[sleepyyjax]

 

Originally Posted by Tallstar

Flytail
44 Moons
He/Him
Flytail's earlier grumpiness softened a touch as he followed Newtbelly's lead, his sharp blue eyes still scanning the ground but with a slight nod in agreement. "Alright, I'll give you that," he muttered, the words more of a begrudging acknowledgment than anything else. "Training is good, when the apprentice is worth the effort. Not everyone is cut out for it." He glanced over at Newtbelly, a flicker of something almost resembling a smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth. "Guess I’m just not as patient as you, huh? But I suppose you're right, there's something satisfying about seeing them get it right."

The air between them seemed a little less tense now. Flytail's gruff exterior had cracked just a little, his willingness to engage evident in the way he followed along, keeping an eye on the trail. "I’ve always preferred the night hunts, too. Just feels like a better challenge. But yeah... with those Owls out there, it's too risky for anyone new. You’re not the only one who worries." As they moved further down the scent trail, Flytail's voice was quieter, a touch more open. "You're good at this. Better than most." His eyes flicked toward a rustling sound just ahead—a slight shift in the brush. He froze, his tail flicking in concentration. His blue gaze narrowed as he focused on the movement, instinct kicking in. Then, there it was. The mouse.

It darted from beneath a bramble, unaware of the predators nearby. Flytail tensed, his muscles coiling like a spring. He dropped into a low crouch, moving with careful precision as he tracked the mouse’s movements. With a flash of speed, he lunged, his paws outstretched and the sharp snap of his jaws closing on the small creature. In an instant, it was over—no struggle, no wasted effort. He stood up, his eyes glinting as he held the mouse in his mouth. "Well," Flytail murmured, his voice gruff but the hint of approval clear, "that’s more like it." He placed the mouse on the ground between them, giving a short nod. "A bit more than a snack."

@sleepyyjax

Newtbelly
he/him | Agatha Kitty, Shadow Fiend, Killer Aptitude T1 | 21 moons
ShadowClan Enforcer

header: @/daragca

He couldn't help but give a small chuckle, "I don't know about that," he began, as he slowly crept down the trail. "I think I've just been lucky with apprentices." Thinking back on each one he'd had the pleasure of training - even (well, especially) his first apprentice, Tickpaw who went missing, they'd all been exceptionally well behaved. Perhaps Stempaw was a little more boisterous, but he still listened, and took to work easily.

Flytail wasn't half bad, Not that he'd expected anything bad of him, just that he didn't often find small talk anything other than insufferable. A rustle - no more time to think about all that. But Flytail was on it before he could begin. "You might be even better yourself," he complimented the tom as he dropped the catch on the ground. He didn't take his senior's praise lightly, though, he was determined to meet his expectations now. "I'll have to catch up." A kind of light-hearted joke, almost. He turned tail, returning to the trail and beginning to pick his way through the undergrowth, till he came upon a section where the scent lay strongest. He held himself close to the ground, eyes darting, waiting for a glimpse of movement - till - right there!

He pounced, claws outstretched.
[Rolled D20 - rolled 19]
It was a quick catch, which he nipped quickly, silently thanking it for its life. "That makes two," he cracked a slight smile, as he placed it with the other. He always got a little ego boost from doing something well, for better or for worse. It was a nicely sized mouse too - not as big as Flytail's catch, but good nonetheless. "I always found mice a bit too small, but these aren't bad. Especially in leafbare."