Family Excursion

Sunnypaw was bouncing with excitement near the camp's entrance, searching for the familiar pelts of her mother and brother. "Come on you two, the sun's almost all the way up! Hurry!" She called as her eyes landed on the familiar figures, glancing up to where the sun was almost to its highest point in the sky. When the pair reached her, she butt Muddypaw's shoulder with her head before greeting Hayglow with a loud rumbling purr and a nuzzle under her chin. "Hurry, let's go! I want to see the flowers, and catch the biggest grouse ever! You can have all the feathers, momma!"

"We are coming, sis!" Muddypaw bounded across the camp towards his sister, almost disappointed that she was there before them. They weren't that late, Hayglow and him had just taken an unexpected nap and it had taken a bit for them to detangle themselves! Muddypaw didn't care that he was an apprentice and ought to have his own nest - nothing beat snuggles with Hayglow and they all slept in the tall grass together anyways. "Come on, momma! I wanna go running!"

Hayglow founded a bit slower after the two, shaking off the remnants of slumber. A smile crossed her face as Sunnypaw offered to give her all of the feathers, recalling fondly when the kits had given her a pile of feathers - and had started giving them to her whenever they found extras around the camp. "I would love to have the feathers, Sunnypaw," she purred as she reached the two, leaning down to give both her and Muddypaw nuzzles. Muddypaw happily leaned into them, rubbing against her before he parted ways to bounce next to Sunnypaw as they both waited for to all-clear. "Alright, lets head on out. And remember, stick close! The moor is dangerous and you two are growing up fast but you are still apprentices."

Muddypaw bumped shoulders with Sunnypaw, flashing her a grin. "Come on! Bet ya' can't keep up!" and with that, he darted out of the territory with a burst of speed and energy that seemed natural within the Hayglow family.

Sunnypaw's purr grew louder as her mother returned the nuzzle, and she listened intently to Hayglow's warning. "Okay!" She agreed as Muddypaw bumped against her shoulder. Returning his grin, she crouched slightly and wiggled her haunches as her brother took off into the territory. With a burst of laughter, Sunnypaw's bunched the muscles in her hind legs before taking off after him, trying her best to gain on him as they raced over the moors towards the flower fields. The wind rushing through her whiskers was exhilarating as she wove around tunnel entrances and the gorse that dotted the landscape, and she didn't stop running until she reached the edge of the flower field. Breathless, she trotted to a stop and looked to Muddypaw and Hayglow with a wide grin, her fur wind swept and wild. "Please tell me we can run back to camp when we're done hunting too! That was fun!" The young she-cat exclaimed, shaking out her fur which only made it more wild. Once she caught her breath, she smiled at Hayglow again. "I'll be right over here momma, I can smell a grouse and I'm gonna go catch it!" She mewed before dropping into a crouch and creeping into the flowers. She knew it was there, she could smell it... Hopefully it was big and had a lot of feathers. Finally, she spotted it among the stems and leaves, and with another wiggle of her rear she jumped forward onto the spot where it was, and relief filled her as her paws met flesh and feathers. With a swift bite to the back of the neck, the bird went limp under her, and she trotted back out of the flowers with it dangling from her jaws. It was a small grouse, not a full adult, but the feathers were sleek and soft and would make a great addition to her momma's nest.

Sunnypaw attempted to catch a grouse, catch was successful. -3 SP. (77/80)

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 3

Muddypaw didn't slow down in his pace until the flower field came into view, slowing down a bit in surprise hesitation as Sunnypaw raced past him. He blinked as he suddenly recalled that it was a race and took off after her again but it was too late - he had lost the race. He sighed but there was a smile on his face as he reached his sister. "Yeah, I wanna race back as well!"

Hayglow had founded her children at an easier past - her longer legs meaning she had no trouble keeping up with the rambunctious apprentices. "Of course, you are more than free to run back to camp once we are done," she purred as she reached the two, glancing over at Sunnypaw as she revealed she could smell a grouse. "Alright, good luck, sweetie."

Muddypaw blinked as his sister mentioned smelling a grouse, giving the air a few sniffs before he drew back on himself. His eyes flickered with uncertainty as he dug his claws into the ground, ears slicking back for a moment before he saw that Hayglow was swinging her head around to look back at him. He quickly perked up, hiding his moment of doubt and confusion as he smiled at his momma. "I'm also gonna go hunting! Over...Uh..." He glanced around, spotting a few flowers shifting in a way that caught his eye. "There! I think I smell...Something," he said quickly before he padded off to see what was disturbing the flowers.

Hayglow watched Muddypaw wandered off with a small frown, shaking her head a little as she took in a deep breath and tasted the air around her. It was hard to separate the smells of prey from the overwhelming scents of the flowers but managed to pick up traces of a bird of her own. She turned to see a pipet sitting on some of the flowers, dropping into a crouch as she slowly did her best to move silently towards it. If her kits were hunting, she might as well give it a shot as well...

