Flaying Training

[Undertaker]

@Morrigan - Quitepaw @Hound - Kestrelpaw [I have a horrible habit of forgetting to start training requests so I'm going to get this going now.]

It was early, and the sunlight hadn't risen yet, but as Dawnstar couldn't sleep she needed a distraction. She blamed it on the new den and not yet being accustomed to it. The leader stepped out of her den and breathed in the cold air, gold eyes locked on the apprentices' den. Quiietpaw and Kestrelpaw had taken an interest in learning a few things from Dawnstar. The older cat didn't see a reason as to why she shouldn't start that now.

Yawning, Dawnstar cut across the clearing and over to the apprentice's den. She had to lower her head as she entered the den. She surveyed the den until she found the cats she was looking for. With the stealth and precision that earned ShadowClan their name, she weaved her way toward her slumbering granddaughter and Kestrelpaw.

She poked at each cat's flank lightly with an unsheathed claw until they woke from their slumber. "Up, we're going training." She meowed quietly, returning to the exit to wait for the pair in the clearing.

[Morrigan]

Quietpaw
Shadowclan apprentice
Purrk: Mind reader(permanently active)

Good thing Quietpaw had been woken up for somthing important, or she would've been in a bad mood for moons. Cold cyan hues snapped open as a sharp claw pricked her flank. Prepared to lash out at this disturbance in retaliation, her anger was instantly subdued at the sight of her grandmother. Oh. Suppose she wouldn't get to scratch someone yet, a bit disappointing but she wasn't about to claw at Dawnstar for just waking her up.

Wasting no time, the dark furred apprentice rose to her paws at Dawnstar's command, taking a moment to quickly lap off the scraps of moss clinging to her pelt. Briefly glancing at Kestrelpaw, she padded around the forms of her sleeping denmates and made her way over to her leader. Though she would've preferred to train without any of her clanmates distracting her she could stand it for today. Greeting he grandmother with a polite nod, Quietpaw waited to leave.

@Undertaker @Hound

[Hound]

Kestrelpaw
8 moons || ShadowClan || short-haired blue tom with amber eyes
Tags @Undertaker @Morrigan

Feeling a sharp claw prod his side, Kestrelpaw sleepily opened his eyes, briefly wondering who could be so obnoxious as to wake him up at the crack of dawn but as his vision cleared, he realized it was Dawnstar's amber eyes staring back at him. "W-what...? O-oh..." he mewed, parting his jaws in a yawn.

Taking a quick glance around, he saw that most nests still held sleeping apprentices. Why had she chosen to start training this early again? Anyone with eyes could take a glance around and realize that most nests still held sleeping apprentices. Apparently that anyone hadn’t realized that waking one of those poor poor apprentices might be kinda annoying but hey at least he’d been woken up for something interesting. Another yawn broke that train of thought, and Kestralpaw stretched his forelegs before carefully making his way over to Dawnstar, mindful not to wake the oh-so-lucky still-sleeping apprentices, before sitting down beside her and Quietpaw, waiting to leave.

[Undertaker]

@Morrigan - Quitepaw | @Hound - Kestrelpaw | @stag - Glowingpaw

As soon as she had the apprentices gathered, she ordered them wordlessly to follow her out of camp and into the territory. The she-cat set her paws down lightly as she treaded through the dark forest, ears at attention as she listened for any pesky threats. Dawnstar parted her maw letting the smells of the forest reach the scent glands on the roof of her mouth. When nothing out of the ordinary was scented, she had her little apprentice patrol stopped in a small clearing.

"If you three want to learn how to flay you'll have to catch me something, preferably small, to practice skinning on. Mice are often the best for beginners, but you can catch whatever you like." She meowed, assuming they knew how to hunt in the shadows if they wanted to learn something like flaying. "Do not stray far." She added, more worried about them finding trouble over getting lost.

