[ti]Private[/ti]Midnight Mission

[pants]

A shape made its way towards the meadow, crouched low and trying to remain low to the ground and hidden. It was nighttime, and the moon hung high in the sky, StarClan cats dotting the space around it. The lilac spotted tom slunk close to a bush, keeping a sharp eye out for any MistClan warriors. At first, it may look like he was trying to avoid the warriors. After all, he was tresspassing into another Clan's territory. But in fact, meeting the cats of this clan was exactly what he wanted. Usually there was a patrol out at this hour to mark the border before heading back to camp to rest for the remainder of the evening. Ocelotjaw was hoping to find one of these patrol. He was on a mission.

The tom had moved clans when he was younger. His family had decided to join the newly formed MothClan. Ocelotjaw had felt obligated to follow suit, not wanting to abandon his relatives. However, since that day, the tom has come to resent his new clan. It didn't feel like home and things were so different. He missed the waterfall. He missed the few friends he made. And tonight was the night where he decided to execute his new plan - to find those friends and try to build bonds with them in order to weasel his way back into MistClan, which was his true home.

Ocelotjaw's yellow eyes scanned the area. He was right on the border. His heart was beating harder than usual. He knew that if he ran into of the more aggresive cats, conflict would ensue. His leader would probably hear about it, and StarClan forbid Eveningstar hear about him breaking the rules. Ocelotjaw knew that the black tom would not tolerate rule breaking, as he stuck to the rules as if his life depended on it. And especially since Eveningstar took the role as leader, he ran a tight ship, following rules by the book and not letting up - making it apparent he was very serious.

All the more reason to leave the dirt place of a clan... The lilac warrior thought, his face scowling, tail giving a flick of annoyance. Ocelotjaw blinked, finally detecting some movement a little ways off. He flattened himself against the ground, tasting the air to see who would be out this time around. Hopefully it was one of the more docile warriors - he wasn't looking for a fight. The figure approached and the tom hoped to identify them before they could do the same to him.

-----
Miss Tactical

[Miss Tactical]

The flame colored she-cat ran through the territory, wind ripping through her fur. With a heavy breath she let out a groan as she came to a stop. The night, green leaf air was oddly satisfying. Cherryheart was born anew these days with a new sense of life and adventure in her paws. She had lost so many in her short life, mate, kits, but since finding her daughter alive, then being able to guide her back to StarClan, it put the she-cats mind to rest. She hadn’t ran like this since she was an apprentice and did it feel nice to be out and about. With a swift wiggle of her tail she bounded off again, but this time with a sense of purpose, an odd scent hit her nose. With narrowed orange eyes she stopped at the border line between MistClan and MothClan.

Her lip curled slightly, when she spotted Ocelotjaw, but then her features softened ever so slightly as a distant memory hit her. He had once been MistClan, yes she remembered when he left to join MothClan with many others, what was he doing so far from home. With perked ears she strode forward letting out a warm mew in greeting. It was friendly, but professional before she sat down at the borders edge, tail wrapping around her paws.

”Ocelotjaw, its been a while.” Cherryheart mewed. Her tone had always been friendly, but this time she had been careful, a questioning tone seemed to come out. As of late MothClan had been marking the borders over there’s pushing their scent off. MistClan had certainly noticed the brave act but chose not to question it, at least not yet. ”What brings you so close to MistClan tonight?” she mewed. To be so far from home, and alone was rather odd, but then again she was far from camp as well.

[pants]

Ocelotjaw felt his fur stand on end, scenting an approaching warrior. His yellow eyes remained alert. He remained flatted against the ground, ready to turn tail and bolt if needed. Or fight, if it came to that.

However, to his pleasant surprise, it was a familiar face. He took a minute to study it, but his expression softened and his body posture relaxed as he noticed it was Cherryheart. He rose to a sitting position, nodding his head in greeting. He wrapped his tail around his paws, trying to appear as friendly as possible, which was quite a challenge for the lilac spotted tom, as he spent so long being pent up with anger against his new clan. But it was understandable that Cherryheart might be weary of the warrior. It wasn't often you found a random clan cat at the border, just waiting in the shadows. He exhaled, trying to release the tension in his shoulders.

