Livin' on a prayer [open]

[Dawn]

[th]

Lizardstar padded out of his den, his jaws stretched in a large yawn that displayed his sharp white teeth. Blinking his greenish amber eyes, he looked around the quiet BirdClan camp. Peaceful, little movement, no disturbances. What a nice morning. He always liked to come out to a camp devoid of too much activity.

Leaping down into the clearing, Lizardstar surveyed the area once more. "I wonder if the patrols have gone out yet."

[/color] He spoke mildly to himself. He looked towards the sky, observing a large mass of gray clouds hovering above him. It looked as though they were due for another shower. Hopefully nothing too severe. The prey in the territory was already becoming harder to find and a heavy downpour would send them back into their nests for a while. Only towards the end of the storm would the birds come out to poke around for worms.

He sat back upon his haunches and began to lap at his shoulder. The fur there had been sticky with something since he had come back from the forest yesterday. Perhaps some sort of sap had stuck itself there. He dearly hoped not, he hated sap. It's sickly sweet smell, the tang of it on his tongue when he tried to get it out of his pelt, it's insistance on staying in his pelt. It was a nightmare. Fortunately though, he did not feel the prickle on his tongue that told him it was sap. Perhaps honey, it did have a somewhat sweet taste. Upon finishing getting whatever the stuff was out of his fur, Lizardstar yawned again, this time tasting the air as he breathed in. Nothing out of the ordinary, though he did scent the storm coming. It would be upon them by sun-high perhaps.

Thinking that they might want to get a head start on any prey that would think of hiding when the storm came, Lizardstar stood and padded towards the warriors and apprentices dens. The two were so close, it hardly mattered which he called into first. "Anyone up for a hunt before this storm blows in?"[/color] He called, sticking his head into the entrance of the warriors den and looking around. His eyes were not adjusted to the light, but he thought he saw someone inside.

Pulling his head back out, he looked around the camp yet again. He hoped someone would reply, would come out of the den and concent to go hunting with him. A run through the forest was just what he was craving right now but he didn't particularly want to be alone. He was already isolated by being the leader, seperate from them by an invisible barrier that you couldn't touch or scent, yet was most certainly there. Hunting among his Clan mates made him feel so much more connected to them.
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[astro]

Barely asleep, but hardly considered conscious, Rowantail's ears perked at Lizardstar's voice. Chasing away the last remnants of his dreams, the tom lifted first his head and then the rest of his body. Before he could move to stretch, however, Lizardstar's head retreated but was quickly followed by Rowantail. "Sounds like a wonderful idea. Did you sleep well, Lizardstar?" He mused, shaking himself for good measure. Rowantail was starting to realize how hungry he was, though as he thought about it it seemed the dreams of hunting he had been having weren't helping in any way. The idea of a fresh bird caused him to lick his lips and dig claws into the cold earth with anticipation. With Leaf-bare on its way those birds would be harder to find. It pained him to realize this every time the season rolled around. Hunting already was becoming a chore with the constant rain. Yet, to no ones surprise, Fishclan would be happily stuffing their faces while Birdclan worked for their meals. All of them were nothing more then lazy, bloodthirsty fox-dong. He scoffed inwardly but showed no change in his upbeat, calming composure. He needed a change of venue and thought, lest he fall into a more gloomy mood. [atrb=border,0,true] [atrb=width,400,true] [bg=#121123]

[Dawn]

[th]

"Sounds like a wonderful idea. Did you sleep well, Lizardstar?"

Lizardstar looked around as a reply to his hunting request was answered. It was Rowantail. "Good morning Rowantail, I slept very well thank you. How about yourself?"

[/color] He asked brightly, tipping his head slightly to one side. This was such a characteristic move of his, one he didn't even realize he did. But it had been present since he was a young kit. Always that curious gesture, how it had always amused his mother and sister. The two she-cats had thought it was amusing.

