[Insidious]

There was an unfitted skip to Birchclaw's step with managing to squeeze in some time away from his clan. He knew that StoneClan required the utmost loyalties of their cats after what had occurred between Stormclan and them. As of now, however, Birchclaw didn't think they'd miss one mere warrior. Besides, he needed some time to himself – some time away to get lost in his thoughts as he once loved to do, though had sadly been unable to do as of late. Living in the mountains had a couple of benefits, for instance, with it came a variety of new skills they would have never learned having remained in their natural domain. Also, who could forget the clan dwelling within the mountains: MountainClan. Birchclaw felt almost... superior with having this knowledge over the cats that had driven them out in the first place. Not that he had any reason to want to outshine the other clans, though Birchclaw couldn't claim to have entirely forgiven them just yet. It'd take some time to stop holding a grudge against RainClan and LightningClan for driving them out of their home, same as it would for him to stop holding a grudge against NightClan and TreeClan for refusing to help them when they needed it. He couldn't help but wonder how the other clans would be feeling if it had been them, and not StoneClan. If they had traveled into another clan's territory begging for assistance of some kind... to only be turned down.

And now, Birchclaw walked dangerously close to the borders of one of those clans he so openly despised in the moment: TreeClan. He sniffed cautiously, the scent of StoneClan they had likely been deprived of lately thick in his reddish-gray-and-white fur. What did the clans think had become of StoneClan? It wasn't like they had been around much lately, so who knew what they considered to have become of them in the mountains? Birchclaw snorted, clearly unimpressed with his current thoughts. If any TreeClan wanderers happened to be near, they'd certainly be in for a surprise.

Normally, Birchclaw's astray adventures were kept in the shadows – low and under-cover at all times. But for once, he seemed almost hopeful to be seen by someone, anyone. He just needed someone to see that StoneClan wasn't gone, not yet. They were chased off, but only because they were outnumbered – StoneClan wasn't weaker by any means.

[Fawn]

ØNYXPAW

9 Moons || Apprentice || She-Cat || TreeClan ♦

I don't feel safe here anymore. If not for the sole sake of avoiding Grayowl like the charcoal-hued plague she considered him to be, Onyxpaw's ability to slip away unnoticed had vastly improved. With the forest taking on a black, scorched hue, the she-cat's shadowy pelt was her greatest asset, able to traipse through the destroyed sections of the forest like a hazy cloud of ash and burnt remnants. Two sharp amber oculars were the only thing that gave her away. After that significant if not senseless battle at the border between TreeClan and LightningClan, Onyxpaw had become conveniently 'absent' whenever Lionstar or Daringheart were putting a patrol together for that particular area. It was a mixture of caution and terror that kept her away; bravery had not been her most outstanding trait, and after the thorough beating she'd sustained at the claws of Nightpaw and Palepaw of LightningClan, she would rather inhale dandelion seeds than confront either one of them again. Nightpaw had been aiming to kill her, every fiber of being new this, and it had shaken her to the core. Arguably tense in the aftermath of such a harsh exchange, Onyxpaw still felt bitter and angry of the entire ordeal, disappointed in her mentor - but more frightened of him than she'd been originally. What did Crimsonpaw possibly see in that black-hearted owl? There was no forgetting the sense of dread that had filled the she-cat's stomach like lead upon spotting Grayowl with his offspring, the first born of his litter like a tiny mirror's image of her father - sending a shiver down Onyxpaw's spine every time. Little pest. The world was a cruel place; what if she ended up mentoring that little demon's spawn? Such a thought made Onyxpaw snort out loud, amber eyes narrowing as though she could glare through the scorched earth and into whatever was the cause of all her stress. Forget this. Forget Grayowl. Forget this Clan. I just want a break, a chance to relax without having to look over my shoulder for my crazy mentor. Onyxpaw had remained remarkably silent on the entire incident, after having told her mother and accused of making up stories. If they all wanted to be too mousebrained to realize Grayowl's teaching methods were unorthodox and dangerous, then fine. She wasn't going to sit around and take it, however. Approaching the part of their territory that lead to StarClan's Claws, Onyxpaw froze, scenting a very strange yet jarringly familiar musk upon the wind. StoneClan? Had they returned? Were they attacking? Immediately intending to seek higher ground and get a better view, Onyxpaw took several steps towards a spruce tree and stopped a second time, expression guarded, though the surprise could still radiate outward as she spotted a tom just at the edge of the border. Was it...another apprentice? He was too far away to properly identify, and she was certain she hadn't seen him anywhere else prior to this encounter. Why then, did he carry the stench of StoneClan? Why was he here? Onyxpaw, a sense of paranoia returning, felt her heart beat against her breast like rain against stone, all senses on alert for some sort of ambush, addressing the reddish gray male in a bored tone meant to feign calmness. "Are you lost, pal? You seem like you're a long way from home."

