A Bird In A Tree [p]

[SuspiciousMindz]

[Hawkbite]
Enforcer Commander
Shadow Fiend | Agatha Kitty | Kitty Softpaws T2

He hadn't seen Fogwatcher around much lately, which was a tad concerning since the medic in their clan seemed fond of him. He'd have to check in on his sometime, but for now, his apprentice was seeking out a skill her mentor didn't seem to possess. "Birdpaw! Wanna go climb a tree? Let's go!" The Commander called into the Apprentices' Den, summoning yet another -ark child for training. If he recalled correctly, she was high-strung and talked a lot, so he already knew this encounter was going to be draining.

@Mica - Birdpaw

[Mica]

Birdpaw
ShadowClan
she/her | 8 moons | 65/100
[Blue-grey tabby with dark blue overcoat, white underside and amber eyes]
Purrks: Lyrebird's Lullaby [PERMANENTLY ACTIVE], Don't Mind If I Do!
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽ The Fool ☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
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[Hawkbite- @SuspiciousMindz ]
· · ────────────── · ·
The apprentice's head shot up at whiplash speeds, her large amber eyes locking on the cat who called her name. Hawkbite! Mr Pats as Bleedingpaw called him. Like her namesake, Birdpaw's head canted sharply to the side as she studied him with her unblinking, owlish stare. Mama's boss, Papa's former boss. Sleepysunrise's boss. HmMmmmmm..... maybe Birdpaw should make it so Hawkbite liked her too, so he wanted to be her boss too. The thought struck her like a branch to the face, lighting up 2 neurons (which is exactly half of her total amount) and making her heart race with excitement. A new goal! Something to reach! Since Birdpaw barely had any siblings now, she didn't have an army to command. If she joined the Enforcers, she could make her own little army out of the warriors. They would serve her readily!! She would become the most powerful cat in the clan!!

What would she do with all that power? Well, let's not think too far ahead, okay?

Or. Even better. Birdpaw could take his job! Then the Enforcers would be her army! Birdpaw trilled at the thought, leaping to her paws and striding purposefully at Hawkbite. With intense eyes, the apprentice stared up at him. "Take me climbing, Mr. Commander!" She cheered.

[SuspiciousMindz]

[Hawkbite]
Enforcer Commander
Shadow Fiend | Agatha Kitty | Kitty Softpaws T2

Hawkbite led the eager child towards one corner of the camp. His strides were a tad lazy, causing him to drag the tops of his paws across the ground slightly. The Commander had been working nonstop for a while and he feared his naps were getting skipped so he was lacking on energy these days. Oh well. What's a cat to do about it? Hawkbite had a clan to keep up with and apprentices to train.

Coming up to one of the large trees that made it's home in their camp, Hawkbite would come to a stop and pivot to face Birdpaw. His gaze studied the eager she-cat for a moment before he'd inhale and begin the lesson. "Alright, so ShadowClan is filled with trees, mostly pine trees. The ones with all the branches and look... triangular from a distance. Today we'll be attempting to climb one of our oak trees. It's better to train on these ones so you can get the feeling for climbing better," Hawkbite tried his best to describe the pine trees. Honestly, he wasn't sure if he'd nailed it or not, but it didn't matter much to him.

"When we want to climb these trees, the most important thing to remember is to check that the tree can support our weight. When you have the chance to check, you'll look at the bark of the tree," Hawkbite began, turning to look at the tree trunk before them. Some of the wood covering it looked dry and cracked and some of it looked darker, sturdier. "Take your claws and feel the different. This darker and solid portion is sturdy and ideal to climb," Hawkbite spoke, wrapping his claws into the bark and pulling down on the wood. When he did, the Commander's body was slightly lifted off the ground.

He'd release and gesture to the dry and cracked looking portions. "When it looks cracked like this, dry, it probably won't hold your weight for long -- if at all," Hawkbite spoke, digging his claws into this part now. When the Commander pulled down on the wood this time, the bark crumbled beneath his paws and fell to the ground. "When you're in a rush, you can't check like this, so you have to go mostly off looks. If you're fast enough, you can sometimes get over these portions before you slip," Hawkbite scooted back a little to allow Birdpaw to give it a whirl. "Now, you feel the difference in it."

