Dappled Feathers [Appledapple]

Featherfrost shifted on her paws as she waited near the camp entrance, tail flicking as she eyed the dark forest cat that had approached her apprehensively. She wanted out of camp and had been glad to volunteer for the patrol, though she was less interested in the social interaction it would bring. With seemingly no end to the dark forest cats haunting camp, Featherfrost had become more withdrawn, especially when Klaus was around, choosing to spend her time avoiding others as much as she could. She just hoped that her patrolmates would be content not talking much, either. She spotted the older warrior Appledapple making her way towards her, and waved her tail in greeting. "Ready to head out?"

Lately, life had been noticeably lackluster. Despite the prosperity, with the fresh-kill pile higher than most cats could remember it being, the lack of freedom really put a damper on what should have been a wonderful newleaf. Appledapple specifically was having a rough time. Cinderflame and Rainpaw were gone, Softfall was increasingly unstable, even her friend Starlingflare had been noticeably withdrawn. Stoatstar was another beast entirely-- she rarely saw him leave his den, and even then, he refused to carry on a conversation or let her help with his over-felt and under-expressed emotions at all. Snorting in annoyance, the tortoiseshell ruffled her fur out and began walking to her next patrol. This one was with Featherfrost... one of the rogues. One of Dawnhawk's kits. Distasteful. But the tortoiseshell didn't have the presence of mind to truly be mean about it. "Yeah, let's go," she meowed, flicking her tail in response and padding to the camp entrance.

Featherfrost nodded at the confirmation given, turning to pad out of camp. It was a struggle to not tense when she caught sight of one of the ugly, stinking beasts that accompanied them, but also to not tense at the warrior behind her. Appledapple was a clanmate, not one she knew well. What little she did know was that she seemed close with Stoatstar... Who Featherfrost didn't think was a fan of hers, from the conversation she and her siblings had had with him in his den after Thrushnose had been injured by her fa-- Klaus. She didn't know if Appledapple shared those views, and wasn't sure if she wanted to find out. She was rogue-born after all, why wouldn't Thunderclanners harbor judgement? Especially with Klaus, or Dawnhawk, or Morningstar or whatever her father now called himself, now sitting about their camp with his dead brutes? Atalante had kept to herself far too much recently, but couldn't help her own suspicion and unease. She snuck a wary glance at the older tortoiseshell, but when her mouth opened as if to speak, she forced herself to focus on what the patrol was for, instead, turning the gesture into scenting for prey. Perhaps Appledapple wouldn't notice the awkwardness, or would attribute it to shyness. At least, that's what Featherfrost told herself she hoped for. Prey seemed to elude her for the moment, and her cerulean eyes narrowed slightly, gaze lifting to the trees to search among the branches for bird or squirrel.

Well, if Featherfrost wasn't going to attempt conversation, then Appledapple certainly wasn't going to, either. Despite the awkwardness of walking through the territory without a single word, she really couldn't think of anything to say. The other she-cat had probably heard it all about Dawnhawk and things like that. What else was there to talk about? The weather? No thanks. Still, the gray stormcloud over the tortoiseshell's head was likely noticeable as they made their way into the forest.

Thankfully, she was quickly distracted by the abundance of prey in the forest. A welcome change from leaf-bare. Once they got out of earshot from camp, Appledapple almost immediately scented a squirrel in the undergrowth nearby. Flicking her tail as a signal to stay quiet, she dropped into her hunting crouch. She was already downwind from the prey. It didn't notice her; probably too busy looking for acorns it had buried in leaf-fall. Well, it wouldn't have a chance to dig them up if she had anything to say about it. And she did. Her moons of practice made it easy to sneak up on the squirrel, pounce, and kill it with a quick bite. It was satisfying to have the weight of fresh-kill in her jaws as she padded back to Featherfrost. Carefully, she put it down and buried it shallowly by a prickle bush. Who should she give that squirrel to? It was pretty big, and would make a good meal for a warrior. Might even feed two apprentices. "Did Stoatstar like squirrel or mouse more?" she murmured to herself, forgetting already that she was with someone.

Appledapple attempted to catch a squirrel. Success! -3 SP

The member 'Ash' has done the following action : Dice roll

---

'Hunting Dice' : 5

Appledapple seemed like she wasn't going to talk, and that was just fine with Featherfrost. She continued to search for prey, eventually catching sight of a squirrel. Without so much as a second thought, her muscles bunched and she leapt into the tree, silently making her way through the branches towards her quarry. The wind shifted, leaves softly rustling, and Featherfrost leapt from branch to branch after the squirrel, though it escaped to the higher branches that she was uncomfortable testing her weight on. Perhaps, she thought with a little resentment, a real Skyclanner or her father would not have had an issue chasing it into the upper branches. Featherfrost was no Skyclanner however, and so dropped back to the forest floor with a lash of her tail.

"What was that?" She thought she'd heard Appledapple's voice, glancing warily toward the other warrior. She hadn't caught what the other warrior had said clearly... Not anything directed toward her, she hoped.

Featherfrost attempted to catch a squirrel for -3 sp. Catch was unsuccessful.
117 / 120 sp

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

---

'Hunting Dice' : 8

Well, whichever he liked more, it didn't matter. Appledapple would simply catch all of the prey in the forest, and then ThunderClan's fresh-kill would be so big that the mouse-brain could simply pick his favorite. At the sight of a small rabbit in the bushes, the tortoiseshell squared her shoulders, dropping into her crouch. It was pretty close... she would have to move quickly in order to get it. Luckily for her, the rabbit was not paying attention, and she was able to pounce on it quickly. It was far easier than she had expected. At a closer look, it was mostly fluff, but there should still be some good meat on it.

She walked back to put the rabbit next to her squirrel. When she heard a voice, she was momentarily startled before remembering she was on a patrol with another cat. "Sorry, I must have been talking to myself," Appledapple responded eventually, reluctantly looking up at her companion. It seemed she hadn't caught anything yet... was it any surprise, with her lack of ThunderClan blood?


Appledapple tried to catch a rabbit. Success! -3 SP

The member 'Ash' has done the following action : Dice roll

---

'Hunting Dice' : 1

Atalante nodded at Appledapple's answer, somewhat relieved that she was able to turn back to the task at paw and continue searching for prey. That she hadn't found anything while her clanmate had was embarrassing, and so the tortoiseshell continued forward, ears pricked and jaws slightly parted. After a few moments she caught the scurrying of a mouse in the undergrowth, and slipped into a crouch. Stalking forward, this time she was able to get close enough to leap forward, one paw swiftly pinning the mouse in place as she nipped the creature's neck. A small smile of satisfaction crossed Atalante's face, but it didn't last. She needed to do better than one mouse.