She rolled her eyes at her mom's comment about him, and shook her head. Then, looked over at the camp entrance. "Huh. You're right, noone's back yet. Well, maybe we could do some hunting?"
A smile on her face, the light paws of the red tabby led her from the Warriors den, a smile on her face. The sun shone against her fur and the soft caress of the breeze brought scents of New-leaf and blossoming life. The season had always been a favorite of the she-cat's, always stopping to admire the way the leaves would bud and the flowers would grow. Flicking a large ear, her large blue eyes cast across the camp haphazardly before landing on the forms of Shadestorm and Ashenmane, of whom seemed to be deep in conversation. Flexing her toes, Rosestripe sauntered over, whisking her bobtail briefly as she neared.
"Hello, Ashenmane, Shadestorm." She offered a charming smile to the both one, playful nature shimmering in her lidded blue gaze. She sat beside them, that same smile continuing to paint her features.
Yarrowfang bounded into camp with freshkill, stepping down on the lush rocks and coming into the center of the hollow. Woah - it looked like Ashenmane and Shadestorm had been doing work around the camp again! Hopefully they wouldn’t expect him to help out. After all, he had been productive and brought back something. But, you never know with she cats, especially old deputies!
Spotting the two she-cats of mention, with Rosestripe, he quickly placed the dead rat on the pile - or, the new start of a pile, since there was nothing else there. Great, he’d have to pretend like he was busy so he could go fool around in the woods some more…Maybe he’d go laze at the Tree Hollow. Yeah, that‘s what he‘d do. “Lots of prey today, we’ve all been hunting. I better go back for some more!” With that, Yarrowfang thought that would be good enough excuse for them not to stop him, and he turned to the woods once more.
[Yarrowfang exits - sorry for his quick departure!]
Glancing up at the sounds of an approach, the she'cat's lidded gaze swung to reach Yarowfang, clutching a measly rat between his jaws. Frowning, she tipped her head to the side, watching as he deposited the prey to the non-existent fresh-kill pile and made a quip about how there was a lot more out there, to which she gave a playful purr. "Doesn't look like it." With that, she rose to her paws, bowing deeply into a stretch as the Tom-cat scampered off into the woods to presumably get more prey.
Straightening, Rosestripe gave a languid glance to the feeble fresh-kill pile and gave a few flicks of her stout tail, formulating words. "I think I will go and hunt too, the pile is looking pretty scrappy," she paused as she turned, catching a brief look over her shoulder. "See you two later."
With that, she bounded out of camp exit and into the dark woodlands.
Gingershadow enters camp, a half-eaten crop clenched tightly in her jaws. She silently drops it into the fresh kill pile. Silently she pads over to the outside of the warriors den and sits down. 'Please don't let anyone say something about the crow being half-eaten...' She repeats in her mind.
Aware of the late hour, Ratnose appeared from the warriors den. He immediately became aware of Gingershadow's presence, for she was sitting outside the den entrance. He turned his deep blue gaze in her direction and gave her a warming smile. "Greetings Gingersahow. I hope the day is treating you well," the formal tom said with a dip of his head in respect.
Now fully out of the den, he took a quick seat beside the she-cat. He made sure he wasn't blocking the flow of traffic for the warriors den. He took this moment to look around the clearing gathering faces and Intel. It seemed to be lively and this caused a warm deep purr to surface from within his throat.
Molefur returned to camp a few days later, tail held high despite the fact that he carried no prey, and his heart panged to see the paltry pile awaiting all of them. He tried to remain jolly however, as several of his clanmates were already there, waiting for them. Including Ashenmane.
"Well...if anyone'd like to snack and run...perhaps we can get a few more kills for the pile. We'll all want to eat tonight, I'm sure..."
Ashenmane nodded to those clanmates that returned quickly, seeing that there was a small, somewhat pathetic selection of prey which was returned to them. She couldn't say anything though, but strutted up over to Gingershadow before turning over her shoulder.
"Everyone who hasn't eaten grab something to eat - Molefur, I think we shall wait for Ravenstar's return - we'll realize who stays and who'll go and do some more hunting."
