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Post by gingerluna on Aug 13, 2019 20:09:37 GMT -6
Acorndrop didn't go out on patrol with Ashenstar as often as he'd like. Spending time with her made him feel like he was a kit again, staring up at Heatherflame and burning with the hope that one day, he would be that strong. And when they were together, Acorndrop was rarely in charge. It was a nice change of pace from his usual duties.
They were out patrolling the outsider border. It wasn't fun, climbing up steep slopes to mark desolate rocky areas they barely went to otherwise, but some cat had to do it. Today, Acorndrop was unlucky enough to be one of them. Wolves had been scented in the area, and so he and Ashenstar were part of the patrol to figure out how bad the situation truly was. The last thing they needed this leafbare was a pack of wolves living in their territory. Acorndrop paused to mark a rock as the patrol walked onward, somewhat lost in thought. They'd been finding enough fresh-kill, despite the snows, but he knew their luck would soon wane. Sickness was their biggest concern. Ashenstar had lost a life to it last leafbare, and Acorndrop did not want to see her lose another.
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Post by theatricals on Aug 30, 2019 19:26:58 GMT -6
Ashenstar, meanwhile, had done her best to keep up despite the difficulty. Sitting in camp, telling herself that tomorrow she would join a patrol, or go out to hunt... well, it never happened, and she knew that by lying in her nest all day, she only allowed the thought that she was weak spread throughout the camp. The paranoia that came was irrational, perhaps, but it was that thought alone that got her up and moving, something that she figured had to be a good thing.
Her joints hurt, made even worse by the light drizzle they had experienced through the night, but it was easy to ignore with the scent of wolf that had made its presence known. It wasn't too close, but scenting it on the wind was not much better. She trusted Acorndrop to keep a lookout, as well as the other cats on the patrol as they spread out, but she still wasn't sure of what they should be looking out for: wolves, or outsiders that were no doubt just beyond the border.
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Post by gingerluna on Sept 7, 2019 16:02:38 GMT -6
Acorndrop did his best to ensure Ashenstar was keeping up with him, walking slower than normal. As he finished leaving his mark, Ashenstar caught up with him, and he fell in step alongside her as they climbed up the slope. He noticed her pause, and scented the wind, ears flattening at the stench of wolf. He looked over at Ashenstar with a sheepish glance. "I'd hoped Coalfur and Skywren were mistaken," he said, attempting to lighten the very serious situation. He hastened forward, knowing they needed to ensure the scent was stale and the wolves hadn't settled in their territory. "One of these seasons, we'll have a nice leafbare, where there's just enough food and no sickness and nothing dangerous comes near us."
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Post by theatricals on Sept 9, 2019 15:26:16 GMT -6
"I think you are hoping for too much," Ashenstar replied dryly, although she did recognize that Acorndrop was probably trying to lighten the mood. She honestly couldn't help but feel the same, hoping that for just a short time, things could go smoothly. Scuffling the ground, it was a private hope that if they had to face anything, it wasn't something as ferocious as wolves. She could handle other cats, but her Clan had been through enough without having to face something four times their size. "I suppose it's better we figure things out now, then," she eventually sighed.
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Post by gingerluna on Sept 11, 2019 16:07:37 GMT -6
Acorndrop let out a low huff of amusement at Ashenstar's reply. "Oh, I certainly am, don't make any mistake about that," he called back. No matter how many problems they fixed, another popped up. There was a bit of distance between them and the rest of the patrol, and he signaled at the others to continue forward. Now that they knew wolves were about, he and Ashenstar ought to be able to speak privately about the problem. And secretly, Acorndrop wanted other cats to scout ahead, rather than guiding his elderly leader into potentially dangerous territory. "So, we'll renew this border now. If the wolves haven't come too close, we might be able to make do with additional patrols and no further action." He didn't want to discuss what they'd do if the wolves were in their territory. He'd only fought a wolf once, and it was a complete disaster; Risingwind had died, and Dreamfeather had nearly followed. And that had only been one. A whole pack could easily take out half the Clan, without thinking. The snow around him suddenly felt colder.
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Post by theatricals on Sept 18, 2019 21:44:36 GMT -6
"They're searching for a den for their pups," Ashenstar replied without thinking, padding along silently as though completely unaware of the slower pace she set. "They do every year--our territory just happens to be the prime spot to do it. Why more are showing up now is unusual--why they won't leave when we threaten them is even more so. You might think that their numbers are growing." It was a scary thought, but one worth bringing up. The she-cat sunk down suddenly in the snow, hissing out at the pain from pulling a muscle, before dragging herself back and padding along as thought nothing had happened. Rabbit holes would be the death of her. Even as an apprentice she hated them.
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Post by gingerluna on Sept 21, 2019 16:25:33 GMT -6
"I just hope it doesn't come to an attack. We'd lose so many warriors," Acorndrop said wearily, shivering as a frigid breeze blew down the mountain. He glanced back at Ashenstar as he heard a hiss and a crunch of snow, quickly rushing to her side. "Are you alright?" he asked, worriedly glancing over his leader, but not moving to touch or help her. "We can stop for a moment, if you need."
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Post by Warrioress on Oct 16, 2019 20:32:02 GMT -6
Cougarfang padded behind the leader and deputy, shaking his paws out every now and then. It was a fools effort since the snow continued to cling to his fur. He hesitated a moment as he saw Ashenstar sink into the ground for a moment before she pulled herself out of the hole. He flicked his ears before moving forward once more, avoiding the new hole in the snow. He had heard stories about the last time a wolf had been on the moors, had seen the scars Dreamfeather now carried and dearly wished that they wouldn't have an encounter.
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