[Jayvines]

~ Sparrowflight ~

Hustling back into camp, Sparrowflight had just barely managed to make it over to the base of the Thunderwillow before Brightpath and her hunting patrol padded in. Attempting to smooth down her fur from her race back through the forest with a few quick licks, the tan molly's ears flicked up attentively as she praised the two apprentices she had led.

"I'm glad to hear Thunderclan's youth have been successful," she replied with a brief grin. "Keep up the good work, and thank you for guiding them along."

[ @zenosaurus ]

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However, the good news of Brightpath's successful hunting venture was interrupted by Copperfire careening back into camp shouting about... Dustclaw's body? Briefly, the confusion and alarm that had her fluffing up her fur was marred by sorrow. While Dustclaw had been exiled, and for good reason, their death was an unexpected side-effect of that.

"It is... Unfortunate that they met such an end," Sparrowflight stated as a frown creased her muzzle. "But this confirms the current threat of unsavory rogues about the area. Take another warrior, one of his kin if there are any left in the clan, with you back to the border and bury the body on our side of the border. He may not deserve a place under Willow's Rise, but we can allow him a burial within our territory."

A death was concerning, no matter the individual. If rogues were acting this brutal amongst those not within the clans, how would they treat those that were?

[ @MaryTheCrow feel free to take a warrior of your choosing back to the border to bury the body ]

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Another call of her name turned her attention to... Batblood? Green eyes flicked around to the clearing behind him, and her lips pressed together as he finished his report. What was going on with Roosterflame? The tom had been enthusiastic to go, but his potentially distractible nature was beginning to be a problem; this was the second time his patrol hadn't been reported in by him.

"Thank you Batblood," she stated, quickly turning her attention back to the younger warrior with a small grin. "I'll see how the two littermates do on their next patrol. Perhaps they will manage to surpass our expectations when working together."

[ @Spotty ]

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Finally she could take a breath. Settling down onto her haunches with a huff, Sparrowflight began to groom a few loose bits of debris from her pelt. Only one patrol left to report back and they were running a bit on the late side. However, with their late start due to the two young apprentice's having to be convinced apart she supposed she could let it slide.

It had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that Cinderstar was on the patrol. Nope. It definitely wasn't because she'd have no idea how she would enforce her usual punishments on one of the few cats that ranked above her. Absolutely not.

Finally, the telltale sign of the boisterous young warrior she placed in charge of this patrol appeared; and with a rather large muskrat to boot! A brief flash of a smile appeared on her muzzle before Sparrowflight schooled her features back into a more neutral expression. Asterdance was thorough in her explanation, and the deputy waited for them to fully finish before speaking up.

"While you are a touch on the late side..." she began, before pausing dramatically (rather forebodingly if she did say so herself). After she felt the silence had drawn out enough to make the younger cat squirm a little, Sparrowflight broke back into a grin. "My patrol also fell a bit behind today, so I will let it slide just this once. Thank you for your contribution to the prey pile, and I agree; muskrats are certainly odd looking creatures."

Briefly her eyes flicked to the small injury with a knowing look.

"Do get that scratch at least cleaned out by Sundust. Trust me when I say, little injuries can quickly evolve into bigger problems if you don't."

Giving Asterdance a final grin and a flick of her tail in dismissal, Sparrowflight rose to her paws and padded off to the camp enterance. There were a few cats she needed to locate who had fallen short today, and hopefully they would all reappear unscathed.

[ @x ghostie ]