[stag]

GLOWINGPAW
--
[ Small, grey, white and light cream cat. ]
[ HE / THEY ]
[ KITTY SOFTPAWS & LYREBIRD'S LULLABY ]
[ Perm Active & Inactive ]

--

Golden paws follow the Leader silently, blue and yellow eye trained on her. Glowingpaw was quiet, he knew one of the other two cats that were joining him this time...at least... He shudders, Quietpaw was the on the knew, and that was only because she was Dawnstar's granddaughter or something. Kestrelpaw was a mystery on the other paw. Stars he should've never come to this thing. The last time they saw claws harming someone else was Father's murder....No! Happy thoughts! Happy thoughts! You're not doing that stupid sad thingy right now, get it together and follow her instructions! His hisses barely above a whisper, not towards his company but towards themself.

Glowingpaw's half grey and golden face morphs into an expression of confusion for a moment, he was never taught how to hunt. His face swiftly snaps back to normal as he fears the Leader possibly catching the look and sending him home. WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT. He mentally screams before smiling. Giving the larger cat a flick of the tail as they speak. "Yes ma'am!" Glowingpaw once again flicking his tail, but time it was to the left as he swiftly switches to that direction to hunt something....

As he strays a few tail lengths away, but to too far, panic sets in. How do I hunt? Dark-mentor hasn't covered that yet?? Right?? Am I forgetting?! SOMEONEHELPMEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASE. He can't even speak, digging through memories of the prey pile and looking over each piece to not eat something rotten. Silently making way until an odd smell hits his nose, a creature that he had deemed as their favorite as a kit. As Glowingpaw searched through the old memories the vision of the clear old bloody bite marks on the animals neck became clear.

Hm. That seemed to be the way to deal with this thing! And no one would know he absolutely sucked at hunting! Yippee! They mentally cheer, lowering themselves down to the ground. The hunters crouch was far from perfect, and their tail was dragging on the ground a tad but ehhh! Who cared. (He cared...they in-fact cared). He was still following the scent before his nose pinged that it was closer than expected. Mouth opening as Glowingpaw located the creature with his eye. Springing up suddenly as they land a few paces away from it. Fail!

The golden and grey tom yelps in surprise as the vole bolts. He immediately (and totallyyyy not out of panic) follows chasing it back towards where the Leader was. This couldn't get any worse he remarks....(It did get worse). As he catches the creature by the tail, but he slips! Throwing it up in the air and it lands on his underbelly that had been exposed upwards but the sudden stumble and crash onto his shoulder. Ow!

His claws, thankfully, spring into action! They smack the shock ridden vole up his chest and into range of their teeth. Closing down on the prey's neck. Ha ha! I did it! WOOOOO!A smile grows on his face that disappears as quickly as it manifested. Dawnstar was right there...he just chased after a vole, tripped, fell and almost didn't get it...all right in front of her. Fear runs through his veins, words escape his mouth at a racing pace. "I'msososososossosorry! Ididntmeanto, I'msorryifIgotdirtonyou!" Glowingpaw swiftly stands, ears pinned as they place the vole down at her paws and back away. Sitting as far as reasonably possible.

[ @Undertaker , @Morrigan , @Hound ]

[Hound]

Kestrelpaw
8 moons || ShadowClan || short-haired blue tom with amber eyes
Tags @Undertaker @Morrigan @stag

Kestrelpaw strayed a fair distance away from the rest of the other apprentices before he decided to sniff around, His nose twitching as he picked up the faint scent of prey, somewhere to his right... mouse. Nostrils flaring and mouth hanging open to taste the air. Yes. That was definitely mouse to his right, just a few fox-lengths away in-fact. The blue-gray tom paused, steps slowing as he angled himself downwind from the creature silently dropped into a hunting crouch, getting low but not letting his fur brush the forest floor he straighted his tail and sulked forward.

