☆~《------》~☆ WARMSUN
THE COWARDLY WARRIOR
"OH DEAR STARS, THATS A FIRE!"
☆~《------》~☆
A Puzzled Look Pressed Onto His Face. Everyone Does Their Crouch A Bit Different. Maybe, Spread Your Feat A Bit Wider Than Most Would? His Tail Flicked As He Walked Over To The Apprentice, Reaching His Paw To Help Them Up. He Thought For A Moment. Or You Could Do What Comfortable, And We Go From There! He Purred, Smile Stretching Across His Maw.
Applepaw "The apple of your eye!"
|| Any Pronouns | WC Apprentice | Moons: 8 ||
Applepaw quickly shook themselves off and got back to their paws after taking Warmsun’s offered assistance. Okay well, that didn’t really work. Maybe if they messed around with the stance themselves for a moment Applepaw could gets something that works a little bit better. The apprentice shot a smile towards the warrior with an excited nod as he did so, “Righto! Lemme try this for a second then!” The russet apprentice crouched down again, but this time they tied to balance on their paws perfectly. Leaning a little to the left and then to the right to feel the different and crookedness on his paws before readjusting to stand as center over all four paws as possible.
Then they lowered a smidge, there! That seems a bit better? At least she didn’t feel like he was about to tumble over. The apprentice raised their head and looked at the warrior, “Does this seem alright?”
Applepaw "The apple of your eye!"
|| Any Pronouns | WC Apprentice | Moons: 8 ||
Applepaw quickly shook themselves off and got back to their paws after taking Warmsun’s offered assistance. Okay well, that didn’t really work. Maybe if they messed around with the stance themselves for a moment Applepaw could gets something that works a little bit better. The apprentice shot a smile towards the warrior with an excited nod as he did so, “Righto! Lemme try this for a second then!” The russet apprentice crouched down again, but this time they tied to balance on their paws perfectly. Leaning a little to the left and then to the right to feel the different and crookedness on his paws before readjusting to stand as center over all four paws as possible.
Then they lowered a smidge, there! That seems a bit better? At least she didn’t feel like he was about to tumble over. The apprentice raised their head and looked at the warrior, “Does this seem alright?”
☆~《------》~☆ WARMSUN
THE COWARDLY WARRIOR
"OH DEAR STARS, THATS A FIRE!"
☆~《------》~☆
The Cowardly Warrior Watch Applepaw Carefully. Perfect! Movin' Onto The Pounce! He Chirped, Padding In A Happy Circle Around Her Before Crouching Next To Them. Tail Out, For Balence. He Stuck Out His Tail, Demonstrating. And Scuttle Forward. He Demonstrated, The Wheezed Out As He Jumped. Leap With Your Back Legs! He Flew Forward, Landing With His Front Paws. The Skidded As His Hind Legs Made Contact. Bend Your Front Legs As Ya Land! Or Youll Be Sore Later!
Applepaw "The apple of your eye!"
|| Any Pronouns | WC Apprentice | Moons: 8 ||
"WOWOWOOW very cool!" The apprentice called out as the warrior showed off a pounce. This was so cool, Applepaw was really hunting right now! Or... learning to hunt, not actually hunting, but also same difference! Can't hunt without learning and stuff. "Mk, lemme shoot a shot!" Applepaw started to crawl forward, and then pounced forward, and landed on their front paws as they slammed into the ground harshly. Yeah! If she had landed on real prey then they would have no chance! Once more Applepaw looked to Warmsun for feedback.
The she-cat padded out of camp after Twilightstar gave them their orders. Hunting at the Sunset Grove, it wasn't a place Dustbunny hunted often but they could probably catch some mice, birds, or squirrels around there. However, she was hoping to find some rabbits. She paused here and there to make sure that Littlepaw and Fleetpaw stayed close to her.
It was getting colder so she didn't think they'd have too many raptors to watch out for. Yet with how small the apprentices were Dustbunny wouldn't be taking any risks. "So this is Sunset Grove." the tunneler said, waving her long tail towards the woodlands as they approached the trees.
"One of our primary hunting grounds, although herbs can be found here too. Before we start hunting here tell me what you smell and show me your best hunting crouch."
Fleetpaw followed Dustbunny closely. He nodded at her description and instructions, ears twitching nervously. This was it. His chance to prove himself to his new mentor, and not be totally useless. His hearing was sharp, but his sense of smell was average. The skinny tom opened his mouth and drew in the air around him, trying to pinpoint a scent. “M-Mouse?” He was…kind of certain that he was picking up the correct label for that scent.
Now, his hunter’s crouch…this was not confident with. Not that that was different, he wasn’t very confident about much. Uncertain and shakily, Fleetpaw positioned himself in how he would have normally done when he lived outside of the clans and hunted for himself, although most of the time that involved stealing prey from other cats and dashing off as quickly as possible (hence where he got his name from). That task still required a level of stealth and skill, and nothing hones that faster and harder than survival. That said, having to do it in front of others versus doing it for the purpose it served were very different things. He wasn’t sure if he was doing it right, but he instinctively fell into his habitual hunting stance.
