Ambushing a Hawk [p]

[SuspiciousMindz]

[Hawkbite]
Enforcer Commander
Shadow Fiend | Agatha Kitty | Kitty Softpaws

"Sleepypaw!" Hawkbite called across the clearing. The young feline wanted to cash in her reward from his event with a private training session. She was particularly interested in ambush training, which he'd happily oblige. It wasn't a lesson he got to teach often since everyone seemed to come running for him for battle training. He didn't mind, but the occasional switch up was a nice breather for him.

This was the perfect time to do this type of training. Dusk was falling on them and soon nightfall, but he wanted to make sure she could work her way through the shadows before complete darkness. Hawkbite also wanted to make sure her tree climbing was adequate enough to get the jump on cats from above if she wanted to. That was personally his favorite thing to do.

"You wanted to get started with your ambush training, so let's head on out," he gestured for the small feline to follow after him once she was present.

@Estelle - Sleepypaw

[Estelle]

Hearing her name called across the clearing as dusk fell, Sleepypaw emerged from Miss Grandmama's den without complaint; she recognised the enforcer commander's voice, her words confirming that this was indeed what she had been waiting for: her lesson on ambushing. Her tail flicked behind her, approaching with quick steps and a dull expression, quick to join the enforcer's side. He was an enforcer and a commander - Miss Grandmama trusted him, and as such, she had to trust he wouldn't do wrong by her grandmother, and her training. Following without complaint, Sleepypaw remained alert as they walked through the dimming light, ready to begin this lesson.


[ @SuspiciousMindz ]

[SuspiciousMindz]

[Hawkbite]
Enforcer Commander
Shadow Fiend | Agatha Kitty | Kitty Softpaws

Once in the area he wanted, Hawkbite would lift his tail to signal a halt and turn to face Sleepypaw. So, this was the infamous daughter of Lostspark, eh? He'd give a quick study before nodding in silent approval about something unbeknownst to her. "Have you learned how to climb trees yet?" He'd inquire simply, flicking his tail to the canopy above them. The trees in their territory were very close together. It made it easy for cats to jump tree to tree and with the right training, you could do it silently as if it were second nature. Today, Sleepypaw would learn how to do that.

@Estelle - Sleepypaw

[Estelle]

Sleepypaw paused at the inquiry, thinking back to her lesson with Honeybite - or should she not? Timeline-wise her climbing lesson with Honeybite started shortly after Sleepypaw got apprenticed, but they haven't reached the actual learning part yet, and as such her rper - Estelle - does not know how to arrange this timeline. After all, Sleepypaw can't very well know something she hasn't yet learned in Rp, has she? Even if technically in this timeline she should already know it. As such, Sleepypaw will stare at Hawkbite in deep thought, before giving a subtle, incoherent answer in the of a slight shake of her head, perhaps, which must indicate that her learning how to climb has yet to be rped out. Her response was silent; if she already knew, she required a refresher - she hadn't much time to practice - if she didn't, she needed a lesson, but for the sake of continuity and with the blessing on the dice, may be a quick learner.


[ @SuspiciousMindz ]

[SuspiciousMindz]

[Hawkbite]
Enforcer Commander
Shadow Fiend | Agatha Kitty | Kitty Softpaws

Well, an answer was an answer he supposed. Hawkbite would gesture for the apprentice to sit at the base of a pine tree with him. "Well, let's just go over it briefly. Thankfully, we're cats. This is a pretty simple thing to master, you just have to build the muscle to do it fluently. That comes with time."

Hawkbite flexed his claws before his back legs would spring him upwards onto the trunk of the tree. With fluent movements, his claws hooked into the bark and brought up upwards to the some of the lower -- thick -- branches for him to sit on. "Now, you give it a shot," the Commander would speak, patting the branch beside him for her to take a seat on.

@Estelle

[Estelle]

Muscle, something she... Lacked, in a manner of speaking, she did not have much - if any - muscle to actually show off. But the young apprentice got through life and that must mean she had some strength to carry her own weight, mind you, she wasn't a brittle twig. At least not in truth, never mind the appearance.

Blue eyes focused on the commander without a word, focusing intently on hos movements as her kicked off with back legs and latched onto the tree with claws, climbing up with what she could only describe as surprising ease. She watched as Hawkbite seated himself on the lower, thicker branches of the tree, a brief hesitance shown through her lack of movement. Could she really do this?

...She had to, actually. She had to do this. She couldn't just sit by idly as those around her progressed with training, she needed to excel. This was a part of excelling, of reaching that goal. So, without further ado, Sleepypaw stepped up to the base of the same pine tree. She observed the bark, recalling the way Hawkbite had gotten up, tracing her path firstly with her gaze.

Then, it was time. A brief crouch turned into a jump upwards, claws narrowly digging into the bark as the sudden strain on her body pulled her down, but miraculously, Sleepypaw remained hanging on the base of the tree's bark, the nearest thing to the ground being her tail.

From there she reached out a front paw followed by a second one, which was then followed by one and two back paws, and repeat. Her movements were a lot slower and stockier than that of Hawkbite, courtesy of her lack of practice compared to his, but much to her own surprise she had yet to fall. The strain on her muscles was there, but somehow the young apprentice slowly managed to pull herself up towards the same branch Hawkbite was on, evidently hesitating a few moments as she tried to picture how to get onto the branch without falling off.

