[ti]Private[/ti]Hunt Gone Wrong

[silverfang218]

It works well when a pair of siblings has both a home-guard and a prey-hunter. Tree that Bends thinks that her and Duck that Glides Through River, her brother, make a good team. Today, Tree is sitting up far above the ground as she watches her brother stalk some prey that is out of her sight. She sits perfectly still, not wanting any noise from a simple shift or movement to ruin Duck’s hunt.

He was truly amazing, her brother; one moment, he could be cheerily talking away about nothing important, and then the next he can be as he is now, silently stalking his prey with his eyes filled with purpose. Well, Tree can’t see Duck’s eyes from where she is sitting, but she can certainly imagine. While Tree is usually sharp tongued and standoffish, she manages to tone it down for her family members. She doesn’t know how they can stand being around her, but Duck never seems to judge her for a sharp comment or for her saying something she didn’t quite mean.

Her ears twitch slightly in anticipation. She can’t help being anxious while watching a hunt; she knows there will always be another rabbit or mouse to catch, but she can’t ever help herself from getting caught up in each and every hunt. It’s exciting really, to watch a hunter become a true predator of woods for a few moments in order to provide for the Tribe. Besides, despite it being much easier to cross the Swiftwater without having to carry caught-prey, it would be a bit sad to go to the effort of crossing in the first place only to go home with nothing. Not that she’ll blame Duck if the hunt is unsuccessful.

Yes, she often allows her thoughts to ramble endlessly while watching a hunt, but she’s still got her ears and eyes open watching for any danger approaching Duck… nothing yet, but it’s her job to bring him home safe and sound.

[Dofferz!]

Duck was focused on the plum mouse that sat nibbling a seed just a couple fox-lengths before him. The tiny creature, preoccupied, hadn't the slightest clue that this tasty seed might just be its last seed. The orange and white tabby tom's eyes were trained on the creature, the tip of his tail flicking ever so slightly in anticipation. Duck could already taste the warm mouse blood in his mouth, but he pushed back the water that formed, keeping his attention focused solely on the mouse and his positioning. The wind was to his advantage, and every paw step was carefully placed. Slow and steady. Duck kept a master's eye out for forest debris that would hinder his hunt and alert his target of his oncoming presence.

He knew that his sister was watching his back, and for that he was grateful. Having somebody to keep an eye out for him in case he ever became the prey. But with much hope, he wouldn't be and not for any time soon. No, today the mouse was the prey, and with a powerful spring, Duck leaped, letting a happy glee as he claws sank into the warm body. He finished it off with a clean nip.

Mouse in his jaws, Duck turned around to where he knew Tree was waiting for him. Although he knew her own just was just as important to the tribe as feeding it, he couldn't help but feel a slight tang of relief at the face he had been assigned a hunting role. It was the rush of adrenaline and the feeling of success that came with every catch that made each day worth living over and over again. And with the help of his family and friends, of course. Duck sure didn't know what he would ever do without them.

"How was that?" the male purred, happily giving Tree a quick rub as he trod up to her, spitting the prey down at his paws. "It's a big fat one, too. Maybe the kits back home would enjoy it for lunch today."

[silverfang218]

The moment that Duck has his prey, a tasty mouse, in his jaws, Tree races down from her perch to meet her brother on the ground. A purr rumbles in her chest as her brother nears her and rubs against her side. “It was a perfect catch, as always, Duck.” She purrs to him. She thinks very highly of the skills of her prey-hunter brothers, but especially Duck’s skills. He never fails to disappoint with those mad hunting skills. “Deer’s kits will love it.”

Their cute moment of sibling bonding is interrupted by a sound. Tree’s ears perk up as a soft rustle can be heard before them; she turns her head towards the sound as she raises her tail for Duck to quiet down. Sure enough, a deep doggie growl drifts towards the two cats, causing Tree to hiss. Duck’s catch has attracted the attention of a hungry dog; luckily, the dog is relatively small. While it looks far stronger than either cat, it isn’t a whole lot larger than them. The dog springs at the pair of cats, causing Tree to jump back into Duck’s side to knock him out of the dog’s way. The dog isn’t too concerned with the cats and is more focused on the mouse that Duck had dropped. The dog scoops it up off the ground and starts to run off with it… but Tree isn’t gonna let that fly.

