The Far Side Of Crazy

[Durango]

[atrb=border,0,true][bg=9C7865]SCATTERDUST;;

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The camp was uneasily quiet. The softest hint of rain was falling from the sky, into the fog that surrounded. The water trickled down the rocks, slipping slowly into the dip in the ground that was NorthClan's camp. Scatterdust sat near the top of the dip, watching the streams of water that were slowly pouring into the basin.

There were few cats around. Scatterdust assumed that it was because they did not want to be caught out in the wet. NorthClan cats were built for harsh conditions, but at heart they were still felines who despised the feel of water in their fur coats. He minded it, too, but he was too lost in thought to consider going into one of the dens for shelter.

StarClan help us when we find out what this monster is, he thought, referring to the prophecy he'd heard. It was from WestClan's medicine cat, as he recalled. It was so mysterious, and the fact that she was found dead not moments after she said those words only added to the arcane nature. It had every Clan up in arms, as though they didn't have enough to worry about.

There were so many battles. Scatterdust grinned. Half of them, I believe I caused. He was a poor advisor. The deputy of the Clan would rather war rise all around him than have peace. Peace was too boring for him. He was smart, but he wasn't good. He just couldn't bring himself to even try to be good. Warrior code, what's that? he joked in his head. He was on the far side of crazy, with no way back.

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[LEAF]

Pebblestar:.

The NorthClan leader strode out of her den silently, flicking her icy gaze over the camp. Her eyes sparked with intrest as she saw Scatterdust, her deputy, sitting a bit below her. Flicking her long tail behind her, she exhaled as she rested her gaze on the fresh-kill pile. Her whisker twitched partly in annoyance, partly in exhaustion. The prey was very low, only a few peices remained. She knew it wasn't right to get annoyed at her Clan, escpecially if she was just tired and rubbed it off on them. Closing her eyes, she sent a silent prayer to StarClan, hoping they'd help fill their fresh-kill pile. It should be fairly easy, for it was new leaf, and prey was begining to spring up everwhere.

The leader soon turned her head to be met with the blooming trees that always grew in this season. They were beautiful, she thought. Stretching out her neck, she came face to face with one pink blossom, covered in the dew from the rain. One droplet slowly rolled to the end of the leaf, clinging there. She stretched out her tounge to lap it up, and it's refreshing, cool taste filled the spot in her mouth. Blinking happily, she turned her attention back to the camp. Maybe she could help on a hunting patrol.

The sleek she-cat skidded a ways down the slope to meet her deputy. "Scatterdust," she murmured in welcome. She sat down as well, watching the vacant camp with an unfocused gaze. "Are there any hunting patrols needed? I'd like to come along on one when you send one out," she requested, her unfocused eyes still locked on the camp. Her tail curled around her paws, finally moving her head towards Scatterdust, awaiting what he had to say.

[Durango]

[atrb=border,0,true][bg=9C7865]SCATTERDUST;;

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As the weather began to lighten up, Scatterdust could hear the sound of approaching pawsteps. He looked out of the corner of his vivd blue eyes to see the NorthClan leader, Pebblestar. She had just visited the prey pile before coming towards him. He had never really appreciated her style of leadership, though he tried his best not to say anything about it. He was the kind of cat to start fights, and battles, and she simply was not. Though at times, Scatterdust could be pretty convincing, and the leader would go to battle when she had to, it wasn't what he had imagined. He had always pictured being Jaggedstar's deputy, but he was gone now, lost in the depths of a ravine, smashed against the rocks.

"Good day, Pebblestar," he meowed to her, smoothly. She asked him something about the hunting patrols, and he grimaced just a little. "I haven't gathered together any hunting patrols yet, but I'll see to it shortly. The prey pile is looking a little low." He didn't feel much up to the task of gathering together warriors to go out on hunting, but because it was his duty, he couldn't very well complain.

He turned his head towards the east, his stomach churning a little with the mounting excitement of what he was about to say. He figured the day needed to be spiced up a little, and perhaps he could talk his leader into a battle instead of a bland hunting patrol. He was always so bloodthirsty and despicable, but very convincing and suavely manipulative. He never wanted to get his paws dirty by actually participating in a fight, but he loved the excitement. "Oh, I forgot to mention... I believe I scented some EastClan cats on our territory. They might be out to steal our prey. Maybe we should look into that?" he lied. He hadn't even smelled a trace of EastClan near them, but nevertheless telling the truth was not his strong point.

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[LEAF]

Pebblestar:.

The dark tabby rested her blue pools of eyes on the deputy. She knew he wasn't so fond of her, but she shrugged it off. She had hoped for a deputy that she could trust with all her nine lives and beyond, but it wasn't the case. Not that she didn't trust Scatterdust, no, but maybe not with all her lives. But, she was a new leader, so perhaps in time she'd be able to do so. Pebblestar listened respectfully to the tom and nodded slowly.

Her pupils dialated to mere slits and she pulled her blazing eyes from her deputy to the east. The fur prickled on the back of her neck, and slowly rippled down to her tail. Sucking in a deep breath, so spoke. "It's not so safe to assume," she growled. NorthClan and EastClan hadn't always had the best relationship, but they shouldn't dare steal from NorthClan! Flicking an ear angrily, she tried to relaxed her contracted shoulder muscles. Perhaps they just wondered over the border. She wouldn't stand for that, though. "Set fresh scent markers on the border and double patrols there," her gaze bore into Scatterdust like the sun rays itself. "Watch carefully. If they set one paw over the border, chase them out." He should do this anyways, but if they did catch them crossing the border again, they wouldn't get out punishment free.

Sighing, she gripped the ground with her claws. She just wanted to be a good leader, and now they were possibly having trouble with EastClan. Hopefully it turned out to be nothing, and she could continue to be a loyal and trustful leader. Was that really too much to ask for? Pebblestar didn't think so; nor did she think it was too much to ask for EastClan to stay in their own territory. Perhaps the deputy was just battle hungry and he thought he scented their scent in NorthClan terrirtory. She certainly never thought he'd lie to her.

[Durango]

[atrb=border,0,true][bg=9C7865]SCATTERDUST;;

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There was a twinge of disappointment as Scatterdust listened to the instructions of his leader. Still, there was a chance that he could use this heightened security to his advantage. If, perhaps, an EastClan cat stepped anywhere near their territory, he could start something with them, and accuse them of trespass, though his accusations would be mostly unfounded.

"I will do just that," he responded. In reality, Scatterdust could only daydream about the amazing battles he would be starting. Maybe out of this there could spring some kind of an all-out war with EastClan, like SouthClan and EastClan had been through in the past. "Perhaps after I gather a hunting patrol, I could also gather together a border patrol to send out?"

He didn't want to spend his day hunting. He would do anything just to get together some NorthClan warriors and go check the borders while Pebblestar was off hunting with another group.

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