Lightingpaw: Training at Twilight

[Moonraven]

[So I'm just carrying their previous conversation over here]
The WindClan leader made a mental note of all the locations and everything Lightingpaw did and had already seen. So he's visited the Starry Meadow, Twilight Falls, Sunset Grove, and Sedgewater Valley. For someone so far behind he's been keeping busy.

"You've been keeping your paws moving, good work." Twilightstar purred and then waved her tail beckoning the apprentice to follow her. "We might as well start on your training. let's head to the Sky Glade, we'll see if we can find any rabbits there and visit the Whispering Wetlands while we're at it."

Twilightstar glanced at the sky for raptors as soon as they reached the prairie. "I'm not sure if you've already been taught this, but you're out here you'll want to keep one eye on the sky for raptors like hawks or vultures. Hawks are most common out here, vultures you usually on come about if there is crowfood around."

Twilightstar picked up her pace slightly into a light trot as they cut across the seemingly endless sea of green to reach the lone pine tree standing several fox lengths in front of a pine forest. "This is the Sky Glade, we had quite the battle for this chunk of territory some seasons back." Twilightstar stayed well away from ShadowClan's border for the time being and focused on scenting the air.

"Can you smell any fresh rabbit trails? We can practice hunting them if you find one." She told the paw. He said he had a hunting lesson before and she wanted to see what he could do.
@Lightningpaw666 [Lightingpaw]

[Lightningpaw666]

Lightningpaw- He/Him, 10 moons old looks like he is 7.5 moons old due to being a runt has a defining Lightning bolt shaped scar on his flank, no purrks, Windclan Apprentice.

When Twilightstar herself praised Lightningpaw for keeping busy despite not having what one would call a normal training period he couldn't help but swell with a bit of pride. "Well I mean.. I wanted to do what I could to serve Windclan even as an Apprentice with little Training." Lightningpaw would admit to his leader. When Twilightstar wanted to get started on his training immediately he was pleasantly surprised and would nod respectfully as he followed her across Windclan's Territory. Lightningpaw smelled the fresh open air of the Territory enjoying the smells that was until Twilightstar mentioned those dreaded words for the Apprentice. Lightningpaw slowed down but wouldn't stop beginning to look around more worrisome. "R-Raptors..." Lightningpaw would repeat with a shaky voice it was obvious his experience as a kit when he was attacked by a Hawk and given his scar still haunted him. Thankfully Bravebird was there to save him then but the experience had stuck with him and now formed into something of a PTSD for the Young Tom. Lightningpaw managed to snap out of it though when he heard Twilightstar tell him about the battle with Shadowclan over this land. Twilightstar asked him if he could smell Rabbit. Lightningpaw would open his mouth allowing the smells of the moor to waft through his scent glands he would work hard to pinpoint a rabbit. Concentrating hard using both smell and sound. He would soon smell it a wonderful botanical, slightly sweet with background notes of flowers and grass. Then he also heard the heavy feet of the running he would watch it run and he took off after it running with all the speed his legs could muster after it but no matter how fast he was moving he couldn't catch up. It veered off towards the left to a burrow and he tried diving vainly at it but fell short obviously. He would fall on the ground with a thud with nothing to show for his efforts but a mouthful of dirt he would spit it out. "Pt pt pt! Mousedung!! If only I listened to Rabbitpaw when he talked about hunting rabbits!" Lightningpaw would meow frustrated. He would pad back to his leader with a discouraged look. "Sorry Twilightstar.. I only know how to hunt Mouse and Voles. I never learned the technique for rabbits." Lightningpaw would tell his Leader. @Moonraven

[Moonraven]

Oh? Twilightstar blinked her single eye as confusion showed through when Lightningpaw seemed to be able to catch the scent of a rabbit, however, instead of informing her he bolted off after the critter. She hadn't even explained the best way to go about catching them. Instincts could only take a cat so far when catching certain creatures. Rabbits, often required some form of technique when hunting them, especially out here where they had holes everywhere to hide.

She wasn't surprised when Lightningpaw returned, out of breath, and nothing to show for his effort. "Valient attempt but I'm sure you'd have better luck if you used your ears and listened. I said tell me if you can find a fresh scent trail, not find a scent trail, and then recklessly chase after the first rabbit you see." The leader's tail tip twitched behind her.

"Hunting rabbits is not like hunting other prey. Rabbits are 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, and usually, a technique one develops as they age and get used to hunting down rabbits. Be silent enough and you can catch them without chasing them down or far." Lightingpaw needed more experience before catching a rabbit in full sprint. He'd need to build up his endurance and his speed.

