Herondive Hollow

[~dust~]

Originally Posted by Puddle~

Singepaw nearly dropped the mouse from her jaws in surprise. She hadn’t anticipated her mentor jumping up and squealing like that. With a meek smile, the apprentice let out a small fit of coughs and then looked back up at her mentor. “Y-you really t-think so?” In her opinion, a tiny mouse didn’t seem like such an impressive first catch, but honestly, she wasn’t sure. Perhaps it was just best not to question it and just go with the fact that she’d at least caught something. “S-so, is that it? F-for the patrol I m-mean.”

Dustsong smiled and meowed

Yes of course I think so!

She wanted to encourage her apprentince as much as possible

Yeah, I am positive glidingfeather will be fine if I tell her that I was teaching you how to hunt as well.

Picking up her mouse she put her tail on singepaw’s shoulder and meowed

Let’s go back to camp.

[nocturnal]

// @gs29513 | @Ikoria the Wolf Pup | @Peril

Talonstone acknowledged Brackenpaw's answer with the flick of his tail, though he shelved the thought in mind. He then turned in the direction of the exit, and he commanded simply, "Come." If his patrolmates decided to linger around camp instead for whatever season, then they could always catch up later, providing that they held the rank necessary to venture out in the pine forest alone.

The sun cast an orange glow over the drying blades of grass, bright and strangely warm in contrast to the occasional gust of wind that sent fallen leaves rustling. As he led the way, he drew back the thought that he shelved earlier. The increasing number of outsiders joining the clan of shadows was a small cause for concern. They were holding more initiation-based ceremonies than clanborn ceremonies nowadays. If it kept up, then the shadows might actually turn into a rogue group, as other clans seemed to believe they already were.

As the earth grew lighter and less muddy, Talonstone folded away his thoughts for further contemplation in the future, then looked ahead. A single birch tree could be seen in the distance, which marked the border between thunder and shadow. The needles of the pines rustled, signifying that a creature hid inside.

"We are here," Talonstone pointed out to gain his patrol's attention. "Shrewpaw, come with me. Fawnwhisper and Brackenpaw, there is a clearing nearby that serves as a gathering place for mice and voles, amongst other creatures." The warrior pointed his tail away from the border, somewhat to the left of their current position. "You will hunt in that direction, understand? However, feel free to explore other areas closer to us if you feel them to be more bountiful. I will track you down when it is time to return."

He decided to wait for the two mollies' affirmatives before addressing Shrewpaw on their goal.

[Peril]

Originally Posted by bmkmb

// @gs29513 | @Ikoria the Wolf Pup | @Peril

Talonstone acknowledged Brackenpaw's answer with the flick of his tail, though he shelved the thought in mind. He then turned in the direction of the exit, and he commanded simply, "Come." If his patrolmates decided to linger around camp instead for whatever season, then they could always catch up later, providing that they held the rank necessary to venture out in the pine forest alone.

The sun cast an orange glow over the drying blades of grass, bright and strangely warm in contrast to the occasional gust of wind that sent fallen leaves rustling. As he led the way, he drew back the thought that he shelved earlier. The increasing number of outsiders joining the clan of shadows was a small cause for concern. They were holding more initiation-based ceremonies than clanborn ceremonies nowadays. If it kept up, then the shadows might actually turn into a rogue group, as other clans seemed to believe they already were.

As the earth grew lighter and less muddy, Talonstone folded away his thoughts for further contemplation in the future, then looked ahead. A single birch tree could be seen in the distance, which marked the border between thunder and shadow. The needles of the pines rustled, signifying that a creature hid inside.

"We are here," Talonstone pointed out to gain his patrol's attention. "Shrewpaw, come with me. Fawnwhisper and Brackenpaw, there is a clearing nearby that serves as a gathering place for mice and voles, amongst other creatures." The warrior pointed his tail away from the border, somewhat to the left of their current position. "You will hunt in that direction, understand? However, feel free to explore other areas closer to us if you feel them to be more bountiful. I will track you down when it is time to return."

He decided to wait for the two mollies' affirmatives before addressing Shrewpaw on their goal.

l Brackenpaw l
l @Ikoria the Wolf Pup l
The she-cat trotted off excitedly, hoping Fawnwhisper followed. She looked back to check that thing and saw her following.

[Ikoria the Wolf Pup]

@bmkmb @Peril
Fawnwhisper nodded to Talonstone, and, upon noticing her partner had already gone off, sprinted after Brackenpaw. She wished she could be hunting alone, but at least apprentices weren’t usually as judgmental. Running made her feel a little better, but as soon as she was stalking in the shadows, she couldn’t truly feel at ease. That was probably the most ShadowClan thing about her. It always reminded her that she was a real ShadowClan cat.

[Elementals]

~Foggybrook~
(This girl doesn't even know that she is so close to getting home haha)

Foggybrook*looked around as she was still not sure where she was. The molly lurked around feeling like she should go south. The raccoon chase was quite intense for she had that was about a quarter moon ago. The molly fluffed up her pelt as the cold breeze swept by making her shiver. Short fur was a blessing in the summer but a curse in the winter. Her green eyes scanned around the area looking for something to add to her collection. It was a collection of gifts. Something to hand out to her friends and family if she ever manages to find Shadowclan. It was a strange feeling to be suddenly alone for an entire week.Apparently*there was this half-dead tradition where in leaf-bare, you would give gifts to those who you cherish. Before her mother and father went to Starclan, she remembered a fuzzy memory where they did a gift exchange which brightened up the cold day. Her mother Reflectionshiver received a song that she made up for her and her father Growlcry received a stone where she carved out the family. Oh those fun fuzzy memories.*The molly went to her stash of gifts while wiping away the scratches she got from the raccoon. She didn't have medical knowledge but she was curious to see how it looked. Foggybrook*waddled over to a puddle then waited for the ripples to stop from the vibration of her paws when walking towards it. Thankfully the cuts weren't near her eyes but the ones on her cheek seem to be deep enough for a scar if it doesn't get treated. Ebonyfang*probably would probably be able to fix it up in a jiffy. Her paws carefully traced out the scabs of the wound while examining it carefully. Weirdly, the scabs formed a lumpy shape of a heart. The molly watched it carefully for a few moments before giggling. How did the raccoon manage to give her a heart shaped scar? The wonders of this world is amazing.

