Shortage of Prey (Open)

[Legit]

Brambletalon padded into camp with a mouse in his jaws, and Cedarpaw following closely behind, also carrying a mouse. He dropped his catch on the fresh-kill pile. "Cedarpaw, take your own catch to the nursery and feed the kits. They must be starving. Then you can come back and pick a piece of your own." He stole a glance back at the pitifully small pile, "Or maybe we could share something." He shook his head disapprovingly, picked up is earlier catch, and took it to the elders' den. Brambletalon poked his head inside the elders' den and called, "Hello? Flowerheart? Kestrelpaw?"

[:-Misa-:]

Cedarpaw dips her head to Brambletalon and pads across the camp to the nursery. Sliding her head into the den she exchanged a few words with the queens, "There's not much prey to go around but you need it so I brought you guys something." Cedarpaw drops the prey in front of them and then dips her head to the she-cats as she pads out. Her stomach growled softly but she just shrugged it of as she padded through the clearing, walking over at sitting in the shadow of the Apprentices den, waiting for Brambletalon to emerge from the elders den.

[Midnight]

Flowerheart's head rose from her nest. Her eyes were dull from sleepiness, for she never did sleep well in cold weather, and her pelt was ruffled from all of the shifting she'd been doing in her sleep. "Yes, Brambletalon?" The old she-cat asked, her voice raspy. Flowerheart let out a small cough, then began to wash her pelt as she waited for Brambletalon's reply. "Tell me, Brambletalon, who's the medicine cat again? I know she's been a medicine cat for a while, but I just can't remember. My memory isn't what it used to be." The old queen asked, glancing up at the warrior from her wash.

[Legit]

Brambletalon dropped the mouse in front of Flowerheart. "I brought you and Kestrelpaw some prey, freshly caught this morning." He had to search his mind a bit for what the medicine cat's name was, but then replied, "The medicine cat is Lotusmoon. Do you need something?" He flinched slightly as he heard her raspy cough. 'This isn't a good time of year to get sick. "Do you need tansy for your cough? Or anything else?"

[Midnight]

"Lotusmoon," Flowerheart repeated slowly, trying to keep it in her mind. She nodded to herself and answered Brambletalon, though she was mostly just thinking out loud, "I'll have to visit Lotusmoon later today." The golden tabby looked up at Brambletalon with a blank look on her face, wondering what the warrior was doing just standing there. Flowerheart's nose twitched for a few moments, and she glanced down to see a mouse at her paws, and suddenly, it dawned on her that Brambletalon had come to give her prey. "Why, thank you, warrior!" Flowerheart purred, trying to cover up the fact that she'd forgotten Brambletalon's name.

[Legit]

Brambletalon nodded to Flowerheart, unaware that she had forgotten his name, "I'll tell Lotusmoon that you'll stop by later." He exited the elders' den and spotted Cedarpaw waiting for him in the shadows of the apprentices' den. She's so lively and eager to learn. I'd like to have her as my first apprentice.' He purred thoughtfully at the aspect of teaching and passing down his skills and knowledge of the warrior code down to a younger cat.

Walking over to the medicine den, and poked his head in a called, "Lotusmoon, Flowerheart would like to see you when you're not busy." With that, he whirled around and went back to the fresh-kill pile, not wanting to keep Cedarpaw waiting any longer. He carefully inspected the only two pieces of prey, a squirrel and mouse, both stale and cold from the early morning frost.

[:-Misa-:]

Cedarpaw watches as Brambletalon walks out of the elder's den and pads over poking his head into the medicine den to exchange a few words with Lotusmoon. As he exited he walked over in the direction of the fresh kill pile. From where she was she saw its small size, only two pieces of kill present. She rose to her paws and walked over to where Brambletalon was and meowed, "I can do without eating today. One say can't kill a cat. Besides, I'm sure there are other warriors who have done more that need it more than I do."

[Legit]

"A noble gesture from one so young," Brambletalon purred. "You should speak to Flamestar about getting yourself a mentor. Do you have anybody in mind?" He began nonchalantly grooming the dried mud out of his short tabby fur, but for a heartbeat a spark of hope flashed in is eyes. He looked up, "If she isn't in her den, I can take you out hunting again or teach you some battle moves."

