Hunters hunted [OPEN]

OOC: Just a quick plot/topic of a patrol coming across a fox and killing it. All TC welcome to join.

Duskfall waited in the clearing in the dark, the sun had yet to rise and most of the clan were asleep. The night patrol had returned and it was Dawn patrol's turn to ensure that the clan was protected. He'd selected a handful of warriors and apprentices to join him on the patrol last night, and was waiting for them to show. As usual, he deliberately woke up earlier than the rest, the brown tom had a habit of being overly punctual. However he never truly expected anyone to live up to his standards, though he had tried to drill it in his apprentices Silverstep, and Rainstrike.

Stretching out to loosen his muscles for the long patrol ahead, he fondly watched over the camp that he risked his life for. The place he called home. Though others might have preferred to get an extra wink of sleep, Duskfall enjoyed the quite peace of the camp before dawn as he stood waiting for the rest of the patrol to awake.

Littlepaw was the first one of the apprentices up, as always. He stretched as he exited the den. He took a small drink from some wet moss by the den, and walked to Duskfall for the morning patrol. "Good Morning, Duskfall." He said as he entered the clearing.

"Littlepaw, you're up early." Duskfall greeted his son, nudging his flank lightly with his muzzle. The young tom had become an apprentice recently, and due to lack of warriors, Duskfall had come to mentor his son. It was always an honour to teach the new generation, but this time was more personal. Duskfall felt the need to prove to his clan that he was fair, and that his son would excel under his tutelage.

"Are you keen for your first patrol?"


Leopardpaw followed out the brown tom onto the clearing. His spotted fur hiding him from sight in the dark until he appeared next to the pair. He purred out tiredly. "G'morning. So early..."

Blazingheart stretched as he stopped at the group of cats. "Hello Duskfall, Littlepaw, and Leopardpaw," he greeted, nodding to each cat as he said their name.

Frozenpaw appeared from behind his dad, padding up next to him. Blazingheart had woken him up early to go on a patrol with him. Frozenpaw didn't mind as long as he got to spend time with his father. He wanted to be as loyal to the clan as he could, so going on this patrol would help his loyalty. "Hello, uncle Duskfall." He had been calling Duskfall his uncle because Blazingheart and him were such good friends. "Hi guys," he said to the other apprentices.

Voices near her den woke Spottedstar. She woke and stretched, clawing at the dirt. Poking her head out, she saw the dawn patrol starting to gather. Padding over, she nodded in greeting at everyone. "Well isn't everyone up and early today"

"Good morning, Spottedstar, Leopardpaw, Blazingheart, Frozenpaw." Littlepaw said with a smile, hoping everyone would start off good. "Oh yes, I was taking a walk last night and I would like to report Rucerclan scent very close to our borders. From rumors it seems they've taken their victory too well." He knew about the death of Lavenderwish's sister Tawnypaw who died a moon before his birth. "So I thought we could do some hunting and patrolling if that's okay."

As if she was summoned, Lavenderwish stretched and padded out of the warrior's den. She headed towards the small group that had gathered, yawning.
"Morning." she plopped down beside Littlepaw, and quickly groomed her messy, slept-on fur.

OOC: Littlepaw is an apprentice, I feel like he's too young to making executive decisions or go on night patrols alone, Cat.

"Yes, nothing like an early morning patrol to start the day." Duskfall spoke to Spottedstar, nodding his head in greeting to the others who had gathered, saving a friendly purr for Frozenpaw, his friend's young son. He was happy with the turn out, dawn patrol's were never popular due to the early time, but he was happy to see that all the chosen cats had come. "Will you be joining us, Spottedstar?"

He frowned though when he heard about his son's night escapades. The brown tom understood his son's eagerness to prove himself, but with the recent tensions between the clans, he didn't approve of the tom leaving on 'walks' by himself. "Littlepaw, did you go with anyone else on this walk? It's dangerous out there right now, I wouldn't send a warrior alone, let alone an apprentice. Don't do that again, unless you want to be camp bound for a moon. Anyway, this will be only a patrol, but we can catch something on the way back if anyone has the energy."

