Let's Hunt! [Open Patrol]

Shrikecall stood at the enterance of Skyclan camp. He was told to lead a patrol so he figured the cats would come to him if he was at the entrance. The black and white tom licked his paw and dragged it over his head smoothing out his fluffy fur. He was going to be so happy once green leaf was over. The heat was the worst for someone like him.

(OOC: Since no one has replied to this, could this be the patrol where Spiderpounce dies? XD)

Spiderpounce spotted the older, more experienced warrior waiting for his patrol at the entrance of camp, and he rather timidly padded over to him, keeping his head lowered. He didn't really like hunting or patrolling with cats he didn't know well. Well, hopefully, he'd grow to know and maybe even befriend Shrikecall during this outing. "Um... I'm ready to go when you are... Shrikecall, right? S-Sorry, I don't exactly... know you too well." He huffed uncomfortably and averted his amber gaze awkwardly.

Lilypaw trotted toward the patrol, her black tail-tip twitching slightly. She assumed this was the patrol she had been assigned to, and she merely nodded to her clanmates when she reached them.

OOC: trashhh

Shrikecall nodded to Spiderpounce. "Yes I am Shrikecall." The warrior nodded again when Lilypaw approached. This would be enough for a hunting patrol they didn't want to scare off all the pray. The large black and white tom stood and flicked his tail for the two to follow. "Let's get going." Shrikecall turned and padded out of the camp.

(OOC: @Drippy, this is gonna be where Spiderpounce dies, so I hope Lilypaw’s prepared for that XD)

Spiderpounce was already feeling awkward and uncomfortable around Shrikecall, a cat he barely knew, but to be with another he didn’t know really put him on edge. Wanting not to be rude, though, he gave a feeble nod back to Lilypaw before following the two from behind. His tail anxiously and restlessly twitched and trembled; somehow, he just knew today wouldn’t be his day... But then again, when was it ever his day ever since his brother and only living family member remaining Alderpaw fell so severely sick that he hadn’t left the medicine den for moons?

OOC: AAH

Lilypaw grinned halfheartedly up at Shrikecall, her mind still lost somewhere in Windclan's moors. She merely half-nodded to Spiderpounce, unable to muster the energy to help the nervous tom come out of his shell.
She flicked her black tail, trailing close behind Shrikecall and forcing herself to stay present. Since Sedgestrike's exile, she had been mentorless- she had to learn anything she could from any cat, whether it was Shrikecall or the scaredy-cat, Spiderpounce.

Shrikecall soon reached the spot he wanted to take them too. It was a spot near the Thunderclan border but not quite there, still full Skyclan territory. "This area should be good enough to catch some prey. Just try to catch what you can." The tom told the other two. "Try to stay near one of us Lilypaw." He didn't want some predator making off with Lilypaw. He knew it wasn't too likely but he didn't want to take the chance. The black and white tom sprang into a tree, standing on one of the branches. He needed to find a bird to hunt.

With a shy nod of acknowledgement, secretly hoping Lilypaw would stick closer to Shrikecall, Spiderpounce began padding carefully past the tall trees, listening and scenting for any potential prey. It wasn’t long before he caught the whiff of a squirrel, and just as soon as he detected it the small furry brown body shot out from behind the ever-so-browning bushes.

Adrenaline kicking in, the tom began giving chase, racing through the forest and sending leaf litter flying up behind him in his wake. The squirrel shot up into a rather large tree, and he followed suit without a second thought, figuring his natural-born SkyClan instincts were kicking in. He scrambled up the tree, sending a light shower of bark falling down, his eyes locked on his prey.

The squirrel leaped into a thick clump of greenish leaves, disappearing into the browner specks of the canopy, and Spiderpounce leaped up after it with a breathless heave. However, a sudden face full of spiderweb caught him completely off guard. He squealed and spat in terror and disgust, struggling to wipe the sticky web off, his fur bushed and countless shivers running down his spine.

His squirming in the leaves and branches seemed to have shaken loose the nest’s host, and he felt a significant weight falling onto his left cheek. Daring to open his eyes, he shrieked at the mere sight of the large brown spider, unable to continue looking into its eight beady eyes and... exposed fangs?!

The nip really spooked him, and with a howl of terror Spiderpounce shook his head vigorously, trying to shake the arachnid loose as if it were a giant tick refusing to let go. In his struggles he lost his balance, and he felt the wind rushing through his bushed fur as he fell from the top of the tall tree, not crashing down into even one branch on his way to the rapidly approaching ground below.

The tom’s shrieks of fear that echoed through SkyClan’s forest were abruptly cut off by a loud thump and a sickening snap.

Lilypaw flicked her tail, sitting down to watch as Shrikecall leaped into a tree with grace that was shocking for his large size. She supposed that meant she would be learning from Spiderpounce, then. Not that she minded, of course. Although he was rather odd, he certainly seemed to be less intimidating than the other warrior.
With a small sigh, she turned to the young tom in time to see him launch himself after a brown blur that she judged to be a squirrel. Blinking in surprise, the long-legged apprentice raced after him. "H-hey! Wait up!" She wasn't supposed to be loud during a patrol, but he was already out of sight.
The tall white apprentice stopped short in front of a tree, just in time to see the tom's ringed tail disappear as he charged up into the canopy, sending several pieces of bark flying in his wild chase. Lilypaw flicked her tail nervously, craning her neck and squinting. The tree was shaking quite a bit...

Suddenly, a yowl of terror made her jump. Several sticks and leaves from the lower branches of the tree shook. Lilypaw gasped, her pale blue eyes wide as a small ginger and black figure plummeted from one of the highest branches.
A crack, a snap, and a sickening spurt of scarlet. Spiderpounce lay splayed on the ground, his head and legs resting at an odd angle. Lilypaw crept forward, quivering with fear and shock. "Sp... Spiderpounce?" She reached out a tentative paw, only to recoil in horror when she reached him. Lilypaw let out a scream of pure terror, so loud it echoed, the sound bouncing off the trees. Blood was pooling around the tom, and something sharp and white had punctured the skin at the nape of his neck...
Lilypaw turned and retched in the grass, her empty stomach heaving as she struggled to look away. "Shrikecall!" She wailed when she finally had enough breath to make another sound.