Adderheart and Pantherleap quickly finished their vole, and consequently, it ended up with a bit of waiting.

Due to the fact Adderheart had said they'd be waiting for Russetpelt and Marigoldcry, the other members of the patrol seemed to get a bit irritated. Adderheart had spotted Galewind sitting near the fresh-kill pile, eyes narrowed lightly at the entrance as if he was impatiently waiting for the very moment Russetpelt or Marigoldcry entered camp.

Though of course, intently watching the camp's entrance would not make either of the warriors hurry up.

However, when Marigoldcry's thick pelt slipped behind the two toms, Galewind, who was watching with a sharp gaze, leaped up. His tail whipped at Runningfoot, who had settled beside him, and the two toms padded in sync toward Marigoldcry. Behind the white-furred she-cat came Russetpelt. Both of the warriors seemed in neutral spirits.

Pantherleap's head swiveled to the two newcomers and he stood up, flicking his tail. Adderheart followed in the other tom's pawsteps, glancing to Marigoldcry and Russetpelt. Neither held prey, and neither seemed to hold the scent of borders upon their pelts.

What were they doing? He couldn't help but feel curiosity at their absence, but he pushed it away. He had to ensure that they were actually going to find rogues at the border, and if he was distracted in the middle of the investigation...

He shook his head as he turned to the two warriors. "Pantherleap and I are leading a patrol to investigate the rogue scents at the border."

The confusion that had previously been shimmering in their gazes faded away and Russetpelt gave a nod. Marigoldcry's lips seemed to purse in light irritation but the warrior turned, whisking her tail at the entrance.

"Lead the way," she offered, and Adderheart swept forward.

He cast a glance over his shoulder to see Pantherleap bringing up the back, followed by Russetpelt, then Marigoldcry, then Runningfoot, then Galewind. He was the closest to the pale-furred warrior and was going at a fairly fast past so Adderheart picked up speed.

Quickly heading around a tree and then a fallen log, the warrior's brain began to conjure up random ideas and thoughts that caused his ears to press tightly to his ears. Anxiety trickled through him.

If I lie about where we scented the rogues, would Pantherleap comment?

But if I tell the truth and nothing is there...

Cougarstar won't trust me ever again—!

All the way to the border, Adderheart's mind was clogged with the ever-present thoughts of what could happen. He could hear the constant pounding of the pawsteps of the warriors behind him, the light huffing of cats who couldn't keep up, the air rushing by him... nothing could interrupt the constant stream of thoughts trickling through his head.

He swerved around a tree, tail lashing as he sprung over a small patch of somewhat pointy pine needles.

If I keep going straight, then we'll end up somewhere close to where Pantherleap and I first scented rogues.

But if I turn left, we'll end up—

"Adderheart, go straight!" Pantherleap's sharp tone cut through the soft silence of the air. Adderheart jumped once more, though this time because he'd been startled.

The warrior, instead of questioning Pantherleap's spontaneous command, just followed it, picking up his pace as he continued to race forward. A sense of something alike to calm filled him. Yet, it didn't calm him necessarily. Instead, it just allowed him to run, the feelings fading away. Now they were simply a dull ache in his mind, taking up space that he needed to keep on breathing in an even pattern.

He seemed to fall a bit out of touch, for when he approached the border, he skidded to a stop. Adderheart, late to realize that they were there, turned around, spotting Pantherleap in the back. His face was a blank slate of simply nothing. It was not emotionless nor cold. It was simply clean, plain, simple.

Adderheart's fur prickled as he glanced away, dark gray eyes drifting back toward the border. His ears twitched as he heard the rest of the group slow down behind him. Tail tip flickering, he approached the border tentatively.

"Pantherleap? You're coming over here to stand with me," he called over his shoulders, and the warrior trotted up to stand beside him. He cast a glance to the rest of the group, who just sort of milled around.

"Everyone else form behind a pyramid behind us," Pantherleap instructed, turning around. He issued orders like a true leader— his tail flicked sharply at each spot as he spoke to each cat. "Russetpelt, you go there, Marigoldcry, next to him. Galewind, take the back, Runningfoot... next to him, too."

Each cat shuffled into position and Pantherleap cast a simple look at Adderheart. His heart swelled instantly. Traces of respect littered the tawny cat's green gaze, though as he turned away, it blanked once more. Upon Adderheart's features rose a small smile as he stepped across the border. Pantherleap's actions mirrored his and he could hear the light shuffling of the paws of the rest of the group.

Adderheart tipped his muzzle into the air and to his surprise, he caught the scent of something somewhat sour. The air was tinged with something sharp, he soon found, as he continued to walk forward. The territory wasn't too different beyond the borders, with more and more trees. Of course, the ever-stretching pine needle ground didn't end either.

Pantherleap's fur rose beside him and Adderheart glanced to his side, spotting the other warrior's whiskers flickering. Did he smell them, too? He wondered absently, studying the warrior for a moment or two longer. Though, the voices of the other members in the group broke his focus.

"Smell that?" piped up Runningfoot.

