The future's in your paws. Shape it well.Roleplay in a cat Clan of warriors. Based off the Warriors series by Erin Hunter. Takes place in an AU before the cats in the books existed.
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Subject: Just Your Typical Hunting Patrol Mon Dec 21, 2020 12:00 pm
Murkystrike had waited patiently by the entrance of camp for Mistyfalcon to be ready for their patrol. The moon hung low in the sky, the sun having just set. The stars twinkled in the sky, and Murkystrike wondered if Brighteye was among them, watching Mistyfalcon. She sighed, turning her head towards the pawsteps that were approaching her to see the tom. With a small smile, she greeted him. "Ready, Mistyfalcon?" She asked before turning to lead the way out of camp, looking back once she was out of the camp to see the three shadows stalking behind the tom. Her expression darkened, and her tail lashed as she continued into the territory, paws aimed towards the deeper marshes. Maybe, if they were lucky, one of these Asylum cats would misstep in the dark and get trapped in the mud. Realizing that the fur along her back was standing on end, she forced herself to relax, turning towards the other warrior. "I... I..." She started, hesitating each time before closing her mouth and shaking her head with a sigh. Since she was a kit, and the other kits had disappeared, she had admired the tom, but it felt... Wrong. It was wrong, now. She couldn't imagine the grief he was feeling, and she didn't want to stir it farther. No, this was something she would keep to herself, and that's how it would stay. "Hopefully the hunting is good tonight." She finally broke the silence, pointedly shifting her focus.
Scuffling in some nearby reeds caught her attention, and Murkystrike stopped in her tracks, ears turning in that direction. Just on the other side lay a deep section of marsh, so she'd have to be careful not to chase the prey into the water, or get herself stuck in the mud. Waiting for another sign, she pinpointed a vole, it's shadow outlined among the reeds as it prepared to settle for the night. With a single flick of her tail, she leapt onto the creature, swiftly dispatching it before stepping back out of the reeds, holding her catch between her jaws.
Subject: Re: Just Your Typical Hunting Patrol Mon Dec 21, 2020 12:35 pm
Mistyfalcon padded over to the camp entrance, giving Murkystrike a nod when she asked if he was ready. Tattered ears twitched backward in evident discomfort at the three rogues that had decided to tag along for the patrol, but so long as they kept out of his way, Mistyfalcon could mostly ignore them.
Murkystrike headed in the direction of the deep marshes, not usually somewhere Mistyfalcon would pick but... He couldn't complain, not tonight at least. The pine grove held too many memories for him to want to go hunting there for the moment. The ache in his chest deepened at the thought.
More than once, Murkystrike tried to speak, only to stop short. Mistyfalcon couldn't help but feel sympathetic for the younger warrior.
"You don't need to..." He began quietly, all too familiar with being unable to find the proper words for what he wanted to say. He'd be okay in time, or... something like that. Maybe. Life went on. If Brighteye was watching from up above...
Mistyfalcon shook his head to clear it. They'd reached the marshes, and the clan needed to be fed. If didn't take him long to spot a vole, and much like Murkystrike had done, he crept up on the creature carefully before pouncing. The marshes were treacherous to those who didn't know them, and the last thing he needed was to slip and lose his footing.
Mistyfalcon landed, quickly nipping the vole before it could try and scurry off or squeak. The catch was carefully stashed in a relatively dry spot before Mistyfalcon turned his attention back for signs of more prey, all the while keeping track of Murkystrike and the rogues that had followed them.
Mistyfalcon attempted to catch a vole. Catch was successful! 197 / 200 sp
Subject: Re: Just Your Typical Hunting Patrol Mon Dec 21, 2020 5:33 pm
Murkystrike had initially been planning to head for Pine Grove, that was the best spot for hunting after all, especially with leaf-bare so close. However, as she had waited for the tom she considered what memories that area of the territory held for him, and quickly decided against it. If she was honest, she didn't particularly want to go that way quite yet either. His voice came quietly, trailing off as Murkystrike buried her prey carefully, making sure it wouldn't get sucked into the marsh. When she looked back up, his back was turned, skillfully catching a vole himself. Her tail flicked to the side and she shook her head briefly. "I want to, though..." She mewed quietly, turning in a different direction. Her lips curled in a snarl as the shadowy shape of one of the Asylum cats lurked nearby, and she resisted the urge to swipe at them. Settling for a low growl, she pushed past them. "If you won't hunt, at least stay out of the way. Keep an eye on the prey we catch, why don't you? If a single morsel is missing, though, it will be reported to Flintstar." Fixing an icy glare at the rogue, she turned and maneuvered her way further into the marshes, heart racing. She had longed to hunt with Mistyfalcon for moons now, but nothing was as she had hoped or imagined it would be. There were strange cats following them, watching every moment, and he loved another, one that was now lost to him. Her paw slid into the murky water, and she pulled back her paw, lip curling at the cold sensation. She needed to focus.
Taking a deep breath, she took note of where Mistyfalcon was, along with the Asylum members. Surely there would be a frog nearby, or a mouse or something. Suddenly, a loud thump caught her attention, and her head swiveled to see a brown rabbit a few tail lengths away. She blinked, taking note of where she was in the marsh. There was a way to the rabbit, but if she wasn't careful the rabbit would run straight in to the water and drown before she could get it. Stalking forward painstakingly slowly, she placed one paw carefully in front of the other until she was wading through a shallow patch of water that separated her from her prey. It turned and looked at her, and she froze, willing it to look the other way. After a few tense heartbeats it did, and she thanked the stars for her dark pelt that blended in with the dark marshes. With a sudden leap, she lunged forward and pinned the rabbit to the ground, silencing it before it could release it's final cry. Looking up with the rabbit in her jaws, she tried to find an easy path back to where she had been.
