Night Of The Hunter [OPEN]

[Shadow Da Smiffster]

It was calm tonight. Winds were weak, barely making the tall grass of the moorland sway as they usually did at this hour. However, the night was not completely silent... a rustling in the grass proved it. But as soon as the rustling had rung out, it stopped, and everything, was once again calm.

Moonshadow had spotted some prey not too far from him. One lonesome rabbit, out much too late to be safe from his claws. Most of the fat rodents would be asleep by now, but for some reason, this one wasn't... which was all as well for the tom who had just happened to be wandering about.

Thinking about what he was going to do, Moonshadow kept still, but his muscles were tensed in case he had to make a run for it. Finally, an idea formed within his head, and he stepped forward on silent paws, creeping towards the unsuspecting rabbit. He was completely hidden by the tall grass, but since the wind was not blowing hard, he had to be more careful about masking his sound....

Now wait, he told himself as he came in range to leap out at the piece of prey. All was quiet except for the rodent munching away on vegetation and Moonshadow's quiet breathing. His heartbeat rang in his ears as he awaited the perfect moment to strike....

And then, like a blessing, a much bigger gust of wind picked up. Moonshadow didn't waste his chance. Immediately, he sprang forward from behind the rabbit, who did not hear him over the howl of the wind, and landed on it, biting down into its neck for a quick ending to its life.

All it takes is the right strategy, Moonshadow thought as he picked up his prize. Yes, this would make a good addition to the prey pile. It would be good to have something ready for the cats that got up early for patrol among other things. Surely, someone would appreciate this catch more then he could.

The wind picked up again, this time blowing the scents of other clanmates towards Moonshadow. Someone else was out on this surprisingly tranquil night, but who? Were they getting a head start on hunting too?

[Otter]

Green-leaf was not one of Baldskin’s favourite seasons. You might think having no fur would be a help during the hottest months, but actually it was an enormous disadvantage, especially with his light skin; he often got sunburnt. It was for that reason that the medicine cat had to wait for darkness before he went herb gathering. In the daylight he quite enjoyed this task, but in the night it became a little tedious.

At least my tail isn’t freezing off, he thought to himself as he sniffed at a patch of borage. In leaf-bare he could hardly stand venturing out of his den at any time of day, not that it was much better for any other cat. This particular night was nothing like those harsh ones; in fact it was a very peaceful one. The sound of crickets chirruping in the long grass surrounded him, and somewhere to his left he could here some small rodent scurrying around. For a moment the tom considered trying to catch it, but he didn’t; he’d never received any hunting training and he didn’t even know where to start. Forgetting about the mouse (or vole, or whatever it was), he pulled at the borage plant until a good clump of leaves came off in his mouth. Having found what he came for, he turned and began heading back towards the camp, cutting through a corner of the moor.

At that moment, a sudden and very intense gust of wind blew across the open space, making Baldskin wince at the sudden cold. With the wind came a familiar scent; that of his deputy, Moonshadow. Baldskin stopped, wondering if he could get away with just slipping quietly back into camp, but he reasoned that the other tom would have already picked up his scent and avoiding him would be rude. He squinted, in the direction of the scent, and picked out Moonshadow’s shimmering pelt in the starlight. Baldskin sat down and dropped the borage leaves between his forepaws. He focused on the approaching deputy and waited for him to get closer. As the tom neared, Baldskin saw something fairly large, a rabbit probably, hanging from his mouth.

[Shadow Da Smiffster]

After making his fine catch of the century, Moonshadow started the trudge back to camp. However, when the wind picked up again, the fresh scent of another cat ran through his nostrils. So, he was not the only moonlight wanderer? That was a surprise to him. Though upon recognition of the scent, it made sense. Baldskin, the medicine cat.

He turned to meet up with the other tomcat of the clan, and dropped his prey at his feet when he was within range of the strangely hairless medicine cat. With a dip of his head, Moonshadow uttered a quick, "Good evening Baldskin." The winds started to settle as the night once again turned to that of the normal New-Leaf feel. Leaf-Fall winds were coming rather early this year, Moonshadow had observed, but that didn't mean there weren't a few nice days left in the Moors. "Collecting herbs tonight I presume? Would you like some help? I can always bury my prey and come back for it later."

His offer was genuine, and Moonshadow was glad for a bit of company, even if it was in the form of the odd medicine cat. Still, it was important for him to be close to such an important member to the clan... or at least wise to. Moonshadow was a very easygoing cat, but wanted to be as responsible as possible. Until he felt he could handle everything Crookedstar could, then he really did not think he was fit to be in the position he currently had.

Especially since he had so many close friends outside of his own clan. Crookedstar knew this about Moonshadow though, and still allowed him to become deputy. The thought was baffling!

"I'm glad you're out here tonight. I have a few matters I would like to speak with you about. Mainly about other clans. I don't mean for you to give away what you've heard from the other medicine cats, but I am curious about what ThunderClan has been saying lately."

However, most cats it was better for them to not know the specifics. For years now, he and the ThunderClan deputy had been the best of friends... and with the switch of leaders, Moonshadow was worried for Sparrowdash. Something was amiss in the air, and the tom was not just nervous for his own Clan anymore. Something horrible was going to happen soon; he could just feel it.

Could Baldskin feel it too?

[Otter]

Baldskin smiled automatically as Moonshadow approached; he may be a rather grumpy individual, but Baldskin knew the value of being polite, especially to someone as influential as the deputy. He was a little surprised by the tom’s offer; he found it hard to imagine warriors doing something as mundane as gathering herbs. He did appreciate it though, it was the kind of thoughtful kindness he wasn’t particularly accustomed to.

