Open Event Territory now we'll eat soup and apple pies ✦ october hunting patrol

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This tag indicates this is an event specific thread.
This thread takes place outside the clan's camp in its territory.

Timberfrost

Timberfrost's icon
We'll wallow the solitude away
ShadowClan
Caregiver
39
9
Freshkill
1,000
Pronouns
he/him
Played by
Monte
{$title} Timberfrost leads a hunting patrol deep into the pocosin, near the ponds
—————————————————— 'Till I can't run no more ✦


It is true, the tom was far more familiar with hunger than most. It was something he was forced to come acquainted with, something he had to greet as an old friend. It had gnawed at his stomach ever since he was a kit, since he set out on his own on bumbling, foolish paws, and the days he spent alone with Stoat... and now it found him here, surrounded by mouths just as hungry as he was. To be quite honest, he was surprised Wolfpack had allowed his requestthe tom had grown used to hunting alone, with a sparse chime in from a fellow clanmate, but these days... these days the nursery grew full, and expectant eyes pushed him deeper into the territory, pushed him into longer days, even as weary bones cried in return. Not to mention his own strange sort of gnawing deep within, a dull buzz behind his eyes, and an ever-incessant drip from his nose that he couldn't seem to shake...

With bleary, faded-gold eyes, the tom turned and regarded the group he had mustered up. The ponds were muddy, silty, and dangerous to cats with a heavy step, but for this reason Timber hoped that they'd find some prey. Or at least, they'd all have some more experience with the awful black muck around their paws, and they'd be able to appreciate a far more sturdy ground back in camp.

Timberfrost tried for a weak smile, straightening a back worn by a long day. "...Now, I know it's not a preferred hunting spot..." He started apologetically, cringing at his own uneasy words. "...But it's what he have to work with today—Split up as best you can, but be careful with your step. The terrain is...." With a wet pop, the tom pulled a pale paw out of the muck, having already begun to drag him in. "Not the easiest to traverse at the best of times."

With this, and a few more muttered words of encouragement, Timberfrost slipped away between the underbrush. He was headed to the ponds—while it was rather unorthodox, perhaps a quick wade in the shallows might not be looked at with too much disdain. He had always liked fish, but he did have to admit this environment was far different than what he had grown used to.


  • "Keep in mind that we rolled a 1/10 for this month, so prey will be EXTREMELY scarce and difficult to find. Optional, if you choose to roll a 1d10 to try and catch something, you'd have to roll a 10 to succeed in making a kill. Anything less would be a fail :(" - October Patrol Assignments
  • Timberfrost
    ✦—Shadowclan Caregiver | 30 Moons
    ✦—He/Him
    ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
    ✦—A large chocolate tabby with pale gold eyes
    #9A775A
 
Last edited:

Snowdropheart


Snowdropheart followed Timberfrost towards the pond, the wet soil glaringly obvious on her icy fur. She was used to her paws staining dark, taking great care in cleaning it afterwards, but the mud around the ponds was worse than usual - her front leg was fully blackened by the time they reached the shore, having sunk deep into the soggy earth. This was going to take a long time to clean.

It's for a good cause, though, she thought to herself. This patrol's primary goal was hunting for the nursery, the caretakers who needed to produce milk and the little ones that already had stomachs accustomed to solid foods. A noble mission in her eyes, for the caretakers and kittens were the most important part of a clan - the upbringers and the future. They would get nowhere without the nursery.

As Timberfrost left to hunt some fish, Snowdropheart turned towards the shore - it was almost too cold for the slimy creatures to be out, but not quite - with a little luck, she might be able to catch something. She stalked along the shore of the pond, hoping. But the little frogs that still remained around the ponds all jumped into the water before she even had a chance to pounce, having either noticed her or perhaps sensing her with some unknown frog instinct.

Snowdropheart sighed - she was hoping to be able to bring something back to Wisteriastrike, having six little ones must have been exhausting. She would gladly trade places with her, but she knew it would be no easy task, especially in this season, when prey was so scarce. That's why I'm waiting for Newleaf, she told herself.

Hunting frogs along the shoreline proved to be useless at this point and so she turned around, tail twitching in frustration, heading elsewhere. Hopefully other spots will be less tricky and she will find some prey to bring back.

