Blue skies ahead [c]

It was so easy to be pulled in every single direction as a leader. To have to heed to the call of those who came to her, who voiced their concerns. While prey was running thin, her attention was particularly valuable. She knew just how much her clanmates were struggling... to a degree that made her almost nauseous. Well, she was nauseous, but it was because of her own need to eat. The tortoiseshell had even resulted to eating a couple of caterpillars that made their way across the trunks of the forest, though one poor selection had left her stomach even emptier than before she had found it.

But while her attention was easily pulled by those who voiced how they were... there were the younger members whose voice could easily be lost in the crowd. She needed a break, and taking the time to walk with one of the apprentices was a good way, in her mind, to do so. "Bluepaw, do you feel well enough to join me on a small patrol?"

Bluepaw's head jolted from his half dazed tired state.  The lack of food had not helped his awareness but once he realized he was being called upon he tried to sit up more.  He really sat up more once he realized it was Mottlestar herself who was coming over.

She wanted a patrol?  An uneasy and anxious feeling rose in him, is this about him not having caught any prey during his apprenticeship? He had tried so hard really he had but all three of his hunting patrols thus far had ended with nothing being caught by him, he had not caught anything with out with his mentor Goldenfern, and then the disaster of the owl attacking him and acorn happened and then Brightpaw and him had tried to get more practice in which he also never caught anything there either.

He wanted so much to actually be able to help the clan, and he wanted to get that first fresh kill of his to fulfil his promise to Goldenfern that he would give to her whatever first real thing he caught was.

He gave a little nod that he was well enough to go although the uneasiness followed him still, what if he could not catch anything again? Only this time it would be in front of the leader. He was not so much worried for his own ego or pride which he had already largely given up on after so many mess ups.  But he wanted to show Mottlestar that Goldenfern was a good mentor because she was, he just feared he was a failure of an apprentice and did not want that to reflect poorly on poor Goldenfern.


He had heard that Mottlestar was patient and kind and even around the clan was knicknamed 'Momma Mottle' but he hadn't really ever spoken or interacted with the leader directly.  He just did not wanna let her down.

He closed his eyes trying to remember all the things Goldenfern had taught him about hunting but the panic feeling was not helping his recall. Slowly getting to his paws he felt like he was beginning a test that he felt woefully unprepared for.

"I'll do my best" he meowed quietly barely audible.

He left out of camp with her and hoped to the stars above that somehow he might actually be able to catch something this time.

Surprisingly enough, he did not have to walk far to get his first chance.  A small part of him shamefully felt a massive amount of dread when he spotted the rodent nearby... this was just gonna end poorly like everything he tried to do, that small ashamed part of him almost wished he he hadn't found prey because that way at least he would not be embarrassing himself and more importantly would not reflect bad on his amazing mentor.  He closed his eyes thinking back on what Goldenfern said and he tried to think of what Brightpaw would do, so positive so optimistic his friend was. The memories helped but his paws were still trembling with this test anxiety.  

Slinking low to the ground he mimiced as well as he could the hunting stalk that he and his mentor had gone over time and time again.  He closed in on the mouse rodent.

When he got as close as he dared so as not to scare it away too early he leaped at it!

rolling dice:

He had it!! it was in his paws and he was about to nip its neck his paws shaking as he tried to hang onto it.
This is it this is it! I finally got one he thought freaking out as he closed in.

The mouse was squealing in his paws moments before he could finish it.

But that moment never came for poor Bluepaw as his side was hit hard and he was tossed and rolled away by something that felt much bigger than himself.

The mouse scampered away in the confusion and in his daze Bluepaw wasn't sure what had happened. He just remembered watching the mouse getting away and feeling so helpless and worthless that he had once again failed to be of any use to anyone.


Those feelings were quickly replaced by a sharp more physical pain in their stead by sharp talons that dug into his pelt. It would seem that the clans were not the only desperate ones for food as a mighty eagle was now in the process of pecking the apprentice with its sharp beak while simultaneously trying to take flight clearly wanting to have Bluepaw for lunch.


Bluepaw wimpered in pain and tried to roll away from the bird but was locked firmly in place

Bluepaw cannot attack this turn

Eagle uses Swoop 9 dmg and 15 sp

Eagle:
40 HP
110 SP (-15)

Bluepaw:
11 / 20 HP (-9)
55 / 60 SP (-5 hunt fail)

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 10