#s://i~ibb~co/9Tm04LD/shadow~jpg

The soft colors of dawn had just barely begun to streak through the sky when Shadowgaze reached the border. Though the sun in leaf-bare always seemed weak, just barely enough to light the earth, Shadowgaze thought the sunrises were beautiful. There would never be enough mornings for him to marvel at the way the blushing pinks and clear yellows caught on the snow and ice that blanketed RidgeClan's territory, like painting a reflection of the sunrise on the land around them. His paws were cold, crunching through the fresh layer of snow from the night before, but it was a fair trade to be surrounded by the dawn.

It wasn't really a morning for marveling. He was here to patrol, flanked by Spiderstorm, their twin black pelts cutting through the pale morning. Admittedly, the small patrol made him nervous. This wasn't far from where he tended to meet Gray, and though he wasn't worried about his friend surprising them (after all, Gray knew better than to approach him with another cat, and Gray absolutely wasn't a fan of early mornings), he was worried about Spiderstorm catching on to any nerves he might have. Normally, patrols in this area were made in larger groups - groups that were easy to hide in. Now there was no hiding from Spiderstorm's scrutiny.

Not that he had any reason to believe Spiderstorm might scrutinize him. No, Shadowgaze was the picture of confidence, following behind the senior warrior without a drop of hesitation. But... just in case, Shadowgaze thought it might benefit him to start a conversation. Something that might explain any nerves Spiderstorm perceived.

"We aren't far from the new border," he said warily. "It will be strange, knowing someone now lives on the other side." Previously, the border was flexible. If a warrior crossed it chasing after prey, there was no one on the other side to defend it. Now it was the Kingdom's. "How do you feel about it all?" He scrunched his face in hopes to show distaste. "I'm still trying to process it, I must be honest."