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[gingersnapsdacat]

Weedpelt had no idea what to do. He just wanted to find a friend and family, and he thought he would be able to get that in Bear. Instead he was just driving her away. Now she was just more terrified than ever, and so was he. He shoved his face into the dirt, wishing it could just swallow him whole. Anything to escape this mess. 
”State your business.”
A deeper, commanding voice sounded out from behind where Bear was stood, causing Weedpelt's head to shoot up in surprise. Another, larger tomcat, who Weedpelt could only assume was Bear's mentor, now stood near the apprentice, staring down at him. 
"I'm Weedpelt," he mewed, feeling like a bug under a microscope. "I...I think that my family might live with you...in RootClan, that is."

[bits]

Well, at least her ancestors hadn't yet abandoned her.

The presence of Bear took a weight off her chest, allowing her to breathe with more certainty than her previously short, anxious huffs. Weedpelt may have looked innocent, and may have had good intentions, but Bear was barely an apprentice, and she had never met anyone outside of her 'clan'. Weedpelt could have been sent directly from the ancestors, illuminated by light and goodness, but it wouldn't have mattered. Bear was young and cautious by nature; new things frightened her dearly, and strangers even moreso.

She wouldn't have cared who showed up - strangers were terrifying. But she was reassured by her mentor's presence - he had a stronger build than she'd have when she was older, and though her training did include defense and fighting, she had no natural talent for it. The chocolate molly didn't want to think about what could happen if she were left to fend for herself.

Bear twisted to look up at her mentor, murmuring very, very quietly to the older tom.

"He didn't hurt me. He thinks he's Tr- Rootclan."

[noctemq]

Blackmoon's expression slowly softened. If this cat was telling the truth and was searching for his family, he had no qualms against it. He knew how important family was. Blackmoon's fur flattened down and he glanced at his apprentice for a moment. Despite the honesty the stranger displayed, he was not exactly comfortable just marching into camp with them.

"Bearpaw, I need you to run back to camp and make sure we have permission to bring a visitor from either our leader or deputy. I'll stay with him until then." Though he would much rather deliver the message himself, the only other option was to leave Bearpaw with the tomcat and she wasn't ready to defend herself in case the circumstances were not as they seemed. It was better to be safe than sorry, even if the tom didn't seem dangerous at all. He nudged her flank with the tip of his nose as a comforting signal to go ahead. Blackmoon knew it was taboo to bring outsiders into camp and would make sure to ask permission first to avoid any problems. He wasn't completely sure on what warriors were allowed to do and not do so this seemed like the right course of action.

[gingersnapsdacat]

    Weedpelt glanced from one RootClan cat to the other, unsure of what to do. Was he supposed to say something else? Was the big warrior going to be afraid like his apprentice was? Or was he going to be mean and hostile? At this point, Weedpelt was not sure which would be worse. 
ImmaplantImmaplantImmaplant....
    But to Weedpelt's great relief, the RootClan warrior seemed calm and put together, even showing what looked to be some sympathy. Even the nervous Bearpaw seemed to be comforted by his arrival. But still, Weedpelt kept his head down, not wanting to scare the young cat any more than he already had managed to. 

[kitsune13]

Iristongue's breaths were annoyingly rapid as she tried to keep calm. Her nose was to the ground, following Weedpelt's distinctly earthy scent, though it was hard to make out before she hit stone. She furrowed her eyebrow, looking down the darkening tunnels. She steeled herself, and ran forward. Her vision went inky green in the darkness, and she could the the large black blobs of the entrance to other tunnels. She kept following Weedpelt's scent, desperate to find him.
Oh Weedpelt, with all his crazy theories. She squinted her eyes, seeing the vague form of two cats. She instantly recognized her brother's tall, thin legs. She slowed to a quick trot, as to not scare the other cat, fixing an annoyed expression on her face.
"Weedpelt! There you are!" She meowed, stopping next to him and butting his shoulder. Her eyes slid to the cat in front of her and Weedpelt, a sliver, stocky tabby tom. She did her best to keep her fur flat, but it was hard.
"Weedpelt...who is this?"

[bits]

Bearpaw only hesitated for a moment when she was told to go back to camp. While she wasn't happy to be around the madness here, she also didn't want to leave her mentor alone with a stranger. It wasn't that he couldn't defend himself, but what if something did happen and she wasn't there to offer her support (what little of it she could scrounge up). Still, she nodded after a moment and scampered off back to the Tri- clan, just barely keeping from tucking her tail between her legs. The anxiety washed off her in waves, but at least she was no longer frozen before a potential intruder, struggling to speak her apparent discomfort.

[noctemq]

Blackmoon looked at the now two cats in front of him. He continued to stand tall, eyes narrowed, as he introduced himself. He wasn't frightened, especially since the camp was only a few lengths behind him, but he was definitely uncomfortable with the encounter. Back when Rootclan was a tribe, they didn't have many wanderers on their territory and that's what he was used to.

"Blackmoon of Rootclan," he stated simply for the newcomer, not caring to ask of her title before turning his attention back to Weedpelt. "If you have any other friends coming, tell me now." The more cats present meant more trouble for him. He doubted this was some sort of invasion, but his hesitance around the clans forced him to keep all of his options open. The large warrior wasn't fond of visitors, no matter their reasons.

[gingersnapsdacat]

Weedpelt's leaf colored eyes widened in shock as the annoyed voice of his sister rang out from a few pawsteps behind him. Since when was she following him?! He turned to greet her, not considering how bad this must have looked to Blackmoon. To be perfectly honest, he had nearly forgotten that Blackmoon was standing there.
"Weedpelt...who is this?"
Of course, it was not hard to remind him.
"Oh um..." the brown tomcat stammered, trying to formulate a decent response. None came.
"Blackmoon of Rootclan,"
Weedpelt breathed an unintentional sigh of relief. At least someone here knew how to speak! But that did not change the fact that his sister had just shown up unannounced, and that both of them had no idea of what they were supposed to do.
"Oh, Um, Blackmoon, this is my sister Iristongue! Iristongue, this is RootCLan! They're the ones I told you about! The ones that I think might know about dad!"
The excitable tom turned to his sister, once again smiling brightly, despite his internal confusion.
"If you have any other friends coming, tell me now."
Weedpelt glanced back to the silver tomcat. "Well...um...I have no idea...I do have more sisters, so maybe they will show up, but I don't really think so..."

[noctemq]

Blackmoon sighed. As long as nothing bad happened, they could be having a party or whatever at this point. "Alright. We'll wait here until I can get someone of authority over." He stopped talking before he let curiosity take the best of him. Weedpelt definitely had more of a tribe look to him, so Blackmoon was giving him the benefit of the doubt. Hopefully this would be over quickly and not cause any drama between the two clans; that's the last thing he needed on his paws.

Since Weedpelt was compliant and showed no ill-will, his attention turned to Iristongue. It was obvious that she was as uncomfortable as Blackmoon was. His harsh gaze scanned her up and down before allowing his ears to un-flatten. The two siblings seemed so young, as if they recently graduated from their to-be, er, apprentice status. He realized that was probably more on guard than he needed to be.

[kitsune13]

Iristongue licked Weedpelt's shoulder, her eyes still on Blackmoon. She saw his eyes assess her, and stood taller, looking his directly in his eyes.
Show no fear.
Show no hesitation.
Show no weakness.
When he relaxed, she turned to Weedpelt.
"What are you doing this time?" She hissed, nudging his shoulder. "There's no way the would actually believe your crazy idea."
After saying that last bit, she realized she might have hurt him.
"Sorry, I didn't mean it that way..." She meowed.