Unsheathed Claws [open]

Moonpaw's mind continued to race as the events that had occured in camp were stuck on replay. No matter what she did, the imagery just... couldn't leave. The dark siamese pelt of her father, mangled with time and age, seething nothing but hatred as it launched at her mother. The leader against his own deputy. All simply because she blocked the tom from foolishly attacking those in camp as they were going to leave.

Her claws flexed in the forest terrain beneath them as she shook her head in a desperate attempt to get rid of it. Each step she took churned up the earth below, and truthfully, the molly didn't care just how much noise she made. Tears welled in her eyes, the fire of emotion and despair blazing as all she could do was keep going.

It wasn't until the cold chill of water hit her paws that she finally found herself pulled out of her mind. The young molly didn't even notice the heavy heaving of her chest as she panted, the agitated swishing of her tail as her body found any type of output for whatever chaos it was coursing through her. Sobs that had been hidden away finally choked out of her small frame as the water soaked her paws, and all she could think of in that moment was the blood of her mother's pelt, dampening her own as she had tried to somehow help with the bleeding.

In some semblance of an attempt to at least make her getaway useful, Moonpaw listened for the first sign of life. For anything. Perhaps it was the nerves of the monster who had helped create her, but she needed some type of output with her claws. So the first thing that dared disturb the silence of the low creek, she pounced at. To her surprise she was successful, the chittering squirrel being ended beneath her paws in a flash.

She didn't know what to do, but all she could do was stare at her kill between muffled sobs. Why did Starclan allow that to happen? What had taken hold of Bloodstar? Was her mother completely okay? These were all questions she knew the answer to... but she felt like she didn't.

Moonpaw attempts to catch a squirrel - success! -3 SP.

ooc note; this is vaguely set some time after the skc/rc discussions. these implications on moonpaw's mental state are the same whether it's been a week, or right after the topic end c:

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 4

Yewfrost had watched the young molly wander into the territory by herself from his position outside the camp's entrance. He could tell Moonpaw's mind was occupied by something; most likely what new violence Bloodstar had committed. The tuxedo tomcat honestly wondered if that massive, raggedy chunk of muscle had always had the name "Blood-" (What parents would give their kit such a name?), or if the leader before was brave enough to officially call that thing's bloodthirsty tendencies to light. He had the thought to ask if she was alright but, well... what good would it do if he already knew the answer? Still, something itched in the back of his mind that if he didn't follow now she might simply vanish into the trees. So after a few moments, he hauled himself up an old pine and went after her.

He couldn't say that he could relate to her situation - far from it really, given he had no family of his own left anymore - yet he felt this discomfort in seeing her trying her hardest not to cry. The young tom leapt through branches and padded along boughs, at one point becoming mutually startled by a blackbird, which he unexpectedly caught before it could fly away. But now wasn't the time to hold onto it. He stuffed it in a crack in the trunk before moving on.

When he finally caught up to her the faint scent of blood floated into his nose. Luckily, however, it was just that of a squirrel dead and pinned beneath Moonpaw's claws. Nothing had become of her. Why was that his first thought, though? What a horrible thing to recall. Sharp green eyes peered downwards. He couldn't see the apprentice's face, only the backs of her ears. Ah, perhaps she was crying? Unease pricked at his spine; he didn't know what to do to help a crying cat. Yet what else should he do, just stand there? Do nothing? He lingered silently in the branches for a moment before he shook his head and called out in a quiet monotone, "Hey." He didn't make himself comfortable, he more so just stood with his claws far out enough to keep him rooted to the tree. For a few moments, the only sounds were the rustles and creaks of branches in the wind. His gaze did not falter. He didn't want to appear all mouse-hearted about this. Not while knowing the why of it all.

Yewfrost attempted to catch a blackbird, -3SP. Sucess!

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 7

Who knew such a small sound could cause such a ripple?

Moonpaw's mind snapped back to reality, and that momentum transferred into her paws as she lept in surprise. She hadn't expected any cat to follow her, much less one she hadn't spoken to before. If there was any cat to find her, she supposed it would've been her mother, or her mentor. Spinning around, her already voluminous pelt made her look almost double the size as her fur had stood on end in shock.

An alarm gaze studied to find where the source came from, before settling on the tuxedo tom. She swallowed whatever emotions lingered in a large gulp, her heart practically thudding out of her chest. "H-Ca-Do- .. uh... yes?" Words were stuck in every moment she attempted to speak, before finally settling on just simply trying to figure out... what it was the tom wanted. If anything, she felt almost a little bit thankful, as he practically shocked her out of the storms going on within her brain.

Wolfblossom had left camp on her own, needing the space to think. So much had happened, and she hadn't even been there. She'd only found out her mother was gone when she'd gotten back to camp from a patrol. She'd been holding back tears of grief and frustration in camp, keeping either to herself or trying hard to be there for her siblings and father, but that was a task much easier said than done. She wanted- She wasn't sure, actually. She wanted her mother back. She wanted to be left alone. She wanted to scream at the Riverclanners who had taken her from Skyclan, though logically she knew that would achieve nothing.

Getting out of camp hadn't helped clear Wolfblossom's head at all. Her paws wandered aimlessly, and she was almost as startled by the squirrel that darted across her path as it was by her. She lashed out with claws, bringing the squirrel down with brutal efficiency. Why had it darted across her path like that in the first place, she wasn't sure. Something must've spooked it.

Then she heard it. She'd been too wrapped up in her own thoughts to notice she was close to some of her clanmates. She could make out Moonpaw's sobbing, and hesitated in approaching. Wolfblossom didn't think it was her place, and Yewfrost was already there.

But Moonpaw was a clanmate. And- Wolfblossom could take a guess at why she was so upset. Why everyone was upset, lately. She hadn't been there, but she had heard the whispers around camp.

"Hey-" She mewed awkwardly, padding forward with a wave of her fluffy tail. "Are you okay?" And Wolfblossom immediately snapped her mouth shut, cringing internally. "Stupid question, sorry." She muttered.

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

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 4