I curse the name, the one behind it all... ÐISCORD.

[Insidious]

Somewhat shaken with the terms that he had completely allowed the presence of another to surpass his wary senses, Birchclaw averted a tense gaze in the source's direction, required to squint in order to simply make out her small black form in the distance that existed between them. He looked lost to her? Birchclaw grimaced, the usual sense of humour and/or understanding he'd normally possess being overpowered by his current disgust for the other clans. Though, he was quick to dismiss his aggravated expression. This feline didn't have to know about what Birchclaw was thinking or feeling; those two factors were his own privacy, and he certainly had no intention of sharing them with this stranger accusing him of not knowing his way around TreeClan's borders.

“Do I?” Birchclaw mewed in response. “That's quite an assumption for you to be making, is it not?” You don't know enough about me to believe I'm far from home. Perhaps you recognize the scent of StoneClan, yet even still,how could you possibly have a clue as to where we have chosen to reside given YOUR clan's outrageous behavior in refusing to help in our time of need! A thoughtful glaze disguised the temper fuming beneath Birchclaw's thick fur, his fixated stare of mesmerizing green pigmentation seeming almost calm in comparison to his true feelings.

“Why are you so inclined to remain at a distance?” Birchclaw questioned, openly skeptical of Onyxpaw's intentions. “If you believe me of being an intruder, I'd enjoy your explanation as to why. My paws, after all, remain behind your precious border.” The tom-cat's whiskers twitched as his lips pulled up into a playful grin, enjoying what trait of hesitancy he'd perhaps be able to drag out of this TreeClanner with continued prodding.

[Fawn]

ØNYXPAW

I'm not a fan of puppeteers but I've a nagging fear, Someone else is pulling at the strings Something terrible is going down through the entire town Wreaking anarchy and all it brings ♦

The fur along the nape of her neck settled, finding his grin equal parts irksome as well as reassuring, though she kept on her side of the invisible fence, than you very much. “Why are you so inclined to remain at a distance?” "Let's just say the last time I ran into a couple of cats I didn't recognize, I was nearly turned into bedding - so sorry if I'm not leaping at the chance to approach." She couldn't trust anyone anymore, could she? Not even her own mentor, or her brainwashed brother Crimsonpaw, and especially not some-cat whose acquaintance she'd barely just made. He wasn't exactly intruding, and ever since that terrifying near death experience at the claws of Nightpaw of LightningClan, the shadowy feline was in no hurry to make new friends. The fact that this tom was obviously larger than Nightpaw had been was in no way possible a source of comfort, piercing amber eyes having noted the muscle present beneath his richly hued pelt, the tip of her tail twitching in recognition that if they were to fight, she would certainly lose to a contest of strength. That senseless battle at the border did not make her particularly enthusiastic to do battle training with Grayowl - so she'd been avoiding it all. Thus, Onyxpaw had to unwillingly admit that she was likely behind in any fighting training outside of what she'd practiced by herself. Not to mention she was still in recovery mode. As if able to feel Nightpaw's claws ghosting across her flank again, Onyxpaw shifted on her paws, sitting down a moment to twist her body, careful not to stretch any scabs or scars underneath her fur that would cause it to bleed again. "If you aren't lost, then what brings you this way?" A fighting force of one was about as mousebrained as you could get, and Onyxpaw had a feeling that he wasn't just some revenge-seeking fool who actually thought he could take on a whole Clan by himself. No... He must've been here for relatively sane reasons; perhaps he'd been looking for someone? Or had he just wandered back to check on the four remaining Clans? If the latter was true, then he must've seen how LightningClan and RainClan both hunted on StoneClan's territory as if they owned it, the hare-chasers and fish-eaters rather talentless when it came to catching birds, but they still wrested out some success. Onyxpaw rasped a rough pink tongue over the injury on her flank, shadowy rosettes winking back at her with each stroke, a weariness about the she-cat's form that suggested she would sooner run than fight. It wasn't as though the battle with Nightpaw had turned her into a coward; it was that sense that no one's going to look out for you that had. She felt alone, in an entire Clan of cats, and that kind of loneliness was not something Onyxpaw had ever thought she'd feel. This Clan couldn't ask her to fight for them and defend their borders when she was just another 'piece' in the great puzzle, so easily forgotten and replaced.

I curse the name, the one behind it all... ÐISCORD.

