Morning Hunt (open)

[●◎CaraCat◎●]

Mothtail woke from his cosy nest dreading getting up, reluctantly he got to his feet briskly cleaning his pelt of the dirt that matted into his fur during sleep. Stretching his back and letting out a involuntary yawn Mothtail walked out of the den. Walking out a bit he noticed most cats were still asleep, looking towards the sky he saw the beginnings of a sunrise. Moving his gaze to the prey pile he was disappointed to only see a sad finch lying there. He decided he could use some exercise and hunting seem the best option anyway, so he heading to edge of camp ready to leave.

[Carotius]

OOC: I will take it that it's already newleaf
Twix [Crowpaw, if you want], Rogue [Boulderfall, maybe]

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Thistlehawk padded back into main cave, his sides heaving lightly from his morning run. The frost covering the mountaintops finally melted away, bringing back the glinting peaks of grey and brown as the sun rose from the horizon and bathed the lands in the embrace of newleaf. With newleaf, prey was running good once more, which meant the fresh-kill pile would no longer be miserably small and filled with stale pieces of stringy meat on bones. 

The issue right now was who to call onto the hunting patrol. Most cats had surrendered to the exhaustion of cold and sickness, heard to have ravaged through all Clans like a gigantic claw; the blue-grey tabby twisted his muzzle slightly in thought, not wanting to disturb those he figured really needed their sleep. I can't go alone either. Green eyes blinked in surprise when he caught movement at the corner of them, the rustle of a pelt as the warriors' den carried the sound of movement. Out came a warrior, awake and seeing the meagre pile of fresh-kill before heading towards the cave entrance, right where Thistlehawk was.

"Up for a hunting trip, I suppose? Good, because we'll need some paws to help bring back enough for our Clanmates," the deputy called, turning to face the clearing. "Cats who are able and willing, gather for a hunting patrol!"

[●◎CaraCat◎●]

Mothtail smiled at the deputy "Yeah I was just about to head out" he spoke as he walked towards Thistleclaw. When he reached the cat he stretched his haunches ,still trying to shake the morning drowsiness out of him. He then stood straight eying the cat "So where would you like to hunt today?" he asked the superior cat, figuring he would know where the best prey would be at this time of the year.

Carotius

[Otterpotter]

Mistwillow's claws scraped the ground as she sprang out of the Warriors den. "I-I not l-late am I?" She asked as she stood near the two warrior. The small she-cat had grown rather skinny, though it didn't show under the warriors long fur. "W-where are to g-going?" She asked though her muscles tensed as she realised one of the tons happened to be the deputy.

[Lyra]

Sootface was awakened by the sound of voices outside the warriors den. The recently made warrior lifted his head and blinked sleepily before standing. He stretched each one of his paws before peeking outside into the clearing to see a group of cats gathered up. The grey mottled tom stepped out of the den and approached the group of cats realizing the deputy was among them. "Are you going out for a patrol?" he asked curiously, tail twitching eagerly at the thought of going hunting. It would be his first hunting patrol as a new warrior.

[Carotius]

At Thistlehawk's call, two more warriors appeared from warriors' den, fur ruffled from sleep, but awake nonetheless. A patrol of four should be enough for now, considering he could send out another later in the day. The deputy nodded towards Mistwillow and Sootface, acknowledging their participation for the morning hunt, before padding over to the apprentices' den and poking his head in. I wonder if Crowpaw wants to come along. It wasn't that easy to spot the black pelt in the gloom, but he did manage to pick out the faint outline of it.

"Crowpaw! I'm out for a hunting patrol. If you're up for it, look for us in the fields," he called out softly, careful not to wake the other apprentice. Not sure if his own heard him, Thistlehawk withdrew his head, looking back towards the warriors waiting on his command. "Nobody is late, so fret not, Mistwillow. As for where we're going, let's head to the fields. The warm weather should have drawn out the prey!"

Green eyes glinting, the tabby led the way out of the main camp at a fast pace, energy surging through his limbs at the thought of being out in the open once more. Newleaf meant new life and new hope, two things that cats of the Clans always brightened up at when things seemed bleak. That, and the fact that Thistlehawk wanted to see the last of the snow on the mountains before it all melted away under the warming embrace of the sun.

[Lyra]

Sootface's plume of a tail twitched happily as the deputy nodded towards him as well. He started to follow Thistlehawk as he walked out into the open but stepped back to make conversation with the other warriors. He turned to Mistwillow and smiled in a friendly manner. "Hello," he greeted, "I'm Sootface," he introduced himself, even though the she-cat might've already known his name.

[Otterpotter]

The she-cat's bobtail ended it twitching before another warrior greeted her. "N-Nice to meet y-you." She replied and added a small smile to the mix. The gray and white she-cat already knew most of the warrior but here was no reason to be impolite. "I'm M-Mistwillow." she repleid though it was stupid of her since it was obvious that was her name. 'Well I'm a genius, arn't I?' she though before her shor tail began it nervous twitching again.

[●◎CaraCat◎●]

Mothtail watched Thistlehawk walk over to the apprentices den and stick his head in briefly and then heading out the camps exit. Mothtail walked briskly to catch up with deputy keeping a comfortable silence enjoying the warm morning rays on his grey pelt. He was excited to be hunting and was hopeful for more prey for the clan. Especially after that awful epidemic of greencough. finally he started to see the beginnings of the fields come into view.  

[Lyra]

Sootface gave the she-cat a reassuring smile seeing that she looked nervous for some reason. "Nice to meet you Mistwillow," he replied before gesturing with his tail towards the cave entrance. "Shall we catch up to the others?" he suggested before following after Mothtail and Thistlehawk though he waited for the she-cat to follow.

[Carotius]

OOC: Minor time-skip everyone.

---

The patrol soon found themselves at the very edge of the grassy fields, the tall blades of green swaying gently in the cooling breeze of the season. The fresh scents of flowers and prey were a welcoming change from the previous sharpness of ice and sickness, driving a huge sense of relief through the deputy's body. Turning his head to the other warriors, Thistlehawk beckoned Mothtail with a flick of his ear, green eyes glinting with anticipation for the coming hunt.

"Beautiful, isn't it? It's worth staking through leaf-bare for, other than the prey and the free space of running," he mewed cheerily, taking a deep breath. Amongst the sweetness of flowers and the tang of sea salt, the blue-grey tabby detected a faint musk, one that made his mouth water at the thought of sinking his teeth into the flesh. "Let's see what each of us can get for the Clan." Thistlehawk swept the patrol of warriors with a cheeky gaze, a grin slipping onto his lips. "Bet I can catch the biggest rabbit out of all of you."

[Otterpotter]

Mistwillow's only grin flared as she silently accepted the challenge. "W-We'll see." she said before lifting her nose to he air. The warrior's ears were pekred as she waited to hear paws steps or maybe something in the grass. Her eyes silently locked onto a tuft of vegetation but she stayed put. It wasn't the best idea to run off without hearing that the plans were for when everyone would meet up and where. 'I'll probably get the most prey!' she though asked her one of her ears flciked back to listen to listen to the deputy's orders.