[Deleted]

Silentcloud pranced right on up to Eagletalon with a bit more hop in her step then she had had for quite a while, it was the first time she had seen him since their little nap under the stars. After said nap they had went their separate ways to take care of their warrior duties and that is exactly what was bringing them together now, Silent planned on dragging her friend out of camp with her so they could hunt to feed their clan. It was strange that she felt comfortable referring to it as ‘her clan’ as appose to Stoneclan and Mountainclan, however not all change in that way was bad. Their hosts had been incredibly hospitable and they did deserve every respect she could offer them, bringing back food for both clans was easily one of them. “Hey, Eagletalon lets go hunting.” It wasn’t a question at all, it was more a command coming from the slight she-cat.

[Fawn]

[smear:dbb623]EAGLETALON![/smear:cc380a]

44 Moons // Tom // Senior Warrior // StoneClan

“Hey, Eagletalon lets go hunting.”

One bright golden eye opened up at a familiar voice and a familiar scent, the battle-scarred tom rolling over onto his stomach with a long, jaw-popping yawn. ”Well if you say it like that, how am I supposed to say no?” Grinning, his muscles warmed from the patch of sunlight he'd been currently dozing in, the warrior rose, shook out his pelt and focused his gaze upon Silentcloud. Compared to their moonlit talk the other night, she appeared to be very much in the present this time around, and obviously in no danger of falling asleep – if anything, he was the one likely to doze off if he wasn't careful.

Ready to chase away the last few dregs of sleep (he'd been up very early overlooking some battle training with a handful of apprentices), Eagletalon stretched out his front limbs, joints snapping in a few places, his short dense ticked coat needing no additional grooming after that brief respite – not that he would've groomed it if it did. He was going hunting with his friend, he wasn't going to a Gathering, making sure he had every hair tucked into place was not high on his list of priorities.

”Anywhere in particular or do we just try our luck?” He was more of a go-where-the-wind-blows kind of tom, one who didn't mind if they hunted in front of the horrible lynx's lair if it meant the Clan could be fed.

[Deleted]

Silentcloud was pleased that she received no other answer then a yes, and giggled as she heard his joints pop as he moved to stand. She realized how relaxed and close to sleep he must have been to have his joints relaxing and falling out of place like that, “I hope I’m not disturbing your precious nap time…” She said in a gentle tone poking a bit of fun at him but in all honesty meaning every word. Giving herself a small shake and feeling a few joints pop herself she turned towards the camps entrance and started moving in its direction speaking to her party mate. “I have no idea where to go, why don’t you lead this one oh wise patrol leader.” She waited a moment before adding another jab, “You are older after all, a bit brittle in my opinion but I suppose you move well enough.”

[Fawn]

[smear:dbb623]EAGLETALON![/smear:cc380a]

44 Moons // Tom // Senior Warrior // StoneClan

Eagletalon let out a loud bark of a laugh, surprised by her words. "Brittle? Oh I'll show you brittle!" Put in high spirits by her playfulness and eager to keep it going between them, the senior warrior put on a burst of speed and left her at the camp entrance, intending to get a few fox-lengths ahead before he expected her to catch up. Silentcloud was a full grown warrior and relatively fast for her size, but he was no slowpaws himself - not after so much time spent training and chasing after some speedy prey.

Having gotten used to pursuing rabbits - which was more LightningClan's specialty - Eagletalon was a little leaner and a little meaner then he'd been when StoneClan had had their mass exodus on the night of the StormClan battle. The moons of service to the Clan were starting to show a little, but only in the form of scars and stories and apprentices come and gone; the fierce golden light in his eyes was still very much blazing, the clear weather, good company and high chances of finding decent prey were only further kindling to the fire.

While he was out into the more open terrain outside of MountainClan's camp, he watched a young she-cat struggle with a plump rabbit, having to mostly drag it, sides heaving from the effort to bring it back. She was unusually small for a kitten, and if he had to guess at her age, he would put her somewhere below the six moon mark, not above it.
With some surprise he noted how she didn't smell particularly unusual to him, but he knew she wasn't StoneClan. ”That's a great catch, well done.” He mewed, praising the little she-kitten first. She seemed grateful for the opportunity to stop and talk, glowing with pride. ”Thanks!”

With some awkwardness, he cleared his throat. ”What's your name? Sorry, I don't know it.”

Eagletalon glanced briefly at Silentcloud; they would continue on to go hunting as soon as he had this little riddle solved.

[Deleted]

Silentcloud was caught off guard as her companion shot off; staring after him for a second like a goon she tried her best to take off after him. She put a bit too much gusto into her start however and for lack of a better phrase she ended up ‘spinning tires’ as she threw up debris before finally taking off. Her over powered start with the head start Eagletalon already had was giving him an obvious lead, and she was displeased to find out he was just as fast as her and she wasn’t gaining as he tore along. Eventually his silhouette started to become larger and she figured he had gassed himself out, pleased with her stamina she thought she had the better of him. However she was in for disappointment when she slowed to a trot after coming into earshot, she found out he had stopped to talk to a young cat of Mountainclan with a rabbit in her possession. “That’s a pretty big rabbit.” She said out loud but more to herself then the other two.

