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Post by Duskstar on Aug 4, 2008 18:42:00 GMT -5
All was quiet. Two flickering eyes matched the pale green grass, and a small smirk was seen under the nose. One pawstep, then another. She was so close. The blades brushed against the she-cat's underbelly as she crept forward, keeping her paws light, claws sheathed. The first thing to learn about hunting a rabbit was to keep quiet. Any small noise could disturb the small animal. A rustle of grass, a twitch of an ear, and the cat sprung into the air, unsheathing her claws before landing on the moreland animal. A crack, and it was all over.
Ashwind's smug expression only increased as she pushed the small body around with her paw. "Mousebrain..." She mumbled under her breath. "Many of your kin were killed and you still can't learn to watch your back..." Pulling her paw back, the she-cat began to wash the blood off of her claws, her pale green eyes glinting with victory.
Once finished cleaning herself, Ashwind began to dig a small hole for her newly caught prey. There was a shadow above her. Snapping her head up, the warrior gazed around in the sky. She was NOT in the mood for an eagle. A growl erupted from Ashwind's throat, though she relaxed a bit to see nothing around. Suddenly, a glint of talons and a rustle of feathered wings, her eyes followed the eagle as it swooped toward her, she was ready. It happened quicker than she thought, a dip, and then flight. Ashwind could see her freshly killed rabbit dangling from its ugly talons.
"Oh no you don't!" She yowled, running full speed at the creature. Then, the SwiftClanner pounced, hooking herself onto the rabbit by her claws, about two foxlengthes off the ground. The eagle was elevating fast. Her heart raced as she lashed out one paw. This was her only chance. It hit, and it hit hard. A screech was heard from the great bird as claws meet feathers, and the huge talons released, sending both Ashwind and her catch to the ground.
With a soft thud, the she-cat landed, knocking the wind out of her. As she lay, gasping for breath, that same smug look returned to her face. She had won.
After a few heartbeats Ashwind heaved herself to her paws, giving her chest a few quick licks. Her pawsteps muffled against the soft grass as she padded over to the gray and white lump. Black claws unsheathed, the cat began to dig a hole to protect her prey while she hunted more. Although, Ashwind doubted that eagle would dare to come back.
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Post by shadow on Aug 14, 2008 9:01:32 GMT -5
A streak of tortoiseshell fur was all some cats ever saw of Shellfur, off racing through the hills or in hot pursuit of a piece of prey. Most of the time, Shellfur would agree with that statement. She loved to be on the move, running as fast as she could through the open hills of the SwiftClan territory. Lightweight, sleek, petite and energized. Four words that described Shellfur perfectly. Brown-green optics flicked across the landscape as her paws moved smoothly under her with undisturbed grace. Lean muscles on her legs, shoulders and haunches coiled and uncoiled smoothly at command as she ran. It was almost an instinct for her, something she didn't even have to think about.
The noisy flap of bird wings and the screech of an eagle made her come skidding to a stop. Shellfur dropped low, ears flat and tail lashing as she warily looked skyward for the dreaded hunter that plagued SwiftClan's open moorland. It seemed she was right to be wary. Above her flew an eagle, a large one that looked oddly ruffled. Shellfur frowned up at the mighty bird of prey. One of it's legs looked injured. Huh. It looked like the prey had fought back for once.
Sniffing the air curiously, Shellfur slowly rose to her paws as the eagle flew off to brood at its nest. There was another cat nearby. Ashwind. Shellfur giggled. Yes it would be like Ashwind to fight an eagle over a piece of prey. Heading along Ashwind's scent trail, Shellfur glimpsed a few eagle feathers laying here and there as she got closer to where the warrior was hiding the prey she'd probably fought the eagle for.
"Hunting got boring so you decide to fight the eagles? Seems a bit desperate to me" she teased, sitting back on her haunches and wrapping her tail around her small paws.