Upon closer look, Muddypaw realized what he had noticed was in fact a rabbit. It was sniffing around the ground, nibbling at a few of the flowers' stems - blissfully unaware of the young tom that had taken noticed. He dropped into a crouch and shifted forward, eyes narrowing as he took in a deep breath...And leapt. It wasn't easy to make a clean jump with all of the flowers in his way but his paws still landed on the rabbit, pinning it so he could easily finish it off. He drew back with a smile, proud that he had proven he could hunt even if he couldn't... His thoughts drifted off, face growing cloudly for a few heartbeats before he leaned down to pick up the rabbit and return to his family.

His mother had none of the same luck. Hayglow had gotten rather close to the bird unnoticed but as she came to a stop to judge her jump and get ready, the shifting of the flowers caused by that was enough to send the bird on high alert. Her eyes widen as she quickly threw herself forward to try to catch it before it took off but her claws barely touched the pipet's tail feathers as it gained air. She landed with a huff, watching as the bird disappeared into the horizon. Ah well. She shook her head, turning to see how Sunnypaw's and Muddypaw's hunting had gone.

Muddypaw attempted to catch a rabbit and succeeded, costing 3 SP.

Hayglow attempted to catch a bird and failed, costing 3 SP.

Muddypaw:
20/20 HP
77/80 SP

Hayglow:
45/45 HP
157/160 SP

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 3, 7

Sunnypaw didn't notice her brother's behavior, having already set her sights on her target, and as she exited the flowers she found her littermate and mother out of view. Returning to where they had been, she set down the grouse and searched for them. A flash of familiar fur caught her eye, and she watched as a bird fled from her mother's claws. Their eyes met, and Sunnypaw smiled wide.
"That's alright momma! Here, you can have my bird! Doesn't it have pretty feathers?" Just then, Muddypaw returned and Sunnypaw turned to him, a bit of fuzz from the bird landing on her nose. Her eyes widened as she saw his catch, and she bounced on her paws. "Wow Muddypaw! That's a great catch! That rabbit is huge!" She exclaimed, looking over it closely. Rubbing against her brother's side, a rustling in the nearby flowers drew her eye. Had she startled something out of hiding? Without hesitation, she bounced on the moving stems, claws meeting flesh and fur. A loud shriek startled her, and the young apprentice stumbled back as a long creature shot out of the flowers and ran up, hissing in her face before clamping onto her front leg. Letting out a loud yowl of pain as teeth pierced and scraped against the bone, she tried to shake off the creature. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to please let go stop it it hurts I'm sorry Momma help!"

Sunnypaw attempted to catch what was in the grass. Catch was unsuccessful, and a predator was in the grass. -3 SP (74/80). Weasel used Gripping Bite, dealing 10 damage and costing 30 SP.

Weasel:
60/60 HP
170/200 SP (-30)

Sunnypaw:
10/20 HP (-10)
74/80 SP

Hayglow:
45/45 HP
157/160 SP


Muddypaw:
20/20 HP
77/80 SP

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 10

Hayglow gingerly took the grouse from Sunnypaw, a purr rising from her throat as she laid it carefully at her paws. "Thank you so much, dear. It has beautiful feathers," she agreed as she looked over it, glancing up as Muddypaw arrived with his large rabbit. Her eyes widen, a smile tugging at her lips. "Wonderful catch, dear! You both did wonderful - you will be excellent hunters when you are both warriors," she purred before glancing over as Sunnypaw dipped away towards something. She watched her daughter and jolted at the pain-filled yowl that followed as something attached itself to the young apprentice's leg. "Sunnypaw!" she cried out, darting over as her daughter sobbed for her to help her. "I'm here sweetie! Stay calm!" She raised a paw as she reached Sunnypaw, slamming into the small creature that was biting down on Sunnypaw's leg - a weasel. She grimace as she raised her paw, slashing at it with claws in hopes that it would get the idea to let go and flee.

Muddypaw had been posing proudly with his rabbit, leaning in to Sunnypaw as she pressed against him before she wandered off. He padded over to Hayglow, dropping his prey next to his sister's catch only to jump at the sound of a yowl - recognizing the sound easily as his sister. "Sunnypaw!" he gasped at the same time as his mother, turning to see her trying to shake something from her leg. He followed after Hayglow, turning to slip to the other side of Sunnypaw as he bared his teeth at the strange, small creature. "Let go of my sister!" he demanded, quickly slashing out towards the brown furry creature.

