Clouded Footsteps Fall~(StormxRussetxLittle) OPEN

[Cloud of Diamonds]

He walked quietly, as he normally did on a hunting patrol. But he hardly would have needed to. It was so quiet as it was. A light fog hung over his beloved meadow, muffling sounds and shapes. It was almost like they were in the Clan on the other side of the Gathering place. But that was not his home.

A dark gray nose sniffed the air hopefully, trying to pick up any traces of scent. No luck so far, but they were not far out of the weed tunnel. Or so he thought...in the mist it was confusing, light though it was.

Large ears twitched back and forth, trying to scope out any possible rustle of prey. Green eyes, above long whiskers on an angled gray face, held a look of curiosity and wariness.

Now if only Russetwhisker would stop and let him focus. He felt bas thinking uncharitably about his Clanmate - besides, it was probably all for the best. She was almost certainly leading them to a good hunting spot. Right? Bother these doubts, he thought irritably. No proper knight questions his Clanmates. Still, he felt slightly troubled and prayed StarClan would let him hunt soon.

OOC: I hope you don't mind that I made Russetwhisker the patrol leader, Pyro.

[Pyro]

ooc: Even though I have a headache I'm going to write this now to take my mind off of my stupidity for not just going to school and muddling through the Bio HSA ans the rest of the day.
bic:
Of all the days to lead a hunting patrol...why did she have to do it on a day with all this mist? Just this once she'd rather have the chance of failure rest on another's shoulders. But of course, Rabbitstep picked her for a reason. She glanced back at her companions. Stormclaw looked impatient. Maybe she'd make them walk even farther...no. That would be petty and mean. They were almost there anyway. She always had luck in the area closer to the border. There, prey would try to tentatively enter the meadow, while still mercifully close to good cover. Unfortunately for them, te trees that announced the border was approaching went in enough to provide enough of a buffer zone for a chase if it happened. If. Which it wouldn't.

She dropped into a crouch as the scent of rabbit wafted into her nostrils. Was she fast enough to catch it? It was still early into newleaf. MeadowClan needed prey. she'd have to be. But if there was a chance she wasn't...Why not try a different way of catching it? Instead of letting her take the glory of the rabbit, they could all work together to catch it. That would work, right?

"Alright." she whispered. "There'll be a better chance of bringing down the rabbit if we work together. that way it can't escape as easily as when one cat solo's it. I'll get it away from the trees, and I want..." she paused. She wanted to say Littlewhisker, but Stormclaw was itching for some kind of action. Better give it to him. Even if it was only a rabbit. "-Stormclaw to come in and chase it close to Littlewhisker, then swing off so she can deliver the final blow. Sound good, or am I crazy?" She added the last a bit hesitantly. She would hope she wasn't...but...

[{amberrr}]

<sup>Littlewhisker followed behind Russetwhisker quietly, but willing. She had gotten up as happy as ever to go onto a patrol, and today she'd been placed with Stormclaw and Russetwhisker. Russetwhisker had seemed a little strained to be placed the patrol leader today, of all days. Littlewhisker couldn't blame her, she wouldn't want to be the patrol leader in this weather. But, she knew Rabbitstep had confidence in Russetwhisker. She did as well, aftedr all, to be a warrior, you needed to be able to face all odds. They were warriors, catching prey was a challenge at times, but they always pulled through for the Clan.

Speaking of the Clan...it needed prey now more than ever. Having faced a more brutal Leaf-Bare, they were just now getting back onto their feet. Littlewhisker looked around at the shapes that seemed to be her Clanmates, with all this mist ,she could only detect it was them by their builds. It was pointless to scent out her companions, the mist blocked them. She breathed in, and the scent of rain overpowered her and she sneezed.

After awhile, they reached their destination and Littlewhisker could see a rabbit in the haze. Her eyes lit up, they had a chance of catching it, if they played their cards right. Her ears perked up as she realized Russetwhisker would most likely inform them of a plan to catch the rabbit. She turned her head over to where Russetwhisker stood, knowing orders would soon be given.

Russetwhisker spoke up, "There'll be a better chance of bringing down the rabbit if we work together. that way it can't escape as easily as when one cat solo's it. I'll get it away from the trees, and I want..." she paused, and Littlewhisker waited patiently for her to continue,"-Stormclaw to come in and chase it close to Littlewhisker, then swing off so she can deliver the final blow. Sound good, or am I crazy?"

"It's sound good to me," Littlewhisker meowed in agreement, the plan was good,"what do you think, Stormclaw?"</sup>

[Cloud of Diamonds]

He nodded, relieved. It was certainly a good plan. Slightly complicated, and there was always the chance the rabbit would veer off unexpectedly...but there was that risk in every hunt, and if they didn't try, there was no chance of catching it at all. So the Russian Blue answered in his slight English accent:

"Indeed, it sounds quite good, m'lady. And, er, Russetwhisker - how long should I wait to chase the rabbit - or rather, how far away from the trees should it be before I go for it?"

He hoped he didn't sound stupid...he could actually probably judge for himself, but Russetwhisker was in command here and it was part of the code to obey her orders. And StarClan forbid that he ever so much as step a pawstep away from the code's holy laws. He shuddered at the very thought. Really, how could Brownstar of the remaining ForestClan cats have ever strayed so far? StarClan must have only permitted it so that Cedarstar could leave and build a dutiful, obeying society which followed the ancestor-given laws.

Well...obeying except for PineClan. But surely that was not their fault. StarClan was just being kind to them by letting them pursue their sad, faithless society and in time they'd realize the error of their ways. He must show try and be honorable with them, despite their sin. After all, it was only what the kindly ancestors would expect of him.

His tail twitched in excitement for the hunt.