The early evening sun sank low along the horizon, drenching the green tinged trees in red. It changed their dimming verdant color to a golden hue. Cicadas screamed in the treetops to each other, in a final bid to find connection before the cold seeped in. Squirrels raced from limb to limb, also frantic in their hunt for final greenleaf preparations. It was infectious, their erratic hunt for food to hide away. Owlbark felt the same drive now, but wished his food didn't rot away at the first fly that landed on it. Leaves from overachieving trees already littered the ground, and stuck to dry paw pads. The air was thick and humid, and despite the clouds, the deputy could tell rain was on the way. It was ready to bring in the final warm showers of the season.
Owlbark breathed deep the smell of a fresh, alive forest. It always felt like it slipped away too quickly. He wanted to dig his claws into the greenery and keep it from withering away for just one more moon. He would just have to push his warriors harder this moon. They would have to groan and abide by his constant need for hunting patrols and border freshening. He would not repeat the confusion over how border infringements looked. Which is why he chose to mark the SkyClan border himself. He had not been back to the scene of his "crime" since that day. He was avoiding hearing more accusations of his character and motives for defending his territory. Now, though, he felt confident in facing them. SkyClan had their grievance satisfied by taking his leader's life. They had nothing left to do to them.
Owlbark padded along their border, dragging his cheek along rough bark to leave specifically his scent. He looked to his warriors to do the same. "Take note, Rufouspaw. We mark our borders to show other clans where we draw the line on what is ours and what is theirs. That way there is no question when the other clan challenges," he growled. The deputy briefly looked to the sky at the small peeking of StarClan high above. "I wonder if they approve of SkyClan's code," he said in a rare moment of audibility. And what of his clanmates? Did they approve of the code as well? Did they still look at him as the bloodthirsty dog the other clan's came to know?
