Quote:
Originally Posted by BEAR.
Wolfhive purred as Mallowpaw attempted to crouch and walk. It wasn't bad for a beginner, though he didn't miss how stiff and uncomfortable she seemed. "It gets easier, you just need to practice. Well done, though!" With other apprentices, he might push them into trying to go for real prey - but Mallowpaw was the first cat he'd seen flop after taking a stance. "You feeling alright?" Wolfhive had pushed himself to the brink of exhaustion before via training, but not from something as simple as a hunting crouch. The sensitivity of untrained, underused muscles was a forgone memory to him.
"If you're up for it.." Wolfhive swept his gaze over their surroundings, resting on a small pile of leaves. "Why don't you practice on that pile? It'll stretch your muscles a bit and prepare you for going after a mouse. When you're feeling ready, we can go for an actual mouse." He just didn't want to push her before she felt prepared, she seemed fragile and he didn't want to harm her accidentally. "Same stance, move forward as quietly as you can. You don't wanna get too close, or you'd scare it - but you wanna get close enough so when you pounce, your paws can pin it."
[ @ kittycatburmise ] |
Mallowpaw
51/100
Wolfhive didn't seem too impressed with her performance, and Mallowpaw felt his concern as he asked her if she was alright.
Mouse-brain, she scolded herself.
Why did you have to collapse? "I'm fine," she said. The burning sensation in her core had eased, at least.
Wolfhive spoke again, and Mallowpaw glanced at the pile of leaves he had referred to. Disappointment swirled in her stomach; she was hoping he'd tell her to catch prey now. But she wasn't good enough for that, and Wolfhive knew it.
Mushroomcloud should've trained me in this, she thought. It felt good to direct the anger inside her at someone else.
Getting into the hunters crouch again, Mallowpaw started to stalk towards the pile of leaves. The anger fuelled her determination. She would do it better this time. She would make Wolfhive proud.
The burning sensation in her stomach started again, but she tried her best to ignore it. Keeping her steps as soft as possible and her tail straight behind her, Mallowpaw advanced until she was in pouncing distance. She hoped it was pouncing distance, anyway. This was the part she was most worried about. Thinking about how she leapt around as a kit, Mallowpaw bunched her muscles, shifted her weight onto her hind legs, and pounced.
She landed on the leaf pile, skidding a little as the leaves slid. But she had done it! Part of her wanted to lay down while the burning sensation subsided, but she wanted to show she wouldn't let her lack of core strength stop her. Mallowpaw turned her gaze to Wolfhive to see his reaction. Hopefully this was the last practice she had to do before she could move on to real prey.