The future's in your paws. Shape it well.Roleplay in a cat Clan of warriors. Based off the Warriors series by Erin Hunter. Takes place in an AU before the cats in the books existed.
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Subject: Hunting Like Shadows Mon 17 Jun 2024 - 0:00
(OOC: IT is finally here :D : Sorry for the wait on this but I finally had some time to make it and muse for it. At first I was thinking I should make lots of smaller patrols but then I reconsidered and thought - hold on, I want the clanmates to interact a lot so breaking everything apart felt too much of stopping that flow. So I created a reason why they all have to be out at an unusual time and just sorta went from there.
With such a large group I am going to drop any posting order. Literally just post whenever is good with me - treat it gathering style The pairings Rapidfire assigns are very loose as well and more so suggestion than anything that has to be followed since the posting order is going to be free for all. Happy hunting!
Additionally, you can choose if you want to give your character a debuff of like since they are not used to being 'shadowclan' hunters.)
As the warmer weather was approaching and the days grew hotter and hotter Rapidfire almost found herself missing the cold lands she was born into. She was born on the long journey back from the lake and the snows and ice had been her introduction into the world. It seemed like a lifetime ago now - if she were to tell her past self where she would be now she wouldn't believe it. She sat tail curled around herself over the past couple of days the intense heat of the summer had made the open moor lands especially hot with the lack of shade of trees. The winds were the only thing to keep cool with and those were fickle at times and unreliable at best.
She wanted to try a new tactic of hunting - one that could be done avoiding the heat of the day. They would begin in the late evening with the sun setting low and the first of the stars just starting to dare peak out.
It was a large patrol since she didn't want to send the usual 2 - 3 out in darkness but she hoped to avoid any heat strokes or overworking accidents or fatalities. Overworking had taken her father and she would do what she could to prevent any of her clanmates lost in a similar manor.
She glanced over at the near army sized number of cats that signed up for this patrol and smiled a little to herself - well at least everyone seemed interested in trying this out which she was very grateful for.
Taking a deep breath she stepped forwards and nodded her head to all them.
"My volunteers, thank you for agreeing to try this out. I know that night hunting will take some getting used to but I do believe it's doable and something we can get the hang of. We all know the heat of the days is getting to be very intense so I am hoping this will work out - we will have to hunt smart remember that rabbits are still active during dusk so this is our best shot perhaps. Work as a team and try and draw them out or catch them near water sources - remember they just got through a long and hot day as well so we might be in luck. As always, stick somewhat close there are lots of us around to help if anyone runs into trouble"
She looked at her patrol trying to come up with some big picture plan - lots of apprentices they could pair up perhaps
"Creampaw, Sunpaw, Quickpaw, Viperpaw and Spiderdance perhaps you can take the lower hills block off the prey's escape from the water pools down there
"Leopardwind, Oatfluff, Thistlepaw, Ryepaw you four stick together, see if you can draw them out of the dens or burrows "
"Foxpaw, Falconpaw and Moonpaw, you are with Eaglefly and myself we will pick off any out in the open and be watching for predators on the outskirts"
she gave an excited flick of her tail and headed out into the moorlands beyond the camp. The grass under her paws felt crunchier and drier from the heat that had abused and baked it all day. She narrowed her eyes scanning in the darker than usual lighting for any sign of prey.
