Open Territory Careful who you choose || hunting

[Talon Talon]

He didn't really have to convince her, at all. Rather, she seemed eager he wanted to explore more of the territory, take a walk and leave camp. He kept his good eye on her, falling back a few paces as he let her lead the way with his head lowered. The breeze was nice against the heat, but burned against raw still healing skin. He didn't flinch, he pressed forward. Meadowpaw spoke ahead, asked him something, and he nodded. Yeah, he was fine. He didn't know why she worried- things were looking up.

Blue eye squinted, past the bright light that reflected off the grass- past meadowpaw, nestling a little nose into a patch of grass. Instincts kicked in, eyes flicking to meadowpaw before lowering himself to the ground and pushing past her. His tail tip briefly touched her shoulder, before continuing. Steps were precise, eyes were trained. His heartbeat steadied, and his breaths were even.

The rabbit sat blissfully unaware, it's maw quicking chomping it's blade of grass it managed to get, black eyes devoid of emotion- almost similar to his blue. He paused, gaging distance, watching. Time ticked by-

And then he leaped.

(Mentions of rabbit blood and fight with creature.)
Brown and white dotted paws hit the dirt with a thud- missing, and blue eye widened. His paws pivoted, claws unsheathed as it swung in an arc, catching skin of the rabbits leg as it let out a high pitched whine as it was thrown, and hit the ground a few paces away. It quickly shuffled, blood peeking through flesh where his claws had sliced. It tried to recuperate, kicking up as Talon leaped upon it, scratching into his nose that burned. Droplets of blood didn't seem to interfere his hunt- teeth gritting as he lunged forward, digging teeth into the shoulder, tearing flesh free.

The rabbit was dead, brutally- and without mercy, and Talon stood above it, bracing paws and panting. Blue eye watched it, before grabbing it by it's neck and lugging it back towards Meadowpaw and setting it down, head lifting. He had learned something today- the loss of his eye had really set him back. But he wasn't going to let it let him down. He would learn. He would carry on.

"It scratched me." He said blankly, blue eye drifting from her. "Not th' first time I'd been scratched. It'll heal. Don't fret y' self on it. You are doin' enough for me." Because his first thought when facing her was that she would be sent in a panic over a little blood and need to heal it. But that was not necessary for the smaller things- it almost seemed wasteful to the boy.

@Meadowpaw - but no need to wait!!!!///
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[Meadowpaw]

MEADOWPAW

x

Most cats who came to the medicine den had to be practically begged to stay their allotted time. They were always restless and eager to leave. That's why Talon's cooperation sometimes worried her. If he wanted to stay, who was she to say no? It wasn't that she minded—she didn't—but it wasn't good for him to stay cooped up all the time either.

His mind was a mystery to her. If he was struggling in ways she couldn't see… Well, she knew what it was like to be trapped inside her own head. She wanted to help him if she could.

So when he asked to go for a walk, she was glad. Her worries eased a little as they began their trek through the territory. Whatever he needed—if it was within her power to give—she would. That was her duty as a medicine cat… but also as a friend? No, that didn't seem quite right. Maybe as someone who just wanted to see him get better. Someone who understood a little of what he was going through. Or at least thought she did.

The sun was pleasantly warm against her pelt, not too hot thanks to the breeze. She tilted her head to soak in the light and let it settle the tightness in her chest. Every so often, she glanced over to check on him, just in case the walk became too much.

"If you get tired, we can take a break, alright?" Meadowpaw offered gently, trying not to fuss too much. But she was still responsible for his well-being, and she didn't take that lightly.

Then Talon seems to notice something. Meadowpaw recognized the look in his eye. She stayed quiet, crouching down into the grass to watch.

The way his paws brush over the ground speaks to some skill. He'd done this before. His confidence said as much. If not for his injured eye, she had no doubt he would've caught it cleanly the first try. Like her missing leg, his lost eye came with adjustments. He misses but doesn't seem to deter him. He pivots to right his mistake and the rabbit fights to get away.

There was a time when she liked to hunt too. She wouldn't say she was ever great at it but she didn't remember it being so brutal. Then again, outside of the clans… it was life or death. She knew enough about his past now to understand that coming back empty-pawed wasn't an option out there. Before, he had no one to rely on. Maybe it still felt that way to him.

When he comes trotting back with his well-earned catch, she rises to her paws. The scent of blood is potent. She spotted it tangled in the rabbit's fur—but also streaking trickling from him. He attempts to shield her from it, but she cranes her head to see. The way he talks about his injuries so carelessly makes her grumble. "Do wounds always heal right out there?" Less so of a question and more of a point being made. She knows they don't. There were plenty of times she let small things be, and it ended up worse. Lucky there were cats like Glade to patch her up or her sister to scold her when she tried to hide them.

Frustration tugged in her chest. She was caught between not wanting to push him and needing to do her duty. It was such a strange place to be. "Y-you do know that if it gets infected, I'll only have to use more herbs, right?" The wound wasn't that deep. A superficial scrape that probably wouldn't scar. That didn't mean it couldn't get infected. Meadowpaw doubted rabbits claws were any cleaner than theirs.

"We should at least clean it..." She frowned, cheeks puffing slightly as she continued to eye the cut over his nose. "Please?" Her green eyes flicked up to meet his with more firmness. "Just to be safe." Meadowpaw really didn't want to have to make him do anything he didn't want to do, but she couldn't just leave it like that.

x

I BELIEVE THAT THERES COURAGE

BUT ITS BURNIN' LIKE ASH IN THE WIND

x

WINDCLAN

MEDICINE CAT APPRENTICE

11 MOONS

SHE/HER

Meadowpaw values kindness and remembrance. As a kit, she internalized her mother's lessons, but questioned whether her way is the only way. She has broken free from the heavy burden of her mother's expectations due to their estrangement after the fire. She remains kind and soft-spoken through all she's endured, but is not afraid to speak out for what she believes is right.

Meadow works tirelessly at any task she undertakes, desperate to prove herself capable and worthy despite her disability. Without her mother's guidance, she finds new ways to express herself.

In conversations, she is gentle, thoughtful, and withdrawn, often hiding her struggles, fearing others seeing her as incapable. She continues to have a strong bond not only with her sister, but with her adopted family as well. Meadow uses her new freedom to support and deepen the bonds with her clanmates. Additionally, she has started to explore the more spiritual side of herself…

Her worldview is a complicated mix of hope and frustration. She wants to believe that there's hope at the end of all the suffering, but feels trapped by her limitations. With enough time and support, she may find a way to overcome her limitations and accept herself.