~ come out, come out [falconstar]

[~ .rushstar.]

Rats. That was what was going through Rushstar's mind as she padded through the trees. In fact, not just rats, many types of rodents. PineClan's prey. Mice, rats, shrews, squirrels, along with several other types of prey were being found dead, more and more each day. And Homeyrain, sick in the medicine's den form an unknown illness. Convinced that they had to be connected, the leader had issued an order for no cat to touch the dead rodents, and if they did the were to wash their paws in the creek downstream from camp. More and more stress was building on Rishstar and StarClan had said nothing. Nothing! How could they, how could they let her clan suffer so badly? Prey was running short, during the time when the forest should be rich in prey. If her cats were so thin in greenleaf, how would they make it through leafbare?

She burst from her thoughts as she caught StoneClan scent. Her head moved as she looked around the area before figuring out that she was close to the border. Her eyes could just make out the sharp shape of the twoleg church that PineClan and StoneClan bickered over. It was obviously PineClan territory, if you asked Rushstar, for it was surrounded by the trees that gave PineClan their name.  Yet the problem at paw couldn't stay out of her mind for long. Even thinking about the borders worried her. She wouldn't put it past StoneClan to try and steal territory while PineClan was weakened by this, this problem. She would have to remember to tell Amberblaze to keep an eye on the borders, along with increasing hunting patrols. 

Absentmindedly, she padded towards the twoleg structure, mind filled with worries. She sat near the twoleg structure, tail wrapping around her paws as she looked around. It was fairly quiet, but StoneClan stench wafted around. Rushstar tasted the air again, catching the identity of the cat that had left the most recent scent, besides her own. Falconstar, the leader of StoneClan, the last cat Rushstar wanted to see. The tabby sighed, the spoke up. "Falconstar? I know you're here."

[►Falconstar]

Falconstar was tired of being cooped up in camp. Sure, he'd spent plenty of time out of it not too long ago, getting hurt and what not, but the massive tom never had much liked being kept into one place. There was an adventurous part of him that couldn't stand being in one place for too long. Of course this part of him had never taken him too far away from his Clan though.

It wasn't that the rich brown tom was scared of what was outside of the Clans, he just wasn't adventurous enough to really care. The time when he was a young idiot, always getting into bad situations for the wrong kind of attention were over. Falconstar had gained responsibilities. Not only did he adopt toms into his life to be their role model and father, but he also just recently became the leader of his whole Clan. He was no longer just some trouble-making kid, he'd made a name for himself and it made him happy! The glory of being StoneClan's leader made him feel like he was about to burst with pride.

Pausing at the sound of a familiar voice, Falconstar scowled. He hadn't noticed the scent of PineClan getting stronger, too deep in his thoughts. Rushstar had luckily called to him before he'd appeared and made a fool of himself by not noticing her there. Straightening to his full height and rolling his shoulders to relieve the tension before stepping out into plain sight. His brown pelt's red under-tones grew more noticeable as the sun hit it and his golden eyes glowed, zeroing in on the other leader. The large feline's maw curled into a taunting smirk immediately.

"Hey there, Rushfur."

He wondered if her Clan had been weakened any by the rodent massacre. StoneClan had hardly been affect at all because of their feathery diet. Only a few had fallen ill, and Falconstar was confident in Ironcall's skills enough to figure they would be fine. Obviously this was no enemy like he'd assumed, just a peculiar disease.

I hope it doesn't spread to birds...

Narrowing his eyes slightly, he noted that the female looked troubled. Apparently they had suffered at least a bit. Falconstar couldn't think of anything else that would make her have that expression on her face. Now was the time he decided he'd try and rile her up, maybe help relieve some tension. He wasn't heartless. Just because Rushstar lead another Clan that rivaled his didn't mean he didn't care for the fellow feline's health. This was his way of showing he wasn't a total monstrosity.

"What's with that look, you scared of me, little kitten?"

The long-haired tom's voice rumbled with amusement. Hopefully this would lighten her up a bit and they could possibly joke. It was rare to find a cat on equal terms with Falconstar and Rushstar was as close as it had gotten in a long time.

[~ .rushstar.]

Rushstar groaned as Falconstar walked out, arrogant as usual, if not more so. Her eyes narrowed at his greeting, one that was becoming typical of him. "Whatever, Falconwire," she said, voice flat. Two could play that game, even of she didn't really feel like putting up with this annoying cat. There was too much going on in PineClan, With the sickness and everything else, she didn't have the patience to deal with the arrogant fur ball in front of her. Her fur prickled as she glared at the tom, trying to hint that she most certainly did not want to talk to him. 

As the large tom in front of her spoke up once more, Rushstar had to force herself not to offer him one of the sick mice that could be found all around PineClan territory. Taking a deep breath, she replied coolly, "Why would I be scared of you?" She snorted. "And why should you be concerned by my moods?" She shot him an icy glare, hoping he would leave her alone, yet knowing that he wouldn't. They were too much alike and, if the positions were switched, she wouldn't have just walked away. No, she would have done exactly what Falconstar was doing, as much as she hated it. 

The PineClan leader sat down, eyes fixed on the older cat. After a few moments of staring at Falconstar, she broke the silence. "So, what are you doing here, almost in my territory?" she asked, emphasizing the 'my'. Rushstar gave her paw a lick and ran it over an ear. 

notes; blah post