[ti]Private[/ti]I'm not touching you, I'm not -

[bits]

Mama

In her defense, she wasn't technically trespassing.

Sure, there was a faint scent line nearby, but she was on her side of the scent line, if a little too close. She wasn't there with a patrol, and she was planning on being quick. She just... wanted to see if she could pick up Creeksong's scent trail. Not because she was worried or anything - but someone had to hunt him down and scold him for disappearing, right? It may as well be here, given their flimsy leadership at the moment.

So she wasn't technically trespassing or anything. She was just... exploring the treeless land nearby her own clan. Maybe Creeksong had headed this way to check out the often unused territory and gotten distracted (he was a numbskull) or maybe... she wasn't sure. But she didn't want to slack on this. 

"You stupid piece of carrion."

She grumbled, to herself, trekking along with her tension tightening her shoulders.

[Mama]

Halfpaw was on a small patrol with a few other cats, the tom drifting behind as he kept track of scents. {Some border markings, a squirrel died over here... And, that's an Ivyclan cat.} 

His sharp gaze darted to the others before he moved ahead, walking faster to the patrol. His tail gave a warning twitch as he peered out, trying to find the source. Then, his eyes landed on her. Halfpaw's frame froze, and his muscles tightened while the giant tom shifted his face to an ice cold, intimidating expression.

"What is Ivyclan doing near Rootclan territory?" He hissed, hoping to scare this cat a bit so then the other clan would have a warning, one that would provide a shield to Rootclan. If they thought they were all on top of the border, there was less chance of an attack .

bits 

[bits]

Well, Rootclan was a new name to her. At least this wasn't just territory claimed by some rogue group - though she wasn't sure a clan was any better. And Rootclan? Just how long had she been isolating herself for her to completely miss this new addition to the territories? Whatever. The warrior could feel her eye twitch, and she did her darnedest not to snap at the giant tom across from her. One on one, that wasn't a fight she could win, though she wasn't a trifle to deal with. 

Instead of immediately snapping (what she preferred to do), she took a deep breath. She didn't feel any better, but that was supposed to help temper anger, right? Deep breaths and not attacking people - a low bar, but one she still had to work to reach.

"Relax. I'm not planning on trespassing." Not that you have any reason to believe me, I guess. "Rootclan's news to me, actually." As in, who are y'all and when in the four seasons did you arrive?

See? She could be non-confrontational, even though the stress kept her expression tight and her shoulders drawn up. It wasn't hostility, though it certainly could be seen that way - it really was just stress.

"Look, you got no reason to believe me. But have you seen a black-furred tom around here? My age, heavy scarring?"

She was doing her absolute best not to sound worried or tired or anything of the like. Because she wasn't worried. She was just... doing her duty.

Mama