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    The daylight brought with it a feeling of warmth, something Redstar was excited for as Leafbare still had its' icy talons sunk deep into the valley. Wishing to lead a patrol out into the territory to soak up whatever sun he could Redstar had gathered a small assortment of cats and informed them they would be going on a border patrol with him. With hopes high the group set out, and were quickly disappointed to find the slush and muck that came with the small heat wave. Redstar accepted that nothing was perfect, and was thankful at least his pelt would be warmed by the sun as his paws were chilled by the waterlogged terrain. Steering the patrol towards the StoneClan border the leader was alert and looking for signs that their neighbors had encroached on LightningClan's territory. TreeClan likely still had their paws full, and Redstar stalked the scrublands border wondering how much had changed in the two clans' relationship after Smokestars' rise to power.

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The warmer weather was a blessing, but the soggy, cold earth underpaw wasn't. Even with their generally rocky terrain, the snowmelt had turned dry sand into mud that clung to fur and chilled pads. Still, at least it wasn't the icy cold that it had been, and while annoying this was far preferable to the deep snow and freezing winds of the last few moons. Leafbare was nearly at an end, and newleaf would soon bring warmth and life back to the valley.

Smokestar padded at the head of her three-strong patrol, pausing near the base of the Sun Stones to mark, reaching a paw to rest on the lowest rock, feeling the heat spread through her chilled pad. A flick of Rabbitfur's tail against her shoulder turned her attention toward the LightningClan cats padding nearer, and the small dilute calico immediately straightened, standing as tall as she could as she eyed the ginger leader. "Redstar," she greeted, her tone neutral- even as her tail began to twitch, gaze watchful for any hint of a less than equally neutral reply.

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    Redstar had been wondering if they would have company patrolling the border they shared with StoneClan, however he wondered no longer seeing a patrol from the aforementioned clan just ahead. Even more interesting was the fact that said patrol was being led by none other than Smokestar, the freshly minted leader of StoneClan. Redstar wondered exactly how she felt about the presence of a LightningClan patrol as her curt greeting seemed polite, albeit slightly cold. If LightningClans' leader was a betting cat he would wager that Smokestar wasn't super thrilled, even if she was good at hiding it. "Good to see you!" Redstar offered in reply, along with a polite dip of his head. Given the change in leadership Redstar had been wondering exactly how the Sun Stones were going to be handled moving forward, he wasn't positive this was the correct time to bring it up however. "I pray StoneClan has been well?"

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Smokestar offered nothing else after her acknowledgement, her tail never pausing in its back and forth flicking. Good to see her? Was he earnest in that or mocking? He seemed friendly enough, adding in a query on her Clan's condition, but she remained mute for a moment longer, grass-green eyes fixed on the ginger tom while she wrestled with her deep-seated distrust- and warred with the want to growl at him. He couldn't really care? She knew she wouldn't have batted an eye if LightningClan were to suddenly disappear.

"Fine," she eventually replied, her tone curt and her response short. He didn't need details; all the Clans would hear any news she thought necessary at the upcoming Gathering. Until then, StoneClan's business was StoneClan's. "We were just marking our territory." She leaned a shoulder into the rock next to her, her gaze never leaving Redstar as she added, "Which includes the Sun Stones, of course."

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    Redstar wasn't prepared for the long pause he received after he offered what he thought was a perfectly polite greeting to Smokestar. It appeared as if she was lost in thought, her piercing green eyes probing his form, and Redstar couldn't tell if she was uncertain about him or what her next move needed to be. Eventually Smokestar did respond, and after listening to the reply Redstar was snapped back to the realization that he was no longer associating with Hawkstar. LightningClans' leader had assumed that some of the terms of their past agreements would be subject to change, however he had not thought about how the cordial relationship growing between the two clans might sour. "That wasn't part of the agreement Smokestar." Redstar began, attempting to keep his voice level, "If you wish to see changes made to our agreements I think it best you inform me so we are both on the same page."

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"Whatever agreement you made with Hawkstar ended with his passing," Smokestar replied, baring her teeth at the bigger tom. "This is StoneClan under my leadership now, and the Sun Stones will never belong to LightningClan." She glanced over her shoulder at the two cats behind her and flicked her tail at the pile of rocks. "Mark them," she instructed, and then flashed Redstar another cool look. "I don't have to inform you of anything. Of course if you'd like to fight for them, you and I can have it out, right now."

She stalked toward the tom, ears back and squaring up to Redstar, her tail twitching back and forth in a rapid motion. She held herself taut, ready to react if Redstar took her up on her challenge. She wouldn't spring first, but she wasn't going to back down on this. StoneClan would keep the Sun Stones- if Redstar backed down or if she won. If he won, then they'd come back to this another time. "Yes or no, Redstar, it's a simple question."