[Insidious]

He peered up at her with curious eyes, skimming her frame as she twisted to lick ruffled patches of her deep ebony pelt as her answer processed through the StoneClan warrior's mind. Birchclaw couldn't help but be skeptical of the details Onyxpaw refrained from sharing: who had she fought? Had she provoked her opponent in some way? Had she partook in some sort of action that caused such injury to be necessary? Green eyes narrowed, fighting back the sympathy that threatened to constrict his white tufted throat. He couldn't allow himself to sympathize for this she-cat he hardly knew, this TreeClanner he hardly knew. StoneClan, for the time being, could only care for and trust their own kind. This unidentified feline, for all he knew, could have very well deserved the beating she had obtained. After what they sat back and allowed StoneClan to face on their own... Birchclaw was willing to believe those of the other clans deserved whatever misfortune was thrown their way.

“Why does it matter to you?” Birchclaw offered as his response, dragging his gaze elsewhere as to avoid her own piercing amber. “It's clear that I'm not here to harm you – if I had been, I certainly wouldn't have waited this long to achieve it – therefore, you have no reason to be curious of what brings me this way.” The tip of Birchclaw's reddish-gray-and-white tail flicked dismissively, unable to contain the rush of anger that swelled in his stomach.

Flattening the fur along the back of his neck that had risen with his agitation, Birchclaw calmed himself with a soothing breath before returning his attention to the shadow-marked she-cat. “Yet here you are – seemingly curious.” A flash of interest raced across the tom's expression, unconcerned with why an apprentice-aged feline had left her camp absent of company though somehow driven to ask regardless. “Away from your camp, completely alone – not to mention the bird's eye view of me you seem so keen to keep – I can't help but be curious myself.” Another one of his classic, charming grins spilled across his reddish-white jaw – an alluring feature of his, though never used to lure anything more than a new intake of knowledge. “What is it that has made the heart of TreeClan such an unappealing environment for you upon this afternoon?”

[Fawn]

ØNYXPAW

I'm not a fan of puppeteers but I've a nagging fear, Someone else is pulling at the strings Something terrible is going down through the entire town Wreaking anarchy and all it brings ♦

"You seem to be implying that a cat needs a reason to be curious," Onyxpaw countered, her expression enigmatic, but the glitter of amber oculars revealed a lack of hostility. This was a conversation that would likely go nowhere fast if they didn't stop rubbing each other's fur the wrong way, she realized, what with her paranoia and unwillingness to socialize, as well as the fact that he was a complete and utter strange to her, whose motives she couldn't uncover on first, second or third glance. When he directed their attention to her again, Onyxpaw almost felt like giving him a hefty dose of sarcasm for a question she'd first believed to be obnoxious. Couldn't he smell it? The deeper parts of TreeClan territory absolutely reeked of burnt plantlife and scalded earth, of ash and dust and charred bits of things that had once made up their home. Noting the position of the wind, Onyxpaw begrudgingly accepted that his question wasn't as mousebrained as she'd originally thought; any breezes blowing were going away from them, carrying this foreign tom's unusual, rocky scent across the borderline and against her scent glands, rather than give him a taste of the fire-ravaged forest. "There was a forest fire," Onyxpaw replied, "half the territory's a mess, and I'm a little tired of having ash up my nose so far I can still taste it the next day." Of course, that was hardly the only reason behind the shadow-marked she-cat's desire to be distanced from the camp right now; there was a certain other kind of ashy thing that was equally as threatening to her health as that left over from the fire. And to think, I have three whole moons left of that tom, if I live that long. No, she had to stop saying it like that, even if she didn't even mean it. Instead of if I live that long, she should be saying, if I'm patient. Even if only to spite Grayowl, she had every intention of surviving his training methods and blatant disregard for her safety via her own terms, not his. His games were dangerous and felt more like traps; she would not be the fly caught in his spider's web. She would be the wasp who knew better. As if to further distance herself from that unappealing schemer, Onyxpaw rose to a standing position to then cross over the sharp scent line that separated TreeClan from territories uncharted, none able to claim she was trespassing upon property nocat even owned. From a foxlength away, golden irises settled upon deep green, as though she might probe through them to the thoughts and emotions that lay underneath, taking in this tom's superior musculature, a tenseness in her own body conveying her persistent inability to trust him. Trust was a hard thing to come by, these days. Especially in the eyes of a cat who hardly felt safe in her own Clan.

I curse the name, the one behind it all... ÐISCORD.

[Insidious]

“Good of you to realize this,” Birchclaw responded swiftly, not taken aback in the slightest by the she-cat's counter comment. “curiousity is merely another way of phrasing being intrigued by a deeper understanding. There's always a reason behind the desire of understanding something unknown.” Birchclaw blinked thoughtfully, as if everything he was saying to this stranger was common sense that he was required to be constantly repeating to an absent-minded kit. In complete honesty, it was merely a short glimpse at Birchclaw's unusual way of thinking – something so foreign to others but common to himself; enough so he believed anycat who was unable to interpret the same point of view was simply unable and, therefore, a waste of his time and/or effort.

