Hunting, To Put It Simply [WC hunt patrol]

Clovertwist was fairly excited to go out onto the moors despite all the tragedy and horror of late. Even the cold weather and remaining snow from the season's first snowfall couldn't freeze his bright spirit. His family and his friends and his Clanmates were alive. They weren't all well, but they were all alive, and there was hope there. Some of the cats who were well would join the silver tabby warrior on his hunt today: Dappleshine, formerly of RiverClan; Lightfang, formerly of SkyClan; Elmskip, his father's apprenticehood friend. Clovertwist was looking forward to a run.

Though the predators had seemingly abandoned the moor and the cat who’d welcomed him and his family into WindClan had returned, Lightfang’s shoulders felt no lighter. The mountain cats had plenty left to fear. As long as ShadowClan remembered their deputy, they would remember those who’d witnessed her death, and WindClan, wrapped up in their recovery, was in no shape to fight another war. On a smaller scale, Burningwolf needed his strength; Swallowflight needed his vigilance. Lightfang would never begrudge them that. When they were safe, he could let himself think, let himself mourn—but not before.

Patrols kept his mind as busy as his paws. Right now, he needed that more than anything. Having groomed his pelt into something presentable, Lightfang padded to stand at Clovertwist’s side. Though his wounds had healed to a few lines of scabs on his belly and sides, his steps were ginger and uncertain. ”Clovertwist,” he said by way of greeting, bowing his head. After a moment, he added, ”I should warn you, I’m not completely used to hunting rabbits.” He'd come to learn that neither speed nor the moor's type of stealth suited him well.

Dappleshine found herself grateful for her long fur, shielding her from the brisk winds on the moors. Her pelt, still somewhat water resistant - something she wondered if she'd always keep - shed the worst of the snow with ease. She had avoided extreme injury in the battles, and so this day she had been assigned to accompany Clovertwist, Lightfang, and Elmskip on a hunting patrol. The moors had been quiet since the last battle, and the silver she-cat had high hopes for the results of their hunt. A good chance to get some practice in finally, without the threat of beasts lingering over their heads. As she approached the two members of the patrol that had gathered, she lowered her head in a greeting. 

"Hello Clovertwist, Lightfang. How are you both today?" She asked, settling a little to the side and shaking her ears clear of some snow that had been deposited on her head by one of the tall pieces of grass around the camp.

The falling snow was slowly collecting on the ground, blanketing the camp in a sheet of white. Elmskip instinctively shook out his fur as he limped up to the group waiting by the entrance, trying to warm up his body. He wasn't built for the cold; he was too lean, too short-pelted. A run out on the moor chasing rabbits would do him some good to get his blood pumping. The monster-cats from the last battle still haunted his dreams and the dark clouds that plagued his mind still ran rampant, but the Clan was slowly recovering. And with that came new hope.

The tortoiseshell warrior made his way over to the other three, becoming more and more self-conscious about his missing leg and scarred face. He knew Clovertwist, he had watched the tom grow up, he wasn't worried about his judgement. It was Lightfang and Dappleshine he was the most concerned about. He didn't know them well, just that Lightfang was from SkyClan and Dappleshine was Raventail's mate from RiverClan. He gave the three cats a shy, tired smile, nodding to them in greeting. "Hello, it's nice to see you all...I hope I wasn't keeping you waiting. Uh...are we ready? I'm ready to run down some rabbits." He cringed inwardly. Great StarClan, he always sounded so stupid.

The silver tabby watched Lightfang's distinct pale tabby pelt appeared and moved swiftly towards him. Clovertwist raised his kinked tail in greeting as the other tom dipped his head, and he listened to the words he said before sticking out he pursed his little kitty lips and bubbled them together. "Pssh, no problem. We've got more than rabbits on the moors; I'm sure there will be something worth catching," he reassured his fellow warrior easily. Already his gaze was caught by the movement of Dappleshine, his father's friend from seasons ago who had joined their Clan only a moon or so prior. Clovertwist greeted her with a smile, remembering their own meeting at the WindClan border when Raventail had disappeared. Perhaps the two of them were friends now.

