Border begrudging border patrol ~ Hollowmumble

[Hollowmumble]

{$title} TW// Contemplating the recent border violence relating to Thunderclan

Hollowmumble, -- 39 Moons / 'Windclan' Cat -- Ages on the 14th
Black spotted ghost tabby with bright amber eyes.
She is friendly, yet quiet, and always willing to help.

Tagging @Fogstare

---

It was a burning hot day. The heat made the prairie wobble in the distance, flowers bright and in bloom to soak up all of the sunlight. Bugs and grasshoppers scattered as Hollowmumble's paws padded through the yellow grassland, one jumping on her muzzle before she shook her head to toss it away. She sighed.

The two of them had been sent on a patrol together, a border patrol to be more specific. Hollowmumble didn't see the point in it. All the mess about borders and territories and hunting grounds and... it was a big mess. They didn't need borders, they didn't need territories, they should all be able to share a hunting ground as they please. They did so at the barn, and it was no different out here. The prey was flourishing, there was no lack of it. The 'clans' were fat and well fed, comfortable and thriving. The only thing borders did was spill blood. That had already been proven time and time again.

Gorsepaw being attacked by Thunderclan... by Owlbark. The violence at the gathering, because a Skyclan cat had been murdered by Thunderclan... by Owlbark. Hollowmumble was beginning to think all of their border violence would be solved if Owlbark wasn't around. Maybe Hawkstar had a point in wanting to- no... no she wouldn't think like that. Violence only breeds violence, especially within groups so aggressively protective of their territory and borders.

It was clear that Fogstare wouldn't take the lead, so Hollowmumble took point in the front, glancing back every so often to make sure he was still following. At the very least, they were sent to walk along the Skyclan border. The deep gorge between their territories was a clear marker. Crossing it or going around was extremely difficult. While she was wary of Skyclan themselves and the aggression that they had shown at the gathering, she knew it wasn't aimed towards them. Windclan was currently in their good graces, and they certainly weren't planning on screwing that up anytime soon. Nobody would be accidentally crossing their border anytime soon.

"Be careful, near the gorge." She mumbled as they got closer to the border, making sure it was just loud enough for Fogstare to hear.

 

[Fogstare Fogstare]

"Mhm, yeah..." Fogstare hummed absently at Hollowmumble's warning, eyes pointedly not on the gorge just a tail-length away from them.

Clearly, he found more interest in the swaying heather than potentially falling down a cliff.

Fogstare just couldn't see the reason for this thing called "border patrols", not for any logical or honorable reason like Hollowmumble; he simply found the rule needlessly strict. Why worry about something as silly as "territory"? Hadn't they all lived perfectly fine without it before all this "clan" stuff happened? It just felt like unnecessary stress, wouldn't it be nicer to simply catch prey and return home?

There's no need to cause a fuss over it all...

Fogstare blinked, realizing he had paused for a moment too long. He sped up to a trot, an easy grin spreading on his face as he sidled up to the other cat's side. "Hey! Isn't it hot today? Think we can take a dip in a pond if we come across one?"

Maybe their opposing dispositions were what made them get chosen to go on this... border patrol.

 

[Hollowmumble]

Hollowmumble, -- 39 Moons / Windclan Cat -- Ages on the 14th
Black spotted ghost tabby with bright amber eyes.
She is friendly, yet quiet, and always willing to help.

Tagging @Fogstare

---

Hollowmumble didn't know much of Fogstare, but as they walked along the gorge she kept an eye on where his paws were placed, seeing as he didn't seem to be paying much attention. She never familiarized herself with him, only knowing him from afar from their time in the barn. She always had more concerning things to think about and cats to worry for, and now that they were in a 'clan' she had to focus on keeping them all fed, only giving time to her closest and spending the rest alone.

She blinked at the idea of taking a dip, briefly pausing her footsteps before continuing. That sounded so nice, it was far too hot to be running around at high noon like they were, she longed for the cool relief of some water. Thinking it over for a moment, and mapping out the area in her head, she eventually spoke. "We could do that... Maybe once we're done at the border we could find one. How much do you hunt above ground? You're one of the cats who spends a lot of time in the tunnels, right?" If they found a pond or some kind of body of water, surely there would be prey nearby, seeking water to cool them off in this awful weather. Maybe she would be able to actually get something done today.