Please dont bite [Strawberrypaw territory tour]

[Rani]

Crowtooth
Windclan Deputy | He/him | 55 Moons
Power Card: Cold Gust

The skunk striped tom was going to KILL Deadmoon for holding that hunting event that ended up training so many apprentices including HIS. She probably didnt meant to, but the fury had robbed Crowtooth of his first excuse to not do battle training with the little beast and now he was one step closer to his DOOM.

It was fine it was fine, he had this training session as a distraction and maybe she'd grow out of her evil ways before battle training rolled around..... Hopefully.

General Territory
WindClan territory is made up of enormous and broad stretches of flat land dominated by grasses and wildflowers with a large winding river that cuts through its middle. Underneath there is a vast network of tunnels that cats should avoid if they don't know how to navigate them. While filled with an abundance of herbs and prey, there are also numerous threatening birds of prey like hawks, falcons, and eagles.

"Alright kiddo, welcome ta the moor. We aint got much in the way o' trees so ya can pretty much see everythin' already. This comes wit' dangers though so eyes open for birds o' prey as while you'll see 'em comin' easy yer gonna really need ta spring fer shelter ta not get snatched.

Lucky we got the tunnels below us wit' lotsa openin's ta dart inta.

Fer prey we mostly git rabbits, mice, voles/moles, gophers, small birds, an' if ya look fer 'em down below prairie dogs an' groundhogs. Mostly rabbits though.


Look around an' git used ta it fer a bit, maybe scent the area an' tell me what ya smell. Once yer done we'll git the territory tour started so ya know our home like the back o' yer paw."


@Rose

[Rose]

Post Count: 14/100 | Purrk(s): Lyrebird’s Lullaby

Being disallowed to bite was a silly rule. Or at least, Strawberrypaw would think so if she had been told not to bite (yes, again. the past numerous times had flown over her head). Though, come to think of it, Strawberrypaw did not yet have the emotional capacity to deem something silly, even. Though... kiddo? Strawberrypaw hadn't known Crowtooth was her father. Her other... another father? Did everyone have an extra one? Just in case? But obviously, he was telling her now... though she really didn't care. Snowybreeze was her father, and that was that. No cat would replace him.

Not even... Strawberrypaw wondered why his name was Crowtooth when she'd heard a Queen say he looked akin to something called a badger. 'Sides, did crows even have teeth? More importantly, did the deputy have teeth? Strawberrypaw would assume so. Otherwise she'd have to take on some of Dina's-- Gnawingpaw's thinking and judge Twilightstar for picking a toothless deputy - and a toothless mentor for her.

It was okay, Strawberrypaw could bite enough for both of th... grumble. Her stomach. She was hungry all the time lately, and nothing seemed appetizing - nor did it sate her growling stomach when she swallowed down dry chunks of meat. Only the freshest of kills seemed to make a difference - and even those, minor.

"Tunnels?" Strawberrypaw echoes back inquisitively in the deputy's own voice, entirely content with the invasion of privacy. After a moment of hovering, she obediently lowers her head to sniff a singular patch of grass before turning unblinking, wide blue hues back on him.

[ @Rani - Crowtooth ]

[Rani]

Crowtooth
Windclan Deputy | He/him | 55 Moons

Power Card: Cold Gust

If Crowtooth knew that his habit of calling any child kiddo had tricked Strawberrypaw into thinking he was another dad it'd kill the habit dead in an instant. The idea of being a parental figure having seen how absolutely chewed on Snowybreeze constantly was was horrifying and might just kill the tom dead if he knew about it. But not knowing meant he couldnt cull the thought before it spread either so he was just screwed.

In the mind of reality and non hypotheticals however the deputy was wondering over the one track mind of this kid.
"Yep tunnels. Ya get through this well an' quick an' we can do our first session down there too. However as yer gonna find the condition o' the land above effects below so ya need ta be aware o' the territory first.

Lets move on."

Sunset Grove
An open patch of woodland. Small prey animals can be found throughout the nooks and crannies. Birds have claimed a home in the treetops of tall aspen trees. Overgrown and luscious herbs are common to find here.

Only covered place in the territory and Crowtooth wondered how Strawberrypaw would take it given she'd only seen one kinda scraggly tree (the galewood) in her life.
"The sunset grove. One of the better an' easier places ta hunt in the territory an' the only wit' trees.

