police. ✮ open up ! } border patrol

[aero ❥]

{ R } UNNINGFOX

The fading colors of the evening sky were concealed, ash grey cumulonimbus clouds promising the presence of another soggy drizzle that night. Instincts told him it was evening anyway, he didn't need to visibly watch the sun sink below the horizon. But it would have been a nice view. Normally at this time his tabby stripes would have been shimmering like flames, but on a gloomy day like this one they were put out and dead. His bright yellow eyes closed as he yawned, back arching in a stretch.

His dad had told him to lead the dusk border patrol, ("Make sure you bring Dunepaw." He had said) so he would have to round up the apprentice and get together some warriors rather quickly or else he would have the deputy on his tail with those large paws of his. Runningfox stood straight, swiping his tongue around his mouth as he thought of candidates for the patrol. Stormtrick....no...Orioleflash? Naw....Pepperbreath! Who else...? His head tipped to the side as he wondered.

"Solacestone." He said aloud, padding towards where he had last seen his apprentice. "Dunepaw, Pepperbreath, and Solacestone, were going on border patrol." He meowed loudly, hoping they might hear him. He didn't want to go on a wild goose chase just to find some cats.

Waiting for an answer from - well - anyone, Runningfox took a minute to think. He didn't know all that much about Dunepaw, just that he seemed laid back and friendly. Solacestone had always seemed...strange...though in some ways very much like himself. And last but not least, the fiery Pepperbreath. The orange tom found himself strangely attracted to hot-headed bark-tongued females, and with the looks she had Runningfox's attention would hardly be on checking the border.

She isn't interested in you bee-brain. Some inner voice chimed, maybe the inner voice of wisdom he thought he had lost long ago. No matter if she was interested or not - his persistent personality wouldn't let him get away without trying. Kneading the damp ground, he waited impatiently for a response to his call. This should be an interesting patrol.

[Dusk]

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[atrb=background, i339.photobucket.com/albums/n480/Shardclaw/sablewithborder.jpg] Evening. Skies overhead were gray, though not with lack of sunlight - rather clouds were the culprit in this slowly approaching dusk. The air was heavy with humidity; all signs told of another coming drizzle. Disappointing, really. Dunepaw had been silently hoping for another night of fair weather in which to take his usual evening stroll. Now the tom looked at the dull overhead dome with a green-cast, yellow gaze glinting in mild annoyance. He didn't particularly enjoy hunting in rain-slicked hillside. His job was already cut out for him -thanks to his odd paw- without heavy moisture making the terrain more precarious to traverse. A familiar voice rang out, and the tom was jerked from his idle thoughts back into the realm of reality. The sable apprentice himself jumped slightly at the sound of his name, and his gaze snapped from the sky to the camp in surprise before landing on a familiar tabby form. His new mentor, Runningfox, alternating between standing and pacing as he looked about the bustling camp. The tom might have been friendly enough, but it was clear to Dunepaw that patience simply didn't go paw-in-paw with the warrior. Ruefully the apprentice's memories brought up images of a sable-patched tom, mellow and almost as disinclined to battle as Dunepaw himself. One could never quite be rid of that original attachment to a first mentor, though the young feline was doing his best to accept the pale striped cat as a suitable replacement. It wasn't as though the tom was incompetent, after all. He worked hard and made his loyalty for his clan clear in his actions. Evening patrol, was it? Well, there would certainly be no solitary, late night wandering for the apprentice today. He finished off the last scraps of the watervole he'd chosen from the fresh-kill pile with a few rapid gulps and stood, shaking himself out in a strangely dog-like fashion. With a few pawfuls of soil and moss sufficing to bury the remains of his meal, the long-limbed tom was limping his way towards the older warrior within moments. He waved his tail in greeting to the restless cat. "I'm right here, Runningfox." Who else had he called for? Solacestone and Pepperbreath, right? Pepperbreath... Dunepaw had heard about the wrathful she-cat's sharp-tongued nature from other warriors, but he himself hadn't any qualms with the experienced warrior. Solacestone was a jolly natured cat, reliable and fun to be around -even if he got a little dark at times. The patrol should go well enough, at least that was what the apprentice hoped as he waited for the others to arrive.

[lily ♫]

Solacestone had just finished sinking his teeth into a fresh hare when he heard Runningfox's summoning. Standing up, the mottled tabby shook himself and licked the blood off his lips before beginning to approach the beginning dregs of a patrol. Dunpaw, Runningfox's apprentice, reached the tom before Solacestone did, and a calico she-cat was slinking their way. Her pelt colors were brilliant, and it wasn't the femme that had been assigned onto the patrol.

"Pepperbreath can't make the patrol.

[/color]" Orioleflash spat, her usual temper firing up already. The female hadn't planned on joining the patrol after her evening meal. Afterall, she had been on a border patrol just the other day. And with Runningfox, of all the toms. Catching Solacestone's forest green gaze on her, her eyes narrowed, and she scowled at the color patched tabby. His build was symmetrical to a VertigoClan cat's, not a ZephyrClan's, and Orioleflash always felt as if he was out of place there.

"Happy as ever, I see, Orioleflash.[/color]" Solacestone put in, a chuckle lingering in the air after his words. 'Always a fun-loving gal, she is.' The tom told himself, flashing a grin to Runningfox and Dunepaw. Content with the members of the patrol, he dipped his head to the younger warrior. "This'll prove to be an interesting one, won't it?[/color]" Solacestone chimed in, eyes gleaming as he looked down at the swarthy apprentice to his left with a small smile. It was then that he felt the almost tangible heat of anger that was pouring off of Orioleflash. She was just naturally mad at the world, wasn't she? Closing his eyes and shaking his head, he opened his dark olive orbs and lost himself in thought.

