creeping chill (hunting patrol)

The cold, it felt, had become a part of life since it set in. Perhaps more than that - a part of her; seeping through her fur into her bones and settling there. Still, Zinnia tried not to let it bother her too much - this was just what life was here, and she could live with that. Instead, she waited patiently by the camp's entrance, preparing to hunt for the WindClan cats that she was proud to call clanmates. To anyone not paying close enough attention - and perhaps to those that were - she'd seem almost dazed and unfocused, her mind clearly elsewhere.

Other cats might have taken the cold as an invitation to curl up within their nests, or to sneak a few moments of warmth in the medicine den. Raventail took it as a reason to keep moving. He had a Clan to feed—he’d have kits to feed soon, and he’d been informed that pacing at the nursery’s entrance did no one any good, himself included. When he spotted the silvery she-cat near the gorse tunnel, he changed direction midstep. If all Zinnia wanted was to survey the camp, there were better places to sit; she had to be waiting for something...or else she was just lost in thought. Once he'd reached her, Raventail gave his tail an extra wave in the hope of getting her attention. "Hey, Zinnia. Planning on a leaf-bare walk?"

Startled at the sudden address, Zinnia blinked - she had indeed let her thoughts wander; and she seemed as surprised as anyone for a moment when she realized where she was standing. "Oh... Yes. I believe I was thinking about going hunting when I came to wait here. But I was thinking it might be nice to have company, if you'd like to join me." Her confidence rose as she continued, nodding firmly as she recalled her reasoning. She'd wanted to go hunting with someone else for company.

(And to make sure there's someone to ensure I don't drift off with the snow! she thought to herself.)

Despite his efforts, he’d surprised her after all. After waiting for Zinnia to regain her bearings, Raventail brightened at the mention of a hunt and, more importantly, an offer to join said hunt. No matter how much he enjoyed exploring solo, hunting by oneself could get sort of dreary after a while…and having another Clanmate walk the moor alone made him nervous. The war was many, many sunups behind them, but some habits proved impossible to break. With a smile, the small tom pushed those thoughts elsewhere. The hills were unimaginably pretty in leaf-bare; it'd be nice to see them. ”Gladly,” he said, pressing his paws into the chilly ground. ”It’ll be easier with two of us.” Then, with another flick of his tail: ”I’m ready when you are.”

"Wonderful," Zinnia purred, finding that she was more-or-less grounded now, and so she led the way out of camp a moment later. As they walked, she kept an eye out for prey, but at first found no such luck. This was why she needed patrols, she supposed; not every cat could find something every time.

Zinnia stepped forward; glad to let someone else lead the way, Raventail followed her. Though it was leaf-bare, the moor’s silence struck him as odd, almost unsettling. No prey poked its head out of the tunnels or sheltered behind the hills. The clearest trails to follow as they left WindClan’s camp behind were those of other, earlier patrols, leading out to the borders or their chosen hunting grounds, sometimes in pursuit of the sharp-toed prints of birds or the long, clustered prints left by rabbits. Glancing aside at Zinnia, he shrugged.

as he looked back, a gray-brown shape seated near a small ledge caught Raventail’s eye. Maybe they wouldn’t have to return empty-pawed after all. He crept toward the ledge in a crouch so low he could already feel the snow sticking to his fur. Stealth was more important than ever; when it came to leaf-bare hunting, the dark fur that usually hid him so well became a nuisance. His pounce fell just a bit short. The rabbit scrambled to escape, but he closed in on it in a few pawsteps. Once he’d shaken the snow off of his catch, he returned to Zinnia. ”I was beginning to think there wasn’t anything out here,” he said—or would have, if his voice hadn’t been muffled by rabbit fur.

Raventail attempted to catch Rabbit, using 5 stamina. The attempt was successful!

Raventail
100/100 HP
275/280 SP (-5)

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 2

Zinnia laughed softly as his attempt to speak around the rabbit. "It did seem rather quiet before, didn't it?" she mused. Carrying on all the same, she kept an eye out; and this time her dedication paid off - she spotted another rabbit some distance away. Despite her dreamlike and drifting nature, she fell into a hunting crouch easily enough and carefully stalked as close as she dared - in that practiced, graceful way only a cat truly could - before leaping forward with a pounce. She landed gracefully as well, directly on top of her quarry, and silently brought a swift end to its life before whispering a soft thanks to its spirit.

