CW: this character often experiences symptoms of PTSD and anxiety.
Oh stars, he hadn't expected to receive so much empathy! He certainly didn't want his friends to worry about him. But at the same time...he was so grateful to them. He couldn't help a small smile and a low purr, they knew him so well. It truly warmed his heart. He hadn't been expecting the touch from Littlepaw, so it caused him to tense and flinch for a moment, expecting a threat in the darkness. But he relaxed when he realized it was her, purring in response since he knew she couldn't see him smiling very well.
"Th-Thank you both." He murmured, though he kept to himself how he didn't feel worthy of their kindness.
When Dustbunny said the key here was hearing, he perked up a bit. He hadn't expected that, something he was good at was going to come in handy in the tunnels and make things easier for his clan! How exciting! He followed Dustbunny stealthy, the skinny tom wore shadows like a second pelt and the tunnels were basically bathed in shadow. He felt at home in this environment. His ears pricked forward when Dustbunny summoned him, and he quietly crept up to her side. Listen to pinpoint the mice, then dig them out. He nodded, then realized she couldn't see that gesture.
"R-Right." He murmured quietly, moving forward to take the lead on the hunt.
Hearing the mice was kitten's play, his ears swiveled to check the sound before pin-pointing the source location. Quietly, cautiously, he put a paw up carefully to see if he could measure the depth of the wall between them and their quarry, he'd need to be extra careful that the mice didn't pick up on any vibrations of his trying to dig them out. It was decently thick, but not too bad. This shouldn't take but a moment. Fleetpaw used his long tail to reach around to lightly touch Windpaw and Littlepaw's shoulders, listening to their breathing to determine their location. He wanted to make sure they were in position before he started, they'd need to be quick about this.
Then, having analyzed that everything was in place, Fleetpaw set to doing the work he loved so much. With calculated precision, Fleetpaw worked quickly and smoothly. Making sure the bring the dirt around to his other side before patting it down, to minimize on any vibrations and keep it out of the other hunter's way. Then he could feel it, this would be the final scoop. Fleetpaw tapped his tail gently against Windpaw and Littlepaw's forepaw, as a silent signal. He prayed they'd know what he meant, he didn't want to use his words and risk spooking the mice at this point. They were too close.
With that signal given, Fleetpaw took out the last scoop of dirt and quickly moved it aside. Leaping backwards quickly to give Littlepaw and Windpaw space to do their part of the assignment as the mice came tumbling out from their tunnel into the waiting claws of the WindClan cats. There were plenty of the little squeaking creatures, at least one for each -paw. As one tried to escape past him, Fleetpaw brought a claw down on it swiftly, squishing the terrified creature as Dustbunny had suggested. He could hear the mice beginning to move in a panic, and listening closely to ensure no others tried to escape past him.
@
Moonraven - Dustbunny // @
SuspiciousMindz - Littlepaw // @
Star - Windpaw