He followed the scent, lifting one weightless paw at a time, creeping closer and closer to the mouse until he risked being seen leaving only a thin curtain of grass to hide him. For an agonizingly long moment, he waited and waited - giving the diminutive rodent time to relax, to think itself safe, to go back to nibbling on nuts, as it turned its back towards him in favor of a particular acorn, Kestrelpaw made his move. every muscle in his body coiled and ready to spring. His paws barely made a sound as he swiftly pounded landing Square on top of the rodent. It let out a small pitiful squeak of terror as it tried to flee but paws dove in front of the mouse cutting it from escape. the tiny mammal had no time to register the paws trapping it on either side before his fangs sank into the tender flesh on its neck and with a satisfying crunch the mouse went limp. He picked up the lifeless mouse, feeling the warmth of the delicate creature gently between his teeth, he turned back toward the clearing where Dawnstar awaited.


As Kestralpaw returned, he saw Glowingpaw in the midst of a frantic scramble, chasing after a... vole? Was it? Gosh What in StarClan's name is he doing? The sight was almost comical: Glowingpaw tripping over his own paws, barely managing to catch the vole right…… in front of Dawnstar. For a moment, he just stood there, mouse dangling from his jaws, utterly baffled watching Glowingpaw babbling apologies at an alarming speed. he crept out of the brush and decidedly shuffed two steps away from.. that.... Whole thing. Placing his mouse down at his paws "I got a mouse"

[Morrigan]

Quietpaw
Shadowclan apprentice
Purrks: Mind reader(permanently active) and Shadow fiend(active)

Quietpaw silently followed her grandmother as they journeyed through the territory, eyes staring straight in front of her. This would surely be a valuable lesson, though, any lessons from Dawnstar were valuable. She was open to any opportunities were she could learn something, it would only empower her to achieve her growing ambition. A step closer to victory. Closer to crushing those she despised.

Halting in unison with the huge tabby, she listened attentively as instructions were given out. Catch something to flay. Easy, but there was a small problem, she didn't know how to hunt...she'd find her way around, afterall she would never risk embarrassing herself in front of grandmother- or one of the proud hairballs she called her clanmates. Showing no sign of her inexperienced, she swiftly departed from the group to secure a worthy morsel to practice on.

Hunting. It required basic skill. Unfortunately, the apprentice didn't posses that knowledge yet so she'd have to rely on her wit and enviroment. If the first felines who walked this world figured it out, surely she could too. Fading into the shadows of the pine forest, she prowled through the territory like a ghost. Every sign of life was noted. After a few moments of lurking, a scent she'd remembered from kithood drifted towards her. Perfect. Intuition could get you anywhere.

Quiet paws carried her fleetly across the needle ridden ground, dead set on pinpointing her target. Most likely a squirrel. The fluffy creatures had always looked so pathetic to her, that's what made them seem so killable. Finally, the dainty mammal came into sight. A bundle of grey and orange snuffing among the roots of a tree. Should be suitable for flaying. Lots of fur and smallish to medium size, hopefully Dawnstar would be satisfied if she succeeded in catching this.

Dark-rimmed eyes narrowing in concentration, the paw drifted closer. The shadows worked with her, wrapping around her shape. She became one woth the darkness that surronded her. An ally among hunters. Breath baited, muscles tensed, she waited. Waited for the perfect moment to- Strike! Deadly talons made a grab towards her unsuspecting prey. The squirrel managed to slip from her grasp the first time, (that earned it a subtle growl), but it could not escape again. A prisoner in a cage of claws, sharp fangs quickly ended it's terror as they sunk into it's soft neck without a moments hesitation. Success.

Upon returning to the rest of her class, Quietpaw involuntarily witnessed a most unsophisticated sight indeed. An apprentice, who's name she didn't care to remember, had tumbled while in pursuit of a vole and a flow of...apologies? She didn't know, seemed more like rushed gibberish, came out of their maw...and right in the line of Dawnstar. Well, well, should be interesting to see how grandmother responded to the undignified display.

Appearing from the shadows with a squirrel clutched in her jaws, the arkduo kit padded to join the rest of the group. Discreetly throwing a disdainful glance at the foolish apprentice who'd just been blabbering about something. Seating herself in front of Dawnstar, she gingerly placed the readily caught squirrel at her paws, eager to continue the most intresting part of the lesson. The main event, so to speak.