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Swiftheart of Shadowclan Rapidfire of Windclan Sprucebark of Riverclan Stormwatcher of Skyclan Eaglefly of Windclan Lavendercloud of Windclan Rainkit of Windclan
Midnee
Characters : [S]ilverdusk, [L]ouse, [N]ettleweaver, [V]iperpaw, [P]etalkit, [C]lovermottle, Brackendawn* Burningpaw*, Oakberry*, Ospreypaw*, Weaselpaw*, Gladepaw*, Darkflower*, Pumapaw*, Hazeflight*, Driftcloud*, Spructhorn*, Hollyshard*, Ospreypaw*, Blurrypaw*, Dapplekit*, Jaguar* Clan/Rank : [S] ThunderClan T5 warrior [L] T3 rogue [N] Shadowclan T3 warrior [V] WindClan Apprentice [P] ThunderClan kit [C] RiverClan perma-queen Number of posts : 2364 Gender : any pronouns Age : 20
Subject: Re: Hunting Like Shadows Mon 17 Jun 2024 - 12:50
The dusk air was cool and refreshing, a welcome change from the heat of the day. Viperpaw followed quietly behind Rapidfire, head held high and each step taken with purpose. She made sure to stay close to the deputy, this was an opportunity to see a leader in action, and to discern what and what not to do. So far she had found no fault with Rapidfire this eve. The large group of cats came to a halt, and the deputy laid out the instructions for the night. Unfortunately, this was to be her first error of the night. Viperpaw was not pleased with her group, not in the slightest. Not only was she grouped with mainly apprentices and another nobody warrior, but she was stuck with Creampaw. She spent every waking moment with Creampaw! Could she not have a single patrol without her? Viperpaw sighed, the only sign of her upset, and trotted to her patrol. At least she had Quickpaw.
She was glad the pool weren’t so far, she could split off then and do her hunting, and she wouldn’t have to worry about them. Green eyes, illuminated by the moon, slid to Creampaw as they stood by the water’s edge. Auburnrain wasn’t here, and there was host of cats she needed to prove herself too. A grin spread across her maw. ”Creampaw! Let’s have a contest, let’s see who can catch a squirrel first. They’re the hardest prey to catch in WindClan.” she mewed, tail flicking. ”Whoever wins is the better apprentice… And the loser has to do the other cats chores of the next half moon, sound fair?” the golden she-cat didn’t bother to wait for Creampaw’s response, she knew the other she-cat wouldn’t back down from this challenge. A smug look crossed her maw, she couldn’t wait to get out of those chores. ”Oh, by the way, Creampaw, I don’t lose.”
Viperpaw wasn’t a genius, but you didn’t need to be one to figure out there would be no squirrels if there weren’t any trees. Her first point of action was to investigate the nearest tree. Upon approaching the large oak, it was evident none of the russet furred rodents had been anywhere near it. A disappointed frown crossed her features and she moved onto the next tree, hopefully it was more fruitful.
Subject: Re: Hunting Like Shadows Thu 20 Jun 2024 - 1:19
Gold is in our blood
When he had heard of Rapidfire's new idea, he had turned his nose up at it. They were WindClan warriors, not ShadowClanners, so why try to mimic those crow-food-eaters' habit of staying up to odd hours of the night. But still, he had an impression to make and a reputation to uphold. Though Father was not on this patrol-- clearly, he had seen the foolishness of it too-- Leopardwind was not even close the Leader's status, and as such could not afford to reject going on any additional patrols that came his way. Not if he wanted to build a good standing with the rest of his clanmates, that was. And he very much wanted-- no, needed-- to. He would one day be WindClan's Leader, and he had to prepare properly for when that moment came. Things like getting to know his clanmates, participating actively in patrols, and always being available were just small steps he had to take to ensure his path.
The black warrior nodded as Rapidfire issued her orders. He had not gotten to know Ryepaw or Oatfluff well, but Thistlepaw was his brother. He hoped that would mean something. Since Oatfluff was the oldest amongst them, it only made sense for him to lead the patrol. Leopardwind fell back to allow the older tom to take the lead. His yellow gaze, having finally adjusted to the night, scanned the vast moor for signs of life. As expected, only the slight rustling of bushes answered him. They were meant to chase rabbits out of their burrows, right? As if that would work...
Eventually, he did find a burrow. He called out to alert the rest of the patrol. "Stand around the burrow, a few foxlengths away from it. I'll try to chase any rabbits from here out, but if I fail to catch it or more than one escapes, it'll be up to you three to catch it," He instructed, only realising as he finished explaining his idea that he had done so without the patrol leader's input. He glanced at Oatfluff, checking the warrior's reaction before returning his attention to the burrow. Whatever, he might as well get this over with. Experimentally, he reared up and brought his weight crashing down on the small den below him. The dirt caved in underpaw, the hollow tunnel rumbling with the impact. Nothing. Maybe there wasn't anything afterall. He reared up again, and brought his paws down once again. More dirt spluttered out from the burrow, and this time he heard some scramblings. Rabbits? Or something more dangerous? His gaze narrowed, and one last time, he reared up and slammed down with as much force as he could muster.