My brother caught that! Tree lets out a growl as she leaps after the dog. She runs up beside the dog, which is just trying to get away with its food at this point, and leaps onto the dog’s back. The dog twists, trying to get Tree off, but Tree digs her claws in and holds on; she sinks her fangs into the back of the dog’s neck, which causes the dog to yelp and drop the mouse. With her mission completed, Tree lets go of the dog and allows herself to be thrown off. She doesn’t quite stick the landing, her side hitting the ground first rather than her paws, but Tree quickly hops up and confirms that other than a slightly bruised side, she’s fine. Scooping up the mouse, Tree starts to trot back towards her brother looking pretty pleased with herself.

Hunting and protecting are equally important to the Tribe, but protecting has always been more rewarding for the young she-cat. It’s not every day that she gets to really do her job, but there’s nothing more exhilarating than looking at a dog or fox and knowing that one wrong move could end in death. And there’s always a sense of right in her mind when she’s standing between a tribemate and an enemy. Or defending her brother’s catch of the day from a hungry dog.

[Dofferz!]

Duck grinned at the complement. Although he didn't really expect anything less. No, he wasn't cocky. Just confident that his sister would never disappoint him. He didn't reply in words, but his body language was enough to pretty much say, "thank you, lovely sister friend." But alas, their quick moment of triumph was soon demolished as a small rustle and growl erupted from the undergrowth.

His whole body tensed and his eyes grew wide. "A dog!" it wasn't a huge creature, but should it attack, neither cats would walk away unharmed. Even if he couldn't fight, Duck wouldn't turn tail and flee should it mean his sister would be in danger of even death. When the creature leaped forwards, he immediately went sideways with a small yelp; not of his own will, however, as Tree's body slammed into his own, forcing the tabby out of the dog's path of travel.

He hit the ground with a huff as the air was knocked out of his little kitty lungs. He lay there for a minute to catch his breath, a little too stunned to move. When he stumbled to his feet and turned back around to face the scene, his sister was fearlessly chasing the creature. His paws tingled in pride as he watched her. Even today he was still utterly amazed on how fearless Tree was. Willing to sacrifice her own health and life to protect her Tribe. "Tree! Be careful!" he called out after her, crouching low and ready to spring should he have to.

But there was no need, as Tree soon came trotting back up triumphant, his mouse clasped between her jaws. Duck sprang to his feet. All that for his dingy little mouse? He honestly hadn't even noticed that the dog had taken it in the first place. "You're insane!" he gasped. "You could of let em' taken the mouse, you know. Freed Water is coming and I'm sure there's plenty to go around! Stinky dog aught to learn to hunt on its own, though. Probably too dumb to learn! Certainly it won't be stealing mice from us anytime soon! That was amazing! Really though, the way you just flew up on its back! I know I'd never be able to do that. I'll stick to leaping on prey!" he bubbled. Really, he was just so impressed by her skill because it wasn't something he got to watch every day. Bless the Tribe of Endless Hunting they didn't have to see it every day. Despite the random dumb canine, life was peaceful.

[silverfang218]

Tree is actually kinda insane, most other home-guards would agree, and she knows it. And she does not care. Tree gently puts the mouse on the ground so she can speak easily. “But if I let the dog take it, then your work goes to waste.” While the single hunt likely didn’t cost Duck a ton of energy, Tree sees hunting, which is something she doesn’t know how to do, as tough work. “Besides, if the dog took it, then you couldn’t give it to Deer’s kits.” Tree gives Duck a smile. They’ll get a special meal tonight; Duck caught a mouse special for them and then Tree pounced on a dog to keep it.

Tree purrs at the complements, though to her it doesn’t seem like the technique is so different than Duck’s hunting pounce. It’s just a lot easier, for Tree at least, to land atop a dog than a swift rabbit. Maybe that’s just her though. “Probably way too dumb to learn.” She agrees, a grin on her face. With the moment of excitement over, Tree has gone back to easily conversing like nothing happened; she doesn’t get to really defend her tribemates very often but she’s just doing her job. Nothing more.