Wandering*

[::Pepperfur::*]

Pepperfur left camp early that morning, her mind ravaged by savage dreams.
She kept seeing her mother and father being killed; over and over again by dogs. It was more of a memory than a dream...
Pepperfur stopped walking and sat down next to a snow-covered heather-bush, wrapping her tail around her paws. Dipping her head in a wave of fresh mourning, she thought back to that day, two seasons ago, at the height of greenleaf.
Both of her parents --- Gorsefang and Wintertail --- had taken a patrol with their two new apprentices: Juniperpaw and Fallenpaw. It was when they had just begun to reach the Horseplace's fence, did disaster strike.
A group of Twolegs were inside the fence with two horses. Laying at the fences edge, were two dogs. Before any of the patrol could even react, the dogs had smelt them, and laid attack. Only Fallenpaw was able to escape back to camp and relay the loss.
Pepperfur feels the loss like it was fresh, each time she remembers.
She slowly lifted her head, closing her eyes and letting the newmorning sun wash over her face, warming it in the harsh cold.

[Halfstar]

Blackclaw silently had followed Pepperfur as the younger she-cat left the camp early in the morning. She had seen a clouded look over the younger cat's eyes and decided to follow her, she watched as the she-cat stopped and sat down next to a snow-covered heather-bush and though she couldn't see Pepperfur's face, she knew something was up. The sun felt good on both of their pelts as it poked it's head from behind the clouds to warm any cat willing to take it's sunlight in. Sighing, she walked towards the she-cat, most of this land wasn't an easy land to hide in anyway, as it was mostly used for hunting. "If you're going to sneak out of camp like that, hunt." She mewed sharply, her eyes soft with concern but her mouth harsh. It was needed as well, while they were out, they would hunt for the clan, it was leaf-bare and prey, like always was scarce and much harder to come across.

"This leaf-bare is worse than last one's, we need to catch as much prey as we can, the clan will go hungry if not." She continued, her voice still sharp but edged with concern, she remembered that it hadn't necessarily been to long ago when the younger she-cat's parents, Gorsefang and Wintertail had been killed, as well as an apprentice. It had been a sad day for the clan, a very sad day.

[::Pepperfur::*]

Pepperfur jumped slightly at the voice of her fellow clanmate, Blackclaw.
Her presence though, was welcome. Seeing her, Pepperfur was jolted out of her black mood, and nodded to her hunting suggestion.
"Yes, that was a thought that crossed my mind." she said, standing up. "I saw some rabbit tracks over that hill on my way here." As she spoke, her eyes lit up. She was known to be the best rabbit hunter, and the idea of getting back into that, made her excited. She hadn't been at her best, since that sad day.
"Let's see how many we can bring back!" she said, her voice dripping with anticipation, wating for Blackclaw to respond.

[Halfstar]

"Good." She purred with satisfaction. "To bad most rabbits won't come out in this weather." She meowed, her eyes teasing as she looked towards Pepperfur who looked excited to go out and hunt. She scanned the hills, her amber eyes looking around, trying to find some places where some rabbits, scrawny or not would possibly be. Finally she rested her gaze on Pepperfur again, "We'll meet back at this spot. You're on.. right now!" She yowled, though softly enough that it wouldn't scare off all prey as she bounded off to hunt for the prey that was to be found.

[::Pepperfur::*]

Pepperfur grinned and took off after Blackclaw into the hills.
Soon enough, though, a strong scent of prey wafted towards her on a soft wind, and Pepperfur skidded to a stop. Calling out softly to Blackclaw, Pepperfur crouched low in the snow at the crest of a hill, and slowly peered over.
And sure enough, three rabbits were pawing through the thick snow to get to the grass buried below.

[Halfstar]

She hissed as she heard Pepperfur's quiet call, she glanced back at the rabbit she had found, nibbling at a patch of grass that stuck out of the snow. It was scrawny but she had figured it would do but than Pepperfur called out and the rabbit looked her way and bounded off, away and with it's life. She quietly padded over to where she could smell Pepperfur and saw her crouched low in the snow at the crest of the hill. She could also smell... rabbit. She purred, without making a sound as she stood by the she-cat.

[Velvetstar]

A small yowl on the horizon brought Velvetstar to her senses. She had been sprawled lazily beside a huge chunk of grass near the hills, just looking out calmly. It has been more than a couple moons since Velvetstar was made leader. She had to admit, it was rather exhausting. She had left her deputy in charge of the camp while she just 'stepped out' for a bit. she had to catch her breath. Hearing the yowl, even thought it was quiet soft, Velvetstar heaved herself to her paws and went slowly to investigate. She came upon two of her warriors, crouched low, searching out, no doubt, for prey. Leaf bare had not been too nice to Windclan. " Blackclaw. Pepperfur. Any luck?" Velvetstar cleared her throat to get the two young warriors attentions. They both were very good hunters and Velvetstar didn't doubt that they were doing their job well.

[::Pepperfur::*]

Pepperfur jumped slightly, but refrained herself from making any sound to scare away the rabbits. Seeing her leader, she bowed her head. Then with a wicked glint in her eye she said,
"Wait and see," she winked, turned around and pounced, jumping high in the air and pinning an unsuspecting rabbit by the throat, snapping its neck in the process.
Grinning she padded back to Blackclaw and her leader with the dead rabbit between her teeth.

[Halfstar]

She hissed as the she-cat turned and pounced on one of the unsuspecting rabbits, jumping into the air before pinning the rabbit by the throat and killing it. Though she was grinning as she looked at them with the dead rabbit in her teeth, it had been foolish and mouse-brained to not form a plan! "Mouse-Brain!" She hissed, her whiskers twitching with annoyance, almost ready to pounce on the younger warrior and not really caring that their leader was there. "Think! Think before you attack." She meowed loudly, "Three rabbits! And you brought me here to watch you scare two others away while I could have been hunting more rabbits for the clan?!" She sheathed and unsheathed her claws, anger and irritation obvious in her voice. "Do you think this is green-leaf? Must you be reminded how scarce prey is, especially in this leaf-bare!? You're a warrior, not an apprentice or a kit! Think! you mouse-brained fool!" She hissed, turning away from her leader and the younger warrior as she walked away.

She paused though, not to far, annoyance still obvious in her eyes. They had accomplished nothing. There could have been more prey that could have been caught. Queens were going to starve, as were elders. Possibly. The rabbits were scrawnier this time of year, just as the cats were. "Velvetstar, I'm going to hunt and cool off my steam." She meowed dipping her head in respect, biting back at the irritation, as it was not directed towards her leader.

[Velvetstar]

"It is quite alright, Blackclaw." Velvetstar dipped her head to the irritated warrior before turning to pepperfur."And as for you, you should know better than that, Pepperfur. Blackclaw is right. Prey is scarce and this clan can't keep relying on young healthy warriors if they don't know how to hunt properly." She sighed, hoping that she doesn't offend Pepperfur. Though her words were true, she didn't like being tough with her warriors."Any way, I want you to come hunt with me Pepperfur. I might be able to teach you something your mentor lacked in teaching you." Velvetstar flicked her tail and waited for the young warrior to join her.