Paws close together, tail and haunches lowered, he was prepared for a good pounce-and-dash. Glancing with uncertainty at Dustbunny and Littlepaw.
Littlepaw was slow so Dustbunny gave her attention to Fleetpaw as he answered correctly and dropped into a crouch. His technique was interesting, she thought his paws were a bit too close together but if it worked for him. Everything else looked good to her, he kept his tail low but not to the point of dragging on the ground and seemed to balance not leaning too much to one side.
"Yup, there are mice around here but we're going to focus on that rabbit. Can you see it, it's right next to that tree." The she-cat pointed her tail at the aspen tree with a half-broken branch. The brown rabbit didn't blend well here between the brightly golden leaves that littered the floor and the white trunks.
"Rabbits are very fast prey, WindClan usually has to chase them down to hunt them. Being able to pounce while the rabbits are in motion can be difficult, but if you are quiet enough you can catch them without chasing them too far." Dustbunny told him nodding to the trees.
"When hunting, always make sure you're downwind since rabbits spook very easily. If they scent or hear you, they'll bolt." She muttered to the paw without removing her eyes from the prey. "You can try and sneak up on it, stay in its blind spot, and hide in the bushes and long grass if you are worried about being seen. Mind your paw steps and your tail doesn't make noise. You'll have to be careful not to rustle the leaves, they'll give you away immediately." Dustbunny advised before allowing him to try hunting the rabbit himself.
@Luna16 [Fleetpaw]
The calico bounded behind Fleetpaw and Dustbunny, getting a little distracted by all the new bugs in the area. All Littlepaw retained was something about the name of this area? Sunset Grove was it? She vaguely remembered hearing about it prior to the excursion they were on.
hop hop hop
Littlepaw bounded after a lone butterfly, nipping at the air behind it before Dustbunny's words caught her attention again. She didn't catch the part about getting down into a crouch, but she did creep over to begin listening to the lecture about how to catch these vermin. Gotta be sneaky! Littlepaw would note to herself before dipping down more into the grass as Fleetpaw would take over a hunt. Her eyes were rounded with awe, glancing between the rabbit, the apprentice and Dustbunny. She wanted to hear all the tips and tricks to this.
Fleetpaw blinked up at Dustbunny and nodded studiously. Of course what he did wasn't good enough! He followed her gaze and nodded, spotting the rabbit quickly amongst the dried moorland grass. It's fur stood out...crap! Fleetpaw's ear twitched self consciously. Well, his sharper hearing also picked up Littlepaw coming up behind him. But he was also now worried about his pelt... Would his dark pelt camouflage against the grass well? Or stand out? His dark amber eyes carefully scanned the path between himself and the rabbit, seeking out shadows he could potentially hide within. He noticed only after plotting a potential route that eyes were turned to him.
Oh no! Were they expecting something from him? He thought that Dustbunny's instructions were directed to Littlepaw, they were apprentice first after all. Okayokayokay...don't screw this up Fleetpaw! He took a deep breath, sinking down into his hunter's crouch again. Fleetpaw took a moment to tilt his head up to feel the direction of the wind in his whiskers, repositioning himself carefully. It was rare for him to have the opportunity to hunt before he joined WindClan, his own prey anyway. But he immediately sank deep into his task. His focus narrowed onto the rabbit, his target, and he crept forward carefully. Sticking to the shadows that would help to hide his pelt against the brown, dried grass.
When Fleetpaw felt he was close enough, and frankly would not be able to get closer without being seen, he immediately went into a pounce. This was the reason his hunting stance kept his forepaws closer together than most cats probably did, he was accustomed to pouncing quickly and then bolting for his life. Very literally. But that was then, this was now.
-rolled 19-
His aim was flawless. Fleetpaw soundlessly landed on the rabbit and dealt a finishing blow to the creature's neck. His focus re-opened to the other two, and he remembered that the clans have a ritual of thanking StarClan after catching prey. He didn't really know how he felt about StarClan yet...but he offered up a prayer of thanks all the same. Not wanting to offend his clanmates. Fleetpaw picked up the rabbit and returned to Dustbunny and Littlepaw. He set it down, glancing guiltily at his mentor and his fellow-apprentice. "I-I'm sorry Littlepaw." He stuttered, looking at her with the same guilty look on his face. "I-I didn't mean to leave you with no r-rabbit to practice on..." Had he failed anyway? He was so focused on his quarry, and thinking about all of the things Dustbunny recommended, he hadn't stopped to think about Littlepaw's turn.
With the two apprentices in tow, Silverrose made quick work of reaching Sunset Grove where she took a moment to stretch her limbs before turning towards the other two. "Remain close."
She told them as she often did, ear flicking. "I gather you both got the description. I believe this plant may have a strong scent, so that may help."
The warrior added her own tidbit of what's she had gathered from Lightningstorm's instructions (you would think something used to cover the scent of the dead would have a strong scent) before she set out on her search. Frankly in this weather, it wasn't a particularly long search. After seeing among some bush and growth, Silverrose found a perfectly fine little patch of leaves that matched the mint's description, which she carefully gathered together.
Re: Sunset Grove