"Doing well, Dappleshine - I'm ready to go tear up the moor, though, these camp preparations and herb hunts lately haven't really been my preference," Clovertwist admitted, though he certainly didn't begrudge the chores. They ensured a safer leafbare. The young warriors had all just settled into each other's company when a distinctive dark tortoiseshell form appeared from the corner of his vision. "Hello, Elmskip!" he called as the older warrior approached. The tom was Barleytuft's friend, and that made him something like an uncle - or at least a family friend - to Clovertwist. Elmskip was a bit shy, but shyness didn't prevent a hunt! "Me too - I was just saying so to Lightfang and Dappleshine!" Clovertwist said, smoothing over his Clanmate's uncertainty.

The silver tom sprang lightly into the air and then went on his way towards the entrance, meowing to his Clanmates, "Let's get to it, then, huh? The sun's gotta set eventually!" With his silver kinked tail high, Clovertwist dove from the entrance tunnel and out onto the moor, turning to look back for the rest of his patrol.

Lightfang nodded along, expression settling into something just short of a smile. It made sense, coming from Clovertwist. Of course the moor had more than just rabbits; SkyClan wasn’t all squirrels, after all. Though he doubted he’d find one of those out here, birds and mice were near-universal, and now that he thought about it, he knew he’d seen them in the fresh-kill pile before. He might make a fool out of himself yet, but for now, Clovertwist had helped dislodge the largest part of his apprehension.

The next cat to approach was Dappleshine. Not a friend yet; not an enemy, either; in any case, someone he didn’t mind hunting with. If anyone could understand his uncertainty, it would be someone like her…he hoped. Honestly, though she’d joined WindClan about the time he and his family had, she’d never struck him as not belonging the way he’d felt. Maybe a RiverClanner’s speed came in handy for chasing rabbits. As the gray she-cat shook some snow out of her ears, Lightfang shivered in sympathy. ”Well enough,” he said, then amended, ”Colder than I’ve ever been, though.”

As his hunting companions relaxed, Lightfang twisted to look around the camp. Three legs and a tortoiseshell pelt. One of the cats who’d helped him in the camp battle, and the last member of their patrol. Thankfully, before he could open his mouth to ask the cat’s name, Clovertwist called out a cheerful greeting. Elmskip. Lightfang nodded back to him, too, wondering if he was imagining Elmskip’s discomfort. With all four of them gathered, the patrol departed. Glad to let a better navigator take the lead, Lightfang trailed at the back, ears and head swiveling in search of prints or the snow-muffled thumps that heralded a predator’s approach.

A rabbitlike shape atop a small, distant hill caught his eye. For a long moment, he stared at it; then a different scent drifted past, and he turned toward that instead. Better not to risk it in front of so many cats. Besides, his next target was closer. Bigger than what he was used to, with red feathers that stuck out against the snow, but a bird was a bird no matter what. He crouched, stifling a grimace at the sudden chill against his fur. His approach went unnoticed; he sprang toward his target with claws outstretched and pinned it down before it could let out so much as a squawk. Its neck snapped as easily as any bird’s. With a quiet sigh of relief, Lightfang picked it up, shook the snow off its feathers, and trotted back to the patrol.

Lightfang attempted to catch Bird, using 5 stamina. The attempt was successful!

Lightfang
80/80 HP
235/240 SP (-5)

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 4

"Oh no, Elmskip, I just got here myself - you didn't keep us waiting at all!" Dappleshine purred, smiling at the three-legged tom as he joined the trio. Her paws kneaded the ground, ready to go out to the moors that hopefully remained free of the danger that had gripped the land the last few moons, and bring back some fresh-kill for her love. Raventail had been working hard, she'd be sure to bring back something great for him, and for Goldengale and Grousefrost too. She couldn't imagine what those two cats were going through.

It didn't take long for them to make their way into the snowy landscape, the snow gathering on her long fur and crusting into ice. Oh what a pain it would be to groom all the crystals out of her fur later... But at least the long fur kept her warm for now. Lightfang made the first move, turning towards a bird nearby. He stalked forward, and made his leap perfectly, and as he made his way back she raised her tail in acknowledgment before lifting her nose to the breeze. Even with the colder weather, the prey had started to emerge following the terror's departure, so it wasn't long before the scent of rabbit passed over her nose, and she spotted it stop a hill in the distance. Slowly but surely she made her way closer, until she was close enough to be confident in rushing forward....

In a mad dash, snow being thrown by her hind paws as she spring forward, pushing off from the ground, she lunged forward and grasped the rabbit by the scruff. In an instant before it could make a noise, it was dead. Trotting back to the group with the rabbit dangling from her jaws, her eyes were bright with the excitement and thrill of the hunt. If only Raventail had seen... Perhaps she was finally growing to be accustomed to the hunting methods of WindClan.

