[H]unting

[Cinder.and.Flightfall]

Farpaw's golden/yellow eyes peered through the undergrowth. His dark tabby pelt stuck out against the crystal white snow, causing him to move into darker shadowed areas. So far, he'd found no prey. Leafbare had frightened it all away, and the rumbling of his stomach reminded him that he hadn't eaten that day.

The clan must be fed first. he reminded himself silently.

Carefully the young tom scanned the area again. Even with his good eyesight, he saw not even the scrawniest mouse. Farpaw was starting to think he'd have better luck by Sunningrocks. He hadn't found any prey this whole time!

Suddenly he heard a rustling. Farpaw turned, and his eyes widened at what he saw. A rabbit sat a few feet away, carelessly nibbling on a fern frond. It was completely oblivious to him. His mouth watered as Farpaw got into a stalking position, moving toward the prey.

Crack!

The rabbit bolted off. Farpaw let out a hiss of frustration and charged forward, not bothering to see who or what startled his prey. He gave a mighty leap, planning on landing on the rabbit's back. But the rabbit was quicker, and Farpaw was sent sprawling into the snow.

[owly ✿]

Ivypaw let out a small whimper as the other apprentice fell in the snow. Her amber eyes looked guiltily at the cat sprawled out in the snow. Her gave swept across his pelt and she recognized him as Farpaw. The she-cat gave out a squeak and back away. She was such a klutz. Ivypaw's calico pelt puffed up and the scar on her chest had become more viable since leaf-bare arrived. the she-cat looked around and then jumped behind a rock.

Scuffling could be heard behind the rock and she knew the other cat was recovering from falling. her eyes searched around the rock quickly to see if the cat was coming...nothing. The calico gave a worried look at the snow around her paws and then scuffled around the rock with her tail and head down. Ivypaw waited for the other apprentice to yowl a her.

[Cinder.and.Flightfall]

Farpaw staggered back to his paws, shaking the snow off his pelt almost like a dog would. He looked back at where the rabbit disappeared, feeling a surge of disappointment. Then he remembered the crack of a twig, and tasted the air. Another ThunderClan cat was near, causing Farpaw to look around.

He watched as a young calico she-cat scuffled around from behind the rock. Farpaw recognized Ivypaw, another ThunderClan apprentice. Just as he was about to yell at her for scaring his prey, he realized that there was something different. Ivypaw was usually cheerful and friendly, but not she seemed as skittish as a mouse.

"Did you see how big that rabbit was?" he said, his voice supposed to come out angry but instead it came out soft.

[owly ✿]

Ivypaw looked up with dull amber eyes. Her long tail dragged on the ground still and her ears were folded back. She knew Farpaw would be mad at her. The rabbit was huge! She was just a screw up and she couldn't even hunt anymore. Her leg was damaged beyond repair but she tried and didn't tell Flightfall how much it hurt her just to crouch down. The she-cat sighed and then spoke.

"I'm really sorry Farpaw. I didn't mean to fall it's just my leg hurt really bad and I tripped. I-I am such a stupid cat. Thunderclan should just cast me out. I screw up my own hunts enough why should you have to take it when I screw up yours to? You can yell at me if you want Farpaw. I deserve it."The she-cat breathed out the words like a ghost. her voice was light now...hesitant. She feared to make a mistake and mess everything up--like on the Thunderpath that day. She feared to play with outer cats. She didn't talk to other cats anymore. She was slowly becoming a reserved and quiet cat. It seemed that any day she could just become a wisp of nothing.

[Cinder.and.Flightfall]

Farpaw was surprised at Ivypaw's words. At first, he didn't know how to respond. He was a little angry about losing the rabbit, but when his gaze moved to Ivypaw's hurt leg he realized that it wasn't her fault. He looked back over at her.

"Don't worry about it," he mewed. His eyes turned serious. "Don't say that. You're not a screw-up, and you're not stupid. It was just a... a common mistake. You're not the first cat to scare off someone's prey,"

Farpaw wasn't even sure what he was saying made sense. He wasn't exactly the best at giving advice or comforting words.

