almost familiar [OPEN/solo]

((technically a solo but anyone’s welcome to join!))

The familiar shape of the barn loomed before him in the half-twilight, a sign of warmth, safety, and good food. Astraeus wove through the last of the tall grasses that surrounded the place and slunk in through the opening, already sniffing about for any signs of life. There was cat scent, but faint and old. Whoever had last been here was gone and had been for days, at least. Good. After his last attempt at hunting had ended so poorly, with that ShadowClanner pouncing on him for no reason, he’d decided to try his paw somewhat further out, someplace where, to his knowledge, no territorial cats lurked.

The faint skittering of mice caught his attention, and with a slight smile Astraeus picked his way through the straw, eyes darting from place to place. There- a good, plump mouse, more evidence that nocat had been by for some little time.

Astraeus slunk forwards, but before he could pounce the critter scrambled for cover. With an hiss Astraeus turned to look for more prey, some that hopefully hadn’t been disturbed by the mouse he’d failed to catch.

Rolling for success to catch a mouse, unsuccessful!

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 9

With a few quick bounds, Astraeus climbed the ladder to the loft, nose twitching. Something was off, here- some scraps of micemeat strewn about, straw stuck in the cracks of the wood, a few feathers amidst the straw. A familiar scent tugged at his nose- an owl must have taken up residence here. The silvery loner glanced up, and there, among the beams that crisscrossed just below the ceiling, sleepy, wide, and dangerous eyes stared back at him.

For few moments, owl and cat stared each other down, both hungry yet hesitant to risk life and limb. Finally, Astraeus began to inch his way up amongst the beams, owl still eying him, hoping the loner would fall. He stopped across a gap from the bird, tail twitching whilst it glared him down, then-

Astraeus sprung, curving through the air to tackle the bird from its aerial perch. Both tumbled to the loft, fall cushioned by the straw. Astraeus bared his teeth and pinned the owl to the ground, hissing. It would be food- perhaps the Clanners would appreciate it.

Astraeus used Leap and Hold, dealing 8 damage and costing 15 stamina. Lasts for one turn.

Astraeus
45/45 HP
75/90 SP (-15)

Owl
22/30 HP (-8)
90/90 SP

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 10

Rolling for pin length

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

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'Effect Dice' : 1

The owl’s screeching cry mingled with Astraeus’ furious hisses as he struggled to keep the bird pinned. It was hungry, but so was he- he wasn’t the prey here, and the owl was starting to realize that. But no hunter let their prey escape- with a sudden, quick movement Astraeus kicked the owl out of the loft. Too stunned to catch the air with its wings, the bird landed heavily on the hay beneath and the silvery loner followed, biting down savagely with teeth as sharp as the owl’s talons. The black tom he’d fought- Sablestrike- would’ve undoubtedly seen it as a dirty trick, even on a predator, but Astraeus didn’t fight for fun, he fought for his own survival, and as long as he lived, he cared none about how the victory was won. It didn’t matter, in the end, not really. All that mattered was his living another day: and though he wasn’t about to starve, the owl would be a safeguard against future trouble, a gift to the Clanners perhaps, one he could leave at Fourtrees.

The owl’s sharp talons met his pelt, but the bird was already weakening and too distracted to aim for Astraeus’ face.

Astraeus used Snap and Dirty Trick, dealing 13 damage and costing 14 stamina. Owl used Talon Strike, dealing 7 damage for 10 stamina.

Astraeus
38/45 HP (-7)
75/90 SP (-14)

Owl
9/30 HP (-13)
90/90 SP (-10)

Astraeus sprang out of the way- but instead of giving the owl a chance to recollect itself, he kicked its wing out of the way and darted in, sinking his teeth into its throat and claws into its soft down, positioning himself out of the way of both the beak and talons. Despite the owl’s (weakening) struggles, he held on, fangs as sharp as a hawk’s talons only sinking deeper and deeper into the plumage. The cloying, metallic scent of blood filled his nose and mouth. The bird couldn’t- wouldn’t last much longer, yet Astraeus did not budge, waiting until the owl’s final struggles weakened into nothing.

Licking the blood from his maw and paws, Astraeus stepped back, sizing up the beast he’d slain. Not too big a bird, but one that he doubted he could consume on his own before it rotted. The perfect contribution to the growing fresh-kill piles at Fourtrees. Nocat had called him out on it, likely assuming he was from some other Clan. He hadn’t been hardly wounded at all in the fight, just a superficial scratch along his side that would heal in no time. Still, he would take the time to treat it for infection before he left for Fourtrees, just in case.

Astraeus used Front Paw Strike and Dirty Trick, dealing 13 damage and costing 14 stamina. Owl is ded trust me.