ONE-WAY STREET ♡ UNLUCKY HUNT


An ominous whistle between the quickly balding branches accompanies Mirestar's hunting patrol. It is a hastily put together one; even though Lilacfur had followed Sharpshadow's earlier example and decided on assignments due to the lack of a deputy, the ever-building pile of worries has not allowed Mirestar to sit idly. Regardless of the amount of success (or lack thereof) Flintwish and Swansong had found, the fresh-kill pile would need further stocking. Ashenfall has already brought forth kittens... and Mirestar's own family will be expanding. Hungry bellies will always outnumber prey in the marsh. There is no time to waste.

Mirestar leads their companions through the territory — it is considerably less wet than usual, thanks to the cold that seeps into the land and slowly but surely dries up the moisture and freezes the surface of waters.

And just when they think they found a good spot for hunting...

"Wait."

A bushy tail rises, signaling to the cats behind them in more ways than just verbal. Mirestar themself freezes; only the tips of their whiskers twitch, and their pupils withdraw into mere slits. An otter stands in their way... solitary, now that leaf-bare is all but here, and its sleek frame never comes to a halt as it sniffs about, no doubt looking for frogs and snails to eat. It is decisively in the way.

Mirestar lowers their body to the ground, ignoring the cold that cuts through them by extension of their belly fur brushing the soil. The competition's smell threatens to overpower their senses; no matter how much they try to catch the whiff of prey, that musk makes it impossible — or maybe there is no prey to be found here. "Frog-dung!" Either way, the otter does not seem to appreciate this contest for survival, and it rounds on the patrol with its tiny eyes blazing with fury.

Like a now-blossoming flower, the fur along Mirestar's spine rises, starting at the base of their tail and running all the way to the back of their neck. "Keep looking for prey. I'll try to be a distraction..." Even if Mirestar is known for their skilled nose, they are more than willing to lend the opportunity to find a scent trail or two to their Clanmates.


Rolled 3 & 6; failure.
A predator is competing with the cats for prey; Mirestar cannot find a scent trail, but maybe your cat can still succeed!
 

[ ༻❄༺ ] With this early frost, Snowlark couldn't help but concern over how leaf-bare was going to be like, especially if the difficulties are beginning to show up now. He already volunteered to join in on this match-up of a hunting patrol, feeling his skills and pale fur would be helpful in the long run of the frosted marsh land, keeping himself close in tail after his mentor. With Ashenfall's kits to that of more upcoming kits, it was best they began to get as many of these patrols out and do whatever it took to give them an edge in thos upcoming leaf-bare.

That is, if the competition didn't think of the same thing. The musky scent of the otter blasted Snowlark's nose before he even got a good loom at it, Mirestar already quick to put them all at a halt while the beady gaze of the creature was on them, and it would seem even their great leader couldn't pick up anything, that is until the young warrior was able to discern a scent of bird from that of the otter's musk. Mirestar already putting themselves in a line of danger which a flash of concern danced in the tom's yellow eyes. "Mirestar..." the boy slowly started, 'be safe' written on his face before he rushed off into the direction of which the scent had been.

It wouldn't be long before a loud screech of a bird echoed throughout the terrain before silence cut through the air and Snowlark returned with a large sized bird, hackles raised while his ears flatten across his skull dropping it where he stood while his attention went back to the otter. He would not allow Mirestar to be left alone not even for a second, fear that they could lose a life here and now.

  • "speak""Thoughts"
  • Snowlark He/Him, warrior of Shadowclan, 14 moons.
    Lithe long hair blue lynx sepia with high white, and yellow eyes. Stubby tail, permanent resting bitch face
    Hailfreckle x Mudsplash
    peaceful and healing powerplay permitted (ask first) / / underline and tag when attacking
    see battle info here
    penned by Ryn@/Rynnaro on discord, feel free to dm for plots.


Rolled a 15 & a 17!! ))
 

If there was one thing that Forestshade had instilled in Gigglepaw during her time training the girl, it was a good sense of tracking, and one that came in handy now that the frost had crept in while everyone had been unawares. After learning that it wasn't supposed to get so cold so early, Gigglepaw had been duty-bound to help out in any way that she could. Going with Mirestar on a hunting patrol was just the beginning of it, and her eyes lit up when she caught a bird's scent.