But then of course, she didn't take food to start with herself - she was used to going hungry for a little while longer. Instead, she nudged a bit of the half-eaten crow towards Shadestorm. "Eat up."
Then, she turned her eyes on Gingershadow. "What happened?" She asked, feeling slightly worried. Was there a lack of food in the forest already?
Ratnose heard his deputy's orders, anyone who hadn't eaten anything should eat now. With warrior strength up to full they would all most likely go and hunt to replace the food that had been eaten and perhaps bring back more. Walking over to the pile, he watched as Ashenmane had passed a crow that had been two thirds eaten. Feeling the prey would go to waste soon, Ratnose walked over to Shadestorm's side. Bowing his head he spoke in a respectful and polite manner, "Would you mind sharing that kill with me dear Shadestorm. Perhaps the meal will taste better with two savoring it."
Ratnose obliviously didn't want to be rude and take a meal from the young she-cat. Yet, what remained on the crow could feed to cats, or over feed another. If he was denied by Shadestorm or her mother, Ratnose would seek a meal elsewhere for sure.
"Greetings Gingershadow. I hope the day is treating you well," "What happened?" "Hello Ratnose. Well, not really, the prey was being really tough today. Rats in particular." She mewed in response to Ratnose's greeting. "Prey was just being tricky today. I only managed to catch a crow, which is rather disappointing. Prey is usually easy to catch around newleaf."
The silent she-cat padded calmly into camp, a bundle of fluffy leaves clenched in her jaws. She dips her head in greeting to her clanmates as she continued to head towards her den. As she walked forward a single word came to her mind...Apprentice...who would be her apprentice? She loved the energy of young cats, she actually liked their company, they were just...nice to be around. (Robinpelt exits)
Yarrowfang trudges into camp, struggling with a hefty groundhog. He paused, glancing at his clanmates, and then pulled it another rabbit-length. His triumph had vanished and was replaced with irritability. But, who could blame him? He just dragged the groundhog through the whole forest, which was exhausting, just so his clan mates who didn't hunt could have something to eat. Yarrowfang had pretty much volunteered for it, but still...well, he was just being grumpy. He did hope to get a little appreciation, nonetheless.
With difficulty, the lean tabby heaved it a couple more steps. Oh, here should be good enough. Not even fully reaching the freshkill pile, he dropped his catch. There. He had done his share of hard work for the day.
As Rosestripe had approached them, she smiled at her, and waved. Then, she...Ended up napping a bit, only to wake up when she heard Molefur's voice.
She almost immediately leapt up into standing position. "O-oh, hi, Molefur!" Dangit. She groomed herself a little bit, then smiled at him, not paying attention to what her mother said about how they should wait for Ravenstar. "Yeah, I think I'd be up for getting more fresh-kill for the clan. Infact, why don't you and I go ahead and head to the Tree Hollow?"
Ratnose gave a shrug and glanced at the pile. He saw a rat and figured he would have a meal for one. The tom grabbed the creator in his jaws and went to a corner to eat and watch the coward come and go. Settling down, he took a few bites and could feel strength fill his body. He would go on a hunt later, perhaps by himself given there seemed to be no one else who didn't have a partner.
Ashenmane's worry was written plain across her face, as she wondered exactly was causing the poor sense of food around. Gingershadow was right - food was usually much more plentiful. She licked her lips, trying to think of what to do - but that moment Yarrowfang appeared with a much heftier meal.
"Good work, Yarrowfang!" She praised, feeling her tension sliding slightly upon seeing the plush kill. There was food enough now that she could spare a bite to eat...though she selected the half-eaten crow for herself than anything, plucking some of the feathers from the bird.
In the meanwhile, she spotted Ratnose. Poor tom, luck seemed to dodge his paws like a particularly juicy mouse. Shadestorm all but ignored him, thanks to her infatuation for another tom's voice. She thought, perhaps...she could lessen it though.
"Ratnose...it is getting late. Perhaps you'll be joining the patrol for the Gathering?" She suggested, approaching the tom as she was getting rid of the last of the feathers clinging to her lips.