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Post by Duskstar on Aug 14, 2008 18:11:51 GMT -5
"Hello Shellfur," Meowed Ashwind without turning around, ignoring the tease "Had I not scented you so quick I may have attacked." Pale green eyes flickered toward the sky in search of the eagle that tried stealing her prey. "The mousebrain's leg is probably hurting so much it had to fly on back to its nest." The warrior thought, hopeing it was now invading StoneClan, "Why don't they use those as prey?" Ashwind couldn't help but think about all the cats that died of starvation because of the fact that they didn't eat eagles like they used to. Whatever, it just made them weaker. With a paw she pushed the rabbit into the tiny hole she had made, and scraped some dirt over it, parts of its gray and white body still showing.
For the first time Ashwind turned around, small body moving smoothly. That was the only difference between the she-cat and her brother, Pineclaw. The two were identical other than size, and scent of course, but everyone knew that, so why bother even giving it a second thought? Pale green eyes looked Shellfur up and down. "Her eyes are ugly..." Ashwind thought, keeping her opinion to herself for once, "They look like mud."
Sitting and wrapping her tail around her paws, the she-cat calmly began to wash a paw, acknowledging Shellfur's presence only with a simply flick of her tail.
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Post by shadow on Aug 14, 2008 20:16:44 GMT -5
Shellfur simply giggled a little at Ashwind's remark about attacking. Hah! Ashwind wouldn't have been able to catch her! Shellfur was a bright cat and prided herself a little on her speed. Besides, she wasn't as absentminded as everyone thought she was. A lot of cats thought she was an airhead. Yeah right. She knew better then to sneak up on a clanmate, especially one that had a rather unpredictable tendency like Ashwind was known for. Because she wasn't as airheaded as everyone thought, Shellfur also noticed the fleeting glance where Ashwind actually looked Shellfur in the eye. She didn't twitch a whisker. Shellfur was used to the looks. Her eyes, unlike the eyes of many cats were neither amber, blue or even green. Well, they could almost be called green. Really the color was a muddy brown tinted with forest green. Lots of toms thought Shellfur was pretty until they looked her in the face. Shellfur found it annoying to no end.
So what if she didn't have pretty stunning eyes like every other run of the mill she-cat?
Moons had passed and Shellfur had gotten used to not many cats looking her in the face. It was just a face of life she had to live with. Personally she liked her eyes.
Instead of getting mad about it, Shellfur laughed. "Oh no not another one!" she groaned playfully, flicking her tail. "Let me guess, the eyes set you off huh?" Shellfur giggled again. Rising to her paws, Shellfur stretched, tortoiseshell fur rippling smoothly over lean muscles that clung to her petite form. "Well, I suppose I'm off to hunt. Care to join me? Don't worry you don't have to look me in the face." Shellfur laughed again. She always got a kick out of it. It always flustered cats when they realized she knew all about their dislike of her "muddy" eyes. Who needed jewel tones when you got amusement like this?
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Post by Duskstar on Aug 15, 2008 6:59:37 GMT -5
Ashwind's tail lashed. "You don't know what I was thinking." She hissed softly, "I could've thought your eyes were beautiful." The warrior rolled her eyes, "Your so stereotyped." She was acting now more like an older sister than a younger warrior. As if she knew Shellfur her entire life. Then again, she did, just not well. Ashwind thought about Pineclaw, stuck in the medicine cat's den because of a twisted paw. It was a minor injury, but he was disallowed to come hunt with her. Ah, well, I suppose I could have some company.."
"Yeah, sure, I suppose." Ashwind stated, tail moving fluidly back and forth. "But lets make it interesting." It was just like her to make a contest out of a simple hunting trip, and ever since her encounter with the eagle, she felt as thought she could do ANYTHING. Pale green eyes glinting mischievously, she locked them with Shellfur's muddy green-brown ones.
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Post by shadow on Aug 15, 2008 13:00:08 GMT -5
Shellfur purred in amusement at Ashwind's words. Sterotyped huh? That was a new one but amusing all the same. Shifting her weight from paw to paw impatiently, the tortoiseshell frowned impatiently at Ashwind. Make hunting more interesting huh? Ok maybe she could stand still long enough to hear that. Waving her tail back and forth, Shellfur studied Ashwind carefully. Sure, she didn't know Ashwind well but the grey she-cat didn't seem that bad. At least she wasn't as stuck up as some warriors. That was a nice change. "Alright then" Shellfur agreed. "What would be 'interesting' to you? Hunting eagles?" Shellfur asked, the second part a joke. She hoped Ashwind wasn't up for hunting eagles. Of course that would be...interesting but deadly. Not something she would be fond of. Ashwind could have that one.
