all facets of the feudals promising peace[p]

[nykyrian]

♔|Aspenpaw|♔

He/Him | @daenerys | WC:208

Another day, another selection.

Really how else was he going to get anything done?

Though today's task was special, it was... long overdue if he was being honest. The boy had just recently turned 16 moons old, past the age of the average apprentice. Of course, this wasn't due to his own faults, it was all because of the incompetence of others. Though no matter how true that may be, ultimately this flaw would fall back onto him, everything did. Now of course he could very well pass his hunter's assessment, he has had 8 moons to practice his fighting moves. But he couldn't very well become a warrior without knowing one of the key skills. Which brought him back to his selection.

Today's selectee was just as important as the training itself. A spark ignited in his mossy eyes as they laid upon a tabby pelt. This cat in particular had been of interest to him lately, this would be a good opportunity. White paws quietly padded up to the warrior, as the calico's mouth opened to ask the question that would determine this interaction. "Are you able to take me out for some training?" His voice disguised the intrigue and curiosity, in a cold stale manner.

#68

[taillow]

Having been lingering in the clearing, smoothing down her black rosetted fur with long, rhythmic strokes of her tongue, Mirehound's ears perked up upon hearing the footfall of a cat. The newly named Enforcer glanced up, analyzing the practically full grown cat before her. He was familiar... "Aspenpaw, right?" Recently returned if she recalled right. And definitely ready age-wise to become a warrior. So why hadn't he yet?

His question about training had her shifting so that she faced him more, giving him her attention. She supposed that would be most of her days now, training the Clans apprentices. Not that the shadow minded one bit - it would do her well to make sure the next generation of ShadowClan was well and ready for whatever was coming next (if anything, more ready than she had been).

"I can. What are you hoping to learn?" There was a wide array of skills Mirehound felt herself capable of teaching as she rose to her paws, rolling her shoulders back to rid them of the built up tension. Her injured shoulder was still healing rather nicely, no signs of infection and no permanent damage thankfully. Blue eyes remained focused on the younger cat, tail tip flicking back and forth behind her.

[ @nykyrian ]

[nykyrian]

♔|Aspenpaw|♔

He/Him | @daenerys | WC: 147

"Yes." He answered stalely, cats not knowing him was always a big ick, even if it was to be expected (he wasn't an active member of the clan even before his departure, and now he kept it that way as it made the other's easier to watch.) but it was still a blow to his ego. Anyways that wasn't what he should be focusing on, as Mirehound continued talking.
"I can. What are you hoping to learn?"

Was he having second thoughts now that she had actually accepted? Quite possibly. Sure it was for the best, once he finished this he was one step closer to becoming a warrior, but it was truly embarrassing to say this aloud. "Hunting." He said at last, tone somewhat hushed. There were more than a few cats that them hearing that would cause the tom to simply die on the spot.

#77

[taillow]

Hunting. It was something Mirehound prided herself in, though both that and her battle prowess were nothing to scoff at. There was a reason outside of her dedication and loyalty to ShadowClan that she had been given her warrior name. "Hunting it is," the shadow nodded and gave one last stretch of her lean muscles, pelt rippling, before nodding to Aspenpaw.

She made no comment on him being of the age to have already had a hunting lessons, for Mirehound saw no point in discriminating apprentices for that. Sure, part of it was their responsibility, but it mainly rested with their mentors and the warriors within the Clan. If one of their own wasn't prepared for warriorhood, most of the blame lay within those experienced enough to teach within the Clan versus those with lessons left to learn. On swift paws she made her way out of camp, glancing once to make sure Aspenpaw was following.

"Tell me what you know so far of hunting." It would make conversation why they walked, and would give the shadow time to locate a pristine teaching spot. Far enough away from camp to where the noise from it wouldn't disturb them, but close enough to where they wouldn't risk running into trouble. Then after a second, Mirehound added, "and if you want to start with the basics, that's perfectly fine." She would not ask a reason for it, and her tone indicated such as she continued on.

[ @nykyrian ]

[nykyrian]

♔|Aspenpaw|♔

He/Him | @tallulah | WC: 221

Her reaction, or rather lack of one, comforted him in a way. His lack of training was something that had weighed on him for a long time now, and was one of his few embarrassments. It was his fault for waiting this long to ask someone, but he hadn't been always sure how. He spent his younger days practicing his battle skills and learning every inch of Shadowclan's territory because he expected his mentor would teach him when the time came. But them Fiercefire went missing, and soon after Aspenpaw did too. The whole two-leg situation really put a hold on his learning, and by the time he got back, he was long past the age of being an apprentice. But now he wouldn't have to worry about that.

He kept a respectful distance behind the enforcer, though he sped up when she began to speak. "Tell me what you know so far of hunting and if you want to start with the basics, that's perfectly fine." He nodded, opening his mouth to speak. "I can track prey fine, and I'm okay with stalking it most of the time, it's just the whole catching and killing it I struggle with." His thought's drifted back to the squashed rodent he had brought back to camp on his last patrol with a shudder.

#81

[taillow]

So he knew a foundation, which was good; Mirehound could work off of that. Coming up on a break in the pine trees where grass was flattened by paw traffic, the Enforcer glanced to Aspenpaw. "We'll work on that first then. There are generally two ways you can kill prey; with your claws, or with your teeth. Depending on what you're hunting, one will yield better results than the other; other times, both will need to be called upon." Parting her jaws to scent the air around them, she caught a trace of shrew nearby. "When tracking small rodents, such as shrews or squirrels, what do you think should be used to deliver the killing blow; your claws, your teeth, or both?"

Technically, there wasn't really a wrong answer; whatever managed to silence it the fastest was the go-to. Mirehound was curious how the apprentice beside her would answer. And then, if her nose had been right, they could put the answer to the test.

[ @nykyrian ]