❝ gotcha! ❞ goatgruff chirped, a squirrel tightly in her jaw, and a grimace upon her grey-and-black splattered face. the stumpy tailed she-cat trotted off with the prey in her jaws, to the pile of fresh—kill in which the group had managed to gather thus far.

stormstar advised a party of warriors ventured out to gather some prey, ready for the clans travel up to the two stumps: where they'd meet with thornclan, after they journeyed for a whole day. it was a typical event that whisperclan took part in. the hunting that was. gatherings were usual, typical for any clan, no matter their size or structure.

the group - put together by mothroar - consisted of antrunner, milkfang, goatgruff, hollyhockfang and both sweetpaw and wingpaw. this was hollyhockfang's first real patrol as a warrior within whisperclan - and he was over the moon he was picked.

they were all relatively dispersed, and confident with the area in which they currently roamed and started hunting within: whisperclans old campgrounds. while it was often used for training purposes, the prey here was typically plentiful, and could usually be found lingering around the collapsed, old dens, picking and tugging at the materials to scurry back to their own dens with new nesting supplies.

hollyhockfang crouched low in the underbrush, his deepened brown eyes scanning the clearing with a determined focus. he'd heard stories of how the camp was before they had to move, before the flood that wiped out the old dens and the majority of the camp as well.

the place was steeped with ancient memories, and hollyhockfang felt uneasy about tainting the land with their paws. but, it was already put to use numerous times before, so the unease didn't settle for too long.

beside hollyhockfang, antrunner remained, and he moved with graceful stealth, his reddish tabby pelt darkened against the shadows of the trees that towered overhead. antrunner's whiskers twitched as he detected a faint rustling, signalling the presence of potential prey.

both warriors moved and carefully placed their paws as they stalked through the bushes, vanishing from the others that remained behind them. after exchanging a look and a silenced gasp of pure shock, hollyhockfang shuffled around and wandered back the way he had came.

❝ goatgruff, milkfang,❞ he whispered softly, yet loud enough for the ambling warriors to hear him. their heads turned and both raised their brows at the bi-coloured feline. ❝ antrunner and myself may need a paw or two to bring down some prey... ❞

the pair walked through the bushes yet again with their bodies trailing along the floor as they crawled back towards antrunners last location.

and there, before them, was a muntjac, grazing contently in an opening up ahead.

the cats shared a dumb-founded expression of disbelief at the creature. they figured if they put all their strength together, they could collectively chase and take down the hoofed creature and bring it back to camp. it would be more than enough food to go around.

the cats glanced at one another for a final time before zig-zagging out to circle the creature while it continued to pluck grass from the ground.

antrunner took the lead, battling forward towards the creature. the muntjac bolted in panic, but milkfang was quick on its heels, her claws digging deep into the earth as she pursued her quarry.

hollyhockfang and goatgruff followed and trailed after the muntjac to herd it towards their companions. it was an agile being: twisting and turning in an effort to evade the relentless cats that snapped at its flank and feet.

❝ milkfang! you keep chasing it! ❞ antrunner yelled as he pushed off from the chase, allowing the two she-cats to continue on after it, a chorus of chattering teeth could be heard as the warriors' lengthened the chase.

❝ hollyhockfang with me, ❞ antrunner added after watching his fellow warriors vanish into the bushes. the tom—cat huffed loudly, ❝ bring it 'round! herd it back! hollyhockfang and i'll have to try jump it— ride it to wear it down! ❞

the muntjac barrelled into the clearing at a rapid speed. it's mouth was gaped, nostrils and scent glands flared. it looked ghoulish, and it's breath was laboured from its flight response that had kicked in numerous moments ago.

with a nod to confirm the go ahead, antrunner and hollyhockfang latched onto the ungulate and it thrashed like a crazed creature riddled with a sickness of the brain. back and forth, up and down, bucking its rear out to kick the cats off.

hollyhockfang dug his claws into its flesh, as deep as he possibly could, but he lost traction numerous times and was flicked off.

thankfully, it crashed to the floor. antrunner still clung to the body of the muntjac and it lashed like a sliced worm under the tom-cats firm grip. milkfang and gostgruff scurried over after antrunner beckoned for them to do so, and they aided with holding it down, allowing antrunner to slide off of it. and with a swift breeze, he raked both of his clawed paws across its neck with a heavy thwomp. he added numerous more slashes, just in case, not knowing how much it would take before the effects of blood loss to kick in for the animal.