Sitting back on her haunches, Shellfur flicked her tail impatiently, waiting for Ashwind to name the dynamics of their hunt. Knowing Ashwind this would be at least a little more entertaining then hunting by herself. After all, Shellfur was all for company. The mud-eyed calico watched Ashwind with interest.
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Post by Duskstar on Aug 16, 2008 12:10:29 GMT -5
Ashwind gave what looked like a lopsided mischievous smile, "Well, hunting eagles would be fun, but there are are not enough of them for a contest." She looked rather disappointed at this, but gave her head a small shake and continued, "The cat to catch the most prey by dusk is the winner." Ashwind flicked her tail to the now buried rabbit nearby, "That doesn't count for me." Pale green eyes glinted playfully. She felt like a kit again, and not in a bad way. Then suddenly, the she-cat was off, paws spewing uplifted grass and dirt into the air.
After a few more moments, pale green eyes locked onto something, and Ashwind leaped into the air, snagging a bird with her long claws and bringing it down with a crack. Usually birds like this tended to be ShadeClan prey, but her luck brought a smug expression to the young warrior as she gazed at Shellfur. Quickly, Ashwind scraped dirt over the dull feathers of the bird and took off in the opposite direction. This was going to be easy.
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Post by shadow on Aug 16, 2008 12:23:52 GMT -5
"Alright then, you're on Ashwind" Shellfur mewed brightly, brown-green eyes glinting as she sprang lightly to her paws. The petite tortoiseshell decided to go the opposite direction of Ashwind so they wouldn't end up tracking the same prey. Lashing her tail playfully the young bright warrior stalked off away from Ashwind in search of her own prey. In the back of her mind she registered that Ashwind had caught something not moments after departing from the grey warrior's company. Focusing on her own path, Shellfur crouched near a hazel growth and watched it intently, breathing in the scents from it. A rabbit. Swiping her tongue around her lips, Shellfur waited, listening. There. The rabbit fled.
Bounding forward in a flash of tortoiseshell fur, Shellfur chased down the rabbit in three bounds and sank her fangs into its back, dropping the rabbit and delivering a sharp killing blow. Picking up the prey, Shellfur carried it back toward the hazel to hide it near the base of the plant. As she scraped out a shallow hole for the prey, something rustled. Shellfur paused to listen for a moment before shrugging and dropping her prey into the hole and scraping dirt back over it. The sound of distant flapping caught her attention as she finished the job. Sitting up, Shellfur frowned quizzically and glanced around curiously.
Catching sight of a rook nesting in a patch of tall grasses, Shellfur dropped into a hunter's crouch, oblivious to the large shadow of an eagle circling above the hills as the two she-cats spread out to hunt.
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Post by Duskstar on Aug 18, 2008 16:31:52 GMT -5
Ashwind was, too, unaware of the looming shadow flying over them. Instead the warrior was concentrating quite hard on a mouse she had just found. It would be one step closer to winning, and she wanted that step. Narrowing pale green eyes in concentration, the odd she-cat felt her muscles tense in her crouch, belly fur brushing lightly against the grass. Then, everything all happened in less than a second. Ashwind sprang high into the air, that same smug expression on her face, before landing squarely on the target. Tail flicking thoughtfully, she picked up the now limp body and started toward her previous hiding spot. When the young warrior moved, the bright sun only made her well toned body look even more impressive, the light shining down and showing off the muscles rippling beneath her odd colored pelt.
Once arriving near where she had caught the bird, Ashwind didn't pause. She scraped dirt over the prey and turned, only to freeze in an odd fashion, neck craned into the expanse of sky above her, and her back paws twisted as she was in mid turn. A growl erupted from the warrior's throat as that same looming shadow arose from behind her. Claws unsheathed as Ashwind noticed an injury on the eagle's left leg. It was the same one she had attacked earlier. The beast seemed to notice her too, as it started to circle slowly, seemingly aimlessly, around her. Dropping down to the ground and green eyes blazing, Ashwind stayed as quiet as possible. Already the eagle had nearly dropped her, and she didn't exactly want to fight it again. The bird, however, seemed to be having different thoughts.
