Willow's Rise - Page 83

***Alchemist Kitsune*** · #**821** August 23rd, 2024, 09:50 PM

Sprucejumper was used to it. To have his remarks responded to. The star worshipers were fond of talking. A lot. Wouldn't shut up for the most part. Which is why it took him by surprise when the previously mocking deputy decided to accept his thanks with a simple, concise, efficient response. It was... odd. Or rather would have been odd from most other cats, but Pokey barely spoke to his - admittedly incredibly limited - knowledge. So perhaps it was the mockery that had been out of place? Perhaps this competence was his more usual way of being? It would make sense. He doubted Angry liked ineptitude among the cats that served her closer than anyone.

A mild snort escaped him as he paused, turning around to stare at the calico tom only to notice he was gone. Probably off hunting. Good. Maybe a branch would fall on him and make him faceplant against the dirt for his troubles. Not that he was still bitter about the mockery. He was above such petty things. Hmph!

With ease, the tom kept his sprint, climbing up to willow with a burst of speed as he reached the lower branches, swiftly assessing his situation as he focused, keeping all senses alert for any signs of prey. It was admittedly difficult to keep his ears open to any slight sound, any rustle of feathers or pitter patter of tiny paws on leaves, due to the remarkably loud tapping that had suddenly started taking place nearby, making the very branch he was on vibrate. Emerald hues narrowing, Sprucejumper made his way through the branches of the old tree, living up to his name as he made himself at home up on its limbs, the clumsiness he normally displayed on the ground gone. This wasn't the forest floor, after all. Utmost attention was needed. All it took was one bad step and he could plummet to his death.

Bushy tail flared up behind him as he kept his balance, the young warrior took pause, his eyes widening at the strange sight. Beneath him there was a bird nestled upon the trunk of the tree, a strange looking crow with a white face and bright red crest repeatedly slamming its face against the tree, each strike making the wood tremble. Was this strange thing what was making that ruckus?! It was huge! Bigger than him, in any case. Maybe even bigger than The Boulder! No no. Let's not be hasty. It just looked that big because it was up on the tree fighting it with its face and evidently winning.

A quick assessment of his surroundings gave him a battle plan. The bird was not really paying attention to him. To anything, really. It wasn't exactly as though it was being sneaky with that racket. Perhaps the other predators of the forest knew more than him not to mess with this face bashing, red crested, hellishly loud bird, but honestly, all Sprucejumper saw was an impressive meal that would definitely give him back at least some dignity after that failure on the ground.

With silent paws, he slipped into the shadows, looming on the branches above the feathery creature as it remained hard at work, its beak evidently creating a hole in the wood as it went along. Oh well... better avoid that beak. Heavens knew what it would do to his face if it made contact with it. Gratefully, he had spotted an opening. Not even this bizarrely strong creature could keep its pace up forever. It slammed its head against the trunk in bursts before stopping. Catching its breath, he supposed, before it got back to work showing the old willow who was boss. He just had to wait for the right. Moment. To. There!

The instant it paused, Sprucejumper leaped, fangs bared as he landed expertly on the bird's back, the massive, booming thunder that erupted from it almost being enough to distract him. But the tom was a cat on a mission. One mistake and he would be this bird's dinner. Now that he was clinging to its back, he was definitely reconsidering his original assessment... maybe it really was bigger than his former mentor... No time to think on this, however, instead having his fangs sink into the creature's neck, death being swift as it went limp.

He had accounted for this. It wasn't the Havana Brown's mix first time hunting in the canopy. Eyes returning to their usual, deadpanned stare, he used the falling body as a platform to aim himself, jumping towards the nearest branch beneath him as he let his prey plummet to the ground with a heavy thud. There was absolutely no way in hell he was hauling that in his mouth all the way down, thank you very much. He worked smarter, not harder. At least if he could help it.

Heading down to look at his conquest - there was absolutely zero chance of him finding anything else to eat up in the tree after the ruckus that thing was making - he allowed a small, smug smirk to tug at his whiskers for a second before he sobered up. Because yeah, sure. It was impressive. It was a big meal fit for a fair number of cats. But who had to haul this thing back to camp? This tom right here. Ugh. The things he did for this clan. Honestly, if only he wasn't so successful at hunting, maybe he would have a better time of things. Alas, he could only accept to carry his burdens and move along. His very heavy, very feathery burdens. This thing was going to be hell to drag back!

Padding back towards where he had last left off the deputy, he blinked, noticing he was the last cat back. Ew. Well... Whatever. At least he was here, which was more than he could say for that apprentice whom he still hadn't seen show up. With a snort, he blinked, silently letting them know he was done. There was no way he could carry anything more than this back to camp, in any case. Without waiting for another word, he started to march back. They were waiting for him in the first place, might as well get this trek back over and done with. Especially considering he was probably going to be slower than the two of them combined dragging this crested, head banging crow to camp.

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