"The keyword is tried." Hemlockshade grumbles, though not necessarily in an annoyed manner. Today had showed him that some of the cats would lose it over a competition, and they didn't even know the prize. Perhaps he was being too cynical, though his opinions were steadily forming about the cats he'd be sharing a den with.

"Oh, just the terrible competition you made up." He retorts, though bumps the other lightly with his shoulder to show that it's not an actual insult, knowing that with his dry tone, his words could certainly be taken as such. He gives a half hearted hiss at being referred to as an alleycat, shoulder checking the other. "Says the bird brain." He says, tone light hearted as they enter camp.

His fur stinks of beaver and blood, not a particularly lovely combo. He makes his way further into the camp and plops himself down, grooming his pelt; washing the crimson from it, grimacing slightly at the metallic tang on his tongue.

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Owlstar

Owlstar laughed, playfully batting at Hemlockshade as they walked into the camp clearing. "Bird brain's the best you could come up with?" He exchanged a couple more playful insults, before leaving the other cat to his grooming. Owlstar would do a lot for his friends, but he had no desire to taste the stink of beaver pelt anytime soon. The meat more than made up for it, but still. Owlstar settled a little ways away, closer to his den, allowing him to lounge against a tree as he cleaned his pelt, his thoughts running back towards the beaver hunt. It was supposed to be a test of skill and patience, gauging a warrior's ability to master their instincts in order to land a bigger prize. The warriors had gotten the job done, but without the use of much strategy, it could've easily gone much, much worse. Perhaps Starclan was looking out for them, from somewhere up in the clouds.

A wry smile crossed his muzzle for a moment as he watched Hemlockshade cleaning the blood from his pelt. All the playful teasing had reminded him of his apprentice days, a much simpler time, where it seemed that his only cares had been impressing his mentor, and avoiding cleaning the elder's den. He remembered it so vividly, racing each other under the pine trees, sparring with each other in the peaceful camp. He knew now that things had already began to deteriorate long before that, but he had only learned that much later. Owlstar rested his head on his paws, half-closed eyes turned vaugly in Hemlockshade's direction as he continued to remince about his younger days, when it had fled like they could've ruled the forest, if they simply tried hard enough. Owlstar shifted more fully into the shade, pelt suddenly feeling hot. It must be the sun, which was now high in the sky.

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(I feel like i just read a book oh my god)

Nettlesnap

The tom's ears flattened shamefully, his tail stiffly lashed in bitter annoyance at the clan cat's words. He padded out from his hiding place and limped over to Palewind, avoiding eye contact with the rest of the cats. He was thankful He wasn't dead. But he couldn't help an ember of resentment towards the older warriors, making his throat tighten. Nettlesnap quickened and came to Palewind's side, his back leg lifted from the ground in attempt to avoid getting any more injured. He gave a soft meow of congratulations to the she, his head lowered and not meeting eyes. The tom said nothing, which wasn't usual. Normally he'd have a remark about a won fight, or atleast have something to say.

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Palewind

The she cat gently bumped his side.” You know we still couldn’t have any of it without you.” She stated offering the Tom a smile.” Do you want me to help you over to Gentlebreezes den?” She asked as she glanced at the toms back leg. She looked at him with worry now slightly and maybe a little upset for him that he got injured. She knew him and Morningecho got the worst of the injuries and that worried her quite a bit but she wasn’t going to try and let it show at least not completely l.

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Nettlesnap

He lowers his ears in consideration, swiping his tongue over his bloodied maw. 'I can get there myself, I'll be fine.' The tom hissed softly, stepping on his tail with his one good back paw to hide the annoyed lashing. Nettlesnap curled his upper lip back in a soft snarl, hating being pitied. he was supposed to prove himself this hunt and being met with failure, and the words of his other clan mates, didn't help his growing envy.

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Palewind

Her tail began to sway back and forth now.”I….okay fine be that way.” She stated as the she cat rose to her paws to head to a nice spot to clean herself off. She couldn’t understand Nettlesnap sometimes. She sighed deeply as she began cleaning herself letting her mind wander” it’s not like I asked to be the one to win. If I had it my way he would have won too.” She reassured herself as she glanced towards where she could see him to make sure he was actually going there. She sighed once more as she continued cleaning herself off. She thought she wouldn’t be the one to win anyway she thought for sure it would have been one of her other clanmates.

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Nettlesnap

He flattened his ears, his scruff bristled with irritation at Palewind's answer. Clan cats. He muttered something under his breath and made his way back to the camp slowly, his limp clear. the tom was easy prey for any predators and he knew that, but he'd rather be eaten by a dog then have to have help from a clan blood.

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Palewind

The she cat watched the Tom as she also made her way to camp but long after she knew he made it in.” Toms especially that one can be so confusing.” She stated to no one in particular as she finally made it back to camp. She sat by herself watching her clanmates go about their business and chatting with one another. She sighed what has gone wrong? She tried so hard to have Nettlesnap win the competition

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Gentlebreeze

She listened to Morningecho's voice as she examined the wounds. Her ears were perked, signalling she was listening. She murmured something under her breath, to herself. She watched the she-cat shift, presenting the supposed "lucky bite". It was welling out blood, quite a bit actually. Gentlebreeze got up, and looked around her shelves. Moss, where did she put that moss? Her eyes caught a ball of green moss. She hurried, and went to grab it. She walked back quickly to Morningecho, and placed the moss onto the actively bleeding wound. Gentlebreeze froze when Morningecho spoke her dark humored joke. The medicine cat wasn't the type to joke about that stuff. Because she'd seen it happen. Plenty of times. Death was one thing if you chose to train as a medicine cat.