Before Ashwind even had time to think, the eagle had swooped down and was on top of her, slashing away with huge talons. She thrashed hissed and sent out several blows, then found herself rising. Pale green eyes opened and tried to figure out her surroundings. She was about the same hight up as before. "This will be an interesting story to tell when I'm an elder." The warrior thought, "Picked up by the same eagle twice, and beating them both times." Letting out a fierce battle cry, Ashwind threw her paw up to strike at the beast, gashing it on its previous wound. A screech was heard, then the she-cat was falling, and landed neatly on the ground.
She didn't even have time to breath before the great bird was once again swooping. This time, however, the warrior was ready. Just before it was about to land on her, Ashwind leaped into the air, landing on the bird. She then thrust her head down and bit its neck. The body went limp. Gapping slightly, the warrior realized what she had just done. "I killed an eagle.... I killed an eagle...." Smug expression returned to her face, "I killed an eagle!" Pale green eyes glinted with victory as she started toward Shellfur, dropping the beast halfway as to yowl to her, "This counts as three!"
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Post by shadow on Aug 18, 2008 21:08:49 GMT -5
Ashwind's growling and hissing roused Shellfur, making her look around for the source of all the comotion. Her dark eyes widened in surprise when she saw an eagle swooping low as if to pick up the other warrior. A snarl rising in her throat, the tiny tortoiseshell prepared to spring forward and help her clanmate when her attention was stolen by another unwelcome visitor in the little hunting contest. It was the eagle's mate. The second eagle screeched and swooped down. Shellfur slunk back and the eagle's sharp talons dug into the ground where she had been moments before. Hissing, Shellfur lashed out with her claws. The bird screeched and took off, rising high for another swooping dive. Shellfur dropped low with her belly against the ground, glaring upward at the massive bird. Though not as big as the eagle Ashwind was dealing with, Shellfur was a bit smaller then Ashwind.
When the female eagle swooped down to attack again, Shellfur thought better of attacking. Instead the warrior turned tail and ran like she'd never run before. She needed cover, something to keep the eagle from just swooping in and grabbing her. Hissing in frustration and starting to weave so the eagle would have a harder time catching her, Shellfur made a dive for a gorse bush. She made it to mid-jump but no farther. Inches from the safety of the gorse bush, Shellfur found herself not able to touch the ground. Sharp talons pierced her side as the eagle gripped her in its talons. With a yowl of pain, Shellfur writhed wildly. She would NOT let herself be carried away by some stupid eagle.
Slashing her claws through feathers, Shellfur snarled and hissed until her wriggling and writhing forced the eagle to drop her or fall to the ground. Landing awkwardly, Shellfur stumbled and nearly fell. Stumbling toward the gorse as the eagle swooped upward for another pass, Shellfur tucked herself into the gorse, panting. Her formerly white side was pinpricked with large blots of red, breathing shallow and eyes glazed angrily.
"Stupid featherbrain" Shellfur grumbled, wincing. The eagle hadn't gotten a good grip, not being as big as its mate so the punctures weren't as deep as they could have been.
Overhead, Shellfur could still hear the eagle swooping around, until she heard Ashwind's smug call. She'd killed the other eagle. Whoopie for her. "You can have this one too" Shellfur called out. "Its too feathery for me."
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Post by Duskstar on Aug 21, 2008 18:06:31 GMT -5
Ashwind gazed across at her clanmate, realizing for the first time that she had been attacked as well. Instinctively the warrior looked into the air, green eyes scanning the sky for the eagle's mate. It was still circling. Hissing, she turned back to Shellfur, ducking into the gorse next to her without invitation. Eyes still glued to the sky, Ashwind meowed in a quiet tone, as if speaking loud would send the other eagle in another attacking frenzy. "We should probably get back to camp..." She turned her head toward the other SwiftClanner's wound, then back to her own, a gash on her shoulder and another on her side from the talons of the large male. Rasping her tongue over her own gashes, Ashwind continued speaking, "I'll need some help with my prey though." A slight smug tone was heard in this statement, "I mean, I can't carry an eagle, bird, and mouse all on my own!" The last sentence came out as a purr.
occ- yuck... short
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