grind time [closed]

Finally, the pregnant she-cat had an opportunity to just hunt. She would be taking Mudpaw and Honeytongue out into the territory for something that should be relatively harmless, granted they didn't run into any predators on the way. She'd be able to fish, maybe even catch a sparrow. Thinking about it, she was slightly weirded out. Wasn't it odd that she got so excited over a simple hunting patrol, something that is considered one of her duties? Shaking her head briefly, she looked about to find the cats that would be accompanying her. Approaching Mudpaw, she flicked her tail in the direction of the camp entrance. "We'll be leaving for our patrol shortly." She mewed, shifting her gaze to Honeytongue and murmuring the same thing before padding over to the entrance to wait.

Honeytongue couldn't help but be existed as well, her tail swishing and ears perking as Ivybrook padded over, stating a few simple words before heading to the front of the camp. The new warrior took a little bit of added time to lick down a ruffle of fur she had been in the middle of groom before jumping to her paws to follow after the deputy. She hadn't gotten much time to spend with Ivybrook and Mudpaw, so this was a grand opportunity all around. Ivybrook had been busy ending up in Mistlepaw's den along with her own duties that they never got to really talk...And now her and Mudpaw were in different dens. She came to a stop next to the gray deputy, eyes glimmering as she waited for Mudpaw to join them so that they could set out.

Near as she was to warrior age, Mudpaw was so used to the routine of patrolling that she was starting to get bored with it. Not with the patrols themselves—there was nothing boring about getting a chance to prove how quick her paws could be—but with constantly trailing behind, letting others lead the way. Compounding this was the fact that her patrolmates were almost always cats she barely knew. Today’s assignment had come as a welcome change. Her companions would be Honeytongue, one of her few friends within RiverClan, and Ivybrook, one of the first cats she’d met outside the nursery. Sometimes, a cat just wanted to hunt beside some comforting faces for once.

The tall she-cat responded to Ivybrook’s reminder with a sharp nod and, as soon as Ivybrook turned, finished grooming at a near-blinding speed. Then she was off toward the camp entrance. As she joined the already-gathered patrol, stopping at Honeytongue’s side, Mudpaw flicked her tail in a casual greeting and without preamble said, ”So, where are we headed?” Her tone said business-as-usual; the faint smile on her face said otherwise.

Once Honeytongue and Mudpaw were both prepared to set out for the patrol, Ivybrook turned and headed out of the camp entrance, stepping through the streams that surrounded camp. "That's up to the two of you, and what you would like to hunt today." She mewed quietly. The polar opposite of Mudpaw, Ivybrook was getting tired of calling the shots already. Having cats constantly looking to her for answers was tiresome, yet it was her duty, even if she found that it wasn't the most enjoyable one. For her, though, anything was better than having to retire to the nursery.

"I imagine you'll have no trouble coming to an agreement, so lead the way and I'll follow behind to wherever you choose. Just stay within the borders, obviously." The deputy's protruding belly was beginning to hang lower and lower, and she had started to question just how big she would get during the pregnancy. Not big enough to stop me from hunting.

Honeytongue purred happily in greeting to Mudpaw when the apprentice approached, dipping her head in acknowledgement before she turned to look at the deputy, waiting to hear of what they would be up to...And so she was a bit taken aback when the option was left up to them. Really? She supposed that it could almost be like a test, to make sure they could make choices if they were ever given the chance to lead a patrol one day but...Mudpaw was still an apprentice and Honeytongue had only recently gotten her name. "Hm..." she mused, motioning for the two to follow after her as she started into the territory.

She didn't have a real plan of where to go, but sticking around the camp to talk about what they were going to do was wasting precious daylight. No, it would be much easier to talk and walk - mostly if they went with the idea that formed in her head. "I personally say we should fish, its where our talents lie and we will need all the prey we can get with our increase of mouths to feed soon," she noted, sparing a glance toward Ivybrook's belly. It wasn't hard to put together the pieces that the she-cat was pregnant but she wasn't surprised either that Ivybrook was refusing to just sit around. There was also a plus that with fishing, it would be less strain on the group...And she doubted that leaping and running would be pleasant for Ivybrook to do with her belly that large.

They set off before Mudpaw could even think of sitting down. Even so, her paws had never been lighter as they carried her through the maze of streams guarding their camp. Her ears twitched at Ivybrook’s next words, eyes going a shade brighter. Ivybrook was letting them choose? It was strange, a deputy letting an apprentice and a warrior guide her, but strange wasn’t always bad, and anyway, Mudpaw wasn’t about to complain. She already had an idea of where she wanted to go. Wiping the surprise and excitement off her face with some difficulty (hints of her previous grin insisted on sticking around, no matter what she did), she nodded again.

