Hunting Patrol

Leopardfang stretched until he felt a satisfying crack in his spine. This night was going to be another full night of training for Shimmerpaw, who would blend seamlessly into the darkness of the night with her glossy black pelt. He eyed the fresh-kill pile, knowing it wouldn't be as full as it had been in the past season. They certainly had work to do, and it was best not to delay. He glanced around the camp, looking for his apprentice.

Shimmerpaw shook her fur as she came out of the apprentice's den. She had almost tripped over another apprentice, who was currently snoring their head off. She remembered Leopardfang saying something about a hunting patrol tonight. As she cast her eyes about, pupils adjusting to the star-lit darkness, she caught sight of her mentor and friend, standing near the fresh-kill pile. She noticed that it was smaller than usual. "Hey," she called- quietly- to Leopardfang. "Where are we hunting?"

"The Burnt Sycamore, and then we'll spread out from there." He said simply, getting to his paws. "Tonight should be quick and easy. We've hunted a lot before, so I'm assuming you won't need any pointers." The spotted tom was already well on his way out of the camp before finishing the sentence and also his roleplayer was too lazy to add anything else.

Shimmerpaw nodded her approval of Leopardfang's abruptness. He could be long-winded when he wanted, but was usually blunt and to-the-point. That what one of the things that she loved liked about her crush friend. Whoa! When did this "love" thing happen? He's my friend. That's all. Get it together, Shimmerpaw. The glossy, night-black she-cat followed her mentor into the forest, keeping her eyes (and ears, and noses) out for the signs of prey tramping through the forest at night.

Leopardfang had shifted into a relaxed trot and was keeping his ears pricked. Occasionally he would glance into the sky as if he were looking for something. They were still a short distance from the Burnt Sycamore when he halted abruptly, mouth open to let the scents of the marshy pine forest in. His tail flicking was the only movement in the inky blackness of the night. He glanced back at Shimmerpaw and jerked his muzzle off to the side, indicating that he caught prey scent. Leopardfang was going to let her get it.

Shimmerpaw nodded. This prey was hers. She dropped into a hunting crouch and stalked forwards, scenting the prey. It was a mouse. As soon as she got close enough that she could see it, but it couldn't see her, she sprang. The glossy black she-cat overshot slightly and grazed it with her claws. Gritting her teeth, she turned around and pounced on it before it could scramble away. Shaking her shoulders self-consciously, she returned to near where Leopardfang was and buried the small mouthful. It wasn't much, but it would feed some cats.

He gave a firm nod in approval. Mistakes would always be made, but as long as she made up for them, they meant nothing to him. He had silently admired her lovely form... her lovely hunting form, that is. What a promising apprentice. Those moons of waiting to be a simple medicine cat apprentice were wasted on her. Of course, had she not waited, this interesting mentorship would not have occurred; he would not have been able to spend so much time with her. Or rather, train her to be the best she could be.

Leopardfang mentally snorted at his own ridiculous admiration. Instead of adding any comment, he continued on in their intended direction so as to avoid saying anything he didn't mean. Reaching the Burnt Sycamore, the sound of a batting feathers caught his sharp ear and he crouched, opening his mouth to pinpoint the creature he was hearing. Finding the crow that was dancing at the roots of the old dead tree, his green eyes narrowed and claws slid out of their sheaths. The hunter slowly placed one heavy paw in front of the other until he was close enough to go straight for its throat and quickly ends its life. Without the feathers, it would feed a queen or perhaps a few older kits. He pawed at the ground and buried it in a shallow dip. Turning to look at Shimmerpaw, he meowed quietly, "Let's split up."

Shimmerpaw nodded and went in a different direction. As she tried to focus on finding prey, her thoughts instead drifted to Leopardfang, possibly her only friend. His spotted fur, his strength, his... She shook her fur. What was she doing? Leopardfang was her mentor and friend. Nothing more. And yet...
She opened her jaws to scent some prey, and saw a thrush pecking at some seeds. It was very plump, probably an older bird, and she felt a grin steal across her face at the thought of how many apprentices it might feed. She stalked forwards, unsheathing her claws, blending into the night with her fur. When she got close enough, she carefully measured her trajectory and pounced, killing it with a quick claw swipe. After burying the prey and shaking the feathers off her face, she continued on.

OOC: In advance, I won't be on for a while, so I apologize for future and past inactiveness.

OOC: That's fine, I get it.

IC: Choosing a new path, he followed the faded scent of lizard. He tried to focus on the task of bringing home food, but for some reason the tom's mind was wandering. The stale scent disappeared and he found himself walking aimlessly through the marsh in search of a scent that wasn't there. Hissing furiously at himself, Leopardfang realized too late that there was a frog that he had just scared away into a dark hole. It was embarrassing how bad he was at hunting, and he looked around to make sure Shimmerpaw hadn't been there to see that. For some reason, her opinion of him was far more important than whether he actually brought something home or not. But I should at least return with a piece of prey--almost anything will do. I cannot disappoint Thrushstar either.