"Of course, Solacestone. I wouldn't have you expecting any less.[/color]" Was the female's cryptic reply as her golden saffron eyes met Runningfox's own. Bewilderment crossed her for a moment; she'd never taken a moment to observe his eyes. They reflected the same hues as her own and it threw a rock into the turning gears of her mind. Scowl flickering back and forth with a neutral, half-smile, she settled on a deep frown and let herself concentrate on Solacestone instead. Yes, an older tom, much more easy to handle than the rascal that Runningfox always proved to be. Likeable, too, though a bit solemn when he wasn't trying to be humerous.

'Hides behind that false humor of his, doesn't he?[/color]' She thought, being careful not to voice her opinions of the senior warrior. Blinking and letting her browline furrow, she looked at Runningfox himself and hissed. "Can we get this over with already? My lovely nest is beckoning me and I hadn't known I'd be partaking in the lovely evenin' patrol, alright? I'm not necessarily rested up like you lot.[/color]"

ooc: switching pov's...THE BETTER TO CONFUSE YOU WITH, BBY. especially because solacestone is really boring and will probably die from the plague so i can make a fun apprentice perhaps[/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]

[aero ❥]

{ R } UNNINGFOX

He watched his apprentice limp towards him, the handsome tabby's mind picking out flaws in the young cat. He would have to build up his strength - get the apprentice active to build up much needed muscle. Just because he had the classical Zephyrclan build didn't mean all he could be was swift. Remembering back to his own days of apprenticeship he too had started off thin and wiry; but with his fitness-crazed mentor and his dad's genes, he hadn't turned out bad.

Nodding to Dunepaw, his warm yellow eyes spotted Solacestone approaching from his left. His brawny figure was what first caught the younger warrior's attention, but the hold it had soon melted away as it reminded him of his own father. Old dog. He thought heatedly. Exhaling his throat made a kind of accidental whistle.
The temperate air got caught in his windpipes as he spotted a beautiful creature slinking towards the group of awaiting toms, his tail curling in thrill. Her lithe body and delicate curves moved with a sassy swagger that was as alluring as her fiery personality. Damn...

"Pepperbreath can't make the patrol." The she-cat spat, angered for whatever reason, or maybe none at all. Runningfox tore his eyes away, his fixed stare might trigger a negative reaction from the calico. In his mind, he was thinking how that was the best news he had heard all day. He looked up at Solacestone when he spoke, his words ringing incredibly true. "Definitely." He purred, deep rumble vibrating his long body. As Orioleflash made a sharp reply their eyes met, and Runningfox admired the view. The warmth in his eyes reflected her bewildered expression, a timid grin crossing his lips as a gentle half-smile crossed her own. Though just as quickly as it had come it vanished. In it's place was a heavy frown the player didn't quite understand. No matter.

Ear flicking as her snappy words buzzed around them annoyingly, he dipped his head dramatically. "As you wish, m'lady." And so he padded towards their exit, leading the way without looking back. I should test Dunepaw on scents... The sullen ashy clouds above seemed closer to the ground then before. Like balloons loosing air and deflating. New shoots of grass tickled his paw pads as he picked up his pace.

[Dusk]

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[atrb=background, i339.photobucket.com/albums/n480/Shardclaw/sablewithborder.jpg] The scrawny tom grimaced as the harsh, spitting voice raked his ears. A twist of his head served to bring the voice's owner into his sight, and the apprentice struggled to keep his ears from falling flat against his head. She was to be the replacement for Pepperbreath? The last thing he needed was to be noticed by the ever moody calico now standing a few tail lengths before him. It was already bad enough that they had to be on a patrol together without having that fiery tongue direct its abuse constantly towards the dark-furred tom. They were so very different, Dunepaw noted, as he observed the yellow-eyed feline. The young warrior was so quick to anger... so volatile; it just clashed incredibly with the apprentice's peace-preferring outlook. Though it might not have been too much different with Pepperbreath in the patrol instead. With a deep breath, the tom turned his thoughts away from the slightly sour outlook of what the patrol would be like with certain members, and attempted to focus on happier ideas. A bright flash of white amidst a sea of dark brown appeared on his face as he returned Solacestone's smile with a small grin of his own. The older tom would certainly serve well to lighten up the patrol, wouldn't he? His jokes seemed to hold up against the worst tides of fury or sadness, though in this case it might simply serve to further irritate the calico beside him. Who could tell with her? The apprentice blinked and gave a small shake of his head. His mind was wandering off on its own again, something no good when he needed to keep focused for the coming patrol. Refocusing, the tom let his vision settle momentarily on his mentor. With head tilted slightly upwards, he caught a glimmer of warmth in the pale tom's gaze as his eyes locked with those of Orioleflash. There was no time for him to wonder at what was going through his mentor's mind, though, as the female warrior was quick to revert to her acidic comments after the lapse. Whatever had thrown the warrior into a few seconds of blissful silence was easily shaken off, it seemed. And then they were off, Dunepaw limping along at an easy pace; his long legs served admirably to assist the apprentice in keeping up with the larger and older cats. "So, where are we patrolling?" The sable tom asked as he glanced upwards at the gray, brooding sky overhead. He hoped the clouds would withhold their burden a little while longer, evening patrol was bad enough without returning to one's den soaked and stinking of mud.