OOC: Rolled an 8 :(
OOC: n/a
 
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BLACKTREE
Damn your love, damn your lies
Blacktree was one of the first to follow Tinberfrost out of camp. The death of Pine was not so far away that she had forgotten what it was like to feel hunger, to watch as a kit tried to suckle at empty teats. With no current litter of her own, she would help provide for those who needed it.

Blacktree would not tolerate another death like Pine's, slow and painful.

As Timberfrost gave them their orders, she stuck to the edges of the ponds, looking among cattails and reeds for prey. Her long fur was already clumped and thick with mud, but the discomfort was worth it if she could catch some prey for the nursing queens. A reed rustled with the croak of a frog, and she dropped to a hunting stance.

Closer, closer, and...

Though her stance was perfectly adequate, the frog splashed into the water as her paws landed on the peaty ground. Blacktree swore under her breath, tail whisking in fury as she stalked off to another part of the ponds in search of prey.

  • OOC: Rolled a 2
  • KEY:
    speech

    thoughts

    attempted action
    "other character's speech"


  • Click on the image for tags!
    BLACKTREE is a long-furred she-cat with vitiligo and brown eyes. A former Colony cat, she joined with Sable and the other future ShadowClan cats in the split. She still bears a scar from that night.
    ShadowClan Caregiver
    59 moons
    Cis female (she/her)
    Sister to Grayflight, Patchfog, and Hollis. Mate of Dune. Mother to Pine. Former mate of Blisteringfury.
    Peaceful powerplay OK!
 
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Old man Peatgrass might have aching bones and a well-versed in grumbling, but the old miser still partook in the occasional hunt. Especially now with the days growing cooler again, he recalled offering a paw to ol' Timber on how to fish in these murky old ponds when he first moved to the pocosin with his little bundle of fur. Now that little lady was an adult all her own, she was out hunting for herself, while poor old pops was hunting for himself. But that was exactly why Peatgrass was out there, too. Family would always care for you if you've given them the care they deserve, but being dependent on them fully was just unfair to them.

The hunting patrol had seemed surprised he would come along, but with the seasons changing, it was all paws on deck. At first, he simply sat back and watched the youngsters try their damnest. Blacktree was old enough to be one of his kits, but utterly missed the mark for a frog. Peatgrass tutted under his breath, but for once held his tongue. Snowdropheart, bless her soul, tried and also missed catching one of the frogs. He'd expected better from his own kin, but the lass was one close to his heart, so she got a pass.

It was as he watched Timberfrost, the big softie, manage to stumble about his own paws and dart his paws beneath the surface and not quite hit the mark. "Timber, my lad, I taughtcha better than this." His voice was gruff but lacking the usual sharpness when reprimanding any other cat. He was a father too, and a damn good one, one of those few who had earned his respect. "Maybe yer a bit out've practice, lad, been too comfortable in yer nest." Peatgrass croaked a teasing laugh, pressing towards the edge of the pond with a glint in his eye. He peered up to the sky before circling around the pond, stopping a little ways from where Timber stood.

"Now, I might be an old miser, but I ain't lost my spark." With a swipe of the claw and a lowering of his head, Peatgrass pulled a catfish swiftly from beneath the murky surface as more fins seemed to splash beneath the surface, scattering. He struggled to pull the thing to the edge, but with a heave of his shaky old body, the thing was brought to land.

"You'll learn in places like this, fish'll take to the warmest waters this time've the season." Peatgrass pressed an unsheathed claw against the thing, not yet killing it as he explained. "Like cats, them slippery bastards work best warmed up, so when a pond's got some cover in sunhigh, you'll bet yer tail they're right where the sun lands." He gave Timber a toothy grin, revealing the gaps where some teeth were long missing.

Oeatgrass finally stooped down and delivered a killing blow to the catfish, the thing going limp as he licked his lips. "I won't expect to get so lucky e'erytime we fish, but sure as the sun rises in the mornin' you won't be catchin' none of these beasts where the sun ain't shone."



