- Oct 17, 2022
- 454
- 78
- 28
MAYBE I'D BE A SAINT IF I WEREN'T ————————————
The patrol sets out at dawn, after late-night rain has scrubbed the sky clean of color and drawn small riverbeds in the wet dirt. The downpour washed away Iciclefang’s tracks, so that they only have her recollection to guide them as they make off for the theater of their latest tragedy — and the last place Ashpaw was seen alive.
Snakeblink’s mood isn’t any brighter than the weather. He feels washed out himself, like freezing cold water rushed through him in the night and wore out all the edges of himself until only the fatigue remained. He doesn’t even have it in himself to be annoyed at the mud caking his paws and sticking his fur flat against his sides. He keeps moving on muscle memory alone, and his voice sounds wooden when he opens his mouth. The sound of rain drumming against the warriors’ den in the night extinguished the last spark of hope he held in his chest: if there were any sign of Ashpaw left, it’s gone now.
He knows they’ve reached their destination when he catches sight of the first trap: its dark, gleaming jaws are closed tightly around the mangled leg of an unlucky rabbit, caught far from its home. It’s all too easy to imagine a cat in its place — perhaps even a small, flame-colored apprentice. He flicks his tail to signal the patrol to a stop.
”This is the place,” he whispers, wary of attracting the attention of any remaining twoleg. ”Let’s take a look around and see if we can find anything. Try to disarm any live trap you find — but be careful. We don’t need any more… losses.”
On that grim note, he slinks off, circling the dead rabbit and keeping his nose to the wet grass as he tries to make out any hint of Ashpaw’s scent, be it from her passage or the blood she shed here.
Snakeblink’s mood isn’t any brighter than the weather. He feels washed out himself, like freezing cold water rushed through him in the night and wore out all the edges of himself until only the fatigue remained. He doesn’t even have it in himself to be annoyed at the mud caking his paws and sticking his fur flat against his sides. He keeps moving on muscle memory alone, and his voice sounds wooden when he opens his mouth. The sound of rain drumming against the warriors’ den in the night extinguished the last spark of hope he held in his chest: if there were any sign of Ashpaw left, it’s gone now.
He knows they’ve reached their destination when he catches sight of the first trap: its dark, gleaming jaws are closed tightly around the mangled leg of an unlucky rabbit, caught far from its home. It’s all too easy to imagine a cat in its place — perhaps even a small, flame-colored apprentice. He flicks his tail to signal the patrol to a stop.
”This is the place,” he whispers, wary of attracting the attention of any remaining twoleg. ”Let’s take a look around and see if we can find anything. Try to disarm any live trap you find — but be careful. We don’t need any more… losses.”
On that grim note, he slinks off, circling the dead rabbit and keeping his nose to the wet grass as he tries to make out any hint of Ashpaw’s scent, be it from her passage or the blood she shed here.
——————————————————————————————————— so god damn lonely
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ooc: Patrol tag: @LIGHTNINGSTONE @WASPRATTLE. @GILLSIGHT @rosewater This patrol is open to others, but only warriors!
You’re welcome to search, but this patrol will not find any trace of Ashpaw ): She’s gone for now.
There are 3 active traps to disarm, and 1 sprung trap with a rabbit caught in it. It will take two cats to pry the trap open and get the prey.
You can make an optional roll to disarm each trap
1d6:
1 the trap snaps shut and the noise alerts a nearby twoleg, forcing the patrol to leave early before they are caught
2-3 nothing happens, or you can’t figure out how to disarm it; try again
4-5 you set off the trap, disarming it for now
6 you break the trap!
Once again, you do NOT have to roll to disarm a trap if you don’t feel like it. Go crazy and have fun!
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— Snakeblink • he / him. 40 ☾, riverclan warrior
— a sleek, skinny tabby with long ears and a scar over his right eye.
— gay, not actually evil, penned by @Kangoo
