Hunting

[miss apple]

Applesong woke up in the warriors' den and yawned. She wondered if anyone else was up. She padded lightly out into the center of the camp and stretched. The fresh-kill pile was getting low. She was ready to go hunting and looked around for another early-bird to join her on a hunt.

[;lost&insecure;]

Rainwing got up, stretching. She looked around the den to see who else had left. She noticed only Applesong had woken up, and a few cats going on the dawn patrol. She stretched again before padding out wet air. It hung around her shoulders. When will this rain stop? She padded over to the freshkill pile. I wonder how Brackenstripe is doing...Is he all right? She snagged a mouse from the cold freshkill pile, knowing it was stale but her stomach growled at the sight of even the prey from last night. She tucked in, watching as Applesong looked around the camp for other early-risers. No doubt she'll ignore me. None of RainClan cares for a 'traitorous fiend' like me... She continued eating.

OOC: It's totally up to you, Apple, but most of RainClan don't like Rainwing. If you want Applesong to come up to her, fine, but most of RainClan wouldn't.

[miss apple]

Applesong sighed, turning her head towards Rainwing. She was aware the Clan had some issues with Rainwing. I guess she's better than no one, she told herself. Besides, what makes me not want to trust her? Having a brother in another Clan is no big deal. Applesong had no family herself. She wondered what it would be like to have a brother. "Do you want to hunt for something fresh?" she asked. "We should probably go together because of the badger, don't you think?" Her tail twitched anxiously, although she knew a blind badger couldn't be a match for two warriors.

[;lost&insecure;]

Rainwing jumped when Applesong came up. Is she really and truly asking me to go hunting with her? "Well, OK." She got up, picking up the bones of the freshkill she just ate. She buried them quickly and came back, seeing that Applesong was still there surprised her still. Hasn't she heard that RainClan barely trusts me? She padded up, meowing, "OK, I'm ready."

[miss apple]

Applesong nodded at Rainwing. "Well then, what are we waiting for?" she asked, trotting out of camp. "It's not that we're going to get in serious trouble or anything." She sighed, looking up at the sky, wishing it would clear up. "Come on, let's go get something to eat."

[;lost&insecure;]

Rainwing followed Applesong out willingly. Would she finally make a friend in RainClan? She couldn't imagine doing so, with the way things had happened. Something made her feel drawn to their new medicine cat, but she couldn't fight beside her. Fighting made the pale gray tabby's heart stop. What if RainClan and AquaClan got into a battle? What would she do? Would she be able to fight her brother? She couldn't imagine doing that either. She scented the air, searching the different smells in the air. She smelled mouse close by. She pinpointed the exact location, or close to, and stalked forward, finding the plump mouse scuffling under some trees for nuts. She paused, keeping all her weight in her haunches. Seconds later she leapt, killing the mouse with a swift bite. Finally something I'm good at... She went back slowly to Applesong, happily carrying her kill.

[miss apple]

"Great catch," meowed Applesong in a genuinely friendly way. "I'm going over to those trees and see if I can get a squirrel this morning." Applesong bounded away from Rainwing, then dropped into a low hunting crouch as she approached the trees. Sure enough, there were squirrels chasing each other there, completely unaware of the orange warrior's approach. Applesong was as still as a statue until the opportune moment presented itself. The fat little squirrel never saw it coming, and Applesong trotted back over to Rainwing with her prize dangling from her jaws.

[;lost&insecure;]

Rainwing smiled, waiting while Applesong hunted her squirrels. As the ginger warrior padded closer with her prey, Rainwing meowed, "Nice." She dumped her prey in some bushes, covering it with leaves and dirt. She scented the air, finding a thrush nearby. She pinpointed its location, not making a sound until she had the creature in sight. She leaped, cutting off the bird's alarm call. She brought her kill back to their original spot, burying it with her previous prey.

[miss apple]

Hunting with Rainwing was quite enjoyable, thought Applesong. If she fought as well as she hunted, Applesong would be pleased to have the pale gray tabby at her side should there be trouble with the other Clans. But, what if they had to fight AquaClan? Applesong was dying to ask Rainwing how she would handle such an awkward situation, and what it was like to have a brother. But, she bit her tongue. Maybe, once she knew Rainwing better, it would be OK to ask. For now, Applesong kept her questions to herself.

Applesong and Rainwing caught a couple of distracted birds and decided to call it a morning. The rain had lifted, and the two warriors gathered their prey and headed back to camp.

[;lost&insecure;]

Rainwing padded back into the RainClan camp, satisfied with her morning's work. She dropped her mouse, her thrush, and two magpies on the pile. She turned back to Applesong. "Thanks for inviting me. The Clan doesn't really like me, but you already know that," she said gratefully. "If there's anything you need, you can ask. I'll see you around." The pale gray tabby smiled at her Clanmate and started to walk away.

[miss apple]

"Oh, thank you," meowed Applesong back to Rainwing. "You're a good hunter!" A light rain had begun to fall again. "See you around, then." Applesong retrieved a vole from the newly replenished fresh-kill pile and sought out some dry shelter to enjoy her meal and groom herself.

[;lost&insecure;]

Rainwing sighed happily, finally having found someone who distrusted her for her past. She slipped under a tree and began licking her disheveled fur. I can't wait to tell Brackenstripe! She smiled to herself, thinking about her brother. Maybe it was time for both of them to be trusted again. Hopefully...