"Cherryheart, greetings." He began, giving a small smile. "Sorry to interrupt your midnight run." He paused, unsure if he should just straight up tell her that he was lonely and missed his clan. But that would seem off. He flicked his ear, before opening his mouth to speak again. "You are alone, I assume?" Ocelotjaw did a quick scan of the surrounding area, trying to see if he could spot any other bodies in his immediate view. He looked back to the she-cat. "I know it's odd, but I just needed to get away from the clan for a while. So much has been going on and I need a break." The tom gave a sigh, shaking his head slightly, looking at his paws before looking back up. "It's nice to see you. It's relieving to run into a familiar face." His smile grew, which felt nice. "How have you been holding up?" He asked with a genuine look in his eye.

-----

Miss Tactical

[Miss Tactical]

Cherryheart looked at his demeanor and settled down slightly when he showed no interest in just a chat. ”You could never interrupt me.” She mewed with a slight hint of amusement in her tone. Cherryheart was a younger warrior when Ocelotjaw left for MothClan, but was quite familiar about his family. It was no surprise that they chose to Follow Mothstar and Eveningblaze along with many others from MistClan to this new clan, but MistClan was always home to the she-cat. The crashing of the waterfall and mist on your fur, it was a sensation that was rather difficult to give up. ”Yes I’m alone, moon high patrol has already come and gone through here.” She flicked her ear as a beetle whizzed by she gave her whiskers a light twitch as Ocelotjaw said he simply needed a break, which that she understood.

”I understand…needing a break that is.” From what she saw at the gathering, all the clans had new leaders besides RootClan, which meant new deputies, which also meant new rules, new ways… it could be difficult to adjust to such things. ”Well as you know from the gathering Bearstar has passed to StarClan.” She mewed softly. Ocelotjaw was previously from MistClan and did deserve to know exactly what happened to his former leader. ”Fox attack so watch your borders. I don’t want to hear about any other casualties.” She looked at her paws her tail twitching slightly, it had been a hard loss for MistClan and Adjusting to Sablestar would be difficult.

She looked up meeting his gaze just briefly. ”Give Eveningstar some time….he takes some getting used to.” She mused slightly. The black tom had been her first mate, someone she truly loved before he left her to MothClan, she sighed softly he was much different then, something must have changed him shortly after he left, but since then she never spoke to him, but would never bash him. ”How are you holding up?” She asked changing the subject quickly.

[pants]

He gave a small and quick, almost inaudible, sigh of relief when the she-cat said she was alone. That's good. StarClan forbid I get caught. I'm just glad it was you and not a more aggressive warrior..." He had a solemn look in his eye. Oh, how he would enjoy being back in his clan, defending his territory and keeping intruders at bay. The longing for what he felt was his true home grew with each day, which is what lead him to visit the border in the first place.

He gave a nod to needing a break, bringing him back from his thoughts. There had been so much happening - Ocelotjaw guessed that it was more than usual for any cat to adjust to. The clans seem to be shifting here and there, especially with the addition of RootClan. 3 leaders had stepped down or passed on to StarClan. So much change....

”Fox attack so watch your borders. I don’t want to hear about any other casualties.”

His ears perked up. A fox? That wasn't mentioned at the gathering. He'd definitely make a note to keep an eye out for it. It was GreenLeaf, and any kits the fox brought into the world were surely going to be exploring soon. Mother foxes especially were a high risk enemy. Ocelotjaw twitched his whiskers before slightly bowing his head "I'm sorry for your loss. That's not an easy way to go... I'm sure Bearstar is living well in StarClan, however.." the warrior gave his condolences, remembering how great of a leader the brown she-cat was, eventually riddled with blindness. It was only a matter of time, but that could be said for any cat.

He scoffed as the subject switched back to Eveningstar. "Ha, you're telling me. I never knew a cat could hold the warrior code so close to his heart. He lives and breaths that code. I bet if we could look at it funny, he'd have our ears... Maybe even our eyes, while he's at it!" The tom curled his lip and furrowed his brow, obviously displeased with the current change in leadership. He gave a displeased huff.