At once, several rabbits-- he counted four-- spewed from the tunnel. Leopardwind hurled himself forward, giving chase to the closest rabbit. He couldn't afford to let this one escape. The others, however, would be his patrolmates' problems. A few swift bounds were all it took to catch up to the rabbit, and quickly, he pushed it to the ground and snapped it's neck. His first catch of the patrol-- so far, everything was going well. Hopefully, Oatfluff would be watching and leave a few good words for him to the other warriors.
Leopardwind has caught a rabbit
Run Rabbit, Run
Ugh, did she seriously get put on a patrol with Viperpaw again? Creampaw couldn't stand that high-and-mighty, bird-brained flea-bag. What, just because her father was Tigerstar, Viperpaw thought she was all that important? Oh, please, Tigerstar's litter was cramming the apprentice's den with it's sheer size, Viperpaw was nobody special. Just one of the nine weirdos. Not to mention her creepy brother, Falconpaw(was he seriously an apprentice now? Couldn't he have stayed in the nursery?), and her wayyy too talkative sister Fastpaw or whatever her name was. Besides, her skills were way better than Viperpaw's! Auburnrain started training her first, and obviously her being her, she was just better than nobodies like Viperpaw.
Creampaw's face twisted into a look of disgust as Viperpaw slid up to her. Get that slimy, long-legged creature away from her! Why was everycat in this patrol but her ugly? Ugh, she couldn't be pretty for all of them! Creampaw's ear flicked at the other apprentice's words, and immediately she scoffed. "If you want to do extra chores, just say it," She sneered, tail flicking crossly at the disgusting smirk on Viperpaw's face. If there was nobody else on this patrol, she would claw that expression right off Viperpaw's face in a heartbeat.
What? Viperpaw, never lose? Creampaw wanted to laugh. What a joke. The words "Viperpaw" and "lose" fitted right together-- they were made for each other! Just like how the words "Creampaw" and "win" were a pair. A pity Auburnrain wasn't here-- Creampaw had to show her mentor how much of a better apprentice she was! As Viperpaw ran away to try and catch a squirrel, Creampaw too ran off to the nearest tree in hopes of spotting a fluffy tail in the thin branches overhead. A short while of looking(and a few kicks at the trunk) revealed nothing but falling leaves and the sound of branches rattling. Huffing, Creampaw raced off to the other trees, hoping to find a squirrel there instead.
Subject: Re: Hunting Like Shadows Sat 22 Jun 2024 - 2:20
FOXPAW "there's nothing that i'd take back" they/he - windclan apprentice
Foxpaw was unbelievably excited to be out on the territory. Night hunting sounded super cool, too. They didn't actually care a lot about hunting, but it was just nice to be doing something new and different. Rapidfire seemed like someone worth knowing if she was willing to try new things - that was one of their favorite parts about life, really.
Their comically large ears perked as she announced their group, too. Falconpaw was with them! Oh, they loved Falconpaw! He was such a goof, and one of their best siblings, really. And while they didn't know Moonpaw, she definitely seemed like a potential friend. Really, anyone was a potential friend until proven otherwise. Whoever Eaglefly was, he had to be cool, too, if he'd ended up on the Cool Kids Patrol.
"Hey, Falc! I bet you can't catch a rabbit and still manage to look cool!" They called out as they jogged to their brother's side. They stuck their tongue out at him, then made a big show of sniffing the air. "Oh, what's that I smell? Speak of the Dark Forest... it's a rabbit! I've got this one, though, I've gotta prove that I can manage to look cool first." Foxpaw's eyes were, for once, dark with sincerity. Challenges like this were very, very serious. They flicked their tail and branched off, following the rabbit's scent. As the warm greenleaf air bathed their tongue, they spotted the aforementioned prey just a few foxlengths ahead; its legs were tucked beneath it, and it faced away from the cats, unaware of their presence. It must've been down...downwind? Is that what the warriors called it?
