Vinepaw's Tunneler Assessment

[Moonraven]

It's been a while since Vinepaw has successfully finished all his training. Dustbunny wasn't sure why it had taken her so long to get on his assessment training, but it probably had something to do with her rper.

Anyway, today was the day. Dustbunny got up early and everything and walked over to the apprentice den. "Vinepaw, let's give your assessment a go." She called from outside of the den waiting for the apprentice to arrive. Once he showed up, she wordlessly led him out of the camp through the tunnel in the back of the nursery.

She began explaining what they'd be doing while walking through the territory. "So today you're going mole hunting in the tunnels. I'm not sure if you've ever hunted them before, but they're small rodent creatures, tunnelers like us, they move pretty quickly underground and are expert tunnelers. They can bite, but outside of that they're pretty harmless." Dustbunny explained as she led him to a mole hole.

She waved her tail at the mounds of dirt dug around the clearing. "A mole's recently taken nest here hidden within the tunnels. Find it, dig it up, catch it, and bring it over to that boulder, and you'll complete your assessment." She nodded to the large stone a few fox lengths away. "However, I won't make it easy for you. You lose if I steal your catch and bring it over there first. I'll count it as a win if you can manage to pin me."

Dustbunny figured that was fair enough if he could out-race her in the tunnels or best her in a fight, he'd prove himself. She figured he'd have more of a chance with the latter than the former. She was rather confident in her speed when it came to tunnels, she felt that was the only thing she was better than Crowtooth at.

"Any questions? If not go ahead, I'll take a different tunnel down. Remember your lessons."

@Tallstar [So I made this assessment up on the spot. It's a little mix of everything, digging, hunting, navigating, and fighting. If it goes well might without too many hiccups make it a regular tunneler assessment]

[Tallstar]

Vinepaw
9 Moons
He/Him
Vinepaw followed Dustbunny along his heart racing he had prepared but would it be enough.Once they had left camp and arrived at his assessment spot he took a seat and listend intently to Dustbunnys words..Ah so he would be hunting moles in the tunnels he had learned a few things from crowtooth but not as much as he’d like he started to formulate a plan in his head but it was soon interrupted by her pointing at a rock ah so he would have to fight aswell so be it.

He gave a nod to Dustbunny and headed down into the tunnel he was greeted by the familiar warmth and smell of the tunnels he knew he needed to focus so he started to listen for the sound of scurrying [Rolled a 12] he was able to pick up the faint sound of the mole he cautiously started to move forward towards the sound he figured the mole had to be in the walls somewhere he started to dig carefully while using his senses to try and pinpoint where the mole was.
[Will he find the mole in this post let’s see! Rolled a 17!] after moving swiftly through the tunnels he was able to smell and hear the mole clearly. “Where are you?” He muttered while trying to find the mole and kill it.Finally he was able to spot it he lunged. (Will he catch it who knows next post )

@Moonraven

[Moonraven]

Dustbunny watched as Vinepaw's tail disappeared into the tunnels. She sat and listened as his paw steps grew fainter and fainter the further he moved away. Once she could no longer hear him, she headed for another opening a few fox lengths from the tunnel Vinepaw had headed down and dove into the dark hole.

She could have just followed him down the same tunnel, but she didn't want him to know exactly where she was. The darkness was thick down here, the floor beneath her paws smooth and chilled. Dustbunny padded through the tunnel with the usual confidence of a cat used to the blackness. She kept her paw steps quiet, veering to the right as the outline of a wall came into her view.

Her ears were alert, barely hearing the sound of scratches in the dirt as she moved. It was too soft to be Vinepaw, so she moved, hunting for the tom in the shadows. All she smelled was mud and some prey down here, no Vinepaw yet.
@Tallstar [Vinepaw]

[Tallstar]

Vinepaw
9 Moons
He/Him

(Rolled a 18) Vinepaw quickly pounced on the mole making sure to bite the neck he stopped and listened for his mentors pawsteps though he couldn’t hear them he knew from this point forward he would need to be on extra guard he was determined and slightly desperate to beat his mentor not only to prove to himself that he was useful but also to the demon that plauge his nightmares..he hoped gorsefur was watching if he succeeded he could finally get back at the twisted dark forest cat he so desperately wanted to get rid of.

He turned and started to take light pawsteps through the tunnel making sure to keep his ears open for any noises he analyzed the way he came he knew it would be the quickest route but what if Dustbunny was waiting for him on the outside he sighed this was challenging to say the least he decided on going the way he originally came but not before marking his scent on a few of the different tunnel entrances hoping to throw the older warriors trail.