Lizardstar cast one more glance towards the sky. "Is anyone else awake inside? If we are going, we had better go soon. That storm looks like it will be upon us quite soon. The prey may take shelter the later we wait."[/color] He commented, looking back at Rowantail. He didn't want to wait much longer. He and Rowantail would make a fine hunting party, but he didn't want to leave someone out if they wanted to come.
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[astro]

"Well enough to hunt." His eyes glittered at the movement Lizardstar made but kept it to himself. It was something you got used to as you lived around Lizardstar. Same with the insecurity, which Rowantail felt he was better at dealing with then the cute curious little gestures. Rowantail took the brief moment while Lizardstar gazed upward and spoke to smooth sleep ruffled fur with his rough tongue. "I do not believe as such, but Creekpelt may have stirred and I think I heard Sootstorm earlier, so I could be wrong. Either way, you're right, we should head out sooner rather then later." The tom dipped his head and stood, tail raised as high as it could. It was still quite early and the stormy skies tricked the senses into thinking it was even earlier then it was. The air itself seemed to be thick and the sky was dark, blocking much of the new day's sun. It caused everything to chill and Rowantail shivered, his pelt standing on end, as wind whipped past. Flicking his ears back, the long legged tom started to head toward the opening of the camp. "Then let us head out. This isn't the time of year to stand around, after all." Though cats cannot sing, his voice had a rhythm to it, a sing song quality to his upbeat words, with a purr buried deep in his throat. Rowantail turned back at the mouth, waiting for Lizardstar, and anyone else, to follow. [atrb=border,0,true] [atrb=width,400,true] [bg=#121123]

[Moof]

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[atrb=background,http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn280/emmagizerbunny/GRAY.gif] Sootstorm purred in delight as she groomed her wild black and white fur. The autumn sun was surprisingly hotter than it had been in a long while. Her swirls of black fur were warm on her tongue as she went over them with long licks. She found the temperature difference between the black and the white sections of her fur very amusing. Then again, she found many things to be very amusing. Sootstorm's ears cocked around as she heard sudden voices breaking the silence that had surrounded her throughout the wonderful morning. One voice was that of Lizardstar, she could tell. It took a minute longer for her to recognize that the other was Rowantail's. She overheard their conversation across Camp; they were conversing about hunting. Hunting! The word made the cat jump suddenly. Sootstorm realized that she hadn't sent out a patrol yet. She was still sort of getting used to the whole deputy concept, but it's been long enough that she should have remembered something as simple as a hunting patrol. At once, Sootstorm stood and shook out her neatly laid fur. She found the two cats that she'd heard talking and clumsily caught up with them just as it seemed they were about to leave. "Lizardstar," Sootstorm addressed her leader, "I apologize, I had forgotten to send out a patrol! I can't believe such a silly thing would slip my mind like that." "I will accompany the two of you on your hunting escapade." The deputy nodded at the cats with a smile, though, the thought made her cringe. Every cat and their brother knew that Sootstorm was clearly not the most talented hunter in the Clan. She was the most clumsy cat around and absolutely accident-prone. She always managed to stumble over her own feet somehow. That definitely did not aid her while attempting to pounce on a bird. Oh, well. She would make up for her little blooper by doing something for the Clan that she necessarily didn't want to do. The cat stood tall, flicking her tail away from her paws to avoid any accidents... If that was possible. Glancing around, Sootstorm added, "Is anyone else joining us?" She hoped the answer was no. The less witnesses of the trip, the better.

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[Dawn]

[th]

"Well enough to hunt. I do not believe as such, but Creekpelt may have stirred and I think I heard Sootstorm earlier, so I could be wrong. Either way, you're right, we should head out sooner rather then later."

Lizardstar nodded slightly, looking past Rowantail towards the warriors den. It didn't look as though anyone else was emerging, and they really couldn't afford to wait much longer. If someone awoke, they would probably go out hunting if they wanted to anyway. He doubted very much that his warriors would skimp on warrior duties, no, they were too noble and loyal for that. The thought made him stand up a little taller. How proud he was to be the leader of such a great Clan, it was truly an honor to him.

"Then let us head out. This isn't the time of year to stand around, after all."

Snapping back into reality, Lizardstar looked around and nodded to Rowantail. "Lead the way."