@Mica - Birdpaw

[Mica]

Birdpaw
ShadowClan
she/her | 8 moons | 76/100
[Grey tabby with dark overcoat, white underside and amber eyes]
Purrks: Lyrebird's Lullaby [PERMANENTLY ACTIVE], Don't Mind If I Do!
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽ The Fool ☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
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[Hawkbite- @SuspiciousMindz ]
· · ────────────── · ·
The differences between trees did not interest Birdpaw, but she nodded along anyway as if she was paying proper attention. She had gotten really good at that! The difference in the bark was interesting to her. Now she kind of wanted to go around to all the trees in the territory and test if they had proper climbing bark! Birdpaw took up a postiion next to Hawkbite, reaching up with her small paws to claw at the bark. Huh, he was right! The bark that was darker and closer to the tree felt sturdy, while the bark that was dry and cracked fell away when she scratched at it. Birdpaw made a noise of agreement before suddenly throwing herself at the cracked bark, scaling approximately two cat-lengths before she got scared and paused, the bark crumbling underneath her and sending her sprawling to the ground. She squeaked, the air driven from her lungs, but once she got it back she struggled to her paws. "OH yeah, definitely not good for climbing." She gasped, giving Hawkbite a cheery grin as though she hadn't just ate dung in front of him.

[SuspiciousMindz]

[Hawkbite]
Enforcer Commander
Shadow Fiend | Agatha Kitty | Kitty Softpaws T2

Hawkbite watched as Birdpaw did what other apprentices had, which was feel the differences in the bark. However, the Commander wasn't prepared to see the smaller feline launch herself at the tree without training. It ended how he expected with an apprentice laid flat out on her back and recouping her breath. "That didn't go the way you thought, huh? Shouldn't skip steps. You're lucky you didn't get any higher up," Hawkbite lightly scolded, although exhaled shortly.

"When you're ready, I'll show you how to properly climb the trees," Hawkbite spoke, getting to his paws and flexing his claws. He'd wait for Birdpaw to say she was ready before going for it. "Think of squirrels and how they climb. You want to be sort of quick, so you don't fatigue your muscles, but you want to move with confidence, so you don't fall," he spoke. "When climbing up the tree, you'll spread your legs a good distance apart so the weight is balanced between all your muscles. If your legs are too close together, you'll feel it. Your muscles will ache and it'll be more awkward of a climb," with that, Hawkbite launched himself at the tree.

With trained movements, the tom had his legs spread out a decent ways, gaining more surface area as his claws sank into the bark. With confident strides, the tom worked his way up the bark, hooking his claws into the healthy bark. Within a few seconds, Hawkbite had found himself on the lowest tree branch and looking down at Birdpaw. "Give it a try and take your time if you need. It's not a race. Be safe," he'd instruct, patting the spot next to him on the branch, as if inviting her up here.

@Mica - Birdpaw

[Mica]

Birdpaw
ShadowClan
she/her | 8 moons | 77/100
[Grey tabby with dark overcoat, white underside and amber eyes]
Purrks: Lyrebird's Lullaby [PERMANENTLY ACTIVE], Don't Mind If I Do!
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽ The Fool ☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
· · ────────────── · ·
[Hawkbite- @SuspiciousMindz ]
· · ────────────── · ·
Birdpaw grinned sheepishly at Hawkbite as he commented on her failure. She knew she was gonna fail! She just... sorta kinda thought that maayyyybe she could get it first try! But oh well, no skin off her back! Er, some off her paw-pads maybe. But anyway. She chirped in confirmation for Hawkbite to continue, watching him scale the tree with wide eyes. Oh wow, so fast! So stable! So cool!

Up on a lower branch he called down to hear, making Birdpaw crane her head to catch his expression and gestures. Ohhhhhhhhhhhh yeahhhhhhhh okay.... she could do that. Definitely.

Birdpaw revved herself up, tongue sticking out as she stared at the bark where Hawkbite had propelled himself up. She could do it. She was Birdpaw! Eldest of the Ark Children, Commander of her own Ark Army, Mossfreckle's favorite, and TREE CLIMBER EXTRAORDINAIRE!!!

Leaping up with a powerful thrust of her hind legs, Birdpaw reached out to snag her claws in the bark of the cedar tree. she squeaked as her weight dragged on her front paws, but she managed to dig her hind legs in to support her weight more. Okay! Step one done. Now to move... She remembered how Hawkbite moved, pushing herself up to hook her front paws in before pulling her hind legs up. Like jumping! With the ferocious concentration of a leopard, Birdpaw threw herself up the tree until she was at Hawkbite's height. Once she was a little above the branch she dropped down, nearly tumbling off the branch as her weight shifted, but catching herself just in time. She peered over the edge, expecting a burst of fear at being high up, but instead she felt a rush of pure adrenaline. She crowed happily, kneading the branch with her white paws. "Oh wowww!!!! I can see the whole camp from up here already! Can we go higher? Can we?"

