Open PAFP Camp Begging us to eat, so much meat, and hunger is so heavy | Flamerunner - sharing food

[Snowdropheart]

Snowdropheart​

I'm starving my friend

Snowdropheart was so hungry, the morning patrol yet again unsuccesful in finding any prey. It was nothing new, the colder seasons were always hard, but had it started so early before? Their paws barely stepping into leaf-fall and already they struggled to find any food. She feared this empty feeling in her belly would not go away anytime soon and her heart panged at the thought of the youngest kittens growing up in these conditions.

She watched her clanmates struggling, her own stomach grumbling at her. There was barely any prey in the fresh-kill pile and Snowdropheart's stomach tightened at the thought of taking a whole piece of robin for herself. Sure, the bird wasn't particularly big, but still, there were more cats around her than food in the pile.

Lifting her head, she spotted the cream-colored shape of Flamerunner and trotted up to him, robin in her jaws. "Come on, let's share this." she meowed instead of a greeting. The tom might have been bigger than her, but at the rate he was going, his frame would be just skin and bones soon. "We could both use some food."

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OOC: Wait for @Flamerunner to respond!

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[Flamerunner Flamerunner]

Run boy run! The sun will be guiding you
Run boy run! They're dying to stop you
Run boy run! This race is a prophecy
Run boy run! Break out from society

.

Ah… things were getting nasty, weren't they? His fur fluffed up against the cold as he stared ahead, a frown pulling at his muzzle. He was a good hunter, he knew that. During the warmer days, he'd brought home more prey than he could count. Even now, in the creeping grip of leaf-bare, he could still catch something if luck was kind. But prey was growing scarce, and when that happened, cats got tense. Grouchy. Snappish. Sometimes, even stupid. Fights broke out over scraps. That's what had happened back then…

Would it be the same now?

His thoughts wandered, back to his sister. To how she had withered away, piece by piece, until all that was left was a hollow shell with eyes that no longer saw anything. Too young to die. Too sweet to deserve it. So lost in thought was he that he didn't notice Snowdropheart's approach until her voice broke the quiet. His ears twitched, and only then did his blue eyes lift, blinking toward her and the robin she carried. " Snowdropheart. " he greeted, his voice low, roughened by the cold and his thoughts. Then a faint grin curled across his muzzle, the kind that didn't quite reached his eyes. " You need the food too, gorgeous. "

The lazy humor was there, but the rumble in his stomach betrayed him, a quiet growl cutting through the frost-still air. He huffed out a short laugh. " Though I suppose… " he drawled, tipping his head with mock consideration. " If you don't mind sharing, I'll take a few nips of that bird too. " There was warmth in his tone, but something else lingered underneath it, weariness, maybe. The kind that even his jokes couldn't quite chase away anymore.

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

33 MOONS

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[Snowdropheart]

Snowdropheart

Snowdropheart felt relieved Flamerunner had accepted her offer - she worried about her clanmates, those that waited to eat from the fresh-kill pile instead of eating during the patrols. She nudged the robin toward him, indicating for him to take the first bite, only then did she join in. Snowdropheart savored the taste and warmth filling her mouth, aware of how rare and precious this feeling had become. And it wasn't going to improve anytime soon.

As she ate, she felt a pang of guilt in her heart - she was eating while others, more vulnerable, probably starved - the elders, the queens. Had anyone checked on them? She promised herself to be the one to do so, once the meal was finished.

Eating alongside Flamerunner was nice, a quiet moment like this creating a connection - not romantic, of course, though Snowdropheart did long for one like that with someone, to have a big family with. Not with Flamerunner, however, that wasn't the kind of bond between them.

"You call me gorgeous, but look at us - thinner and thinner each day, soon to look like those hares the WindClanners chase across the moors." she tried to make a joke to fill in the silence. "You hunt and bring so much prey, but..." she hesitated, looking into Flamerunner's eyes. "...when is the last time you actually ate?"

His eyes looked tired, weary. When had Snowdropheart looked into them last? She swore they were full of life last time these two spoke, but how long ago was that? There were so many cats Snowdropheart wanted to take care of, to share her warmth with, but she still felt like she was failing. Quietly, she nuzzled the tom, letting him know she was there for him, no matter what.

OOC: n/a

 

[Flamerunner Flamerunner]

Run boy run! The sun will be guiding you
Run boy run! They're dying to stop you
Run boy run! This race is a prophecy
Run boy run! Break out from society

.

Flamerunner lifted his head when she nudged the robin toward him, blinking once before giving a soft chuckle. " You know, the saying goes 'ladies first'. " he spoke, though when she insisted, he relented and took a few careful bites. The meat was cold, stringy in places, but it was food and the warmth that spread through his chest wasn't just from eating. It was from Snowdropheart's thoughtfulness. Her kindness. He watched her quietly for a moment as she joined him, her delicate movements, the way her expression softened as the taste hit her tongue. Always thinking of everyone else, wasn't she? Even now, her eyes held that distant guilt, that quiet weight he recognized all too well.