The gangly apprentice crept closer and closer, unsure of when to pounce. When they felt like they were close enough, they sprung forward...and they were genuinely surprised when they landed square on the rabbit. Instinct guided their next movements, and they bent down to give it a killing bite. As their jaws closed around its neck, they felt a rush of sympathy. "Sorry, little dude... it's nothing personal." Foxpaw meowed sadly, then looked over their shoulder back at Falconpaw and Moonpaw. Oh. The challenge, right. The tall orange tabby straightened and bent down low - then launched off the ground, arcing in midair in a sick backflip. They landed... less than gracefully, but turned and gave their patrol a grin that would surely make up for the disastrous failure that was their attempt at gymnastics. "A solid 6 out of 10, no? Your turn!"
Foxpaw caught a rabbit!
OATFLUFFare you going to age with grace? he/him - t3 windclan warrior
Oatfluff hadn't been hunting in what felt like forever, but he was excited to be out with so many of his Clanmates. He was paired off with Leopardwind, Thistlepaw, and Ryepaw; none of which he knew, but he was excited to get to know some of the younger cats. A pang of loneliness pierced him as he realized his only friend on this patrol, Rapidfire, had placed herself in a different group - but he'd never had difficulty making friends, and he wasn't going to let it get in his way. As the eldest and highest rank, he'd be looked to as the leader of the small group, and he silently vowed to keep a watchful eye over the young ones as they all split off.
Two apprentices and a junior warrior. It was a lot of responsibility, especially so late at night, but Oatfluff would give his life for any of them if he had to. He blinked hard in an attempt to adjust to the darkness. Leopardwind was falling back; was he letting him lead the way? He dipped his head and took the front of the patrol gladly. But StarClan, he wasn't used to moving among the shadows, and the night breeze wasn't carrying any familiar scents...
Then, from behind him, Leopardwind called out. If he'd really had a sense of pride, he would've been embarrassed that a younger warrior had scented the burrow first, but he was just glad to be in the company of excellent warriors. The stout tom hurried over, quiet pride shining his chestnut gaze. "Excellent work, Leopardwind." His voice was warm as he offered the young tom his sincere praise. Quietly, he found a spot by the burrow where he anticipated any rabbits might split off and got into a crouch. Leopardwind had seemed to take the lead as naturally as his father, but Oatfluff didn't mind. He dipped his head as the dark-furred tom found his gaze, as though to assure him it was okay.
The next part happened fast. As the other warrior brought his paws down once, then twice, then three times, several rabbits went shooting out of the burrow, and Oatfluff nearly flinched. He didn't have time to count them, but they'd make a nice feast for the Clan if their small patrol could bring them down. He let himself move on instinct, darting after one of the rabbits that got away, and pinned it to the ground with large, sure paws. As he gave it a swift, merciful killing bite, he closed his eyes and said a silent prayer. Thank you, StarClan. He turned back to see how the rest of the patrol was faring.
Sunpaw couldn't help but glare when Rapidfire announced who she was paired with. Did the deputy dare separate her from both her sister and her mentor? Seriously? Was she trying to kill her? Making friends sucked, especially when she was forced into groups with people her own age. At least Quickpaw was here - the nice she-cat had introduced herself during Sunpaw's ceremony, and she was hoping they could be inseparable by the end of their apprenticeships. Quickpaw had to be one of few Clanmates worth talking to - outside her own family, of course.
As their group split off, Sunpaw's irritation only grew. Two of the mousebrains she'd been stuck with were arguing and trying to start some competition. Hunting wasn't a game. It was a means of feeding the Clan, and it shouldn't be taken lightly. She grumbled under her breath and struck out on her own. Was Quickpaw really related to Viperpaw? The two acted so... different. She hadn't gotten to know Viperpaw well, but if the other molly usually acted like this, then Sunpaw was glad she hadn't. "This is so dumb." Sunpaw muttered as she stalked along, reluctantly following the patrol somewhat even if she was keeping her distance. She didn't care who heard her. Her denmates were dumb, hunting at night was dumb, all this was so dumb...
