PAFP Event Border SC WC Awake, awake, you children bold 🌾 Windclan hunting patrol

[Merrystalk Merrystalk]

His first patrol since... The flood. It wasn't going to be taxing, but Dimmingsun had reassured him that as long as he didn't push himself, he wouldn't have any issues. The worst the tom had was a slight cough that even now had seemed to slip away day by day; his energy hadn't returned fully, but it was the beginning. For now, he had a clan to feed.

They pressed towards Shadowclan's border, even over the rich scent of rain and mud, that bitterness of the Thunderpath was still unavoidable. Acrid and awful. But, even still, to his surprise, there were guests on their side of the border.

It hadn't been his first run-in with the slimy things; the pond near the barn often had the weird beasts sitting croaking away. But, here they were, a bunch of frogs enjoying the suddenly far more damp environment of Windclan. He tilted his head, chuckling dryly. "Well, at least somethin' is enjoying the rain, I s'pose." Merry hummed as he looked to Harefoot. His mate, having been sent alongside him, didn't feel like a coincidence, but he didn't mind all too much.

Though the longer he watched the things, hopping about the puddles at the side of the thunderpath, a thought came to mind. "Shadowclan eat these, right? I swear Sablestar mentioned it... Ya'think they taste any good?" He squinted down at them, curious. Food was scarce, and he wasn't meant to run as he often did, but frogs wouldn't be that hard to catch, right?

Merry narrowed his eyes, raising his tail for his patrol to keep still for a moment. The tortoiseshell was creeping closer to the closest of the things, who sat still in a murky puddle. Whether it be his skills still being rusty after having to genuinely rest for once, or the sound of the squelching mud under paw, the thing croaked with indignation as it hopped away, leaving Merry to splatter the puddle instead. The tom spluttered, wrinkling his nose as the water splashed into his face, shaking his head as he deflated a little.

"Don't think it's impossible, though watch the Thunderpath, don't get too close." He flicked his ear, backing away as a monster rumbled nearby, seeming to dodge a puddle on the path. Merrystalk's face twisted in confusion, but with the frogs scattered every which way, maybe they should all just focus on trying to get some prey to bring back to camp.

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OOC:
Prompt: It looks like there's an abundant amount of frogs littering this side of the Thunderpath, where puddles had accumulated from the serious rains. Do you decide to try this delicacy of Shadowclan's? Or is that monster going right for the puddle in the Thunderpath? Look out!

This thread applies to both Windclan and Shadowclan event prompts (thank you to Poe for confirming <3)!
Windclan & Shadowclan both roll a d10 and must roll a 9 or above to successfully catch a frog! (Merry rolled a 6)
Note to Windclan: Shadowclan are actively starving, so don't be surprised if an argument breaks out about prey stealing.

Tagging @STAGGERDANCE @harefoot @Chickpaw @Talonpaw
HOWEVER this thread is open for any Windclan cat who wasn't put on a patrol AND open to all Shadowclan cats (once at least another Windclan cat has replied!

​

MERRYSTALK He/Him, Windclan Gale Guard, 32 moons.
A lithe, tortoiseshell cat with green eyes and pelt speckled with rye grass.
mentored by none // mentoring Talonpaw
sibling to Goldenroar and Sunnyspring
NPC x NPC / parent to no one / mated to Harefoot
"SPEECH" // "THOUGHTS" // ATTACK
penned by Pheo ↛ phoenixwashere on discord, feel free to dm for plots.

 

[Jaypaw ⏾]

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆ Jaypaw ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☽⋆⁺₊⋆-

Jaypaw wasn't assigned to go on any of the patrols, so he was free to choose to join one. Of course Sunnyspring went too, either for the same reason as Jaypaw, to keep an eye on Merrystalk, or perhaps just to make sure Jaypaw didn't get into any trouble.

There were puddles everywhere, Jaypaw did all he could to avoid splashing his paws in them accidentally, startling any potential prey. But when Merrystalk stopped near a larger puddle filled with frogs and announced they would be attempting to catch the slimy creatures, he couldn't help but scrunch his nose. Those things? Though he had to admit that they shouldn't be picky at a moment like this and should instead take whatever they could get.

And so Jaypaw separated from the group and found a puddle near the thunderpath where a big fat frog sat, staring somewhere into the distance. Its green and brown body looked foul, Jaypaw didn't even want to imagine its taste, but food was food. That is, if he managed to catch it.

He observed it for a while from his position in the tall grass, but the fat frog didn't move at all, not even a whisker-length. Was it alert, just like him? Jaypaw knew he had to be swift the moment he pounced, otherwise the frog would bury itself in the muddy ground and he would not be able to find it anymore. He kept rearranging his limbs until he was satisfied with his position and counted three breath. And then he pounced.

The frog didn't have time to react at all, only when it was already between Jaypaw's fangs did it start wriggling and croaking and Jaypaw quickly bit into it to kill it, lest it disturb the whole territory with its croaks. The taste of the frog wasn't nearly as foul or slimy as he had expected it to be, he had to admit ShadowClan might have had a point. The taste was actually quite pleasant.

OOC: Mentor ping @Sunnyspring . Also, rolled a 9 in my channel! ​