Rolled a 10 -> Caught a catfish
(Fun fact! This is something I learned in one of my aquaculture lectures. My lecturer learned from a fishing buddy that fish will gather in the warmest waters in the cooler seasons since they can't produce their own body heat, so if you can find where the warmest waters are, you'll find the fish! (dont fish without a license, thats lame, but this is warrior cats so ecological impacts are out the window /silly))

PEATGRASS He/Him, Shadowclan Elder, 114 moons.
A short-haired orange-grey chimaera with sunken green eyes.
mentored by none // mentoring no one
littermate to Paisley and Oscar
NPC x NPC / parent to a [to be adopted out] / mated to [to be adopted out]
"SPEECH" // "THOUGHTS" // ATTACK
penned by Pheo ↛ phoenixwashere on discord, feel free to dm for plots.
 
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

.


" Well, don't you worry your pretty face, Timber. " meowed the flame point with a grin, brushing against the other tom as he gave a teasing wink. " I'll catch something nice and juicy for the waiting caregivers and kits alike. " His tail flicked high as he glanced around, watching the others scatter through the undergrowth. Prey was scarce, far scarcer than he liked to admit... But old Peat pawpaw seemed to know what he was doing. Granted, the elder had been stalking this part of the woods long before Flamerunner had even started living here...

With a firm nod, he peeled away from the group, paws silent on the hardened ground as he lifted his nose to scent the air. Just one good catch, that's all he needed. His ears twitched. There... The faint scrape of claws on bark. Flamerunner's gaze lifted toward a gnarled oak, where a squirrel perched high above, its fur puffed thick against the cold as it nosed at a hollow. " Well, aren't you a bold little thing... " he murmured with a sly grin. " Don't suppose you'd like to come down here, huh? "

The squirrel didn't answer, of course. So he crouched low, eyes narrowing, waiting. still as the dead, until it finally scurried down the trunk, chattering softly to itself as it searched the frozen earth. One step. Two. Now!!

He lunged. Mud scattered beneath his paws as the squirrel bolted, too slow to escape. His claws caught the tail, a quick bite ending the struggle in a heartbeat. Flamerunner straightened, shaking some mud from his fur with a soft chuckle. " And they say I'm just a pretty face. " he drawled, scooping up the catch. It wasn't much, but it would feed someone tonight. By the time he padded back to the hunting group, the cold had seeped into his fur, but satisfaction burned warm beneath it. He dropped the squirrel at Timberfrost's paws, tail flicking proudly.

" Got sum'thin', guys. " he commented proudly, sitting down for a moment. " Any luck here? " His grin was lazy, but his eyes glinted, pleased, maybe even a little smug. Not bad for a cat who claimed to prefer naps over hunting.

Speech, thoughts/emphasis


33 MOONS
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SHADOWCLANNER
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SONG
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bio


ooc: rolled a 10 !!!!
 
-

tw - descriptions of neglect, starvation, and vague allusions to cannibalism

She slinked after Timberfrost, mud squelching between her toes. Like the rest of them, she knew hunger all too well. It wasn't anything new. Sometimes the twolegs wouldn't come for days to feed them. Ma got so thin at times that her milk ran dry. Cats there ate anything they could find or pull between the bars of their cages. There was little difference between a piece of kibble and another cat when someone was truly desperate.

After being taken away and escaping the twolegs, things had only gotten worse. There were times she would've eaten anything just to make the pain stop, whether it was rancid and crawling, or could even be called food at all. Even after adjusting to clan life, she still didn't plump the same. Bones still jutted beneath her cinnamon pelt. Their hunger would hollow them bit by bit, taking the weakest of them first. The stakes were higher because she wasn't just hunting for her. Jadethorn and the kits needed to eat too.

Fleafire didn't like the idea of wading through freezing water, but she did it anyway. Perseverance mattered with these things, and if there was one thing she had in spades, it was that.

That didn't mean she reacted well to an empty belly though. Fleafire was thin in patience too, easily annoyed by her talkative clanmates. "Be quiet or you're gonna scare off what little there is." Slitted eyes narrowing as she tracked a flicker of movement beneath the water's surface. She crouched near the edge, trying to tell if it was her own reflection or something else.

Then the surface rippled suddenly, breaking into rings. Fleafire stuck her paw in and felt her claws graze something slick, but it was gone in an instant. "Shit!" She shissed, glaring at her warping reflection. Why did it have to be fishing?