Of course, she was still an apprentice, so Honeytongue took the lead as they proceeded deeper into RiverClan lands. For several seconds, Mudpaw let her. Then she lengthened her strides until they brought her to walk beside Honeytongue again. Thankfully, Honeytongue’s idea aligned perfectly with her own. Mudpaw could hunt land prey like any of her denmates, but that didn’t mean she enjoyed eating it much. They were RiverClan, why would they need anything more than fish? At the mention of more mouths to feed, Mudpaw peered over her shoulder at Ivybrook as well. Though she’d been disappointed to realize she probably wouldn’t be sharing a den with Ivybrook’s kits anytime soon, she’d still paid attention to the signs. Mudpaw said, ”The river it is, then,” and pointed herself toward their new destination.

"Nice choice, Honeytongue." The deputy mewed offhandedly, glancing around the territory as she walked a few tail lengths behind the rest of the patrol. Nodding her head at Mudpaw's remark, Ivybrook continued along behind the two of them until they approached the river, which was flowing relatively slowly. She quietly walked towards the edge of the river until her paws dipped into the water, and she watched below the surface of the water. She assumed the warrior and apprentice behind her knew what to do; fishing was one of the first things apprentice were taught after their ceremonies, so she'd be disappointed in Berrycloud if he hadn't yet. When the flash of scales caught her eye, she dipped an unsheathed claw into the water almost reflexively. When her claw hooked onto the fish, she yanked it from the water, tossing it behind her. After turning around, she nipped it and quickly ended its suffering, leaving it in what would be the beginning of a pile behind her.

Ivybrook caught a fish, using -3 Stamina Points.

SP: 277/280

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 5

There was a glow of pride in Honeytongue's chest as both Mudpaw and Ivybrook both agreed to her choice, taking the lead to the river until they approached the bank. There was something calming in watching the water gently rush, the shadows of fishes lurking beneath the surface. She crouched along side the deputy, watching as she wasted no time in catching a fish and starting what would hopefully be a rather grand pile. Honeytongue focused on the water rushing beneath her paws, waiting for the perfect moment of a fish drawing too close...Before she struck out with a lightning fast paw. She felt the smooth scales brush against her paws, and instinctively swiped, sending the fish to the bank. With a smile, she ended it and laid it next to the one that Ivybrook had caught, proud of herself as she turned to wait for another fish to swim by.

Honeytongue caught a fish, costing 3 stamina.

The member 'Honey Bagel' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 5

Aside from Sunningrocks, the river was the part of RiverClan’s territory that Mudpaw knew best; it was unquestionably the part she enjoyed most. Fishing was the first real thing Berrycloud had taught her, not too far from this spot. Naturally, she’d taken to it like…well, like a fish to water. Compared to hunting land prey or patrolling borders, it was simple, but there was still an art to it. Rather than focus on the wind, she had to watch her shadow; rather than crouching and crawling, she had to rely on the speed of her paws. It managed to be exciting even now, almost at the end of her training.

Something buzzed high in her chest as she watched Ivybrook, then Honeytongue flip their catches onto the riverbank with practiced ease. She always aimed for success, but in front of them especially, she wanted to do well. Mudpaw took a sharp breath. Then she made her approach, scanning the water for the distinct shadows of yet-oblivious fish. She didn’t need to wait long for one of the shadows to wander near the shore. The calico watched it a moment longer before she plunged her paw into the river. In an instant, the fish was flopping on land beside her. She pinned it down and sunk her teeth into it. It went still beneath her paws, and she broke into a satisfied grin as she dropped her catch on the slowly growing pile.

Mudpaw attempted to catch Fish, using 3 stamina. The attempt was successful!

Mudpaw
20/20 HP
77/80 SP (-3)

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 4

Nodding gratefully as Honeytongue added her contribution to the pile, Ivybrook looked to Mudpaw as she approached the shore, watching carefully as the water flowed beneath her. With the speed of WindClan themselves, the apprentice managed to get her own fish to the pile that she and Honeytongue had started. "Excellent work." After giving Mudpaw a nod of her own, Ivybrook went back to scanning the water in pursuit of yet another fish. When one finally wandered close enough for the she-cat to snatch it from the water, she dipped her paw in and tossed it behind her, swiftly nipping it and placing it in the pile alongside the previously caught fish.

Ivybrook successfully caught a fish, using -3 Stamina Points.

Ivybrook:
274/280 SP

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

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'Effect Dice' : 6

Slowly but surely, they were forming a nice little pile. Four pieces of prey caught already, and she knew with a couple more the hunting trip would more than pay for itself. Honeytongue smiled softly as she stared at the caught fish, pleased that there was no doubt that RiverClan wouldn't go hungry for a while - not when the rivers were still go plentiful. Speaking of...She turned her attention back to the river, watching the shadows carefully. While fishing wasn't glamorous, being perhaps the most laid-back type of hunting, it still took great skill to not startle the fish and learn how to judge where they truly were. So once another fish drew close enough, she struck out with a paw.

Another easy catch as she scooped up a rather big trout. She purred, tail swishing at the sight of it - this could feed all the kits and queens in the nursery, no problem! She picked it up, dragging it to the pile before she took a moment to watch Mudpaw and Ivybrook in action, simply enjoying their company.

Honeytongue caught a fish, costing 3 stamina.

Honeytongue:
40/40 HP
114/120 SP