Warriors of the Plants

In Forestclan territory 

On his way back to camp, Bearsnap decided to make good on his time while he was still out. He might as well be productive. He lightened his steps, padding around carefully with his nose to the air. Mice were common amongst the undergrowth but he found his attention turned to a squirrel quivering around a low bush. 

With a growing snark, Bearsnap dropped to a low crouch. His tail struck straight ahead and his paws moved ever so carefully when he advanced. He inched forward, cautiously, when his hind paw brushed against the undergrowth beside him. The squirrel perked up, noticed his presence and was quick to bound away. 

Bearsnap growled and was on his feet, ready to pursue. He chased after the squirrel, bounding after it when the small critter dashed off to the side and scrambled up the trunk of a tree. Bearsnap could not stop himself from the sudden shift and ended up crashing into group of berry bushes infront of him. 

Bearsnap stuck his head out with a small groan, quick to scowl when he noticed the squirrel chitter away in a mocking manner. At least no on saw him. Starclan knows he would never live it down.

But from behind Bearsnap a short chuckle sounded, "Wow...that sucked." Sunheart, the Cactusclan warrior, would be laying on a stump flicking his tail as he smirked down at the Forestclan warrior.

Bearsnap shot around, fur bristling when he noticed a cactusclan cat watching him. “Shut up.” He scowled, glaring at the other tom.

Sunheart would stand up stretching before jumping down from the stump in front of Bearsnap. "Calm down. Everybody has their off days." He said with a slight shrug and another chuckle that same smug smirk on his face

Bearsnap did not calm down. He didn’t know who this sand cat mole was but he did not like his attitude. “Today is not an off day for me. I just let that squirrel escape. I pitied that poor creature.” He said firmly. The squirrel from earlier proceeded to throw an acorn at his head. Bearsnap whipped around to glare at the trees. “Why you little—“ 

"Uh huuuh.." Sunheart said slowly about to speak before jumping a bit not expecting the squirrel to hit Bearsnap with an acorn but that just made him laugh more. "HAH! I like that squirrel!"

Bearsnap glowered at the critter above them. “I bet you would like that little dirt pile. You two have a lot in common,” He said. Then lowering his voice he spoke more richly and delicate. “Especially in the looks.”

Sunheart sighed softly shaking his pelt softly. Though the trees blocked a lot of the rain the water still would go through. "You're right...your clan's territory is terrible for the pelt." He scoffed, picking out some moss from his shoulder. He would look back at Bearsnap and smirked, "I mean...you have some sticks on your head." He chuckled, "...birdbrain..." He softly teased under his breath

Bearsnap flicked him with his tail. “I’m sorry that our amazing forest isn’t meeting up to your standards—especially considering what happened to your own home, mole rat.” Bearsnap, whirled around, keeping his gaze forward, he prodded around the underbrush. 

"'Amazing' is well...a way to put the forest." Sunheart said, rolling his eyes and watching Bearsnap, "But I'd like to see you try to survive a day in the desert." He scoffed, "You guys live almost as softly as kittypets do!" He laughed

Bearsnap shot up. “I bet I would do wondrously in your wet and soggy desert.” 

"Yeah and I think the rain would actually help groom your pelt." Sunheart teased, flicking his tail with that same smug smirk on his face

Bearsnap slapped him with his tail. “I think you need more rain to wash out all that sand in your ears.”

Sunheart huffed glaring at Bearsnap, "And you should pull the moss out of yours." He grunted, Bearsnap was actually getting on the tom's nerves

Bearsnap cuffed Sunheart's ear. “You should get your eyes checked, desert mole. All those grains really affected your sight.”

"At least I'm not a mush brain." Sunheart scoffed standing up his fur bristling a bit

Bearsnap growled and shoved his way close to Sunheart. “You should check again lizard dirt.”

Sunheart got closer to flicking his tail, irritated, "I don't know...I'm pretty sure you're still a mush brain." He grunted, that smug smirk turning into a slight snarl of irritation but he was trying to keep his cool

Bearsnap growled, they were practically nose to nose with how close they were. “I guess you would be familiar with noticing your own kind. This time you’re quite mistaken.”

"I don't want to hear it, fox dung." Sunheart growled, glaring into the other tom-cat's eyes unsheathing his claws sinking them into the soggy grass

Suddenly the squirrel dropped down from the trees and landed on Sunheart’s muzzle

Sunheart's eyes widened his muzzle falling forward pressing into Bearsnap's muzzle from the weight of the squirrel. Of course he quickly recoiled his ears burning hot as he tried to grab the squirrel off his face

Bearsnap leapt back as if he got burnt. Heat rushed throughout his pelt and he quickly shook himself off

Sunheart would smack the squirrel off his face but while trying to pin the animal, he missed. His mind was racing and his pelt was hot. "That little..." He muttered under his breath, eyes wide and ears red

“Are you having an off day?” Bearsnap sneered.

"I'm having an off moment! U-ugh!" Sunheart shuddered, wiping his mouth with paw before looking back at Bearsnap

“Am I really that disgusting?” Bearsnap fake pouted. “I mean I also had to deal with your end.”

Sunheart's fur bristled. He of course didn't want to think about how it wasn't actually that disgusting. "I-I...whatever." He muttered quickly starting to walk away flicking his tail needing to vent to his Cactusclan friend

Bearsnap glowered at his departing figure. “Good riddance..stupid Cactusclan cat.” Bearsnap watched the squirrel clamber back and look between the two almost dejectedly

Rainfall decided to go hunting for the 2nd time.

