Stealth Training HollowHawk [p]

[SuspiciousMindz]

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

The Commander had permission to leave the camp still, so he took advantage of it as he dragged his apprentice from her den or task. The evening was creeping up on them and Hawkbite wanted to get some training started. This wouldn't be another failed apprentice. He wasn't sure he could handle another loss, but perhaps that was why he hadn't been close to any of his apprentices since Starrywisp.

"Typically we'd start with a territory tour, but it's too dangerous to stray far from the camp without battle training right now," Hawkbite spoke as he led the apprentice out of the camp and a few tail-lengths into the territory. The shadows were growing around them, perfect timing for their lesson. "Today, we'll have a crash course on stealth. Learning how to hide and utilize the shadows in our territory," he spoke, pausing at last and turning to Hollowpaw.

@fade - Hollowpaw

[harbinger]

Hollowpaw
‘The Hauntress’

Shadow Fiend: Inactive
[ black and white cat, blue and amber eyes. face and shoulder scarring. | she/they ]
[ #VGCHollow ]

➢ As her mentor walked ahead of them Hollowpaw follows, silently. Thoughts buzzing around her head like bees, a constant low hum, fills her mental space. White paws causing the low pawsteps noise that snaps her back from whatever they seemed to be lost in as he stops. Her attention now caught on his words about the territory tour. Ah that made sense, with all the predators around. Then Hawkbite talks about the stealth training. It sparks something inside of her, something they didn't even understand.

Hollowpaw laughs, a quiet chuckle, but it was something regardless of how terrible to may have sounded. It was funny to her. Taking a few deep breathes before trying to collect themself. "Sorry- Sorry. I just-" More laughter as Hollowpaw raises a paw to cover her maw and the smile that managed to materialize on it. "Apologizes, I shouldn't be laughing. I just found the "crash course" thing funny because you're supposed to be ya know, sneaky. I'm sorry." Voice trailing off half way through her thought, embarrassment growing as she puts back on the fallen mask. 'They wouldn't have found that funny, so why do you. Forgetting them already?' Hollow stares off into a random direction, mentally digging into themself as the thought of their siblings once again takes over. Expression going blank once more in an instant but paws slightly shaking from her own mental comments, trying to avoid the uncomfortable feeling growing on them, shame.

[ @SuspiciousMindz ]

[SuspiciousMindz]

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

Hawkbite would pause, processing the joke Hollowpaw just shocked him with. A single snort would escape her, an amused shake of his head would follow. "I can appreciate that joke," the Commander mused. His tail flicked, gesturing the shift of topic back to the lesson. "Now, if you haven't been out here yet, welcome to the territory. This is the main area we do hunting and training. Sometime soon, I'll show you the big landmarks and the borders. You'll especially need to memorize the borders," Hawkbite spoke, sounding like the typical mentor.

This was a spiel he'd spoken several times, and it was showing. He'd mentored just about every new warrior in the last season and the lessons never ended. Sometimes he could feel the burn-out, but stealth was something he didn't get to teach often. Crazy since Hawkbite seemed to be the embodiment of it. The Commander had mastered a scentless, soundless everyday gait.

"ShadowClan is known for their stealth. It's a skill passed down for many generations. When you get to know the skill..." Hawkbite began backing up towards a tree nearby, the shadow casting over him slowly as he disappeared in the darkness with nothing but an echoing voice. "...you can do just about anything with it," his voice was moving within the darkness. Hollowpaw would have to be note which direction he was coming from, otherwise his presence behind them would startle them as he appeared from the darkness.

Hawkbite gestured for Hollowpaw to crouch down. "Luckily for you, you're a black and white cat. You can hide in the shadows easier than most cats. Pick an area to hide in, near bushes or trees. Try to cover the white on your fur the best you can. Dirt hides it well, but if you can tuck your legs close enough and keep your underbelly and any white markings on your chin and face down low, you'll be fine," Hawkbite spoke, demonstrating his own crouch. It was neatly put together, his legs close to his body, tail straight behind him, and his belly off the ground. "Give it a try, I'll help you."