Lotsa birds, occasional squirrel, lotsa prey when its not covered in snow an' good shelter from raptors. But ta be honest Im not impressed by this place."
It was too.... un windclan for his tastes.


@Rose

[Rose]

Post Count: 21/100 | Purrk(s): Lyrebird’s Lullaby

Tunnels... Strawberrypaw trails after her black and white mentor like a duckling having imprinted on the first being they've seen, trying to match his stride and ultimately failing with her much shorter legs - which left her at an odd halfway between skipping and sudden bursts of speed. Her mind still churned over Crowtooth's words. A tunnel session?

But for now, it was territory time. She could do that, she could... Crowtooth looked like something she could bite... do that. His tail? Paws? He wouldn't notice, right? A teeny... tiny... Sunset Grove? Blue eyes blink as if returning from a daze, taking in the changed surroundings. "When." When had they gotten here, she meant, but her word was barely a breath, only for her own ears.

After taking in the area, sky-colored eyes turn on the black and white deputy questioningly at his last few words. "You. Do not like? Sunset Grove?" Her own voice emerged for once, stilted but understandable, probably.

[ @Rani - Crowtooth ]

[Rani]

Crowtooth
Windclan Deputy | He/him | 55 Moons

Power Card: Cold Gust

Chuckling a bit at the pure bafflement in Strawberrypaws voice the tom for a moment forgot he was terrified of her, only seeing the young cute cat she appeared to be. "Ya need ta keep yer head up while we travel kiddo. Im tryin' ta show ya where everythin' is so ya know yer way around, ta do that ya, yanno, need ta learn the way.


Ill slow down but if ya cant walk an' look or git tired just tell me, I can badger ride ya around easy." It'd be a bit of a bumpy ride for sure but it'd work.




The tom scanned the area, idly watching a finch peck for seed under the snow and a squirrel chattering in the trees. "Nah." The deputy mused padding slowly through the thicket, letting Strawberrypaw sniff around. "Aint natural ta have tree's hangin' over ya. They dont feel stable like, ya can see the sky as a windclan cat should but ya cant... reach it. The trees block the way, an they aint secure feelin' like tunnel walls are." It was stupid logic probably, but it was how he felt and with a snort the tom slowly moved on as soon as the molly seemed done.

Starry Meadow
An open grassland that lies on top of a hill. Thousands of flowers cover its surface, and while the travel may be rough - it is worth the sight of many stars. This is a place for sincerity and solemn. Windclan's fallen clanmates reside here where they can touch the stars.

The graveyard was quiet, but in a peaceful way rather then a eerie one and, padding along the tom brought Strawberrypaw to a specific one. Snowybreeze should probably do this if he hadnt already but....
"This is the starry meadow Strawberrypaw, its windclans graveyard, we bury our dead 'ere. These rocks an' markers signify a cat the clan has lost. This one is the cat that gave birth ta ya, yer dads mate an' mother Berryfrost.



I-I didnt know 'er well but if ya 'ave any questions? About 'er or this place, honestly besides the graves its pretty normal 'ere, lotta herbs in newleaf."
....Honestly Crowtooth being the one to start this talk was probably a bad idea.


@Rose

[Rose]

Post Count: 22/100 | Purrk(s): Lyrebird’s Lullaby

Crowtooth's words didn't irk her. If anything, Strawberrypaw felt her own lips peeling back in a rare, shy, fanged smile at his chiding. Hopefully it didn't look too threatening against her will. "I like. Sky." If it was good enough for him, it was good enough for her. Trees belonged to cats that had things to hide. Like... ShadowClan, and ThunderClan? Strawberrypaw didn't have anything to hide under a tree, right?

She wasn't tired, not really. But she oh so did want that badger ride, and a small part of her was whispering to get away from this conversation, to get away from the confusing, jumbled knot of emotions in her chest. Hanging her head, Strawberrypaw peeks up at her mentor with one blue eye. "Tired." She mumbles in Seedpaw's sweet voice, smile disappearing once more. "Badger ride?" He had offered, and Strawberrypaw... wanted to be little again. Even for a few moments.