[SuspiciousMindz]

[Hawkbite]
Enforcer Commander
Shadow Fiend | Agatha Kitty | Kitty Softpaws T2

Hawkbite watched as the apprentice made her way up. He jolted, ready to grab her when she landed and nearly fell off the branch. That would've been his luck. To have an apprentice fall and break their leg -- not really from this height -- on their first tree climbing expedition. Then, the excited hit her and Hawkbite already knew the question she was going to ask. He never let them go higher though. Not on the first go around. Nope. He'd already envisioned bad outcomes from allowing this, many times before.

"Let's learn how to get down first before you get up too high to safely teach that," the Commander suggested, hoping she wouldn't complain or do it anyway. He didn't really want to drag her out of the tree if he could help it. "We can try to go higher or learn a little squirreling after I know you can get down."

He positioned himself into a crouch, glancing at Birdpaw, hoping she'd do something similar. "From this height, you can safely drop down and land. However, say we're a few branches higher... you can't jump from that height without hurting yourself. So, we'll practice what to do in that situation," Hawkbite began the short lecture. "You'll jump down a few branches until you can see the ground when you look down the tree trunk. There shouldn't be any branches blocking you from seeing the ground," Hawkbite spoke, doing a little hop over Birdpaw suddenly and demonstrating how to look down the trunk safely.

"When you can see the ground, you'll start scaling down the trunk of the tree. You'll want to go face first, but at an angle so you can catch yourself if you need to. It's easier to hook your claws at an angle than it is straight up and down when you're going down a tree. Then, when you're comfortable jumping from the trunk, you'll do just that. Jump to the ground."

Hawkbite made sure Birdpaw was paying attention before he started down the trunk. Just as he instructed, he started at an angle, his claws scraping as he worked his way down. It was much faster to get down that it was to climb up. When he was about halfway down the trunk, the Commander launched himself to the ground, landing with a quiet thud and looking back up at the apprentice.

"Your turn," he called, moving slightly out of the way. He hoped instinct would kick in a little here and she would figure out the best way to hold on herself. However, Hawkbite would be ready to dash and break her fall if need be.

@Mica - Birdpaw

[Mica]

Birdpaw
ShadowClan
she/her | 8 moons | 91/100
[Grey tabby with dark overcoat, white underside and amber eyes]
Purrks: Lyrebird's Lullaby [PERMANENTLY ACTIVE], Don't Mind If I Do!
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽ The Fool ☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
· · ────────────── · ·
[Hawkbite- @SuspiciousMindz ]
· · ────────────── · ·
Aw man!! No amazing tree journey for her today! Birdpaw didn't pout however, merely watching Hawkbite as he began to instruct her on how to jump down. Birdpaw peered at the ground, head canted side to side as she mulled over her options. Jumping from this height... she was rather small--would it hurt her unlike Hawkbite? She almost wanted to try.

No! No, no thank you. That would be counterproductive. Birdpaw shook the thoughts from her head and turned towards the tree, taking a deep breath before shifting onto the main branch and scuttling her way down. Gravity pulled her incesently, making her stomach and heart flip and flop like a fish out of water. Oh boy, this was less fun. But soon enough Birdpaw was close enough to the ground where she could jump, making a slight squeaking noise before throwing herself off the trunk and landing on her paws with a stumble. Frozen for a moment as Birdpaw's vision righted itself, then the apprentice chirped and looked up at Hawkbite. "I did it!!!"

[SuspiciousMindz]

[Hawkbite]
Enforcer Commander
Shadow Fiend | Agatha Kitty | Kitty Softpaws T2

Hawkbite would watch and make sure Birdpaw wouldn't need assistance before his tail would raise high into the air and wave. A smile played on his face and he nodded with agreement. "You sure did do it!" He praised. "Great job, Birdpaw. Now you just have to practice a few more times to master this skill, but you know the basics!"

Hawkbite would gesture towards the kill-pile. "Go get yourself a snack for your efforts. Unless you have any questions, your lesson is done," he concluded, dismissing her.

@Mica - Unless you want to reply, this is a good stopping point!