Leafbare Patrols

[Wolf]

The sun was high in the sky, beating down on the snow-covered ground of the StormClan camp. The deputy stretched and rose from her nest after a short post-hunting nap. She glanced briefly at the pitifully small fresh-kill pile and heaved a sigh, her breath puffing visibly in front of her white muzzle. With the Clan's ranks shrinking as greencough sent more and more cats to the medicine den, there were less cats to do the hunting and patrolling to keep the Clan in good shape.

Finchsong trudged to the camp entrance and sweeped away the soft, cold top layer of snow with her tail before sitting down. As a new deputy, the she-cat still internally struggled with having the authority to call the Clan together...though she would never let anyone but her mate know that. Taking a deep breath, the ginger tabby she-cat called the summons to her Clanmates, hoping those that were well enough to go on patrol were still in camp. "All those old enough to go on patrols, gather here by the Clan entrance now!" Her yowl rang around the camp and she winced slightly, not expecting her voice to be carried so well by the cold wind of leaf-bare.

As the deputy waited for the cats to gather, she paused to consider what they needed the most right now. She would definitely have to take a patrol, as she hadn't been on one for a while. A couple border patrols, definitely some hunting patrols...there's almost no prey left, and what there is had frozen over. Her green gaze darted up as a red bird's call echoed in her ears, interrupting her thoughts momentarily.

[Babylonranger]

Flicking his ears, Lightningflame glared sullenly at the gleaming snow, trodden down by many paws, but still present and clinging to every stable surface in Stormclan's camp. One would think a mostly white cat like him would like the snow, that the cold, colorless substance would help him blend in during a hunt. The white-and-black tom snorted, remembering each and every failed hunt he'd had in leaf-bare. Just because most of his fur matched his surroundings did not mean he had an edge over his clanmates.

Finchsong's call jogged the tom from his musings and he lifted his black-masked head to glance at Stormclan's deputy. A patrol? That could be fun, the muscular warrior thought. Pushing himself up on his black paws, Lightningflame padded over to the camp entrance to join the gathering cats who hadn't been struck down by greencough.

[Carotius]

Leaf-bare already. The leaves had gone, and the snow had fallen, covering the forest in a glowing blanket of white powder, sapping the warmth of blood the moment contact was made. Webfire pushed his way out of the warriors' den, stretching out his large body with a wide yawn gracing his muzzle; a lump of snow dislodged right after, slopping onto him like how us humans dumped the contents of a bag of flour onto a table. Hissing in surprise and irritation, he clambered out from the pile of snow, shaking it off his splotched pelt vigorously, a dignified snort escaping his nostrils.

The black-pawed warrior perked his ears at the deputy's call, the itch to get some warmth into his body already making him excited for a patrol. Yanking his paws from the snow, he bounded over as quickly as he could, slowing down to a halt a distance away from Finchsong, his black-tipped tail held high behind him as he took a seat. It was one thing to be hunting for prey in the scarce season if leaf-bare; it was another when it was necessary for the survival of cats in the onset of a greencough epidemic. Blue eyes flickered uncertainly towards the medicine cat's den - several cats had been moved there at the first sign of a cough, and it was rising at an alarming rate.

Webfire hoped his family wouldn't catch it, even if their skilled medicine cat had ample supply for them. but for now, while he was still strong and healthy, he was going to cover for those who weren't.

[Twix]

Applepaw had been practicing a few of the battle moves Goldenflight had taught him near the apprentice's den. The ginger tom was flinging snow every which-way as he pounced and attacked at thin air, but there wasn't much else to do. His mentor didn't seem too interested in actually training him, so he spent more of his time training on his own. Suddenly he heard Finchsong's call ring out across the clearing. The apprentice quickly jumped up and onto his large paws, darting off to the area that would hold the meeting. There were already plenty of other cats beginning to settle themselves to listen to the deputy, but the tom couldn't help but notice how small the group was from normal. His green eyes darted over to the medicine cat's den, where he could hear coughs coming from the entrance. So many cats were catching greencough, and already so early in leafbare.. Even though he did his best not to worry about it, staying optimistic that it would pass and Nightpoppy's skills would help us through. The apprentice took a seat among the other cats, his long fur fluffed up against the cold, and listened to what Finchsong had to say.

[Isilme]

The pointed female had just made her way into the clearing when she heard the call from the deputy, the female stopped dead on her tracks taking a deep breath to calm down her already flaired up nevers, today was totally not a good day, Goldenflight approached the place from where the call had been made and was actually surprised to see Applepaw there, she had been lacking on his training not that she really cared but, the she cat approached the ginger apprentice and sat by his side not saying anything while she waited for Finshsong to say exactly why they were all being summoned at a hour like this when they could actually be hunting and getting prey for the slowly freezing and dimishing fresh kill pile, a cold breeze passed by her and she controlled herself not to shiver, stupid short fur.

[Wolf]

Once a good sized group of cats began to gather, the ginger she-cat swept her gaze over her Clanmates. She took a deep breath and began to speak, raising her voice so any cats who hadn't made their way over yet could hear her. "As I'm sure you have all noticed, our fresh kill pile is extremely lacking, and as many of our Clanmates are falling ill, the borders are not being checked on regular trips out. Patrols need to go out now when the sun is hottest, as you may have a better chance of finding prey when it's warmest. As for border patrols, we can't risk intruders and stolen prey at a time like this when we are all weakened by hunger and greencough." Finchsong paused, taking a few moments to assess the reactions of the gathered cats before continuing.

"I would like two patrols for each duty. For border patrols, one group will renew the MidnightClan border markers, and the other group which I will be with will renew the WhisperClan border markings." Finchsong began to look around at her Clanmates, already deciding who to place in each patrol group. Mentor and apprentice need to be together for sure, and they need more opportunities to be out together it seemed. "I want both groups to do some hunting on the way there and back if possible. Hunting patrols, I want one group to go to the River Roots to see if you can find any prey around there, and the river might still be thawed enough to find fish." The deputy stopped again to ponder another part of the territory where prey might be found in the cold leafbare what had fallen upon them all too quickly. "The other hunting patrol should try around the Charred Pine, there may be prey hiding among the hollowed trunk. I would usually leave the locations to you, but we can't afford to waste time deciding who is going where at a time like this."

[Honey]

Sootpaw had just been leaving the Elder's Den when he heard Finchsong call for cats to patrol. Feeling his heart beat a little faster the black cat put some effort in his step and made it to the group. Licking his fur down the yellow-eyed tom tried calming himself. He got so excited over this stuff! While his excitement was a good thing to him he worried others might find it kittish and he wouldn't be considered to be a Deputy if the time ever came. Or even a decent warrior for that matter. Flicking his ears he shuffled his large paws and raised his head the best he could over the others. "Finchsong, wherever you need an extra body, I'm ready!" The young tom struggled to make his voice sound more like an adult and less like a kit. He found a middle ground. 
The sun beat down and he relished in the rays. His soot black fur soaked up the heat and warmed him to the deepest part of his bones. Looking at the cats around him, Sootpaw felt a sense of pride. This was his clan and he wouldn't want it any other way. 

((ooc: Not sure if this thread is too old to revive but I think it could be fun lol.))

[Wolf]

This thread is from 2 months ago and from when it was leafbare, so no this thread is done.