Battle Plans (Crane; Open)

[xx snakey]

Duskstar stalked into the Riverclan camp without regard for the fact that it was not his own camp. He wanted blood. And He wanted it to be Shadowclan's. "Cranefeather!" He yowled, amber eyes sweeping the camp. THe only cat he could see was a small white she-cat with a gray dusting over her coat. "You! Where is Cranefeather?" He snarled at her and she jumped to her paws, returning his snarl fearlessly. "I don't know." She growled in returned, her tail lashing. "But you're tresspassing."

Shiverpath could feel the growl rising in her throat. How dare he! First they share territory with this scum and now he comes paraing around like he owns the place!? This was their camp! How could he? "You better leave now, or I'll make you leave." She challenged, even though this tom was much larger then she was. But Shiverpath was feirce. She wouldn't back down.

[Crane]

Cranefeather's ears pricked. Was that his name being shouted? Now was a bad time, he was playing with his kits in the nursery while Riverstar slept. He sighed, and shook Lazulikit off him.
"Where are you going, daddy?" the grey kit asked.
"Clan business," he replied, "I'll be back to play after."
He trotted out briskly, to suddenly see a confrontation between Duskstar - what was he doing here? - and Shiverpath, one of the Clan warriors.
"Duskstar!" he snapped, "Must you announce your presence so loudly? The large white tom was annoyed, now. Sure, they'd both agreed to share territory, but coming uninvited into RiverClan's camp? His ear flicked in irritation. There was no point getting mad though. He and Duskstar were too evenly matched for a fight to be any fun and besides, he needed Duskstar until the forest was his.
"Thankyou, Shiverpath, you did the right thing defending camp," he praised her, "But I need to speak with Duskstar now." He dismissed her with a flick of his tail and turned to Duskstar. "What do you wish to see me about?"

[xx snakey]

Duskstar snarled as the she-cat retreated a short distance and sat down to watch the two toms. He then looked at Cranefeather, his pelt prickling. "Why haven't we attacked yet? I thought it would be soon, but you have made no move to discuss battle plans with me, so I am here to do just that." He said, his voice calm but his eyes betrayed anger, rage, hate, and more then that, bloodlust. Each day more and more of him slipped into darkness and more of the monster took over. He wanted blood, soon. "I do believe Shadowclan is in a weak spot right now. We should attack them first, before they ally themselves with Windclan." He said, his ears flicking back and forth in an almost paranoid way. THe voices kept coming back and they were more urgent now. He had to rule the forest, soon.

[Crane]

"My mate had her kits a few days ago," retorted Cranefeather, "I've been busy, looking after my kits, unlike some other cats." He narrowed his eyes at Duskstar. Cranefeather didn't miss much, and he knew about the incident with one of the ShadowClan she-cats.
Don't get angry, don't get angry, he chanted. Getting mad was not going to help in the slightest.
"You're right, however, we should attack them first," he agreed, "then it will be easy to crush WindClan!" He glanced around and lowered his voice. "We should attack them just before the next Gathering. They won't be expecting it. That gives us a while to prepare, as well. What do you say?"

[xx snakey]

Duskstar kneeded the ground with his paws, eager for blood. "Congradulations." He murmured in regard to Cranefeather's kits while thinking Oh good, more warriors like him. "Yes, I do think that is a good plan. You give the word and my warriors will be ready." He said eagerly, then without second thought bounded off out of the camp and back to the forest. He couldn't wait to rally his warriors and sink his claws into the Shadowclan scum.

"Cranefeather?" Shiverpath mewed tentatively as Duskstar left. "What's going on?" She asked curiously. Why was the Thunderclan leader here, ranting about an attack on Shadowclan? She hadn't heard the whole conversation, but it seemed bad. She should tell Auramoon, she always knew what was right and wrong, but then what would she do when Cranefeather wanted her to fight? THe fur along her spine prickled at the thought of the white deputy's anger directed toward her.

[Crane]

Cranefeather nodded farewell to Duskstar as he bounded off. He sighed - how was he going to announce the fight to his Clanmates? Well, surely ShadowClan were really mad after the "incident", so they were probably rallying to attack anyway. Better to hit them first, right?
Yes, that would do nicely.
He turned around as Shiverpath asked her question. Time to put the story into action.
"Have you heard the rumours about what Duskstar did to one of the ShadowClan she-cats?" he asked her. "Oh well, it doesn't really matter - what does matter is that ShadowClan is furious, because he attacked their deputy and a few other warriors, I think. I don't know why. But now they're preparing to attack us!
"He asked if we were going to attack first. ShadowClan can be utterly feral when they are mad, so I agreed... " HE paused to let that sink in.

