[Hellion]

Having said his goodbyes to Lotuswhisker, Gullswoop let his wet paw steps lead him home. Pausing for a moment to shake out what ever lingering water droplets clung to his fur. In that moment Gullswoop decided to take the long way back to camp, letting his fur be ruffled by the slight breeze. With a good length in his stride, Gullswoop set off and let the water fall where it wanted.

The distance he traveled was short before he realized a scent was hanging in the wind. It seemed familiar but lacked something and it didn't take long for Gullswoop to place what was missing. The scent that followed him was the rebel scent and he knew that he hadn't been Lotuswhisker long for her scent to mingle with his.

Unsheathing his claws, Gullswoop prepared for a fight and slowed down his pace. He fur along his neck bristled as a rush of air forced him to react by flatten himself to the ground. The cat snarled as he barely missed Gullswoop's shoulder and landed just over the tom. Gullswoop's eyes shot up and was met with the cream colored face of Salmonclaw. Replying with his own hiss, Gullswoop returned to his towering height and arched his back in a display of defense.

"Let me pass," Gullswoop told him, letting his words be encased with a hiss. Salomclaw responded with another snarl, exposing his teeth.

"Stay away from her," Salmonclaw spat back, which only had Gullswoop's ears twitching in confusion at what he just heard. Raking his brain for what the wretched inbred tom could be thinking of, Gullswoop didn't lower his posture.

"I wasn't with any her," He replied but just then it dawned on him. Salmonclaw must have saw him with Lotuswhisker.

"Liar!" Salmonclaw challenged, stepping forward before launching himself toward Gullswoop. Having been more of a diplomat than a fighter. Gullswoop's first reaction wasn't to strike back. Instead it was to deflect the oncoming attack by rising up to his hind legs and using his fore-paw to brace against Salmonclaw.

Grateful for being half-StoneClan, Gullswoop was able to hold back Salmonclaw and not let the tom move him at all. Gullswoop's height would remain an advantage made even more imposing by his mother's gift of her strong legs. Salmonclaw jumped back, realizing that Gullswoop wasn't striking nor was he moving.

"Lotuswhisker is mine!" Salmonclaw ranted on, the snarl coming deep from his throat. Now fully understanding what Salmonclaw was snarling about only made Gullswoop even more annoyed.

"I'm pretty sure she should have a say in that, " Gullswoop replied, watching the anger flash in Salmonclaw's eyes a little more. The silver tabby wondered what was going on in the rebel camp that Salmonclaw was so adamant about Lotuswhisker being 'his'. Not only did that make him uncomfortable but stirred a part of Gullswoop into showing a little more concern then he had before. Were the she-cats in the rebel camp being told to take mates? He had already gathered that there were kits growing and thriving in the camp, but did their mother want them?

Concern radiated off of Gullswoop as he watched Salmonclaw. The truth of Salmonclaw's heritage was not hidden from everyone in RainClan. Nearly every cat knew that Leopardyowl and Petalfall were cousins before mates. Was Salmonclaw's words the start of unconventional way to strengthen their self-proclaimed bloodline?

During his thought process, Gullswoop hadn't noticed right away that Salmonclaw was panting more than normal. Perhaps like his sister he wasn't suited for active warrior duties, but forced himself to continue. A fault in Gullswoop was that he saw it as honorable to try and be a warrior despite life holding him back.

"Go home Salmonclaw before you pass out, " Gullswoop replied, his tone still holding an edge but softer similar to the way he'd talk to over an zealous apprentice.

Salmonclaw growled before stalking toward Gullswoop. The towering tom expected another attack but instead was met with a clump of dry dirt being clawed up by the cream-colored tom and aimed right for his eyes. Normally it wouldn't have effected Gullswoop but the dry dirt that covered most of the valley was able to hit him in the face.  Careful to quickly wipe away the irritant, Gullswoop opened his green eyes to see that Salmonclaw had departed, using the dirt as a ruse for his escape.

Exhaling for a moment to relax his body, Gullswoop decided it wasn't best to wander around alone and quickly turned and took the quickest route back to camp. 

_{Fawn
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