@Moonraven

[Moonraven]

Dustbunny sped through the darkness on near-silent paws, the fresh scent of blood filled her nostrils and had her following its path. Vinepaw's scent mingled with it, so she could only assume he had caught his mole. Pride bloomed within her chest knowing how far Vinepaw had come. The she-cat slowed and parted her maw, a hint of confusion in her blue eyes.

His scent veered off in multiple directions. Oh, he had marked multiple tunnels, smart. She would have been more clueless if she were as green as him. But the prey he was carrying gave him away. Smells don't travel here, but it didn't mean they disappeared either. She didn't need to take more than a few paw steps in each direction to determine if he went that way or not. It didn't take her more than a few seconds for her to latch on to his scent again and away she went.

Dustbunny picked up her pace, stretching her legs further so that her paws ate more distance. She weaved through the winding black paths until her eyes made out the silhouette ahead of her. The tunneler sacrificed silence for speed as she sprang at the apprentice's haunches, aiming heavy blows at the apprentice's haunches to knock him off balance into a tunnel wall. If he turned, her fangs would go for the mole, trying to snag it. She wasn't here to fight him, she simply wanted his prey.

She could feel a breeze brush her flank carrying the scent of rabbit. Breezes without scent could lead to nothing more than shafts reaching far underground but combined with the scent of rabbit that meant the surface. If she could grab the mole and get out before him his assessment would be over.
@Tallstar [Vinepaw]

[Tallstar]

Vinepaw
9 Moons
He/Him
Vinepaw kept pushing forward he was so close he could feel it if he could just get out but before he could he heard and smelled his mentor ah he wa being charged from behind he sped up but it was in vain as he felt his mentor knock into him he gritted his teeth hoping to not lose grip of the mole [Rolled a 16] he was able to hold it but it swayed as if it was ready to fall he gave a hiss he refused to fail. He knew he wouldn’t stand a chance fighting in the tunnel so he ran for the exit hoping to get out and if need be have an even battlefield. Once out he looked around for the rock and ran for it

@Moonraven

[Moonraven]

Dustbunny smiled faintly when Vinepaw managed to hold his ground and the mole. Instead of turning around to confront her, he sped up and out of the tunnels, smart. The tunnels weren't a great place to fight, too little space and they were as dangerous to him as his opponent.

The she-cat paused for a second, letting her eyes adjust to the change in lighting, as she exited the tunnel. A few blinks in and she was ready to move again. The she-cat swiftly closed the distance between her and the paw, aiming a blow at his forepaw to trip him up.
@Tallstar [Vinepaw]

[Tallstar]

Vinepaw
9 Moons
He/Him
Vinepaw bounded out of the tunnel heading to the rock but suddenly he felt contact at his forepaw he grunted (rolled a 11) as he stumbled and fell he was able to hold onto the mole though he knew his mentor had caught up with him he turned and faced her his blue eyes filled with a new kind of determination he would succeed. He started to analyze and rember what was taught especially what Deadmoon had shown him. He decided to do the hit and run move that he learned when he was a young apprentice he launched himself hoping to land a good hit on his mentors shoulder

@Moonraven

[Moonraven]

Her paw connected with one of his forepaws and he stumbled before crashing to the ground. Dustbunny had to catch herself as her momentum nearly carried her to the ground with him. As she righted her paws, she slid past him to stand in between him and the rock. Amusement twinkled in her copper eyes after she noticed he still had the mole clamped between his jaw.

His maw must be aching. She was impressed that he hadn't let go of the prey once. Dustbunny smiled at the determination blazing in his eyes once he stood up and faced her. He launched himself at her, and she avoided him by darting under and around his outstretched paws, aiming to slam her weight directly into his flank and pin him to the ground.
@Tallstar [Vinepaw]

[Tallstar]

Vinepaw grunted as he missed his target he saw his mentor shift from under him and raise a paw to attack though he knew he didn’t have to fight if he could just get the rock then it would be about speed he (Rolled a 19!!) dodged away from the hit running with all his might he knew he wasn’t as good fighting with prey in his mouth so he turned tail and ran for the rock knowing his smaller build would help him get there faster. He didn’t dare look back he was so close to the rock he could feel the victory looming overhead he would become a fully fledged tunneler he was sure of it.

Memories and thoughts went through his mind His mom-cough*Deadmoon I mean would be so proud and his father..well he would be proving his father wrong. He was a tail length away now he turned his head ever so slightly but soon he felt the rock underneath his paws he let out a shuddered breath he had done it he really had done it. He looked over to Dustbunny checking his mentors expression looking for the desperate need for approval
Though his jaw aches he was grinning @Moonraven