WindClan: Life Before 2023's Fire

[crumbl]

Originally Posted by Larkstripe

“I hope it’s soon. I love the snow. The hares stand out like ThunderClan cats in RiverClan territory.” Sparkfrost replied cheerfully, trotting through the hair grass, his stump tail raised. He paused, however, and lifted his muzzle to the wind, parting his jaws slightly to allow for better airflow. There was an unusual tang on the breeze, mingled with the stale scent of dog and the signature oaky scent of the prairie grass, “Hm...” he mused, “I’m not quite sure what that is...”

Sagebrook raised her head, confusion etched on her features. "Not dog, then. From what I can tell it's gone now. But it has a hint of twoleg to it, and--" A rustle in the bushes made her leap to her paws, hissing. "Who's--" A moment later, a large, wrinkly face emerged, followed by a larger pinkish body.

"What under Silverpelt?" Sagebrook didn't know whether to be more surprised or wary. It looked like nothing she'd ever seen before; it had hooves like a sheep, but no fur, and a short snout ringed with plump flesh. Its flopping ears had some type of tag on the right one, and when it opened its muzzle a oinking grunt emerged. She turned to Sparkfrost helplessly. "Do you know what that thing is?"

[ghostwriter]

@Snow Carrot
(I literally snorted laughing when I read this omg)

Sparkfrost teleported. Or at least, that was the most accurate way to describe the stiff legged vertical leap he took, landing completely bristled like an oversized pinecone. His cyan eyes were the size of saucers, his pupils completely dilated, “I...have no idea...a hairless badger?” He speculated, tentatively creeping towards the creature, his body lowered, every hair on his back standing at attention. He sniffed deeply, staring in awe and confusion, “It...doesn’t seem aggressive?” He addressed the creature with flattened ears and an arched back, “What...are you?”

[crumbl]

Originally Posted by Larkstripe

@Snow Carrot
(I literally snorted laughing when I read this omg)

Sparkfrost teleported. Or at least, that was the most accurate way to describe the stiff legged vertical leap he took, landing completely bristled like an oversized pinecone. His cyan eyes were the size of saucers, his pupils completely dilated, “I...have no idea...a hairless badger?” He speculated, tentatively creeping towards the creature, his body lowered, every hair on his back standing at attention. He sniffed deeply, staring in awe and confusion, “It...doesn’t seem aggressive?” He addressed the creature with flattened ears and an arched back, “What...are you?”

(Lol pigs amirite)

The creature only grunted in response, as if to say, Why should I tell you? It lumbered out of the bush and leaned over to snuffle in the mud, snout twitching. Sagebrook scurried away, hackles raised, as it approached her, but it seemed to pay the cats no mind. Her green eyes were narrowed into slits. "I don't like this," she mewed uneasily. "Are you sure it won't attack?"

[Cobra]

Antlerkit crashed into the paw and bounced back, flying. She wanted to yell 'ouch', but at the same time she wanted to see what Rushingmoor would do. Would he try to help her out? Or was he one of those boring warriors that sat around and yelled about the warrior code and how the newest generation was basically the most awful group of cats in the world?

As the older cat grinned and began to hunt the bug, she realized the truth : he was cool. Not like, chilly and mean, but like, young cat cool. Which was awesome for her. Antlerkit grinned back at him, then slapped the bug with her claws out and giggled with delight when it flopped to the ground. "Wow! That was awesome!" she exclaimed excitedly.

[ @Beau ]

[kittyyah]

Rosepaw was walking by to the apprentice den when she saw a lonely cat sitting outside the Med den. "Hello!" She chirped. @feather lily

[Jade13]

Originally Posted by kittyyah

Rosepaw was walking by to the apprentice den when she saw a lonely cat sitting outside the Med den. "Hello!" She chirped. @feather lily

"hey hows it going" leafpaw said looking up "whats your name?" leafpaw still hadn't met all of the cats here

[kittyyah]

"Good and I'm Rosepaw." She said sitting down beside him. "How are you?" @feather lily

[Jade13]

Originally Posted by kittyyah

"Good and I'm Rosepaw." She said sitting down beside him. "How are you?" @feather lily

"good bored i just got done playing with reedkit"

"im good i just got done playing with reedkit have you been out hunting?" leafpaw wondered if she could teach him how to hunt

[Jesse]

Originally Posted by Arie

At least it seemed that Burningpaw's arrogance... or was it just confidence that had always been supported and encouraged? was doing him well in this circumstance. "Hypothetically I wouldn't be stuck down here with an apprentice who were wondering such thoughts, but, I am right now." His voice left no emotion to be discerned within it. Breezefeather did not find the thought amusing at all and well... he did not want to feed said thought more info and would much rather just prefer to leave it alone.

