Havenfade paces over to the tree he'd spotted earlier, gazing into the hollow, trying to gauge if there's something actually in there, or if he'd be wasting his time trying. There, for a brief moment, he sees a flash of fur, and he knows he's chosen the right tree.
He bunches his long legs beneath himself, and then jumps. His claws catch the bark of the tree and then he's off, scaling the side of the tree with a bit of hesitation, trying to be sure he has a proper, firm grip.
He sticks his head and shoulders into the hollow, blocking the squirrels only means of escaping. There's two adults, nice and plump, and two squirrels about half their size, tails not yet bushy. Any other day, he might have chosen to direct his hunt elsewhere, to give the small squirrels a chance to grow and have their own offspring, at least to keep the population from plummeting.
But desperate times called for desperate measures, the Clan couldn't afford for this patrol to fail. So his jaws snapped into the neck of the nearest squirrel, crunching until there was a pop and the creature lay lifeless. He dropped it and reached for the next, and the next, and the next until each squirrel was dead, and ready to be brought home. His face was scratched to all hell, and he was sure one of his ears had a bite from the rodents fighting back, but he paid it little mind.
He arranged the prey in a way he could grab them all by the tail, and then picked all four up in his jaws, removing himself from the hollow and jumping down to the ground, his haul clamped in his jaws.
He looks over to Ratjump and Peachpaw, frowning when he sees the apprentice is still on the ground, but doesn't say anything, simply approaches the two to watch their progress.
//I did get an extension for the 23rd but please please try to wrap this up as quickly as possible\\
[ + 2 adult squirrels, + 2 juvenile squirrels ]
[ @FrumpyFoxtail , @Ian ]
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Profile picture drawn by Rani and used with permission
⭒˚｡⋆⋆⭒˚｡⋆ | RatJump |
| 28 moons | thin, black furred oriental shorthair with sage green eyes and large, rat like ears. | "let me guess...someone stole your sweetroll?"
RatJump nodded at the apprentice and
turned towards the tree trunk, his paws
easily holding the orientals body on the
thin branch of the tree.
He flicked an ear and lifted one of his forepaws
to scrape at the tree, testing really, before he
started to dig at the hole in the bark until it
opened wide enough for him to stick his head through.
He heard a terrified squeak and he almost barely missed
as a small, probably young, squirrel jumped at him while
trying to escape. He swatted it and watched as it fell to
the ground.
"Watch out guys!" RatJump meowed briefly before turning
his attention back to the tree.
The sun was getting too low in the sky for Havenfade's liking.
He approached the tree that Ratjump had disappeared up, lifting himself onto his hind legs and pressing his front paws against the tree as if we're about to start climbing. "Ratjump! Hurry up! The sun is setting, and I get the feeling that Crowtooth is about to come storming over to skin our hides if we take any longer! Besides, we can't be in two leg infested areas at night with an apprentice!"
And the leader's son, to make matters worse.
The long legged warrior turns to Peachpaw. "Go ahead and grab a squirrel or two, and we'll head back to camp. He should get the message and come back down after us."
Havenfade grabs three of the squirrels that had been caught, and waits for his patrol.
Peachpaw glances toward Havenfade when he pads over and tells Ratjump to hurry up. He quickly nods at the instructions, grabbing the juvenile squirrel that the had been tossed out of the tree and the other one that Havenfade had caught. The least he can do is carry prey back since he wasn't able to help with the hunting. He hurries after the warrior as they depart, keeping his head held high so the tails of the squirrels don't drag on the ground.
⭒˚｡⋆⋆⭒˚｡⋆ | RatJump |
| 28 moons | thin, black furred oriental shorthair with sage green eyes and large, rat like ears. | "let me guess...someone stole your sweetroll?"
The tip of RatJump's long tail twitches and
with a final glance at the hole in the tree he
descended the tree in a couple of hops.
He blinks at the patrol and follows them back
to camp.
With just the mildest of movements - a delicate, polite motion of her paw to bring attention for a slight correction on her posture as to ensure the darling paw was not dragging her belly fur through the ground - the lieutenant purred, approval clear as she closed her eyes with delight. It had been a truly magnificent first try. In fact, it was rare for a new apprentice to be so aware of her posture. Why, she'd seen it all. Frantically waving tails, pants of excitement, noisy steps... It would really take only the most alert of prey to have found the little bloom with the crouch she now had, but she was here to set her up for success! Once Fleetsmoke took over her training, why... the patched queen was certain she would be awed by the promising young paw she had.
"Your belly raised only a little more, my darling. Yes, like so. Why, with that splendid crouch there will be little that will get away from you. You might have been a right darling menace in the nursery hunting down the other kits if you'd wanted," Dapplebreeze mewed, a delighted, fond amusement trilling in her voice as she brought a paw over her mouth, as if to cover away any laughter before it had the chance to escape her.
"Now," she continued, her voice dropping lower as she hunched her shoulders conspiratorially besides the pale furred she-cat. "Tell me, my little bloom. In my experience, there are two ways to best tackle a first hunt. You can follow my lead. See as I do, and allow me to hunt the first prey we are to take back to camp with us... or, you can follow your instincts and attempt to make your first catch with what you have learned here. There is no wrong answer, my darling. We are here for your guidance, and we shall do what comes easiest and best to you."
Jasminepaw followed Dapplebreeze's correction fluidly, beaming up at the Fury with a soft purr. A soft giggle escaping her at the thought of her being a menace to the others. "Thank you!" She purred. "I always tried to emulate my mother's poise." Indeed, she wanted to be just like her mother. Graceful and powerful. And now Dapplebreeze too! Part of her didn't actually...want to go back to training with Fleetsmoke. Was that...wrong? Jasminepaw felt a little twist in her chest. It certainly wasn't becoming. So...she'd keep the thought to herself. Shaking it from her mind to focus on Dapplebreeze's next words.
