A New-Leaf Haul (Solo Patrol)

Nightstorm didn't resent the fact that he had been given the task of hunting with and supervising an apprentice; if fact, he quite enjoyed spending time with the younger members of the clan.  The older tom had always loved the joyful energy that kits and adolescents possessed, and the jet-black tom held his head aloft as he pushed his way out of the camp alongside the fully-grown bi-color tabby apprentice Fernpaw.  True, she was a bit of a handful with a tongue as sharp as thistles, but in his opinion that wasn't particularly bad...as long as she was able to find some form of self-control.

Fernpaw meanwhile was far from pleased with the situation.  She hated being supervised like a naughty kit, and couldn't wait for the day when Rippedstar lifted the ban on apprentices going out alone; by then though, she might not even be an apprentice anymore!  The thoughts of her upcoming promotion placed forefront in her mind, she picked up the pace to walk more cheerfully beside Nightstorm.

Both cats lifted their noses into the air as they walked, heading in the direction of the stream until they caught the scent of prey.  Several scents, actually.  Wordlessly, the two separated and began to track down their individual quarries.  Nightstorm followed the tantalizing trail of a squirrel, which ended at the base of a broad oak tree.  Grinning, the lean tom let out a quiet purr and sank his claws into the bark, and began to climb.  The warm breeze ruffled his fur as he scaled up farther and farther into the towering giant of a plant, until he finally caught sight of his prey's fluffy tail. His leaf-green eyes narrowed into concentrated slits, Nightstorm braced himself on a sturdy branch, unsheathed his claws, and leaped. Hitting the large prey head-on, he gripped it's neck in his lethal jaws as he scrambled for a grip on the thinner branch beneath him. Steadying himself, he gave one sharp jerk of his head and it was over. Purring jubilantly, he scaled his way back down the oak and tucked his first catch underneath a bramble bush.

Fernpaw meanwhile had caught the scent of something much smaller, but still tasty nonetheless.  The musky tang of mouse clinging in her nose, she padded carefully through the undergrowth until she pinpointed the small creature's hiding place; a blooming berry bush.  Her tail-tip flicking excitedly, she crouched down and waited for the small rodent to show itself; which didn't prove to be very soon. With an impatient sigh she dropped down into a sitting position for just a moment...and that was when the mouse darted out of it's nest. "Fox dung!" She tried to bolt after it, but she hadn't been prepared, and soon lost sight of the creature in the undergrowth. With a frustrated hiss, she flicked her tail dismissively before returning to the search.

(dice, oops)

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 6, 6

A bit tired out from the climb, Nightstorm decided to find his next catch on the ground.  He traversed through the maze of stones and shrubbery, until a familiar rustling sound touched his ears.  Crouching down, he stalked around the trunk of a tree until he caught sight of the source of the noise; a sparrow was washing itself in a shallow puddle left over from a recent rain.  With a slight waggle of his haunches, the former Tribe cat leaped forward with confidence, skilled at hunting winged creatures since his early days as a to-be in the mountains. The catch was an easy one as he had predicted, and in less than a heartbeat the bird hung limp in his jaws. Padding back to the bush where he had left the squirrel, he deposited the bird before heading out one last time.

A bit embarrassed by her lousy work earlier, Fernpaw was determined to redeem herself in her own mind; and the chance soon came.  In front of her stood a rabbit, cautiously chewing on a patch of grass.  It looked thin and fresh cuts and scratches marred it's pelt; it looked to be the looser of a territorial battle.  All the she-cat cared though, was that it was probably weak.  Pulling herself forward in a careful crouch, she waited until it's head was buried once again in it's meal, before she sprang forward. No! The rabbit was alerted to her presence at the very last second, and bounded away with a cry into the thick bushes where she could not follow. Now she was really mad! "Grrr...why do you hate me today?!" She called out to nature, her ears drooping a bit. With a sigh, she turned and padded back into the trees in a new direction.

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 8, 5

The next scent that Nightstorm managed to catch was one of vole, and he eagerly followed it to a small hole near the base of a tree.  Settling down in the shelter of a fern, he crouched patiently, his tail-tip waving back and forth with a serene silence.  The tom had always been able to find success in being quiet, examining the world with an unhurried eye.  It brought him peace, and some might even say a unique natural wisdom.  He was not distracted though from the task at hand, and soon enough he saw a small nose poke out of the earth.  A head soon followed, and a foreleg, a upper body, a back leg...WHOOSH!  Nightstorm dashed forward with intense speed, and killed the small mammal with one nip to the spine.  Smiling proudly at his success, he once again returned to the bush to place the vole with the rest of his stash, and decided to go and find Fernpaw.

Fernpaw as well had been crouching underneath foliage, watching a junco peck at the ground in search of seeds.  She had waited as patiently as possible, recalled all of her learned hunting knowledge, and finally sprang.  At last!  The bird's fearful chip was cut off as Fernpaw sank her jaws into it's spine, and she purred loudly.  Head held high and tail waving, she was about to pad off once again when she caught Nightstorm's scent on the breeze.  He's nearby...probably ready to go back to camp.

