Birchclan: The Graceful and Cunning (Closed)

Shiver mewed in agreement, holding his head a bit higher than he had in a while. He was glad to impress someone with his hunting skills despite the major adjustment in his new environment. Hopefully the prey was easy to catch the rest of the day. He was able to catch a small bird but missed catching two mice. Still, for two cats on their own in unfamiliar land, it was a good haul so far and he hoped to please Timber.

(morning! I think will add a few more characters later)

"Wonderful catch!" Toad complimented when Shiver caught his bird. The toms continued to hunt a while. Toad eventually catching a bird of his own, a plump little black bird. As well as a mouse to make up for his earlier misfortune. The two had acquired quiet a pile. "Do you think this will do?" He asked his companion, reaching down to grab a hefty portion of the catches. "I'm sure they are getting as hungry as I am back at camp. Maybe Timber is ready to start scouting." He continued, his mew muffled as he adjusted his grip on the prey. 

(should we skip ahead to them returning?)

Toad nodded before turning and heading back towards their camp, deciding not the talk this time since his mouth was full. His head held high and his chest puffed, imagining the delighted faces of the other cats once they saw the fresh-kill they were bringing back.

Toad emerged through the tunnel entrance, into the clearance. Trotting over to "kill-pile" they had designated before dropping off his catches. "Great work today, Shiver." He purred, looking over at the young time. "You're making a fine warrior."He added while eyeing the prey he had to choose from. Deciding on a smaller mouse, the apprentices and the others deserved the biggest. They needed all the strength they could get after all. He would go out for his bird later on perhaps. Before settling he looked over at the growing group of cats, as he'd thought Timber was planning to go out and scout. Maybe he would join if he finished fast enough, or maybe there were other things to do around camp.

(fine with me <3)

Toad lifted his head from his mouth, unable to stifle the proud smile that crawled over his maw at the she-cat's praise. Beaming, he mewed, "Of course! And we left only the finest for you and the youngest of course." Taking another bite, he listened intently to Dawn's query. Hmm, go out to look for bedding? He thought while chewing. It would certainly be a good chance to be productive. Besides, he'd rather not have her going out alone. One patrol for scouting and another patrol to escort Dawn. It sounded like a plan to him. "I would come along with you if you need," He finally replied after swallowing."I'm willing to help out wherever I'm needed."

Dawn ~

Dawn purred at the tabby tom's reply and gratefully nodded, "Oh that would be lovely if you could - but I don't want to intrude on any warrior training!" she laughed, glancing over at Shiver, "You two seem to work very well together and I think feather-collecting might be more of a task for our younger cats. I might try and find Sky or Leaf and see if they'd be up for it!" As though her demeanor changed in a split second, she quickly added in a slightly higher tone of voice, nervousness edging her mew, "You didn't smell any dogs or anything nasty out there did you?" She gave a slight nervous laugh and added, "I have to admit I'm still a bit worried here but I couldn't imagine moving out of a camp as good as this."

(Almost done with work, will post when I get home (: )

(take your time juno :3)

Toad chuckled, standing and shaking out his tabby coat before padding off to the entrance. He watched as Dawn went to let the others know of their whereabouts and rolled his eyes with a small scoff. They weren't going too far. He was sure Timber wouldn't mind. But he admired her consideration. If anything were to happen he guessed he would feel a bit guilty. With his confident posture, he trotted after her, passing by the other cats with a simple wry nod before catching up with the long-furred she-cat. "Hmm, so moss. That typically grows in dampened places right?" He meowed casually once the two were walking side by side.

(also is Shiver accompanying them?)

( lol toad has officially adopted him :'3

I'll have some more characters to add on a little later, it's feeding time for my dog so i'm tending to her currently)

(Gonna pretend that Toad invited Shiver to join, give me a sec to post a response)

(Have to head off for this evening sorry, but feel free for the guys to continue on without Dawn ^^')

Dawn ~
Dawn tilted her ears to Toad as he trotted together with her and answered him with a nod, "Exactly - anywhere that's damp or shaded tends to be where it builds up. I think if we'll find some under the trees, around some roots or even near some fallen leaves." She turned her head to ensure Shiver, also accompanying them, could hear what she said - repeating her words exactly again but in a louder pitch.
"We'll have to make sure the moss isn't too damp though!" she added, keeping her voice at the elevated tone, "Otherwise it'll be a right chore to drag it back to camp and will take forever to dry itself out." As she talked she didn't exactly pay attention to where she walked and grimaced as one of her front paws landed right in a patch of mud and with a quiet 'ew' to herself tried shaking it off her paw.

"Feathers are also good." she added, her discomfort with the mud slightly discouraging her mew, "Only issue is we don't want dirty feathers, they'll just never look right and make the nests look ghastly."
Turning her head over her shoulder she added, "And don't get them from dead birds! They're usually rather ragged looking and we also don't want the camp to smell of crow-food."

As she continued talking, she spotted a decaying log just beyond a clump of ferns, thick new grasses were sprouting against it and with what looked to be some small clumps of mosses or grasses growing just at the side of it. With a lift of her tail she mewed loudly again, "I'm heading over here!" she turned to add with a grin, "If the moss grows teeth or sprouts wings and attacks, I'll call out for you two!"
She then jumped over the ferns, giving another slight 'ew' under her breath as she felt the cold dew of the ferns rub past her underbelly and trotted over to the log. Before the toms could even reply or say anything, she quickly called out "Remember, not too damp and not too dirty!" and finally there was a bit of silence in the woods.

(morning all, sorry for disappearing)

Toad's whiskers twitched in light amusement at her discomfort in the forest. It appeared Dawn still wasn't used to the outdoors after all the time they'd spent together traveling. Yet she still was passionate about the clan, willing to help out wherever she could. He admired that about her. Clearing his throat he turned to Shiver, "All right you heard the boss, not too damp and not too dirty." His green eyes scanned the clearing. "Hmm and maybe we can find a bird's nest somewhere for the feathers." He added, looking up at the high trees above them.

Smoke ~

Smoke dipped his head to Timber in agreement, but his eyes narrowed as he grumbled, "But if there are cats living in these woods, they might have already claimed this land." His tone was cold as he continued, "I think most of us here know what happens when a group of strange cats arrives in a new territory looking for somewhere to settle and deciding to join those already there. It might not work out well." Though his voice was its usual cold tone, he couldn't mask that hint of bitterness and resentment in his words, as most cats knew, he was still mourning the loss of his colony.

He glanced sideways at Timber, adding, "I don't want to be responsible for any cats getting kicked out of their own home and if this land has already been claimed then we need to find somewhere else. Not sure about you but I don't want to get into a fight just after settling here."

Dawn ~

After scooping a number of clumps of moss off of the log, Dawn gave herself a purr of delight. Not only was the moss not too damp, but it was soft and not firm at all. Picking up as much as she could carry in her mouth and trying, but awkwardly failing, to try and carry some on her back, she padded back to where she had parted with Shiver and Toad. With all of this I could head straight to camp and get started immediately! But I'd better let them know. Gently stepping over a thick clump of knotted weeds she looked around for the two toms, unable to see them in the forest.

Shiver sat down his wad of moss and called up to Toad, “Do you need any help carrying the feathers down?” Granted, he wasn’t a strong climber, at least not yet until he got training, but he wasn’t about to see a clan mate hurt themselves trying to do two things at once. BirchClan can’t afford a cat down, not when there’s still so much to do.