[/color] He meowed brightly, inclining his head for Rowantail to take the lead. He always liked to have others lead the patrols, see how they did. He had long since decided that while he may be the leader of the Clan, that did not mean he should lead all the time. He wanted to feel closer with his warriors and he felt that he accomplished this by allowing them to take the lead in certain things, allowed them to make their own discoveries and mistakes.

"Lizardstar, I apologize, I had forgotten to send out a patrol! I can't believe such a silly thing would slip my mind like that. I will accompany the two of you on your hunting escapade."

Lizardstar looked around as another cat joined Rowantail and himself. It was his deputy, Sootstorm. He smiled in a welcoming way to her and inclined his head. "That's quite alright Sootstorm, we all make mistakes once and a while. I remember early in my deputyship, I had a slip up where I accidentally told the same cat to go on two separate patrols at once."[/color] He purred in an amused sense at the memory. "Quite embarrassing, but I worked out the best way to organize what I needed to, and so will you. You're welcome on our patrol, of course. The more the merrier!"[/color] He meowed brightly, his long pale orange tail flicking behind him.

He saw the uncertain look in her eyes after she offered to join their patrol, and he knew why. Sootstorm wasn't the most graceful cat, but he had faith in her abilities and loyalty. That was why he had made her his deputy after all. Perhaps she would trip up and frighten some prey off, but perhaps, if they worked out the right strategy, this could be to their advantage. Team hunting had always been one of his favorite things to do.

"Is anyone else joining us?"

Lizardstar looked around, then back at Sootstorm. "I don't think so, no one else has come out and said they will join us. No matter though, three will be enough, and someone has to stay and guard the camp, after all."[/color] He said cheerily, turning his face towards the entrance of the camp once more. "Now, Rowantail, go ahead and take the lead."[/color] He invited the younger warrior again, smiling encouragingly at him.
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[astro]

A claw was starting to shed and as Lizardstar made his approach, Rowantail was tempted to chew it off right then and there. It tickled but now wasn't the time for shedding claws. His ears flicked for a second and he nodded to his leader. Turning away, Rowantail took a few steps toward the woods, putting the claw out of his mind for now. He would take care of it on their way back. Then a voice rang out through the camp and Rowantail turned to see Sootstorm. His posture perked then as the energetic black and white she-cat bounded toward them. Rowantail chirruped in greeting. "Good morning, Sootstorm!" He couldn't blame her for resting, as even he slept in this morning. It had been such a slow and lazy morning, after all, so he understood the forgetfulness of the deputy and quickly forgave her. "You're here now and that's what counts. Realizing ones mistakes and still coming forward shows what true leadership is about, rather then hiding them." He added, ruffling his fur. "But we should hurry, before the rain starts. It looks like the sky cannot hold it in much longer." A distant rumble of thunder, too far off to be truly felt, rolled in from the distance. It would be here soon, but Rowantail believed they still had plenty of time to hunt. Moving quickly after given the lead, Rowantail wove his way into the forest. The tom feared the worse as they entered the forest to silence but the sounds of birds soon followed. Birds, oh how Rowantail loved birds. It wasn't just how sweet they tasted, or how much fun it was to leap into the air after chasing one down. Their sweet sweet melody day and night brought joy to his heart. At times of great contemplation, Rowantail even wondered what it would be like to view life from the eyes of a bird. He didn't feel this way today. No his stomach ached too much. It yearned for mouse, bluebird, vole, anything that would fill it, at least for a little while. [atrb=border,0,true] [atrb=width,400,true] [bg=#121123]

[Moof]

