Raptor Hunting

[Spooky Rain Frog]

Warmsun Yawns, Joining.

[Moonraven]

Batglare padded closer to Crowtooth's group after he was assigned. He kept his distance from the rest of the cats and listened quietly to Crowtooth's lesson. Most of what was said was knowledge he was already aware of, but also some of it was new. Batglare turned his head as noticed Warmsun, he didn't think Leechscar would be letting him join, but that wasn't his problem. He returned his attention to Crowtooth.

[Dolomedes]

Rabbitpaw
He/him | WC Apprentice Tunneler | Moons: 7 | Purrks: Dreamwalker | Part Manx cat

Rabbitpaw gets to go on the patrol? Rabbitpaw gets to go on the patrol! That was awesome, he was so happy that he wasn’t going to have to sit out again as his clan went out to deal with a threat on territory. He did feel a bit bad that Lightningpaw didn't get to go but there wasn’t much to do about it now that Leechscar had announced who was going and who wasn’t. Though a part of him felt relieved that his friend wasn’t going, if only because of… like not wanting Lightningpaw to have to relive through trauma. It wasn’t like his friend was born with his scar after all. And also, with what happened with Tallgrass, Rabbitpaw wanted to make sure that no one else got hurt by the vultures. So when he was assigned to his mentor’s training team he was quick to quiet and listen to what the older tom had to say. Though side note, Crowtooth was so cool! He’s done so much and that was awesome, Rabbitpaw was happy that he has such an awesome mentor who can teach him all sorts of things.

Anyways, raptors. Owls and hawks, those sounded slightly frightening. Well, not as much as Riverclan is frightening. Though the idea of a bird not being able to be heard until it was already on you was quite the concept, and at night too? That sounded like some sort of kit nightmare. At least vultures are loud, it’d be really scary if they were quiet too and also like small or dead things. Except that made him worried about the kits, perhaps he should ask around about how to make the nursery stronger just in case. Hawks and eagles are fast but also pretty obvious, alright, sounds like most of raptor hunting relies on speed which luckily Rabbitpaw was pretty fast, at least, to his knowledge though he couldn’t run as long as warriors he was working on that though. His mind went to the vulture that he and Tallgrass had fought not long ago, and it seemed like Rabbitpaw’s fearful winging it worked in his favor. The apprentice had managed to get on its back and shot for its neck. Stars, was he lucky.

Everything else seemed pretty straight forward but he had some questions, “So if you get picked up by one, what should you do? And how do you free someone if they get picked up?” The apprentice asked with a tilt of his head. Rabbitpaw didn’t want to even think about any kits being swooped up but it was a very real threat right now so sadly he needed to think about things like that. He wanted to know so he could be ready in the worst case scenario. Though also, he wasn’t the biggest himself so… that was also a possibility to him for any bigger raptors until he gets bigger like Crowtooth.

[ @Rani - Crowtooth ]


Rabbitpaw gif made by ramen!

[Tiabirb]

Swiftfire

Ultimate Predator; Agatha Kitty; Heightened Senses [Sight]
---------------------------------------------


She was glad to be paired into Crowtooth's team. She listened attentively, though she wasn't quite able to suppress the small swelling in her chest and the wriggle in her shoulders when her name was one of two dropped for having experience in this matter. She remembered that day vividly, and she still wasn't sure which of the kits she had carried back to camp, but a part of her didn't care. What she was thinking about was her technique that day, and she agreed with most of Crowtooth's explanation, though she had one point to add.

"Tracking them is something we should cover, if I may be so bold." She snorted a little in amusement. "One method we can locate them with is their shadows," She voiced herself to Crowtooth, "We can tell how far they are from the ground too, whether the shadow itself is faint or sharp. Our territory is mostly open, too. Raptors would have trouble hiding that unless it's overcast. It's not the only way to keep tabs on them, but it is a way to be aware of your surroundings. A lot of raptors are ambush predators; They strike fast and sudden, and with little warning, if any."

Swiftfire took a moment to think if there was anything else to add, then decided what she had shared would be sufficient, and she gave Crowtooth a nod to let him know she was finished.

@Rani

[MockingRabbit]

Brightpaw
She/her - 10 Moons

Brightpaw was feeling intrigued about the whole thing. Raptor hunting wasn't something she had heard of before, and it would be interesting to try it out. She was also curious to test out her new battle-moves. Even if these were not cats she was fighting, it might still be similar. She wondered if she should have told Dapplebreeze what she was doing, before joining the patrol. She knew how worried the former queen would be if she knew Brightpaw was in any kind of danger. It was too late now, though. She padded over to her patrol, and listened with fidgeting paws. What Leechscar was saying could be valuable information, if this type of hunting were to stick, and it would put her ahead of many other apprentices.