Forest fire? This captured Birchclaw's attention, doing so at a high enough rate that it completely swept away his snowballing thoughts of superior knowledge capacity and replaced it with utter shock. He couldn't help but think they had gotten what they deserved – you didn't help StoneClan when they needed it; this is StarClan's revenge. Though, he performed a facade of sympathy regardless, staring at the lithe-bodied creature before him in silent analysis. “Pitiful,” he squeezed out as the quiet lingered. “I don't believe I'm wrong, then, to assume you're in need of a break?”

Rising, the tom pivoted sharply, glancing over his shoulders to where the she-cat now stood – finally, she decided to take a few steps closer. He was beginning to feel as if his company was unsuitable to her tastes regardless of the explanation she had offered to excuse it prior. “I could offer you this much.” Birchclaw owed her nothing, and he certainly wasn't willing to be this she-cat's guide on the road to the happiness that would occur from an unclogged nose. Though, he needed the company, above all else. StoneClan was a wreck, thank you very much, TreeClanner – she needed an escape; perhaps she could, in turn, be his?

“Though the offer won't stand for long,” He took a step closer to the brambles. “don't waste your energy deciding,” Another step, followed by a small grin cracking the corner of his reddish-white jaw. “unless I've unknowingly given you a reason not to trust me on this outing?” He inwardly contemplated the probability of this she-cat having trust issues after being attacked as she had claimed earlier – he couldn't deny a part of him wanting her company for a lengthier amount of time merely to gain this insight. Yet, even knowing that the card he now play could be on the touchy side for this stranger, he had lured himself into playing it anyway. When it came to developing an understanding, Birchclaw had no limits – in the process, he would test all of hers.

[Fawn]

ØNYXPAW

I'm not a fan of puppeteers but I've a nagging fear, Someone else is pulling at the strings Something terrible is going down through the entire town Wreaking anarchy and all it brings ♦

Yes, I'm sure I have your unlimited sympathies, StoneClanner. By all accounts, there should be some small amount of animosity between them, depending on how severely this StoneClan tom viewed TreeClan's decision not to get involved. It was one Onyxpaw had supported, actually. The lithe shadow-marked she-cat's political views were bordering on a flavor that was very much Ye Old ShadowClan, in that a Clan must be able to help itself, even in dire circumstances or else it did not have the right to call itself a Clan at all. If TreeClan had been in StoneClan's position, then perhaps Onyxpaw would have supported Lionstar's decision to seek aid from neighboring Clans, but Onyxpaw had learned that trust was an exceptionally difficult thing to keep. It was like water that spilled right through her outstretched claws, granting an illusion of security when all it had ever been was smoke and mirrors. If they had been in StoneClan's position, no Clan would rise up to save them; that was the way the world worked, wasn't it? There would be no gallant cavalry to arrive to win back the day, there would be no sudden turning of the tide. Her expression unconsciously darkened at the nightmarish picture painted across the mind's eye of Grayowl slaughtering at will, and later crouched, howling out in a voice that was both as triumphant as it was mockingly melancholic over the bodies of Lionstar and Daringheart. That would be all too convenient for him, wouldn't it? Make no mistake, Onyxpaw had neither evidence nor reason to suspect Grayowl of wanting the rank of Leadership for himself - it was merely another head of the chimera for her, the possibility of that happening another thing that would turn this Clan into a house of horror faster than she could blink. Somewhere along the way of listening to the StoneClan tom's coolly marked words and intelligent sparkling eyes - which were a very beautiful shade, had she been in any mood to compliment - Onyxpaw was conscious of the possibility of having underestimated his intelligence. Intelligence was power, as she knew all too well, and the invitation he proposed made the fur along the nape of the she-cat's neck stand erect, her expression evening out into one of typical feline enigma. "Well mother always told me not to go anywhere with strangers," she purred in a tone like velvet, almost masking the note of sarcasm, the hard glitter of her eyes conveying the message that she wouldn't budge further. "At least not without a name. If I'm to go traipsing off into the wilderness with a cat I cannot claim to know, I might as well do it properly." It wasn't so much throwing caution to the wind as it was satisfying her curiosity, like he had so eloquently put it. The root of curiosity was intrigue, and intrigue itself translated into questions one wanted answered - and as of right now, Onyxpaw could think of quite a few ready to roll off that barbed tongue of hers.

I curse the name, the one behind it all... ÐISCORD.

