Dig deeper! (Ashfall)

Goldenfang halted at the mouth of the warren. She turned to Ashfall with a grave expression. Hunting in the tunnels was already claustrophobic for the Clan of open skies, but under at least a tail-length of snow? The risk of a cave-in was bigger than ever. Melting snow could leave frozen ice slicks the darkness. But the prey had retreated underground to escape the cold, and the warriors would dutifully follow to provide for WindClan. “Are you ready? I’ll admit, I’m looking forward to getting out of the snow.” She offered a smile to hide her nerves.

Ashfall was not pleased. She would follow Goldenfang anywhere, she was her friend, and her deputy. She trusted her. However, she did not like the tunnels. The warrior had not wanted to come here before her brother died here, and she certainly had not wanted to come after. So she happened to be a lot stiffer than she usually was, if that was possible. When she spoke, it was dry and cold, like the wind that blew against her fur. "No, but let's go in anyway." Gritting her teeth together, she prepared to enter after Goldenfang, looking around the clearing. She didn't want any predators on top of them or following them inside.

Her smiled dropped quickly and so did her gaze. She hadn’t forgotten Ryesnap and the inherent danger of the tunnels, she was just desperate. The Clan wasn’t starving… yet. She wanted to avoid it entirely if it was possible. That’s what brought the pair to such dangerous lengths today. And while Swiftspirit kept watch on the camp, Ashfall would be Goldenfang’s third eye underground. The deputy nodded wordlessly to acknowledge her friend’s response, then turned to lead the way into the dark and warm tunnel.

The decrease in daylight was slow enough to allow Goldenfang’s eyes to adjust. She kept her left side close enough to the wall to feel it brush her coat without putting any pressure on it. Occasionally they would prowl past another tunnel with a bit of light leaking from it or the stale scent of rabbit disappearing into it. Goldenfang’s steps remained steady and slow. She slowed to a stop, signaling with a flick of her tail against Ashfall’s shoulder to alert her. The scent of rabbit had slowly grown stronger until it was recent, and soon enough she could pick out little claw marks where multiple animals had passed through.

A flicker in the tunnel ahead was exactly what she’d waited for. A hint of pale fur, a fluff—a rabbit’s hindquarters judging by the long legs that supported it. There would be nowhere for it to go but straight. No slipping out of her claws down a tunnel at the last moment. Goldenfang froze another heartbeat, then darted forward with near-silent steps. When she was sprinting down the straight and narrow tunnel, it was hard to tell how far or fast she was going. The only visual cue was the scattering rabbit’s legs kicking up dust as it barreled away. Goldenfang was quick, though, and had the advantage of a clear mind. The gap between them was closing despite the occasional turn.

The rabbit stopped in place. Shocked, Goldenfang tumbled into it and rolled. Quickly enough she realized why—a weasel, ugly face wrinkled up and little teeth bared, had latched onto its chest from an apparent surprise attack. Smelling the cat and rolling around with it shook its attention from the rabbit, and it scrabbled towards the deputy with a nasty hiss. She kicked away to put space between herself and the unforeseen enemy. The rabbit twisted itself back to its feet and sprinted off. A lost opportunity for WindClan to eat well. With a frustrated snarl, Goldenfang lunged and planted her sharp claws in the weasel’s back. “Scum! Ashfall, get the rabbit! I’ll catch up!”

Goldenfang failed her hunt. - 7 SP. She used Leap-and-Hold on the weasel, dealing 10 damage and using 15 stamina. The weasel is stunned for 2 turns.

Goldenfang
60/60 HP
118/140 SP

Weasel
10/20 HP
135/135 SP

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 10

(drum roll please)

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

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'Effect Dice' : 6

Ashfall wouldn't let Goldenfang see this part of her, the terrified, kit-like, part of her. Not on her life. It was dark, except for the occasional rays of light streaming in. The thin parts that would break if a cat stepped foot on it. She limped awkwardly through behind the deputy, doing her best to not trip and get a face full of dirt. She was ugly enough, didn't need to make her face completely brown too. Suddenly, a flick of a tail, and Goldenfang stopped. Ashfall followed suit, waiting for her friend to go for the kill.

Instead, something popped out, a weasel, and scared the stars out of Ashfall. Her fur fluffed up completely, and she stumbled backward as the weasel assaulted Goldenfang. She froze for a moment before she registered the words she heard. "R-right!" It took her time to get back to her paws, valuable time that the rabbit was running. She squeezed past behind Goldenfang before she began her own pursuit.

She kept catching glimpses of the fur, of the prey that was so close, yet still too far. Ashfall just couldn't quite catch up, and the rabbit escaped to the surface, bounding away. She scowled, and wanted to yell so loud that even Starclan would hear her. That wouldn't do though. So she called back to Goldenfang. "Rabbit got away, is the weasel dead?" She began limping back, but it would take her a moment to return. That rabbit had gone far. During this time, she attempted to flatten her fur. It had never been cooperative to begin with, but this was ridiculous!

Ashfall attempted to catch a rabbit and was not successful! -7 SP

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 4

She leaned more of her weight onto the weasel’s back and neck until the writhing creature’s spine cracked. It squealed a final time until it went still with a gargling exhale. Goldenfang sighed, adrenaline still coursing through her limbs, and removed her paws. Well, it smelled awful and was no doubt the stringiest creature in the forest, but… her Clan needed food. Ashfall’s voice floated down the tunnel. “Yeah, weasel’s dead. It’s not the most quality fresh-kill, but it’s something. We’ll get the next one.”

Goldenfang left the weasel pressed against the side of the tunnel to meet Ashfall in the middle. They could collect it later without fear of predatory birds stealing it. She pressed her nose to her friend’s shoulder, briefly grateful that the tunnel kept their body heat around them instead of dissipating in the cold air above ground. “It was a good try. No one can say we aren’t earning our keep in WindClan, eh?”

Goldenfang continued Leap-and-Hold on the weasel, dealing 10 damage and using 15 stamina. The weasel is dead.

Goldenfang
60/60 HP
103/140 SP

Weasel
0/20 HP (DEAD)
135/135 SP

…

She was weaving her way through a new section, silent as the night, hot on the trail of another animal that smelled of fear. Goldenfang guessed it was a hare that had been nearby when it heard the sounds of fighting and fled. It had no idea the hunter was hot on its trail, pupils wide in the darkness and steps softer than a downy feather. A distant scratching sound signaled her prey’s own hunt for roots. The form was taking shape in the darkness. Goldenfang’s breathing became deep and slow, her steps never slowing.

Her teeth meet the back of its neck before it even knew she was there. It kicked furiously, the claws on its back leg pulling clumps of fur from her chest, but she twisted until her body pressed its flailing limbs into the dirt and continued to choke the life from its lungs. Its wide eyes stared emptily ahead after long enough. She released it to groom her bloodied chest, thinking sourly of the wasted herbs that would be needed to prevent infection when they returned to camp. “Furballs,” She swore, glancing back at Ashfall with the hint of a smile. “Sometimes I wish we could eat plants like our prey. Plants don’t fight back!”

96/140 SP

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 3