Open WHO'S THAT POKEMON?!?! 🌾 mystery animal!

[MAREMANE]

It was night, something Maremane believed several of their apprentices and young warriors ought to be equipped to handle. Many other warriors had also joined her, she assumed it was because they were afraid of her leaving in the middle of it. She didn't recall why she had been assigned this task. It was clear Maremane was only her own instructor, and fell short in leading hunting parties, too distracted by the expectations to catch anything.

The set sun offered an easy adjustment to their eyes, stretching their pupils as the light died. Then, all the sounds of the dark unleashed, crickets vibrating calls and the scurry of abundant prey under the grass. In good light, it was difficult to catch a mouse who was able to make it into the thick underlayer. Now, it was nearer impossible with the amount of cats they had.

Maremane breathed, trying to taste for a rabbit or a hare beyond the pollen on her tongue. They had already retired to their warrens, she assumed disappointedly. She was so focused on her sense of smell that the moving glob in the distance came to her vision with a startle.

Her wiry tail lifted, halting the others. "Don't move."

"See that? We need to get closer to it. Be quiet."

As they crept forwards, any discontent at her barked orders left behind her carelessly, Lucille squinted. It was focused on something on the ground, scratching at the bed of grass below, partially obscured. They'd have to get really close to even tell what it was.


// Please roll yo shit in your discord channel and put the number at bottom of your post. 1d20!!!!!! When the total is 80 the animal will be revealed. You may regret it tho

 

[Merrystalk]

—————————————— Dreaming along in a pace you'll understand. ✦

In all the time in the moors, Merrystalk's opinion on Maremane hadn't changed; he only put up with her due to proximity. And he wanted to keep it that way.

However, Merry had found himself in a predicament. Ever since everything blew up between him and Sassafras - a name like bitter venom on his tongue - there was something that bugged him, clung to the back of his mind. He never usually let words like the shit Sass spewed taint his thoughts, though the other making a point of him lounging while he and others went out hunting, it stuck out for some reason. Merry spent plenty of time hunting, both back at the barn and now in Windclan. He prided himself on it, but lately he found himself getting antsy. Where once he enjoyed lounging in the sun after a good hunt and fresh meal, now he found guilt creeping in. Something that had never happened before. Did all the cats see him that way? Lazy?

It was what led the cat to follow Mare that late sunset, the dregs of day just barely clung to the horizon. He had nothing to prove, nothing at all. He refused to let Sass' words affect him. But joining another patrol wouldn't hurt. And making sure Mare didn't get into any issues if she stumbled into a late-night patrol on the border felt sensible. She didn't have an ounce of sense, he believed, so maybe someone with some should tag along. Not at all because he felt his skin crawl with the eyes of his fellow warriors on him, feeling like he was useless while other cats left camp.

He didn't speak as they all left. Not as they all stalked down the prairie. He wasn't sure what they had all left for, but he was there nonetheless. Merry sniffed the air, no scent of prey strong in the wind, just pollen. A hell of a lot of it, too. Though his eyes widened a little as the molly hissed a command with a raised tail. His first instinct was to let out some snarky remark, until he saw why she had halted them. For once, he had to commend her for spotting the ambulatory blob off in the distance. With the night having its claws sunk to the moors, he couldn't tell what it was, just that there was something in their territory.

"What on earth...." His voice was nothing but a whisper, though his fur bristled a little at the idea of approaching it. Part of him wanted to say otherwise, to go back and tell the others there was something weird in their territory. But then again, the thought of seeing the other cats and what they might think of him turning tail to get help, and it was nothing dangerous. Their judgment. It was enough to silence Merry as he stalked closer, following Maremane's lead. He had an awful feeling about this, but his own pride was something he struggled to push away even in times like these.

— And it's harder than you think,

Telling dreams from one another. —

• ooc - merry rolled a 5 he's not doing much but its a start! SDFGHJKL
• 
  Merrystalk
  ✦—Windclan moor-runner | 26 Moons
  ✦—He/Him
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  ✦—A skinny, tortoiseshell cat with bright green eyes and pelt speckled with hay.
  #9D6E46

 

[Dustystar]

✪ Align my Heart, my Body, my Mind​

indentDustystar will admit, sitting around and giving orders has lost it's allure. She had been overseeing camp building and putting together patrols for - stars, it feels like forever. She's gotten antsy. Now that she's (mostly) confident everyone at camp wont get eaten by a coyote if she's gone, she needs to get out and move her paws.

