pafp rumblin' groan down below — panicking prey

[SCORCHSTREAK]

Hunting within the tunnels is normally quicker and easier than hunting aboveground, in Scorchstreak’s opinion. Sure, there are plenty of tight turns and the ever-present threat of being buried alive, but it’s much easier to corner prey down here. Plenty of frightened rabbits can be lead down dead-end paths—including the one she pursues now. There’s hardly two tail-lengths of tunnel left before it ends in an abrupt dead end, and the calico leaps for the hare as soon as it seems to realize it’s cornered.

As soon as her teeth latch onto its neck, the prey creature delivers a powerful blow to her chest with a large hind paw, nails tracking down as it kicks. It’s still trapped between Scorchstreak and the dead end, but she allows it to retreat with a short, wheezing noise. "Ow, shit-" She knocks her shoulder against the side of the tunnel, winded.

For not the first time in her life, the calico is grateful for the necessity of tunnelers to work in groups of at least two. Redrumble’s presence had grown on her rather quickly, from all the way back when the other had been a new face around the clan, and Scorchstreak looks to her now. The rabbit’s blood paints the white fur of her muzzle; this will be an unclean kill no matter how quickly it’s resolved.


// pls wait for @REDRUMBLE!! this takes place in the tunnels, feel free to have others join in and help
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[ LIKE A RATTLESNAKE ]​

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[REDRUMBLE]

"MAY YOUR FEET SERVE YOU WELL, AND THE REST BE SENT TO HELL"​

Of all the things Redrumble was grateful for, it was the brightly colored calico, with her chaotic personality and openness towards the unknown, that the younger feline was surprised to see near the top of that list. She remembered when she first stepped paw onto the moorlands, dragging the blood of her kin through the grass during the months that were slowly growing colder. Remembered how she had been named a tunneler only for her size and how the fear that ran through her at the prospect of being shoved into a space to tight to move correctly.

If it wasn't for Scorchstreak coaxing her along and guiding her over the last few moons, taking up the position of a would be mentor and friend, the chimera had a very bad feeling that she would of made a fatal mistake while navigating underground. Redrumble felt it in her bones that she would not have made it through leaf bare if it wasn't for her guidance. She found herself following tightly near her partner's side, always right behind black and red paw steps and this moment was no different.

The prey they were chasing was being difficult this day, back legs hopping off walls during tight turns and kicking up dirt with those large back paws of theirs. But her partner knew these tunnels like the back of her paw and, although Redrumble was still committing a map to memory, she knew exactly where they were heading when the rabbit made a specific turn. A dead end. A perfect spot to corner and rip it's throat out!! When Scorchstreak went in for a killing pounce, the tabby stayed back, blocking the only exit if the prey managed to wiggle out of it like most tried to.

This one, however, had some fight in it. The younger is surprised as the calico stumbles back from a solid kick to the chest, a hiss coming from her own maw at the impact. That had to have hurt. Redrumble stayed low to the ground, yellow eyes staring down the shivering rabbit that was scrunched so tight in the dead end, it felt like one of those curly two-leg toys that was ready to launch at any second. She made sure to block any sort of escape as she looked over her partner.

❝ You okay, Scorch? That was a hard hit. ❞ Glancing back at the rabbit, she noticed it gathering it's legs underneath it, looking for a way out with fearful eyes. ❝ It's got a good defensive stance in this corner. We might take another few blows if we try here... ❞ Making sure her partner still had one eye on their prey, yellow gaze danced along the tunnels behind them, mentally recalling where they were. ❝ Instead of risking injury, what if we let it go... I think, correct me if Im wrong, there's tunnels that circle in on themselves? What if one of us chases it down there and the other cuts off it's escape from the other side? ❞

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⊱ ♞ ⊰​

 

[SCORCHSTREAK]

When Redrumble had first joined the clan, Scorchstreak remembers taking a liking to her almost immediately, despite her origin as a rogue. And even now, the calico respects and appreciates the younger cat. Redrumble’s presence helps to keep her sane even in the darkness, filling the silence with quiet voices and passing the time with casual conversation. But she’s never been more grateful for her tunneling partner than she is right now. If that rabbit had kicked her any harder, she’d be lying in a tunnel with a broken rib or a collapsed lung. But even if it had caused some terrible injury—at least she isn’t ever alone down here. She trusts her tunneling partner to have her back, just as she does for Redrumble.

As expected, the dark tabby turns to ask whether she’s alright, and Scorchstreak nods. "I’ll live," she grunts, her voice only barely edged with a wheezing noise. Redrumble assesses the situation quickly—yet another of her traits which Scorchstreak admires. The other tunneler is intelligent, only adding to Scorchstreak’s trust in her.

The strategy that Redrumble suggests sounds a bit risky at first. Allowing the rabbit to escape, letting it go freely, will give it a head start. But panicked as it is, especially after it’s already kicked her once, perhaps that is the best idea that they have to work with. Cutting it off while it’s running from the other tunneler may catch it off guard enough for a clean kill, as well.

She nods once, stiffly, to her tunneling partner. "Yes, that could work. Would you like to chase it, and I’ll cut it off? I’m not sure if I’m quite up to chasing it down yet, after that." Dark paws shift, and she steps closer to the side of the tunnel, patched pelt brushing up against warm, damp dirt.
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[ LIKE A RATTLESNAKE ]​

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