She'd prove how dumb they were, she would. She'd show them. Sunpaw purred softly, thinking of the way their faces might look when she came back with three times the prey they'd catch. The small tortoiseshell parted her jaws, hoping to scent a rabbit - and oh, scent one she did. Her size had always been her advantage, and as she padded forward softly, she let her quiet rage fuel her movements. Silent steps. The rabbit slipped out of its burrow ahead of her, and before it could get anywhere, she closed the distance and caught it in one swift movement. Her jaws tore at its neck, and she killed it swiftly and silently before it even knew she was there. Oh, I am so a natural at this.
Sunpaw caught a rabbit!
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Oatfluff - T4 WindClan Warrior - #7f513e
Nightowl - T1 ShadowClan Med. Cat - #669966
Smokeytimber - T3 ShadowClan Warrior. -#626b7d
Foxpaw - WindClan App. -#f4ab6a
Sunpaw - WindClan App. -#cea716
Tortoise - T1 Loner - #6e6e33
Last edited by chicago on Sat 22 Jun 2024 - 2:28; edited 1 time in total
Mistpelt
Characters : Mistpelt Clan/Rank : RiverClanWarrior Number of posts : 15438 Age : 30
Subject: Re: Hunting Like Shadows Sat 22 Jun 2024 - 2:20
The member 'chicago' has done the following action : Dice roll
'Hunting Dice' : 7, 8, 3
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♪~Founder/Owner of WCC~♫ ~Forever a RiverClan Warrior~ ~Please pm Administrators with queries as I'm not active~
Moonpaw hung behind the rest of the patrol, her feathery tail twitching uncertainly as they traversed the shadowy landscape. She didn't make a habit of wandering their territory at night, much less hunting after sunfall, but Rapidfire seemed determined to teach everyone something new. This new chance definitely had something to do with the warmer weather and Moonpaw couldn't help but feel a little proud of herself for predicting a difference in their hunting patterns with Greenleaf approaching. Why the entire clan had to be brought out, though, was a mystery.
The silver she-cat let out a massive yawn as they trekked further from the camp, her tired legs already protesting the journey. They stopped, finally, and Moonpaw blinked blearily at Rapidfire as she explained the exercise for tonight. Nothing special, then, just some nighttime hunting. It'd be better than hauling herself out of the camp in the middle of the day, but she'd easily rather be sprawled out in her nest regardless. She glanced over the gathered cats for her patrol-mates, and frowned slightly. Of course she'd be with Falconpaw. What rotten luck.
The others, Foxpaw, Eaglefly, and Rapidfire herself weren't a problem, but Falconpaw? She couldn't even hunt with Sunpaw? Grumbling under her breath, she followed her designated group to the outskirts where they'd keep an eye out for predators. Could she just do that? Sit around and watch everyone to make sure they were safe? That seemed infinitely easier than running around after rabbits like a fool. At least Foxpaw seemed happy to keep Falconpaw's attention off of her. Begrudgingly, Moonpaw set out in the opposite direction as Falconpaw.
Whatever Foxpaw was saying wasn't important enough to change her mind. She hated being put on a patrol with Falconpaw! It was just so awkward! He was always so strange around her littermates and some of the other she-cats. It made her blood boil and her face warm whenever she saw it. With an annoyed twitch of her whiskers Moonpaw scented the air, determined to banish the infuriating tom from her mind. The fresh scent of rabbit rolled up the hill towards her and though Moonpaw contemplated ignoring it, she simply couldn't pass up an easy kill.
The rabbit was nibbling on some clover blossoms, absolutely oblivious to her presence. So, moving slowly and deliberately, Moonpaw crept up on the long-legged creature, careful not to rush or startle it. Once she got into position, she didn't hesitate. Moonpaw moved like a blur against the silvery grass, pawsteps light and almost noiseless. The rabbit bolted, but it had noticed her too late. She pushed harder and leapt, paws striking the rabbit's soft pelt. With a pleased growl, she bit down on the back of its neck. "thank you, starclan."
