Mallownose & Stormstrike.
"
An alliance with a snarky rouge, huh?" mused the medicine cat thoughtfully, though his thoughts remained a sea of trouble at the motives that this she-cat could have.
Mallownose was no idiot and he never had been but he often saw potential in things that he could learn from and this she-cat
did seem to know what she was talking about. He just couldn't help but fear that this might be exactly what she wanted. He definitely couldn't befriend her and he didn't trust her as far as he could throw her. It was a troublesome thing because it was also a rare occurrence when he hadn't a clue of what to do at all. She seemed genuine in some ways and sharing info of her dead friend could be easily seen as a peace keeping tactic or a manipulation tactic and just trying to decide between the two was enough to confuse him again.
If she wanted to manipulate him, couldn't she have just as easily brought him any old stinking weed and tell him that it was a magical cure? Couldn't she have just tried to convince him to guide her to camp so she could wave her paw around the sick cats and heal them? Couldn't she have come up with a much more ridiculous tactic than telling him of a cat she'd seen with the illness? Of an affected friend? Could he believe a word that she purred at him? Could he believe a single thing that left her jaws? He couldn't not believe her about the illness with the omen hanging over his head like a dark cloud and yet, he didn't know if that small omen was worth trusting this cat completely. He didn't know if Starclan had sent her like a savior or if she should be feared as a scourge. It made his fur start to prickle as he eyed her. She didn't seem completely violent and she could have easily fought the younger cats with her crony but she hadn't even unsheathed her claws. He knew that Warmpaw would have tried very hard to fend her off but if it came down to size and strength then she had the upper paw. Rouges were known for their trouble but she'd caused none as far as he had seen and it made him wonder if he was misjudging her.
He was a medicine cat for Starclan's sake! He couldn't start quarrels with rouges! He would just have to decide to trust her for now, it was all he could do. He tried to console himself by reminding himself that it was for the better of the clan.
"
I think we can arrange something, provided that it stays on the down low. It's not beyond my position to accept help from outside but I-" glancing over his shoulder sharply at the sound of a branch snapping under a heavy paw, he could see the approaching cats and more importantly, he could see Hawkstar and Stormstrike. The two toms were arguably two of the largest toms in the clan and they practically towered over poor Warmpaw in their bulk. Stormstrike seemed ready for a fight, though he always seemed ready for a fight and that wasn't completely new. It wasn't a comforting thought that this could end in blood shed if it wasn't handled by a good mediator. "
I can meet you near the border in the Twoleg Place, if you'll come without your ehm- backup there."
His tail gestured to Birch and he nearly grimaced before glancing to Python again, trying to ignore the approaching cats and the golden eyes that were burning a hole in his pelt. Hawkstar didn't bother him as much as Stormstrike, he guessed that's why he made such a good leader. It was hard to be threatened by Hawkstar, he was a fair leader and usually very kind. Mallownose wasn't prone to keeping things from him but this was something he felt he could handle himself for the most part, some cat had to battle this illness and it was what he'd trained for. He couldn't let his clan suffer to whatever this Death Cough was. He was not going to lose any of their warriors to it. "
Not that I'm implying he's a bad fellow or anything but two is a friendly meeting, three is- well, rather unpleasant and unwanted. Just keep him back home or something when we meet next." he shook out his fur with discomfort. "
Perhaps we can meet in a day or two, I've still got herbs to get to camp and I hope to try to visit the Moon Stone for guidance to this new illness. I-I've never heard of anything that kills so easily and I must admit that I'm very perturbed by this new information. Maybe my ancestors will know something I don't, I-"
Stormstrike had been pressing ahead of the group despite himself, still glowing with pride over being chosen to confront the rouges who had invaded their territory. He pushed forward when Warmpaw pointed out the cats and felt his claws slide out with anticipation as he cut off Mallownose with his imposing presence. His fluffy tail was lashing from side to side and he seemed far to pleased to be here. He seemed far too pleased to invite a fight with Python. "
You've trespassed onto Thunderclan territory. I'm sure my leader would agree with me when I say that we'll have to ask you to leave."
Mossfur.
"
We've all missed our fair share of squirrels, Runningpaw!" Mossfur purred, his pale gold eyes shining with slight amusement. "
Though that would have been a brilliant catch. You got up that tree very quickly, maybe we can work with that but not with squirrels. They're much faster than us up there."
Mossfur affectionately bumped his shoulder to hers as he lead her forward, his silver tabby coat shining under the dappled forest lights. He moved with swift ease and he kept his mouth open to the scents around them. It was a robin that finally flooded his senses and he turned his head to it, his eyes flickering back to Runningpaw. The bird was plump with a plume of glossy feathers and it was pecking idly at the grass, it almost seemed completely oblivious to the two watching cats. Mossfur lowered his voice to a murmur, "
Go for the robin. You have to use that speed of yours and you have to be as silent as a mouse. If you're lucky than it'll be a very easy catch, just don't become too discouraged, you're still learning."