Coconutpaw was following, very wary of her surroundings. It scared her. The whole idea that there could be a fight; really the whole idea that Grousestar was allowing his clan to live here. They were fine back at the other territory, why did it matter so much to stay with the other four clans? They had been a peaceful clan beforehand with minimal problems. Here, they were constantly fighting, constantly struggling to live. It was terrible, it only added onto Coconutpaw's anxieties. The tortoiseshell was thankful that her mentor was here though, she knew she could trust him. With her lack of fighting skills, she was definitely going to try to stick close to him if they encountered a Dusk Syndicate patrol. The last patrol didn't end well, the blood scent was fairly fresh, and if you looked closely, you'd see fur. Oh Starclan... They were unpredictable and she only feared the worst. It was obvious because the hints of fear she felt radiated off her pelt and towards the patrol around her.

At her mentors gesture, she padded quickly up to his flank, furthest from the border. They were stopped. Oh Starclan... please don't let them show up... she pleaded mentally, her yellow hues were darting around the dark territory, half expecting a cat to come around the trees. If only she knew the mayhem that was going to occur shortly. Just like her mentor stated, Coconutpaw could clearly smell the terrible scent of the Dusk Syndicate. It made her nose crinkle up and her teeth bare slightly. They smelled horrible. At her mentor’s words, she felt a little at ease, but she knew deep down that was merely false hope. If they attacked them out of nowhere, there was no protecting her. She'd have to put her very little training to use. It'd be good experience, but unlike other apprentices, she was not thrilled about that.

@AbsurdJinx @The Eye Of The Storm @Pathos @Turtlestrike @starfall
{Sorry, was working all day. I'm free all weekend, or at least until the patrol is done}

@starfall @Pathos @The Eye Of The Storm @AbsurdJinx @Turtlestrike

ABSURDJINX'S POST[supposed to go before this]:
Aspenflash took no notice of Jayfall's leaderly comment - as long as the other tom meant no harm by it, Aspenflash couldn't care any less. His main priority was Coconutpaw, and he was sure so was Jayfall's - after all, as warriors they are meant to look after the younger and weaker. Unlike Jayfall who looked ready to pounce, he stood tall in an attempt to strike intimidation into any opponents. His thick, long pelt reinforced with muscle already made him appear larger than average. His yellow-green eyes gleamed with challenge, and his sharp, unsheathed claws drilled into the ground. His tail lashed ferociously - Aspenflash was a tomcat ready for a fight.

He'd taken notice of the faint murmurs and growls, but they echoed in his ears and he failed to pinpoint an exact location. There's about two of them. As far as Aspenflash was aware, the felines who caused the sound were on the Dusk Syndicate side of the border. And that's where his sharp gaze lied... staring, watching, glaring at the other side of the border he oh-so despised. Finally, when his patience was wearing thin, Aspenflash called in a gruff tone, ``Well?`` He stepped forward slightly. ``Show yourselves, or are you too scared?`` His intentions were to tease them to the point of anger, to the point where they could no longer keep themselves hidden, to the point where they were so mad they had control over their actions - a cat driven by anger is predictable as their main aim is simply to inflict pain; thinking is not in the equation. ``C'mon, we're waiting. We've been waiting, actually. I've come to the conclusion that you're rather slow - are you interested in coming out here and proving me otherwise?``

--

My Post:
Coconutpaw looked between Jayfall and Aspenflash. Of course she didn't listen to Jayfall and stuck closely to the mottled tom-cat instead. However, unlike her mentor, she stuck to staying low while he stood high. She'd never be able to face the territory like that, at least not in her mind. The tortoiseshell's yellow hues widened as three cats emerged on the other side of the border, she felt her pelt begin to bristle. Mustering up all her courage, she stood beside Aspenflash, her height only meeting his shoulders at that moment. She stayed absolutely silent. She didn't want a fight to break out, but already her mentor was provoking one and they were obviously looking for one. They were the first Dusk Syndicate cats she'd met. They looked mean. They sounded mean. They must be mean. They were here to fight and Coconutpaw secretly denied the oncoming attack.