[Insidious]

A confident grin cracked Birchclaw's lip, taking the pretty she-cat's words as a sign that she planned on accompanying him, simply not without his name. For a moment, Birchclaw considered just how much he wanted this stranger to know. She hadn't done anything exceptionally different from the rest of TreeClan – she was just as guilty as the rest – yet even still, he found his grudge softened a tad by her simplistic tone. To some extent, he could decipher that she was genuinely intelligent. With this being precisely the type of company he sought out, Birchclaw was ever-more intrigued by her. Pivoting, thoughtful eyes skimmed her still-as-stone stance. It seemed there would be little-to-no talking around Onyxpaw's question, especially so if he wanted her to tag along. Growing skeptical with his own craving to be with her – the craving to understand her – Birchclaw mentally sighed, shuffling spontaneously through his web of eloquence and master deceptions for what kind of approach he'd deem necessary to lure her closer.

“Birchclaw,” he mewed simply, finding it necessary that he offer up this much information, though the mere idea that he had been so easily talked into something remaining bitter on the tip of his tongue. “and I suppose I'll call you -paw, unless you're inclined to enlighten me further?” He didn't often take much of an interest in the apprentice genre; rarely did he consider them able to speak and act on the behalf of his own maturity. This she-cat, however, was different – it sparked a wildfire deep in Birchclaw's chest. Although there was no way for him to so easily place her in a group separate from the rest – she'd need to prove her worth before Birchclaw would dare do such a thing – he was driven to gift her with the opportunity.

Believing he'd need to bait the trap further, Birchclaw took a gracious step backward, enough so that up to his hind limbs was now concealed by deep foliage. “As much as I'd love to stay and chat, I'll need to be on my way sooner than later. May I ask, just one last time, whether or not you're coming?” I'd prefer that you're coming. He managed to snap his jaws shut before the words were voiced aloud, examining the she-cat carefully. There was simply no way he could leave her a mystery; he needed to know what thoughts floated so freely in her hard-to-read mind. “A disappointment if you're not, -paw, really.” Shrugging his shoulders, Birchclaw twisted the remainder of his muscular frame to depart.

Would that be enough for her? Allowing the rest of his body to casually slip out of sight, Birchclaw juggled the probability of this being the end of it. If all else failed, he'd simply find her again – not that it'd be difficult; he knew she was of TreeClan. But, how long would he be willing to wait next time? He'd do anything to know her, this much was true. Though there remained the likelihood of it being for the wrong reasons – after he understood to what he could claim satisfactory, what were the chances he'd still want to have her sticking around? Nobody else had ever been an exception, just how different could she get?

[Fawn]

ØNYXPAW

9 Moons || Apprentice || She-Cat || TreeClan ♦

Birchclaw. Now armed with the knowledge she'd desired, the TreeClan cat with the affinity for chaos found herself smiling queerly at him, expression somewhat puckish. ”-paw is acceptable for now,” mewed Onyxpaw, stepping toward to accompany the foreign feline into the surrounding brush, conscious of her own curiosity towards just where it was he needed to be so quickly, and whether or not that place was somewhere safe for her. It was ridiculous to expect a stranger to vouch for her – and what would possibly give him reason to want to? Withholding information about herself was how Onyxpaw planned to stay ahead of the curve, aware that the incredibly intelligent warrior she was following could've used an alias, or even lied about everything up till this point, and as such she was in no hurry to divulge any more knowledge about herself then what she already couldn't prevent him from gleaning through her speech patterns, body language and reactions. Trust was not something she would willingly give anyone these days, it was like a semi-precious stone she would hoard and hold onto for as long as there was life still in her body; it wasn't something to give to others, it was something to keep to one's self, since she appreciated the value of being able to trust someone to have your back. Having never gone very far to give anyone else reason to trust her as much, Onyxpaw would not be so childish as to think she somehow deserved more than she ever gave. That wasn't the way the world worked. Besides – wouldn't enabling her Clan to trust her force the she-cat to give up one of her favorite leisure-time hobbies? Trickery, catching cats unawares, learning dirty little secrets, pranking and generally creating rifts in friendships and romances with a whispered word here or there, Onyxpaw had come to delight in the chaos she could instill in others, which could not be instilled back. She could not get a taste of her own medicine if she had no cat she was close to, no friends to stab her in the back, no family to regard with a great deal of esteem; yes, both parents and siblings were alive as far as she could recall, but they weren't particularly close, and Onyxpaw had welcomed that drifting feeling, that detachment to the cats who had barely raised her and the brothers whose paths she barely crossed. With Crimsonpaw in the clutches of Grayowl, she was purposefully avoiding her aggressive, sadistic sibling. Like a shadow come to life, Onyxpaw's black, ghost-marked pelt glimmered in what little light filtered through the tangle of brush, her thoughts returning to the cat walking through the forest with some kind of purpose in mind, her steps small and silent behind his. Could he be looking for something? ”Are you a scout?” Onyxpaw spoke up, not truly expecting an answer from him – at least not a straight one- but was confident in her conversational skills that she could at least wheedle something worth remembering out of the handsome, calculating figure just up ahead.

