[ open ] solo hunts and cat killers

[[ hardyrex ]]

ooc; This thread is open to all FogClan cats who want to join.

Brown paws crept over the needle-covered forest floor, a little clumsier than what most Clan cats would have expected. The tom was putting his paws down to hard -- the mouse he was stalking was sure to feel those steps and dash away like the last one. Beaverstripe was so caught up in watching the mouse and his paws, he forgot to make sure his tail didn't run into anything like a fern.

Sure enough, it did.

A loud hiss escaped his muzzle as the prey bloated from his sight, right into a thick wall of ferns. Why was hunting to hard? He could kill, lie, and steal, but he couldn't caught one little piece of fresh-kill. The brown tabby opened his mouth to the sight breeze that was blowing only to find that all the prey that was once scurrying about was now gone. Beaverstripe's claws slid out and began to tear up the poor pine needles beneath his paws in pure frustration. If this was how the city was, I would have starved to death by now. He scolded himself. Mistpelt wasn't going to let him come back to camp without any prey, and would only send him out again to catch twice as much then what was needed.

Deciding that kicking himself wasn't going to do anything, his paws began to move forward, setting a steady pace toward the camp. No way he was going to go out too far into the territory.

[Pyro]

Another cat trudged through the foliage, albeit a bit quieter...Though not in his mind.

Otterclaw's mind was in uproar. Once again he found that his goody-goody sister was on top of things whilst he got to take the scrapings of the punishment bowl. She had been just as late as he was! But a quick song of starclan had exempted her from everything.

Well...she did get a stern-look. Whoop-de-frickin-doo.

Now he got to hunt on the solo. And if he didn't bring at least half the prey in the forest no doubt he would be seen as unworthy to even smellthe freshkill pile in Mistpelt's and the eyes of his own sister.

So lost was he in thought that he forgot he was spposed to be looking for prey...At least until a mouse jumped right out in front of him from a heavy wall of brambles. With a start he sprang after it, ending its life with a quick slash of his heavy paw. Triumphant he picked it up to bury under some leaves. But before he could he caught a whiff of another cat--FogClan (obviously), but not exactly familiar. It was some cat he had seen in passing but never actually talked to...Beaverstripe?

He felt a litle guilty then. If the mouse had just run in front of him, it meant Beaverstripe had missed it. He buried the mouse quickly, but he knew that the other tom would no doubt know that he had benefitted from his fellow warrior's misfortune.

Forgetting that he had been ordered to hunt alone, he found a way past the brambles to talk with the tom. Once he wasn't alone he brightened, smiling at Beaverstripe and meowing a greeting.

[Cloud of Diamonds]

It was day for gathering moss. A day for thinking and enjoying. A day where Brightnose had nothing specific to do except hang around the territory, which suited her well. Finchpaw was back at the den sorting stock; when she got back he'd have piles ready of plants they could keep and plants that had lost so much potency either from age or mold that they were no longer worth using.

She'd already collected a bit of cold moss. Admittedly it was a bit scraggly, but she wasn't worried about it being used for bedding so it was no concern. Besides, her technique of warming the moss with her breath before trying to get it off whatever surface it was on helped. The green stuff was in a pile under an elder bush a tail-length away for when she was ready to go back.

The calico looked up, grateful for the sun and the fact that her pelt had recovered its usual thickness. She thanked StarClan there was no fog to obscure her vision. Or smell....her brow furrowed slightly as she caught the scent of Otterclaw and Beaverstripe, who seemed to be only a foxlength or two away, if that.

Hunting, presumably, for she'd opened her mouth and detected freshly killed mouse, and it occurred to her she hadn't yet eaten. What if she persuaded whoever had caught it to give it to her? Surely it wouldn't be too hard; she was a medicine cat and deserved the respect and cooperation of every cat-well, except for a certain apprentice. But she could only make excuses for Frostpaw, who had troubles of her own, and expected her due from every other cat.

Sniffing around a bit more, she realized the toms were on the other side of the bushes where she was. Or at least, it was an educated guess. Brightnose had never been the world's greatest tracker. While she wasn't one for idle chatter, she had the whole day free (unless someone got injured, which somehow she doubted) and perhaps it would be nice to converse with her fellow Clanmates for just a bit before continuing on.

So, within 30 seconds or so she was standing a little behind Beaverstripe, her face relaxed and slightly amused, tail down.

"Morning, boys. How're things going?"

Needless to say, the tricolored FogClanner felt it quite within her rights and authority to call two fully grown warriors boys.