[gs29513]

Deadmoon was happy to listen to Crowtooth and Leechscar’s explanations, ambling over to the tunneler and doing her best to remember the information about owls and vultures specifically. Owls because she hadn’t really seen them, and vultures because they were the most pertinent at the moment.

[Undertaker]

@Mica - Hawkfur | @MockingRabbit - Brightpaw | @sock - Rainyday | @Ragwort - Talloak
Great, no questions. Leechscar waved his tail towards his group of cats. "Brightpaw, Hawkbite, Talloak, Rainyday. If you're still paying attention, you four will come with me." Leechscar meowed, noticing that he had lost a few cats after the lecture. Not that he was upset with it. He didn't like chatting and he doubted cats like sitting around listening to me.

"We need to head out. I'll catch a rabbit or something on the way to the Windy Hills for bait. Brightpaw, you'll work with Hawkbite. Talloak," Leechscar glanced at Rainyday. She wasn't small. She didn't look stupid. She should be able to kill a simple vulture.

"You'll work with me." He didn't know where Flashfeather or Thrushfreckle had gotten to. Unreliable hairballs. Leechscar would have to keep a close eye on Rainyday. He wasn't worried about dealing with the current vultures unless they were those black ones. Leechscar didn't see the point in teaching hunting techniques, since it was vultures, they should not be plucking them out of the air and vultures don't have the same hunting techniques as hawks and eagles.

Hunting them shouldn't be much different from hunting regular prey, besides the wings and the enormous size. Leechscar led his mini-patrol out with him. Stopping as he said, to stalk and pounce on a fat rabbit along the way. His eyes would glance upwards, noticing the shadows in the sky grow more frequent as they reached the hills.

Halting the patrol, he tossed the rabbit in between a valley and returned to his patrol at the base of the hill. "So Hawkfur, I want to focus on holding down a wing when it lands. You'll probably have to jump on its back to get it to extend one of its wings. You'll have to hook your claws into and push down hard to keep the wing still, they're strong. Brightpaw, while he's holding the wing you'll have to go for the kill bite at the neck. Stay at its back." He reminded. "You'll go after it regularly as you would when prey is distracted when eating, stalk, and pounce."

"Talloak, same thing. I'll be holding the wing and you'll have to go after the neck. Rainyday, since you're alone treat it like any other prey. Go after the back and quickly move in for the kill at the neck. It shouldn't be able to carry you off, but you can always try injuring the wings if you're worried, or leap off and back away." Leechscar spoke while watching as four vultures landed around the dead rabbit.

They all had redheads, thankfully, so this should go smoothly. Unless his clanmates screw up somehow. He would never take them raptor hunting again if they messed something as simple as this up.

[Rani]

Crowtooth
Windclan Tunneler/Fury | He/him | 51 Moons

Power Card: Cold Gust

..... Not a lotta cats were getting involved, what a shame. Well some cats had questions and the fury went after those easily and replied to Rabbitpaw in a tone that meant it was for everyone.
"Well sadly kid if yer grabbed by a raptor there aint much ya can do ta save yerself. They go high once they get ya so ya cant get out wit'out fallin' ta yer end an' the claws grabbin' ya do tons o' damage. Best bet is ta dodge before ya get nabbed an' if ya got the chance wait till its goin' ta land an' target its upper legs. Theyre softer." It was a dark thing to admit but true.



On a lighter note the ton nodded at Swiftfire and indicated to what she said for the group. "Swiftfires got the right o' it. Listen ta her." As always really.


"Ok movin' on, how ta hit 'em.
Theres three main parts an' maybe a full grown warrior can handle a hawk or a small owl solo but fer vultures eagles an' such ya need at least two warriors. More is better.



First ya get 'em down ta the ground. Ya can bait em wit' dead prey or by bein' smaller an' actin' injured, they loved injured cats an' will swoop. When yer expectin' it an' its a trap more yall be ready to react. But fer this situation we're gonna be usin' prey ta be safe.



Once they're low an' swoopin' the other cat springs the trap. Ya aint stalkin' yer just attackin'. Jump high onta its back an' try an' pin it wit' yer weight an' aim fer the wings. A downed bird is a dead bird, but dont let go if ya grabbed it.



Finally the third cat (or second if ya cant spare another) can go fer the throat. If its pinned from the back it cant use its talons so ya dont have ta worry about much but its beak. Just never drop yer guard an' if yer an apprentice stick wit' a warrior."