[Insidious]

The tom visibly clenched his jaw, having not received the she-cat's name in exchange for his own. Admittedly, she was talented in the arts of trickery, able to fluently compete with his own high standards, though as of now he was beginning to question himself, never before having had to genuinely ponder his responses when being offered to one of apprenticeship. He allowed the silence to linger between them as he lead her farther from TreeClan's territories, not exactly certain of where he was taking her, but lead to continue with purposeful strides regardless. When her voice proved itself eager to diminish with the content quiet – he supposed it was getting a tad awkward, anyhow – he found a grin cracking his formally hardened expression. “Now why would I tell you that?” He mewed confidently, as if this was an answer she should have expected to receive, therefore mirroring a question that shouldn't have been asked in the first place. Handsome green eyes glanced toward her thoughtfully, skimming the length of her smaller, black frame before settling within her bright amber. “This would be classified information, would it not?” His grin widened, progressing into one seemingly ominous, as if he had played her the fool and now happily guided her toward a StoneClan patrol just waiting for their moment of ambush. It was clear that he was simply messing with her, however, allowing the tip of his reddish-white tail to flick her on the nose before facing frontwards once again.

The warrior suddenly halted, inclining his head to its fullest height as if this notion would aid in further examining an unusual scent upon the wind. He mumbled something beneath his breath that even he couldn't comprehend dare he try, pivoting in his quickest efforts of facing his nameless companion (unable to consider -paw a name, even if he tried). “Do you smell that, -paw?” He remained using her name loosely, hoping she'd eventually consider filling in the blank, though his tone indicated it as being of lesser priority. Sniffing again, Birchclaw's stance immediately stiffened, glancing just over the she-cat's shoulder to ensure they hadn't passed this unexpected hazard without knowing. “It smells like fox.” He whispered, placing himself at the she-cat's flank before facing forwards once more, green eyes narrowing substantially as he peered into the nearest sets of brambles.

It wasn't that he didn't think she could keep herself safe – more than anything, he thought she'd turn-tail and head back to TreeClan territory, leaving Birchclaw alone to risk it up the mountain-side and hope that he wasn't bringing a fox with him. She was deceptive after all, at least from what he was able to determine. He had trusted her enough thus far, though without the proper amount of information to even consider he an acquaintance, he was beginning to question the drive behind having wanted her to tag along. Regardless he remained at her side, almost protectively (though he'd never admit to it), with a unnerved eye fleetingly glancing about, hoping their predatory pursuer was not lurking nearby, and if it so happened to be, wasn't too large.

[Fawn]

ØNYXPAW

9 Moons || Apprentice || She-Cat || TreeClan ♦

Forever suspicious, Onyxpaw's whiskers immediately twitched, back bristling as she assumed the stereotypical Halloween cat pose, right down to the dark hue of her fur, golden pools narrowing at the foreign, menacing scent stinging the inside of her nostrils. Fox. No doubt about that. Silverpaw had returned one sunhigh reeking of the stench and covered in minor scrapes and cuts with tufts of fur missing - having encountered one while out with her mentor, and Onyxpaw had never been able to rid that scent from her memory, the knowledge absorbed for times such as these. Birchclaw's protective stance furthered her suspicion - could this possibly be one big clever trap? - had he led her here on purpose? Was this a test of her abilities, or did he simply wish nothing short of disaster upon any cat that dared call themselves a TreeClanner? With his charismatic grinning to disarm and intelligent, inviting conversation, had he been a spider all along, and herself a hapless moth too blinded by fire to realize the webbing built up around her? Her thoughts toppling over each other like kits in a rush to try fresh kill for the first time, Onyxpaw's ears were pinned back against a dark furred skull, her expression one of guarded aggression, unwilling to let Birchpaw act the role of 'protector' completely. Whatever his game was, Onyxpaw would not be taken in so lightly. I'm a TreeClan cat for Hemlock's sake, I can take care of myself. For one delirious moment when he had stopped and asked if she smelled something - using the substitute name of '-paw' still - Onyxpaw had at once envisioned the lethal charcoal gray form of her mentor, stepping out of the shadows and the center of her nightmares to wreak more havoc on her psyche. Funny how she felt better knowing it was a fox then her actual mentor, and some of the fur across her shoulders began to lie a little flatter, so reassured of her chances of survival now that Grayowl was no where to be found. "Climb a tree. Any tree." She felt there was no need to elaborate on her plan - it was fairly straight forward. Climb a tree and wait until the scent of fox passed them by or by happenstance they saw the dark gingery menace slink by unmolested - he was a warrior, he could likely come up with something along the same lines. That is, unless StoneClan cats couldn't climb trees? Onyxpaw almost rolled her eyes, the action completed mentally. Ridiculous.