(Moonpaw successfully caught a rabbit! -2 EP)
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[Nectarflower] T5 WC Permaqueen
[Hemlockfox] T4 WC Hybrid Medicine Cat
[Wiggleworm] T3 TC Warrior
[Firetreader] T1 SkC Warrior
[Moonpaw] WC Apprentice
[Lykaios] T1 Rogue
Last edited by GravisCordis on Sat 22 Jun 2024 - 19:20; edited 2 times in total
Mistpelt
Characters : Mistpelt Clan/Rank : RiverClanWarrior Number of posts : 15438 Age : 30
Subject: Re: Hunting Like Shadows Sat 22 Jun 2024 - 19:15
The member 'GravisCordis' has done the following action : Dice roll
'Hunting Dice' : 8
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♪~Founder/Owner of WCC~♫ ~Forever a RiverClan Warrior~ ~Please pm Administrators with queries as I'm not active~
downfive Former Staff
Characters : [R]owansong [Ro]okflight [S]ilverhawk [P]igeonpouce [F]ishpaw [Fa]lconpaw [Fo]xpaw Clan/Rank : [R] RiverClan T5 Elder [Ro] RiverClan T4 Warrior [S] ShadowClan T5 Warrior [P] (T3) RiverClan Hybrid MCA [F] ShadowClan Apprentice [Fa] WindClan Apprentice [Fo] SkyClan Apprentice Number of posts : 2800 Gender : any or username Age : 22
Falconpaw wasn’t particularly invested in hunting. He rarely was. He was, however, interested in seeing the territory under the wash of night. He imagined few WindClan cats knew what it felt like to draw prey-blood beneath the rising moonlight, and he wanted to be one of them. Falconpaw followed along Rapidfire and the rest of the massive patrol, listening as she doled out assignments. He was briefly disappointed that he wasn’t in Ryepaw’s group, but he quickly straightened up when his assignment was given out. Fox was great, really, and it’d be fun to see if he could get Moonpaw to talk to him again.
Foxpaw was quick to approach his side as the groups dispersed. Falconpaw only rolled his head at his brother’s challenge. ”Yeah, uh-huh.” He started. ”Don’t’cha know? I’ve been--” but Foxpaw was already gone. Falconpaw watched them go with an affectionate, exasperated sigh. While his sibling ran off in pursuit, he turned his head, hoping to find Moonpaw still beside him, but she, too, was gone. Falconpaw sighed and turned back around to squint after Foxpaw as they pursued their rabbit.
He was impressed to see they actually caught it. A purr of pride rumbled in Falconpaw’s throat from afar. He started to pad over, but he was paused halfway by the surprise of watching Foxpaw suddenly take to the air. Falconpaw blinked a little dumbly at him, and then a laugh broke out of his chest and he crossed the rest of the way over. ”What was that?” He teased good-naturedly, jostling Foxpaw’s shoulder while he spoke. ”I could’ve mistaken you for a rabbit. Or a songbird, maybe.” He laughed again and started to trot away. ”Hey--good catch, though.” With that and a whisk of his tail, he was turning fully away.
Rabbits were blessedly plentiful tonight. It did not take long for him to scent one. Before he went after it, Falconpaw looked back to search for his sibling and said, ”You know, I caught a rabbit as a kit? I’m pretty sure I’ve got this covered.” He puffed up with pride then turned away again. He crept forward, belly low to the ground, but the dusky half-light made it hard to judge the distance between his quarry and himself. He sprang after it too early, and even hitting a hard sprint was not enough to catch it before the rabbit disappeared into a nearby warren. Falconpaw's ears fell back. He didn't mind if Foxpaw wanted to tease him about it, but... he hoped Moonpaw hadn't seen him mess up.
Falconpaw attempted to catch a rabbit... attempt failed. -2 EP.
Of course, only when Falconpaw didn't want her around would Moonpaw happen to grace him with her presence. It was like she was simply destined to see every awkward moment and blunder from a perfect vantage point. So, when the other apprentice failed spectacularly to make a successful catch, she couldn't help but trot across the slope towards him, her own plump rabbit clutched in her jaws. With a tired, almost pitying grin, she looked between him and her catch, amused.
"y'know. that was real cute. coulda sworn y'were tryin'ta play tag with it." Honestly, with him, she wouldn't have even been surprised. Though, feeling bad for him just this once, Moonpaw nudged her rabbit with a paw. "anyway. if y'don't catch anythin' else, we can say you helped me this thisun." It didn't cost nothing to be nice, after all. And besides, if she showed him how easy it was to engage in a normal, flirt-free manner, he might pick it up.