Also, purely unrelated question, but if she bit him but only teeny tiny to hold on would he be mad? More than half of her wanted to try anyway, to see how far she could push her mentor. Strawberrypaw seemed to get some kind of thrill from the possibility of getting in trouble. It was better than feeling nothing. But... Papa always reminded them to have manners, and she still had an inkling of her wits about her. She didn't want to purposely be mean when Crowtooth was teaching her things. What if he made her a kit again?

That line of thought made her wonder if she'd get in trouble for leaving camp after being demoted. No. Pause. Focus. A badger ride sounded nice. She wanted to be big. And tall, and... and... what did she want to be? Important? She wanted not to be so little, she wanted not to be so hungry all the time. She wanted not to not feel constantly.

[ @Rani - Crowtooth ]

[Rani]

Crowtooth
Windclan Deputy | He/him | 55 Moons
Power Card: Cold Gust

...... Cute if not for those teeth, stars the entire litter was weird. Honestly what did he expect, their mother was dead when she had them, as in like 5 moons dead.


Aaaaaaand now he was giving a badger ride to the little creature. For some reason. He'd offered and yet this being the result had never pinged for some reason. Ah well, if she killed him and wandered back into camp Lightningstorm knew who he'd left with and would investigate his death. ...Maybe. .....Hopefully.....


Ok scratch that Rabbitpaw would.


At least his heavy involvement with his niblings meant he was great at badger rides, and hefted Strawberrypaw onto his back and set off with little issue, just a instructive "Ya should improve yer stamina, run laps around camp, push heavy snowballs an' stuff so yer not so weak an' floppy always. Yer gonna need ta walk these hills eventually, I wont carry ya forever."

Honestly though this was going good so far, she didnt even seem upset about Berryfrosts grave so maybe he hadnt screwed up there.


"Daylights wastin' so Imma start movin' onta the next location but if ya 'ave any questions about the starry meadow speak up anytime, alright?


Next is the twilight falls."

Twilight Falls
A large, overgrown waterfall that flows from the cliffs, leading into a pond. Luscious evergreen covers the nearby surroundings. Prey is scarce to come by due to the loud sound of rushing water, but you can find fish swimming through the pond.. Behind the waterfall, if one dares, they might discover the sacred cave that holds many secrets. One can only ponder what the symbols carved into the wall might mean..

Letting her down briefly to explore the area the tom raised his voice to explain. "Named fer our leader this is our main an' only water place on our territory. Not much prey 'ere (mostly voles an' fish) but it can be found an' when its warm I can teach ya ta swim, a rare but useful skill." Honestly though Crowtooth probably needed a refresher before he did so himself, mostly able to lightly doggy paddle after Lightningstorms teaching. "We had some mink issues 'ere awhile back, theyre large... well ya dont know what a weasel is but think o' a mouse with a long middle body twice yer size and sharp teeth an' the tail is furry. That can also swim an' dig.


They were livin' in our back up camp but we got rid o' 'em. Its unfinished so we aint goin' in there right now but see that path leadin' behind the waterfall? Theres a big camp sized cave back there the clan can hide in in emergencies. Any questions?"


@Rose

[Rose]

Post Count: 36/100 | Purrk(s): Lyrebird’s Lullaby

Crowtooth sure had lots of rules. Now she had to build a stamina? Could no one help her? But she was too focused on the banquet in front of her to reply, mouth nearly salivating for some odd reason as her blue eyes drilled holes into the back of the deputy’s neck. She has to give herself a fullbody shake twice to actually focus. “You. Not carry always. Push snowball instead. For Strawberrypaw.” There. See? A happy compromise in her baby brain.

The snowy-furred apprentice plops to the ground as Crowtooth gently dislodges her, tilting her face up instantly to seek out her perch again with her eyes, already wanting to be up again. Blue eyes drift to his face, settling on the deputy’s mismatched pair. Again she was tempted to poke one with a claw and see if that fixed the colors. She’d have to test the theory one day, when she was tall enough to reach. For now, though, she turns back to roam around Twilight Falls.

“Minks taste. Good?” She was hungry all the time, wanting to make it go away. Her stomach had shriveled as she’d grown from kit to apprentice after Firestorm had weaned them off. Though in recent days her appetite had begun to resurface once more for some odd reason she’d started snacking on her mentor.