She quietly listened to them, her eyes beginning to shine with defiance until one of them looked directly at her. The fear crept back up over her pelt and she felt her legs become weak. Oh please no... I can't fight him! she averted her gaze from Orion and looked at the other two instead. That didn't last long as she stepped a little close to Aspenflash, their fur brushing. It was more of a comfort thing for the apprentice. It didn't last long as her gaze settled on the ground before the other three felines. At least she appeared to be looking at them when she really wasn't, it gave her a more confident looking factor despite the fear radiating off her pelt. She couldn't help it!

--

Absurdjinx's Post
Aspenflash briefly felt his young apprentice step closer to him as the Dusk Syndicate cats made their appearance. He let his tail brush against her in an act of comfort - or, what he hoped to be comforting. He was never really skilled in the art of comforting - In fact, he wasn't very talented in anything `soft`. Once, his energetic daughter told him and his mate a kinda worthless story and then preceded to bound around them. As she did that, he had leaned towards his mate and asked her if their daughter was `okay`. He had been serious, too. A stab of hurt pierced his heart at the memories of his late family, and in that moment, he knew he'd be fighting for everyone he lost.

He took a few moments to size up the opponent. Aspenflash figured he'd be facing the ferocious-looking she-cat before him. Belladonna, the two tomcats had called her. Though they appeared to call her Bella in an attempt to irritate her. She had long legs as he had observed before she crouched, and he figured they could match each others' height. Her thick, rugged fur appeared to be quite the advantage for her - where was her skin? And how would he ever get his claws through those knots? Her dilated eyes glared up at him, enforced with a low growl - that is, until she turned her head to respond to her groupmate.

Aspenflash took a chance. She wasn't paying attention, and he had the advantage. Besides, it was obvious there would be no talking. The Dusk Syndicate were fighters, not peacemakers. Before he could make his move, however, he turned his head in the slightest and flashed Coconutpaw a reassuring smile. And then, he launched himself at Belladonna, his teeth bared in a snarl. His yellow-green eyes flared with hostility, and his unsheathed claws were outstretched. He had aimed for her back, where he hoped he would land heavily and perhaps stun her with his weight.

@starfall @Pathos @Turtlestrike @The Eye Of The Storm
Aspenflash leaped away, leaving Coconutpaw on her own suddenly. As her gaze dragged to follow her mentor in the sudden tussle, she was quickly alerted by the feline pouncing in front of her. Instinctively, she cowered down. Her fluffy fur puffed out to make herself appear bigger despite the tom towering over her. It was useless, she knew this tom was going to ruin her day. Little did the apprentice know, it'd be the fight that changed her life. For the better, of course, not worse. The she-cat hissed. "What's the point of fighting! Even if you win this border skirmish, Skyclan will tear you to shreds in the end!" she defied the fighter, her ears flattening to her skull.

With that, the apprentice felt his weight barrel into her. Without thinking or aiming, she lashed her forepaws out violently. Hissing and spitting in the process of trying to get a blow on the tom. It didn't matter where, she simply had to strike him somewhere, leave a couple scratches somewhere. Her blows were clumsy, obviously due to the lack of training, but her claws were sharp as needles still. Coconutpaw felt the air leave her body for a moment as they hit the ground, assuming that was his intentions. Although her paws didn't stop flailing. She had to try. Had to appear like she wasn't totally useless.

