Ferretstar decides it best to explain.
Gingerleaf isn't used to this, he will complain less if he understands why walking upwind would help keep them hidden.
"Gingerleaf," Ferretstar begins patiently, "We're not making this unnecessarily difficult for you, this is just a better way to stay hidden." She keeps walking as she talks, forcing him to follow her of he wanted the full explanation.
Gingerleaf lets out an incredulous grunt.
Ferretstar continues.
"With the wind blowing at our faces, our scent will carry away from whatever is in front of us. Anything in front of us, we will smell before long before it smells us."
Gingerleaf glances briefly glances behind him at Lostnose.
"What if whoever is tracking us is behind us?" The curly furred tom asks in an exasperated tone.
Ferretstar lets out an amused purr, "Don't have so little faith in us, Gingerleaf. We won't be traveling upwind the entire time. No, the whole plan is to move around so much the scent trail will be impossible to follow. Sometimes we will go upwind, sometimes downwind- sometimes we may even use some other tricks to hide your scent."
To emphasize her point, she leads the patrol around some trees in a circle, crosses through a small creek, and weaves through some bushes.
"This is too much." Gingerleaf complains, shaking his paws dry.
Cloverface snickers at him. "Like Barkpelt said, maybe it will get you into shape." Gingerleaf gives him a sidelong look.
"I'm already in a shape, Lucky, it's called a big-fatso-cat-who-can-sit-on-you-shape. Neheheh," Gingerleaf chuckles a bit, but then goes back to asking questions, "When can we take a break? And when are we going to have time to eat?"
"That's another advantage of traveling upwind. It's the best direction to hunt in, prey smell will come straight to us." Ferretstar grins, and bunches her muscles to jump over a particularly tall log. At the top of the log, she breathes in the scent of a wren. "You're not hungry already, are you? Didn't you eat before we left?"
Gingerleaf scrambles onto the log, having difficulty getting his footing. The warriors hop on the log on either side of him. Lostnose grabs his scruff and helps pull him up. He is out of breath before he eventually answers.
"No..." Gingerleaf wheezes, splayed out on his belly now.
Cloverface shakes his head at him.
"Liar-! You were stuffing your face for half of your little teaching session." The black and white tom says indignantly.
"That was ages ago," Gingerleaf whines, idly rolling over into his back, "Besides, all that obstacle course nonsense took a lot of energy."
Lostnose sits down beside him, curling her tail around her paws neatly. She looks to Ferretstar with her usual neutral expression.
Cloverface flicks his tail a bit. "Whatever, you'll get used to it, Gingerleaf," He scoffs, "We still have a long way to go- uh, I think. Ferretstar, how long will we keep hiding anyway?"
Ferretstar looks around at her patrol silently before answering. "Our shift lasts until Barkpelt's patrol finds us. We could be doing this for a day, or even for a few days, depending on how well hidden we are."
Cloverface lets out a small laugh, "Barkpelt is a great tracker, she'll find his whiny tail in no time."
Ferretstar chuckles a bit too, "That's true, he'll be her problem soon."
"Man, boss, I thought you were the one who wanted to keep me," Gingerleaf pouts in mock-offense, "But truly, it was all your plan to get rid of me after all. You guys are coldblooded."
Cloverface starts to laugh a bit more, and Gingerleaf chuckles along with him. Ferretstar could feel herself purring a bit too.
"Alright, alright. Let's stay focused. I want to stay Gingerleaf's er- 'camping buddy'- for a while longer now. Lets do our best to not let Barkpelt find us." Ferretstar straightens up and glances at the other side of the log.
"As long as I'm in charge, I say we..."
Original Poll Options:
14 votes (I think there was a tiebreaker or RNG winner)
1. Keep moving: If Gingerleaf ate before he left, he should wait a little longer. You've already rested a little while now, but if you rest any longer, Barkpelt will find you. - 25%
2. Break without Hunting: Gingerleaf just needs to rest his paws for a while more, he can eat when the patrol hunts later. - 8.3%
3. Hunt for Gingerleaf: Take a quick break to catch something for Gingerleaf. The rest of the patrol can eat later, but Gingerleaf needs energy now to keep moving. - (25%)
4. Hunting with Patrol: The whole patrol could use a break. Besides, if you eat now, you won't be as hungry later. - 16.7%
5. Ask Lostnose: Lostnose is the most experienced warrior on your patrol, it would be foolish not to take advance of her insight. - 25%