Possumgrin slunk deeper into the shadows, ears flicking at every passing sound. The patrol had been rounding up at dawn, and rather than suffer through another miserable morning and empty hunting, he had made himself conveniently unavailable. A sudden urgent need to check on the elders a brief but crucial conversation with a warrior who wasn't even in camp. Oh, and that branch over there needed a good, long stare.
By now, the patrol surely should've left. The blue tom carefully poked his head out from behind a scraggly bramble, orange eyes scanning the camp. Clear. His whiskers twitched with satisfaction as he stepped out, stretching as if he'd just woken up from a hard earned nap. Easy. With Fleapaw ill there was no stopping him from screwing off today.
He rolled his shoulders, already planning the rest of his free morning. Maybe a good sun patch, a chat with someone interesting for a change. Then an all too familiar face approached. @Smogmaw. One of the cats he was supposed to be patrolling with. Fox dung. His entire body stiffened mid-step. Slowly, he turned his head, a strained smile already pulling at his sheepish maw as he met the assumedly unimpressed gaze of who had caught him. His tufted ears twitched as he scrambled for an excuse, any excuse. By the heavens don't tell @SABLESTAR !
"Oh! Funny running into you Smogmaw!" He took a step forward as if this were an entirely normal morning. "You just missed me, actually. Patrol? Yeah. I, uh... Well, you see-" His tail lashed once before he reeled it in, shifting his weight awkwardly. "I had to... Uh, you know. Nature calls." They shot a meaningful glance toward the outskirts of camp.
"Had to go make dirt. Urgently." His expression remained serious, as if this was truly a tragic and unavoidable event. Shut up Possumgrin! Shut! Up! But he could already predict the inevitable disbelief.
"And then-" He held up a pale paw as if they had interrupted his very important tale. "I was on my way to check on Fleapaw! Poor thing has been dying to practice." He exhaled dramatically. "She's probably wasting away as we speak." A solemn shake of their tufted blue head. "What kind of mentor would I be if I didn't ensure her training?" Possumgrin's ear twitched as he cringed at his own faulty sincerity. Still he gave a winning grin, sharp fangs flashing.
Would they buy it? Probably not. Would that stop him from committing to the bit? Absolutely not.
OOC: The patrol has already left but Smog is assumed to have stuck behind to find Possum. A common pattern of his is to disappear during morning patrols. Once Smogmaw replies feel free to come in on the action! However, it is very early in the morning and unlikely any cat heard Possum's poor excuse so please play it off like they only catch the tail end of whatever Smog has to say (minus Sablestar they are to overhear the whole thing!)
By now, the patrol surely should've left. The blue tom carefully poked his head out from behind a scraggly bramble, orange eyes scanning the camp. Clear. His whiskers twitched with satisfaction as he stepped out, stretching as if he'd just woken up from a hard earned nap. Easy. With Fleapaw ill there was no stopping him from screwing off today.
He rolled his shoulders, already planning the rest of his free morning. Maybe a good sun patch, a chat with someone interesting for a change. Then an all too familiar face approached. @Smogmaw. One of the cats he was supposed to be patrolling with. Fox dung. His entire body stiffened mid-step. Slowly, he turned his head, a strained smile already pulling at his sheepish maw as he met the assumedly unimpressed gaze of who had caught him. His tufted ears twitched as he scrambled for an excuse, any excuse. By the heavens don't tell @SABLESTAR !
"Oh! Funny running into you Smogmaw!" He took a step forward as if this were an entirely normal morning. "You just missed me, actually. Patrol? Yeah. I, uh... Well, you see-" His tail lashed once before he reeled it in, shifting his weight awkwardly. "I had to... Uh, you know. Nature calls." They shot a meaningful glance toward the outskirts of camp.
"Had to go make dirt. Urgently." His expression remained serious, as if this was truly a tragic and unavoidable event. Shut up Possumgrin! Shut! Up! But he could already predict the inevitable disbelief.
"And then-" He held up a pale paw as if they had interrupted his very important tale. "I was on my way to check on Fleapaw! Poor thing has been dying to practice." He exhaled dramatically. "She's probably wasting away as we speak." A solemn shake of their tufted blue head. "What kind of mentor would I be if I didn't ensure her training?" Possumgrin's ear twitched as he cringed at his own faulty sincerity. Still he gave a winning grin, sharp fangs flashing.
Would they buy it? Probably not. Would that stop him from committing to the bit? Absolutely not.
OOC: The patrol has already left but Smog is assumed to have stuck behind to find Possum. A common pattern of his is to disappear during morning patrols. Once Smogmaw replies feel free to come in on the action! However, it is very early in the morning and unlikely any cat heard Possum's poor excuse so please play it off like they only catch the tail end of whatever Smog has to say (minus Sablestar they are to overhear the whole thing!)
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