[owly ✿]

Ivypaw looked up at the other cat with a surprised look. Her pelt blew around and a flake of snow landed on her nose. the orange, white, and copper colored blobs on her pelt blew around and her tail swished back and forth. Ivypaw thought deeply before talking.

"Y-you really think I'm not a screw-up? Really?"Ivypaw was astonished at the other cats words. He didn't think she was messed up. He didn't show hostility towards her like all the other cats.


[[braindead]]

[Cinder.and.Flightfall]

Farpaw smiled. "Of course I don't think you're a screw up. Come on, this has happened to everyone, I bet even Brownstar scared some prey off once!" he grinned. Unsure of what to say next, Farpaw scanned the area for more prey. His gaze came up empty, but then he got an idea.

"How about you hunt with me? It'll be easier if we hunt together," He mewed.

{{Same here}}

[owly ✿]

Ivypaw looked at Farpaw and then did something that was very rare for the young she-cat. Smiled. Since her accident with the monster she hadn't smiled. Her eyes gave off a warm amber light and her tail twitched. Farpaw was the only cat that seemed to treat her right besides Flightfall. Ivypaw's calico pelt now stood on end. A crunch in the brittle bushes behind her made the apprentice jump.

"F-farpaw...there is something in those bushes. it smells funny...like something from the twoleg place." Ivypaw whispered out the words. The young cat's sense of smell was exceptional. Flightfall had taken her near the two-leg place before and this scent was present there. Then the memory hit her.

"What is that smell? Do you know Ivypaw?

"No I don't...what is it?"

"It's dog. Remember never to go near any houses that smell like this. Dogs are terrible Ivypaw."

"I understand Flightfall."

Ivypaw knew this conversation was the thing every apprentice should know. And she knew what the scent was--and what it meant. Dogs were dangerous and a dog was in Thunderclan territory in the bushes near them. The calico she-cat let out a whimper and then spoke.

"Get in the tree Farpaw. It's a dog."

[Cinder.and.Flightfall]

Farpaw smiled back at Ivypaw, but as soon as the dog scent hit him his smile faded. He whipped around, hearing a low growling coming from the brittle bush. His fur spiked up, and he let out a soft yet hostile hiss. His long claws unsheathed. Farpaw wasn't planning on running yet. Not until he knew Ivypaw was safe first.

"You go first, I think I can handle it," Farpaw said in a whisper, his tail lashing. The stubborn, determined part of Farpaw was coming out. He wasn't gonna run or hide.

[owly ✿]

Ivypaw gave a pleading look at Farpaw before slowly backing away. Her calico pelt was fluffed up so she now looked like a porcupine. The she-cat's amber eyes almost glowed with fear. Her paws felt like going to the tree but her heart willed her to go the other way and help Farpaw.

As she heard a growl and a yelp and then a yowl Ivypaw gave a squeak of fear and then leaped towards the tree. Her leg felt like it was on fire but she couldn't do anything. She clawed up the tree and sat on a low branch with eyes squeezed tight shut.

[Cinder.and.Flightfall]

Farpaw's golden eyes were equally pleading, and he let out a breath of relief as Ivypaw jumped into the tree. He very well could've gone with her, he could've been safe as well. But... he just wasn't the type of cat to run away from anything. With feirce determination in his eyes, Farpaw awaited the dog to show himself.

"Stay up there," he whispered to Ivypaw. "And don't move."

[owly ✿]

Ivypaw's eyes flickered open as Farpaw spoke some whispered words. Her calico fur was still fluffed up up be she began to calm down. The she-cat's heart beat wildly as a rustle came from the crisp bushes. Ivypaw was about to yowl out and warn Farpaw when a black dog with brown trim leaped towards him. Ivypaw let out a gasp and then stood up...a little too fast.

As she felt the world tumble under her paws. Ivypaw let out a terrified yowl and then hit the ground. A tooth wrenching crack sounded from her formerly sprained leg. Her limp would be much worse now. The she-cat let out a sound that would be something a kit would make calling for it's mother.

