Desperate times, Desperate measures [c]

Leaf-fall was a time that should have been beautiful. A time to slowly dwindle to the scarcity of leafbare, to watch the forest shift from vibrant greens to hues of gold, yellow, and red. Instead, it had been sharp, as if the bite of leafbare had come early. Snapping its teeth at the prey, stealing it all away to a place that... stars only knew where. Or, perhaps they didn't know where. Either way, it wasn't how it should have been. Mintglade knew that much. It had caused irritation to roil amongst many of her clanmates, and understandably so. Hunger certainly made it hard to think straight, given that it was a need that was coded in their genetics.

Her dense pelt had been useful in keeping her appear healthy. Most of Skyclan had, but there were some spots that told of her true state. It just took a careful eye. Still, that wasn't on her mind currently. What her focus was, instead, was attempting to find food to fill their bellies. Anyone's belly, at this point. Looking to Graywind, she gave a nod. "Let's find what we can... I'll call if I find any predators." There was no use in ordering the more-experienced molly to shout for help. They knew what to do.

Slipping into the trees, it took much more time than it should have to discover prey. A tiny sparrow. Hardly enough to feed one of the warriors, but it would do one of the elders or kits some good. With claws coming free to be ready to strike, Mintglade slipped forward. It was easy to close the distance between herself and the creature, easily snatching it by the wing and pulling it to the forest floor below to end its life entirely. If this hunting trip went well... her silent prayer was sent that it would.

Mintglade attempts to catch a bird! Success! -5 SP

The member 'Kitty' has done the following action : Dice roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 2

The air was cold against her nose and ears, and Graywind shivered. Her fur was long, but thinner and wispy where her mother's was thick and fluffy, and between the cold and hunger, Graywind was very much over this leaffall nonsense already. At least it wasn't raining.

Focusing on her surroundings, Graywind kept quiet as Mintglade stalked a bird. She was almost afraid to move, fearing that anything might scare off the increasingly-rare prey before it could be caught. Mintglade did catch it, though. "Nice catch." Graywind smiled at the younger warrior. That prey meant one less mouth would go hungry tonight... Or, well, less hungry. Graywind prayed that she would find similar success, stars knew the clan needed more food than the forest seemed capable of providing.

Another bird was spotted in the branches above, and Graywind carefully leapt into the trees, moving toward her target.

Focused on the starling, she didn't see the hawk until it was swooping down on it. Graywind restrained a yowl of frustration, tail lashing as a growl rumbled in her throat. She leapt for the hawk with unsheathed claws, calling out to Mintglade as she did so. This filth was not getting away with stealing Skyclan prey, not today.

Graywind attempted to catch a bird for -5 sp. catch was unsuccessful and summoned a predator.
135 / 140 sp

A wild hawk has appeared!
Graywind used Jumping Strike for -7 sp, dealing -10+3 damage.

Graywind
60 / 60 hp
128 / 140 sp (135 - 7)

Hawk
27 / 40 hp (40 - 13)
125 / 125 sp

The member 'kjSage' has done the following action : Dice roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 8

Just as she was about to go for another piece of prey, she heard her clanmate's call. It didn't take much more than that for the warrior to turn on her heels, ignoring the dizziness that the all-too fast action had caused her to go to her clanmate's side. Lashing her tail, a growl of her own rippled at the sight of the bird.

The hungry part of her debated whether or not the hawk would somehow make a meal for their clanmates. The angry part of her wanted nothing more than to rip it to shreds to the point that it couldn't be eaten. Her pounce had her teeth sinking directly into the bird's wing, aiming to make it unable to take to the skies. After all, a downed bird was a dead bird.

Mintglade used Snap! It dealt 8 damage and used 7 SP.
Mintglade
40 / 40 HP
88 / 100 SP (-5, -7)

Graywind
60 / 60 hp
128 / 140 sp

Hawk
19 / 40 hp (-8)
125 / 125 sp

Mintglade was quick to join her in fighting off the hawk, seeming just as furious as Graywind felt. Her clanmate sank her fangs into the beast's wing, drawing blood, and in the hawk's thrashing, sharp talons dug briefly into Graywind's flank. With a hiss, the pale silver warrior brought her paws down onto the hawk's head with all the force her malnourished, tired frame could muster. Maybe if they could bring it down, something of the bird could be salvaged and they could take back the bird it had grabbed, too.

Hawk used Talon Strike on Graywind for -10 sp, dealing -7 damage.
Graywind used Upright Lock for -10 sp, dealing -12 damage.

Graywind
53 / 60 hp (60 - 7)
118 / 140 sp (128 - 10)

Mintglade
40 / 40 HP
88 / 100 SP

Hawk
7 / 40 hp (19 - 12)
115 / 125 sp (125 - 10)

As the bird had curved to dig its talons into her clanmate's flank, Mintglade had detected an opening. Just enough for her to bring the struggling bird down, and she would have been a fool to not take it. Letting go of where she had bit down and tore into its feathered limb, she twisted her aim with all the speed that she could to clamp right around the bird's neck. Unlike felines, they did not have the scruff that allowed them to be gripped in such a location without much damage, and all the strength she had left was given to squeeze tight. Tight enough to taste the tang of blood that came from the bird, to be forced to flatten her ears as it screeched its death-cry. They were struggling, too, but it was a world that meant survival of the strongest. Two against one were never odds that seemed to go well, especially in the face of those who had been trained to survive under such a system.

Once she was certain that the bird no longer moved did the silver tabby finally drop the predator-turned prey, and her green eyes immediately went to surveying how her clanmate fared. "We should get that looked at sooner rather than later," Mintglade nodded towards the wound that had tinged her clanmate's flank red. "I can carry this beast, see if we can salvage something from it, if you wouldn't mind taking back my bird?"

Mintglade used Snap! It dealt 8 damage and used 7 stamina.
The hawk is dead!

Graywind
53 / 60 hp
118 / 140 sp

Mintglade
40 / 40 HP
81 / 100 SP (-7)

Hawk
-1 / 40 hp (-8)
115 / 125 sp

The predatory bird crumpled to the ground with a final shriek, and panting, Graywind looked up at Mintglade. "Thanks, I guess it had the same idea as us." She mewed, wincing at the sting of her wounds. "I'd hate to bother Smokepetal with this but I don't want to risk it, either. If you're sure you've got that...?" She tipped her head toward the hawk, then turned to find Mintglade's earlier catch. Maybe the hawk would be salvageable... Stars knew Skyclan would take what it could get for food.