; having entered the farmland's flat fields of grass -the border marked by a post and wire fence- Dappledpaw had caught and cached a mouse, a sparrow and a finch. She wondered if she'd have to go back and fetch her caught prey herself, or if Icestar had planned for that and would send someone else. Knowing him, they'd want them to go back for them this afternoon after a rest at sunhigh back in camp.
It was all going rather well, and she was quite proud of herself… And then the scent of Flaxclan suddenly grew incredibly strong. The mild smell that she'd been following down the border; one of markings made a few hours prior, was gone. This was fresh. Incredibly fresh. She sniffed the air, then the ground before her, winding around the post where the normal marker would be. The fur on her back bristled as she whipped around, looking deeper into Gorseclan territory. "Those frog-eating-!"
"Dappledpaw." Icestar's deep growl-tinged voice behind her made her jump.
"Icestar! Flaxclan is-"
"I know." He hissed angrily. "Seems Swallowstar wasn't content to heed my warning." He sniffed the air, his mouth slightly agape to fully take in the scent; his huge canine teeth just visible. Dappledpaw wouldn't want to be a Flaxclan warrior right now. "I'm afraid your assessment will have to wait."
Dappledpaw almost wished she could protest, but of course protecting their border mattered far more than her assessment. There was always another day. "Of course Icestar, what do you want me to do?"
"The scent is still fresh; they can't have penetrated too far into our land." He craned his neck, trying to see if he could spot the enemy patrol in the farmland ahead, but the grass was too tall at this time of year. "Can you run; you aren't tired?"
She nodded quickly, her eyes flashing with determination. She wouldn't let him down, even if her paws burned and legs ached.
"Good. I want you to run back to camp… or even if you come across a patrol before then… As many cats as you can gather. The patrol has at least six cats…" He sniffed again. "Maybe more. You will be faster than me. I will track them, keep an eye on them. It seems they headed straight ahead, but they are likely going to be targeting our camp. We'll head them off and teach them a lesson for thinking they can just waltz onto our land as they please!"
"Yes Icestar!" Dappledpaw didn't wait to be dismissed; impassioned, she turned on her paws and took off sprinting across the field back in the direction of camp. The tall grass whipped at her face, but she merely narrowed her eyes and continued running. She wouldn't slow for anything, not even the massive cattlebeasts grazing lazily around her. They paid her no mind as long as she didn't get too close.
As luck would have it, she came across other cats before she got back to camp. Well, ran into other cats. As she left the fields behind and entered the scrub forest, she was looking around her, alert for the enemy, when her body collided with something solid. "Watch where you are going, furball!" Waspsting hissed angrily as the both of them were knocked back slightly.
"What's the rush, kit?" Mottledtail questioned curiously from behind the tom. Waspsting's morning patrol! Thank Starclan! There were some strong fighters among them; they'd be more than a match for mangey old Flaxclan!
By this point Dappledpaw was panting heavily and she had to take a few breaths before she could get out an answer. "Flaxclan… Flaxclan has-"
"Out with it already." Waspsting growled impatiently.
"A Flaxclan patrol has invaded our territory!"
"The nerve!" Blackbird spat, her much larger brother losing his gentle expression next to her.
"Swallowstar has more guts than sense." Horsefoot huffed, the fur on his spine bristling.
"Where?!" Waspsting demanded urgently, Mottledtail already looking excited behind him. She was always down for a brawl. Kauribark's lips curled to bare his teeth.
"Icestar is following them, but he guessed they are likely heading for our camp; they entered halfway on their border. He wanted me to fetch cats to head them off before they got too deep into our land." Dappledpaw explained, pinning her ears back. "We need to hurry!"
"Are you sure you are still fresh enough to fight? You've been on your assessment and then run all the way here?" Horsefoot offered with concern.
"I'm fine! I can save you time, I know they aren't the way I came!"
Horsefoot exchanged a doubtful look with some of the other warriors, but Waspsting, leader of the patrol, snorted and started to move off. "If she thinks she can keep up, let her. We don't have time to argue." He growled impatiently. "If she gets hurt, that's on my brother for not teaching her restraint." Dappledpaw had to resist rolling her eyes; as if Waspsting knew anything about restraint. She'd never seen such a greedy cat at meal times!
Still, as the patrol took off at a sprint, she followed. "I came straight from the middle of the eastern border, We should head more westward, I think they probably went further ahead before going north!" Dappledpaw called out as the others pulled ahead of her. She was going to be trailing them, it was true, but she would keep up! She wasn't missing out on this.
