Sun in the Morning [c]

"Wakey, Wakey! Rise and shine!"

Primroselight's cheerful voice rang across the apprentices' den, much to Muddypaw's dismay. It wasn't that he wasn't happy to go hunting with his mum, just did it have to be so early? He gave Birdpaw a playful nudge from his nest. "Should we even bother?" He said with a smirk, hoping Primroselight didn't hear. But, of course, she did. Moments later she was practically dragging him out of his nest, leaving Birdpaw to follow.

For the warrior, her new found, infectious enthusiasm was keeping her going. Everything was right with the forest. Even Bloodstrike was home... still readjusting, but home. Everything would slot back into place. She lead the two apprentices out of camp and into the forest, resisting the urge to run through the trees, no longer worried about being watched. But she knew that there was no way Muddypaw would be able to keep up.

Let's see how well you taught my son, Dawnhawk. Primroselight wanted to still be angry at him, and she was, she always was, but she wouldn't let anything spoil her good mood that morning. She could just pretend that it was a friendly rivalry between littermates. Imagining things were different from what they were wouldn't be great in the long term, but at least it kept the tears at bay for now.

"Birdpaw, you've been out already with Ravenclaw, right?" Primroselight said once the small group had slowed to a halt. "Are you both good to just start hunting?"

"Mmhh." Birdpaw groaned as she was woken up by a playful nudge, lifting her head to blink up at Muddypaw. Primroselight's voice quickly banished whatever sleepiness was still evident however, and with a grin, Birdpaw rose to her paws, shaking out her fluffy gray fur. She scrambled to follow the pretty she-cat and Muddypaw out of the den, grateful she wasn't the one being all but dragged from her nest.

"Yeah, we've been hunting." She mewed with a grin to answer Primroselight's question, trotting out into the forest at Muddypaw's side. Ravenclaw was an excellent mentor, Birdpaw had learned a lot from the dark she-cat.

"I have too!" All traces of tiredness were erased from Muddypaw as soon as the patrol began walking. "Bet you I can catch more prey than you Birdpaw!" He said when Primroselight disappeared into the trees to hunt. Making it a competition would make it even more fun, even if there was almost no chance he could win. He padded away from the grey she-cat, eager to find prey. Before long, a small mouse scurried past him, and he leapt for it. When the tiny mammal got trapped in his claws, he was so excited and surprised he almost forgot to kill and it nearly wriggled away. He brought it back to bury nearer the others. He was about to call out to Birdpaw to show his catch, but stopped himself before he spoiled her hunt.

Muddypaw used 3 Sp to catch a mouse. Catch was successful!
47/50

Primroselight began to search for prey, staying close to the two young cats, unsure of how much battle training each of them had. After constantly running into predators on almost every hunt (or at least it felt like it) it was better to be safe than sorry. Her bright, sunny smile only dropped when it became a look of concentration as a squirrel's scent passed by on the wind. She crept towards it in a well-practiced crouch, before pouncing. She caught it easily, killing it before it could let out any kind of warning sound. "Well done Muds!" She said when she spotted his catch. "Why don't you go for that little bird over there." Her tail flicked towards where a loud bird sang.

Primroselight used 3 Sp to catch a squirrel. Catch was successful!
207/210

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 4, 3

OOC: AHHHHHHH I'M SO SORRY I NEVER REPLIED TO THIS

Birdpaw grinned at her cousin. A competition? That would certainly spice things up a bit. Turning, the slender tabby spotted a squirrel and quickly dropped into a crouch. She made her way forward carefully, and once she was close enough, Birdpaw made a leap for the fluffy thing.

She landed practically on top of the squirrel, and quickly ended it. Turning, she trotted back towards Muddypaw triumphantly, just in time to see him catch prey of his own.

"Nice catch!"

Birdpaw attempted to catch a squirrel for -3sp. Catch was successful!
77 / 80sp

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 7

"Guess we're even for now!" Muddypaw said, keeping his voice down a bit for change. His mother had pointed him to a bird that would hopefully be an easy catch even for him, and he didn't want to scare it away. He crept towards the bird, trying to be as quiet as possible. When he pounced, he was infinitely surprised when his paws closed around the robin. This hunt was going... suspiciously well. At least for now.

Muddypaw used 3 Sp to catch a bird. Catch was successful!

Primroselight couldn't help but laugh as the two apprentices managed to make hunting into a competition. Maybe it'll make them catch more prey. Even though there were less cats to feed with Asylum gone, Skyclan was now larger than ever, and they still needed to catch the prey. Another mouse, probably from the same hole as Muddypaw's, caught her attention with scuffling footsteps. She dropped into her hunting crouch and glided towards it, only to be rudely interrupted by a very spiny porcupine.

Before she completely knew what was happening, a spiky tail came flying in her direction and she whipped around to face her attacker. Stay away from my son and niece. The two apprentices probably had some sort of fighting experience, but porcupines were tricky. She reared up on her hind legs, trying her best to ignore the stabbing pain in her side the where the spines and caught her. "Be careful kiddos! Watch the spines!" She called as she heard paw steps running towards the commotion.