@wilt - Hollowpaw

[harbinger]

Hollowpaw
‘The Hauntress’

Shadow Fiend: Active | Standard Roll: 4 [ + 5 w/ Shadow Fiend ] = 9. Fail.
[ black and white cat, blue and amber eyes. face and shoulder scarring. | she/they ]
[ #VGCHollow ]

➢ Blue and amber eyes wander through the area, avoiding the green eyes that filled the space in front on the shecat. As he played into her attempt at humor, Hollowpaw let a grin grow on her maw before she shut the feeling of joy down. Black and white cat listening to the Commander's words as they slowly nodded to each point. Generational. Passed down. Known for. All words that made Hollowpaw pause as she processed each.

They blink, he's gone. Hollowpaw stands, head whipping around to her side, ears perked as they failed to pick up the location of their Mentor. Suddenly, he appears, behind her! Hollowpaw hisses from the shock, claws releasing from their hiding place in her paw involuntarily. An expression of shock manages to slip from her normal blank stare, one that she shreds away and forces to be come neutral once more as they grumble a half hearted curse under their breath.

"Does this anything include sneaking up on me?" They mutter, another attempt at humor. Hollow lets the chilly air blow through her pelt as they calm down their breathing from the shallow inhales and sharp exhales. As he wraps up his statements, Hollowpaw couldn't help but give a mental 'thank you' the tips he gave for them. Hollow would say it, she was too prideful, but the truly appreciated it. The Apprentice took these pointers with a simply nod, stepping away from him and stepping into the shadows without a second thought.

As she melted into the cloak of darkness, they keep their face low, though keeping an eye on the tom as she weaves through them shadows. Revenge for his earlier spook! What she fails to do is crouch, she's easy to spot as they exit the shaded area. They had listened, just not put it into practice like a fool.

[ @SuspiciousMindz ]

[SuspiciousMindz]

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

Hawkbite watches as Hollowpaw slips away into the darkness. Thankfully, he was more skilled in this and was able to see her lurking through the shadows. His eyes narrowed a tad and he shook his head with slight disapproval. "You're so close, but you need to stay crouched," Hawkbite instructed, demonstrating his crouch once again. This time, he crept forward a bit. "You want to move slowly, lightly. You don't want to step on any crunchy leaves or sticks. You need to be mindful of how your body brushes on the branches of bushes. You can shake a bush too much and give yourself away."

Hawkbite stalked along beneath a nearby bush, keeping his crouch together. His gaze would settled on Hollowpaw again, approaching her slowly. "Your eyes cannot leave your target. Ears up, listening. When you're hunting, the ears back is fine, but when you're trying to sneak up on someone, you need to be in full focus. Every sound counts," he grew closer and closer to the apprentice. Until he stopped. He'd rise to his full height -- not very tall -- before he'd gesture for her to continue. "Go again."

@Wilt - Hollowpaw

[harbinger]

Hollowpaw
‘The Hauntress’

Shadow Fiend: Inactive | Chill of Death: Permanently Active
[ black and white cat, blue and amber eyes. face and shoulder scarring. | she/they ]
[ #VGCHollow ]

➢ To put it in twoleg terms, she had to lock the hell in. Hollowpaw sighs loudly and harsher than her normal version of the huff, frustration at herself, she should have actually listened. Pay attention. Retry, again and again, and again. Hollow digs her claw into the ground briefly, slashing the snow silently as she reviews her own actions before resetting her position. His shake of disapproval jabbing her mind back into focus. Stay low and quiet.

Alright, she had this. It was all about mindset, right? She takes a deep breath before exhaling it sharply. Lowering herself to the ground before staying in the crouching position as they gathered a plan of sorts. Go to his left and try to pounce, then see what happened. It was good enough in the moment, eh? Her paws move, sticking to the shadows of the brush and avoiding the sticks that dared to give away their position to the Commander.

Okay, this wasn't so bad! Why hadn't she does this before...? Blue and amber eyes locked onto the brown tabby as they aim to approach from the left and lock into a pouncing position, taking a moment to breath then lunging at him from the darkness. Yeah, ignorance was so dumb because this was so much easier than what they ahd been doing prior.

[ @SuspiciousMindz ]