Her paws felt like all the skin had been ripped off them by the time the patrol suddenly skidded to a halt ahead of her, and as she reached them, Dappledpaw fell into a crouch beside the group. "Are they there?" She whispered.
"Not far. I caught their scent in the wind." Blackbird replied. She was one of the clan's best trackers. She stalked to the front of the group in the tall dry grass, her large ears twitching this way and that. "I think I hear voices…"
"Okay everyone, I have a plan." Mottledtail said, her naturally loud voice only just hushed enough to stop Waspsting from swatting her.
"Oh yes, because your last plan at a border skirmish went so well." Kauribark droned, leering at her. Starclan did Dappledpaw really see the resemblance to Rowanpaw when he made that face.
"This plan is not going to be anything like that plan."
"How?"
"It's a different plan."
"You aren't elaborating."
"Shut. Up." Waspsting snarled quietly. "We move on my signal. The plan is to ambush, fight, and win." Simple and aggressive. Yep, that sounded like a Waspsting idea alright. Still, Dappledpaw wouldn't argue. She was itching to kick these swamp-swimmers out of her turf! Especially after they interrupted her warrior assessment!
The patrol waited, crouched in the grass, tense, as the enemy cats drew nearer. They were downwind, and the Flaxclan patrol was talking quietly among themselves as they approached. Dappledpaw wondered if Icestar was still following them. He'd be able to block their escape if he was right on their tails.
Waspsting had pushed his body as close to the ground as his muscular form allowed, small ears straining forward. He was perfectly still. And then, his tail flicked. It was not a large movement, but Dappledpaw had been educated to its meaning. Now!
She moved in unison with the rest of the patrol, bursting out of the long grass with a powerful kick of her hind legs and a loud yowl in her throat. She landed slightly short of where she anticipated the Flaxclan cats to be, and had expected the same of the rest of the patrol. Etiquette typically dictated that a trespassing patrol be confronted verbally before resorting to violence, on the rare chance they may be there for emergency reasons rather than looking for trouble. Was that likely with how these Flaxclan cats were sneaking around? No, but it was the way things usually were done.
Waspsting and Mottledtail didn't seem to have gotten the memo though, for they had both collided directly with Flaxclan warriors, going tumbling in a spitting, clawing heap. In a split second Dappledpaw's mind tried to take in as much visual information as possible. Icestar's estimations on their numbers were right; six shocked-looking Flaxclan cats, including the two now tussling with the Gorseclan warriors. She didn't know all of them by name, but had seen them all at Gatherings before. The senior-most warrior she could see was Sharptongue; a greying she-cat with a fearsome reputation. She must be leading the patrol. Another one she did know by name was Greybrook, a grey tabby a bit older than her who had recently gotten her warrior name. They had spoken occasionally at Gatherings when she was still an apprentice. Dappledpaw had never liked her; she was stuck up as Rowanpaw, and living in Flaxclan? They had nothing to be stuck up about!
Evaluating the cats present, Dappledpaw quickly decided Greybrook was her best target. She was the closest to her in age, size, and experience. But she was sure she'd outmatch the Flaxclan she-cat in skill. Her eyes fixed on the she-cat, as her head ran through the training Icestar had given her on striking the first blow.
And speaking of the leader, where was he? He should have been right behind the patrol… Now wasn't the time to linger on the thought, she charged ahead as the two patrols clashed, slamming into the side of Greybrook with a strong pounce before she could tag-team Waspsting with Sharptongue.
Greybrook went tumbling over into the grass, spitting. Dappledpaw's momentum sent her with the other young she-cat; still trying to keep her claws in contact with her enemy. The rest of the battle was a blur of moving shapes and a din of white noise around her. All she was focused on was her own fight. She was going to smack this cat in her snobbish snout and send her running back to Flaxclan with her tail between her legs! Their rolling clash came to a stop; Greybrook holding Dappledpaw up at bay from her soft underbelly as she lay on her back. In that moment, the Flaxclan warrior had time to recognise who was attacking her. "You!" She spat with disdain. "Still sticking your nose in where you don't belong; apprentice?"
"Aren't you the ones in our territory?!" She snarled in return. "No matter… After I prove myself in this battle, Icestar's sure to make me a warrior!" Dappledpaw hissed, trying to brute force her way through the defense; claws agonising inches away from her enemy's weak point. "But even as an apprentice I still outclass a stinking Flaxclan wimp like you tenfold!" She rolled off Greybrook, and in an instant whipped back around from the side to try and get at her vulnerable belly and neck before she had a chance to change her defense.