Then he was asked about how he was doing. Ocelotjaw paused, unsure how to respond. It took him a few moments, which was unusual for the spitfire tom - the one known for his harsh and unrelenting words. He gave a few seconds to ponder, not wanting to directly mention how he missed MistClan. Rather, he wanted to make his intentions inconspicuous...

"Surviving, I guess. Life could be a lot better." His coat was clean, his belly was full, and he had a warm nest to sleep in at night. The spotted tom's most basic needs were met. To an outsider, he was living the dream. He let his words hang, though, as if he wasn't letting on to the full story. "Everything has been... Off, lately, I guess you could say. I can't really put my tongue on it..." He faked a look of inquiry of his own thoughts, trying to look as if he were really questioning what was missing from his life, and Ocelotjaw hoped that Cherryheart would fall for his act.

-----

Miss Tactical

[Miss Tactical]

Cherryheart looked at her paws, a sullen look crossing her eyes. Yes it was a hard way to go especially since the she-cat even had failing eyesight. She most certainly would have won with her warriors had she not been at such a disadvantage. She took a deep breath in letting it back out a sigh before simply nodding her head in agreement. Certainly, she was resting well. ”Yes I’m sure she is resting quite well, she’s with her mate and kits.” She remembered how Goldenmane had sacrificed himself to rescue Fishkit, but to no avail she was not successful. She had no complaints about the current leadership situation it would just take some time to get used to.

The subject switched quickly from Bearstar to Eveningstar and she couldn’t help but twitch her whiskers with amusement as he mentioned how much of a stiff he had become lately. ”That’s funny he never used to be that way. I’m sure you remember him from MistClan, he never used to be such a stiff…I knew his personal side I could tell you some funny stories.” She remembered the personal experiences the two shared before he left MothClan leaving her behind it was a harsh moment, but she had moved on nonetheless. ”I think with all the bad things he’s gone through he just wants to protect everyone…even if it means walking with a stick up his tail.” She joke warmly.

The she-cat listened to Ocelotjaw talk about how something just didn’t seem right these days. She scrunched her nose before letting out a soft chuckle. ”MothClan is for serious cats who scowl all day and want wrinkles and gray fur before they are elders. I don’t think you quite fit the bill for MothClan” Cherryheart stood up casually walking around Ocelotjaw before sitting back on her side of the border. ”I think I still even scent some of that MistClan waterfall on you.” She mewed in a playful tone. Nothing could compare to Mistclan. Nothing was more refreshing than the mist from the waterfall splashing on your fur every day. Especially this green-leaf.

[pants]

The lilac spotted tabby tom took a moment to gaze at the stars, using the silence to momentarily remember Bearstar. Yes, she is with StarClan now...

”I think with all the bad things he’s gone through he just wants to protect everyone…even if it means walking with a stick up his tail.”

Ocelotjaw sneered. "Well, he doesn't have to be such a foxheart about it!" The tom shifted his paws, brows furrowed as he contemplated his leader before taking a moment to sigh, trying to find the dialectic in the situation. "I do remember when he was kind. I know he's a good cat and just wants the best...But I never knew a cat that could change so drastically!" The spotted tabby tom exclaimed before softening his gaze, looking to his former clanmate with a slightly dejected expression across his face. "Maybe I'm being too harsh? I don't know... Maybe he'll change with time," the warrior twitched his whiskers, averting his gaze and directing it towards the ground.

He looked back up, his expression changed. Ocelotjaw looked to Cherryhawk with an appreciative look, his brows sweeped upwards and a small smile on his face. Her comment on his scent still hinting of MistClan made his chest tighten, his homesickness rising in him more prominently before. "You think so?" He purred, "That....That's great to hear, actually," the lilac tom started, "To be honest, I miss MistClan. I know I joined MothClan to stay with my sisters, but it honestly just hasn't been the same." He shook his head, "I have my regrets, Cherryhawk. I haven't felt at home since..." Ocelotjaw's confession finally left him - the thing that he held to only himself in fear of rejection from his peers. It was nice to finally get it off his chest, however. The thing that made him bitter was finally free from his thoughts, out in the open for discussion.