clambering off, milkfang and goatgruff both exclaimed with a heavily spluttered huff of excitement and adrenaline.

the muntjac scrambled to its feet in an attempt to scurry off, but, the damage was done. it's body was weakened from the waste of energy it just forced out attempting to flee from the cats.

it bobbled ahead a few steps then dropped in the dirt. it screeched out a final call for help, having screamed out countless times during the chase, before it then accepted its fate, and let it's body go loose.

the four cats gathered around the bloodied and tired muntjac, and hollyhockfang laughed. ❝ so... how in starclans name do we take this back to camp? ❞

the cold wind snaked it's way through the thick growth of trees, the six cats returned triumphantly back into camp. antrunner, hollyhockfang and milkfang dragged the heavy creature, while goatgruff and the apprentices clutched smaller prey in their jaws.

as they made their way through the entrance, surprise blanketed the expressions of the cats who had gathered: every one of their faces shroud with surprise, widened eyes and a gaped maw, clearly baffled with the amount they had returned with, and what they had returned with. brows furrowed at the sheer size of the muntjac in comparison to the felines.

stormstar strolled over with his fur fluffed up in admiration.

❝ you have all surpassed my expectations for a good hunt, ❞ the leader murmured with a hint of pride emanating from his words. ❝ this will definitely fill our stomachs, ❞

as the evening descended, wrapping the clan on shadows, the cats gathered, basking in the joy of starclan's blessing with the feast they had provided the hunting patrol with.

underneath the rich tapestry of stars and moonlight, stories unfolded. warriors recalled tales of the valiant clan cats of the past and present. the cats laughed as they relived takes of strength, victory and unity, and loss.

sweetpaw nestled into hollyhockfang's fur, and the tom bore a vacant expression as she did so, but she seemed to not care for this. her eyes were alight with imagination as she listened contently to the stories everyone shared, their soft whispers floated like elusive butterflies in the crisp night air.

with the closing of their shared feast, a gentle hum vibrated through the camp as cats excused themselves from the group and went their separate ways to their nests. hollyhockfang stood up slowly. he looked down at sweetpaw, who had dozed off during the stories, and he gently scooped her up from the floor.

with the she-cat over his shoulders, he slowly waded towards the apprentices den and placed her into her nest. wingpaw blinked open an eye and looked at the warrior with a warming smile before returning back to his slumber.

it had been several days since hollyhockfang's face was ripped up by gatorcricket's cruel claws. he scurried to the medicine den, having forgotten that he was to have visited before he departed for the hunt that morning.

he seated himself after brindlefur bossily told him to do so and soon turned rigid under the medicine cats probing paws. he cringed, lightly, as she poked at his muzzle and applied a poultice to it.

❝ stop squirming, you mousebrain, ❞ brindlefur mumbled, swatting his ear lightly with her paw. ❝ it will heal, but it'll leave a scar... ❞

a flicker of something crossed hollyhockfang's gaze then - something akin to excitement. brindlefur's comment had meant to be a gentle comfort, a subtle warning of what was to come, but to the robust tom-cat, it was something else entirely.

a scar. a mask that would tell a story, a physical memento of his valour and endurance, of his bravery too. he was far from dismayed. while another be shunned or dreaded by the comment made, this warrior was not.

❝ i look forward to it, ❞ the bi-colour cat purred with a wide grin. the medicine cat just shook her head and continued on, marvelling at his oddity. it wasn't the reaction she expected, nor anticipated, but she didn't judge him, too much.

hollyhockfang puffed out his chest. he would wear his scar with pride. he earned it. he faced a challenge, and overcame a foe. and now, this new wound traced a fierce, crooked path down his face which would just add to his unique narrative as a warrior.

once brindlefur had finished up with his face, and the fiery sting subsided, hollyhockfang slipped away, bidding the medicine cat a goodnight.

alone, beneath the dappled moonlight, he traced his tongue across the edge of the wound upon his face. it was painful and tender for now, but it was a badge slapped across his muzzle, a visible token of the trials he had weathered thus far in his life.

bravery wasn't unmarked or untouched, no. it was standing tall, head held high, donning your scars with an unyielding spirit. and with a slightly pleased purr, hollyhockfang gazed up at the sky before creeping into the warriors den.