[Insidious]

Hadn't he been preoccupied with his thoughts involving that of the lurking danger, he would have found himself regarding the one at his side with a look of blatant disapproval for her assumption that he would follow her into the trees – that was simply not in the cards for one of StoneClan, regardless of how helpful such a skill would likely be given their current situation. An impatient flick of his tail, followed by a sideway glace directed toward his silkily furred companion, indicated that he'd be doing no such thing. He wouldn't be able to stop her, should she decide to high-tail it up a tree with or without him at her side. Yet even with his preference of her remaining on the ground alongside him – two could fend for themselves better than one, after all – he wasn't oblivious to the lack of trust existing between them. He could see it in her amber eyes, rounded with a flaming frustration, torn as to whether or not to place a little bit of her faith in him, a random StoneClan warrior that by happenstance crossed her path.

“You've got to be kidding me. A StoneClan cat can't --” Comical, how even at a time such as this Birchclaw found himself able to lecture another. There was simply no denying the burning urgency that swelled in his chest when given the opportunity to correct the error of another's words, though even with his priorities in mind, his voice broke at the distinctive sound of parting foliage. Green eyes locked with a predatory gold, the tom-cat frozen in place as the creature stalked forward, its intents but a clear display. Thankfully it was still young, the likelihood of its experience being of a neutral, inefficient background providing Birchclaw with the tiniest spark of hope. He supposed it could also be due to the fox not being entirely bothered with him – its eyes, bursting with an unlawful hunger, fixated keenly at his side where a smaller, and from its perception, was perhaps a more vulnerable source of prey.

Birchclaw followed the fox's eyes to -paw's location, regarding the apprentice aged she-cat with a cautious gaze. He knew not of what reasoning in particular boomed within him, screaming to ensure that no harm find a way to bestow upon her. The logical, ever-loyal to StoneClan side of Birchclaw acted as his voice of reason: TreeClan did not aid StoneClan when they needed it; allow revenge to play out as it pleases upon this young life. There was a side of him that was louder, however: don't let her die.

It was with these four simple, yet remarkably unusual, words echoing in the back of his mind that Birchclaw found himself stepping between a fox's ruthless lunge. The creature's claws scraped across Birchclaw's shoulder blade, the tom clenching his jaws tightly to refrain from voicing aloud his distaste, responding to the predator's infliction by slicing his tinier claws across the top of its muzzle. The fox side-stepped, a soft whimper muttered in regards to the wound newly bleeding at its nose – Birchclaw had been right, so it seemed, to assume the young fox inexperienced. While it was disoriented, he landed another successful blow at the side of the fox's neck, claws puncturing the delicate skin, the fox responding with a violent snap of its jaws at the thin air nearest the tom's ear. Birchclaw back-pedaled away from the fiercely snapping mammal – once again standing in front of -paw – the pair of spar partners exchanging a final, hateful glance before the fox ducked into the foliage, disappearing the way it had came.

Birchclaw huffed, exhaustion having taken a toll on his body, the cut at his shoulder beginning to slowly trickle blood onto the grass below. He pivoted a quick circle, green eyes settling into -paw's own in intent analysis, skimming her frame to ensure the fox hadn't managed to reach her before he was able to intercept. “No need for the trees.” The comment wasn't fitted, considering he'd just placed his life on the line for a cat that didn't even trust him enough to give him her name. But that was okay.

Why would he do it again?

[Fawn]

