Quiet Hail cast a quick glance at Ares, one of her slender ears flicking in an acknowledgement to him that she was heading out. As she turned to follow Rook, Quiet Hail paused and looked over at Ares again, nodding subtly and quickly to him, grateful that he was putting trust in her paws to help feed the tribe in this crisis. She then followed Rook out, keeping in pace with her tribemates. The urgency prickling her fur as sharply as the cold, they must hurry. Time was not on their side. The slender feline flicked her tail in acknowledgement before turning to mind her own hunting. Great spirit, it had been so long since her paws walked this path, yet her body quickly adjusted to old habits.

-rolled 19-

It wasn't long before she caught onto a prey trail. Rabbit. The she-cat sank low, allowing her legs to be hidden by the snow. Most prey creatures were likely hiding by now, seeking shelter from the coming storm. Following the scent trail, and what her instincts told her. She quickly came across a crevice, with rabbit tracks leading in and out. So, here is where it's hiding. Quiet Hail carefully slipped up the crevice, looking for a gap. It didn't seem that it went that deep, so the rabbit was trapped. She just had to get to it.

-rolled 18-

There! As luck, or the spirits, would have it, she found a gap above where the rabbit was hiding that she could reach through. As quick as a viper, Quiet Hail struck out a claw and wrapped them around the rabbit's throat, silencing any cries before they could alert other prey in the area. She quickly crept back down and reached in with her jaws, grabbing the rabbit with care and lifting it out of its hiding spot. But this still wouldn't suffice, who knew how long they'd be trapped? Unable to go out and hunt? She noticed Rook's success, flicking an ear at him in a sort of congratulations. If they were successful with these two, perhaps there was a nest?

@Rowan - Ares
@moxie_the_slime - Rook - the dice don't just love you it seems lol.
@nyx
@Songtail

Quiet Hail was very much in agreement with Rook’s mindset. She decided to tuck the rabbit she caught back into the crevice where she found it, hoping that would be enough to shelter it from aerial predators, before turning her attention back to increasingly violent winds. Praying for additional prey.

-rolled 17-

Turning her head into the wind, she parted her jaws to taste the air, an action she partially regretted, and caught additional prey-scent. Seems they would be blessed! Quiet Hail followed the trail, this time her hunt led her to a mouse. Not wanting to waste precious time, she crouched and swiftly launched at the unsuspecting critter.

-rolled 16-

She successfully administered a swift kill, adding the mouse to her rabbit before setting out again.

-rolled 17-

Mouse. Another critter caught in the weather. Quiet Hail crouched and followed the trail, locating her target.

-rolled 15-

Another swift launch and kill. There was a reason she had been close to earning her name when she was a trapper. Quiet Hail had been a prolific hunter when she held the title, until she suffered the crippling losses she was dealt… But now was no time to dwell. She added this mouse to her stash, her tail lashing thoughtfully as she examined the weather. Things were escalating…did they have enough prey? Did they have enough time? She cast a questioning glance at Rook, silently asking him what he wanted to do.

@Rowan - Ares
@moxie_the_slime - Rook
@nyx
@Songtail

Quiet Hail nodded at Rook, an ear flicking as an indication of how impressed she was by his haul. She knew the physical limitations of her size, there was no way she would have the physical prowess to take down larger targets. So she hunted what she could, and frankly she was fairly satisfied with her results. Still, as she picked up her mice by the tails and her hare by the scruff behind it's neck, she did find herself wishing she could do more... If she had a different body, actually if she were a tom she'd probably still be a trapper. As a tom, she never would have felt the loss of her kits in the same way. Maybe it wouldn't have crippled her so much. Although, the loss of her mate would still have been rather devastating...so perhaps not. But surely, with broader shoulders she could take down larger prey and-

None of that matters.

Quiet Hail shook her head as though shaking water. Why was she thinking about this? Whether she could challenge larger prey or not had no bearing on her skills as a keeper, which was her chosen position now. There was...nothing else for it. The lithe feline carried her kills to where Rook was waiting to lead them back. Even though her contributions did not amount to nearly as much, between their catches and Boreas they should be okay...assuming they're careful. Quiet Hail's ears flattened against her head as a harsh gust of wind billowed against them, heterochromatic eyes squinting against the cold. She was certainly looking forward to returning to her post as keeper at the moment.

total prey: +2 mice, +1 rabbit

@Rowan - Ares
@moxie_the_slime - Rook
@nyx
@Songtail

Quiet Hail dipped her head to Rook and followed him back, setting her prey down in the nursery where the others were taking shelter. "Breeze." She turned, trying to call out after Rook, but he was gone. Quiet Hail looked at Ares, her gaze concerned. "Breeze came out with us, but has not returned." She reported, but Quiet Hail was conflicted. Leaving now could potentially put the tribe's young at risk, it was enough of a risk for her to leave them alone as long as she did. The lithe she-cat looked over her shoulder at the keepers who already had the young gathered. Now that she had returned with prey - not as much as Rook granted, but something - she was reluctant to leave her post for a second time to go out looking for Brook. Quiet Hail met Ares's gaze, waiting patiently to hear what he wanted to do about Brook's absence.

@Rowan - Ares
@moxie_the_slime - Rook
@nyx - Boreas
@Songtail - Breeze