// Rolled a 9

And I'll burn the wick at both ends
FLEAFIRE
14 MOONS
SHE/HER
- Undersized cinnamon solid with folded ears. She's thin but stubby with very messy fur.
"SPEECH" - crimson | 'THOUGHTS/EMPHASIS' - crimson
Fleapaw values family the most with survival at a close second. In conversations, she is blunt, fun-loving, and clever. She is guided by her desires which often leads her astray. Despite her abrasive personality, she cares deeply for those she loves and will do anything to protect them. Due to her experiences, Fleapaw is corrupt and has minimalistic, if any, morals. She does not care for the warrior code and its restraints. Neither does she believe in StarClan. Growing up in a kitten mill, being separated from her mother, and ending up on the streets have deeply affected her view of the world.


I always knew life wasn't fair.
 

AND I AM SORRY MY CONSCIENCE CALLED IN SICK AGAIN

______________________________________________________________________

The marsh was quieter than he was used to– no frogs, no birdsong, no rustling of the underbrush as critters scurried through it. Just the wet squelch of mud underfoot and the occasional rumble of a hungry stomach. Wolfpack couldn't say it was the kind of silence he was fond of, far less like the stealth and shadows his clan was known for, and too much like the glaring evidence of a prey shortage they were struggling to get control of.

He'd decided to go along with Timberfrosts patrol in the end, despite already having a million and one things to do. Not just to make good on his threat if anyone was stupid enough to try and scarf down what they caught, but because he had a personal interest in seeing Jadethorns litter survive the coming leafbare. With Cicadabuzz's litter also taking up room in the nursery now, along with the stray Sablestar had brought home, it would be harder to make sure his own got their fair share of things.

Although, Wolfpacks version of 'fair' and everyone elses seemed to differ quite a bit.

He followed Timber and the others toward one of the ponds, spreading out along its bank to give each other space to work. Fishing wasn't exactly his strong suite considering it was among the prey types he hunted the least, but he wasn't inexperienced by any means. He could remember well the week he'd spent stealing koi out of that twolegs pond, or the time he'd found an unexpected feast by scooping tadpoles out of the shallow, reedy pools of a lake. Even within Shadowclans borders, he'd fished with both Timberfrost and Mothbite.

Today though, luck wasn't on his side. He was off by an inch and the fish disappeared in a flash of silver, leaving the deputy standing on the bank with wet paws and water dripping from his chest and muzzle. "Damn." he muttered to himself as he stepped back and shook out his coat.

He couldn't help but raise a brow at the sight of Petegrass hauling a catfish up onto the bank a little farther down, just as surprised as he was impressed. What the old man said made sense, and Wolfpack would make sure to remember it in the future.

He didn't get the chance to say anything though, because a moment later Flamerunner was slinking up beside Timberfrost with a look that had the chimeras hackles twitching. "Save the charm for after we're fed, Flamerunner." he called evenly, voice holding just enough edge to make the warning clear.

When the tom eventually returned with a squirrel, Wolfpack found himself proven all the more right. The agile cat was capable of being a valuable asset to their clan– if only they could get him to participate beyond the bare minimum. "Look at that. Your mouth's useful for more than just chatting up your clanmates." he smirked as his gaze settled on the prey dangling from their jaws. "Nice catch. You too Petegrass. I'll remember that tip about the sunlight. It'll be useful with the cooler weather settling in."



  • ooc : — rolled a 7​
  • shadowclan deputy - male - a large, black & blue chimera with moderate white splashing, mismatched eyes, and several scars.

 
-

Fleafire grated her teeth, cold biting through her fur as the ripples faded into still water. Her reflection glared back at her, murky amber eyes boring into her own. She never wanted to slap the shit out of herself more.

She hunches forward, claws skimming over the water. Another shadow darted beneath the surface and she plunges her paw in. Cold water splashed up to soak her chest. Mud churned under her paws but there was nothing. Whatever was once there was gone now.

Slowly, she cranes her head to shoot an irritated look over her shoulder. Flamerunner was being... himself. Wolfpack feeding into him whether he realized it or not. Both of them continue to clack their jaws. Was it too much to ask for some quiet? How the heck was she supposed to work in these conditions?

"Just kiss already. Fucks sake." The warrior huffed, shifting her weight for another attempt.

