Into the Underground

***Moonraven*** · #1 February 24th, 2025, 04:04 PM

The dark brown she-cat padded out of the warriors' den and looked at the sky. The sun was shining bright and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. It was still cold, but not freezing. The prey pile wasn't empty but she doubted any cat would complain if extra prey was brought in.

"Windpaw, Magnoliapaw, Fleetpaw, Littlepaw, Raccoonpaw, and Honeypaw. Do you guys want to go hunting with me? We're going to head into the tunnels." The tunneler calls. She was behind on Raccoonpaw's and Magnoliapaw's training and had only recently heard that Windpaw and Honeypaw were interested in tunneling training.

Fleetpaw and Littlepaw were just about done with their training and figured it might be fun to let the older two teach the newer apprentices and see if Windpaw and Honeypaw had any talent for tunneling. She was quite fond of the pair of up-and-coming tunnelers and was looking forward to their assessments.

Dustbunny didn't think she'd be personally training Windpaw and Honeypaw in everything regarding tunneling, but regardless of whether she became their mentor or not she'd like to get to know the future tunnelers, if that's where their paws led them. And Magnoliapaw and Raccoonpaw she's spent too little time with so was hoping to get to know them better during this training session.

[Optional Tunneling/Hunting lesson. The next post will be on the 28th latest.] @Luna16 [Fleetpaw] @Suspicousmindz [Littlepaw] @kira [Honeypaw] @Star [Windpaw] @iliri [Magnoliapaw] @Rowan [Raccoonpaw]

**kailie** · #2 February 24th, 2025, 04:06 PM

Honeypaw emerged from the apprentices' den at Dustbunny's call. The golden-and-white she-cat bounded over, slowing to a halt a few tail-lengths away from the tunneler as she approached. ''I'd love to!''

[ @Moonraven | Dustbunny ; ]

**Luna16** · #3 February 24th, 2025, 04:46 PM

Fleetpaw's ears perked up when he heard his mentor's voice calling his name. Tunnels? Hunting! The skinny tom beamed excitedly, finishing his breakfast quickly before bounding over. "I-I'm here!" He meowed, nearly chirped, as he reached Dustbunny.

@Moonraven - Dustbunny // @SuspiciousMindz - Littlepaw // @kira - Honeypaw // @Star - Windpaw // @iliri - Magnoliapaw // @Rowan - Raccoonpaw

***Star*** · #4 February 25th, 2025, 08:16 AM

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Windpaw
Fluffy patched tortoiseshell she-cat with blue and green heterochromia
She/Her | 9 Moons | + every 17th | WindClan Apprentice | Optimistic and calm
[48/100]

Purrks:
Dreamwalker [INACTIVE] • Bewitched (Yellowfang’s Curse) [Permanently Active] • Silver Tongue T1 [Permanently Active]

. 。・゜✭・.・✫゜・。.

. 。・゜✭・.・✫゜・。.

Windpaw perked up at the mention of her name, bounding over to Dustbunny with a bright smile. She waved her tail in greeting at Honeypaw and Fleetpaw, who already seemed to arrive.

"I'd love to! What's it like in the tunnels? Is it scary?" The question wasn't necessarily directed at Dustbunny. She would be satisfied with an answer from the experienced Tunneling apprentices, too. Curiosity always got the best of her. But hey! Where was Littlepaw???

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***Moonraven*** · #5 February 28th, 2025, 07:10 PM

Dustbunny cocked her head as she only got three of the apprentices she called for. Still, she smiled warmly at all three and beckoned them to follow her as she led them out of camp. She heard Windpaw's questions but left Fleetpaw to answer her as it was always nice to see the young to make new friends. Besides, this was his zone, he should take a more confident approach when it came to tunneling.

As they exited camp, Dustbunny scented the air and led them to the nearest burrow that reeked of rabbit. It wasn't the freshest, but Dustbunny wasn't going to have them chase rabbits in the tunnels, Fleetpaw might be able to with a bit more training, but Windpaw and Honeypaw didn't have any experience navigating the tunnels...or...

"Before we head down in the tunnels, you two have never been down in the tunnels, right? No experience with digging or anything like that?" She directed the question to Windpaw and Honeypaw.
@kira [Honeypaw] @Star [Windpaw] @Luna16 [Fleetpaw]

**kailie** · #6 February 28th, 2025, 07:16 PM

Honeypaw shook her head, her blue-green eyes narrowing against the light. ''Nope! No experience,'' the golden-and-white apprentice mewed in response to the tunneler.