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[atrb=background,http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn280/emmagizerbunny/GRAY.gif] "Good morning, Sootstorm!" The she-cat flicked her tail at the young warrior and answered back, "Good morning to you as well, Rowantail!" Sootstorm dipped her head at the cat, giving him a nice nod of appreciation. The young energy of the tom immediately lifted Sootstorm's spirit. She loved being around friendly, chipper cats and always took note to recognize the individuals who put forth the effort. The she-cat glanced from Rowantail to Lizardstar as the leader spoke gently. "That's quite alright Sootstorm, we all make mistakes once and a while. I remember early in my deputyship, I had a slip up where I accidentally told the same cat to go on two separate patrols at once." Sootstorm let out a soft sigh of relief at the kind words of Lizardstar. She knew he wouldn't be mad about it in the first place, but knowing that he had had his share of faults was sort of reassuring. The she-cat nodded thankfully with a small chuckle. "That's rather silly, the poor cat was probably so confused!" This thought humored her for a moment. "I'll try and stay more on top of things in the future." She added. Sootstorm nodded as Lizardstar invited her to freely join their patrol, but saw him checking her over. She was sure he knew what she was thinking, about her not being completely comfortable doing this, but he said nothing, which she appreciated. "You're here now and that's what counts. Realizing ones mistakes and still coming forward shows what true leadership is about, rather then hiding them." "Yes. Thank-you, Rowantail." Sootstorm gave the tom cat a smile for his wise words. They were very true. The she-cat again felt appreciation toward the warrior. She was growing rather fond of him and was interested in what kind of cat he would grow to be. A good one, it seemed, so far. "Now, Rowantail, go ahead and take the lead." Sootstorm's eyes gleamed at the tom's words. She liked that Lizardstar was encouraging younger warriors to take charge. It not only boosted their confidence in their actions, but made the cats closer as a Clan. "Yes, lead on!" The cat added. She glanced at the sky, noting that the clouds were looking rather dark. On that note, thunder rumbled in the distance. Sootstorm was curious as to where Rowantail would lead them to begin their hunt. As she began to follow after the two cats, Sootstorm noticed for the first time that morning how hungry she was. A nice, plump bird sounded delightful. Birds. Oh how troubling birds were for Sootstorm. They were so delicious, but yet so difficult to catch. At least for her. She just couldn't find the proper coordination to pounce into the air, dig her claws into a moving, flailing object, and land nicely with the prey still in-tact. It just didn't seem possible. She'd never caught one before, and though it was a common thing for cats to catch, she still looked in awe at any cat who committed the act. Perhaps someday she'd be able to. Though not the typical hunter, Sootstorm did have an advantage. She had a very keen sense of smell. Also, her eyesight was sharp as well. She just used those things for her Clanmate's advantages. The cat kept her ears pricked as she followed Rowantail deeper into the forest.

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[Dawn]

[th]

"That's rather silly, the poor cat was probably so confused!"

Lizardstar smiled slightly, remembering only too well the look of confusion on the poor she-cat's face. Her name had been Tigertail, which he remembered easily as she had been one of his sister's friends. She had been killed during a patrol that had come across some foxes... the poor she-cat. She had barely begun to live life when it was snatched from her. How similar to dear Rosestream, who had died while kitting. Both she and her small daughter had died very quickly.

"I'll try and stay more on top of things in the future."

Lizardstar shook his head slightly to clear it and nodded to Sootstorm. "I have no doubt that you will."

[/color] He meowed, inclining his head slightly to one side. "Deputyship is one of those things that seems a lot more difficult than it is, and something that you get used to with time."[/color] He added, remembering how as his own deputyship had gone on, he had found everything a lot easier to manage. It was similar now to being leader. When he had learned that he was the new leader of BirdClan, he had felt nothing but pure panic. But as time had gone by, he had slowly developed into his position, and Sootstorm would undoubtedly do the same.

Lizardtstar turned his attention from Sootstorm to Rowantail as the younger tom moved out into the forest. The pale ginger tabby followed with easy strides. He, like his deputy, was curious as to where Rowantail would lead them. The Small Forest would undoubtedly show some activity if not the most of all the places in the territory, though the fields may prove to be just as plentiful, filled with prey running about to prepare for the afternoon's storm. The Abandoned Fountain might not be a bad idea either, as it was one of the best and most popular places to get water throughout the territory.

Lizardstar pricked his ears as they moved further from the camp, hearing nothing out of the ordinary. Just birds chirping in the trees, the rustle of the grass and leaves on the breeze. Everything seemed to peaceful, but Lizardstar could see the dark clouds in the distance. They would come with indecent haste and put an end to their quiet day, he had no doubt.

Ooc:
Should we move this hunt to another board?
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