Unfortunately the young warrior was able to scramble a counter, enough to deflect any significant damage; swiping at Dappledpaw with her hind legs to force her backwards while twisting her body and getting herself back on her feet.
Right. Flaxclan cats were flexible; Icestar had said so during her training on the other clans' specific fighting styles. She was seeing it firsthand now. She needed to make sure this eel couldn't slip out from under her paws if she wanted to beat her.
Greybrook decided to go on the offensive before Dappledpaw had more time to think and formulate a proper plan. The slightly larger she-cat charged at her, claws outstretched, with a great yowling battle cry that blended into the din around them. Dappledpaw ducked, looking ready to jump out of the way, but instead rushed forward as well, ready to meet the warrior. She pulled back a front paw, and in a scooping motion, dragged it rapidly across the ground; flinging the dry, sandy earth straight into Greybrook's face. The tabby shrieked, recoiling.
"Dirty cheating Gorse Clan-! '' Whatever the end of the insult was, Dappledpaw couldn't know, for she took the opportunity while the young warrior was blinded to leap onto her back. Pinning her on her back in the dirt to get at her belly hadn't worked out last time, let's see how Greybrook dealt with her when she had her claws in her spine and her teeth on her neck!
Greybrook bucked and twisted, trying to dislodge Dappledpaw; all the while the tortoiseshell dug into her flesh, feeling blood welling up under her claws and the bitter taste of it in her mouth. The enemy warrior was yowling in pain and fury, but Dappledpaw would not be deterred. Suddenly, she felt a lurch underneath her; the body of Greybrook suddenly falling as the Flaxclan cat tried throwing herself to the ground in an attempt to get the persistent apprentice off her. This surprised Dappledpaw enough to loosen her grip; her paw getting trapped under Greybrook's side as she hit the ground. She hissed as she tried to regain herself, but Greybrook twisted in that slippery fashion once again now she'd gotten a little freedom, and latched her teeth onto Dappledpaw's free leg. It seemed they might have reached a stalemate; Dappledpaw's teeth were in the scruff of the warrior's neck, and Greybrook had her limb firmly in her own jaws. Dappledpaw's mind raced with ideas on how to proceed, and she was certain the slightly older she-cat was doing the same. They both huffed with stubbornness and exertion as neither wished to give ground, bristling tails lashing against the dry earth.
Were any of the other cats around them not preoccupied with their own scuffles, it might have been a comical sight for them.
Eventually, Greybrook forced Dappledpaw's hand. Maybe she was weakening from the blood loss flowing from her neck and back, and knew she needed to act. She released Dappledpaw's leg, and yanked herself free, losing some of her grey fur in the apprentice's teeth as she pulled away. Dappledpaw was quick to react as her front limbs became free, claws lashing towards Greybrook's retreating form. She wanted a moment to breathe, to gain distance. It was a common Flaxclan tactic. Icestar had taught her to keep the pressure on; to stay aggressive and not allow them a moment to think. Her claws just caught the edge of Greybrook's muzzle as she tried to get her head out of the way. Ha, she'd ruined her good looks now!
Dappledpaw continued her pursuit, and now Greybrook was just running away, not even turning to fight back. Coward! It only made the apprentice's blood burn hotter. She leapt after her, tripping her by knocking out her back legs and sending her tumbling through the long grass. Greybrook's eyes were now wild with a certain fear as she scrambled into a crouch; blood dripping from her muzzle, neck and back. "Enough!" She screeched in a pathetic way that made Dappledpaw's ears pin back. "I yield, I give up, you win." She covered her wounded face with her paw as she trembled on the ground, likely from a combination of fear and exhaustion.
"Where's all that confidence you were talking with a minute ago?" Dappledpaw towered over her, also panting heavily. Her tail was held high in the ear, her posture dominant. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Icestar had finally appeared on the scene, though for how long she couldn't know. He wasn't fighting himself right now, simply standing a couple of catlengths away, watching intently. He nodded slightly in what Dappledpaw could only call approval.
"Just let me go! You got your pound of flesh already."
"You were the one who came into our home looking for a fight! What's the problem, don't like that you got one?" Dappledpaw spat angrily, shaking her bitten leg as it irritated her, sending a small splatter of her blood across the grass stalks.
