[[serving my clan]]

[Crowzerplorodon]

Dark brown fur matched almost perfectly with the territory, something that made up for the stalking cat's inability to hunt. His fur was long -- like always, it never shed -- and snagged on tree bark when he got too close. But it wasn't like it bothered the tom cat. His tail was held high in the air, curving slightly so the tip pointed toward his back. He had always been taught to keep his tail high off the ground while he hunted.

Dull green -- almost hazel -- eyes peered through the scarce undergrowth of the territory. His ears flattened slowly, was that a voice he had just heard? Otterfur could have sworn he heard the sound of a familiar cat's meow. The tom shrug it off, turning to follow the strong scent of squirrel that hit his nose.

Otterfur had left the camp not long ago to hunt. Numerous times he had felt his fur heat in embarrasment as other cats brought in plenty of prey, but he hadn't. The tom had always blamed it on his size, but careful consideration and talking it out with a few other cats told him that he would have to actually practice to become somewhat decent.

So today he had left his apprentice behind (Otterfur was sure another warrior could find something for Sandpaw to do) to head out and hunt.

The squirrel he scented would be his first victim.

Snap!

The brown tom froze as he stepped on a weak twig, the bark making loud noise as it broke. The sound rang out through the practically empty area, and Otterfur let out a soft hiss. The site of squirrels running up a tree confirmed his thoughts -- him being clumsy had scared them off.

Resisting the urge to insult himself for his foolishness, the brown tom marched forward in anger, barely stopping himself from treading on a crouched she-cat. "Mousedung!" He yowled, stepping back quickly. "Sorry!"

[Crowzerplorodon]

"I said I was sorry," Otterfur mumbled to the angry she-cat. His almost-hazel eyes kept away from her furious glare -- the tom didn't think he could keep himself steady if he gazed into golden eyes. "It was a mistake." A foolish one, a mistake that no experienced hunter would ever make.

Good thing I'm not an experienced hunter the tom snapped at his inner pessimistic side. The side sighed before vanishing from the tom's mind.

"I'm sure you would've caught the squirrels," the large cat said after a quick moment. "And it shouldn't be hard for you too find some other prey around here. It seems to be a good day for hunting..." The bright blue sky shined down on them, agreeing with what the tom said. Though the few patches of snow that remained twinkled evilly as they threatened to expose his almost-lie.

[Crowzerplorodon]

He brightened when it seemed the she-cat was in a better mood. Otterfur had heard stories of Brightflower's temper, but never hung around the she-cat long enough to have to deal with one. And he was glad he avoided this one. Sorta.

"Yeah, hunting," the brown tom muttered. "Thought I could... y'know, get better or somethin'." His tail wrapped around his legs shyly and his head tilted down ever so slightly. He knew he should've gone in the other direction and try his hand closer to the FogClan border. Now that he was up close to Brightflower he would probably cost the calico more prey than those two squirrels.

Then again, he could always just leave now. Something in his head -- that gosh darn pessimistic side again -- told him that without a cat who could actually hunt he'd bring back almost nothing and shame himself. Otterfur didn't want that.

[Crowzerplorodon]

Otterfur breathed a light sigh of relief. Brightflower seemed to be in a good mood today (despite how he had ruined her catch) and probably wouldn't rip his ears off. He was (to put it lightly) surprised when the she-cat offered to aid him in his attempts to practice his hunting skills, and purred awkwardly at the suggestion.

"I'm sure your help will pay off," he said, the slightest amount of flattery to his words. Otterfur found her joke about the squirrels -- even if it was meant to tease -- to be funny. The brown cat thought for a moment before replying to her question. "Rabbits," he replied thoughtfully. Even if their territory had a distinct lack of rabbits, he still felt the need to tell the she-cat. "Leaping isn't hard nor is running, rabbits have always been something I could catch fairly easily."

[Crowzerplorodon]

He nodded in agreement, but knew finding a rabbit in this territory would prove difficult indeed. Watching his feet carefully and being as silent as possible, Otterfur followed behind the pretty she-cat. A thought of sneaking on to MeadowClan territory to find a rabbit flashed through his mind for a second, but he shook it off, remembering that he was a clan cat now, and could not just take prey.

The tom was so wrapped in his thoughts, he barely caught what Brightflower had said. "Oh, um, not much," he answered akwardly. The she-cat really didn't seem like the type to strike up random conversation. "Just getting use to the whole clan business... How about you?"

[Crowzerplorodon]

He nodded in understanding. Of course the she-cat would be quick to adapt if she preferred this to her old life, whatever that was. He himself didn't know which life he liked more, though. While this one may have provided a stable home and a promise to stay with other cats, it seemed to lack a sense of freedom. The cats were tied down by the Warrior Code, and in some cases (not his) StarClan.

"I hope I adjust quick enough," he murmured in response. He caught her eye when she looked at him, though, and raised his nose to scent the air. Sure enough, there was definitely rabbit nearby. His ears lowered in surprise.

"I won't step on any twigs, I promise," the tom said softly, a bit of joke in his voice. Taking slow steps he crept forward, following his nose toward where the scent came from.

Otterfur saw the animal quick enough, it's gray fur standing out against the brown and green of PineClan territory. Stifling a growl that attempted to rise out of him, Otterfur turned so the wind couldn't blow his scent to the animal before pushing with his strong legs and leaping into the air.

The rabbit saw him and almost made it away in a mad dash. But Otterfur's strong legs allowed him to push forward and get his claws in the rabbit's back legs. Keeping a firm grip, the brown cat placed a swift bite to the rabbit's neck before picking it up. "There," he muttered through his clenched mouth.

[Crowzerplorodon]

The tom almost smirked at the surprise Brightflower expressed when he came back holding the rabbit. Tail twitching in what could be taken as pride, the brown warrior placed his catch down softly on the ground, almost-hazel eyes closing as he shrugged.

"Lucky catch," he commented. And indeed it was. Otterfur could still feel the pull of the rabbit as it forced its way out of his sharpened claws. He could still feel the pound of his heart when he thought he would lose the catch and the insane determination that caused him to forget himself and pretty much tackle the rabbit. He had almost lost it; but at least he didn't.

All in all, he thought it was pretty good.

"We can head back if you want," he said after the she-cat asked. Otterfur may have wanted to practice his hunting, but he had other things to do for his clan, like work with the lump he called his apprentice. He would just practice next time he was assigned to a hunting patrol.

[Crowzerplorodon]

He watched the she-cat turn and walk off for a moment, head tilted in thought before he rushed to pick up his prey and catch up with Brightflower. The rabbit hang limp in his jaws but was still warm, the scent of fresh-kill almost too much for the tom to managed. But he kept his eyes firmly between the she-cats ears to distract him.

Idly he wondered why Brightflower seemed so, for lack of better word, good-tempered today. He had seen her enough to know the she-cat was snappy and, dare he say it? Rude. Otterfur had been in PineClan long enough to hear what other cats said about the calico. But after spending time, however little it may have been, with her hunting, the brown cat found it hard to believe what others though.

[Crowzerplorodon]

((Essie, please note that cats cannot be in two places at once here. If Brightflower and Rowanpaw are off for a patrol, then they cannot be anywhere else. I can have Otterfur take Foxpaw out for training or something, if you'd like?))