chasing the gold [c]

Russetpaw wasn’t quite sure how it had gotten to this.

What had started as an off-paw suggestion to her mentor and some playful banter with Sleepypaw had somehow, someway dragged in first Blazefang (that made sense, she was Sleeps’ mentor) and then Shadekitnowpaw, the dark molly she’d talked to in Fourtrees, and even some tom she hardly knew! It was- exhilarating, honestly, to know that her suggestion, her idea, was taken seriously- and that cats seemed to like it!

For the warriors, it was a fun competition (if an apprentice beat them, what a laugh that would be!)- for the older apprentices, something close to a hunting assessment (if they could beat the warriors, that’d show just how close they were to getting their warrior names), for the younger apprentices simply good practice.

Russetpaw crested a rise and turned to grin at the cats who had come with her straight from [wherever WC is supposed to be sheltering rn]. From here, she could see both a few more shapes making their way towards the agreed-upon meeting spot, and the tell-tale movement of grasses that betrayed the presence of WindClan’s preferred prey. A biting wind chilled her ears, but it wasn’t that cold yet- just warm enough for a fun competition!

As everyone gathered, Russetpaw bounded around in excitement, flicking an ear in anticipation, paws thrumming the ground impatiently. This would be so fun- she could hardly wait!

Shadepaw bounded up the rise in a few long strides. The rest of her body was finally catching up to her legs, but she hadn’t quite lost that gangly look of youth. It was hard not to purr when the wind teased her whiskers and the sunshine glared down on her pelt, unhindered by trees. The wide sweep of the moor fanned out before her, golden, grey, and blessedly empty. It still took her breath away.

The openness beckoned, and her dark tail tip twitched, the grass swayed around her, brushing close as if inviting her to pelt down the hill and keep running until her nose touched the sky. But she chased Russetpaw’s shape in the grass instead and padded to a stop a few tail lengths away. Shadepaw sat and watched the older apprentice jump around, her excitement was contagious, and Shadepaw felt just as pent up within a few heartbeats of watching.

The wind ruffled up her fur and chilled her paws, but she was content to be under the open sky. She kneaded her claws into the grass, golden eyes bright in her dark face. “I’m glad you suggested this, if I had to sit there any longer I would’ve flayed someone.” She purred. It felt good to be doing something, instead of looking at all the empty spaces.

The idea of a hunting contest had easily intrigued Silverwing. Russetpaw had unknowingly awakened her competitive spirit, and it was time to show everyone who the best hunter in Windclan was. She took immense pride in never failing to catch her quarry, and she certainly did not intend to fail with Blazefang, Russetpaw, and Sleepypaw watching. Aside from them, it seemed there was another warrior here that thought the title of 'unrivaled hunter' belonged to him. Silverwing would have to educate him.

Aside from being able to claim a concrete title for best hunter in Windclan, this contest also afforded her the opportunity to show off a little bit of her skills to the two apprentices, or rather three since Shadepaw had joined. Blazefang was just a bonus. As Silverwing padded up to Russetpaw, she offered the apprentice a sweet smile. Below that smile was a raging grin that was only barely held back. Russetpaw would be sorely upset by the end of this day if she thought Silverwing would go easy on her. This was war, and the victor would be the glorious Silverwing!

Blazefang bounded after the others, excited to get out and moving! And yeah, compete a bit too. “I’m not so sure, Sleepypaw,” she joked. “I mean, at this point everyone here is my apprentice or my apprentice’s apprentice. Isn’t there another warrior coming though?

((Quick reminder- roll to hunt a rabbit or hare + roll the big dice, higher number= larger prey! Predators are still a risk- others are free to join in to fend them off or let the finder scare it off- normal posting order will resume after predator’s defeat. For the sake of this topic I’d like to request that no one get seriously stuck in a trap if you roll one- close encounters are totally fine, just don’t want to seriously derail the topic if possible. Have fun!))

Russetpaw grinned in sympathy at Shadepaw, flicking an ear. “Go after Fuzzbutt, he has the most pelt to flay, eh?” A snicker. Silverwing appeared, and Sleepypaw, and Russetpaw rolled her eyes fondly at Sleepypaw’s words. “I’m the one with the best hunter in the Clan as my mentor, don’t forget! Oh yeah- here’s Weaselfoot! Heya-“ and then he opened his mouth and put his foot in it, and Russetpaw felt a surge of irritation. “Mister Weasel, Sleeps and I are practically your age, and Shadepaw knows to be careful.” Her electric blue eyes narrowed to slits. “Or are you just worried we’re gonna beat ya?”

The red-pelted apprentice sprung to her paws, eyes ablaze with the fire of competition- not just against her friends, but also against this stuck-up, pretentious hare-brain! She was gonna catch the biggest rabbit ever, just to make him eat his words.”Ready… Set… Go!”

Like a streak of russet-colored lightning, Russetpaw bolted down the rise, intent on putting as much space as possible between herself and the others. There- a good-sized hare- she dropped into a hunting crouch, vanishing amongst the flowing moor-grass. All the hectic energy that had spurred her on so far seemed suddenly to be transferred into careful movements, sending her slowly forwards…

Suddenly, Russetpaw exploded forwards, leaping onto the hare and sinking her claws into its sides- it kicked her twice, sharply, and began to sprint off, but fueled with the fire of competition Russetpaw took after the limping hare, ignoring the sparks of pain along her sides. She was nearing it- on it- she sunk her fangs it’s it’s neck, but-

Slam!