@Undertaker @Hound @stag

[Undertaker]

@Morrigan - Quitepaw | @Hound - Kestrelpaw | @stag - Glowingpaw

She wondered if she should have asked if they knew how to hunt after she sent them off. The Queen of Mean assumed that would have told her, but after a moment she recalled how prideful those in ShadowClan were especially when it came to her. Who wants to tell your clan leader you didn't know how to hunt? No one, still you can't learn if you don't speak up. Well, blind experience was a method of training. Considering that mere loners and rogues figured out how to hunt without being instructed, her apprentices couldn't be that helpless they had instincts. But that didn't mean she'd excuse their silence.

She stood craning her neck while eyeing the branch over her head. After judging the distances, she sprang upward, sinking huge claws into the rough bark, and climbed upward until she reached the perch. She tested her weight, watching the limb bow under the pressure, but hold. Deeming it sturdy enough, Dawnstar sat down and stared into the darkness.

She found Glowingpaw first, his crouch was lopsided and his tail was hanging too low. It took some intense stare to figure out what he was hunting, a vole. She turned away after his failed first attempt and found Kestrelpaw instead. He was doing far better, he remained downwind and everything. Confident that he had to have some hunting training, Dawnstar sought out her granddaughter. Quietpaw proved a bit more difficult to spot, she missed the dark she-cat the first time but locked on to her the second time.

She had stealth down to an art, silent and blending into shadows as if it were a second pelt. Dawnstar was thoroughly impressed but despite going undetected, she missed her target the first time, making Dawnstar assume she didn't have hunting training either. Dawnstar's tattered ears swerved toward the sound of incoming paws and leaped down from the tree. She landed just as Kestrelpaw arrived.

Just as she opened her mouth to praise him for his skill, Glowingpaw appeared chasing after his vole. Her doubts about his hunting ability were cemented after watching the show he put on. Her expression deadpanned after he managed to trip (over air?), fling the vole onto his belly, yet still managed to catch the thing. The leader blinked her eyes slowly; staring at the idiot, barely noticing her granddaughter's return.

Dawnstar huffed as Glowingpaw reverted into a sniveling kit and dumbly dropped the vole at her paws after speaking in gibberish. His fear scent had her rolling her eyes and shaking out her pelt. "Relax before your fear scent brings unwanted attention." Dawnstar hissed at Glowingpaw.

"Your crouch is lopsided, and you do not drag your tail on the ground when hunting. I'm surprised you managed to get as close to the vole as you did." Dawnstar criticized the apprentice while hooking her front claws into the rodent he left her. "If you didn't know how to hunt, you should have informed me instead of making a fool of yourself." With a swing of her forepaw, she sent the vole hurtling toward Kestrelpaw's face.

"I think it was dumb luck, but as you managed to catch the vole despite your clumsiness, you're not a total waste of space. Some would have given up after falling, but your persistence caught you that prey. You need more hunting training and more faith that I won't punish you for petty mistakes. You also need to take your training more seriously." Dawnstar swung her large head in Quietpaw's direction as she spoke next.

"You do as well, Quitepaw. Few apprentices today match you in stealth, something I am proud to see. You caught your squirrel without as much trouble as Glowingpaw, good job, however, if you don't know how to hunt you should have spoken up. The whole point of training is learning how to defend and provide for the clan properly. That can't be done if you're too proud or embarrassed to inform me about what you haven't been taught."

She was here to teach them. Dawnstar would rather take a few moments out of her current lesson to go over some of the basics of hunting than have them run around like Glowingpaw and never learn the correct way to hunt.

"Kestrelpaw, you have a natural hunting ability and good instincts, well done." She meowed to the last apprentice. The only one who didn't get some type of lecture.

"Now that you all have your prey, let's begin your lesson. Lay your prey down on its belly, and use whichever forepaw you're most comfortable with or dominate with to cut. The other forepaw you'll use to hold the prey still by the legs or the tail firmly. Unsheath one claw and make an incision along the spine, from the shoulders to the hips. The cut only needs to be skin deep, any deeper and you'll hit some organs and that will cause... problems."