The Hunt (Private)

[Otterstar]

(Rippleshadow, Whisperwing only. If neither of you posts in 36 hours, I'll just kick you out of the thread. If neither of you do, well, I guess this becomes open)

Stones, as far as the eye could see. Smooth, cracked, broken, small, large. Just, so many stones. That was half of Duskclan's entire territory. Otterstar hated them all. He was not, in fact, fully blooded Duskclan. Not as bad as a half-blood, but his father's father had been from Hazeclan, and that is why he and his siblings all lacked the big, stocky characteristics of true Duskclanners. But nobody cared about his genes. His father, though, had been practically driven out. But that isn't the point of this thread.

Otterstar muttered a swear under his breath has a sharp pebble dug into his pads. His legs and paws were built to swim and walk on soft, wet earth, not hard mountain paths. But he could see the end of his torture ahead. The valley. It was truly magnificent, and Otterstar had always been tempted to move the camp somewhere within it. The mountains that Duskclan actually lived on were barren of trees and bushes, and the only grasses there came few and far between. The valley, however, was covered in grass, ferns, bushes, and pine trees. It was the perfect place to relax, but even better, hunt.

The tall golden-brown tom flicked his bushy tail in command to his patrol. There were two others with him. His Deputy, Whisperwing, and a warrior, Rippleshadow. In truth he had much rather left to hunt by himself, but he was always being told to take other cats with him places, so that he would remain safe. As if those other cats had eight extra lives to lose, like he did.

He opened his mouth, letting the scents of the valley below linger up to him. Sparrow. He crouched down, and gave his companions another signal with his tail, telling them silently to go and hunt other prey by themselves. This sparrow would be an easy catch. Within just a moment, he was on it. The bird's neck was snapped before it could even let out a surprised call. Oh how he did love to hunt.

[Rippleshadow]

The tom had been asked to go hunting with his leader and deputy and so of course he went. Rippleshadow padded out of the warriors den and shook his head. After cleaning off his fur, he ran next to his leader until signaled to go away. Nodding, he slid off in another direction sniffing the air for prey.

The air was filled with many scents that his nose had gotten use to but one in particular caught his attention. It smelled of mouse, there was a mouse now this was kind of rare for the clan so it made him happy when he scented it. Grinning, he got into a hunters crouch and made his way silently to the mouse.

When about a fox-length away the patch-furred warrior pounced and landed on it snapping its neck quickly as he held the limp creature in his jaw with a accomplished grin. Making his way back toward his leader he blinked and then set down the prey "I got lucky with this mouse, I see you got a sparrow, anything from Whisperwing yet?" he asked.

[Whisperwing]

The tabby she-cat liked to hunt in the mountains themselves due to her gray coat, but there weren't as many animals. She wondered if she should just hunt in the rocks, but dismissed the notion. Otterstar was leading them to the valley. There would be more chances of catching prey there anyway. Once they reached the valley she moved away at his signal. 

For a while she didn't smell anything. It would seem that she would have to go a bit farther to find something. Whisperwing stalked on until she smelled a mouse. A moment later she saw it. It was rather small, but it would do. Her haunches waved back and forth before she jumped. The moment she was ready she jumped... and almost missed. Her claws had only wounded it. Working fast, she killed with a bite before it could make a noise. 

Whisperwing picked up the small body and made her way back to the spot where they broke off. She wasn't normally this bad at hunting. A bit later she saw bother Otterstar and Rippleshadow. "Whisperwing is right here," she said with a smirk. "I also got this mouse, though I nearly completely missed it." 

[Otterstar]

Otterstar had just started to bury his sparrow when Rippleshadow had appeared beside him, carrying a mouse in his jaws. He plopped his own catch in the shallow "grave" he had made and gave him a brief nod. "Good job, that looks like it should fill someone's belly tonight." He said, hoping the compliment would satisfy the younger tom. And when he began to speak again, this time about his Deputy, he shrugged.

"I'm sure she--" He was cut off as she arrived, also with a mouse. "Is right here." He finished, giving her a small smile. But he grew restless, and turned to look at the valley below. "Come on, let's go to the bottom. At this time of day there should definitely be prey in the pine groves down there. Maybe even squirrels." He had always liked squirrels, but so few roamed the mountainsides.

He began the trip below, raising his tail and flicking it forward, a clear sign that he wanted the other two to follow. Hopefully they would even find some prey on the way down.

[Rippleshadow]

Startled, the warrior jumped slightly then looked over at Whisperwing laughing embarrassed by not catching her scent. Crouching down slightly he gave a smile to his leader when he gave him a compliment. Nodding his head toward the rust-colored tom he said a thank you and then turned to Whisperwing.

Seeing she also found a mouse, he smiled "Seems mice are just coming to us today, good it gets boring with birds almost everyday" he said and then blinked turning his head back to Otterstar as he started to speak again. Happy that he wanted to continue, Rippleshadow nodded and buried the prey quickly and began to follow after him.

"With our luck today, I wouldn't be surprised at the catch of a squirrel" he mewled.

[Whisperwing]

Whisperwing returned Otterstar's smile with a small nod. She nodded again at Rippleshadows' comment. While she did like a nice bird, the feathers were annoying to deal with. The Pines usually had more to offer in variety of prey. It was wishful thinking, but she was really hoping for a rabbit. She buried her catch and hurried after the two toms.

The deputy was thankful they were heading towards a place with more shade. Her pelt blended in with either rock or shadow. Then again, the latter was true for almost all cats. She decided to take up the rear of the patrol so she could make sure nothing was following them. The valley was good for hunting, but she felt more secure when in the mountains or by cover.

"If we're really lucky we might even get a rabbit," she meowed, picking up the conversation from before.

[Otterstar]

Otterstar nodded as Rippleshadow and Whisperwing spoke of luck and prey behind him. He knew they'd catch at least something. There was almost never nothing in the groves. With the shade to cool off, and the trees to build nests, it was the perfect place for birds and squirrels. There was only bad luck in them during the winter, when squirrels stayed in their trees and birds were mostly gone to the south.

Stone and dust turned to earth and soft grass beneath Otterstar's paws as they began to hit the lusher side of the territory. He had heard a bird call as they walked down, but ignored it. A singing bird often let out warning calls, and he didn't wish to warn the entire valley of his patrol's activity.

Finally he reached a good enough spot. Scraggly pines and even a young willow stood tall, sort of, and he knew there had to be at least something in the area. He turned to his followers. "I'm gonna curve around to the left. Whisperwing, you go to the right. Rippleshadow, go straight through. Even if we scare something off we're bound to send it to someone else. Good luck." He ordered, voice only just above a whisper.

And with that, he was stalking off to the left of the pines.