Oh, she got to choose? Jasminepaw considered her options carefully. Emulating what an experienced warrior did sounded like a good plan in general. Buuut.... "I would like to give it a try!" She decided, looking at Dapplebreeze with a determined gaze. Perhaps learning by doing was going to be more her style? Well, she would be finding out shortly.
"Splendid, my darling! I shall grant you the lead on this hunt then and stay well out of your way. Remember though, we are here to learn. As marvelous as it would be to get a catch on your first try, I want none of those nervous jitters getting in the way of your talent. A failed hunt is only that if we do not learn from it," Dapplebreeze mewed encouragingly, blinking affectionately at the young lass before dipping her head and heading into the undergrowth, well out of Jasminepaw's way.
The heavy greenery - dead because of leafbare's unrelenting hold on the territory, yet still far more abundant than anywhere else in the clan's territory - scratching only mildly at her fur, the fury did her best to ignore the suffocating feeling. The patched she-cat had been a WindClan cat through and through her entire life, feeling most at home with the sky well above her and nothing but wind surrounding her. Even the tunnels provoked a feeling of unease on the generally calm, even tempered warrior. But she would gladly put up with it to allow the precious bloom in her care today to find her way to success in a more comfortable fashion. It would be best if she forgot she was here, watching her as she did her best to hunt.
Dapplebreeze would not leave her alone, of course. Stars alive, no! There might be predators on the lose, and she would rather serve ShadowClan for life than let a hair on Jasminepaw's pelt be harmed by an unprecedented attack. But she was aware of her surroundings, just as she always was. It was near impossible to sneak up on the wizened, older warrior. And even harder to leave her clutches alive. No, there was no need for concern here. Best leave the darling paw to her hunt, and help when she was needed!
Jasminepaw beamed and nodded at Dapplebreeze's reminder. Hoenstly, she felt at ease with the Fury. It was similar to how to felt around Leopardsong, but different of course. The pale speckled she-cat turned her attention to the environment around her, trying to remind herself of everything Dapplebreeze just taught her. She closed her eyes and opened her mouth to taste the air, trying to see if she could taste prey-scent nearby.
-d20: rolled 9-
Nothing. Disappointed, but not shaken, Jasminepaw looked over her shoulder at where Dapplebreeze was before moving a little ways away to try again. This time bending her neck to look for signs of prey in the undergrowth.
-d20: rolled 19!-
There! Jaz touched her nose to the tiny track to check and she was correct. Mouse tracks! She crouched down, stalking forward carefully. Following the tracks and tasting the air to ensure the scent trail matched. Soon, she was able to see her quarry. Stark red-amber eyes narrowed in focus, Jasminepaw felt like she was moving so slowly she was hardly moving at all. But patience was needed here...patience. She was finally close enough, so she shifted her weight into her hindlegs to pounce...
-d20: rolled 15-
And she was successful! Jasminepaw felt her claws find their mark, and instinctively she brought a swift end to the creature's shriek. It took a moment for it to sink in, she'd made her first kill! The speckled feline took a moment to clean her claws and face before picking up her mouse and carrying it back to where Dapplebreeze waited for her, tail lifted with pride and a pleasant skip in her step. She set the mouse down at Dapplebreeze's paws and looked up at her with an excited purr. "I did it!" She chirped happily.
Jasminepaw's excitement eliciting a purr of her own's, the senior warrior exited her hiding place, eyes shining proudly at the young paw. She had been attentive to her movements, and was properly impressed by her attempt to not simply use her nose, but instantly put into practice the use of her surroundings as well. It was a lesson that was usually harder to ingrain in youngsters, and yet the darling bloom had taken to it wondrously. Fleetsmoke would be pleased with her apprentice's display of hunting prowess, no doubt! Of course, learning rabbits and hares - and the proper differences between each - would come at a later time, but she'd no doubt the warrior would do well by the paw. Affectionately, she made to press her nose against the pale she-cat's forehead, her own demure yet no less joyous celebration at the successful hunt.
"A simply marvelous display of a hunt. Why, I doubt many apprentices could lay claim as to having had such a successful and clean first kill. If I had to gander a guess, my dear, not a single prey in the area heard your hunt here. As it should be. After all, the less noise one makes, the more opportunities arise for prey. It is a boon given to those who are efficient and merciful with their prey, striking at them before they know what happens. WindClan will be a stronger clan indeed once you gain your warrior name, my dear.
Now... usually I would prefer to stay back and hunt to my heart's content... but with your mentor in recovery, what say you we head back and deliver that scrumptious mouse as fresh as we can? I am certain she will be thrilled!" the fury declared, her stance patient. She would not blame the darling for wanting to bring this first hunt as fresh as possible for her mentor to enjoy, but she wouldn't hold it against her either if she wished to try her paw at another hunt before leaving. It was her first hunt, after all, and as far as Dapplebreeze was concerned, it had already been a success!
@Luna16 [Jasminepaw]
| So, as far as the basic hunting training goes, I believe this can be considered completed! We can continue the roleplay if you like, but if not, feel free to have the closer with Jasminepaw and we can end it here. If that is the case, let me know either via starter or vm - however you prefer, it's all good - on what you want Jasminepaw to train in next, and we can have the next training session between the two take place in current time with Dapplebreeze as her new mentor as opposed to the temporary substitute. |
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Lightningstorm is WindClan's current medicine cat.
She has a semi-closed den policy.
Re: Sunset Grove
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Re: Sunset Grove
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