Then she lifted its furry form in her jaws and returned to Raventail, tail twitching happily.

Zinnia attempted to catch a Rabbit, using 5 stamina! The attempt was successful!

Zinnia
45/45 HP
155/160 SP

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 1

After struggling a bit with just how solid the earth was in leaf-bare, Raventail managed to unearth a shallow dip that looked like the vaguest beginnings of a tunnel. Not the best place to store prey, but this would likely be a short hunt. It would do. He pushed the rabbit into the hole, then raised his head in search of something else. Soon, his focus drifted to Zinnia. She’d had plenty of time to learn WindClan’s hunting style since she’d joined; still, he was glad to see she’d adjusted. Assuming she’d needed to adjust at all. Maybe she’d hunted rabbits at her old home, too. As she returned, he met her with a grin and a ”Nice catch!” Then he padded ahead.

The next would-be prey to draw his focus was not at all rabbit-sized, with sandy brown fur. Mice were a good deal smaller, and about as easily startled as rabbits in a different way. He doubted he’d be able to catch one; considering the season, though, he decided it was a chance worth taking. Raventail sank down against the snow. His paws drifted over it near-silently until he gathered them together and pounced. This time, he landed directly on top of his target. The shock lasted for all of a moment; he killed the mouse with a quick bite and brought it back to Zinnia, something of a skip in his step.

Raventail attempted to catch Rodent, using 5 stamina. The attempt was successful!

Raventail
100/100 HP
270/280 SP (-5)

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 1

"Wonderful catch," Zinnia offered as her eyes scanned over the surrounding area, seeking out any prey she hadn't yet found. One more catch was good enough for her, if she could manage it. Hunting so often, and for so many, was still a rather new experience.

There! She spotted something, a bit of movement in the snow. A bird whose feathers blended well with it, making it just a bit difficult to see. It was worth a try, however, and so she fell into a hunter's crouch and began her approach. Unfortunately, she missed it - and the appearance of a much larger bird approaching her companion, due to her distraction.

Zinnia attempted to catch a Bird and failed, costing 5 stamina! The hunting patrol was accosted by a Goose!

The Goose used Beaked Thrust on Raventail, dealing 20 damage and costing 40 stamina!

Goose
40/40 HP
90/130 SP

Zinnia
45/45 HP
150/160 SP

Raventail
80/100 HP
270/280 SP

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 10

Raventail answered Zinnia’s complement with a slightly embarrassed flick of an ear and as much of a smile as he could manage around the mouse. Then he crouched to hide his newest catch beside the old. Once he’d finished digging, he stepped back to admire the fruits of their labor. Two rabbits and a mouse. Not bad for a two-cat patrol. Thank the stars for that; his mind was already wandering back toward camp. He wondered if Zinnia would be willing to cut the hunt short.

A flap of wings put a stop to that. The small tom’s ears jumped upright. Birds circled in the moor’s skies more often than not; he’d been trained to look up, and so he did now…naturally, leaving himself wide open for a beak to plunge into his side. With a squawk, he spun to see what had attacked him. After moons of facing the moor-beasts, a goose was almost underwhelming. What it lacked in fangs and wingspan, however, it made up for in furious hissing—and the place where it had jabbed at him hurt. Raventail hissed right back and aimed a swipe at its eyes.

Raventail used Front Paw Strike on Goose, dealing 14 damage and using 10 stamina.

Raventail
80/100 HP
260/280 SP (-10)

Zinnia
45/45 HP
150/160 SP

Goose
26/40 HP (-14)
90/130 SP

Zinnia turned to her companion as he was attacked, eyes widening as she realized the needed to act - and quickly. She was silent in her approach, though let out a furious hiss as she attacked, rearing up onto her hind legs to rake her claws violently across the goose's side. The goose, however, was not pleased; and it turned its beak on Zinnia this time.

Zinnia used Rear-Up-to-Slash on the Goose, dealing 11 damage and costing 15 stamina!

The Goose used Beaked Thrust on Zinnia, dealing 20 damage and costing 40 stamina.

Zinnia
25/45 HP (-20)
135/160 SP (-15)

Raventail
80/100 HP
260/280 SP

Goose
15/40 HP (-11)
50/130 SP (-40)