The Future is Brighter [Closed]

Padding just outside of camp with her brother, Sparkfrost, and Dapplepaw by her side, Ivypaw was in high spirits. Despite the losses that her Clan had endured as a result of the recent floods, the tabby she-cats was eager to get back into the flow of Clan life, and continue her training as a warrior. She was sure her ceremony had to be soon… Her brothers had been warriors for ages. For Ivypaw, this was just an incentive to train harder. She'd prove that she was worthy… One way or another.

Trying her best to steer clear of the river, whose water was at a level far to high for her to make an attempt at swimming through, she trudged past the reeds and pushed her way through the tall grasses. She looked to Sparkfrost on her side, her grin faltering for a moment. The realization that she hadn't spoken to her brother in a while, was quite terrifying- she couldn't lose another sibling. "Who d'you bet's gonna catch the most prey today?" The silver tabby asked, with a hint of a challenge in her voice.

Dapplepaw padded quietly alongside Ivypaw, keeping an eye out for prey as they steered clear of the river. As much as she enjoyed watching the river from afar, the current still terrified her, and she had never really learned how to manage it. But she did know hunting. Determined to bring back her fair share of prey, she walked confidently across RiverClan territory as though it was second nature.

When Ivypaw broke the silence, Dapplepaw turned, and held her response as she noticed that she was speaking to Sparkfrost. Her tail flicked in amusement, she hoped that someday Otterpaw and Rowankit would be able to hunt with her, and she looked forward to being able to hunt with Magpiepaw. Ignoring the warm feeling that blossomed in her chest as she thought of the tom, she responded.

"I want to bring back a large haul, so we'll see what happens!" She purred, taking a moment to smell the air and see if there was anything around. As she did, she caught the scent of a water vole that was next to a nearby puddle. Immediately dropping into a crouch, she slowly stalked towards it until the moment was just right... And then it looked up and saw her. Both froze in place, staring at the other, and Dapplepaw lunged forward just as it tried to skitter to the side. With another pounce, she had trapped the vole under her paws and quickly nipped it's neck, whispering a thanks to StarClan for the catch. She took a moment to let her heart stop racing before she picked it up and turned back to the other apprentice and the warrior, a smile on her face behind the body of the vole.

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 4

Admittedly, coming back to the clans had made things challenging. When they had been swept away by the floods, relating with strange cats had been easy. There were no expectations or standards from the other clanly cats. But in Riverclan there was. These cats knew him, or rather who he had been. Sparkfrost could not return the favor and despite his easygoing exterior, it tugged at his stomach like a leech that sucked away at whatever sustenance flowed through him. He tried his best to ignore it, usually finding it easy, but moments with his siblings almost served to make him feel sadness, a sensation he was not well acquainted with. But the idea of menial clans tasks seemed to lift the pressure a little. That would be simple enough, right? Most cats didn't have to struggle with the loss of moons of memory but plenty of cats could hunt and fight. Sparkfrost grinned towards Ivypaw. It made him forget the great many losses he had managed to accumulate, some the pair of them shared.

Another voice caused him to glance away. Immediately, he decided he like the other cat. Even if he had no recollection of her name, Sparkfrost was certain of the idea that he would enjoy her companionship. Allowing a broad smile to peel up the sides of his maw, he chimed in, "You know, I don't really know about this whole hunting thing, but I'm sure I can catch something." Eagerness caused him to pad forward a couple steps before it genuinely set in that he wasn't entirely sure what to do. His disheveled coat twitched slightly. Instead of charging off, the warrior tilted his head curiously as he drank in the motions of Dapplepaw. Okay. That didn't seem so bad. He could do this. Right?

Ivypaw's smile faltered slightly as Sparkfrost watched Dapplepaw in confusion, but she tried her best to brighten the mood. She padded towards him, placing her tail over his shoulder in an attempt at comforting him. "I can help you if you'd like… Here, watch." She sniffed the air, the strong scent of a frog wafting past her nose. She dropped into a hunting crouch, gesturing for Sparkfrost to do the same. She waited until she was ready, and pounced towards it skillfully, landing directly on its back and biting down on its neck, thanking StarClan for the catch. "Do you wanna try it now?"