Murkystrike attempted to catch a rabbit, catch was successful. -3 SP (114/120SP)
Subject: Re: Just Your Typical Hunting Patrol Mon Dec 21, 2020 6:38 pm
A quick, fleeting half-smile was offered in response to Murkystrike's words to him. He appreciated the sentiment. Perhaps if he was in a better headspace he might've tried to engage her more in conversation, or perhaps not. Silence was comfortable, maybe too comfortable.
Mistyfalcon's whiskers twitched in amusement as the younger warrior growled at the Asylum cats. He couldn't agree more. Although... if they attempted to make themselves useful and hunt, only to slip and drown themselves due to not knowing the marsh, he wouldn't have minded at all.
"Good catch," he mewed, nodding in approval as Murkystrike caught a rabbit. He turned and made his way carefully, seeking out prey of his own. Movement caught his dark eyes, and the dark-furred tom paused, scenting the air. Carefully, he made his way toward the gray-white shape, preparing to leap when close enough. His claws caught on the hare as it attempted to leap up and over him, and Mistyfalcon dragged it back down, jaws closing around it's neck triumphantly.
Mistyfalcon attempted to catch a hare. Catch was successful 194 / 200 sp
Subject: Re: Just Your Typical Hunting Patrol Tue Dec 29, 2020 7:24 pm
Murkystrike smiled to herself under the rabbit, tail curling slightly at Mistyfalcon's compliment. She froze as he did, watching as he carefully stalked something in the darkness. When he stood back up, she quickly made her way back over to him, setting down her rabbit with a purr. Thank you, nice catch yourself!" She smiled before looking over her shoulder to the Asylum cats and lowering her voice for the tom to hear. "I suppose they don't intend to hunt with us, and are settling for watching the experts. Shame, really, I was kind of hoping one would get stuck in the swamp." She murmured, a glimmer in her eyes before she straightened and went off in a new direction, hoping to find something else to take to camp. It had been good hunting so far, hopefully their luck would continue. A flash of gray caught her eye, and she lunged forward as a large lizard fled from her, smacking a paw on it's head. It went limp, and she picked it up to carry it back to their growing pile. What else would they catch tonight?
Murkystrike attempted to catch a lizard, catch was successful. -3 SP (111/120SP)
Subject: Re: Just Your Typical Hunting Patrol Tue Dec 29, 2020 8:04 pm
He wasn't sure why her praise brought an odd warmth to his fur, but it did. There was something familiar, almost comforting in simply hunting with another clanmate, even under the current circumstances.
"A pity they won't try. Probably too afraid to get those pelts wet." Murkystrike's words earned a quiet, rusty-sounding laugh from the tom. It didn't take long for it to fade though, the reality of the situation was that the rogues were unlikely to actually help. Sure they filled the fresh-kill pile, but Mistyfalcon had yet to see one of them actually lift a paw to help while accompanying Shadowclanners on a patrol. He didn't trust the rogues as far as he could throw them, and nor should anyone.
Mistyfalcon picked up the scent of a vole, and he soon spotted the brown-furred prey near a clump of plants. Carefully, he dropped into a crouch, stalking towards it. His paws left the ground in silence, and the vole was quickly dispatched. Mistyfalcon turned to deposit the creature with the rest of their quickly-growing cache before scanning the marshes for more prey.
Mistyfalcon attempted to catch a vole. Catch was successful! 191 / 200 sp
Subject: Re: Just Your Typical Hunting Patrol Tue Dec 29, 2020 8:48 pm
"You're probably right. Certainly would be a shame to get those sleek, shiny pelts muddy, wouldn't it?" Murkystrike purred, raising her voice slightly. One of the closer Asylum tom's ears flicked in annoyance, and she shot a grin at Mistyfalcon as he returned with a vole. Perhaps with enough goading these rogues would be foolish enough to try to hunt, or perhaps even start something. Her eyes narrowed at the idea as she cast one more glance towards the Asylum shadows before returning to the hunt. If they could catch a couple more they should be set to return to camp. Lowering her nose to the wet ground, she breathed in deeply trying to catch a scent. Was that a toad she sensed? Following it slowly, she finally spotted the fat creature. Pausing as she gauged the distance and prepared to leap, she took a deep breath before pouncing. When she straightened, the round toad hung from her mouth and she returned back to the pile, placing it among the others with glee.
Murkystrike attempted to catch a toad, catch was successful. -3 SP (108/120SP)
Subject: Re: Just Your Typical Hunting Patrol Tue Dec 29, 2020 9:42 pm
"Cowards, really." Mistyfalcon snickered, "When has a Shadowclanner ever complained about a bit of mud?" He glanced at the Asylum cats, a spark of insolence glittering in dark blue eyes. No, they did not like the turn of his and Murkystrike's joking at all. It was oddly satisfying. They might not have been able to fight the rogues with tooth and claw, but yanking their whiskers was an acceptable alternative, Mistyfalcon was beginning to realize.
Mistyfalcon's gaze swept over the marshes, once more in search of prey. The gray-brown form of a rabbit caught his gaze, and the warrior slipped toward it quietly.
Unfortunately, a shift in the wind, and the rabbit lifted it's head. Mistyfalcon leapt for it, paws landing where the flighty creature had been as it darted off. Mistyfalcon's tail lashed once, though he quickly turned in search of more prey. No point in moaning about the lost prey.
He'd still caught the hare, earlier, though. So he couldn't be too embarrassed about the miss. Rabbits and hares were both more of Windclan's specialty, anyways.
Mistyfalcon attempted to catch a rabbit. Catch was ? 188 / 200 sp
