Mindless Distractions [closed]

Appearing as if she was carved from stone, Splashwillow hardly moved a muscle as she remained stiffly seated upright. Ignoring the heavy dusting of frost upon her whiskers, the calico awkwardly shuffled her weight as she remained tensely seated close to the camp’s entrance. After countless sleepless nights spent worrying over Tigerpaw, Splashwillow found herself welcoming every possible distraction.

Smokewish padded out of the warrior den, her mind clouded with unpleasant thoughts. Her nightmares hadn’t stopped. She doubted they would go anytime soon. Dreams of Tigerpaw dying and of ThunderClan invading and apprentices slaughtering her dearest friends. Dreams of the whole clan being lost to sickness, of Shadepaw drowning in the river like he almost did as a kit, of Spotpaw and Sweetheart being cast away as traitors. They sent shivers down her spine. She tried not to dwell on her thoughts as she shook moss from her pelt, walking over to join Splashwillow.

Meanwhile, Shadepaw sniffed at the empty fresh-kill pile, his stomach growling loudly. He was starving! His best guess was that the last of the fresh-kill was given to the elders or queens -- or Sweetheart. That stupid she-cat may be staying in the nursery while she served her confinement in camp, but that didn't mean she actually was a queen. If anything, she should be fed last, if even at all.

Snorting in disgust, the young tabby tom spotted Splashwillow sitting by the entrance of camp, with Smokewish standing next to her, and decided to approach them. "Hey, Splashwillow, Smokewish. You two waiting for cats to join a patrol? Because I could really go for some fresh fish right about now."

Duckpuddle lifted her head and glanced over at the camp entrance with wide, sharp green eyes. Her first swimming exercise had been so rudely interrupted before, so now she would have to set aside another time to actually get some work done in the river. The she-cat couldn't help but narrow her eyes as she thought about the ThunderClan cat. As she padded over towards the two warriors and the apprentice, the brown warrior couldn't help but notice that her back leg was still a bit odd. It was getting better, but the difference wasn't very noticeable. It was going to take a lot more work for her leg to be restored to its full strength. However, the she-cat knew that swimming wasn't the only thing she could do to help it. Continuing to walk and run around with it normally would contribute to the exercise, too, and the best way to do that was by participating in a hunting patrol.
"Hello, you three," Duckpuddle dipped her head slightly in greeting, "Do you mind if I join you all?"

Lilytail saw her former mentor and she was there in an instant. "Hey Splashwillow! Hello Smokewish, Duckpuddle, and Shadepaw. May I join you all on this patrol?" she asked while gently bumping her shoulder with Splashwillow's. Her mentor was like a mother. The mother she never had. She was raised by her father Frogjaw with her sisters Fennelpaw and Torrentpaw. All three along with her mother were dead. She clung to Splash, Ivystar, Dewpaw, and Duskfall since they were the only ones that were close to her heart.

ooc) so I'm thinking we can all attempt two catches, just to keep the patrol short!

Hardly able to blink away the haze of exhaustion and worry, Splashwillow managed a short nod to each of her approaching Clanmates, her movements stiff. "You're all welcome to tag along- the more, the merrier." She rasped, leaning forward to affectionately brush her cheek against Lilytail's. Ever since the battle, the birth of her second litter, and Tigerpaw's sickness, it felt like she had become a mere shell of herself- hardly able to properly function among her Clanmates. The fact that she had rarely interacted with the cats who stood before her sent a shudder of guilt down her spine.

Rising to her paws, Splashwillow quietly slipped out of the camp and began to guide the small party along the familiar trails underpaw, voice strengthening as she eventually spoke, "We're going to hunt alongside the river. Now that it's starting to warm up, I have no doubt that certain woodland creatures will be stirring and searching for ways to fill their bellies."

"I will definitely catch more prey than all four of you she-cats put together!" Shadepaw declared before bounding off in search of his first catch. He quickly came across a frog near the riverbank, and his stomach growled loudly. He knew RiverClan was much more fond of fish than any other prey, and most cats despised the taste of frog, toad, or lizard, but if he was being honest with himself he absolutely loved them! How strange that his style of hunting seemed suited for stalking up on reptiles and amphibians when RiverClan hardly ate them; the only cats who would willing eat them were ShadowClan anyway.

Shadepaw crouched down and began stalking towards it, licking his lips hungrily, his paws landing heavily in the soft snow. He shot forward and slammed his paws down on its back, snapping its spine. With a successful purr, he picked up the fresh-kill, enjoying the taste of its skin against his tongue, and trotted back to the four warriors to show off his catch, tail waving high in the air. "Tolph yah!" he sneered through a mouthful of frog.

The member 'Yoshachu' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 3

Smokewish tasted the air for any prey. She decided to practise land hunting. She crouched down low, her tail swishing behind her. Soon enough, she scented a mouse. She crept forwards, light on her paws, and pounced quickly, a swift bite to the neck to end it's life. She picked it up and shot a triumphant yet lighthearted look at Shadepaw.

ooc: trash because I'm tired

The member 'Titanium' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 3

[size=49]Lilytail was a few lengths away from a fat mouse. She readied for the pounce while it squeaked. Soon the warrior leaped at it. She caught it in her jaws and began to look for another creature to catch.[/size]

The member 'Middy' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 4

"I'm sure you will, Shadepaw." Splashwillow agreed, breezing along in her agreement with the young tom's words. Pausing for a brief heartbeat and carefully watching the individual directions her Clanmates set off in, the calico remained still for several moments longer before eventually slipping away in a different direction. Desperately trying to ignore the way her paws felt clumsy and slow, she continued along the slight path in the reeds, quietly stalking after the familiar scent of dove.

While Splashwillow didn't thoroughly enjoy the taste of birds, her belly was empty enough that she would hardly complain if she could get her paws on one. At the faint sound of cooing, the calico dropped into a neat crouch and crept forward, carefully approaching the unsuspecting bird. However, a particularly robust breeze sent the dove high into the air above Splashwillow, forcing her to simply listen to the dove's rapidly weakening cries of alarm.

The member 'Seer' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 6

Smokewish lifted her head again, drinking in the scents of her territory, her sharp eyes glaring around for any prey. Before long, she spotted a water vole. Well, it was extremely scrawny, but they could use it. She dropped into a hunting crouch, creeping forwards slowly. At the last moment, the vole spotted her through the reeds and dashed off again as she pounced, leaving her to attack the dirt. She slipped onto her belly, laying there empty-pawed. Oh, great. She could feel the blood rush to her ears in hot embarrassment as she slowly got to her paws again.