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 1, 7

Rounding a boulder, the ebony tom caught sight of the bi-color tabby apprentice, and purred a greeting.  "Good job, that's a fine junco you've caught."  His eyes shining with approval, he tilted his head slightly to the side as he meowed; "Are you ready to head back?"

"Umm..."  No, she wasn't ready to head back yet!  She had only caught one piece of prey!  To her great relief though, at that moment she picked up another scent; squirrel!  One had just bolted down from a tree, and was heading straight towards them!  Baring her teeth in an excited growl, she dashed forward to try and cut it off.  Suddenly, a loud flapping sound came from overhead, and Fernpaw looked up just in time to see a large bird dive down, heading right towards her!

"Fernpaw!"  Nightstorm watched in shocked panic as an eagle, an eagle, swooped down and swiped it's talons over her back.  The brown tabby apprentice yowled and tried to reach up and claw at the large bird, but it was clear that she couldn't reach.  Just as the bird began to curve around for a second attack, the former Tribe-cat darted forward and leaped onto the bird's back, summoning his former prey-hunter skill-set.

Eagle used Talon Strike on Fernpaw, dealing 10 damage and using 10 stamina

Eagle:
60/60
190/200

Fernpaw:
10/20
80/80

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Nightstorm used Leap-and-Hold, dealing 8 damage and using 10 stamina

Nightstorm:
40/40
110/120

Eagle:
52/60
190/200

Eagle is pinned for 1 turn

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 10

(dice)

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

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'Effect Dice' : 3

Letting out an angry screech, the eagle felt a cat land on it's back and begin to pummel it's claws into it's fragile skin.  The weight pulling it to the ground, the large feathered creature tried fiercely to snap at the black tom's limbs, but he stayed in the perfect position to avoid capture.

Nightstorm continues to use Leap-and-Hold, dealing 8 damage

Nightstorm:
40/40
110/120

Eagle:
44/60
190/200

Eagle is no longer pinned

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Shaking her head rapidly to focus her mind, Fernpaw watched in amazement as Nightstorm leaped up onto the beast's back with no hesitation, pulling it to the ground.  The deep claw-marks across her back stung and dripped with blood, but that didn't stop her from racing up and joining in the attack.  Raking at the bird's belly with her sharp claws, she let out a low, long hiss.

Fernpaw used Belly Rake, dealing 7 damage and using 10 stamina

Fernpaw:
10/20
70/80

Eagle:
37/60
190/200

Letting out a cry of alarm, Nightstorm was bucked from the eagle's back as it regained it's strength, it's hooked beak opening wide in a furious screech.  The black tom was not able to leap to his paws in time, and with a pained cry he felt the bird rake it's talons along his side.  I'm out of practice...I haven't been attacked since my early days as a to-be!

Eagle used Talon Strike, dealing 10 damage and using 10 stamina

Eagle:
37/60
180/200

Nightstorm:
30/40
110/120

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Fernpaw dodged away as the eagle righted itself, but didn't run.  With a yowl, she launched herself forward and struck the eagle in the side with the full weight of her body, and sank her fangs into it's wing.

Fernpaw used Run-and-Tackle, dealing 6 damage and using 10 stamina

Fernpaw:
10/20
70/80

Eagle:
31/60
180/200

---

Nightstorm wasn't knocked down for long though.  Wincing through the pain, he shook off the droplets of blood that clung to his pelt and reared up onto his hind paws, slashing his claws into the eagle's face.

Nightstorm used Rear-up-to Slash, dealing 9 damage and using 15 stamina

Nightstorm:
30/40
95/120

Eagle:
22/60
180/200

The eagle backed away from the cats, and let out an infuriated screech, before pumping it's wings and taking off into the trees, leaving drops of blood in it's wake.

Both cats were panting hard, but smiling, and butted heads in celebration.  "You fought well!"  Nightstorm meowed, gazing down at Fernpaw with a friendly gleam in his eyes.  "You could've been an excellent cave-guard back in the mountains."

"Ha!  If you guys had to deal with those more than once in your life in the mountains, then no thanks!"  Her words were snide, but she let out a laughing purr.  After a moment though, she began to look annoyed.  "Mouse-dung, if only we had killed it!  Imagine everyone's faces if we had brought that back to camp!"  Her ears flattening a bit, she picked up her junco from where she had tossed it to the ground at the beginning of the fight.  "I only have this tiny thing..."

Sympathetic, Nightstorm nudged her shoulder encouragingly and purred; "Even the smallest offerings make a difference Fernpaw, be proud of what you're able to contribute.  Providing for the clan isn't meant to be a competition."  Nightstorm was surprised that when the she-cat raised her head, there was an odd glimmer of what could only be described as desperation in her eyes, as she meowed in a low tone; "A..are you sure?"

A bit taken aback, Nightstorm simply nodded, and was about to ask if everything was okay when the apprentice suddenly sprang to alert, all traces of uncertainty gone.  "Well, let's get on with it!  These cuts burn, and I want to make it back to camp before the sun goes down."  She padded off in the direction of camp with her single junco, leaving Nightstorm to dash back and grab his stash of prey, contemplating her uncharacteristic actions.  It the end though, it wasn't his business, and he wasn't going to press.  Catching up with Fernpaw, the two cats headed off back to camp, bursting with news of their success.