"Farpaw...help me. I'm dying!!!" She screeched out as her leg felt like fire was scorching it to the bone.

[Cinder.and.Flightfall]

Farpaw dodged out of the raging dog's way, just in time to hear the sickening crack behind him. He turned with wide golden eyes, watching as Ivypaw fell to the ground, hard. He heard her leg crack, knowing now that the healing process would take much longer.

"Farpaw...help me. I'm dying!!!"

Farpaw felt as if he couldn't move. This was all his fault. If he hadn't been so stubborn... if he would've at least been up there with her, maybe he could've grabbed her before she fell. Blood roared in his ears as he ran toward her, nudging her frantically. Farpaw was aware of the dog watching them, waiting to make its move. He needed to get Ivypaw up, and try and get her back to camp. His claws unsheathed, in case the dog decided to try something again.

"Don't worry Ivypaw," he whispered in a soothing voice. "I'm right here. You're not gonna die, you just need to trust me. I need you to stand up, and try and lean on my shoulder. I'm getting you back to camp."

Farpaw knew that this was a bold promise, especially with the situation the two were in. With a hungry dog watching them, and Ivypaw's broken leg, Farpaw felt as if all of StarClan were on his shoulders.

[Stormie™+ Wake™]

Sleepkit heard the dog and a crunch sound, so he jumped out of his hiding as almost died on-the-stop. There he saw...a little dog staring at Farpaw who was helping up Ivypaw up. "Farpaw! Does Ivypaw need help!..I can distract the dog for you! Sleepkit wasnt going to do nothing. So he ran past the dog, hoping it would follow him."GO!"

[owly ✿]

Ivypaw was dazed and her sight was fuzzy. The world seemed to be spinning and she couldn't think about anything. The calico she-cat was about to fall over when a voice came into her head. Ivypaw closed her eyes and let the soothing words pour into her pounding ears.

The she-cat then passed out.

[Cinder.and.Flightfall]

Farpaw watched as Sleepkit tried to lure the dog away. He knew how dangerous it was, but it was their only chance unless Sleepkit could help Ivypaw back to camp and Farpaw could lure the dog. For once, Farpaw didn't know what to do. And it made matters worse once he saw Ivypaw black out.

"Ivypaw... Ivypaw, you need to wake up." He mewed in a soft, yet commanding voice. Farpaw searched around, desperate to see a patrol racing toward them at top speed, to take them all home. He feared for Sleepkit, distracting the vicious dog. He feared for Ivypaw, her leg was broken and she'd just blacked out. What could he do?

[Stormie™+ Wake™]

Sleepkit saw fear ignite nore than ever in Farpaw's eyes now, seeing that Ivypaw was unconscience." If, we can scare this dog away, we can get Ivypaw back safely and a LOT quicker."

Sleepkit then started leading the dog near Farpaw and Ivypaw, to have Farpaw help scare this thing."Come on Farpaw, this dog's small it won't stand up to us if we strt atacking it.

[Cinder.and.Flightfall]

Farpaw felt embarresed that he hadn't thought of that, but that embarresment was replaced by determination as the dog came toward them. Snarling, he lashed out at the dog with unsheathed claws. Before the dog could react he lunged, hoping to land on the dog's back.
((Who's controlling the dog? Or are we just both controlling it?))

[Stormie™+ Wake™]

(( i guess both of us))
As Farpaw jumped on the dog's back, Sleepkit started clawing at the dogs legs. The dog let out a yowl, then he turned around and swatted at me with his front paw.
(sry short...cant write much when we sharin fight))

[Cinder.and.Flightfall]

With an enraged snarl Farpaw bit down on the dog's shoulder, hearing another yelp of pain emerge from its throat. Farpaw kept his claws unsheathed, digging them into the dog's back and shoulders. He wasn't letting go. At least, he thought that. With a massive jerk Farpaw was sent flying off the dog's back. He landed with a thud, his muscles aching. Slowly he got back to his paws, lunging again.