Hayglow used Run-and-Tackle + Swift Strike, costing 20 stamina (10 + 10) and dealing 16 damage (9 + 3* + 4**)
Muddypaw used Front Paw Strike + Swift Strike, costing 20 stamina (10+10) and dealing 8 damage (6+2)

*Bonus for not actively in combat
**Swift Strike damage

Weasel:
36/60 HP (-24 [16+8])
170/200 SP

Sunnypaw:
10/20 HP
74/80 SP

Hayglow:
45/45 HP
137/160 SP (-20)

Muddypaw:
20/20 HP
57/80 SP (-20)

Her mother quickly arrived at her side, and Sunnypaw sobbed as the weasel's teeth tightened around her leg. "Why won't it let go..." She whimpered as her mother slashed out at it. In the next moment, Muddypaw had joined them, slashing out at it as well. Balancing on her gripped leg, Sunnypaw lifted the free one and lashed out desperately. "Let go of me! Let go!" She cried, hitting it as quickly and as many times as she could. The weasel released it's grip on the small cat's leg, having registered the number of cats against the one of it. This wasn't worth it. Hissing at Sunnypaw one last time, it turned and disappeared into the flowers once again, the rustling of the leaves signaling it's retreat until they could no longer hear it. Blood dropped from Sunnypaw's leg as she hovered it above the ground, tears leaking into the fur of her cheeks as she limped closer to Hayglow and pushed her face into her chest. "I didn't mean to scare it.... I'm sorry.... I didn't...." The muffled voice trailed off as the apprentice sobbed, her leg throbbing with the pain from the bite.

Sunnypaw used Front Paw Strike + Swift Strike, costing 20 stamina (10+10) and dealing 8 damage (6+2). The weasel has released it's bite and fled the battle!

Weasel:
28/60 HP (-8)
170/200 SP

Sunnypaw:
10/20 HP
54/80 SP (-20)

Hayglow:
45/45 HP
137/160 SP

Muddypaw:
20/20 HP
57/80 SP

A sigh of relief escaped Hayglow as the weasel finally let go as Sunnypaw struck out at it, moving quickly to pull her daughter close as Sunnypaw sobbed into her fur. "Shhh, baby, its okay. Wild animals can be like that - if any one of us had spotted it, it would have gone for us. What is important is that its gone and that you are alive. Come on, I think we are done with this excursion. We should head back to the camp and let Softbreeze and Smallbean take a look at that, yeah?" she meowed as she pulled away a little so she could hook a paw beneath Sunnypaw's chin and raise her daughter's head. "You wanna ride on my back, Sunnypaw? Oh! Muddypaw, do you think you can carry home her grouse?"

Muddypaw stood ridged, simply numbly watching his mother and sister as the two embraced each other - suddenly feeling a little unsure on what to do. He...He couldn't imagine how scared his sister had felt but knew his momma would do a better job at cheering her up then he would. She knew what it was like to get hurt. He straightened up in surprise as Hayglow turned to him, giving a quick nod of his head before he took a step forward to press himself against Sunnypaw's side. "It-Its gonna be okay, sis. Momma will take you home so fast and we can share my rabbit once you are patched up, okay?" he meowed softly before he pulled away to go grab the prey that they had left.

Hayglow's words did little to calm Sunnypaw as she held her paw off the ground. With the mention of going back to camp, she wanted to decline, to put her paw down so it wasn't over already... But she couldn't. Sniffling as Hayglow raised her head, she nodded slowly. "Th-thanks momma..." Slowly, she moved to climb onto Hayglow's back, making sure that her claws were sheathed. Before she climbed on, Muddypaw pressed against her, and she pressed against him briefly in return. "That.... Sounds like a good plan, Muddypaw." She watched as he turned to gather the prey before burying her face in her mother's fur. "I'm sorry momma, Muddypaw..." She murmured as they started the journey back to camp.

Hayglow crouched down as Sunnypaw climbed up on her, wincing at how much it obliviously pained her daughter to move like that. At least she would be able to keep her weight off her paw until it was patched up. She straighten up as Muddypaw returned, his rabbit tossed across his back and Sunnypaw's grouse in his mouth. She gave him a soft smile, padding out of the flower field as Sunnypaw whimpered an apology. "Oh, Sunnypaw, it isn't your fault at all! There is nothing to be sorry for!" she gasped, glancing over at her daughter with a soft frown. "These things happen - what's important is to look at the positives. You are going to be okay, Softbreeze and Smallbean will patch you right up and you will get to share a meal with your brother! It hurts, I know, and it can be embarrassing causing our trip to come to an end like this but both Muddypaw and I would much prefer you be taken care of than to press on, right dear?"

Muddypaw let out a soft grunt of agreement, glancing up at his sister with a large smile - as much as he could make with the large grouse hanging from his maw. He wanted to try to say words of encouragement - express that he wasn't bothered by the turns of events (minus the pain his sister was in, he didn't like her being so sad. It wasn't like her) but he knew it was bad to talk when your mouth was full - even if he wasn't eating, he imagined it was still rude.

Hayglow gave a nod to her son, giving Sunnypaw another smile. "You two help me see that there is no use in being sad. Remember, Sunnypaw, as long as you can find a reason to smile out of the hardship, then things are going to be okay in the end."