ASK HER FOR THE STRENGTH TO STAY [hunting party]

[LAKEMOON]

✵ ღ ☾ IT TOOK ME BY SURPRISE - After her little stunt with the rats, Hound had made sure to give her a good shake and scolding, that big mouth of his going on and on about her stupidity, her reckless… but in the end Azalea couldn't help but grin with the lecture was over and the tom hurriedly checked her for injuries, solely because she was amused by the fact that he cared, and though she would never admit it, she was happy that he did.
The not-so-distant memory crosses her mind as she walks side by side with a camp-mate as they bring up the front of the hunting group, almost in the direction of the carrion place before she makes a sharp turn, leading them down another less-trodden path, grateful for the rain dampening the usually crisp pine-needles.
The sun had just fallen down the horizon, and unlike most of her clanmates, her silvery pelt did not blend into the night, therefore her job was usually to bring the prey out into the open, while another lunges from the shadows to grab it.
The camp-mate beside her lifts their tail to halt the patrol as the scent of rat washes over Azalea's senses not a moment later. She knows her place in this party, and is already straying away, sharp eyes quickly finding the patch of coarse fur shuffling around in the twigs.
She rounds it, pressing herself against a tree as she waits for the right moment to spring.
❝ Speech. ❞

THE HATRED IN HER EYES​

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[BONERIPPLE]

Since that unfortunate case with the rats she has been worried. But she hasn't shown it outwardly like most others would do. Her emotional turmoil is always inwardly bound. Watching and making sure that things are definitely okay. So while it appears that she hasn't been the most...concern she has been watching Azalea from a distance. Noting her movements and how she is feeling. It even comes when she finds herself on this patrol now, despite her own rat bites she is there regardless. They have been healing fine so far so she does not bother with worrying about them and instead she focuses on the young molly and this patrol. She does find herself grateful that they stir clear of the carrion place for the time being and she keeps up the rear of the hunting patrol. Parting her jaws slowly the woman inhales and she too takes note of that smell.

Rat. It smells close and she moves back into the shadows. Her pelt of spiky fur is well useful for the shadows so she positions herself within the shade and crouches low as she watches the other round the rat. She will wait for the best moment to pounce as the creature is led closer and closer to her position.​

[ PENNED BY RHOS ]​

(edited)

 

[BRIARSTAR]

Briar prefers to hunt alone, but she's attended a patrol today because in times like these, she feels it's important to create a strong sense of community among her colony. To be the reserved and brooding leader now would only put more of a divide between her cats, so she's been tagging along on things like this. Today she's with Azalea and Bone, letting them do most of the work to bring back a glorious meal to their groupmates. She does plenty on her own, but today she supervises from the shadows, ready to pounce in case Azalea or Bone misses their cue and their prey gets away from them. She doesn't doubt their hunting abilities, but she's here, just in case... to ensure that someone gets to eat today. They couldn't afford failed hunts, not now.​

 

[DAZZLEPAW]

It shouldn't be this difficult to hunt not at his age. A constant reminder both his father and brother keept on telling him every single time he come back without any prey to provide to the group. It was a embarassment to both of them and he knew every single time he failed was a disappointment in thier eyes. Surely, he most be ranked as the worst hunter in this group. Didn't make it any better that he stupidly decided to come along with this patrol who all were so much more talented then he was. The least he could do was to not stand in thier way. To camouflage himself in the shadows there at least he had some sort of advantage. To bad that didn't really help his case though.

Didn't seem like he was the only one who had decided to let Azalea and Bone lead this hunt. Suprisingly, it was thier very leader on top of that. Briar...Fang had always felt extremely uncomfortable around that black molly thanks to the position she hold in this group. The last thing he wanted was to draw her attention to him. Fang had himself convinced that if she noticed him far to much she would realise how useless he was to this group and kick him out. What then?. His father and brother would for sure not join him if that would happen....maybe that wouldn't be so bad either but...Fang was to much of a coward to be able to survive out there all by himself. A cat who couldn't even hunt was doomned. So this pathetic life there he was nothing more but a leech that sucked on them all so he himself would live through another day was all he really had. There was no point in thinking he ever would be anything more then just that.

Fang keeps himself away from Briar's vision for the better as he focus his attention on the other two mollies, hoping with all of his heart that the rat wouldn't run to his direction. The last thing he wanted was to embarass himself today yet again in front of thier own leader none the less. That for sure wouldn't make his father pleased. Just thinking about that made him feel anxious... Don't come here. He pleaded quietly to himself as he swollowed down nervousely hoping this hunt would end soon.
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[skull]

in character out of character overview

• Vesper is no stranger to Hound's ministrations. He may breathe a soft sigh of relief that Azalea chooses to avoid the Carrionplace, as her and Fang's youth gives him reason to dote on their wellbeing, but he himself has been scolded for recklessness at their age and even younger still, despite perhaps having more of a reason to practice self-discipline. He is no longer a child, however, and he does try to be careful when pushing his limits. Most of the time.
  