Bearsnap watched as dear starclan, another cactusclan cat came across him. He was used to it as the whole clan was in his home but he was growing tired. The squirrel gave a slight chitter and went to scramble over his form. Bearsnap was about to shrug it off when it curled up around his scruff and settled in 

Rainfall saw Bearsnap and dipped his head to him. "Hey Bearsnap, I just wanted to say sorry about yesterday."

Bearsnap flicked his ears with a downtrodden gaze. “Don’t worry about it. That Flowerclan cat thankfully went back to his own clan."

Rainfall felt better after he heard the cat forgave him. "Ok, if you need anything just let me know."

“i will...” Bearsnap said dismissively

Rainfall dipped his head and padded away to catch prey. While Rainfall was walking he accidentally stepped on something sharp and was yowling in pain.

Bearsnap watched him go with narrowed eyes. He padded forward. “What is it?”

"I accidentally stepped on something sharp and I never got hurt before, this is the first time, my paw is bleeding!" Rainfall screamed.

“Who would’ve guessed. The rain must be bringing out more sharp rocks.” Bearsnap mused “They’re coming out." 

"Yeah for sure. Also I appreciate you helping me." Rainfall mewed.

Bearsnap dropped his paw, “You should have your med cat check it.”

"If I can walk." Rainfall joked.

“Please don’t tell me I have to carry you..” Bearsnap scowled to the smaller tom

"No, I think I could manage going back to camp." Mewed Rainfall.

“Good.” Bearsnap huffed. The squirrel let out a chitter and poked its head out from Bearsnap’s back.

"Why is there a squirrel on your back?" Asked Rainfall.

“I don’t know. I just let this monster stay with me.” Bearsnap shrugged.

"Umm ok...bye see you around soon." Rainfall started padding away.

Bearsnap looked at the squirrel with a scowl. “I’m going to need a name for you if you’re sticking around you nuisance.” 

At Forestclan camp 

Rainfall padded into camp holding a robin in his mouth. He went to the fresh kill pile and placed his robin in it but he was thinking about how hungry he was. Rainfall picked up a mouse and started chewing on it like a stray. After Rainfall finished eating, he went out to explore the area.

Bristlethorn glanced around the camp, he sighed feeling useless in the Forestclan terrain, and the fact he just couldn’t really do much for the group of cats. He wondered if the desert cleared up at all, and whether he’d be able to go back to the territory, to at least hunt a tiny bit to contribute. BristleThorn looked for a cat or two who might be able to go with him… to be honest he didn’t want to bring a forest cat with him because he felt like he was already a burden to them. He started to pace a little around the camp, seeing if there was someone he could talk to about this.

Sunheart would pad into camp grumbling to himself still just thinking about Bearsnap. How could a cat be so insufferable! And how could a squirrel do that to him! He didn't even think those creatures could think!

Bristlethorn noticed his clanmate come back to camp. He didn't want to bother him since he had just came back, but really wanted to check back on Cactusclan territory. He stumbled around for a little bit arguing to himself whether he should talk to Sunheart or not, and ended up heading over to him. "Hi...um...so...I want to head back home- just to check the territory." He stated.

Sunheart would look at Bristlethorn cutting him off, "Bristlethorn! Can you believe these Forestclan cats! T-the audacity of some of the warriors here!" He yelled, upset

Bristlethorn nodded "Let's walk and talk." He responded, gesturing with his tail. Hoping that Sunheart heard him before he would start his rant.

"A-and this stupid squirrel!" Sunheart scoffed following his calmer friend "T-that thing made us! Us..! Touch muzzles!" He would yowl and rant to his friend 

Bristlethorn nodded, and started walking out of camp, hoping Sunheart would follow while he ranted. "That sounds horrible." He says, trying to be a understanding friend.

"As soon as we can get back to our clan I'm going to rip his pelt off!" Sunheart exclaimed, huffing and baring his teeth but his ears and pelt were hot with maybe something more than rage

At the border between Catusclan and Forestclan 

Bristlethorn continued to nod along while Sunheart talked. Only half listen while they were heading to Cactusclan Territory. "So what exactly is your problem with Bearsnap?" He asked, only understanding that Sunheart hated(?) Bearsnap.

"He's so stupid! He talks but nothing important comes out of his mousbrained maw!" Sunheart ranted, looking at Bristlethorn as if it was impossible for him to see that Bristlethorn didn't have a problem with Bearsnap, "A-and that squirrel..." He hissed. It looked like he couldn't get that out of his head it made his fur prickle and his paws tingle everytime he thought about it

"I never thought there would be a squirrel would be that um...smart." Bristlethorn said. They had now reached the border where they could clearly see their territory, it was more barren than normal, the plants looked strange as the rain fell, and wind blew on what felt like a empty ghost town.

Now at the border looking across the land his rage and memory of the...muzzle touch...disappeared. Sunheart frowned staring out at his barren territory. He loved his territory...he missed the hot beating sun on him and cooling his paw pads in the tunnels after a day of hunting. Now...it was all gone... "It's terrible..." He frowned, just staring out at the devastated desert

Bristlethorn was silent, almost giving sigal to the land that was once full of life. "When will this rain stop...what if it never does..? Will all the clans be driven barren?" He sighed, shaking with that horrid thought. He felt cold from both the rain, and the despair.