Cottonpaw - Hunting and Battle Training

[Undertaker]

@Blaaze - Owlpaw @Daragca - Cottonpaw
Ow, ow, ow! Leechscar internally winced as he led his apprentices out of camp. The huge gray tom gave his chest scar a few self-conscious licks while he tried to ignore the pain that flared up in his front paws. His movement was stiffer and slower as he entered WindClan's territory.

The tom waved his tail towards the enormous sea of flat grasslands. With the weather taking a turn and getting cold, the winds that stirred his fur were chilly enough to make him want to hide his tail between his legs. He focused on the chill instead of his throbbing paws.

"So Cottonpaw. This is WindClan's territory, it is mostly flatland full of grass with some trees here and there. We used to live in a more hilly territory among the moors, but it burned during a fire so we moved to the prairie. I like it a bit more than the moor, although we do get more birds of prey like hawks and vultures out here. It's always a good idea to keep an eye on the sky or watch the shadows around you, little furballs like you and Owlpaw make good bird bait." He teased, eyes dancing over to Owlpaw.

"So what do you two smell out here?" Leechscar would teach the pair how to hunt birds, his favorite prey, and potentially rabbits if they came across any. This would be a good chance to do some partner rabbit hunting with the two, maybe after a spar depending on how much energy they had left.

[Daragca]

Cottonpaw
he/him | Windclan Apprentice | 6 moons
The Collector
The Stowaway Child
[6/100]

Cottonpaw let his eyes wander all over the territory in front of them, it was beautiful. Rolling grass and moorland. Previously burnt by fire, it frightened him a little to think how close they came to it happening again.

At Leechscar’s orders he lifted his black nose to the wind, a watchful set of eyes scanning the horizon. He did have a rabbit’s tail after all and could be easily mistaken by some sort of big bird. The air was fresh and sweet. But through the natural scents there was something else, it wasn’t cat. It smelled more like the fresh kill pile did, but warmer.

Alive!

”T..there’s some prey maybe? I..I don’t know what type though it just smells like the prey at home.” Cottonpaw squeaked hastily. Now what direction did it come from? Either left or straight ahead, maybe both. This sure was confusing.

[​​ @Undertaker @Blaaze ]

[Blaaze]

[ header placeholder ]
↳-Owlpaw-༉‧₊˚✧
| WindClan Apprentice | She/her | | x/100 | Mentions; @Undertaker @Daragca|

Owlpaw felt a tiny pang of concern as she followed her mentor. It was uncharacteristic for him to.. yknow.. look stiff like an old man. Jumper looked grumpy a lot but to Aubs he was just a friendly smart awesome intelligent gray puffball. Which in reality he wasn’t. Anyways, the ginger mottled apprentice booped him with her nose. “Y’ okay?” She chirruped. As he began speaking, Owlpaw lolloped to hop next to Cottonpaw. “Windclan terr’tory is super awesome. Trust me!” Owlpaw assured until her mentor teased her. HEY! Mean!

“Hey! M’ not bird bait, I was but Not ‘nymore!” Came the demanding protest, displeased. Oo, scenting? Yippee! Owlpaw knew how to do that. “If y’ sneeze a lot you use your mouth.” Aubs informed Cottonpaw, demonstrating by breathing through her mouth and then with her nose when she saw no sneeze trees. Oo! She knew this smell! Rabbit! “I smellll a rabbit! Lik’ th’ one that kick’s n’ in the face!” okay, sure, she was boasting, but it was true! “N’ plants n’ unimportant stuff. But no sneeze trees!”

↳-Header by Mango-༉‧₊˚✧

[Undertaker]

@Blaaze - Owlpaw | @Daragca - Cottonpaw

The hell?! Leechscar's eyes widened and stared at Owlpaw after she booped him with her nose. His expression morphed into his normal grumpy, stoic face at her question.

"Fine." He huffed, narrowing his eyes and fixing her with a look that screamed I-will-bite-you. He wouldn't actually as he liked his ears and tail attached to his body and not shredded by her mother figures.

"You'll always be my bird bait, Owlbait. It's in your name." He reminded smirking at his ginger apprentice's refusal. He was serious he was using her as bird bait as soon as she was at an age he wouldn't get scolded for it. Cottonpaw too, possibly, depended on how big he got.

"I'm pretty sure you're the only one with a sneezing problem, Owlbait, but that is good advice, Cottonball. If you have trouble picking up scents with your nose, breathe lightly through your mouth. You can pick up scents that way as well." It was getting cooler out so he didn't think Owlpaw would have trouble scenting through her nose since the plant life would be buried under snow soon enough. That reminds him he might have to teach them how to hunt in the snow, it's usually a learning lesson to new warriors depending on which seasons you got your training in.

