[snowflake.]

Shadepaw
Pure black pelt; dark mackerel markings; amber eyes
She/her || 11 moons || ShadowClan Apprentice
Agatha Kitty: Perm Activated - Just a Scratch: Perm Activated - Silver Tongue [T2] - Shadow Fiend
Mentor: Shrewstep • Post Count: 58/100 • Site • Bio



Shadepaw fixed her intense amber gaze on Flytail, ears perked. The basics she knew, through practice alone. Oftentimes she'd snuck around camp without being seen or heard when she was in a bad mood---which was more often than she'd like to admit. But that wasn't real. That wasn't out in the wild, wasn't actively being hunted or hunting. But this, this was solid practice, putting to use the skills she'd gained and using them to learn more.
Shadepaw had hunted before. Of course she had. But that was without any teaching, only her knack of stalking and staying hidden, and luck, had let her catch anything. She'd need to use whatever meager experience (meager, she thought bitterly. I'm pathetic. The word was like claws piercing through her, bringing stinging pain. But I wont be, soon. Soon...) she had of hunting and stalking for this event. Low to the ground, wind direction, timing... Those were all things she needed to know. She knew the gist of it, but Flytail knew more. She listened.
Timing is just as important as movement. A useful bit of knowledge.
Move when there's already sounds-- it'll mask any sound you do make. Another thing she hadn't known.
You can't just act on impulse. Shadepaw snorted. Of course you can't. You never can. She knew that well enough.
You need to pay attention to the environment. Oh, that was easy. You just had to quiet your thoughts and be aware.
And the last thing, patience. She could be patient, especially when waiting for the right time to strike. Patience was easy, too, unless its with other cats.
Five minutes to get into position was all well and good, but Flytail hadn't assigned anycat to a group -- rabbits or cats. How would anyone know what they are, and thus know what to do? Maybe Flytail wouldn't assign them any group, and they'd have to just choose (that doesn't make much sense, as the warrior hadn't told us to do that). Looking around at the other apprentices, it didn't seem they were doing anything. Of course. She debated briefly whether to speak out or not, as it seemed no one else was going to. After some consideration she thought, not my problem if others are too incompetent to notice. There's five minutes to get ready. She'd assume after the five minutes the warrior would split them up into teams, and if Flytail didn't, she'd just choose her own group.
Shadepaw didn't want to waste the time given. Carefully stepping back, she let the shadows of a nearby bush fall over her midnight pelt, almost as if she's melting into the darkness. She pricked her ears and paid attention to what her eyes and whiskers were telling her, including her peripheral vision. She crouched, concealed, her legs tensed in anticipation. She waited.