Greybrook curled in on herself slightly. She was probably in a lot of pain now the adrenaline was wearing off. "You proved your point; I'm a good warrior who just did what my leader told me… I hate fighting to be honest…" She trailed off; ears so flat against her skull they almost vanished in her thick fur. "I just want to go home…"
Dappledpaw hesitated. The pathetic edge to the young warrior's voice annoyed her sure, but… She looked uncertainly towards Icestar. Surely he would think she'd done a good job defending the territory since she'd beaten a warrior into total submission; ready to run home with her tail between her legs like a scolded mutt?
The white tom approached, pacing around Greybrook a moment, looking down at her from behind, and then back at Dappledpaw. He inclined his head again. "Good work, my apprentice. Now finish the job." She blinked at him, as Greybrook startled at his sudden deep voice speaking, whirling around to look at the leader with wide eyes.
Did he mean…? "She's ready to run home, Icestar. I won."
"You did. But these Flaxclan cats need a good hard lesson if they are going to not come sneaking back. They need to know what it means to mess with us unprovoked like this. Gorseclan is not weak." He huffed as he seemed to read the hesitation in her expression, looking annoyed. "Another scar or two should do it."
"Wait-!" Greybrook tried to protest, but one look from Icestar silenced the enemy warrior.
Oh. Now she felt silly. Well, Icestar did say in their lessons that killing blows should only be saved for when it was absolutely needed, after all. This wasn't one of those times was it? Icestar was experienced; he must know that the young warrior could take another blow or two for good measure without killing her. What was she thinking assuming that's what he meant? Dappledpaw nodded to him, and licked her lips as she looked down at Greybrook, who was horrified. She lifted her paw, and began to swing it down, but something stopped her, causing her to leave her paw hovering as Icestar barked at her to leave it.
A yowl rang out, and Icestar turned, baring his teeth. "More coming!"
Sharptongue seemed to have evaded her duel with Waspsting, and, now wounded, was coming running over to intervene for Greybrook, with another two warriors in tow. Dappledpaw took a step back, ready to follow Icestar's instructions. She was already tired, she didn't think she could take on more warriors that were experienced when they outnumbered her.
But then, suddenly, the three cats barreling down on them froze in place, skidding to a halt in the dirt. Sharptongue's were wide a moment with shock, then they narrowed with a shrewd hatred. "Let's not do anything hasty, Icestar."
Dappledpaw turned, following the enemy warrior's line of vision, to see her leader had drawn closer, and was now right next to her, standing over Greybrook with his front paws pinning her down, having dragged the warrior over by her already injured neck, causing more blood to flow from it. The young tabby was now silent, only trembling slightly. Icestar's claws were digging into her flesh, further injuring her.
"Hasty?" He inquired lightly back at the senior warrior. By now the other cats skirmishing nearby seemed to have noticed what was going on, and the fighting stilled. A cold silence fell over the grassland. "Not at all. Hasty was this baseless attack on my clan. I did warn your leader what would happen if you came to call like this, you know." Next to Greybrook under his feet, he looked massive as he loomed, his manner airy, but his eyes burning.
Sharptongue sneered. "Don't try your innocent act on me, you gullfood in a pelt. I know what you are."
Icestar's small ears twitched. "I'm hurt, truly. I respect you as a warrior, Sharptongue My father speaks highly of you in your prime.."
"Deepwater shove your respect, and I'm still plenty in my prime enough to leave your eyes for the rats!"
The patrol leader's scorn didn't seem to impress Icestar, for he dug his claws into the young warrior beneath his paws a little deeper. "Perhaps you need to be taught more about it then." His voice turned sharp like a flint.
Sharptongue's tail lashed in frustration. "Enough!" She sighed, gritting her teeth while Icestar paused. "Enough. We'll leave. Just… don't hurt her anymore."
"Good." Icestar hopped off and padded aside casually, his voice now much more pleasant. "I was watching this one fight, she shows promise, though not as much as my apprentice. It would be a shame for Flaxclan to lose that promise so pointlessly." His orange eyes flicked to Dappledpaw briefly, then back to the enemy patrol. "Take her and get out of my territory. And tell Swallowstar if he tries this again I won't be so lenient." And just like that, he padded off, the matter dealt with. "Waspsting, escort them to the border and make sure they leave our territory!" He called back over his shoulder.
Dappledpaw watched after him, a bit shocked at the whole event which just transpired. As the rest of the patrol gathered up and started to make after their leader, one of the other warriors, a massive black tom with green eyes just as intense as Icestar's own, glared them all down. She didn't know this one's name. "You wretches will pay for this. Mark my words." He snarled, before helping to gather up Greybrook, who was limp in her clanmates gentle grip. Dappledpaw started to leave, not staying to watch.
She wondered if the young warrior would survive.