“Good evening, and thank you, but I’ve found what I was looking for.” He tapped the pile of borage leaves to show what he was talking about. He paused then, unsure what to say next. He was not naturally a very talkative cat and he wasn’t much good at idle conversation. He guessed he ought to make some comment on Moonshadow’s admittedly very impressive clutch, but before he had a chance to do so, the deputy was asking him something.

If Baldskin had been surprised by Moonshadow’s earlier offer, it was nothing compared to how surprised he was by the tom’s question. His jade green eyes, perhaps his only pleasant feature, widened noticeably and he fidgeted a little in place. Once he’d gotten over his shock he looked down at the leaves between his paws and twitched his ears thoughtfully, considering how best to answer. In truth he did have more experience with the other Clans than some cats due to the number of medicine cat gatherings he’d attended, but at those meetings few things were discussed other than herbs; certainly gossiping was frowned upon. Even so, he thought he knew why Moonshadow was asking; in the last few gatherings he’d noticed that the ThunderClan cats seemed somehow… tense as if something wasn’t quite right in their lives.

Baldskin flexed his paws against the ground and looked back at Moonshadow. “They haven’t been saying very much, in all honesty.” He said quietly, “In fact it’s as though they say too little. I think… I may be wrong, but it seems as though the whole lot of them are subdued.” He paused for a moment, mindful of how much Moonshadow hated cats talking negatively about the other Clans, then continued, “There are rumours to, from the other clans; they say it’s to do with Sabrestar, that he and his deputy Sparrowsash are up to something.” He blinked, then added, “Of course, they’re probably just rumours.”

[Shadow Da Smiffster]

At first, Moonshadow only nodded at the medicine cat's words. Baldskin would know more than him anyway, and would probably give him information that was crucial to him finding out what was keeping Sparrowdash so... distant. However, it seemed that from what the hairless cat was saying, that all the cats of ThunderClan were... subdued.

At the mention of Sabrestar's name, the usually calm Deputy hissed and unsheathed his onyx tinged claws, "That tomcat is full of racdrops. I'll be damned if Sabrestar stays leader for long. There's something horrible about that cat. He always seems to be in the right place at the wrong time. Have you noticed that glint in his eyes when he looks at the other clans, as if they're his own as well? It's not right Baldskin, and I know it's only my place to worry about our own well being... but I worry for the other Clans as well."

He stopped, dropping his gaze to the ground and recalling his small adventure this morning. He had ventured to the ThunderClan boarder on a whim, in the hopes that he could catch his good friend Sparrowdash. Moonshadow had, though the ThunderClan Deputy was with his patrol... and he had sensed something off about the ThunderClan deputy at that time. Regardless, Sparrow had made it clear that he wanted to speak to Moonshadow soon, and being a loyal friend, Moonshadow was tempted to leave camp tonight. That was why he had ventured out in the first place. If it weren't for the rabbit and Baldskin distracting him, he would have deliberately broken the warrior code today. That was not something a Deputy should do....

"Baldskin, I have a favor to ask of you," he said quietly after his thoughts trailed off. "And I would prefer it if you kept it a secret if you decide to go through with it. Crookedstar made me deputy for reasons I'm unsure of, because I harbor attachments to other Clans. I do not feel fit for my position as second in command. If you see my loyalties being divided, tell Crookedstar to give the position to someone else."

[Otter]

Moonshadow’s violent reaction to Sabrestar’s name startled Baldskin somewhat; he’d never seen the usually calm tom display such overt and dislike to anyone. He listened to Moonshadow’s remarks, and couldn’t help but think that they were eerily similar to the rumours that floated through the other clans. Baldskin had never paid much attention to the big ThunderClan tabby before, but now that different cats from different Clans were independently reaching the same conclusions about him, Baldskin wondered if he ought to. He’d even heard it muttered that Sabrestar was so unfit to be leader that StarClan had refused him his nine lives, but that was one thing the medicine cat refused to believe; surely no cat would dare continue ruling without StarClan’s blessing.

But Moonshadow’s reaction did something else to Baldskin. He felt a deep cold in him that was nothing to do with the night air or the light breeze. Something like fear or trepidation stirred in him and he shuffled uncomfortably, looking between his paws. He couldn’t help but think that something bad was going to happen regarding Sabrestar and his Clan, though he had no idea what it might be.

He closed his eyes and stopped his shuffling, frowning at his own silliness. He was just being a superstitious kit, getting jumpy over what might well be nothing. “Sabrestar is strange,” Baldskin mewed after a little while, deciding he ought to try and soothe his deputy’s ruffled nerves. “And if he is up to no good, we will just have to hope that we find out about it before he sets his sites on the other Clans other than his own.” He paused then; there was more he wanted to say but he wasn’t sure how to say it tactfully. Eventually he just mewed, “But I don’t think we should do anything just yet; at the moment our suspicions are based on rumours from other Clans and the fact that Sabrestar acts a bit odd.” Baldskin could hardly imagine the uproar that would occur if WindClan suddenly accused the ThunderClan of something; they might well have war on their paws.

When Moonshadow spoke again, Baldskin glanced up. When the deputy asked that he be discreet the medicine cat just nodded lightly; he was used to keeping secrets. Even so, the deputy’s request shocked Baldskin so much that it was difficult for to keep his expression clear. The hairless tom took a deep breath and looked between his paws again. The fact that Moonshadow might doubt his fitness for his position was rather disturbing. Even so, Baldskin was a blunt speaking cat, and he responded fairly quickly. “I will do as you ask Moonshadow, but I don’t think it’ll be necessary.” He glanced up. “Personally, I think it’s a good thing that you respect the other Clan’s so much; partly because it means you will be less likely to start wars if and when you one day become leader.” He paused, “That’s just my humble opinion though.”