[Stormie™+ Wake™]

Sleepkit saw the dog let out another shriek then started to retreat." Farpaw you go check on Ivypaw, I'll chase this thing away its retreating back!"Sleepkit then clawed at the dogs nose, making it bleed.It then turned tail and ran, and Sleepkit followed it AWAY from camp alittle ways...

[owly ✿]

Ivypaw was in a big place full of fresh prey crawling around. Her pelt was covered with no dirt. It was shiny and looked brand new. Her amber eyes looked around. It was like Green-leaf again. The calico then tried standing up and she seemed to be in a twisting black hole falling...falling...falling.

With a jolt the she-cat woke up. Her amber eyes looked around and saw a horrid scene unfolding. Farpaw and Sleepkit fighting a dog. Her heart beat fifty times harder. The calico let out a faint mew before she stood up on shaky legs. The back one was twisted and looked gnarled beyond repair.

The dog hadn't seen her yet. Ivypaw limped around to the right flank of the animal. Her amber gems burned with fury and hate for the thing that caused her and the other cats so much pain. The problem must be dismissed and Thunderclan didn't want another pack of these beasts. The she-cat hissed and leaped.

Her claws dug into the animal's flesh. Blood trickled out. She bit the back of it's head and then whispered. "That's for Farpaw and Sleepkit." Still her razor sharp claws dug in. She bit on the dog's back and heard a weak snap. The dog faltered. "That's for me." Ivypaw then let out a yowl and bit hard on the animal's neck. As the scarlet liquid flowed around her muzzle she let out a mew. "And that's for Thunderclan." Ivypaw whispered and fell next to the dog. She blacked out again.

[Cinder.and.Flightfall]

Hearing Ivypaw's faint mew, he watched her get to her paws. Before he could let out a protest, he watched her lunge for the dog. His whole heart thudded in his chest as he watched Ivypaw battle the dog, fighting like a StarClan warrior. Farpaw watched the dog collapse, Ivypaw collapsing not even a moment later.

"Ivypaw!" he cried, racing toward her. Now he knew what they needed. They needed to get her back to camp, and fast.

"Sleepkit, help me get her back to camp!" Farpaw mewed at the apprentice-aged kit. Since Ivypaw was unconscious, they'd need to carry her.

[Stormie™+ Wake™]

Sleepkit saw the dog fall from Ivypaw's astonishing blows.That's one less dog to think about now.Sleepkit saw Ivypaw lay still again and heard Farpaw say that we needed to get her back to camp immediantly.

He started thinking of ways that he and Farpaw could carry Ivypaw back to camp.It's not to far, we could carry her, scruff and legs. Or we could have someone race back to camp to tell a warrior to come here now to pick her up, but that might take too long." OK, ok, i'm coming!"Sleepkit rushed over to Farpaw who was standing near Ivypaw, and started to lift her up, waiting for Farpaw to left her up, so that they could return this battle-weary, unconscience cat.
((Cinder can powerplay my cat next post only))

[Cinder.and.Flightfall]

Farpaw gentlly picked Ivypaw up, carrying her toward camp carefully. He already felt that this whole thing was his fault. He felt that he could've protected her... somehow. Farpaw knew that he did something wrong, and that caused this whole thing. The guilt-filled apprentice had his ears pinned back, as if expecting a scolding.
"We'll get you back to camp Ivypaw, he whispered, as if she could hear him. "You'll be fine."
He looked back to make sure Sleepkit was holding up ok, and they continued on toward camp.

[Stormie™+ Wake™]

Sleepkit could see the pain in Farpaw's eyes. He knew that Farpaw thought that he could've stopped this.Sleepkit whispered through the fur of Ivypaw to Farpaw softly,"It's not your fault, the fall was accidental. After that, she got up to fight, no one could've stopped her from doing that.Now, stop blaming yourself. I bet when Ivypaw wakes up, she'll thank you over and over for saving her AND not blame you for all of this."Sleepkit kept walking on trying to comfort his friend.

[owly ✿]

This thread is c l o s e d