[Silver]

Ravenclaw padded into camp, the rest of the border patrol filling in behind him. The other warriors dispersed, murmuring to themselves as they settled down to eat. Ravenclaw longed to join them, but there were much more urgent matters to attend to.
"I'm terribly sorry to interrupt, Cranefeather," Ravenclaw said as he padded up to the deputy, "But I'd like to know what's going on as well. ShadowClan's border markers were stronger than ever along the ThunderClan line, and they're starting to get bolder along the river as well. Not to mention Duskstar just went tearing past the patrol. He seemed awfully pleased about something," the senior warrior rattled, his tail flicking in agitation. He was getting too old for all these secrets. When Silverstar had been leader... but he shook the thoughts away. Silverstar wasn't leader anymore. She had died seasons ago, and it was time for him to act like it. Even if it means it's time to admit I'm not as youthful as I once was...

[Crane]

Another voice? Cranefeather turned his head. Ah, Ravenclaw. Hopefully if he could get Ravenclaw, a trusted senior warrior to agree with him, the other warriors would follow suit.
"That Duskstar's as mad as a cut snake," mewed Cranefeather. "Apparently, he did something highly inappropriate to a ShadowClan she-cat. And attacked a few of their other warriors - and deputy - while he was at it. Now ShadowClan are mad at both of our Clans - they're going to attack at any minute. We're going to try and get to them first though! A day before the Gathering, we'll attack and scare them off. That way everyone will be safe."
Cranefeather tossed in an obligatory glance towards the nursery, with a worried expression on his face.
Even if I'm acting, I still hope my kits will be okay, he thought.

[xx snakey]

Shiverpath nodded thoughtfully. Well, even though she had nothing personal against Shadowclan she would fight to protect her clan, even alongside Thunderclan. She shivered in disgust at the thought. First they come and share their territory and now she battles beside them? The white she-cat did not like this. Well, she had only a few days, no doubt. "Cranefeather, if I may, I'll go organize a few more hunting patrols. We want our warriors to be as strong as they can, no doubt." She mewed, hoping her suggestion was not ill received. She could take Auramoon out with her and she could help Shiverpath sort things out in her head. "Is that all right?

[Crane]

Cranefeather nodded in agreement at Shiverpath's idea.
"That's a good idea, Shiverpath," he purred, "Go ahead. And Ravenclaw, you can lead one as well."
The hunting patrols partially organized, he glanced around the camp, deciding what must be done next. Well, of course, he thought as his eyes alighted upon Riverstar's den. I must inform my beautiful mate of what's coming up.
But that might take a while. After all, she was asleep in the Nursery, not in the Leader's den like she usually was. Cranefeather was very glad he was not a she-cat - having kits must be very tiring. Although Riverstar was know to fall asleep at the strangest of times, including when she and Cranefeather had murdered Silverstar.
He surveryed the camp again, but there were only a few warriors milling about. Maybe he should organize a border patrol near ShadowClan camp.
He looked at the nearest warrior.
"Muskflower," he snapped, "Quickly get a patrol together, then report back to me," he instructed her.

Muskflower was trying to eavesdrop on what Cranefeather and Duskstar had been saying, and was worried she had been caught when Cranefeather snapped her name. But he simply gave her some instructions and left her to be. Well, she bettergo organize that patrol then, hadn't she?

[xx snakey]

Shiverpath quickly nodded and raced off to the Elder's den for Auramoon. She would still hunt in a mildly odd fashion, but it was difficult for her. Shiverpath wanted her along though to figure out what was going on. She quickly snapped at Dewclaw and Bluestorm about the hunting patrol, then picked her way into the den and pawed Auramoon awake. "Come hunting with me." She whispered to the blind she-cat. "I need to talk with you." Auramoon mumbled something in coherient and Shiverpath led her out of the den with her tail on her shoulder. The young gray tabby was tired and blinked her sightless eyes against the glaring green-leaf heat. "I just wanted to sleep..." She mumbled irritably as Shiverpath led her and the toms out of camp.

[Crane]

Well, I think this thread is over, unless anyone else wants to reply?