Ajax. A muscular feline with a pearly white coat topped off with blazing blue eyes and black paws, tail and ear tufts. He wasn't too short but resting at a medium height. Sometimes he stil towered over the Wimpy dusk syndicate cats he knew or attempted to be sociable with. Now though he was dead silent not a single word. The Tom made catious steps through the field that lead up to the skyclan border. Ears Angeled in the direction of the first scent marker while his nostrils flared up in the wind. Catching the drifting scents of cats maybe from an earlier patrol. It was the first time the dusk syndicate actually had to share a border, Ajax spoke for everybody when he said how much they disliked the arrangements. It was petty. If you couldn't protect your borders you don't deserve to have them. Hence the little war they seem to be having. Though none of the fights where massive and death defying it still got exciting to hear from the cats that returned how it went. Finally it was Ajax that was going to mouth of the fox dung skyclan cats and once and for all prove the dusk sydnicate was stronger. Though he didn't officially align himself loyal with the Dusk syndicate, just where there was a fight he wanted to be. His tooth and claws seemed to get him the respect he needed wherever he happened to go, here it seemed slightly perminent due to the constant figting and free food. He than drifted back into reality when he approached the skyclan border, If I'm leading these knuckleheads-which was what he was supposed to be doing-I'm goign to have to do it right. Get these young cats into a fight for once, even if this means we stake out for an oncoming patrol. thought he Tom as the group silently advanced. Than with a quick wave of his tail he stopped, blood freezing as the excitement built up in his chest. He took another step and intentionally cracked a stick under paw. A crow went into a frenzy as it lifted into the air and ascends. Slightly embrassed he had stopped everyone to look at a bird he lashed his tail twice more than got to his paws. "I think we are clear for now" he meows gruffly as he pushed throught the bushes to peer at the border.

@Cloudy @Bright @meraki @Lonestar23 @vantrums

Ajax had expected the snooty skyclan cats to react like that, not the patrol he was on in all honesty. It didn't make sense for these cats bickered with anger, why not like he did? It certainly got cats mad at him, which meant objective reached. The Tom stepped in the way of the other Dusk syndicate cats, he lead this patrol and he was goingto do it right with no exceptions. The skyclan cats would deliver the first blow while they laid back defensivly. He had a tactic in mind. "Skyclan territory? Well that's awful unfortunate isn't it? Cause last time I checked this was ours. Zotuosy I believe your right. You may need to check your facts skyclanners" the feline paused for a good moment. He turned back to his patrol looking at arrow than too Zotuosy. "I guess they are as dumb as they say" he added before turning back to face the skyclan cats in front of him. He wasn't at all afraid of them lashing out due to his side comment. In fact he wanted to welcome it.Something snooty, rude and maybe just the right bit of enthusiasm. That will get them irked. he thought. Getting them mad was the first step to a successful battle. So Ajax seated himself, curling his tail around his black paws as his black tail blended in. His expression was a soft smile, a face of completely calm. Not a tinge of frustration or stress. "I hope you don't mind. My patrol and I we are very concerned, to save the trouble perhaps you should get off our territory. It will save some bloodshed" he added briskly tucking his paws under his tail, settling down. For a fact he knew this was inbetween both borders but was actually a bit closer to skyclan territory. Good. That will handle the injustice aspect. His ice cold eyes matched the hard stare he was receiving from a golden warrior ahead of him. He was pretty big and it was obviously taller than Ajax. He was the main worry. He others didn't seem to catch his eye all to much. The smaller one was a trainee or a young young warrior while the other she cat must've been a warrior.

Zotuosy didn't hesitate at all at Ajax’s words, and did exactly as he was told. Gladly. He lunged himself to the Skyclan she-cat whom he had his eyes on before, her seemingly the only one left to fight other than the apprentice-who he obviously would have no interest in fighting at all. His claws fully unsheathed, pearly white teeth bared, adrenaline pumping throughout his body, he was ready for whatever she had and what she'd bring on him.

@Vantrums

Once both him and the sun coloured warrior skid to a hault next to the dead bushes lining the strip of land between the da and Skyclan. He felt his claws prickly his skin and draw little blobs if blood. He squirmed neaneath him taking his claws down the toms shoulders, he than drove his hind legs into his belly trying to pry him off "Good job! You have started a war!" he yowled between gasps as he wriggled madly under his body