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 3

Once she had reached the two, she waited patiently while Ivypaw showed the warrior about hunting. Her mind wandered through how there was a warrior that didn't know how to hunt, but she kept her mouth shut, vowing to ask Wasppaw about it later. Perhaps something had happened, she didn't know for sure. Instead, she watched and waited, curious about what the warrior would do while her fellow apprentice went through the motions. When she came up having caught a frog, Dapplepaw gave her a smile and stepped forward next to Sparkfrost, dropping into the hunting crouch Ivypaw had been showing him for the warrior to use as a reference, keeping her tail low and still, and remaining light on her paws. Once she thought he had it just right, she nodded to him encouragingly. "You can do this, Sparkfrost, you've got the crouch perfect!"

Usually, he was ignorant to his own emotions and something as simple as a rush of embarrassment would have passed before he even recognized it. It was strange to even feel the blood rush to his ears and heat as confusion flashed over him and immediately both she-cats realized it. With one deep breath, Sparkfrost forgot the moment and drank in their actions with eager, dull green eyes. Although the memory was long lost to his troubled mind, the tom found that dropping into the hunting crouch was as easy as slipping into the river. A second nature. Parting his maw in a thoughtless manner, the tom drank in the scents around him and quickly pinpointed a scuffling at the water's edge. He paused to glance back at his patrol companions with a flash of a smile before continuing in his pursuit. His paws picked their way easily over the terrain, seeking out one particular smell that reminded him of food. There was another scent he couldn't quite pinpoint. But the flickering of a striped tail caught his attention. That had to mean something. With a swift leap he landed and bit down, sinking his teeth into matted, putrid smelling, grey and black fur. Immediately, Sparkfrost recoiled to spit his distaste, "Do you cats really eat this stuff?" His nose wrinkled and he spat out the remaining hairs that clung to his tongue. The raccoon, shocked by the sudden attack and tug on it's tail was stunned, and it continued to lay hidden underneath the foliage at the water's edge more a moment, more surprised than enraged for the time being.

Sparkfrost [unknowingly] used Tail Yank on Raccoon, dealing 5 damage and using 10 stamina. Raccoon is stunned for 1 turn.

Sparkfrost
HP 45/45
SP 150/160

Raccoon
HP 25/30
SP 300/300

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 10

Ivypaw could hardly believe her eyes... Sparkfrost had done exactly as he was supposed to, he had dropped into his crouch correctly and everything... And he'd managed to catch something, but it was far from what the trio needed. She leaped into action as soon as she could, silver fur flashing past Dapplepaw as she tried to get to the raccoon before it could gather its wits again. She slid onto her back as soon as she reached the predator, unsheathing her claws as she used her back legs to rip into the sensitive flesh of it's belly.

Ivypaw used Belly Rake on Raccoon, dealing -7 Health Points and using -10 Stamina Points.

Ivypaw:
20/20 HP
70/80 SP

Raccoon:
18/30 HP
300/300 SP

Dapplepaw watched, eyes flashing with happiness as Sparkfrost picked up on something and dropped into the stalk perfectly. She turned to look at Ivypaw in delight, a smile across her features that quickly slipped away at the look of concern and then panic that spread on the she-cat's face before she leaped past her whiskers suddenly. Spinning to see what she had missed, Dapplepaw was shocked to see Sparkfrost's teeth latched onto a black and white ringed tail, the masked face of the raccoon blank in surprise and shock. Sprinting to Ivypaw's side to battle the raccoon, her claws unsheathed as she hissed and struck out with a paw.

Dapplepaw used Front Paw Strike on Raccoon, dealing 6 damage and costing 10 stamina!

Dapplepaw:
20/20 HP
70/80 SP (-10)

Raccoon:
12/30 HP (-6)
300/300  SP

Sparkfrost:
45/45 HP
150/160 SP

Ivypaw:
20/20 HP
70/80 SP