// Rolled a 3

And I'll burn the wick at both ends
FLEAFIRE
14 MOONS
SHE/HER
- Undersized cinnamon solid with folded ears. She's thin but stubby with very messy fur.
"SPEECH" - crimson | 'THOUGHTS/EMPHASIS' - crimson
Fleapaw values family the most with survival at a close second. In conversations, she is blunt, fun-loving, and clever. She is guided by her desires which often leads her astray. Despite her abrasive personality, she cares deeply for those she loves and will do anything to protect them. Due to her experiences, Fleapaw is corrupt and has minimalistic, if any, morals. She does not care for the warrior code and its restraints. Neither does she believe in StarClan. Growing up in a kitten mill, being separated from her mother, and ending up on the streets have deeply affected her view of the world.


I always knew life wasn't fair.
 
When you're lost in the universe, lost in the universe, don't lose faith
My mother says, "Your whole life's in the paws of the Stars"

.


Tickfrost's snort broke the quiet of the clearing as his claws struck the water, scattering droplets instead of a piece of prey. The fish swam away with quick movement, leaving him staring after it with an incredulous flick of his torn ear. " Fox-dung... " he hissed under his breath, flexing his toes to shake off the dirt. " Almost had it… "

It wasn't the first time prey had slipped him lately, everything in the forest seemed to move like ghosts now, faster and thinner and twice as cautious. His stomach gave a low, hollow twist, but pride made him ignore it. What made it worse was the sight of Flamerunner trotting back into view, a plump squirrel dangling smugly from his jaws. Lazy bastard. Tickfrost swore the tom could sneeze and prey would keel over out of spite. Straightening up, he caught sight of Wolfpack speaking quietly nearby and, as ever, Fleafire's familiar shape within reach. The tension in his shoulders eased slightly, the sight of her alone brought a warmth nobody could replace.

He leaned in just close enough for his words to reach her ear, voice pitched in a mock whisper. " Imagine that... " His mouth quirked into a crooked grin. " Kissin' the deputy. " He let the words hang just long enough to see her reaction, before adding with a glint of mischief. " The scandal. ShadowClan would never recover. " A soft chuckle escaped him as he brushed past, the tip of his plumed tail sweeping affectionately across her flank. " That'd be a sight to see. " he hummed in a teasing tone.

Still, as he prowled forward again, the grin faded. The forest was too quiet, no wingbeat, no skitter of paws, just the thin whistle of wind through skeletal branches. His gaze swept the trees, orange eyes narrowed. Something was wrong. Prey didn't just vanish. A sigh slipped from him as he crouched low once more, claws curling into the hard ground. " If this keeps up... " he muttered to himself. " We'll be gnawing on two-leg scraps before long. " He shook out his fur, determined all the same.

Speech, thoughts/emphasis


15 MOONS
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SHADOWCLANNER
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SONG
𖧧
bio


Interacting with @FLEAFIRE rolled a 7 for prey alas
 

Snowdropheart


Everyone seemed to have struggled equally to her - except for Peatgrass of course. Snowdropheart has never known him to struggle, not even with the moons piling up on him, turning him more and more silver with each passing season. She listened carefully to his lesson about fish, deciding to give it a shot herself. Further from the talking cats, where the water's surface rippled not and the fish had no reason to flee.

She waited, she waited for a long time until her eyes adjusted to see beneath her reflection and the creatures beneath the surface stilled and calmed. She prepared, not wanting to miss her shot, careful not to move too much, until necessary.

And then the right moment arrived and she pushed her paw into the water with one quick swoop, claws unsheathed, getting a hold of some scales. She struggled for a bit with the thrashing fish, water splashing everywhere, but she managed to pull its heavy body out finally and killed it swiftly with one killing blow. It was a bass, not a particularly big one, but enough to feed the nursery, she hoped. Enough to feed Wisteriastrike.

She grabbed the fish in her mouth and it immediately watered at the taste of blood, but she shook her hunger away. This was not her dinner - this was for the struggling caretakers and their babies, the ones who needed it the most.

With her catch between her teeth, she approached the rest of the patrol. "Thanks Peatgrass!" she purred, after dropping her bass down. "That was a neat trick!"

OOC: Yay rolled a 10! Scarlet was my witness
 
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