indentWhen Maremane and Merrystalk leave camp, she invites herself along. She happily lets Maremane lead the charge. She's well aware the handsome molly isn't her biggest fan. Dustystar'd like to prove her wrong, but she's not about to try cozying up to a cat who doesn't want to be cozyied up to. Instead, she walks beside Merrystalk. The tom had proven himself trustworthy, and Dustystar found herself fond of him, in a way. Perhaps it was Goldenroar's influence rubbing off on her.

indentShe stops in her tracks at Maremane's word. Dustystar wouldn't admit it, but she didn't 'see that'. The swelling over her injured eye had healed enough that she could open it, now, but she was still having trouble seeing out of it. She squints into the distance to see if she can make out whatever it was Maremane had called out, but it's not much use. Her vision remains blurry.

indentWith her sight rendered useless, Dustystar must rely on her other senses. She pricks her ears forward, focusing in on any sound or movement. Sure enough, she can hear something rustling the grasses. What is it? The sound reminds her of a horse pawing at the ground, or a dog snuffling about the tall grass. Whatever it is, it seems like it's... investigating something, maybe? Dustystar supposes they're lucky it's attention is off of them, for now.

-rolled an 11-​

Dustystar - 26 moons - Windclan Leader

 

[nutmeg ♡]

Nutmeg isn't sure why shes on the patrol in the first place. She doesn't hold a disdain for her clanmates, but she grew up in the barn. Working so closely with others when she had only stuck to herself, her brother when he had been around, Meadow and Peafowl is awkwardly uncomfortable. It's like shes unable to grow from the cat she once was, stuck in the past, an inwardly scared she-cat with a strong enough façade to even convince herself.

Don't move, Maremane murmurs, and on instinct Nutmeg falls perfectly still. She senses something, and as her eyes move forwards towards what she was referring to, shes met with a... dark blob of color. Um... Her ear twitches. Maremane shuffles forwards, and so does Merrystalk. Why...? Dustystar seems to strain for the noise, too, but she doesn't move too far forwards. Smart. Her tail swishes behind her. Shes not sure what shes looking at, or if shes even looking at... something at all. "Can't see. Be careful." she murmurs in a barely-whisper, straining her head against the grass as she speaks mostly for the benefit of others, reiterating something they should know if they were smart. It doesn't help that its night; she falls behind, taking up the rear just incase, ears perked for any signs of danger.

[ rolled a 20 ]

 

[Meadowpaw]

P-P-POKEMON

.

No one had told Meadowpaw she couldn't go, but no one had told her she should, either. By the time she'd worked up the courage to follow, they were already gone, scents melting into the long grass. Her breath caught as she hobbled after them, weaving clumsily between stems that tugged at her fur.

She lost them a few times and had to backtrack. More than pawful times more she thought to just give up, but her sister's faint scent encouraged her to press forward again.

It took longer than it should have. When she caught up, her paws ached somethin' fierce. But at last she saw them—shapes shifting through the shadows, focused on something she couldn't see.

Meadowpaw slowed, clamping her jaw shut to muffle her breathing. She spotted Nutmeg near the rear and slowly shuffled up from behind, trying to blend into the patrol like she'd always been there. Meadow's ears flick at her sister's words of warning. What is it they saw? A pair of green eyes peered around Nutmeg, trying to catch a glimpse.

// Joining Merrystalk *sad trumpet noises* with a 5.

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

8 MOONS

⟢

WINDCLAN

⟢

SONG

⟢

bio

 

[Dustystar]

✪ Align my Heart, my Body, my Mind​

indent Dustystar keeps her focus on the creature in the distance, but she can't help but hear Meadowpaw shuffle up to them. She touches her tail to Meadowpaw's shoulder, gently. Turning to face the group but keeping her ears directed at the strange sound, she asks.

indent"If this is dangerous, should Meadowpaw turn back?" Dustystar doesn't like undermining the abilities of apprentices, but with an unknown like this, it might be better safe than sorry. Meadowpaw can't move as fast as she used to - if they wait to figure out what the creature is, and it ends up being a threat, she might not be nimble enough to escape in time. Is it worth the risk?

indentShe does recognize there's a bit of irony here. Dustystar is also dealing with the long term effects of an injury, but there's no question whether or not she'll be staying. Unlike Meadowpaw, Dustystar has a duty to uphold and something to prove. How can she claim to be a leader if she's not willing to accept a bit of risk? Dusty will need to get along without perfect eyesight, one way or another. Besides, didn't Starclan offer her a few extra chances, if she messed up? She'll be fine. She can stay.

- Rolled an 11 once again -​

Dustystar - 26 moons - Windclan Leader