[Fawn]

[smear:dbb623]EAGLETALON![/smear:cc380a]

44 Moons // Tom // Senior Warrior // StoneClan

The she-kitten seemed to glow further at the additional praise, and announced her name quite proudly; "I'm going by Rootpaw now, but I used to be just Root."

So she IS MountainClan then. He was surprised to see her adopting traditional Clan customs by adding -paw to the end of her name, despite not actually being in a real Clan in the traditional sense; MountainClan tended to only meet the requirements in the basest form possible, in that it was a group of cats all depending upon each other for survival, with a designated leader.

The kitten scooped up her rabbit again, calling out as she dragged it back towards camp. "I can't wait to show Graniteclaw!"

Graniteclaw. Eagletalon's whiskers twitched, and he smirked a little. There was a name he was familiar with. So Hailstrike's former apprentice had taken to teaching some of MountainClan's youngsters how to hunt? He hadn't been aware that some of the younger generations of his Clan had become so fond of their hosts, and all of the bright eager young faces who were slowly becoming fascinated and more and more rooted into the ways of Clan life.

"I guess it's going to be hard for some of them, when we finally go back," he mewed to Silentcloud once "Rootpaw" was well out of earshot. Whether he was speaking of the MountainClan cats who would miss StoneClan more or the other way around, it was hard to say. The battle-scarred warrior had a feeling, however, that the Clan they loved so much would be gaining a few new members, which was more than enough to replenish the ones they had lost. Obviously they were not trying to replace those that had fallen - and how could they? - but he supposed he could find peace with knowing that the Clan was getting some new blood.

StoneClan had always been known for it's varying bloodlines, stemming from both kittypet and Clanmate, rogue and all cats from all walks of life; he wasn't such a stickler for purity that he actually cared where a cat came from. So long as they could fight and pledge their loyalty to StoneClan, then they were good enough for him. Thoughts turned back towards the hunt, he flicked Silentcloud's shoulder with the tip of his tail, winking at her. "Let's get a move on, though I think I'll have a conversation with young Graniteclaw later."

It wasn't that there was anything wrong with the gray tom's desire to teach MountainClan a thing or two, Eagletalon was simply curious as to what had gone through Graniteclaw's head when he'd made the decision to humor "Rootpaw" a little by letting her be an apprentice.

[Deleted]

Silentcloud couldn’t help but smile at the exuberance and excitement shown by the young cat as she drug her rabbit off, she noted as well how well the cat’s seemed to be integrating on both sides. She was incredibly thankful at that moment that they had found mountainclan as well as started a good beneficial relationship for the both of them. Without their hosts there was a good chance Stoneclan would have perished as it had once so long ago. The she-cat nodded as Eagletalon commented on how difficult the separation could be for both parties. “I assume there will be cats trading homes on both sides.” She said with a rather large smile growing on her maw, “Besides that I think we have a permanent ally at are back from now on." She moved to bump her companion lightly before adding finally,"So where are we hunting at?"

[Fawn]

[smear:dbb623]EAGLETALON![/smear:cc380a]

44 Moons // Tom // Senior Warrior // StoneClan

The idea of any StoneClan cats not coming back with them to their old territory was, for Eagletalon, the unthinkable. How could anyone not want to go back? Well he was being too biased, too closed minded... For a cat who had lost everything, or had grown to love the easy going lifestyle of MountainClan, maybe heading back to the forest would be a bad judgment call? Eagletalon couldn't necessarily relate, but he could at least understand their motives behind it; being a StoneClan cat to his core, he had no intention of staying in the mountains longer than necessary.

"Let's just hunt wherever, see what we can find."

Approaching a collection of ragged looking pine trees, Eagletalon stepped onto more firmer soil, pine needles scattered throughout which made for slightly awkward walking, considering he was so used to the harder, less forgiving textures of rocky soil and rough stones. Tail sweeping behind him, it wasn't until he felt it brush against Silentcloud's soft spotted fur that he proceeded onward – their progression short as they stumbled upon a rare opportunity, and a little taste of home if they were lucky.

A young falcon made a clumsy dive for what looked like a squirrel, a myriad of fledgling feathers and fuller looking adult feathers in addition to it's small stature made it a tantalizing kind of prey. Catching birds was harder in the mountains considering they had to deal with hunting on a slope, as well as the fact that there were few spots for them to hide and even fewer opportunities to actually see a bird land. Their avian prey usually preferred to stick to the trees. Eagletalon froze, dropping instinctively into a hunting crouch, not checking to see if Silentcloud was doing the same.

