PROJECT : BEAST ✩ [houndpaw's training tracker] ✩

[Mica]

Mistlewhisker
ShadowClan Deputy
she/her | 49 moons
[Large black cat with a half white muzzle and a pale green eye]
Purrks: Killer Aptitude T3, Shadow Fiend, Mind Reader
Header art by @/Marigoldwhisper
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽ The Chariot ☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
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[Houndpaw - @wolfie ]

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His form and movement had already improved compared to last time, which pleased Mistlewhisker greatly. She watched with a cool expression as he shot off into the undergrowth, his movements quickly fading into shadows and silence. She could still hear him rustling every so often, but that was to be expected. It took moons of intense training to learn how to move without a sound.

The squeal of a creature caught her attention, and she smiled privately to herself. He should be coming back in three... two... one.

Mistlewhisker dropped the smile as Houndpaw crashed back through the undergrowth to her, immediately tripping over his paws and nearly flattening his shrew into paste in his excitement. "Yes, you did it." Mistlewhisker meowed. "Well done. I want you to catch one more piece of prey before we go home."

[wolfie]

⸝⸝⸝ 彡 ☽ five moons ✮ he . him ✮ shadowclan apprentice ☾ 彡 ⸝⸝⸝

huge chocolate brown tom with darker brown markings that go down his back and limbs; lighter brown underbelly and chest. has a striped tail and small, tufted ears with round, blazing golden eyes. has thick fluffy fur and a raccoon-like striped tail. he has a single tooth that overlaps his bottom lip and is commonly covered in mud. he is missing half of his right ear; smells like dirt & wood. struggles with a stutter. ⋆｡˚ ☁︎ ˚｡⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆

꒰ #AcontiumFlowers /ᐠ - ˕ -マ ꒱

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····╰⪼ @Mica .ᐟ.ᐟ

⊱ ۫ ׅ ✧ Houndpaw practically beamed with the light of thousands sun, hopping to his paws at the mere confirmation that he did indeed do it. His tail wagged with such ferocious energy it caused his whole lower body to move with it. "Uh huh, uh huh!" He let out a low rumble, but he was not stealthily enough to hide how quick his expression was to shift. At the mention of going home, Houndpaw appeared immediately crest-fallen. His tail came to a swift halt, staring at MistleMama with apprehension. He didn't WANNA be stuck within the confinement of camp again!

His mind begun to reel together a plan to prolong his adventure. "Ookey d-dokey!" Houndpaw chirped back at her, trying to cover up the slip of his expression with a smile. See, as far as he was concerned he could keep hunting all he wanted and it was only when he returned to Mistlewhisker they would have to return. He couldn't get dragged back if she didn't know where he was. Of course, the apprentice didn't think for a moment about the possible consequences. Without another word, he sped off in a random direction.

Giggling to himself, Houndpaw went on da HUNT!! His first prey of choice was uhm, a frog, but truthfully he got too focused on trying to squish the creature to hear more of its funny noises. He had tackled it successfully,, but... it made a really weird noise! He had been curious. Unfortunately, it ended up jumping & whacking him in the face before jumping into the water; disappearing from his sight. Weird creature.

His second prey would be a fat, ol' mouse with the meanest mog he's ever seen. It had been resting on a large, large rock. Very shiny, too. He crept up on the creature, and while he did have to give the mouse a bit of a chase since he alerted it too soon -- Houndpaw's speed allowed him to catch up and tackle it to the ground. This time he buried it briefly.

Now, the apprentice would be lying if he said he solely focused on hunting. Once he completed the goal Mistlewhisker gave him, he took his time exploring his surroundings. And sniffing. Lots of sniffing. And running. And rubbing against interesting textures. He didn't know how far he had strayed from his mentor but the sky was beginning to darken.

Another failed attempt -- Houndpaw attempted to get revenge on a bird. This time he didn't even get the chance to tackle. It heard him before he even got close enough. So, this led the apprentice to his fourth and final attempt. He would take a brief rest underneath a tree only to be become distracted by the sound of well,, digging. He took the time to follow the subtle sounds, curious. It was digging close to the surface and after Houndpaw gathered a decent pattern on its tunneling -- he would dig a hole and wait. When the vole became exposed to the sky, he struck with his claws and dragged it around; killing it swiftly.

This time Houndpaw made his way back to unbury his mouse, keeping his vole with him. He was a tired guy! Besides, his fur was successfully covered in leaves, mud, dirt, and stars knows what else. Clear evidence of a long day well worked. Expect.

Expect.

He heard yipping. It almost reminded Houndpaw of the howling one night but it was different. High-pitched, almost screaming. Attention successfully diverted, he dropped down into the tall grass. He pushed pass evergreen, settling within bushes to observe a muddy clearing. A litter of fox kits running and frolicking in the grass, pushing and growling against each other while an older, taller fox sat aside and simply watched. He knew from the twitching of its ears that it was alert. This would not be good prey. They didn't look chewy.

Still, Houndpaw couldn't bring himself to look away from the scene. It reminded him of his Mama; his siblings. He was excited he got to go out now, really, but sometimes he missed when all he knew was Home. He had all his siblings and Mama was busy with them. Not the clan. Maybe he was selfish for that. He didn't want to be. He wanted to be the best. Houndpaw settled in the grass, observing. He hoped maybe his other siblings -- the little ones he hadn't seen in moons -- would come back from playing wherever they were. He wanted to play with them again. They were falling behind in their training.

The fox made no sign it noticed him. His breath was steadied, dark fur letting him stay hidden with the shadows. Surprisingly, he was stealthy for once in his life. Attuned with everything around him.
[pinky promise no fox attacks -- hound don't go no plans to attack, dude is just watching figure after mistle drags 'em back this can wrap up!]

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✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ heightened hearing ✮ silver tongue ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