[ @Moonraven // @Star // @Luna16 ]

**Luna16** · #7 March 2nd, 2025, 09:08 PM

Fleetpaw noted his mentor's pointed silence in the wake of Windpaw's question, feeling anxiety squeeze at his heart tightly. "I-It c-can be..." He responded to Windpaw, glancing at Dustbunny with slight horror in his eyes. Why did she want him to do this?! Because you know these tunnels. Deep breaths, Fleet. Deep breaths. "P-Personally...I-I find th-the tunnels...c-comforting. B-But it's v-very d-dark...a-and a l-little m-more...c-cr-cramped t-th-than m-most...W-WindCl-Clan cats a-are used t-to." Stars and clouds above.

Fleetpaw knew that others were...pretty aware of his stutters for the most part. And normally, he wouldn't be so bothered by it. However, in this context, he wished fervently that he could erase this stutter. He must sound completely incompetent! At this point, the tall, skinny tom couldn't wait to get into the tunnels. He still wasn't totally sure why, likely because he wasn't really questioning it, but he always felt more confident in the darkness and silence of the tunnels.

@Moonraven - Dustbunny // @kira - Honeypaw // @Star - Windpaw

***Star*** · #8 March 3rd, 2025, 12:29 PM

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Windpaw
Fluffy patched tortoiseshell she-cat with blue and green heterochromia
She/They | 9 Moons | + every 17th | WindClan Apprentice | Optimistic and calm
[55/100]

Purrks:
Dreamwalker [INACTIVE] • Bewitched (Can feel the pain of those around her) [Permanently Active] • Silver Tongue T1 [Permanently Active]

. 。・゜✭・.・✫゜・。.

. 。・゜✭・.・✫゜・。.

Oh. Only them 3. Nice! It was't a whole lot, but it wasn't that overwhelming, either. Not that she minded being around other cats. With a smile, she turned to Fleetpaw as he answered her questions.

"Dark? And cramped? That just sounds like the Apprentices' Den." Windpaw let out a purr of laughter. "Minus the loudness, of course." She then shook her head, answering Dustbunny's question.

"Never been! But I've always wanted to. Sounds nice." She shrugged and looked around, tail waving idly behind her.

{ @Moonraven - Dustbunny | @Luna16 - Fleetpaw | @kira - Honeypaw }

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**SuspiciousMindz** · #9 March 3rd, 2025, 08:33 PM

[Littlepaw]
WindClan Apprentice Tunneler
50/100
Lucky Duck T1 | The Collector

OH HECK NO!!

Littlepaw was not going to be left out of this lesson! Nope! No way! She scrambled out of her nest, nearly tripping over her paws as she darted towards her mentor and the already apprentices. "I'm comin'!" Littlepaw called, catching up and nearly running straight into her sister who was already there.

Wait.
WINDPAW?!

"Yer comin' too!?" She'd chirp happily, her tail waving in the air behind her as she made herself comfortable next to her while Fleetpaw and Dustbunny spoke. "I'll help ya!" she offered to the newcomers. She'd offer Fleetpaw an affectionate blink, nothing but friendly right now. She'd grown to think of Fleetpaw as a friend with having to share a mentor.

@Star - Windpaw | @Luna16 - Fleetpaw | @Moonraven - Dustbunny | @kira - Honeypaw

***Moonraven*** · #10 March 5th, 2025, 05:49 PM

Dustbunny gave Fleetpaw a grateful nod as he answered Windpaw's question. She finished listening to the she-cats tell her what she already expected as Littlepaw showed up, late, but here.

"Glad to have you join us, Littlepaw." Dustbunny chuckled and swept her gaze over the apprentices. "Well, since you're here, Littlepaw why don't you help teach Windpaw how to navigate in the tunnels, and Fleetpaw you can help Honeypaw. You don't need to explain everything, they just need to know how to get through the tunnels without running into stuff." Dustbunny could take the pair of she-cats for a more extensive tunneling lesson later. She expected Littlepaw to take to the mentor role like a duck to water, Fleetpaw was more like a timid rabbit, but she knew he had it in him to help and teach. He's done great with Littlepaw, who seemed to have accepted him as a friend.

"I'll head down first and the rest of you can follow me. Once we're done with our navigating refresher we'll start the hunting lesson." Of course, she'd add her comment here and there if she felt like her apprentices were missing something in their explanation, but Dustbunny was pretty confident that they'd nail this without much trouble. She waited to see if anyone had any problems with that plan before they head down.
@kira [Honeypaw] @Star [Windpaw] @Luna16 [Fleetpaw] @SuspiciousMindz [Littlepaw]