empty pawed // marblepaw

[shalestorm]

The snow had not melted since the blizzard. Actually, Shalestorm isn't sure it's even been warm enough for the snow to melt since before it snowed. Still, the minute she was feeling better from her bout of whitecough, she decided she needed to make herself useful and go on a little hunting trip. Marblepaw had come with her. Shalestorm didn't know if the apprentice simply was in the mood for a hunt or had been told to keep an eye on her, but the company was welcome all the same. You can never have too many friends, after all, and Shalestorm loves making new friends. Or... acquaintances at the very least.

The actual success of this hunt is leaving a lot to be desired. Normally, Shalestorm an count on a frog or two in the warm moons, and in the cold moons she's partial to a squirrel or mouse, but it's like the prey doesn't even exist right now. Not in hiding, not just out of reach, but just... not there. Part if her wants to give up, throw in the towel and head home, but... but the prey pile was already basically empty when they'd left. There's got to be something around, right?

"Maybe if we try a little farther away..?" She suggests with little hope.

if I held your hand // would that be okay?

• 
  ooc - @MARBLEPAW
  
• 
  #e36f90
• 
  (img) Shalestorm * she/her* 28 moons
  blue point/blue chimera w/ low white; blue eyes
  Peaceful & healing powerplay allowed || underline for attack
  penned by Neptune. || Neptune on disc, dm me for plots

​

 

[MARBLELEAF]

Marblepaw has never been much of a hunter, but it would be foolish of her not to know the basics. It had been Ferndance who'd taught her a proper hunting crouch; she remembers Starlingheart's gentle prodding and the cinnamon warrior's explicit instructions. That was when the mire had swollen with life, just after the frogs had boomed; it had been easy, then, to fill her jaws with prey, even with her amateur skills.

Now, she is not so lucky. She gives her hunting partner a bleak look as they pad through the snow. Neither she nor Shalestorm had scented so much as a lizard — and it's no surprise, really, is it? Even the medicine cat apprentice knows lizards and frogs prefer warm, sultry weather and hide away from the cold deep in the bog.

The pale tabby nods toward Shalestorm, who suggests they trek further into the marshland. "Alright." She picks up her paws, kicking pine needles in a spray behind her. "Maybe we should try that new strip of territory? From ThunderClan?" Marblepaw flicks her green gaze toward the warrior, reading her expression. Would she be upset or impressed by the suggestion?

『 out of character. 』 ✧･ﾟ:* 『 about. 』

• ooc: —
• 
• Marblekit . Marblepaw, she/they w/ feminine and non-gendered terms.
  — "speech", thoughts, attack
  — 11 moons old, ages realistically on the 1st.
  — mentored by Starlingheart ; mentoring n/a ; previously mentored n/a
  — shadowclan medicine cat apprentice, formerly a rogue. siltcloud x lilacfur, gen 3.
  — currently mated to n/a.
  — penned by Marquette.
  
  
  sh fawn tabby with dull green eyes. courageous, curious, introspective, observant, judgmental, snarky.

​

 

[shalestorm]

Her head bobbing in agreement with the apprentice's suggestion, Shalestorm smiles, a desperate attempt to rid herself of the sinking feelings of what if we don't find any prey? If we come back empty pawed will it be my fault as the warrior on this patrol? What if I've failed? But she keeps her grin up all the same, self-doubt fueled spiral of thoughts shook away with a quick shake of her pelt, fluffed against the chill.

"That's a good idea! Maybe the squirrels are keeping the best prey in that section of territory and refuse to tell us!" Grinning, the warrior jokes now as the two begin the journey towards their newest stretch of land. Truthfully, if they're not finding anything in the marshes, even going a small distance into the oaks probably wouldn't change that by much. For a fraction of a second, Shalestorm wonders if it would be worth it to completely cross the border, but the idea is foolish with only herself and Marblepaw present. Besides, it's against the code, and the last time she's crossed borders to steal materials they hadn't even found much of anything. No. No, they would have to do just fine with their own territory. There was no other choice.

Here, too, though Shalestorm can hear birdsong, she does not see nor scent the feathered prey in the trees above or on the ground below. In fact, sniffing at the base of every tree and bundle of bushes, she can only detect the stale after scent of where something had been a long time ago. Nothing recent besides the relatively fresh markers a ShadowClan patrol must have placed here to remind ThunderClan of what isn't theirs. Tail droops for just a moment, just a fraction of a second, before the happy smile is once again forced into place and the pale coated warrior turns to Marblepaw, azure eyes apologetic as they land on the tabby's fawn pelt.

"Finding anything?" She tries to keep the slight desperation out of her voice as she asks, but if she succeeds or not she isn't quite sure.

if I held your hand // would that be okay?

• 
  ooc -
  
• 
  #e36f90
• 
  (img) Shalestorm * she/her* 28 moons
  blue point/blue chimera w/ low white; blue eyes
  Peaceful & healing powerplay allowed || underline for attack
  penned by Neptune. || Neptune on disc, dm me for plots

​

 

[MARBLELEAF]

Marblepaw is quiet, relieved Shalestorm had thought her idea was a good one. She hadn't been to this strip of territory since the blizzard had subsided, and part of her is still wondering if she'll find any of the marigold she'd located last time. The dust-furred she-cat's eyes are on the ground, scanning snow-edged tufts of foliage, whereas her hunting partner's blue gaze is trained on the branches above them.

After a moment, she realizes what she's doing. She lifts her face toward Shalestorm's, embarrassment burning her flesh beneath her pelt. "I forgot we were supposed to be hunting prey, not herbs," she confesses sheepishly. She bounds away, attempting to refocus.

Her gaze tears across the trunks of leaf-stripped oaks, hoping to spot a bushy-tailed squirrel. Nothing. Her ears strain, hoping for the scrabble of tiny claws between tree roots... but there's nothing there, either. Shalestorm's expression is bleak as she gazes back at the medicine cat apprentice. "Find anything?"

Marblepaw exhales, her breath spiraling toward the sky. "Nothing," she mews, dismal. Just as she does, her belly cramps, reminding her of the hunger the rest of her Clan faces. She thinks of Ashenfall's little kits, their eyes huge as yet another patrol returns without any fresh-kill for them, and her jaw sets. "We can't come back empty-pawed! We'll have spent the whole day wasting energy without bringing anything home..." I haven't even found any herbs worth taking, she thinks to herself with a pang.

『 out of character. 』 ✧･ﾟ:* 『 about. 』

• ooc: —
• 
• Marblekit . Marblepaw, she/they w/ feminine and non-gendered terms.
  — "speech", thoughts, attack
  — 11 moons old, ages realistically on the 1st.
  — mentored by Starlingheart ; mentoring n/a ; previously mentored n/a
  — shadowclan medicine cat apprentice, formerly a rogue. siltcloud x lilacfur, gen 3.
  — currently mated to n/a.
  — penned by Marquette.
  
  
  sh fawn tabby with dull green eyes. courageous, curious, introspective, observant, judgmental, snarky.

​