"Uh-huh, good job Owlbait, we're going to try and not get beat up by bunnies from now though." He groaned remembering that incident like it was yesterday.

"Cottonball, when you eat prey from now I want you to try and familiarize the scent of whatever you're eating. Or you can play a game that I played when I was younger. Close your eyes at the fresh-kill pile and try sniffing out whatever you want to eat, pull it out when you think you've found it, and see if you're right. Make sure you clean up if you make a mess though, I don't need warriors complaining to me about you."

Leechscar turned his head and opened his mouth, scenting the air, while pricking his ears. It took him a few seconds but found what he was looking for and ordered the apprentices to follow him as he led them through the territory. As they crested a small slope, Leechscar crouched down and signaled for the paws to do the same.

"We're going to be hunting them today," Leechscar nudged his chin towards the small flock of thrush and starlings scavaging among some bushes. "Any ideas on how to best catch birds?"

[Daragca]

Cottonpaw
he/him | Windclan Apprentice | 6 moons
The Collector
The Stowaway Child
[12/100]

Cottonpaw nodded, soaking in Leechscar’s advice. The game sounded like a fun concept, but he was sure it would take him a little while to master. But he was dedicated, and surely if he practised enough he’d get it right eventually.

He copied and crouched, lowering his already small frame to the ground. The small birds ahead looked delicious, but so precious. The way they fluttered and bursted with life almost broke little Cottonpaw’s heart at the thought of having to hurt them. He understood why, but it didn’t make it any less hurtful. Just something he supposed he’d have to become accustomed to.

”W..well it would be hard to catch them if we spook them and send them flying. B..but maybe if we timed it one of us could jump and catch them before they e..escape?” Cottonpaw tried to visualise the plan in his mind, one cat sneaking up to push them in the direction of the others. Would that work? Or would they be too quick and escape in a flurry.

His wide yellow eyes turned to face the other two cats, they’d have a much better understanding of this than he did.

[​​ @Blaaze​​ @Undertaker ]

[Undertaker]

@Daragca - Cottonpaw

Leechscar's tail twitched as Cottonpaw replied with a reasonable answer. He had been waiting on Owlpaw, but quickly noticed that the apprentice had wandered off the second he took his eye off her. Leechscar glanced around and frowned deeper when he didn't spot the apprentice's ginger pelt anywhere in sight. He'd have to check the camp after he returned, for now, he'd continue to focus on Cottonpaw's training.

"Yes, that's a great idea, although not so much for flying prey. Herding prey works better when they can't take to the sky at any moment." He told the apprentice. "If you have places to hide, stealth would be your best advantage against birds, but if you're stuck in an open field with no long grass or bushes in sight, creeping and getting as close as you from behind it, mixed with speed at the right timing would catch you the bird." Leechscar stared at the birds ahead of them as he spoke.

"You'll want to stay downwind, move closer very slowly, and crouch without making a sound. Keep your muzzle low and your tail still. Don’t hesitate too much while creeping up on the prey, and stay focused. If you watch the bird closely enough you can tell when they're getting ready to spread their wings and fly, you'll have to be ready to move quickly and pounce or clear the distances between you before it can fly. Aim for the wings if you're worried you'll miss its body." Leechscar tore his gaze from the birds and looked back at Cottonpaw.

"Unless you want to practice your hunting crouch and stalking, you can give it a try." Practice made perfect but experience was a valuable lesson too.

[Daragca]

Cottonpaw
he/him | Windclan Apprentice | 7 moons
The Collector
The Stowaway Child
[19/100]

Cottonpaw’s head swivelled around for Owlpaw, but she seemed to have wandered off. Lines of worry crossed his face, he hoped she’d be alright. He had to pay attention, not fall behind. Cottonpaw listened in closely to his mentor.

”O..okay!” The youngster squeaked. He’d practised the crouch and stalking a couple of times outside the nursery, but definitely needed to get better and put it into practise. He watched the fluttering birds carefully then approached. Lowering down his haunches, he crept forward. It felt uncomfortable, hurting things. But he knew it was essential to clan living, his tiny heart still twanged at the thought.

Forward, then forward again. The birds hadn’t yet heard him, having a stub for a tail seemed to be quite beneficial at times, something he didn’t have to watch out for accidentally making noise.

And GO!

Cottonpaw leapt forward, outstretched claws. The birds flurrying upwards in shock, they were fast. Faster than he had initially expected. He caught the wing of a bird but his claws ripped through the edge of its feathers and it clumsily flew away. Shrill warbles piercing the air, he was so close. But almost thankful he didn’t hurt it in the end. The corners of his eyes began to prick with salty tears and he turned his face away from Leechscar.

[​​ @Undertaker ]