So making his way further into the tunnel, at the sound of prey, he paused. Rabbit. The scent washed over his scent glands and he didn't even bother to ask Burningpaw if he was aware of it, because based on previous experience, Burningpaw was indeed well aware of sensory details. "I'll hunt it, your turn next time. Make sure to watch what I'm doing if your eyes has adjusted well." And with that said, the lanky deputy tensed his legs, lowered himself as he crept forward before shooting out and keeping low managed to take over the rabbit by the time they raced into a cavern. Killing it easily with a bite he took care of his kill by lifting it up and shaking off any of the sand. This would feed a good portion of the clan for sure.

Although he said nothing in response, Burningpaw indeed watched with mild interest. When Breezefeather made his charge, the rush of air that swept past carried with it the sickly sweet aroma of fear. And as he rounded a corner to follow his mentor the tang of blood mingled the sweetness, creating a bouquet of flavor that he greedily sucked into his lungs. A pool of saliva swelled over his tongue and began spilling over, beading into glistening strands from the corners of his mouth while he watched Breezefeather's teeth snip the rabbit's throat. He instinctively mirrored the movements, flexing his jaw as though he were biting into an imaginary neck until he realized what he was doing and quickly licked away the saliva strung from his lips.

"That's a nice catch." The tabby approached with his ears erect, the splinter of blue in his copper eyes twinkling with zeal. "But I'm going to do better." Confidence oozed from his voice and body-language like bittersweet sap and his tail tapped Breezefeather on the cheek and he brushed past to take point. He walked for a while, paying a close eye to the traces and scents strewn over the floor and walls of the tunnels. From his observations he noticed there must have been another rabbit that had witnessed or heard the struggle and made a mad dash deeper into the belly of the labyrinth. Unfortunately for this rabbit, these dark pits would be it's tomb.

Burningpaw suddenly exploded into a sprint, weaving through intersections and sharp corners. He didn't see the rabbit.. but he could feel the drumming of its heart, the raggedness of its breath, it's paws slipping on loose sand as it tried to loose him through the maze. But Burningpaw was smarter than a rabbit. He became an animal, driven exclusively by his instincts. Every concern or thought was pushed to the back of his mind. There was clarity. He could practically see the rabbit in front of him, not daring to look over its shoulder. And then.. there it was. It raced against death.. and it lost, as all things one day do.

Burningpaw flew forward, his claws curled out towards his prey. He hit it with all of his weight, sending the two into a violent tumble, the apprentice clutching the rabbit's body against his chest, his claws sloughing away curtains of flesh. Their scuffle was broken as Burningpaw slammed into a wall with enough force to shake loose a shower of dirt from the ceiling. Although the impact sounded enough to leave a sizeable bruise, he seemed entirely unfazed. The rabbit's ear-splitting squeals filled the cavern as Burningpaw licked his lips in anticipation. Then there was abrupt silence, only broken by the crunching of ligaments, which seemed deafening at the time.

It felt like an eternity before Burningpaw pulled away to breathe, gulping like he'd nearly drowned. Ribbons of blood danced through the air and wrapped around his teeth- but this time the taste was bitter. He dove in for more, desperate for the sweetness he'd experienced before, but the sourness caused his tongue to retreat to the back of his throat. Frustration, confusion, anger. His chest swam and swelled like a stormy ocean. In his rage, he flung the rabbit around like a doll, beating it against the wall over and over and over until he tired.

[ghostwriter]

@Snow Carrot

Sparkfrost’s pelt was beginning to smooth out again, his bobtail twitching warily, “I...I’m not sure. I don’t think so? It seems far more interested in doing...whatever that is...than attacking. It doesn’t really look as if it’s a predator. I can’t imagine it chasing something down.” He remarked.