sorry doesn't catch prey

Deerpaw woke as the moon rose in the horizon. the camp still stank of blood, fear and death. the apprentice had been patrolling when the Order attacked, and had not arrived until it was too late. now, Deerpaw felt heavy with guilt that she had not helped her clan when it needed her. she was determined to help the clan get back its bearings, even if it meant that she would have to patrol every heartbeat of the day.

"Anyone wants- can go on a hunting patrol with me?" she asked the few cats who were out and about, cringing at her slip-up. plenty of warriors wanted to go on a patrol, but that didn't mean that they could. her gaze stopped at the fresh-kill pile, now just a few scraps of fur. her heart sank with defeat.

Sootpaw crouched outside the apprentice den, staring out at his defeated clan. He'd been unable to sleep the night before, the sounds of the battle ringing through his ears in a loop. He wished he could've done more to help. Sure, he'd helped to guard the nursery, but he couldn't help but think if he'd fought alongside his clanmates maybe it wouldn't have ended like this. At the same time, he couldn't help but think that if his parents were still here, the clan would've had a better chance with two more trained warriors to fight.

Mousehearts.. He thought angrily to himself. He was determined not to follow in their footsteps, deserting his home when things got tough. Even if it meant he had to work harder than ever in order to rebuild Shadowclan. As if on cue, his thoughts were interrupted by Deerpaw calling for a patrol. With the fresh-kill pile dangerously low, they'd need every able-bodied cat to help replenish it. He stood up, stretching stiffly before padding over to Deerpaw.

"I'll go," He said quietly.

Cicadashriek lifted his head from his paws at the quiet invitation to hunt, his gaze shifting over to the young apprentice. Deerpaw, he believed? The she-cat's heritage was... dubious, but at a time like this he had no right to complain. Warriors were hurt and needed prey to heal strong, and with prey already being so hard to find, any extra paws that could gather were imperative.

He lifted himself to his paws, ignoring the aching protest in his muscles. His wounds were patched up, he could hunt as long as they didn't reopen again. He lumbered over to the small group, giving the dwindling prey pile a glance. "I'll come too," he said gruffly. Apprentices couldn't go alone and he didn't mind being their chaperone if it meant getting able-bodied cats out into the marshes.

Nightstalker walked stiffly up to his apprentice, Swifthearts ward, and Cicadashriek, still feeling the wounds and trials of battle after battle, his dark pelt littered with barely-healed scratches and fresh scars. His head swam with everything, his heart aching and hurting with every thought. Amberdawn, the she-cat that took care of him as a kit when his leader mother couldn't, skinned and worn as some trophy, and Burningwing, his mentor beloved despite all the grief caused just the same. Nightstalker couldn't believe how vile and vicious those rogues had been. Burningwing was right, that they couldn't be trusted, the constant invasions and the full-frontal attack with the pelts on clan-mates on their back only proved that. He still knew despite it all, that kittens were innocent. But they all thought that doing what they had done was right and that he could not forgive or understand.

Nightstalker shoved it down, tucked the rage and turmoil under his heart. He had his apprentice to watch, and a hunt to have. Taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly, he nodded to the gathering party. "I as well. With the rogue incident, we should have larger parties at all times. Safer that way. Keep that in mind, Sootpaw, Deerpaw." Nightstalker mewed, giving a cool nod to Cicadashriek, perhaps the only cat that knew him best at this moment. They were brother in arms, their mentor killed and slaughtered just the same. The same eyes on them.

Deerpaw was surprised when Sootpaw offered his help. ever since the battle, the two haven't exactly interacted yet. she twined her tail with his whispered softly to him, "Thank you."

Deerpaw nodded to Nightstalker and Cicadashrieks words. What they said were true, and it comforted the she-cat that in the case of an ambush there were at least two trained warriors with them. "Should we go now or wait for others?" she asked softly. even though she had started the patrol, she was still an apprentice and inexperienced in such things. she looked around for Marshmallow. hadn't Murkystar told her to go on extra patrols?

Swiftheart awoke from her nap in the warriors den hearing talk of a hunting group getting ready to go out.  She was exhausted and could have slept for another day and half but she knew the clan needed every able warrior it could get right now.  Pushing herself up she winced slightly her wounds still kinda hurt even though they were mostly healed.  

She walked over to the group. I will join! she said the more they had the better odds of catching prey... and it would not be a bad idea to have larger groups in case Dawnhawk decided to try and attack again.

She looked to her brother Nightstalker who she saw as a natural and good leader.  You should lead this. Take point she encouraged her brother she liked the idea of him getting into leadership positions, even just for a hunting patrol... it was good practice for him she thought of it as. He excelled at it and right now the clan needed that

If you want that is she quickly added on

she gave a quick glance to cicadashriek that okay with you?

she assumed that cicada would have no problems with that but best to ask probably.

And yeah I think we could probably go now she answered Deerpaw's question.  They had 5 ... 3 warriors and 2 apprentices, Murkystar had said they needed 4 minimum during the clan meeting after the battle so they should be fine to get underway with this.

link: https://warriorclancats.forumotion.com/t46544-recovery-takes-time-and-some-food-too

:D