When she spoke, he let out a breath that almost became a laugh, soft, fond and tired. " You still are, even if you start looking like one of those skinny WindClan hares. " he spoke, voice playful as ever, even with the hint of tiredness throughout it. Her next words, though, made him pause. The question hung heavier than he wanted to admit. He tried to wave it off at first, offering his usual grin. " I eat. " he said, flicking his tail as if the subject were nothing. " Maybe not as much as I should, but I'm not keeling over yet. " he assured, glancing over at her face to acknowledge the worry he saw there... The genuine concern for his well being.

" Hey... " he murmured, voice dropping lower, warm despite the chill that clung to the camp. " You shouldn't be the one fretting over me. You already do enough for everyone else. Queens, elders, apprentices, you can't carry the whole forest on your back, Snowdropheart. " He leaned in then, brushing his muzzle lightly against her shoulder, a rare gesture of quiet reassurance. " We'll get through it. " he promised, a quiet certainty threading through his tone. " Leafbare won't last forever. We've seen worse seasons, yeah? We'll make it through this one too, one way or another. "

A faint smirk tugged back at his lips, the spark of his usual self flickering back to life. " And when newleaf comes, I'll make sure you're the first to get the fattest squirrel in the forest. Deal? "

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

33 MOONS

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[wisteriastrike wisteriastrike]

This isn't a conversation for her. However, Wisteriastrike, with a tired mind and idle paws, doesn't seem to care. Her kits have found yet another bout of time that they would rather happily nap the time away than fuss with her, and she's free from their constant whining, gnawing, and escapist tenancies. Sure, soon enough she'll be drawn back with their siren-song cries for her, but until then... she can enjoy the openness of camp. And, if she's lucky, a decent meal while she's at it.

... unfortunately for her, it seems the meal is off the table. While not starving, it's been a bit since the molly was able to pick anything for herself. Those in the nursery have gotten meals more based on a, "We have nothing else," basis. It no longer matters (to any ShadowClan cat, really,) how old the prey might've been - a meal is a meal. She purses her lips, at least grateful for the mouse she had been given earlier in the day. Her stomach still churns, but to no degree that would worry anyone.

Her gaze flits away, instead fitting to her good friend Snowdropheart. The corners of her maw turn upwards at a smile, watching how she and the red-pointed tom share a dwindling bird together. Oh, what a horrible moment to ruin... thankfully, Wisteriastrike simply loves ruining the moment!

She slips towards the duo, heaving her weight to collapse on Snowdropheart's opposite side. She pays no mind to the meal they share, not wanting to get into any fiasco over a few bites. Instead of a greeting, Wisteriastrike imparts a jest: "With how much the two of you are yapping, the camp will be as warm as a greenleaf evening...!" Oh, if only that was true. She leans her cheek against her paws, looking upwards toward the two. "Anything interesting, or are you just gossiping like a couple of kits?"

 

[Snowdropheart]

Snowdropheart

Snowdropheart's whiskers twitch, her mouth curving in a smile, as Wisteriastrike plops down next to her, sharing her warmth with Snowdropheart. Her friend always knows just what to say to make her laugh, to warm her up inside.

"Here," she nudges her part of the robin towards Wisteriastrike. "have some too, you need it."

She wraps her tail around her friend gently, closing her eyes for a breath. This moment would be perfect, were it not for the incoming Leaf-bare, threatening to starve them all. But then again, would she find herself sharing her moments with the cats she cared about, without the threat looming over her head?

She must admit that sharing her food with someone wasn't just practical, it was a private, intimate moment between souls, driven to each other by hunger. Whether that was Flamerunner or Wisteriastrike didn't matter, she cared about them both and was glad to share with them.

OOC: n/a

 

[Flamerunner Flamerunner]

Run boy run! The sun will be guiding you
Run boy run! They're dying to stop you
Run boy run! This race is a prophecy
Run boy run! Break out from society

.

Flamerunner blinked as Wisteriastrike flopped down beside them, a flicker of surprise dancing in his blue eyes before he let out a low chuckle, flicking his tail in amusement. " Yapping, huh? Oh, you wound me. " he purred dramatically, pressing a paw to his chest as if he'd been struck. " I'll have you know, dear Wisteriastrike, this is a deep and philosophical discussion about survival, beauty, and the tragedy of sharing food with cats who keep calling me loud. "

He grinned, sharp-toothed and lazy. " Go on, take some. If we're all freezing and starving together, we might as well be good company while we do it. " Settling back down, he gave his chest a few idle licks and then hummed thoughtfully, that familiar mischievous glint creeping into his eyes. " You know. " he began, voice carrying that offbeat tone that always meant a strange question was about to leave his mouth. " If the cold could talk, what do you think it'd say to us? Probably something smug like, should've grown thicker fur, huh? "

He laughed softly at his own words, then glanced toward Snowdropheart and Wisteriastrike in turn, his tone softening beneath the humor. " Honestly though… warmth's a nice thought. But I'd rather trade for a few full bellies first. Can't be charming if I'm too weak to talk, right? " His tail brushed lightly against both their sides, a wordless gesture of comfort before he sighed, watching his breath mist faintly in the chill air. " Still, at least it's not snowing yet. We'll take that as a win. "

He tilted his head, grin returning in smaller, gentler form. " So, what's the gossip, then? Who's keeping camp warm with their chatter when we're done here? "

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

33 MOONS

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