ØNYXPAW

9 Moons || Apprentice || She-Cat || TreeClan ♦

He couldn't climb? Onyxpaw was so surprised she forgot to speak, struck dumb by the concept of a cat not having the basic skills needed to scale a tree - it was so simple and so crucial so that times like these they had an easy escape route that a fox couldn't possibly follow. "Of all the-" before the she-cat with the shadow rosettes could comment on all of the lousy things she'd ever heard in this lifetime, a fox came pelting out of the brush, causing the fur to fly up from her body, every hair stiffened with an impending sense of dread as the ginger beast made it's target clear. Her. Fully prepared to run for her life to the nearest tree and thus abandon her unusual company - she would likely feel at least a modicum of regret if anything terrible happened to him, but Onyxpaw lived by a 'it's either you or me' philosophy and that regret would only last so long - when Birchclaw did something totally unexpected. He darted in front of the fox and deflected it's attack, taking a minor injury to the shoulder, the warrior displaying his superior training by chasing off the juvenile with minimal damage taken and zero damage at all on her part. Onyxpaw was utterly unharmed. Completely startled, she stared at him for a few delirious heartbeats, the last 'battle' she'd ever been in flashing before those ever-suspicious, troubled golden eyes, drawing parallels, drawing a sharp compare and contrast between the two instances before she even realized what was happening. You saved me? Onyxpaw swallowed, sitting - perhaps out of weakened back limbs or simply the need to sit and process the exchange that had lasted only a few heartbeats - unusual, signature coat slowly beginning to lie back against a slim exterior, the she-cat having yet to properly fill out into her adult form, which only made her appear small and fragile by contrast with the full-grown Birchclaw. "It's Onyxpaw." She mewed, blinking large golden eyes at the charming stranger who had proven to be more than cerebral words and evidence of a Clan victimized. Funny how her own Clanmate would have left her to die in such an instance, and yet a feline she didn't know - hadn't met until a few moments ago - had risked his life when he KNEW she would do no such thing for him. What did you call that? Stupidity. The cynical side of her brain answered, and Onyxpaw felt almost inclined to agree - if she wasn't so thankful, laying aside her suspicion momentarily to consider the weight of his actions. There was still a very small part of the little chaos-causer's brain that still considered this quite possibly to be a trap, but logic was getting the final ruling on this one, and Onyxpaw conceded to the feasibility that he was someone worth trusting after all. He had, at the very least, earned her real name.

[Insidious]

Despite the ache visibly taken a toll on the tom's shoulder, he still found himself able to disregard such pain in favour of a small smile crawling across his muzzle. Having finally earned himself the she-cat's name, a sense of relief flooded through his body. He wasn't certain as to why possessing such a small aspect of knowledge upon this random TreeClanner provided him with a spark of genuine happiness, though nevertheless, he wasn't bothered with contemplating it right now. “Onyxpaw,” he repeated the she-cat's name, seemingly testing the singular word on his tongue, though unknowingly voicing it aloud for a far more necessary reasoning. “you should go home.”

Green eyes traveled directly over Onyxpaw's head, peering into the foliage that would lead her back to TreeClan camp – he considered escorting her, though there was no reason to elongate their time spent with one another when all it would involve was awkward silence and unanswered questions – before returning his gaze to her. He matched her sharp amber pigment evenly, still inhaling frequent breaths to calm the nerves that the fox had managed to jumble. Birchclaw could feel the blood trickling down the side of his shoulder, its path increasingly growing less traveled as his shoulder remained in a steady, stable position. The small pains reminded him of the incident that had occurred, causing flashes of his actions to continuously play through his mind. He had not one clue why he did it, not one. For some reason, her safety had been important to him. He didn't know why, but as of right now, he didn't want to know – she was safe, that was all that mattered.

The tom remained silent, allowing his words to sink in to the she-cat's mind, willing to be patient with her due to the fact she was likely still attempting to process his actions too. He was curious of what she thought about it, but he wasn't inclined to ask. If they ever met again, perhaps then he would have more drive – energy, if you will – to ask questions. But all he currently wished to ask of her was that she returned to TreeClan... safely. Birchclaw shook out his shoulder, knowing that if he kept it still for too long it'd grow numb, making his travel up the mountainside back to where StoneClan resided all the more unbearable. Once satisfied, mesmerizing emerald eyes once again fixated upon the black apprentice, seemingly frozen in place, unwilling to make any moves until she did so first.

He had to make sure she was going home, going to where he presumed it safe, before he'd worry about getting himself back to StoneClan. Perhaps it was unusual, if not entirely silly, to be putting her overall well-being before his own – he had accustomed the injury, after all. It was unexplainable, and that wasn't a term Birchclaw used lightly. He was one that made the unexplainable... explainable. Due to this, it was more than unpleasant to regard the pretty she-cat before him with uncertainty. He'd likely take to contemplating it at a later date: when he had gotten back to StoneClan's camp, settled down, and probably had his shoulder looked at. The thought of his wound getting examined brought to the forefront of his attention an awkward story that would surely be in need of explanation, but he assumed it wouldn't be too difficult to explain an unlucky encounter with a fox – he'd simply need to leave out the details of Onyxpaw. Returning to the present, Birchclaw dismissed his snowballing thoughts. He remained of a neutral stance, his paws not indicating that he planned on going anywhere until she did first.

It was an odd feeling: he had to protect her as if his life depended on it, which surely enough, it had moment's earlier when he had risked it all for the sake of saving her from a fox. From the way she had acted with him up until this point, he was sure she didn't want some kind of savior waiting in the shadows. But the least she could do was be thankful, and he didn't think she was anything but.