She was a warrior, she knew as well as he did that this was an opportunity they couldn't waste.

[Deleted]

Silentcloud followed Eagletalon’s lead as he began to cut a path through the mountainous landscape, their paws made little noise on the soft pine-needle covered ground. For this the she-cat was thankful as there wasn’t as good of hiding as she would have liked, sometimes she thought she would never get used to hunting in such a different environment. As the stalked on waiting for any sort of prey to show itself it wasn’t long before their collective patience was rewarded, a fledging flying chunk of prey began a swoop and knew they had found their first piece of supper for the clan if only they could take it down. She crouched down nearly at the same time her companion did, she knew they couldn’t speak in the case their whispers scared their prey off. So silently she moved around the birds blind spot so she could back up Eagletalon. She hoped he knew the move was his, she was just there in the case he missed his mark.

[Fawn]

[smear:dbb623]EAGLETALON![/smear:cc380a]

44 Moons // Tom // Senior Warrior // StoneClan

With Silentcloud's reliable backup, Eagletalon stalked forward, watching as the young falcon's talons scratched up dirt as it missed it's intended target, Eagletalon using the raptor's awkward emergency landing as an opportunity to pounce, the bird having accelerated too much without much thought to the possibility of overshooting it's prey. It really was a young one.

No mercy was spared when his Clan needed food, however, and Eagletalon, a snarl on his muzzle, aimed true. Slamming the falcon to the ground just as it had prepared to make a hasty take off, it was a struggle of claws and wings, the tom getting swatted around the ears as he had some difficulty getting through the myriad of fledgling fluff and adult plumage to reach the creature's neck. It wasn't such a complicated catch that it required real back up, but he wouldn't have objected if Silentcloud could pin one of the bird's wings for him.

Spitting out a tuft of feathers, the battle scarred warrior felt the flailing bird nick his paw with it's razor-sharp beak, the tom hissing in revolt of such a lucky shot. Oh no you don't. It was the end of the line for this falcon; he may've been six moons' out of practice bird-catching, but he wasn't about to let this one get away from him.

[Deleted]

Silentcloud watched incredibly pleased as Eagletalon stalked on without a word, it was obvious he had gotten the message that she was moving off as a backup element to their potential strike. So waiting crouched low keeping her tail deadly still, she watched and waited for Eagletalon to make his move, and as the prey missed its own and botched a landing he struck just as she would have. It was a ball of angry cat and raptor for a few moments and she watched waiting for some sign that she was needed, when it didn’t end as quickly as she thought it should she jumped in and landed doing her best to hold anything she could. In the end she did end up getting a wing, then she saw as the prey’s flailing beak landed on target in her friends paw which caused her to quickly move her own to move to the falcons head to secure it so no more damage would be done.

[Fawn]

[smear:dbb623]EAGLETALON![/smear:cc380a]

44 Moons // Tom // Senior Warrior // StoneClan

Eagletalon delivered a swift killing bite; "It's just a scratch," It was completely in his nature to downplay any kind of injury he received, but this time it was the truth; it really was just a scratch, and outside of an occasional twinge of pain, it was unlikely to cause him any trouble or hinder their hunting trip further.

The falcon dead, Eagletalon set to work digging, not about to let that lynx come by and steal their hard work; it took only moments, and the young falcon was buried, the tom kicking dirt over it and double-checking his work. It had been a nice bit of nostalgia, falcon-hunting, though he was a little out of practice. "That took longer than it should've, but thanks for helping." He nudged her shoulder again by way of thanks, smiling, bird-hunting not the only thing he was out of practice with lately.

Not that this was anything to be considered a date, Eagletalon was incredibly dense when it came to conversing with she-cats he viewed as something more than friends. Having only hung out with Hailstrike - who had kind of detached, almost tom-cat nature on occasion - and a few other female warriors on hunting parties, he was unaccustomed to treating she-cats in any kind of different way then he'd always been.

It wasn't that he needed a lesson in chivalry, he still had all his manners, it was more that he needed... a different perspective on the matter. He had a habit of treating them like toms sometimes, in the way he behaved and the way he spoke around them, and thus Eagletalon couldn't quite shake the feeling that he should be treating Silentcloud a little differently than the rest.

[Deleted]

Silentcloud watched as her companion delivered a quick life ending bite to their prey’s neck, she lifted her foot off the falcons head. She heard Eagletalon make a quick excuse that he was fine, she didn’t take his opinion on what could be his newest scar seriously at all. She had been around him enough, especially after the battle, to know that his wounds were never a problem. He could have his guts hanging out and a badger chewing on them and he would be prepared to walk the wound off because it wasn’t a big deal. Sniffing at what was in fact just a scratch she was soon satisfied that his down play of the injury was actually necessary. “It was a fine catch.” She giggled as he began to bury their catch before she asked simply, “Where are we going to look next?” she asked sniffing at their buried prey.