Introduction to stealth-y stealthiness

[Estelle]

Mama had said she would be willing to train her, if a little. And, after the last meeting, mama had affirmed she wasn’t replaced, at least – not entirely. Sleepypaw liked to think mama had been true to her words; that maybe she still had a chance with her mama. That maybe she had a chance to seek her mama out more often now, too, like mama had apparently wanted. Mama said she was always welcome. She said that. Sleepypaw wanted to believe it. And she wanted to be skilled, like mama and Miss Grandmama. Live up to their expectations and legacies – follow in their pawsteps however possible, her goal. Her wish beyond their care and affection. Something she could earn by being better. By being stronger, and smarter than she was now. By moving forth in her training.
“Mama?”
She looked inside the dimly lit den, looking around for her mother. She knew mama had been an enforcer before, before she became a medicine cat. She knew mama was skilled, that she could learn from her.
“If,, If you have time, mama; could I practice my stealth with you - please?”
She paused, looking up hopefully.
“I want,, to be good at it. I need to.”


[ @Rose ]

[Rose]

Lostspark

She/Her | Purrks Overlook

Lostspark glanced up from her supply of herbs, a tentative, hopeful smile gracing her lips as she noticed Sleepypaw at the mouth of her den. Dropping what she was doing, Lostspark walked over, blinking slowly down at the younger female. "Of course I can teach you." She whispered in response, and then tentatively attempted to stroke her plumed tail down her daughter's spine. "Follow me."

Tail lingering a moment around her daughter's shoulders as a form of guidance, Lostspark briskly walked out of the den, glancing back once to make certain Sleepypaw was following before she dropped her tail. "Stealth is best practiced after sundown, so one can get a feel of the night."

Lostspark led them out of camp, her pace slow and even as she waited for the sun to fully set, to disappear - and straight to Mourning Ruins. She would have preferred Moonlit Grove for this, but that was not part of ShadowClan's actively patrolled territory nowadays. Upon reaching Mourning Ruins, the Medicine Cat stopped to turn to her eldest biological daughter. "I don't know if you've had your territory tour yet, but this is Moonlit Grove. We'll practice here." She offered a supportive smile.

"You'll be able to blend in with the shadows in no time." Her head tilted to the side. "Your pelt is dark, another helpful feature for what we're learning today." The herbalist paused. "Are you ready?"

[ @Estelle - Sleepypaw ]

[Estelle]

Mama. Sleepypaw watched in silence as the medicine cat dropped her activities and joined her side, a gentle small smile gracing her maw as she felt her mama's tail against her spine - a sign of comfort - and accepted her request. She matched her mama's pace, walking at her side with an expression more peaceful than it normally was neutral, a warm feeling filling her chest at simply being here, with her, standing at her mama's side.

She nodded at the older feline's explanation, something that did not come as much of a surprise - the nighttime practice, that is. Blue eyes stood out in the increasing darkness, taking note of the way they were slowly heading, quiet, as she often was, listening to her surroundings and mama. Soon they reached the Mourning Ruins, an area Sleepypaw recognised out of the history lesson she had attended during her younger moons, watching the haunting burnt structure in the dark. She turned to her mama.

"Miss Grandmama showed me."
She replied, her tail gave a single flick from left to right. Her eyes briefly looked down at her pelt covered with wispy-white patches, albeit still dark; looking up she nodded affirmatively, silently presenting her readiness for the lesson - and secret eagerness to learn.


[ @Rose ]

[Rose]

Lostspark
She/Her | Purrks Overlook

"That's great." Lostspark encouraged her daughter softly. Sleepypaw had the territory tour down, that was good. "Okay, so I know you asked to practice stealth with me, and I think that's the biggest thing to realize in this. Stealth is not something than can be taught easily, like hunting or fighting. It is more like adapting to your surroundings, knowing how ShadowClan's land works." She crouched and inclined her head to the ground. "Our land is not entirely even. It's uneven, and bumpy, and you may come across firs or pinecones or pine needles. A lot of stuff litters our ground. We have bushes, and pine trees, thorny brambles. To master stealth, you must work around all of this."

She straightened back up and demonstrated, nimbly placing her paws carefully on the ground as she walked, pawsteps silent as a the wraith she was titled after. "Always, always be aware of your surroundings. When you're out in the territory, Sleepypaw, I always want your guard to be up. You never know what is out here." Lostspark had been edging slowly backward into the shadows of a looming pine, and with a brisk movement, she whisked out of sight for a moment and went as still as a statue, her inner shadow fiend coming out to play as her amber eyes closed.

The moment was brief, however, and then Lostspark was stepping out into the moonlight once more, prowling over to her daughter to nuzzle her gently. "See? It's not so hard. Practice makes perfect. You want to try and hide somewhere? I won't look." With that, she sat down and closed her eyes.

[ @Estelle - Sleepypaw ]

[Estelle]

Sleepypaw listened, taking in the words her mama spoke with care. Always be aware of your surroundings, always have your guard up - her words made sense. She had come to understand that one could never know what was out here, and Sleepypaw did not look to disappoint. She would take these words to heart, indicated by the soft nod of her head as vibrant blue eyes watched her mother disappear into the shadows, not a sign of her left. Her eyes blinked, wide for the fraction of a second as her sight adjusted to the darkness and took in the surprise that Larkfire was able to hide so well. It was impressive, by all means, and made the minimal standards for the apprentice clear.

Her mama quickly reappeared, and Sleepypaw affectionately returned her nuzzle with a moment of closed eyes, taking in Larkfire's presence before she focused on the lesson once more. She agreed to hide without complaint, getting up to her paws as Larkfire closed her eyes. Mama had been good at hiding, Sleepypaw thought, as such she too had to do well - but, perhaps it was a benefit, the young apprentice remembered Hawkbite's hide and seek event, in which she had to remain unnoticed until the end, and succeeded. She had learned, then, that hiding among the shadows with the darkness of her pelt was a bonus compared to those with a lighter pelt like her kitsitter; though, Sleepypaw remained faced with the bright white splotches across her pelt and bright eyes, she remained dark of colour.

She did not walk at first, those bright blue eyes analysing the ground at her feet with care. Each step could make as sound if she did not pay attention; as such, she stepped lightly, light as she could, avoidant of branches clusters of pines, stepping only lightly on the needles that were unavoidable and ground she walked upon. She had to learn to be swift, however, hiding came first. She moved within the shadows of a tree - perhaps not as skilled as her mama - keeping to the darkness it offered as she turned away from the moonlight and lowered her eyelids to block out the shimmer of the moon. She retreated, an attempt at a swift movement backwards, keeping quiet as she often was.


[ @Rose ]