"It's sort of sour," commented Galewind.

Marigoldcry offered, "Yeah, it smells strange..."

Adderheart bobbed his head in a nod, not wanting to speak very much due to the fact he felt as though his focus was scattered all over the place. It was like he was trying to focus on one thing, yet another drew his attention away and toward something else. It was something he felt as though he couldn't control.

Irritation sparked within him as he continued forward. Pantherleap, beside him, seemed to be on edge, with his fur puffed up and his ears flattened against his head. Did he think that they were going to find something out here?

And if they did, what would they do? How would they capture the cat?

Adderheart would have to find out when the time came, and that was sooner than he'd of hoped.

The pale-furred warrior continued to carefully pad on, though the scent seemed to grow stronger. His ears pressed to his head as he paused for a moment. His dark gray gaze swept the area, eyes narrowing a few moments after. It was as if he expected something to jump out from the bushes.

"Oh my StarClan!" Adderheart hissed, stumbling backward. His tail whipped in the face of the warriors behind him, heart dropping to his paws, and Pantherleap stood still, fur rising upon his spine.

In the bushes, a stocky tom lay. His dark russet pelt was ragged and dirty, paired with darker markings upon his shadowed fur. A light snore came from his muzzle every few moments, though it was not a smooth one.

It seemed to be torn from his muzzle each time, breathy and jagged as the tom continued to slumber, yet he didn't appear sick. Perhaps just exhausted... He seemed oblivious to the patrol that'd stumbled upon him. He continued to sleep.

"What?" Marigoldcry asked, attempting to peek around them. Pantherleap whipped around and muttered something irritably to the she-cat. Adderheart could feel the air still with tension around him and he shifted uncomfortably. What were they going to do? Terrible claws of fear grasped his heart.

The tom in front of them seemed to stir within a few moments of them just standing there and Adderheart, a still stone of terror, didn't know what to do. I didn't actually expect to find a rogue, even though they might've! I didn't even expect any scents to be here... How' are we meant to catch this tom?!

Galewind swerved out of the order of the cats and he sprung onto the rogue, a horrible yowl escaping his jaws as he swiped a pair of claws over the russet tom's pelt. Instantly, the tom's eyes opened, revealing a dark blue gaze lit with panic.

Runningfoot leaped forward too, Marigoldcry rushing to their assistance. Pantherleap forced himself to lurch forward, as Adderheart stood in a tense position. Fear had locked iron chains around his legs, tying him tightly to the ground. His paws felt glued to the ground with the distress that clouded his actions. Rather, the lack of them.

"Get off!" commanded Pantherleap, tail whipping as he took charge.

Russetpelt, who'd stuck back, slunk back to corner the rogue tom. His fur was bristling as he stared down the three warriors who had attacked the tom. Runningfoot and Galewind stalked away, cornering the dark reddish-brown rogue.

"You're not meant to kill him!" Pantherleap snarled, stomping a paw as he approached the rogue. His tail whisked delicately around the tom's neck, curling tightly, and Adderheart flinched.

"Wh-who are you?" The rogue stammered, eyes darting around. His eyes held a blaze of fury, yet waves of fear swarmed off him. His fur spiked as Pantherleap pulled him close.

"Who are you?" challenged the warrior. Adderheart's features seemed to relax at the familiar brutality of the tom, yet he didn't like it. Forcefully, Adderheart lurched toward the warrior, a note of a mean fiery spark lighting his dark gray eyes. He wished it didn't have to be this way, but he knew he'd already messed up. Pantherleap knew exactly what he was doing...

"C-Carmin," stuttered the rogue, eyes widening. "I'm a r-r-rogue. Is this... y-your territory?"

"You know where you are," Pantherleap hissed, tone lowering. "I know you do."

The russet tom flinched. "Ok-okay fine, maybe I d-do know, but... but I don't have any information for you, if that's what you w-want from m-m-me..."

Pantherleap's green eyes narrowed at the rogue. "Are you sure?"

"I don't kn-know anything! And if I did, I-I... there's no way I'd t-tell you," Carmin hissed, trying to force a note of confidence into his tone. It didn't work, and his voice faltered.

Pantherleap rolled his eyes, tail releasing the tom. He fell to the ground, collapsing beneath his shaking legs. The tawny-furred warrior was a blank slate of emotion, simply mirroring the actions that the rest of the Clan would like to see. A spark of appreciation lit up Adderheart as he stalked forward. He could do this. He could jump in and be sharp too.

He could lead too. It was his patrol too. I can do this.

"Up," he ordered, tail flicking harshly. He swallowed heavily, shoving back a wave of emotion. He didn't need to show this cat kindness. This rogue was on his territory.

"I-I can't..." whispered Carmin, dark blue eyes terrified as he looked up. Moving his tail aside, the rogue revealed a deep gash on his back leg. Adderheart's ear twitched and he forced his eyes not to round.

"Who did that?" Adderheart glanced over his shoulder at the cats gathered. Runningfoot stepped forward, dipping his head cordially, and suddenly a sharp chill swarmed within Adderheart.

