semi-automatic (c)

An ache had begun to form strongly in her shoulders, providing intense discomfort when she stood or had the audacity to do anything really, and it was something she was desperately chalking up to the rains saturating her nest in the sandy hollow more than anything she had experienced in the ravine. The deputy sighed and shivered a little, looking more gaunt than normal, looking at the dwindling fresh-kill pile with a somber gaze and a deep sense of unease. They had lost so many in the last moon to twolegs, others injured or missing after the events of the world shaking - it was hard to provide for those left, especially when she was uncertain if any were to return. Thistlemask shook her head, pulling herself upright with a tremendous amount of effort. What good had thinking ever done? No, she needed to be out there. Hunting whatever she could for her clan. It was all she could do.

Gritting her teeth, the molly looked around for someone to come with her. Preferably someone with experience but... Her eyes landed on an apprentice. One she didn't recognise, as she had been absent for his ceremony. The calico halted for a moment, before letting out a quiet breath of resignation. He would do.

"You," Thistlemask's voice was sharp, eyes trained on the tom. "We're going hunting. Follow me."

Having finished his apprentice duties, today had been a good day. He'd gone on a patrol in the morning, assisted the queens with anything they had required, and he'd finished his chores with cleaning the elders. In doing so, he'd gotten to hear some interesting stories from them and was happy that helping the elders was part of his daily routine.

Sitting down, the curly-coated apprentice began to clean himself, staring with his fluff-covered paws. He hadn't gotten very far when a voice sounded nearby saying something about going hunting. Looking up, he noticed that Thistlemask was looking straight at him and had most likely been talking to him. Sitting up a little straighter, he nodded his head confidently. Hunting with the deputy? He couldn't wait!

"Okay!" he mewed happily, jumping up and not minding at all that he hadn't been able to finish sprucing himself up. Trotting after the she-cat as they began their trek away from the Sandy Hollow, the apprentice noticed his paws were a bit shaky and the tip of his fluffy tail twitched nervously. Thistlemask was the deputy, there was nothing to be afraid of... so why was he anxious? Maybe it was just the fact that she was so wise and held such a place of authority? Or maybe he was worried that he wouldn't be able to catch anything today and not be able to show that he was capable of providing for his clanmates? Well, whatever the reason for his jitters was, he knew that stressing about them wouldn't help any-cat and so he needed to just take a deep breath and focus on doing the best he could.

She was acutely aware of the jittery behaviour of the apprentice, having found that as a newcomer to the clan, any interaction between herself and Stoatfur or Minkstar would often drain the spit from her mouth and leave her panicked until she was back with Achelois. Thistlemask's head reeled a little bit with thinking about her sister, sighing softly as she cast a look behind her to ensure the apprentice was still following. Nodding to herself, she walked a bit further before settling down in the snow, a clear lack of birdsong or prey noises audible in the forest. It would be a hard hunt.

"Has your mentor taught you much about hunting?" Her voice was quiet, eyes trained carefully on the apprentice. She was admittedly not particularly interested in doing a teaching lesson today, but if that's what was required, she could stifle her annoyance enough to do her duties as deputy. Tail flicking lightly, the deputy waited somewhat patiently for a response.

Following the warrior, he realized he didn't know much about the she-cat and hoped he would be able to learn more as the day progressed. She seemed a bit distant, much like several of their other clanmates, and he wasn't sure if that was just her nature or if it was from all that had been happening lately. Whatever the reason was, he hoped that he might be able to cheer her up, at least a little bit.

"She has!" Curlypaw mewed happily, standing in front of the molly. "Make sure to stay low but not brush too much against the ground so that you make more noise, make sure you have a clear path or way to the prey and something to use as cover, uuhhh," he began, looking up in a curious manner as he did his best to remember everything. "Oh yeah! Always hunt downwind, uhhh, always keep your ears alert for any possible predators..." the apprentice rambled on innocently, not realizing that he'd kept talking more than Thistlemask probably wanted.

As the apprentice recounted what he knew, rambling a little too much for her liking, stumbling over his words in a very excitable and innocent way; she softened just a little. As agitated and distant as the deputy found herself lately, there was no point in punishing the tom with coldness an enemy warrior would give him - he was one of her own. The molly could do better.

Exhaling out the unsavoury emotions gently, Thistlemask nodded at Curlypaw, physical acknowledgement that the tom was correct for the most part, even through the word vomit she had endured. "You don't need me to teach you what you already know then. Feel free to hunt on your own today, however do not stray far. There are twolegs and their traps everywhere and I do not intend on losing another clanmate today." She fixed him with a serious stare, tail twitching slightly. "If you hear or see anything out of the ordinary, I want you to call for me immediately okay? I won't be far. Don't be a mousebrain."

With that, she padded away, jaw slightly agape to take in scents of prey. This late into the season finding prey would prove to be difficult, but with the added pressure of the twolegs patrolling their territory it was almost impossible. Warmth bloomed in her chest as she spied a mouse flitting about at the base of a tree, keeping her steps silent as she approached, aware it would be able to feel vibrations in the ground. Thistlemask held her breath as she leapt forward, claws extended. Her jump was slightly off, sore muscles making it hard to retain the accuracy she normally had, and the mouse quickly hid away once more, leaving her panting and empty pawed from the exertion. She shook her head and sighed, hoping Curlypaw would have slightly better luck.

Thistlemask attempted to catch a mouse and missed! -5SP

Thistlemask:
50/50HP
115/120SP

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 7

Listening to Thistlemask, the curly apprentice nodded at her instructions. "Will do," he replied in a more serious tone. Watching as she made her way away from him, Curlypaw lifted his maw into the air to try and find any nearby scents. Luckily for him, he was able to catch one fairly quickly. Crouching down with his fluffy tail as low as it could be without making too much noise against the snow, he stalked forward. To his surprise, he caught sight of a mouse not too far away from him just past some brush and thanked StarClan for the opportunity in being able to hunt today, especially during the harsher season of Leafbare.

Inching forward, he did his best to take his time. Extending his claws, he wiggled his haunches back and forth. Just a few more moments... leaping forward through the brush with paws out in front of him, he'd miscalculated how close the mouse had been to him. Landing just before the small rodent, it scurried away under a nearby rock before he was even able to react. "Awe, darn," he sighed simply. Next time, he'd be sure to spend more time on deciding how much distance he needed to cover before he leapt towards the prey.

Curlypaw attempted to catch a mouse and was... unsuccessful. -5SP

Curlypaw
HP: 30/30
SP: 55/60

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 8