teeth of fury [duo]

It was not often that there was a night that did not produce any sleep for the pale-furred molly. Instead, it was more often the occasion that she found sound rest directly through the night, with no need to fight whoever in the stars it was that granted rest. Just as there were patterns and habits in the forest, and just as their normal life had been disrupted, so had her sleep. Something had kept disturbing the molly, causing her to rise and find her nest more than uncomfortable. Even hidden beneath her foxpelt to add warmth and weight, it should have soothed her right to slumber. Unfortunately, it did not.

Pushing herself to her paws and silently stepping beyond the confines of the warrior's den, Egretswoop ensured the pelt was secured on her back before gingerly walking around camp. Perhaps a simple bout of movement would allow the need to sleep to pull her back in. Or perhaps it wouldn't, and she would find company.

The pale-pelted warrior had noted how it seemed that the newest warrior to Riverclan, Murkyriver, often did not sleep as soundly during the night as her clanmates did. It had been easy to procure the assumption that it was from ther time in Thunderclan, but they were not known to be warriors of the night. That belonged to Shadowclan, and as far as her nose could tell, the warrior never bore the scent of the marshes. So it was perhaps a personality quirk, much as she wore her fox pelt, or much as she observed every detail that she could.

With the restless tortoiseshell to make good company, Egretswoop's pale yellow gaze met the blazing ember of Murkyriver's own. "I see sleep eludes multiple tonight," She commented softly. The other warrior, who had yet to notice her fox-hidden clanmate's presence, turned her head. Offering a slow blink and nod in response, it was hard not for Egretswoop not to assume some semblance of offense. Understandably, most who rose in the night did not wish to be distrubed. She did not know Murkyriver enough yet to conclude whether or not that was simply her personality, but from what she had heard, it may as well have been.

"May we stretch our paws and perhaps find some quarry?" The question rolled softly. Again, a slow blink and a nod. Perhaps the new warrior was keeping her voice down so as to not rouse any cats of camp. It was a valid assumption, and the answer that Egretswoop chose for her personal pride and sanity.

With both felines venturing out, it was Egretswoop who took the helm. She glided with ease amidst the territory, even as hunger rattled in her stomach and sadness her paws at the sickly scent of the river. Much like a bird spreading its wings, silently swooping and studying what lay below. For her case, though, it was what was ahead. They easily could have turned towards the Beech Copse, or could have found places near Twolegplace to hunt. But for some reason, she found her paws carrying her to Sunningrocks.

Perhaps it was the subconscious memory that Murkyriver hailed from the Clan that was on the other side that had brought her there. A glance behind her surveyed how her clanmate reacted to being so close to her previous home, but there was no reaction that she could discern. It was as if whatever thoughts swirled in her mind were encased in ice, unable to be detected unless she were to claw and scrape away at it.

There was no need to rise tensions in doing such. Instead, her head once more focused forward, giving a nod to Murkyriver as they arrived. "Search along the Thunderclan-side of the stones. Prey hides best there." It was the first words she had spoken all evening, but it was an instruction that came with experience. Egretswoop's ear flicked in acknowledgement, and it was at that moment that she realized something about her clanmate. For as young as she was, there was more experience than should have been that lurked beneath her pelt. An experience that Egretswoop would subtly respect.

Murkyriver herself had been happy for the excuse to leave camp. She had been used to always going out in the night, checking her Clan, hunting prey. But Perchstar's orders were given, and they would be followed. No solo trips into the territory, no matter how much her paws itched to do something to assist her Clan during this famine. If anything, it made her feel more comfortable to come to the rocks, hunting prey that she had long caught. Even with her training in Riverclan and the way she had learned to excel, it was hard to forget lessons of old that had imbued themselves into her claws.

The mollies split, just enough to hunt in a way that would not disturb the other. The scent of a toad caught Egretswoop's nose, and that of a mouse for Murkyriver. With intention fueling their veins, they went after their prey.

Egretswoop attempts to catch a toad, spending 5 stamina. Success!
Murkyriver attempts to catch a mouse, spending 5 stamina. Unsuccessful!