[[ hardyrex ]]

Beaverstripe's little walk around the camp was interrupted by the sounds of a FogClan cat -- which one, he had no idea -- kill the mouse he had missed. Ha. Running away didn't help you at all, did it little mouse? He grinned, showing off his sharp teeth. His paws started to take him forward again while his mind mused. 'Maybe I could find a bird to ea-- His toothy grin dropped. The Warrior Code (Which didn't make much sense to him anyway ) stated that the Clan had to be feed first. It was about the only rule he could remember well, because it had been pounded into his head, and it still was.

Before he could begin to rant to himself how stupid Clan rule were, the cat who had caught his mouse had appeared from behind the wall of ferns, obviously happy and meowing a greeting. If his memory was correct, it was Otter-something...Otterpelt? Otterfang? Otter...claw? Otterclaw! Beaverstripe's mind decided. Why don't these cats have simple names? They're so much easier to remember... "Morinin'," the tabby simply replied, forcing himself to be brought back into reality. Before his mouth could say anything else, another FogClan cat (One he knew better ) showed herself. Brightnose, he remember, slightly proud of himself for remembering a cat quickly. "Decent," he replied to the she-cat.

Beaverstripe never was one to have a large conversation.

[Pyro]

Before Otterclaw could really start a conversation with Beaverstripe, another cat, this one female, joined them. As he turned to answer her greeting he saw it was Brightnose, the medicine cat.

"Hey, Brightnose! Well, I suppose things are doing pretty good, I mean, for all I got a scolding today (woke up a little too late for the deputy's comfort), but I've already caught a mouse, and I'm sure that in a little while I'll have enough to please her and my uptight, good-goody sister." All this was said very fast and in a babbling manner. Once the cheerful tom got going, it was difficult to stop him, especially if you gave him enough material to work with.

"So anyway, how are things going with you? You out looking for herbs or just taking a breather? And what about you Beaverstripe? You seemed kinda sulky when I came over. Oh, that reminds me! Sorry about the mouse, it was kind of yours, wasn't it? Well, I suppose not really unless you can get through those tough brambles, but all the same I feel kinda bad about it, you know?" Babble, babble, babble. Otterclaw didn't seem to mind that his incessant chattering might be considered annoying.

[Cloud of Diamonds]

Brightnose was in a state of some awe of the drastic difference between the two toms. The huge amount of chatter from Otterclaw greatly contrasted Beaverstripe's one-word answer. How amusing to the see the big tom babbling like a kit. It wasn't annoying to the calico-she could shut it out easily if she wanted and would only put up with it as much as she wished. But she would humor him, answer him politely and understandingly as a medicine cat should. It wasn't that she didn't want to; but the compulsion to ridicule him a bit did make its sneaking way through her mind. But she was in a kindly mood, and Otterclaw hadn't really done anything sufficient enough to warrant derision.

So, with a bit of grin on her rounded face, she replied, "You slept in, huh? True, waking early is preferred for various reasons, but there's no cause for scolding; Mistpelt would have been better off just letting you go instead of giving useless lectures. And Reedfoot wasn't too pleased either, eh? I bet she's just being competitive and wanted to assert how much better she was in being ahead of you."

The FogClanner paused for a moment here, then continued. "Oh, I'm just out here to wander around, really. I might gather some herbs if I like, but it's a bit late in the season, you know."

[[ hardyrex ]]

Beaverstripe's mind wondered once more as he tried to remember why he never talked to Otterclaw before. He's watched him and some other cat talk before, but he couldn't quite put his paw on why--

"Hey, Brightnose! Well, I suppose things are doing pretty good, I mean, for all I got a scolding today (woke up a little too late for the deputy's comfort), but I've already caught a mouse, and I'm sure that in a little while I'll have enough to please her and my uptight, good-goody sister. So anyway, how are things going with you? You out looking for herbs or just taking a breather? And what about you Beaverstripe? You seemed kinda sulky when I came over. Oh, that reminds me! Sorry about the mouse, it was kind of yours, wasn't it? Well, I suppose not really unless you can get through those tough brambles, but all the same I feel kinda bad about it, you know?"

Now he remembered.


The tabby blinked at Otterclaw's babbling, not quite catching all of what was being said. In fact, he only manged to catch the last part of his meow. Of course, it took Beaverstripe's brain a minute to process what had been said to him, and when he did he realized Otterclaw had brought up that stupid piece of fox dung mouse he'd missed. The tip of his tail begin to twitch side to side in irritation at being called 'sulky' once he figured that piece of babbling out.