“Up.” Strawberrypaw requests as she stops directly in front of his paws like a tripping hazard, leaving not a whisker of space, head tilted all the way back to blink owlishly up at him. “…ple..please?” And then (if he’s let her up again) the fluffy apprentice is merrily kneading biscuits into Crowtooth’s shoulder blades, not even noticing that every pass has her claws poking out a fraction and probably irritating the deputy.

[ @Rani - Crowtooth | You could do double landmarks in each post if that makes it easier so we can speed up — mostly the lag is on my part but I shall do better :sweats: so if it’d help finish this quicker, maybe? ]

[Rani]

Crowtooth
Windclan Deputy | He/him | 55 Moons
Power Card: Cold Gust

Ok, no, not how that worked and the tom chuckled, offering instead "How about this, I dont think yer gonna grow up big so how about I carry ya when ya request, but not all the time, so long as ya push a rock or snowball across the camp once a day. Ya just 'ave ta git it across camp once, doin' multiple is optional." It was a good deal in Crowtooth's eyes really, he didnt think she was gonna get big enough to be a hassle to carry, at least for short trips.


Letting the molly up on his back he chuckled, amused by the question. "Mink? Well it didnt taste like normal prey, I think 'cuz it ate meat instead o' plants like mice an' stuff. But I liked the taste decent, though mightve been the satisfaction o' it all. Food hard fought for tastes better." Probably not a good idea to be telling the little cannibal that fighting for and killing your prey made it taste better buuuuut thats a regret he could have later. For now he was moving on.




Walking past the windy hills Crowtooth internally mourned as he couldnt even go close instead finding a high distant hill that overlooked what was the once pristine location and explaining. "We cant go near the windy hills, not wit' the twolegs. But once it was prime huntin'. Three large hills full o' flowers surrounded by plains the winds roared up there like a lion. Now some o' the hills are gone ta the twolegs an' if ya can see far enough ya can see their awful dens springin' up.


Those invaders are our enemy right now Strawberrypaw, an' we will drive 'em out an' reclaim our home."
He lingered a moment, to let her see before setting off, apprentice still on her back unable to stay for long looking at the maiming of windclans home himself.

Sky Glade
A wide-open area reclaimed by WindClan after losing it to ShadowClan. The Sky Glade is dominated by heather, with a single pine tree known as the Lone Pine sitting in the center. Below the Lone Pine, a small network of tunnels can be found where an abandoned Warren is located.

An assortment of prey can be found here, although rabbits are a primary source and plentiful, though can be difficult to catch due to their speed. Large birds such as hawks and vultures can be found frequenting the sky.

Once more Crowtooth let the molly off at a new location, showing off the glade. "Now this place has a history! Wars were fought over this place an' ended 'ere too, can ya guess wit' who?" Easy question with the shadowclan border close enough to smell their distant scent, but the tom waited for an answer before responding. "In my youth windclan was at war wit' shadowclan over their poor actions. Prey, warrior, an' territory stealin' ta name a few. We drove 'em outta their entire territory like we did riverclan more recently but they only came back more mad under a new leader Dawnstar rather then learnin' a lesson.


They waged a bloody war, killin' an' skinnin' far too many good cats, an' Dawnstar even kidnapped an' tortured Twilightstar fer a time, takin' over windclan. Dark times those but eventually we won in a battle here (ya can still see the claw marks on the lonely pine), an' I even took one o' Dawnstar's lives!" He did not mention she killed him in turn however. "An' I guess she just decided that the war wasnt worth it no more as a cease fire was called an' we kept the sky glade.


Good that as durin' a horrible wind storm the clan sheltered here in our old back up camp, the warren." It was half collapsed by now, uncared for but some sections and evidence remained so, with a happy tail flick the tom led Strawberrypaw over, letting her look into the entry sections to the huge isolated warren if she wished.


"Yer mentor an' some o' the first tunnelers made it ourselves! Saved our hide fer sure, but the falls are a better back up now adays so its fallen inta disrepair.


Lotsa prey 'ere. Rabbits mice birds gophers, but also lotsa raptors so keep an' eye on the sky little raptor an' hide if ya see threat."
At this point he sat back, letting her explore but keeping an eye out for safety, letting his apprentice process and ask any questions of her own because holy information dump bat-man was that a lot of info. And he'd been summarizing and could expand on a great deal.


@Rose