|☾ ☼ ϟ ≈ ☁| Windclan: The Swift & Loyal |☾ ☼ ϟ ≈ ☁|

Sagefoot got to her paws with a nod, "Of course, Swiftstar. In your den? or out on the moor?"

Milkkit snatched up another fallen leaf, "Which clan has the most leaves you think? Thunderclan or Skyclan?"

Swiftstar jerked his head towards his den. "It's probably best for us to stay here." He said. "I don't want to risk being overheard or interrupted." If his conversation with Tigersong showed anything, it was that many of his clanmates would have an opinion one way or the other about prey-maulers and mixed patrols. He and Sagefoot needed to make a decision together. Alone.

Rabbitkit turned to Wheatkit. "What?? How many types of leafs are there?". He tried to picture the other clan territories with canopies of leaves of every variety out there but he couldn't. The vastness of the sky above Windclan was the only home he knew.

((God bless Rabbitkit he's not your sharpest tool in the shed))

Swiftstar smiled, a good-natured look in his eye. "As proud as I am to be WindClan's leader, I'm more proud to be their father." He sat across from Sagefoot and wrapped his tail around his paws.

"I wanted to talk to you about the prey-maulers, and a suggestion Tigersong brought to me. We don't know where the prey-maulers are based, but I don't want WindClan to be caught flat-footed in the event they find us before we find them. We need to come up with a plan, above and below ground, to keep them as far from the camp as possible." He paused for a moment to let out a low cough - and to give him a moment to think through his next words.

"Before we discuss specific strategy, however, I want your opinion on creating mixed patrols of moor-runners and tunnelers. If a patrol of moor runners gets chased by prey maulers, they might get out-paced. If there were tunnelers in the mix, they might be able to escape through the tunnels. And the same goes for our tunnelers. I know several of our warriors know our territory like the back of their paws underground but could get lost in the event they get surprised out on the moor." He paused, wanting to hear his deputy's genuine opinion before stating his own.

Swiftstar nodded. "I suspect several of our clanmates will have very strong opinions about this one way or the other. Before I came to get you, Tigersong came to talk to me about the mixed patrols - it was her idea." He gave a small smile as he recalled the conversation. "I get the impression she'll claw my ears off if we don't do what she wants, but her heart is in the right place." He paused for a moment and then sighed.

"Truthfully, I wonder if mixing the patrols will do more harm to the clan than good. I know some, if not many, tunnelers feel less-than. I don't want this to come across as a rabbit-brained moor runner forcing tunnelers to go places they don't want to be. In any case, I don't think it would be wise to mandate any cat go on mixed patrols if they don't want to be, but I do think having a working knowledge of both the tunnels and the moor can be beneficial to every cat."

Swiftstar nodded, pleased that he and his deputy were on the same page. "Let's talk general strategy then, if we're agreed. How can we best utilize these mixed patrols?" He was happy to let Sagefoot take the lead on suggestions, wanting to see what his deputy had in mind.

Larkbounce noted the way Tigersong was looking around, the way her posture changed slightly. "And you're feeling brave right now?" It wasn't a jab, and he had already started on to Outlook Rock. "Like I said before, I wouldn't mind going into the tunnels."

Rabbitkit blinked. He believed his brother, but still couldn't wrap his head around there being so many trees. "But some trees don't have leaves.....right?" He remembered stories his mother had told about ShadowClan, and the spiked trees that covered their territory. How leaves could be spikey he didn't know, but it sounded painful. 

"They're called pine needles." Fallowmeadow replied, amusement clear in her voice as she looked between the kits. "I didn't know we were having a territory lesson, but I suppose it's never too early to learn about the other clans."

Sagefoot's tail thumped on the ground idly as she thought for a moment, "I don't think they need to be on every patrol. If they're not straying too far from camp, they can probably just be moor-runners. But if it's a border patrol, especially on our territory flanked by the twolegplace and moonstone, they should probably have tunnelers join in. The prey-maulers are much more likely to come into our territory from that side."

Rabbitkit bounced over, his tail wagging excitedly. "Have you been to the other clans? What are they like?"

Swiftstar nodded in agreement. "I think that's a wise idea. On another note related to our borders, I want to intentionally weaken some of the tunnels that we don't use as often - as long as it can be done safely. If a pack of prey-maulers comes wandering into our territory there's a good chance they could fall in. We should also try to keep scent markers as far away from camp as possible." He glanced out through the den entrance where the clan was going about its day. "I don't know if everycat will be happy about this change Sagefoot, but we need to lead by example as well. I'd like to be included in border patrol rotations for the next moon or so."

Heyooo)

Fallowmeadow pulled the kits close to her, "I've been to a couple of other clans territories and camps but it was never for very long. When I was very young though, I did live with Shadowclan and Skyclan warriors at the moonstone camp. It was an exciting experience. Your father was only an apprentice then!"

Rabbitpaw's ears perked up. "You lived with other clans? Didn't everybody fight all the time?

Fallowmeadow shook her head, "No, the camp was quite peaceful. We all had a common enemy to fight so in those moons we may have all been one clan. My mother was not originally from Windclan and when I was young she taught me to climb trees. I taught your father how to climb them in that camp. Perhaps one day I'll get a chance to show you too."

Swiftstar nodded to the apprentice to go on. His tone was enough to indicate that he wasn’t merely here to report on a training session.

Rabbitkit stuck out his tongue. “That still sounds gross. I’m glad we get to stay here, with you!”