Two Birds, One... Rabbit? [t]

[squidz]

art by Daragca
/ GRACKLEPAW \
stocky dark gray tabby with a beige overcoat and bright blue eyes; silver tongue t1
[ windclan tunneler apprentice | tomcat | 8 moons | mischievous, charismatic, adventurous ]

29/100

—

Gracklepaw was rapidly approaching Hawkfur's location.

3...

It'd start out as a shadow growing steadily nearer, paws pounding across the earth.

2...

Then, a looming shadow as the apprentice sailed through the air with a ferocious cry.

...1!

Next thing Hawkfur would know, his son would be landing his ever-growing body right onto his father's back, playfully nipping his scruff. He was heavier than he used to be as a kit.

"Graah!" Gracklepaw growled, batting his sheathed paws along Hawkfur's flank as if he were playfighting, though he had a bit more thought and intention to each swipe than he'd used to. "Hah! I got you, Pa! Just like Uncle Crow showed me!" ...More or less, that is.

The reason Gracks had approached his father today had not been to barrel onto his back, but... hey, the offer had been a bit too enticing to ignore. No, Hawkfur hadn't offered it; but his exposed back turned towards Gracklepaw had practically been screaming 'pounce'. He was battle training, after all! At least he'd heeded Crowtooth's instructions about a mighty battle face to pair with his attack.

He'd get to his original question in just a moment — first, he had to gloat his new skills from this nice perch atop his father's shoulders (he wasn't getting too big for this already, was he?).

[ @Mica - Hawkfur my beloved ]

[Mica]

Hawkfur
WindClan Fury
he/him | 61 moons
[Russet tabby with tuxedo markings and sky-blue eyes]
Purrks: Flock Together T3, Killer Aptitude T1
Header by @/wingnettle
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽ The Hanged Man ☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
· · ──────────────· ·
[Gracklepaw - @squidz ]
· · ──────────────· ·
Hawkfur frequently felt like something was hunting him. It was part of the reason he frequently asked Lightningstorm for lavender for his nest. But now, the prickling on his back felt... different. He barely had time to brace himself before a body slammed into his, flattening him immediately to the ground with a squeak of air. He groaned as his son battered him, his white paws reaching up and half-heartedly grappling at him. "You booger." He muttered, twisting around so he could lock his son's head under his weight, sufficiently headlocking him. Or at least attempting to. "What's this about, huh? You finally come to take down your old man?" He ruffled Gracklepaw's head fur for emphasis. "Soon I'll be able to jump on YOUR back!" Neither he nor Bravebird had been that tall, but Hawkfur knew his mother had been very tall, so it wasn't too far-fetched to say Gracklepaw got it from his side of the family.

[squidz]

art by Daragca
/ GRACKLEPAW \
stocky dark gray tabby with a beige overcoat and bright blue eyes; silver tongue t2
[ windclan tunneler apprentice | tomcat | 8 moons | mischievous, charismatic, adventurous ]

36/100

—

Gracklepaw squealed as he was promptly put into a headlock by the stronger and older warrior, kicking out his back paws ungracefully like a squirming kit. A few snorts worked their way in between giggles as he attempted to wriggle out, but to no avail; one combat session was, unfortunately, not enough for the enthusiastic 'paw to best a Fury (and his own father). But it had been a valiant effort!

"Ack! I'll getcha someday, old man!" The apprentice cried, finally flopped back to the ground in a heap of defeat. He was panting, adrenaline and excitement sparkling in those deep blue eyes of his, grinning up at his Pa. "I'm gonna grow even taller than you, just you wait! I'm gettin' there!"

When his father presumably released his prisoner (though Grackle also wouldn't blame him if he didn't, deserving a bit of payback for his sneak attack), he shook out his ruffled fur that was now sticking out in silly clumps. But Gracks' smile was no less bright, and his eagerness for the day had only been amplified.

"Guess what, Pa!? I've got the morning free. I was thinking... y'know, I haven't gotten a chance to go hunting yet, with all the tunnelin' 'n fightin' that Uncle Crow has me doing. Sooo... I wanted to ask..." The apprentice put on his best puppy eyes, round and pleading (though he likely didn't need to do such a thing at all, given how his father was probably over the moon by now at the mere suggestion of an outing with his son).

"Can you take me out hunting? Pleeease? I wanna catch a rabbit! A big, fat one! The biggest one we can find!" He kneaded his paws into the peaty dirt, the zoomies already wanting to unload.

[ @Mica <3 ]

[Mica]

Hawkfur
WindClan Fury
he/him | 61 moons
[Russet tabby with tuxedo markings and sky-blue eyes]
Purrks: Flock Together T3, Killer Aptitude T1
Header by @/wingnettle
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽ The Hanged Man ☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
· · ──────────────· ·
[Gracklepaw - @squidz ]
· · ──────────────· ·
Hawkfur grimaced at the idea of his son being taller than him. It was a real possibility. "You've got my father's height, mate." He chuckled, even though it felt wrong to bring up the disgraced tom in front of Gracklepaw. He released the apprentice, shaking out his own ever-ruffled fur.

The request had the Fury positively radiant with his smile, his ears and tail immediately perking up. "Mate, you've just made me the happiest dad in the whole forest. Of course I'll take you rabbit hunting." Take that, Crowtooth! Couldn't steal Gracklepaw completely away from open moor hunting, no sir!

He wasted no time trotting into the territory, taking care to avoid the route to Windy Hills. There were a bunch of burrows he'd noticed not too far from camp--hopefully they hadn't cleared out already.

"Alright mate, has your Uncle taught you the basics of hunting, or are we starting fresh?"

[squidz]

art by Daragca
/ GRACKLEPAW \
stocky dark gray tabby with a beige overcoat and bright blue eyes; silver tongue t2
[ windclan tunneler apprentice | tomcat | 9 moons | mischievous, charismatic, adventurous ]

40/100

—

Gracklepaw's eyes shone like stars when his father said that he was happy — the happiest cat in the whole forest, no less! Yeah!! His son sprang to his paws, a bounce in his step and sharp teeth poking from his grin. He was gonna get to go hunting with one of the best in the Clan! "YEAH! Alright! Let's goooo!"

He'd started to run ahead of Hawkfur, before realizing... he didn't really know where he was going. He hadn't gotten a full territory tour, after all. So he backtracked, giggling a bit to himself as he let his father be a pawstep or two ahead, taking the lead. But never too far! For Gracklepaw was right on his heels, eagerly kneading the ground as he went.

The gray-and-beige apprentice had gone quiet for a rare moment, observing the territory around him. The open moors were windy and enticing, full of all those hills to run up on... he didn't know if he was faster than Egretpaw or Crowpaw (he'd love to race them to see!), but could feel the muscles in his legs flexing, wanting to test it out. Maybe he'd be faster than Pa, too! Yeah! (in his dreams)

But his father's question caught Gracklepaw from flying off into more daydreams. He turned back towards him, shaking his head. "Nuh uh, nothin' yet. You'll be teaching me from the ground up, Pa. I've only learned some tunneling and battle so far." So he knew how to battle crouch and how to dig; that gave a little bit of finesse to his step that he didn't have a few moons ago. But hunting was a whole other game, and Gracks was more than excited to learn it. Especially from his number one role model, no less.

"I wanna know everything!!"

[ @Mica ]