|☾ ☼ ϟ ≈ Skyclan: The Resilient and Tough |☾ ☼ ϟ ≈ ☁| ☼

Sparrowstrike's face contorted into confusion at Splashecho's comparison to Adderclan, "Robinstar? What does she have to do with anything? It's a temporary alliance to benefit our clan. Splashecho, I know you were a kit during Adderclan and I wasn't much older, we don't really remember how everything happened. Spiritstar is a completely different leader and she's Robinstar's sister, she would never let Adderclan happen again. Plus, Lightningstar has been a respectable leader for moons and moons. I'd eat my own tail before I accused him of trying to overthrow Skyclan."

Sparrowstrike sighed, allowing himself to lean back against Splashecho now that she had relaxed. Maybe she had just needed to voice her opinions to a cat she trusted. Even as he thought it, his mind flicked with doubt and concern over his mate. He had been noticing her change in demeanor lately. The she-cat that had always vouched for peace and prosperity for the clan seemed to be slipping into a desperate need for Skyclan to prevail above the other clans. It scared him down to the bone. "I understand, and when newleaf comes we can cut off these joint patrols and go back to being independent again. It's just for another moon or two." He spoke to her softly, as if trying to soothe her the way he had soothed their kits when they were young. "Too many cats were lost when Adderclan happened, the older cats in the clans won't let it happen again."

Sparrowstrike pressed his nose to her cheek as he wrapped his tail around her. "Starclan will always prevail my love. It is their will to have five clans, so five clans it shall be. We must be strong and guide our kits toward the side of light and good. We must be good role models for them. I fear your doubt about this agreement may impact them. Promise you won't bring it up when you're around them? I know Springpaw was excited at the chance to explore new lands and meet a few cats from Thunderclan when it is her time to join a patrol. I don't want to take that excitement from her."

“Hopefully she’ll pick both next time!” Fallpaw meowed excitedly. “Then we can show the clan how well we hunt!” He spoke. “Then they’ll have to make us warriors.”

Sparrowstrike was silent for a moment, he supposed he could see Splashecho's side, but he had more faith in his clan and their daughter than that. "Springpaw would never cross the border without a patrol with her Splashecho. I trust our daughter to follow the warrior code as we have taught her. They are not little kits anymore, they may come to face the friends they have made in other clans in battle. Do you not remember the friends we made while at the highstones camp or while we stayed with Shadowclan? Don't tell me you forgot about the kindness that Windclan and Shadowclan showed us at our clan's worst. Softmist cared for you like you were her own kit while we resided with Northstar. Yet, I'm sure you would have faced her in battle if it had come to that. It's part of clan life, Springpaw will learn."

Sparrowstrike flattened his ears, a look of terror on his face at the utter hatred shadowing Splashecho's face. This wasn't the cat he knew at all. He took a few steps away from her, shaking his head slowly. "I don't know what's gotten into you Splashecho, but the cat in front of me is not the Splashecho that I know and love," he whispered, voice shaking. He turned, heading for the camp entrance without another word, hoping she wouldn't follow.

Plumwillow hummed from her spot on the cliffs, though her eyes trailed happily down towards the Medicine den. Spiderbite had finally received his name, and she knew he had deserved it for a long time. Having an apprentice made visiting him and playfully pestering him harder, but she hoped that he knew that she was happy for him.

Lichengaze slowly groomed his fur in the sunlight, the elder watching his clanmates with almost distracted eyes.

“Now that is quite the catch!” Lichengaze purred, a rusty rumble that came from his throat. He gave Springpaw an approving look, always enjoying seeing the progression of the apprentices in their training. “Luckily, I’m the only elder any of you have to hunt for. I’ll eat half of it, if you’ll take the other half. You deserve it.” He offered.

“I do.” Lichengaze laughed. “I see. You think I’m conning you, huh? Well, if Slateheart has a problem with me sharing my prey, he can come talk to me about it.” The old but headstrong elder decided, before he gave a gentle purr. “Really, I don’t need the whole thing, and I’d rather you and the other apprentices get your fills too.”

Lichengaze took a bite of the bird, chewing thoughtfully before he chuckled. “Twolegplace? Oh, yes, I’ve seen it, been around it and in it before. Not regularly, but certainly enough in my moons to say I’ve been in it. It’s an oddity. Sometimes it seems so peaceful, and other times it is the most dangerous place you can think of. But. A new experience is always a good one, for cats your age. I hope you get to go see it soon too.”

Lichengaze was a bit surprised at the sudden closeness, but he soon grinned and tapped the apprentice’s nose with his tail. “Well, when I was your age, I first experienced it because I chased a squirrel right into one of the twolegnests that didn’t have a fence. I was so distracted by the prey that I didn’t hear my mentor snapping that I was going over the end edge of the territory. Needless to say, a fat kittypet sitting on one of the fences laughed at me, until my mentor scared its pelt off a moment later.”

“Most kittypets don’t even go outside, let alone patrol anything. Now, rouges on the other paw? They’ll patrol parts of Twolegplace, and they can pack a mean swipe.” Lichengaze nodded firmly. “As for twolegs, yes, I’ve seen plenty. They like to keep their fences clean, and will sometimes chatter your ears off over the fences in Greenleaf. But they don’t like to go past their fences often.”

Splashecho looked at her son, but tried to cover her worry with a smile. "It wasn't a fight. Just a disagreement. It'll be okay." 

Splashecho curled her tail around Twigpaw and licked his forehead. "Oh, I'm not thrilled with this agreement with ThunderClan. SkyClan should be remaining independent, not relying on another Clan or going out into unknown territories. I'm worried we'll lose our way of life if this progresses further."