It was as if someone had given him some sort of... confidence injection, like a cat from the clouds had delicately danced down and whispered sanguine words into his ear.

"You're to carry him back," asserted the warrior, tail flicking sharply once more at Runningfoot. "Pantherleap and I will clean this... up. Just wait, for now."

The pale-furred warrior gazed at Pantherleap and the warrior stared back at him, emotionless.

"So are we meant to move him?" Runningfoot asked, padding closer to Carmin, eyes narrowing.

"Yes," Pantherleap cut in. "Be careful with him. We're meant to bring him back, so don't kill him."

Carmin's breathing seemed to become a little more labored at this fact, but Runningfoot slipped the tom upon his shoulders. He managed to waddle a few fox-lengths away, yet the tom wasn't too strong. Adderheart turned away for a moment, gaze flashing toward Pantherleap. He needed to clean up the mess while still being able to see the rest of the patrol.

And, really, still being able to speak with Pantherleap.

At the moment that Adderheart turned, a deep and loud thump sounded, followed by a hiss and then a groan.

"What...?" Adderheart turned and the scene he saw made his heart drop.

Carmin was sprawled on the ground, eyes rolled back into his head, and his flanks were not moving. His head appeared to have been slammed on something accidentally, for there was an indentation in the tom's head. Nearby lay a rock, sharp and edged.

Adderheart's mouth dropped open before he could stop it. The russet rogue's pelt and, mainly, his back leg was stained with dark crimson blood. The injury before was now trickling heavier and heavier. Why had Runningfoot allowed the tom to casually slip off his back and onto the rock?

A deadly cold chill ran down Adderheart's spine.

They wanted him to die anyway.

He couldn't believe it, yet for some strange reason, he wasn't surprised.

The group fell into an awkward sort of silence, with Runningfoot watching emotionlessly. His baby blue gaze was covered with a deadpan, almost detached blanket, covering anything that he may have felt for the now deceased tom, a similar one falling upon his features. His back was stained lightly with the crimson blood that soaked the rogue's pelt.

"Bury him."

Pantherleap's command ran through the soft air like an edged knife.

Marigoldcry swept over, her long fur seeming to cover up the world in front of Adderheart. Before he could count a few moments, she'd ripped chunks of the ground out, nudging the limp body of the tom into the hole she'd created.

It wasn't big enough, so she just shoved downward on his crumpled body.

The she-cat eventually finished up with patting the final patch of dirt rather harshly upon his bloodied pelt, as if that would help him stay dead. She licked a paw clean of blood and then delicately she ran it over her ear, settling down by his crude grave. The thick-furred she-cat leveled an equal stare with Pantherleap.

"Time to report to Cougarstar," said Galewind in a clipped tone. Nearby, Russetpelt shifted and studied the obscene burial site. Clearly, the russet-pelted tom wasn't comfortable with chatting about the topic.

Simply, Pantherleap rose to his paws.

"Clean it up," directed the tom, being sure to keep his tone even. "Cougarstar will hear that we have not killed him, instead that he... was injured when we found him. Otherwise you—" he tossed a sharp glare at Runningfoot— "will be the one in trouble, and I don't think you want that."

Runningfoot gave a shaking of his head, though his gaze still was shimmering impassively, insincerity seemingly clouding the brown tabby's actions. He lifted a white paw and he, too, licked it and drew it over his ear.

Though, he and Galewind rose to their paws in sync and began to scrape away at the ground. The latter's claws unsheathed easily and began to easily tear away at the ground. However, Runningfoot shuffled off to the side and sectioned off bits and pieces of the nearby layer of pine needles.

Once he'd done that, the brown tabby slunk back and placed them in small patches around to cover the blood that wouldn't go away. Some sections of the crimson liquid seemed to have soaked far beneath the upper layer of the dirt and infected the ground beneath it.

So covering it up was the best method, it seemed.

"Done?" prompted Marigoldcry. Russetpelt stood behind the white-furred she-cat.

"Don't rush me," huffed Runningfoot, though without legitimate irritation in his tone. It was angrier, sharper, yet it didn't allow a lot of emotion through. Notes and undertones of fury slipped in and out as he spoke. "It'll be done in a bit."

And he was true; within a few more moments, it was finally finished. The clearing looked somewhat normal, and although it reeked of blood, as Adderheart trotted away, it wasn't very noticeable. He could smell the border with its familiar scent of the cats of his Clan, ever-present. They wreathed around him, cradling him within warm and pleasant arms.

The rest of the patrol padded along. Instead of a soft, pleasant silence, a heavy and dark one settled upon the group, seemingly crushing their spirits to the ground. Adderheart swerved ahead, though Pantherleap took a spot next to him rather quickly, and Adderheart was glad. He couldn't lead by himself after that... incident.

Anxiety stirred in his belly as he continued to walk.

Though, it was slightly dulled by the fact that dusk was falling.

It allowed him to slip easily through the shadows, undetected by watching and intrusive gazes that he knew were not around, yet he couldn't shake the sense that they still existed.