rats and birds [closed]

Ratrunner sat quietly in camp, a marshrat in his jaws. He ate carefully, allowing parts of it to thaw — bit by bit — beneath his teeth before swallowing. Leftover from the night before, it was mostly frozen, but thankfully still filling. And not... so bad. Going slowly, you could taste it more, even if it was nothing like warm prey.

After feeling a bit weary from hunger, Ratrunner savored it. Especially since he’d assumed he wouldn’t eat until later in the night.

Frostgaze had sent out patrols not long ago, but the senior warrior in charge of Ratrunner told him to eat first, and set out on his own after — and with someone of his choice. The small tom had blinked, but agreed gratefully. There was his vigil, not a quarter moon ago; early hunting; a scuffle with rogues... Did he look that bad? I must look tired.

Being a warrior was, so far... hard. And a lot more being out of camp — hunting and patrolling — and less of doing chores in camp that had... never really been chores, to Ratrunner. And when out on the territory, he tended to get lost in hunting, which in this cold wore on him. I’m sure it will get better? the young warrior thought. Then, more assuredly, No, I’m certain it will. It’s just leaf-bare... and it’s been a crazy few nights.

With a shake of his head, once Ratrunner had finished, he rose to find someone to hunt with. Immediately, he thought of Duskflight, or his mother; but the former had an apprentice to train, and his mother was usually wherever she wanted to be. Nightstalker? Or Swiftheart?

But... no. After a peek in the warrior’s den, he saw no trace of them. And... while Ratrunner was bolder now than he was as an apprentice, waking a sleeping warrior wasn’t something he was keen to do. Sighing, the small warrior wondered if he should bother Amberdawn when he saw a glimpse of black-and-white, in the apprentice’s den. His ears lifted. Maybe one of the older apprentices?

Ducking his head in the familiar space, Ratrunner saw... Ospreypaw? Not one of the oldest, like Dappledpaw, but not far from it either. Would she be busy? “Excuse me. Ospreypaw?” he said, feeling a bit awkward but, it’s not like they didn’t know each other. “Could I bother you to come hunting with me? If you don’t have training, that is. I would ask Dappledpaw, but... I don’t see her.”