OOC: Oops

IC: "I went alone. I couldn't sleep. Sorry." He said and lowered his ears. He backed away behind them. Stupid! Stupid! Why would you do that? Your so dumb! The brown apprentice whimpered a bit at his thoughts. "Sorry." He muttered again.

"Well he found us information about Riverclan. What's wrong with that? I'd do the same if I was him." Leopardpaw piped up, standing up for the fellow apprentice.

"And that's why you're both apprentices not warriors yet. It's dangerous out there, especially with Skyclan and Riverclan both being hostile. You are both valuable to this clan, and I won't risk you two dying." Duskfall spoke, pained as he remembered the deaths of Coalfur and Tawnypaw, both so young and fearless. They deserved better, and while he understood they were with Starclan now, it physically pained him to think about anyone else dying under his care. Especially one of his children. "Just don't do this again. We'll be setting out in a second. Is everyone ready?"

Giving a small nod, Spottedstar took place behind Duskfall, letting the young cat lead the patrol.

OOC: busy doing sterf. short post o3o

Lavenderwish followed Duskfall and Spottedstar out through the entrance, into the forest.

Littlepaw sighed and followed. He walked slower than them, muttering to himself.

Leading the patrol, Duskfall followed one of the many paths that the Dawn patrol usually took, over past the Owl tree to near Snakerocks. It was a path he'd walked many times, and one that he knew every tree and shrub along the way. He knew what to scent, and where the markers were. Which was why he was surprised when an unfamiliar scent of fox wafted past as they ventured past Snakerocks into an area where an old badger den used to be.

The brown tom tensed instinctively, drawing out his claws. He looked over his shoulder at his clanmates and leader, signalling for them to scent the air as well. The scent was fresh but there was a chance the fox was just passing through. So with his patrol behind him, he crept up to the den where the scent was strongest.

Leopardpaw scented the fox as well and stuck by Duskfall's side, creeping closer to the den.

The fox was an young one, in his prime as clever as he was vicious. The red fox was looking to settle into a territory to court a vixen, and the forest seemed to be the perfect place. Plentiful prey and easy access to water. Thus the fox had no intention of leaving, finding good territory with the upwalkers was hard enough. He had no plans of being chased out by cats.

When the clowder of cats approached, the fox got up out of his den. Claws gleaming and jaws snapping, he barked at them threateningly. He was prepared to fight them all. And so he did.

Zeroing in on a young spotted tabby kit, he pounced. The young kit tried to fight back but the fox was larger, stronger, and with one well placed snap of his jaws, the young kit's eyes went glassy. He tossed the body of the young kit on the ground tauntingly. It was his warning to the clowder, he'd do to them the exact same thing he just did to the kit if they resisted.

Blazingheart followed right behind Duskfall as they left camp. When a whiff of fox came up his nose, Blazingheart's fur prickled and he motioned with his tail for Frozenpaw to stay close. He'd hate for his son to die. Suddenly, as fast as a bolt of lightning, the fox struck. Leapordpaw. The words almost rolled off of his tongue, but the tabby was frozen in fear.

Unlike his father, Frozenpaw didn't keep silent...or couldn't rather. "Leapordpaw," He yowled as the fox attacked. Rage burned through the apprentice and his usual dim amber eyes burned brightly with a fire so hot it could melt a mountain. Frozenpaw unexpectedly pounced onto the young fox, thirsty for revenge. This tom was out of control, yowling and clawing like a madman. You could almost mistake him for having rabies.

"Frozenpaw, no," Screamed Blazingheart. In a split second, the father was attacking also, lunging for the fox's legs to break them and bring him down. The fox easily threw Frozenpaw off his back and turned to bite the apprentice, but Blazingheart slammed into the creature, changing it's attention to him. Starclan, please! Don't let us die!