Dappleshine attempted to catch Rabbit, catch was successful. -5 SP.
275/280

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 6

Elmskip limped after his hunting mates, thankful to be able to get out of camp and stretch his legs some. As the other cats broke off into their own hunting formations once they reached the moors, the tom dropped into his own lopsided hunting crouch and stalked through the cold grass. He had his eyes and ears peeled for any sign of prey and lucky for him, StarClan sent the perfect sign. A scruffy hare poked its head out from the snow-tipped grass before ducking back down. Elmskip lunged at the animal, streaking after it before pouncing, claws outstretched. His leap landed squarely on the back of the hare and he pinned it down with his weight, ending its life with a quick bite to the neck. The tom huffed with pride, shaking the snow out of his short fur. He scuffed up the ground and buried the hare there to retrieve later before stalking through the grass once more.

Elmskip attempted to hunt. He was successful. -5 stamina.

Elmskip
55/55 HP
165/170 SP (-5)

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 2

As soon as everyone was following, Clovertwist happily looked out to the moors again. The patrol moved quickly along, out into the chill outside of camp and across the hills. It was refreshing to know - or at least feel somewhat certain - that nothing was about to burst from the earth to try to destroy Clovertwist or anyone he cared about. There were always regular predators, but after dealing with the beast-cats he felt like anything must be easier to fight than that. Regular predators weren't exactly vindictive, didn't plan - they made stupid mistakes that the pelt-wearing cats didn't. They were just... somehow less unsettling. Still, Clovertwist didn't fancy a run-in with a dog again anytime soon.

Over time the patrol began to split off bit by bit, first Lightfang after a bird and then Dappleshine and Elmskip after hares. Clovertwist continued along at a steady pace, keeping a member of the patrol on the same path when possible. At last, however, his own turn came. A rather small hare - either a runt or a late-born hare-kit - emerged from a tunnel. It made several fatal mistakes: it didn't notice Clovertwist, for it didn't seem to have even looked for him, it moved from the entrance of its burrow quickly, and it moved quite far from the tunnel before it finally swiveled around.

By then, Clovertwist was already leaping. He pounced on the small hare soundly and beamed with delight, picking it up to go seek out the rest of his patrol again and see how they were still faring.

Clovertwist attempted to catch a hare and succeeded, using 5 stamina.

Clovertwist
40/40 HP
115/120 SP

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 5

No one commented on his choice of target. Grateful that they’d let the matter go unchallenged, Lightfang set about burying his bird. As he worked, the other members of the patrol split off to pursue their own prey. Dappleshine (boldly for a RiverClanner, he thought) went after the rabbit he’d ignored. He stopped digging to watch her. For all he knew, she’d been let in on some secret he’d never learned. To his relief and dismay, her approach was the same as the one he’d been taught. Crouch, sneak, spring, sprint. She returned triumphant; he dipped his head to acknowledge her catch the way she’d acknowledged his.

The next to part from their group was Elmskip—also successful, a hare swiftly caught. Then, at last, Clovertwist. Lightfang watched him, too, and learned as little from his pounce as he had from Dappleshine’s. As Clovertwist returned, the former SkyClanner found himself glad he’d finished burying the bird. It felt…inadequate. How many cats could it feed compared to a hare or a rabbit? (He’d recently learned there was a difference between the two; here, that knowledge was pointless. Both were bigger than what he was accustomed to hunting.)

Not too far away, another rabbit had emerged from a tunnel. It picked at something in the iced-over grass, oblivious to the fates of his fellows. The wind pushed gently at Lightfang’s face. It’s worth a try, he thought, and sank down. The soft crunch of snow beneath his paws was the only sound; not even that as he got closer, sliding his paws as one might when hunting a mouse. The rabbit turned its head. Adrenaline jolted him forward—he leapt—his paws fell on cold grass. When he looked up, the rabbit was gone, safe in the tunnel it had left. Lightfang remained there, still as earth, for several moments. Then he pulled himself away from the tunnel’s entrance and back to the patrol. His mistake. He should have stuck to what he knew—what he'd always known.

Lightfang attempted to catch Rabbit, using 5 stamina. The attempt was a failure…

Lightfang
80/80 HP
230/240 SP (-5)

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 8