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 3, 8

It was easy enough for Egretswoop to detect the slimey creature. It perched itself directly atop one of the stones, throat bubbling and deflating as it quietly croaked in the evening. All but a heartbeat later and it would cease living, the prey's life now firmly ended by the warrior.

Behind her, though, a voice hissed. "Raccoon!" It was a swift call for help, and spinning on her heels, faux-fox eyes met that of the predator. Indeed, it was now hissing at Murkyriver, who looked ready to skin the creature alive.

Dropping her toad on one of the stones, she rushed to her clanmate's aid. Murkyriver herself had no hesitation to jump into battle, claws extended and aiming directly for the predator's eyes. Egretswoop's mind first considered how the creature's pelt may make a fantastic gift for one of her clanmates, but that was swiftly replaced by the deep instinct to protect. Protect her clanmates, protect her clan. Protect her catch.

She watched the creature hiss in reply. Blinded by the warrior's strike, its own claws swiping at her clanmate produced a particularly loud war cry as its filthy claws found the tortoiseshell's ear, ripping deeply. Murkyriver had turned her head to avoid her eyes being swiped at, as one had already been scarred. But with her ear now torn, the smell of feline and vermin blood in the air, it simply fueled Egretswoop to move faster.

Bounding with the lethality that experience owed her, it was easy for her to spot the opening that would allow her to quickly end the creature. Given that her clanmate had already swiped at its eyes, a particularly strong bash to the head would produce the ultimate result that would be most beneficial. As soon as she was close enough, Egretswoop reared onto her hind legs, bringing all of her weight smashing down onto the creature's skull.

A sickening crack! signified the success as bone met stone. Given how much strength had to be in her legs to swim, even with the malnourishment that otherwise wreathed her body, it was easy to end its life. Even the predators were suffering from their lack of food, too.

A raccoon appeared!
Murkyriver used Jumping Strike! She dealt 9 damage (6+3) and used 7 stamina.
Raccoon used Quick Swipe on Murkyriver! It dealt 8 damage and used 10 stamina.
Egretswoop used Upright Lock! She dealt 12 damage and used 10 stamina.

Murkyriver
22 / 30 HP (-8)
68 / 80 SP (-5, -7)

Egretswoop
60 / 60 HP
125 / 140 SP (-5, -10)

Raccoon
-1 / 20 HP (-9, -12)
110 / 120 SP (-10)

Murkyriver knew the moment its head hit the stones that it was over for the raccoon. Such vermin had plagued Thunderclan constantly, and it was easy to see why it was attempting its luck at the stones. Any semblance of warmth, while it had such a thick pelt, would be a precious resource when food was otherwise so hard to come by.

But with adrenaline now coursing through her and ebbing away, she swayed on her paws as the warmth of her own blood trickled down the side of her face. It had produced a particularly nasty gash in her ear, one that no doubt would prove a permanent malformation. Such a wound did not bother her in the perspective of looks: a warrior wore their scars with pride. But what would prove to be more troublesome was going back to camp. She was a new warrior-she shouldn't have taken such a hit.

Embarrassment at such a mistake flashed through her. Resources were precious, and to waste them on such a thing was not of her best interest for rapport. Hopefully, Egretswoop would not judge her. Resisting the urge to flick her ear and cause even more pain to course through the now-throbbing side of her head, she had to blink to register the words coming from the senior warrior beside her.

"We must return, and you must see Sandyshell. Take the toad, I will take this beast. Perhaps it can be of use." Mimicry of her seniors flowed through her as Egretswoop gave her orders. A heartbeat later had her producing her catch for Murkyriver to carry back, and she picked up the now-dead beast by its scruff to bring back to camp.

The smell of carrion made her eyes water, but she blinked it away. Even if it was simply a new covering for the elders or kits, there was still also likely enough meat on its bones to somehow make even a desperate meal.

Given how much effort it took to simply listen to Egretswoop, Murkyriver was in to position to argue. She did not have the strength to take such blows with ease as she was used to, and taking the toad gently in her maw, she followed the other warrior back to camp.