~~~The Hunting Patrol~~~

[~Moonflower~]

Foxheart

~Hunter of ThunderClan~

Foxheart crept through the shadows and undergrowth through the plentiful forest. His keen senses searching for any kind of prey. He scented mouse up ahead, but almost as soon as he had detected where it lay, it ran away farther into the forest. Foxheart cursed.

Turning his head back, he looked for his hunting patrol. Eaglefur, a fellow warrior; Darkdagger, the ThunderClan deputy; and the injured Tigerpaw were with him, searching for prey to bring back to the Clan. He didn't see them. They were probably still back in the small clearing they had just left. Tigerpaw would probably be able to hunt best there where there weren't any branches or roots to trip him up.

Foxheart turned his attention back to the small enclosement around him. There were dancing shadow through the forest, but only one of them was the shadow of prey. The scent of mouse hit the roof of Foxheart's mouth. It smelled like the same mouse that had ran away earlier. Foxheart took his steps carefully and lightly, slowly making his way into the hunter's crouch.

Once in position, he pounced, and landed not far from the mouse. The mouse, scared, ran away, but it didn't get far before Foxheart's claws picked it up and gave it a nibble to the neck. The mouse lay dead in his claws, the heat slowly going away. Foxheart smiled at his catch. Got you... he was thinking.

[*~Angel~*]

~Like a Tiger I am fierce, I am the one who protects all each paw set forward~

Tigerpaw

The young tabby followed at a slower pace, his body weaving in and out of the bracken easily. His right shoulder throbbed a little, but that was not why the young tom slowed his pace. It was merely to pace himself, though he was dying to race ahead. To feel the rush of wind against his pelt. He'd been stuck in camp much to long. Finally though he reached Foxheart, but he said nothing. Not even a twitch of his whiskers when he suddenly dropped into a excellent crouch.

If a cat were to follow his gaze they would see a bird, little thing, but still prey all the same. It was steadily pecking at the ground, unaware of its visitor hardly two tail-lengths away. Quietly Tigerpaw stepped forward, his shoulder stung but he ignored it. Only twitching it as he moved in on the small bird. Finally he stopped, his body tensed up. His muscles bunching before he sprang, his form landing heavily on the bird.

"There," He meowed, as soon as he'd delivered the killing bite. He straightened up, his nose wrinkling up for a moment before he dropped the bird by his paws.

{{I know I made him seem injured still but I have to be realistic. Its only been like four days since he was injured. It is healing, quickly too, so he should be able to become a warrior. He can obviously still perform with his injury.}}

[D.ark]

Darkdagger breathed in deeply as he followed the Thunderclan warrior. His paws barely made a sound on the earth. Truly he was on this trip to watch Tigerpaw. The apprentice's injury worried Darkdagger quite a bit. Still when the tom delivered the killing bite he praised him, "Nice catch Tigerpaw. You too Foxheart." He was talking quietly, so as to not frighten any animals nearby. Still when he jumped on his own thrush and killed it he couldn't help purring, "Despite the fact that leaf-bare is well on it's way the prey is running well."

[~Moonflower~]

Foxheart

Foxheart nodded at Darkdagger, happy at his praise. Then he noticed his patrol was missing a member. "Where's Eaglefur?" If he doesn't show up in a few minutes I'll cut his throat out. Foxheart didn't always have the nicest of thoughts, but he meant it. Where was Eaglefur?

Foxheart looked around sniffing the area. Instead of Eaglefur's scent, he smelled a blackbird. The scent easily got him into position and he pinpointed where the bird was with his nose, and then he saw it. He didn't know how he could miss it. Foxheart jumped, but his red fur was enough to catch the attention of the blackbird, and it flew away well before Foxheart reached it. "Stupid bird!" he yelled under his breath, plus a few other words that were too jumbled and mumbled together to be understood.

[D.ark]

Darkdagger held back a mrrow of laughter. He knew the young warrior was frustrated. "It's alright Foxheart! It was just lucky it didn't cry out or anything!" He twisted his head, letting his purple gaze swept the area, "You're right, where is Eaglefur? Did we lose him?"

[R*E*A*P*E*R]

[glow=brown,2,300]Eagle[/glow][glow=beige,2,300]fur[/glow]

Said Eaglefur was actually back quite aways, stuck in a bramble bush. He was feircely embarassed over the matter to begin with, and he was scratched all over. When he finally got free he shot ahead almost colliding with Darkdagger. He snarled and shot a look over his shoulder. "Stupid brambles." He spat, he looked quite comical. His fur stuck up every which way and he was covered in sharp thorns. He twisted his head and snorted, "Sorry guys..."

[~Moonflower~]

Foxheart

Foxheart couldn't help but snicker a little at Eaglefur. His fur was torn in some spots, and a couple thorns were spotted on his pelt. Foxheart had to lay down and put his paws over his muzzle to keep from laughing loudly and scaring all the prey from ThunderClan to their old home back in the forest. The sight put Foxheart in a slightly better mood after missing the bird.

Finally, when he was able to control himself, he stood up, and smiled at Eaglefur. Foxheart didn't smile often, this was a rare occasion. He scented the air a little, then turned to Tigerpaw. "There's a bird over there a little ways," he pointed with his tail, "why don't you go get it?" Foxheart watched Tigerpaw carefully. Tigerpaw had done well in healing over the past few days. Foxheart knew he was ready to become a warrior. He just wanted to watch him one last time.

[D.ark]

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Darkdagger nodded his dark head and turned his venomous purple eyes to his apprentice. "That's right, you go and get it now Tigerpaw." He meowed quietly, secret pride bursting in his chest. He was glad his apprentice was recovering so well. He'd proved something very big by doing what he'd done.

[*~Angel~*]

~Like a Tiger I am fierce, I am the one who protects all each paw set forward~

Tigerpaw

The flaming ginger tom watched quietly, observing everyone. He never interrupted, never said a word. Though he felt a flare of pride rush through his body when Darkdagger, his mentor, praised him. He liked his mentor a lot, not to mention that the tom was deputy.

"Sure," He meowed softly, his ears flicking. He turned away from the other cats, going carefully to the bird that Foxheart had smelled. Quietly he moved, his body falling into the natural stalking pattern. Tigerpaw put one careful paw in front of the other, his eyes narrowed in concentration. Finally when he was close enough he leaped, his body sailing through the air. Then with a swift bite, the animal was dead.