Not long after burying his catch Muddypaw's head shot up when he heard the sounds of fighting. Mum! Without a second thought, he rushed to Primroselight's side. He had fought an owl with Dawnhawk before, this couldn't much different, right? He slipped under the spiny creature's body, and raked at its belly with unsheathed claws.

Primroselight used 3 Sp to catch a mouse. Catch was unsuccessful and summoned a predator!
Porcupine used Tail Smack on Primroselight
Primroselight used Rendering Front Paws on Porcupine
Muddypaw used Belly Rake Porcupine

Primroselight
35/75 Hp [-40]
185/210 Sp [-25]

Muddypaw
15/15 Hp
40/50 Sp [-10]

Birdpaw
20/20 Hp
80/80 Sp

Porcupine
68/90 Hp [-15 + -7]
400/450 Sp [-50]

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

---

'Hunting Dice' : 3, 10

Birdpaw turned to search for more prey, but it was quickly interrupted by the sounds of fighting. Whipping around, her eyes widened slightly as she spotted the porcupine attacking Primroselight. She didn't like fighting, not at all. Still, Ravenclaw had instilled in her apprentice proper battle techniques, at the very least. It was Birdpaw's least favorite part of training, but she couldn't just leave her aunt and Muddypaw to fight it alone.

She bounded forward, sliding beneath the porcupine just as Muddypaw had done with unsheathed claws. The feel of flesh tearing and blood flowing beneath her claws made her want to gag, but this had to be done.

Birdpaw used Belly Rake on Porcupine for -10sp, dealing -7 damage.

Primroselight
35/75 Hp
185/210 Sp

Muddypaw
15/15 Hp
40/50 Sp

Birdpaw
20/20 Hp
70/80 Sp (80 - 10)

Porcupine
61/90 Hp [68 - 7]
400/450 Sp

The quick succession of belly-rakes from the apprentices gave Primroselight not only a moment to breathe, but also a short break to plan her next move. Overwhelmed, the porcupine barely resisted when the warrior pinned it to the ground, giving Muddypaw the chance slash at its face. She knew now that soon the spiny beast would probably flee, but not for a while yet, as she still had a firm hold. Despite Birdpaw's clear reluctance to fight, she still helped, reminding Primroselight of the passive apprentice she herself had once been.

A lot had changed since then.

Primroselight used Leap-and-Hold on Porcupine. Effective for 2 turns
Muddypaw used Front Paw Strike on Porcupine

Primroselight
35/75 Hp
175/210 Sp [-10]

Muddypaw
15/15 Hp
30/50 Sp [-10]

Birdpaw
20/20 Hp
70/80 Sp

Porcupine
42/90 Hp [-13 + -6]
400/450 Sp

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

---

'Effect Dice' : 5

Birdpaw blinked as Primroselight leaped onto the porcupine to pin it. She hadn't thought her aunt was so strong, she'd always seemed like someone who didn't want to or enjoy fighting. It was what warriors were trained for, of course, but Birdpaw knew she wasn't the only one who found it distasteful.

Still, sometimes they had to do things they didn't want to do. Taking the opportunity, she raked at the porcupine's exposed underside again. If it escaped Primroselight's grasp, hopefully it would think twice about attacking the trio of cats again.

Birdpaw used Belly Rake on Porcupine for -10sp, dealing -7 damage.

rimroselight
35 / 75 hp
175 / 210 sp

Muddypaw
15 / 15 hp
30 / 50 sp

Birdpaw
20 / 20 Hp
60 / 80 Sp (70 - 10)

Porcupine
35 / 90 hp (42 - 7)
400 / 450 sp

Primroselight eventually relaxed her grip on the porcupine, only for it to be met with a snarl the second the beast scrambled to its feet. She took a defensive stance, covering the two younger cats, just in case it hadn't had enough. Just as she had hoped, the predator fled within seconds, probably learning a lesson not to pick on three cats. She turned back around to the apprentices, only to be met by a sharp pain in her side from the spines earlier on. So caught up in defending her son and niece, she had almost forgotten about her injury. Almost.

"Are we all alright?" She could always go see Beechface later, as long as Birdpaw and Muddypaw were okay.

Primroselight continued Leap-and-Hold on Porcupine

Porcupine had fled!

Primroselight
35 / 75 hp
165 / 210 sp [-10]

Muddypaw
15 / 15 hp
25 / 50 sp [-5]

Birdpaw
20 / 20 Hp
60 / 80 Sp

Porcupine
18 / 90 hp [-13 + -4]
400 / 450 sp

As she'd hoped, the porcupine fled once it was out from Primroselight's claws. Birdpaw was relieved, she hadn't liked fighting to begin with and this encountered had solidified it, though of course she'd do what she had to.

"I'm fine." Birdpaw was panting from the effort of fighting and her own adrenaline, but she hadn't been caught by the beast's quills thankfully. Primroselight hadn't been so lucky, but Birdpaw wasn't going to call her on it.