It was true, but still.

"I'm fine," Beaverstripe muttered. "And it's just a mouse. They're plenty more here. I'll just go find another."

[Crowzerplorodon]

Everyone else seemed to be out hunting. Mistpelt kept sending them out for various reasons, normally because they had not brought in enough prey. Didn't she realize that continuously sending cats out for more prey during the middle of a dry Leaf-Bare would just ruin the chance of catching more prey later? Obviously not. If that was the case, Silverflower wouldn't be out here, trudging through the undergrowth, senses alert for any sign of prey.

Hunting, while easier than fighting, was no where near the small she-cat's forte. Sure she could track down most animals faster than you could say 'mouse', but when it came to actually launching at them, pinning them down, and ending their lives? Well, a two-leg kit would probably be better at it. Which is why, when she did manage to bring down a skinny vole, the she-cat was taken aback in surprise. Maybe she was getting better at this whole 'hunting' thing.

Her ears twitched, catching sound of something – no , someone – nearby. Multiple someones, she recognized, picking out the voices as FogClan cats. Only Brightnose's she recognized by voice, the other two she had to scent out. Both toms, one of them not as amused as the other. Otterclaw, she decided was one of them, padding through the woods to join the group. “Beaverstripe,” she whispered before moving around some bushes.

“I was right!” Her tail swept back and forth, leaving an indent in the grass from the pressure. Silverflower purred in amusement, glad she was able to pick out their scents before seeing them.

[Cloud of Diamonds]

Brightnose blinked as a third cat popped into the scene. Silver something...Silverflower! Goodness, this place was collecting cats like a fresh-kill pile collected prey in greenleaf. Maybe I should leave before it gets too crowded, she thought. But then, what did she have to lose? She could depart whenever she liked, and insulting Silverflower wouldn't be kind anyway.

"Greetings, Silverflower." The tricolored cat mewed politely.

She let her mind wander once she'd spoken and it landed on Beaverstripe. The near-silent tom seemed so content to let others speak, so...non self-distinguishing, she felt was the word for it. Like he just wanted to fade into the background. But it was none of her business. If he wanted to be like that, it was his choice. It was no concern of hers. The calico had permanently learned her lesson about inquiring into personal matters.

She shuddered to remember that day...the day her brain seemed to have deserted her. She'd asked, and he'd answered, and-and, and she berated herself silently. Quit being so emotional, Brightnose. You know it does you no good. Silly cat she was, dwelling on something like that. It had just been an odd day for her, nothing more to it.

She breathed deeply. Just focus on the now and what you're doing in it. No logic comes of reclaiming the past.

Just then, a rather amusing idea came to the philosopher. Might she spring a deep-minded question upon the trio? Indeed, the idea was so tempting she thought she would.

"Dear Clanmates - I have been pondering something lately, and would like to ask you all a question - do you think emotions are the product of events, or can they exist independently?"

[Pyro]

"I'm fine, And it's just a mouse. They're plenty more here. I'll just go find another."

"You aren't upset? Are you sure? I mean I could make it up to some how, I don't know how exactly, but I suppose you could tell me and- Silverflower! Are you out hunting too? That really seems to be the duty of the moment. Well, I mean it is leafbare...Did you get sent back out too? Naw, I bet not...So how're you doing?" Before he could pester Silverflower with more questions, or even wait to hear the answers, Brightnose asked him another question, one that would require all of his...longwinded-skills.

"...do you think emotions are the product of events, or can they exist independently?"

Hmm...Well, certain events had definitely triggered his emotions. When he had gotten his warrior name he had felt elation, victorious...And just a few minutes ago he had felt irritated at Reedfoot for dragging him out of the warm den and into the cold...But of course, he had woken up happy and cheerful on many an occasion for no particular reason. Of course, there could have very well been a reason, just one he hadn't thought about. Like maybe he was content from a good night's sleep. And it had to be considered that he was almost always happy on a warm sunny day...But what about kits who felt an immediate love for their mother? No...she was their mother after all, and had given them life. But how could they know at such a young age that she had brought them into this world?

"I think...the must be triggered by individual events."

It was a rather short answer, especially for Otterclaw. But then again, he wasn't exactly sure of himself on the matter. All evidence seemed to support the first suggestion, but he could not help but think the latter could also apply. In what cases he did not know or think of at the moment...Or perhaps he wasn't sure because he truly wanted to reply 'both' to be on the safe side. But then again, if he couldn't support the answer, why say it?