[Rani]

Adderfang was the first to hit the border, naturally being the patrol lead with the two apprentices, and sniffed the air curious. The last time she'd been here was that talk with Whitefang and the time before that was when they retook the territory. All told she preferred this border to many others even if she spent little time here. Not one to waste time Adderfang immediately moved to start re-marking the border letting the apprentices govern themselves unless they decided to start making trouble, only stopping when she encountered a scent she recognised. Was that? Foggybrook? Didnt they go missing? She didnt see the other warrior but jumping onto a nearby stump she called out, hoping to get a response. "Foggybrook!? Is that you? Whoever is out there come out now! I can smell you!" before looking down at the apprentices and instructing "You two once youre done marking the border have a look around the area. Stay on our side of the border but if you see someone come and tell me. I dont think its an enemy but you can never be sure so remain cautious if friendly."

Even if it wasnt a lost clanmate Adderfang had no doubt the consequences of not finding a potential cat on their area would fall on the patrol lead, her, head if they got through.

@Elementals @Wolfgirl8 @Zesty Mango

[gs29513]

Shrewpaw had been staying tight to Talonstone and the group on their walk through the territory, not in fear, but more in a desire not to miss anything. If they were going to run into something, or find some great opportunity, he wanted to be part of it, useful. He could scent a few prey animals as they made their way to the spot Talonstone had picked, but most of them were stale. The only one that wasn't was still gone, and they would have to hunt that prey during leafbare anyhow.

The days were shorter and colder now, and leafbare would be here soon. He wasn't scared of it exactly, but the idea of the trees, spectral and grim and no prey was unnerving to say the least. He had been through one before but that was as a young kit, first fed and tucked up in the warm nursery. He hadn't been the one hunting for the clan, spending a long time looking for prey that might not be there. Maybe that was what his friend had meant by he had to train as if his life depended on it. If he didn't hunt well enough, he wouldn't eat, and neither would the other warriors and apprentices. He was going to have to find someone to take him out more often.

Stopping as Talonstone instructed the other pair on what they would be doing, Shrewpaw was pleased that he got to work with his friend. Once the mollies slipped off, he turned his attention back to Talonstone for whatever briefing was likely to happen before they started hunting. (Sorry for the slowness!) @bmkmb

[nocturnal]

// @gs29513 | @Ikoria the Wolf Pup and @Peril - feel free to progress with Fawn/Bracken at your own rate until Talon calls them back; please continue to mention me while doing so

The warrior watched as the two mollies ran after each other, then turned to Shrewpaw as they disappeared off into the distance. For a moment, he said nothing, simply observing the smaller, brown-furred tomcat, and sparks of curiosity flickered around him. "How long have you been an apprentice for?" Talonstone inquired. He felt as if the other feline should have ranked up by now. Most of the cats he'd interacted with moons ago were warrior-aged now, after all.

As he awaited the reply, he minded his thoughts, formatting his plan for them this outing. He wished to try something new, and in a way, Shrewpaw would be his first test subject. If all went well, no one would gain any injuries or lasting trauma... or so he hoped. It depended on the intensity of one's fear of the sky.

[Peril]

Originally Posted by Ikoria the Wolf Pup

@bmkmb @Peril
Fawnwhisper nodded to Talonstone, and, upon noticing her partner had already gone off, sprinted after Brackenpaw. She wished she could be hunting alone, but at least apprentices weren’t usually as judgmental. Running made her feel a little better, but as soon as she was stalking in the shadows, she couldn’t truly feel at ease. That was probably the most ShadowClan thing about her. It always reminded her that she was a real ShadowClan cat.

l Brackenpaw l
l @bmkmb
The molly stopped running and started to slink in the dappled light of the pines. "I smell a vole, that way," she indicated with her tail.

[Wolfgirl8]

Marigoldpaw had just kind of been chilling in the back looking around for some prey since Adderfang had told them they’d been hunting. By the time they reached the border the golden she cat had seen 2 squirrels, 3 frogs, and 1 bird. If only she’d been able to catch them all. Or even one. But most were to far away(plus she didn’t know how to climb to get the squirrels). Suddenly she smelled something and it seemed Adderfang did too because she called out someone’s name. A familiar one at that.

Foggybrook. Hey. Wait! Isn’t that Shrewdorks best friend? How did she end up out here....? Eh maybe the weirdo got lost. After a moment Marigoldpaw nodded and trotted along the border stopping to sniff for the weirdo’s scent before marking the territory. She was a little bit away when the scent seemed to be getting stronger. Marigoldpaw had just finished marking this area of the border when she looked up and saw something. A cat? Maybe? Couldn’t hurt to check. “You there Foggybrook? I’m Shrewdork’s friend! Well.....kind of,” She hollered. After a moment meimtn she added, “Adderfang I think I found something! ”
( @Zesty Mango @Elementals @Rani )