The Burnt Sycamore was a distance behind him when he spotted the Thunderpath far in front of him. He saw a squirrel dash across the cursed path just in time to avoid being flattened by a monster, and Leopardfang crouched low in anticipation. The squirrel was oblivious to his approach, but the spotted tom still had to be careful because there was quite a bit of distance between him and it still. Several heartbeats later, he triumphantly lifted the carcass from the ground and buried it somewhere safe, knowing it would be all the sweeter since it would have fed ThunderClan if it had not crossed.

Shimmerpaw continued onwards, sniffing around for more prey. As she walked, she found her thoughts drifting to other things. Namely, a certain spotted tom with intelligent green eyes and- She whacked her head against the trunk of a pine tree. Stop it! Stop it! He's your friend! Get a hold of yourself! Her racket scared off a few animals. She shook her head and got back to hunting.

OOC: I was thinking maybe a badger/fox attacks or something. What do you think?

OOC: Sure, sounds interesting. A fox might be easier for two cats.

IC: He could now add a third piece of prey to his kill count. A rat had dared cross him, and after careful inspection, he discovered that the rat was disease-free and worthy to feed a member of the Clan. Perhaps not a warrior with more seniority; it would be insulting to present someone of higher rank with food eaten only in desperate times. He lifted his nose into the air, scenting for Shimmerpaw. It was about time to head back, and so he gathered the squirrel and the rat by the tails in his mouth and padded to the Burnt Sycamore to collect his first piece. She'd probably figure out where they would meet again. After all, she was shockingly intelligent. Suddenly, Leopardfang froze in his tracks. The Burnt Sycamore was several tail lengths ahead when the scent reached his nose. He wanted desperately to call for her, but it would be far too dangerous with the predator lurking nearby. He gently dropped his prey and crouched low to the ground, peering around into the dark with his short fur standing on edge and a growl starting in his throat.

Shimmerpaw was about to pounce on a mouse when she heard a deep growling sound. She slowly turned to find a fox staring at her, a murderous expression in its eyes. Quivering with fear, the glossy black she-cat stood her ground, not knowing what to do. When the fox lunged for her, she turned tail and ran as fast as she could. "Leopardfang!" she yowled, hoping he was close enough to hear. The fox caught up to her easily and slashed at her, the force of the blow driving her into the ground.

Fox used Heavy Blow on Shimmerpaw.

Fox:
100/100
285/300

Shimmerpaw:
-10/20
80/80

Her call sent dread rushing through down his spine. A fox could kill a cat in one nasty bite. If that mange-furred animal touches Shimmerpaw, I'm going to rip its eyes out! He dashed through the trees and marshy terrain, following the heavy scent of fox and the echoing cry of terror. Leopardfang burst through a thorn bush, ignoring the painful tearing at his spotted pelt, and slammed into the fox's side with the force of TigerClan behind his paws and shoulders. Out of the corner of his sharp eye he caught the sleek black fur of Shimmerpaw crumpled on the ground and the growl in his throat turned into an angry caterwaul.

Leopardfang used Jumping Strike on the fox, dealing 18 damage and using 20 stamina.

Fox:
82/100
285/300

Leopardfang:
45/45
140/160

OOC: You know what, I'll just play as the fox to make it easier.

IC: Shimmerpaw watched, in a daze, as Leopardfang attacked the fox. He looked like any other cat would while fighting an enemy, but there was something else in his eyes. Her last thought before unconsciousness, though she thought of it later with embarrassment, was my wonderful Leopardfang.

The fox snarled when another small-animal-with-claws rammed into him, keeping him from his prey, the smaller black one. He supposed he could make time for two kills today. He turned around and bit it, hoping to send it off so that he could finish his hunting.

Fox used Iron Bite on Leopardfang, dealing 35 damage and using (35?) stamina.

Fox:
82/100
250/300

Leopardfang:
10/45
140/160

ooc: i was asked to help?

ic:
Hearing a collection of loud yowls not too far into the territory, Magpiewing rose from latest catch and twitched his ears. The growls continued, getting louder with each passing second. He could hear the sound of cats mixed with something he hadn't heard before. Barely covering the mouse he just caught, the tom sprinted off towards the fight.

The black warrior skidded to a halt behind the creature. Almost frozen in fear, a small flash of the past flitted through his head. Two snarling mongrels, one leader, a patrol filled with frightened apprentices. Magpiewing hissed at himself. Now's not the time for reminiscing. I have to help. Bounding forward, he bared his fangs and unsheathed his claws before taking the fox's back right leg in his jaws. Without thinking, he lashed his front paws forward, drawing blood on the creature's flank.

Magpiewing used Teeth Grip, dealing 16 damage and costing 20 stamina. Damage will be inflicted for 3 turns.

Magpiewing:
HP: 45/45
SP: 140/160

Fox:
HP: 66/100
SP: 250/300