Russetpaw narrowly avoided the silvery bramble of a trap, but the hare wasn’t so lucky, rushing straight into the silver thing and cowering in the corner, blood seeping from its neck. It wouldn’t last long… but there didn’t seem to be any way to get it out. With a huff, Russetpaw sniffed around, looking for some way to open it… hare-dung. And it had been a good-sized one, too. But they’d agreed on only one shot at this… and so she turned and started trotting back towards the rise, keeping an eye out for others as to not disturb their hunting attempts. Her side ached, a little, but nothing compared to the irritation at having failed a catch. She would’ve had it, too, if it wasn’t for that trap!

Russetpaw failed to catch a hare :( and encountered a trap!

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

---

#1 'Hunting Dice' : 9

--------------------------------

#2 'Big Dice' : 223

Shadepaw let an amused growl rumble through her chest when Russetpaw mentioned Fuzzpaw. He was very high on her rip-in-half list. She sat and watched the rest of her Clanmates gather, contented to listen to their teasing. It felt right to be doing things like this again, and if not for the giant crack in the earth, she could’ve forgotten the way things were going. Of course, there was Weaselfoot, who she had never spoken to once, but she quickly decided it was probably for the best. She was the youngest and least experienced here, but she wasn't stupid, and neither were the older apprentices. Okay, so she had never seen the gorge, but it seemed like an easy thing to avoid from the stories she had heard. She felt a stab of fondness when Russetpaw defended her. “We all lived through the same thing.” She growled at the warrior, pulling herself to her paws. “We are very aware of the dangers.” With a snarl that flashed her sharp teeth, the lanky apprentice stalked down the hill to find some space to hunt. Killing somethinging would make her feel better.

Her annoyance was whisked away as the wind flowed through her fur. Hunting on the moor, in open space, always popped a bubble of joy under her ribs. The prey scent was sweet and heavy on her tongue. She dropped into a crouch, just another muted hue in the sea of leaf-bare’s grey and gold. Her ear flicked back, listening to the hare rustle in the grass. Her heart kicked up to a warhammer that bashed against her ribs. Her paws stung for the chase. She stalked forward, tamping down the pleased snarl that scrambled up her throat. Each slow roll of her shoulders brought her closer to the warm body in the grass. With a powerful spring the dark she-cat launched herself at the hare, claws outstretched. The hare bolted away, little chest heaving. Shadepaw pelted after it, the thrill of the hunt hammered down her legs and eased the stretch and burn of her lungs as the cold leaf-bare wind blasted past her face. She was close to begin with so the chase was not long. She pushed forward and with another long stride and caught up to her prey. Her paws slammed down on the hare, claws sinking into its shivering pelt as she hauled it back towards her. She killed it with a quick nip to the spine and peeked out of the grass, the hare swinging from her jaws. It was leaf-bare scrawny, but at least she had caught something.

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

---

#1 'Hunting Dice' : 5

--------------------------------

#2 'Big Dice' : 36

Silverwing chuckled at the apprentice's words. "Me? Lose? This competition is just for the sake of proving to you all who the best hunter in Windclan is, you're all just here to be my supporting cast!" Blazefang was here, which meant Silverwing could not lose. There was no way she would embarrass herself by losing to apprentices in front of her mentor. All was fine, until Weaselfoot spoke. His words didn't really matter to Silverwing, more so who they were directed at. No matter how small it was, the disrespect that he showed for her apprentice had Silverwing seething. "Watch your tongue, Weaselfoot, before I rip it out of your head. Russetpaw and Sleepypaw know what they're doing, and you're not high enough on the pecking order to be put down." Harsh, she knew it, but it made her blood boil that the tom would even try to disrespect her in front of Silverwing.

As Russetpaw began the, er, countdown? Silverwing just stared at Weaselfoot, grey eyes trying to drill a hole in the tom's head. One more bad thing about her apprentice and she wouldn't forgive the tom, it would be settled with claws. The final word was said, and the hunt had officially started. Not wasting any time Silverwing shot out onto the moors. She wouldn't take her time on this one, she would just rush down her prey and finish it quickly. A bit of brown fur caught her attention, and Silverwing switched directions to run the thing down. She pushed herself hard trying to keep up with the thing, but a pain in her chest stopped the she-cat dead in her tracks, allowing the furry beast to overtake her. It... it was all because of Weaselfoot. That tom had made her made her lose her head, why had she ever tried to run a hare down? This was so much more than that though. This day marked Silverwing's first unsuccessful catch. She wasn't a master of anything anymore, she had lost her best trait, and if she was being honest she didn't want to have to face any of them after this. Silverwing flopped onto her side, letting the tall grasses eat her up. I'm sorry, Blazefang, Sleepypaw, Russetpaw. I failed.

Silverwing has failed to catch anything and has retired from the hunt

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

---

#1 'Hunting Dice' : 8

--------------------------------

#2 'Big Dice' : 188

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

---

#1 'Hunting Dice' : 10

--------------------------------

#2 'Big Dice' : 95

Rolling for effect..