Creeping past the otter that had intercepted the patrol was easy with Mirestar keeping its attention, and Gigglepaw was able to pounce on the bird without it noticing, nipping it in the bud with a killing bite before slithering her way back to the rest of the patrol. Snowlark had managed to get an even bigger bird, which set Gigglepaw off with a smile.

"We're doin' pretty good, huh?" Gigglepaw chirped quietly, dropping her bird next to Snowlark's. There was still the threat of the otter, and Gigglepaw stayed by the young warrior's side as they faced off against it. She'd never seen something like this before, so slender and long, and she gaped slightly at the sight of the predator that Mirestar was so daringly drawing the attention of.

 
Mismatched eyes were wide as she spotted the otter, and Agatepaw took in a shuddering breath. Mirestar had taken on the role of a distraction, so she had to make it count. She took in a deep breath, and began to track.

A bird, just like Gigglepaw and Snowlark, was what she found. She stalked, ever careful and conscious of her movements. Useful, she had to be useful, no matter what. If anything happened to Mirestar, or the rest of the patrol and she failed to catch this, Agatepaw would never be able to forgive herself. A failure. A complete failure.

The cinnamon and black she-cat shook off the negative thoughts, taking a breath as she pounced. Thankfully, the bird did not take off before she could swiftly kill it with a bite, not unlike her fellow apprentice. It was a pretty big bird too! She purred softly, picking it up and trotting back to the pile where Gigglepaw and Snowlark’s catches laid. “I did good, right?” she asked, before green and gold landed on her leader and the otter they were so bravely facing. “We’ve got this,” Agatepaw breathed, though she could not deny that her legs were trembling just a tad. But leaf-bare was a battle, and she, and ShadowClan as a whole, would not go down without a fight. This was just one part of it.

// rolled an 18 and a 17! Big Birb.​

"Speech"

STEP FROM THE DARK TO THE LIGHT
 
With the early frost draping itself over the marshland makes him shiver uncomfortably. He dislikes the cold winter, especially with the difficulties of finding prey. He had volunteered to be on a hunting patrol with Mirestar and a few others. With the nursery booming with new kits and such, might as well begin to work his back with the upcoming leaf-bare by hunting. A favorite pass time, truly. He freezes, his whiskers twitch as his pupils withdraw to silts at the musky scent of otter flowing to his nostrils. His whiplike tail lashes as the curly phantom lets a grimace show upon his split - colored maw. Mirestar already putting themselves in the line of danger, and he flicked an ear towards Snowlark's voice.

Creeping past the distracted otter and the puffed - up form of Shadowclan's leader, keeping its attention solely on them. Batchaser is able to scent a bird near and quickly pounces on it while its beak lets out a panicked screech. Nipping the loud creature with a killing bite, he languidly slithers back to the rest of the patrol. Dropping the bird where a growing pile laid with Snowlark's and Gigglepaw's. "Hm, more birds." He hums, as he turns his head to the chimera leader and the otter they were bravely facing with brows furrowing.
EpC61GT.png

  • ooc. rolled a 16 (success) & 19 (large bird)
    POINTS: 3
  • temp batchaser ref.
    a51d3bbadff7c33a490f4c776b1800f90c70e646.pnj
  • ( THAT'S ONE ENEMY DOWN! ) ⋆⁺₊ ☾ ⁺₊⋆ BATCHASER.shadowclan warrior.
    ― CISMALE ; HE / HIM ; CURRENTLY 36 MOONS OLD & AGES EVERY 10TH.
    pansexual / not actively looking — mentoring none.
    a tall shorthaired curly black smoke bicolor with gold/green heterochromia.
    thoughts ; "Speech, 7077A1" ; attacks only
    may powerplay minor harm ╱ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted
    smells like rain-soaked pavement, mist & sweet leaf rot
    — all opinions are ic

    biography / @ on discord for plots
    — penned by calzone