  Slinking at Azalea's side, he opens his jaws to inhale, sifting through the overpowering scents of rain and pine to discover—rat. He lifts his tail; on cue, he senses Azalea leaving his side. Silently, he moves to join Bone and Briar in the shadows—the black of his fur a night sky unto itself—until his golden eyes latch onto Fang's nervous form. Changing direction, he brushes his fur against Fang's, a wordless reassurance before he crouches into position nearby.
• Vesper is a lithe adult male with sleek black fur and golden eyes. His charismatic countenance attracts many to his side, sweetened by easygoing warmth and a radiant smile. Quick-witted and elegant, his hunting and fighting prowess inspires equal admiration as his adroitness of speech, and single-minded ambition impels him to pursue newer and greater heights. Despite an openness of emotional expression and a commitment to ensuring that everyone feels included in the spaces he inhabits, he maintains a careful hold on his privacy—few truly know him beneath the surface of a sociable and playful exterior.

 

[CICADASTAR]

− ♱ ABOUT : cicada attended todays patrol not out of choice, but desperation. yes, the freshkill pile had been running severely low ever since rain and his posse — but it was nearing nothing now, ever since their skirmish in the oak forest. whether overhunting out of spite or simply running off what they failed to catch. they had dug further than the general agitation he'd felt towards them, lip pulling into a snarl at how lightly he'd taken them at first. amusement a faint memory, laughter that had fallen from his barbed tongue souring his mouth, dripping acid down his throat as if it could settle the constant ache. the hunger that had settled deep into his stomach was a pain now, eating steadily at the lining of his belly. he liked to think himself relatively decent at hunting, far more so than he was at fighting, and yet he'd seemed to have been coming back empty pawed more often than not. what he did have often went to quiet, or one of the queens. soot, dewdrop and twilight all could use the kill more than he.

the buzz of mosquito and horsefly sang around them, the marshes brimming with life — all but the ones they needed. his clanmates crouched about the land, taking their positions in the shadows and watching, waiting. the scent of rat was heady, and he worries about another pack ; bone had been torn up enough as is, and the fact that the spiky - furred felidae was already taking position to spring brought forth a pang of worry. the woman was a force, but rat bite upon rat bite was never good.

a sudden baying sounds in the distance.

his ears perk, and suddenly he sees the rodent . . rodents. roughly three that he could see from his current position, and they all pause in their ministrations rummaging about the root of a tree at the howl, noses twitching and chest alight with clear panic, " now! go now! " he snaps frantically — unwilling to let them get away, the tom springs, landing awkwardly onto one of the brown rodents spine as it attempts to flee and eliciting a sharp screech from it, sending the other two sprawling for cover in separate directions. it snaps at his paws as he brings his head down, clamping heavily onto its throat and ending its life messily. it's a scrawny thing, and he hopes his fellow marshers have the other, larger ones scattering about for hiding — but it's something. even now his head dips, nothing silent thanks to the life he'd extinguished.

out of character information translations

• − CICADA ; he / him, roughly thirty two months old, marsh group member
  − tall black smoke tortie chimera with icecap eyes and curly fur, homosexual
  − speaks with a german accent, attack in #171717, penned by antlers
• none.

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[BONERIPPLE]

The baying sound in the distance makes her tail snap. The sudden noise alerting the rats and then Cicada calls out sharply that they need to go now. Now! As he moves she too strikes out quickly but for her the rats are not close enough. She will have to stretch her long limbs and close the gap between them. Pain shifts along her side as she does elongate her gaunt to a longer stride and she huffs sharply. Thrashing through the growth she follows one of the rats and she lunges sharply. She will not miss the opportunity for a meal, a meal for her or someone who needs it. Claws sink into the rat's back and she drags it back to her. Squealing and screaming it tried to fight her but she snaps her jaws on the creature's throat and silence falls. Deep panting soon fills the air and she picks up her catch to bring it back to the others.

Pain makes her wince and she pushes through the bushes before dropping the rat onto the ground. The feeling of something wet slipping through her fur and she turns to look. The iron tang of blood hits her nose and she realizes her wound has reopened. Yet she doesn't comment on it and instead glances to Cicada with approval of his catch. "At least someone will get to eat today. A little bit more and we may have something."​

[ PENNED BY RHOS ]​