It seemed Leechscar wasnt going to wait and was heading off to take down the birds so Crowtooth figured it was time to follow and get this over with. With a large aware group and a plan they should have the advantage to get away with this with no injuries, so it was just time to do.


"Alright ya'll anyone come up wit' questions yall have quick an' form groups. Ya need three if ta got an' apprentice, two if not an' all break away ta quickly hunt somethin' ta be bait. If ya got the chance maybe try an' hunt birds an' take em down by lungin' fer the wing ta get used ta not stalkin' but leapin'.


Rabbitpaw Im keepin' ya close but I want ya ta be the one ta get the bird. Ta keep ya clear o' the claws yer gonna be helpin' whoever teams wit' us grab the wings."


@Dolomedes @Realm @Moonraven @gs29513 @Tiabirb @Bean @Tallstar @SeonghwasBunnyEars

[MangoBearGoGrr]

Originally Posted by Rani

Crowtooth
Windclan Tunneler/Fury | He/him | 51 Moons

Power Card: Cold Gust

..... Not a lotta cats were getting involved, what a shame. Well some cats had questions and the fury went after those easily and replied to Rabbitpaw in a tone that meant it was for everyone.
"Well sadly kid if yer grabbed by a raptor there aint much ya can do ta save yerself. They go high once they get ya so ya cant get out wit'out fallin' ta yer end an' the claws grabbin' ya do tons o' damage. Best bet is ta dodge before ya get nabbed an' if ya got the chance wait till its goin' ta land an' target its upper legs. Theyre softer." It was a dark thing to admit but true.



On a lighter note the ton nodded at Swiftfire and indicated to what she said for the group. "Swiftfires got the right o' it. Listen ta her." As always really.


"Ok movin' on, how ta hit 'em.
Theres three main parts an' maybe a full grown warrior can handle a hawk or a small owl solo but fer vultures eagles an' such ya need at least two warriors. More is better.



First ya get 'em down ta the ground. Ya can bait em wit' dead prey or by bein' smaller an' actin' injured, they loved injured cats an' will swoop. When yer expectin' it an' its a trap more yall be ready to react. But fer this situation we're gonna be usin' prey ta be safe.



Once they're low an' swoopin' the other cat springs the trap. Ya aint stalkin' yer just attackin'. Jump high onta its back an' try an' pin it wit' yer weight an' aim fer the wings. A downed bird is a dead bird, but dont let go if ya grabbed it.



Finally the third cat (or second if ya cant spare another) can go fer the throat. If its pinned from the back it cant use its talons so ya dont have ta worry about much but its beak. Just never drop yer guard an' if yer an apprentice stick wit' a warrior."


It seemed Leechscar wasnt going to wait and was heading off to take down the birds so Crowtooth figured it was time to follow and get this over with. With a large aware group and a plan they should have the advantage to get away with this with no injuries, so it was just time to do.


"Alright ya'll anyone come up wit' questions yall have quick an' form groups. Ya need three if ta got an' apprentice, two if not an' all break away ta quickly hunt somethin' ta be bait. If ya got the chance maybe try an' hunt birds an' take em down by lungin' fer the wing ta get used ta not stalkin' but leapin'.


Rabbitpaw Im keepin' ya close but I want ya ta be the one ta get the bird. Ta keep ya clear o' the claws yer gonna be helpin' whoever teams wit' us grab the wings."


@Dolomedes @Realm @Moonraven @gs29513 @Tiabirb @Bean @Tallstar @SeonghwasBunnyEars

Watertail listened and blinked. Following once Crowtooth was done.

[gs29513]

Okie dokie artichokie, they were splitting up. The plan seemed.....relatively simple, just catch something and throw it out there for a vulture to go after, and then jump on its wings. One on the wings, one going for the throat. But she needed a partner. Yay. Well, Watertail was close by and seemed to have no intention of grouping up with anyone else. Watertail. Shall we pair up? she inquired, voice crisp. It wasn't really a question, she didn't see that many other options for partners, and Crowtooth was already taking Rabbitpaw with him.

Operating under the assumption that Watertail wouldn't refuse her invitation and would follow here, Deadmoon split off from the main group a bit. A mouse was shortly found near a bush and caught, before she traipsed a bit farther into the territory. Finding a small rise she placed the mouse at the bottom of it, before summiting it again to wait. She had the vague impression that being above the vultures when they came down would be advantageous, if nothing else so they were a bit harder to pick up. And now, they waited. @Rani @SeonghwasBunnyEars (I hope I've not misinterpreted the directions too much!)