A flicker of grief clouded her blue eyes. She continued her work however, not saying anything. She put pressure on the moss. This was the worst one, and it needed to stop bleeding. "Don't close your eyes. Just keep speaking to me." she mewed softly, her focus on the wound. Morningecho's joke may come true if she lost enough blood, or continued getting into reckless battles.

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Nettlesnap

He quickened his pace, smelling the familiar scent of the clan cats. his paws dragged over the soft grounds, pine needles pricking at his pelt and only agitating him. The tom slunk quietly into camp and kept out of sight, limping unsteadily into the medicine den. the bitter scent of herbs made him recoil, the mix of blood and poultice making him feel sick. Nettlesnap lowered his ears and padded into one of the nests, distracting himself by batting at a jutted out feather. It was nice to focus on something else. He'd learned that a while ago in his grief. He stared at his paws quietly, avoiding speaking to either of the she-cats.

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With catastrophe of a competition over Rustbelly felt the last dregs of adrenaline leave her body. Thankfully she left with her life but her body couldn't say the same. Her nerves were fried, some tufts of fur missing, a few scratches and sore muscles. Her fellow clan members spoke amongst themselves while heading back to camp. The partially rusty cat placed her position in the back of the group. Head hung low as her tail dragged behind herself. She should have done better, her plan was perfect...at least she thought. Sure, maybe it was a bit risky. The cats were tired and maybe jumping out of harms way wouldn't be the most effective, but she was sure everyone could manage. Well she was sure she could have done it. Why couldn't the others follow suit?

The sigh that left her mouth wasn't the first nor would it be the last of today. The negative thoughts felt all consuming, with no one to speak to they bounced around the walls of her brain. No! Rustbelly suffered enough loses, she wouldn't let self deprecation win. Her mate wouldn't approve either. As the she-cat trailed into camp she headed straight for the warriors den. Dropping onto her nest and began grooming absentmindedly, the repetition soothing her. Yet her failures threatened to rob her piece of mind. A yawn tore out of her. Maybe some sleep would do her good. Stretching her paws out to lay her head Rustbelly closed her eyes, seeking memories of loved ones and home.

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Palewind

The she cat noticed Rustbelly come into camp. She wanted to go over and talk to the other she cat but noticed she was heading for the warriors den. Her ears fell a little, she could tell Rustbelly was upset and she wanted to ask her what was wrong but to her it looked like she wanted to be left alone. Palewind simply sighed and continued to clean her fur. But what was she going to do after she was done cleaning? It was evident no one really wanted to talk, and she certainly shouldn't go outside of camp now. She sighed deeply once more and finished grooming.

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The taste of beaver was undoubtedly terrible, and Hemlockshade briefly imagined standing in a stream, letting the red wash off his pelt. The scent would still stick, and he hoped that beaver was more appetizing then it smelt. Because wow, was there enough to feed everycat here well, maybe even enough for seconds.

After he washes his coat fully, he settles on cleaning his pads, dislodging the tufts of wet and bristled beaver fur that were there from various clawing attempts. Definitely never doing this again, it was not worth it.

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Nettlesnap

The tom quietly brushes his tongue over his pelt, his dusty fur stained scarlet from the blood. eugh. he still couldn't wash the sick vanilla scent out of his mouth, however much he licked at his pelt and tried to subtly open his mouth. The little hairs torn from the beaver's flank stuck to his claws, feeling bristly and uncomfortable.
It was eerily familiar to his first encounter with beavers. The cat shuddered at the thought, turning his head to look back at his own fur as if checking for any remaining charred marks, even if the incident was moons ago. The memory was still fresh in his mind. He could still taste the stench of burnt wood on the tip of his tongue and the splinters of flaming wood flying in every direction as his old barn was destroyed.
Nettlesnap's attention was forced back to his current injuries as he felt a sudden sting in his back paw, his heart pumping blood in his chest. the injury had swelled a bit but hadn't pierced skin. just gave a painful bruise. The tom muttered a curse under his breath and slumped down in the nest, watching the medicine cat's movements. He bit back words, tempted to rush her or ask when he would be treated. But he didn't really have the energy. not now.

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Sleep did not come easy and when it did, it didn't last long. Rustbelly opened her eyes, her vision somewhat blurry. She doesn't know how long she's been a sleep but it seems as if no time passed at all. Getting up the she-cat shakes off her fur, removing and debris caught in her coat. Walking out of the den Rustbelly first spies the prey pile. There's the beaver but one look practically erases her appetite. It wouldn't do her good to starve, forgetting the last moment she ate. She needed the energy to heal her injuries. Walking over to the pile the cat picks a squirrel in her jaw. Finding a corner in the clearing that allows her to observe most activity happening in the camp, while not staying in the center. While chewing on her meal, a certain scent tickles her nose causing it to wrinkle. What stinks? A quick sniff and taste tell her that natural musk is replaced with copper and fish. Bleh. A trip to the lake is definitely in order, maybe even a trip to the healer.

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