Bedtime… or never mind [p]

[Kix]

Wispypaw
I make bad decisions, bad decisions
+ she/her[they/them to those she has told] + Heightened Perception [hearing, active] + Shadow fiend + Kitty softpaw t2 + Blind

Wispypaw blinked in what could be compared to slight annoyance to the inconvenience they are getting now. They wanted to tell the enforcer that they could care less if the vermin went into the tree. That no named warrior had taught them how to tree climb so they could just trap the sucker on a tree. But the enforcer pointed out a different scent off in whatever direction the berry bush was. A sniff of the air and they had their head turned in its direction. ”hah is that doubt I hear coming from you?! I’ll have you know I’m good at hunting!” they couldn’t believe what they just heard, they’ll show her that they do have it after all. With a lash of their tail they crouched and stalked forward, their steps and scent becoming silent and blending in with their surroundings. Slowly they slinked closer and closer to the bush until they leaped. The smell of the berry bush and the prey had become stronger and had thought they were close enough. Well they were close but not like they had thought. So they ended up short their paws just barely in the leaves. Yet they could feel something wriggling beneath their claws just barely caught. Even if it was a bit humiliating to them they didn’t want to lose whatever it was they had a grasp on. Quickly they dragged the body closer to them to bite the head for a quick kill.

@squidz

Header made by Pheonix

[squidz]

~ BRIARSPLASH ~
stocky, large, & fluffy dilute gray tortie she-cat with goldish-green eyes; just a scratch | killer aptitude t2
[ shadowclan enforcer | she-cat | 34 moons | abrasive, standoffish, loyal ]

~

Briarsplash had to bite back a snicker as Wispypaw retorted, taking the bait. Heh... the tortie's eyes glinted mischievously, glad that the 'paw couldn't see it. "Prove it, then," she grunted.

Sure enough, Wispypaw was going to, whether the mentor would've urged her once more or not. Watching quietly, the Enforcer's tail twitched back and forth, as if feeling the anticipation of the catch vicariously. Then...

Ah. Briarsplash was convinced Wispypaw was going to miss entirely, with how far back she'd jumped. But to her surprise, the apprentice had snagged the mouse just by the back legs and tail. With a snort, Briar waited until Wispypaw had for sure gone for the kill before padding over, not wanting to interrupt the chase.

"Hmph. Well. You sure do know how to hunt... like an impatient kit," she meowed dryly, whiskers twitching. "That leap was far too misjudged, and you almost lost it. I'm surprised you still got it. Can't even blame it on the dark."

Was she being a bit too harsh? Maybe. Often, Briarsplash didn't care how she came off, and that was true now. But what she didn't fully realize was that she was growing to respect Wispypaw enough to where she was truly expecting better. A double-edged thorn of expectation and challenge.

"Next time, don't get so eager. Even if you gotta wait till you can practically hear the mouse's heartbeat in your ears, whatever — use whatever context works best for you to judge that leap." Of course Wispypaw knew the basics of hunting, or else she wouldn't be this close to warriorhood. But it was worth rehashing some concepts like that as a reminder.

[ @Kix ]