Her tail swayed a few heartbeats before she did, awkwardly making her way beside Hawkbite, claws digging into the bark so she wouldn't fall as she glanced down, a slight bit of hidden curiosity. What was next?


[ @SuspiciousMindz ]

[SuspiciousMindz]

[Hawkbite]
Enforcer Commander
Shadow Fiend | Agatha Kitty | Kitty Softpaws ACTIVE

"Nicely done. It gets easier with practice," Hawkbite praised the younger apprentice, even offering a soft touch on her shoulder. Getting up the tree wasn't even the scariest part of the entire ordeal. "Get your balance figured out now. It should come to you naturally. Use your tail as a counterweight and don't look down. Just be aware of where you step and if the branch can hold you," Hawkbite instructed next. He got up to his paws, walking the length of the branch before coming to an end. The branch only swayed a little and his steps were silent. "For example, I can only go so far on this branch before it's too thin to hold me up, but thankfully, ShadowClan has trees that are close together," Hawkbite explained, looking back at the small she-cat.

The Commander gave her a small wink before turning his head towards another branch. With a swift movement, he cleared the jump and landed softly, barely rattling the new branch under his weight. Swiftly, he ran across the branch and to the next tree trunk, turning to look at Sleepypaw eagerly. "Want to give that a try? If not, I'll meet you on the ground," He'd inquire while giving her the option to opt out. He was curious to see how quickly she could learn. She was small enough this should be easy for her to accomplish and if she failed, they weren't too far off the ground. The drop wouldn't be too bad.

"The nice thing with our territory are these trees. If you can master how to move through them quietly and efficiently, you can creep up on just about anything before they know you're there. They don't expect us to move like squirrels, but we should utilize our trees more. This also gives us the advantage in battle. To jump down at someone to surprise them gives you the one up in a fight." Hawkbite spoke as she started to move.

@Estelle - Sleepypaw

[Estelle]

Balance. Sleepypaw had to pay no heed to the soft touch to her shoulder, rather focusing on what was important – the balance as not to fall. Her tail as counter weight, she still struggled a little to remain quite as still as Hawkbite did, especially when the commander began walking along the tree; but she was remaining up, and that is what counted. Her eyes watched how far her went and she noted that though not much further, perhaps she could take a step or two extra courtesy or their difference in size – if she got the balance thing down.

As he jumped, his words felt like a challenge; they weren’t too far off the ground and yet she felt as though that one fall from her and she would be nest-ridden with a broken leg for moons. She couldn’t have that, much less back out of the chance to learn something new. Perfect balance or not, she had to try.

Her steps wobbled a bit as she walked along the branch, slowly shifting her tail and weight around until she felt stable enough to stand and tear her eyes from her paws, looking to the branch ahead. Run, jump, land. How hard could it be? She took a deep breath, steeling her nervous before rushing ahead, jumping to close the gap between the trees – she didn’t quite land within the same spot, more further back, and the branch shook lightly under the weight of the landing but with claws holding onto the bark, she didn’t fall, soon approaching Hawkbite with an expressionless face, following his pawsteps as she listened to his words.


[ @SuspiciousMindz ]

[SuspiciousMindz]

[Hawkbite]
Enforcer Commander
Shadow Fiend | Agatha Kitty | Kitty Softpaws T2

Hawkbite nodded with approval when she completed the leap. With a quick gesture of his tail, he led her to the trunk of the tree and scaled downwards, leaping to the ground with a soft thud before continuing on with the lessons.

"So, tree basics is done. Now, you'll utilize what you learn down here and apply it to the trees when you have a chance to try it out. Ambush is rather simple. Think of it like hunting, but instead of mindless prey, you're hunting a cat with a brain that will pick up on the smallest ques. You have to be extra stealthy and really use your knowledge of the territory to your advantage. Does that make sense?" The Commander would inquire, leading her to a shadow and crouching down. The land beneath them was a little marshier since this place didn't get as much sun.

"So, be mindful of the wind and which direction it's blowing. Remain downwind at all times, unless you've mastered stealth. Stay to the shadows and never let your eyes off the cat ahead of you. When they look in your direction, you pause, no exceptions," Hawkbite explained. unless you have shadow fiend and kitty softpaws T2

Hawkbite began creeping forward, demonstrating his technique. His paws were silent, and his scent disappeared, but he still stayed within view of Sleepypaw. Every few steps, Hawkbite would pause and bring himself closer to the ground before picking back up. His ears were flattened to his head to sink into the shadow. "Now, when you approach close enough, be mindful of who you're facing. Loners are easy. Usually, you can approach them head on and scare them off. The clan cats are the ones to keep an eye on. You want to position your location carefully, so you can come up behind them. When you're within pouncing distance, you have two choices. Pounce and pin or reveal yourself and hopefully intimidate."

Hawkbite stood up, his tail flicking behind him as he finished up the talking portion of this lesson. "The other thing with clan cats is if you can put yourself between them and the border. If the wind isn't in your favor, be extra mindful of your stealth, even keep a longer distance away if you have to. You don't want them running straight back to their clan, right? You want answers or, better, you want to drag them back to Dawnstar. Dead or alive."

He motioned to the trees. "WindClan and RiverClan typically won't use the trees like we will. It's easy to jump down on them if given the option. It's also easier to keep your scent away from them and it doesn't matter which direction you're facing if you can simply jump down onto the cat.

Questions?"

[WOW ONLY 3 MONTHS LATER]
@Estelle - SleepyPAW