rising dusk, lowered stars [OPEN]

After his quick fleeing from the Nest, his pace had slowed the closer to ThunderClan territory he became. Scenery, trees, and scents became more familiar, and a jaunty skip in his step appeared. It was wonderful to be back home, finally. He hadn't seen his family, his friends, for what felt like moons. Honestly, he had no idea how long it had been.

The last things he really remembered fully before the Nest was the ground shaking, ThunderClan fleeing, and Comfreyheart--was she okay?After that, there were ugly grabbing Twoleg paws around his scruff, he was shoved into a cramped, dark, moving den, and...he woke up in the Nest. There was a period of time between that and before, apparently, but what happened during it, he couldn't say.

But that didn't matter much anymore. He was free and almost back home to camp. Which reminded him, why come home empty-pawed? Zoning in on any rustling or scents upwind of him, he dropped into a hunting crouch, stalking forward on silent paws when he scented a squirrel hanging out on the side of a tree trunk. It hadn't noticed him yet, but when it did it darted down to run away, not up, which gave him the advantage. Sprinting after it, he pushed off with his good hindleg, using his tail for balance as he leapt at the poor rodent. Unfortunately, it escaped his grasp and skittered away.

Spitting a curse, he turned away to try again.

---

Eveningmoon attempted to catch a squirrel. He was unsuccessful, costing 5 stamina.

Eveningmoon
35/35 HP
65/70 SP (-5)

ooc: notes go here

Eyes shifting about for signs of other prey, Eveningmoon limped slowly in the direction of ThunderClan's camp, hoping to find something else along the way. His dark pelt didn't do much to help him blend in with the snow on the ground, which put him at a disadvantage, but the leafless brush and tree trunks helped shield him from prey.

Scenting a chipmunk rooting around in the snow for spare nuts, he dropped into a crouch once more, hoping to get lucky this time. His paws were deadly silent in the snow, even with his limp, and once he was close enough to the chipmunk he leapt, claws outstretched. It seemed another predator had the same idea as he did, because a snake, having warmed itself on a rock nearby, struck with fangs out at the hapless animal and claimed it. Eveningmoon skittered to a stop, kicking up snow as he went. "For StarClan's sake," he hissed, rolling his eyes. "Oh well, a snake will have to do."

The serpent, focused on its meal, couldn't pull away when Eveningmoon bashed at its head with an unsheathed paw.

---

Eveningmoon attempted to hunt a chipmunk. He was unsuccessful, costing 5 stamina.

Eveningmoon used Front Paw Strike on the Snake, dealing 8 damage and costing 7 stamina.

Eveningmoon
35/35 HP
53/70 SP (-12)

Snake
7/15 HP (-8)
75/75 SP

ooc: notes go here

The snake flinched away at its attacker, hissing through the prey in its mouth as it continued to swallow. It had no ability to drop it, it had to simply keep swallowing until the prey was fully eaten; little did it know that it was eating its final meal. Once the chipmunk had vanished in its maw, the snake lashed back out at the cat, sinking fangs into his shoulder. The ThunderClan warrior inhaled sharply in pain, dancing away. How were you supposed to tell if this was a venomous one, again? Something about a triangle head? He couldn't remember. Did the bite feel weird, or was that just his imagination? He supposed he would find out later, the adrenaline was pumping too strongly for now.

He attempted to strike at the snake again but it evaded his blow, albeit much slower than it normally would be due to the prey in its gullet.

---

The Snake used Venom Strike on Eveningmoon, dealing 20 damage and costing 30 stamina.
Eveningmoon's attack on the snake missed due to Serpentine Movement.

Eveningmoon
15/35 HP (-20)
53/70 SP

Snake
7/15 HP
45/75 SP (-30)

ooc: notes go here

The bite in his shoulder was starting to throb uncomfortably, but Eveningmoon ignored it as he smacked the snake's head again. This time he hit it so hard it finally went limp, but he bashed the thin bones again once more to be extra sure it was dead. The poor creature's head now crushed, he moved to pick it up in his jaws, triumphant. And a little woozy.

Luckily he was closer to camp at this point, and began limping the familiar path back home even as his vision blurred. Finally the dark warrior pushed through the bramble and gorse entrance to ThunderClan's camp, the snake held in his mouth. With a grin, he dropped the serpent into the snow at his paws, crowing, "ThunderClan, I'm home! Didja miss me?" Tail raised high in happiness and pride, his chest swelled at being back home once more. Wavering slightly where he stood, he took a pawstep or two forward before his legs gave out on him and he nearly faceplanted into the snow. Blinking rapidly as he tried to focus on the cats gathering before him, he weakly mewed with a smile, "I brought a snake, I think...it was venomous..." He flicked his tail tip at the bite wound on his shoulder, then promptly blacked out. So much for making a triumphant return home.

---

Eveningmoon used Front Paw Strike on the Snake, dealing 8 damage and costing 7 stamina.

Eveningmoon
15/35 HP
46/70 SP (-7)

Snake
KO'D/15 HP (-8)
45/75 SP

ooc: he's baaaaack