[:-Misa-:]

Cedarpaw smiles and nods her head, "I do actually have a cat in mind. So now I guess it's a matter of hoping that our paths will cross as such." Her ears burn hot with embarrassment, "Since I didn't officially apologize before, sorry bout knocking you into the dirt." Cedarpaw's eyes glowed with enthusiasm, overpowering her previous feeling. "Really! Thank you Brambletalon, I don't care what any cat says, you're the best!" She skids off towards the leader's den and she dips her head respectfully, "Flamestar it's Cedarpaw, may I speak to you?" She was met by silence and she tasted the air, any trace of the leader was stale so she assumed that she wasn't present. Waiting a few more moments she turned tail and padded back over to Brambletalon.

[Legit]

"It's fine, honestly," Brambletalon eyed a patch of dried mud on his front paw and began to groom it clean. When he finished a few heartbeats later, he mewed, "I just get kinda grumpy when I'm knocked into the mud." His whiskers twitched with amusement as he watched the young apprentice skid off towards Flamestar's den. 'I admire her enthusiasm... and wanting to have me as a mentor.' He narrowed his eyes, not knowing whether at Cedarpaw or the glare of the sunlight off a patch of ice. 'I don't want to become known for being soft on my apprentices... so she'd better be ready to train. Hard.' He cast his gaze up to a large cloud scudding across the sky. 'I'll shape her into one of the best warriors MidnightClan has ever seen.'

[:-Misa-:]

Cedarpaw trots back over to Brambletalon with a small skip in her step. She looks up at him and plops down onto the ground staring up at him, "Brambletalon who do you think my mentor will be? Do you think I'll make them proud? I'll sure try. I'll be the best apprentice ever I guarantee." Cedarpaw's whiskers twitch and she meows, "Have you ever been in a battle Brambletalon? What's it like."

[Legit]

Brambletalon's whiskers twitched with amusement at this outburst of questions, but answered calmly. "I'm not sure who would be your mentor, but from what I've seen today, I'm sure you'll make him proud," he than quickly added, "Or her." Hoping the apprentice hadn't noticed his slip-up he continued to answer the barrage of questions, "I've been in too many battles to count, from border skirmishes to full-on wars." He unsheathed his claws and tilted his paw, admiring the sun reflecting brightly off the gleaming tips. "During my first battle in the Clan, after I had properly been trained to fight, do you know what I did?" He paused for a heartbeat and then continued, "I forgot all of my training! but when my claws met my enemies skin, it all came rushing back," his eyes glittered. " The belly rake, leap-and-hold, upright lock, and yes, even playing dead. All my training came rushing back once I was caught up in the heat and excitement of battle."

[:-Misa-:]

Cedarpaw grinned at his slip-up but she pretended to pay no mind to it. 'I'm sure it'll be a he' she quietly thought to herself. Her eyes glowed with amusement as Brambletalon went on with his statements, or stories she would consider them. "What are the cats from the other clans like in battle?" Her ears were now standing erect trying to get a solid grasp on every word coming out of his mouth. Out of nowhere She looked up at Brambletalon, "I'm scared..." Cedarpaw meowed honestly, "I'm scared for this Leaf-bare, I'm scared about what will happen... I'm scared about everything..."

[Deleted]

Swiftfoot walked into the camp clearing carrying a shew in his mouth. His eyes gleamed at the pride any cat would get at this time. He looked over at the fresh kill pile and all his pride left. Realizing that the pile was so small made him sad, any he was hungrier than ever now. He thought about talking to Cedarpaw to take his mind off the hunger, but he saw that Cedarpaw was already taking to Brambletalon.

"well,' he sighed, "I guess I will just be alone for a while, I can live with that," Swiftfoot walked over to a small area on the edge of the clearing and sat down to clean himself. He kept a keen eye on Cedarpaw, amazed by how much she had grown. He was hoping to become her mentor, it would be a delight to train such a bright young cat. but he knew that Brambletalon was more experienced and better for her.

He sighed deeply this time.
"If only I was noticed more often around here,"

[Legit]

Before Brambletalon responded to Cedarpaw's concerns, he noticed Swiftfoot enter the clearing with a shrew in his jaws. "Nice catch," he called, and watched him pad over to a corner by himself. He always seems so lonely... Maybe I should ask him if he'd like to come check the borders...? He responded distractedly to Cedarpaw, "Everything will get better when Leaf-bare is over. There'll be more prey and less battles fought over it." His gaze darkened, "Unless the other Clans are growing greedy." Hoping to change the subject he mewed, "Let's go check the border."