"Let's try this again, find a new rabbit to hunt, and wait until I instruct you on what to do." They'd be out here till moonhigh if he kept acting before thinking.
@Lightningpaw666 [Lightningpaw]

[Lightningpaw666]

Lightningpaw would once more smell the air he wanted to make his Leader proud and prove he was a quick learner. Lightningpaw would prove he was he just had to! Lightningpaw caught scent of only a single more rabbit the rest seemed to shelter in burrows after his commotion of trying to catch the last one. He would point his tail in the direction of it. "There's one that way a bit ways away but it's the last one above ground." Lightningpaw would mew to Twilightstar. @Moonraven

[Moonraven]

"There are always more rabbits to find," Twilightstar replied to the apprentice's comment. The leader parted her maw to taste the air and followed the scent towards the supposed last rabbit above ground. When the came upon the rabbit, Twilightstar urged Lightingpaw to lower himself into a crouch and followed him a moment later.

She crouched low enough that her belly fur skimmed the grass while eyeing the rabbit ahead. It looked on the younger side which explained why it hadn't run off like the rest. Younger creatures always seemed to be bolder if not stupider.

"When hunting, always make sure you're downwind, rabbits spook very easily. If they scent or hear you, they'll bolt as you've already learned." She muttered to the paw without removing her eyes from the prey. "You can try and sneak up on it, you can use the tall grass to hide if you are worried that you won't be able to stalk it without being seen. Mind your paw steps and your tail don't make noise." She reminded the paw before giving him the good ahead with a nod.
@Lightningpaw666

[Lightningpaw666]

Lightningpaw listened to the Leader turned his mentor as she told him how to hunt the creature. Lightningpaw would crouch watching what she did and attempting to copy it. Lightningpaw managed to get a pretty decent crouch going his belly low and tail off the ground but also still. Lightningpaw inched himself into the grass as he didn't want this younger Rabbit to run like the last one. Lightningpaw did his best not to make the same mistakes twice. He would nearly disappear completely once the small orange tabby had completely gone into the grass. The rabbit had yet to notice Lightningpaw and he was moving closer almost in striking range. Once he managed to reach his pouncing range he would prepare himself his muscles bunching up to give him the strength to lunge forward. Lightningpaw would do just that pouncing with his claws outstretched. Lightningpaw had managed to surprise the small creature as it didn't even have time to squeal before he bit into it's neck finishing it off. Lightningpaw would pick up the tiny Rabbit with a sense of pride welling in his chest as he looked over towards his Mentor and Leader. @Moonraven

[Moonraven]

Twilightstar sat back and observed Lightningpaw as he corrected his mistakes and listened to her this time. She wasn't surprised when he managed to catch the rabbit with little trouble this time around. She purred loudly as he padded back over to her with his rabbit dangling between his jaw.

"Wonderful work, Lightningpaw, I knew you could do it."She praised. Twilightstar was impressed that he had managed to hide so well with his brightly colored pelt. "Now that you've got rabbit hunting down, do you want to try hunting another one or shall we work on another area you'd like to improve." She knew she should work on battling with him. He had told her he had learned a few moves, but she didn't think he had any experience so a spar would tell her what he needed to work on.
@Lightningpaw666 [Lightningpaw]

[Lightningpaw666]

Lightningpaw- He/Him, 11 moons old, No Purrks, Windclan Apprentice.

Lightningpaw would then meow. "Well I could use some battle training to be honest I'm lacking a lot in it." Lightningpaw would tell his mentor as he cursed his lack of battle training. Lightningpaw was 11 moons old he should know how to defend himself by now. And yet Lightningpaw knew close to nothing about the ins and outs of battle it had him a bit irritated at the thought to be honest. @Moonraven

[Moonraven]

Twilightstar nodded and beckoned the tom to follow her. "Hid your rabbit, we won't go far from it but we don't want anyone to snatch it while we're training." The leader led him to a small clearing a few fox-lengths away. The lilac she-cat took a battle stance, crouching down and flickering her tail tip from side to side.

"There is more to battling than moves, I want to see your skill and how you fight. We shall do a little sparring. Attack me." She ordered. She could coach him through the ins and outs of battle while they spar. She felt that it'd save more time than just teaching him moves.
@Lightningpaw666 [Lightningpaw]

[Lightningpaw666]

Lightningpaw- He/Him, 12 moons old, No Purrks, Windclan Apprentice.

Lightningpaw nodded towards Twilightstar and would do just that tucking it away in a hidden place and following her. Lightningpaw was finally going to learn how to fight this was going to be exciting. Lightningpaw would get into a battle crouch as his mentor told him they were going to spar. 'Me spar against Twilightstar? This is going to be fun. I get to test myself against our leader herself.' Lightningpaw thought to himself as he gauged the distance between the two. Lightningpaw was going to try his best. There was one issue though Lightningpaw wouldn't attack not at first anyways instead he began to circle his mentor watching her intently. Lightningpaw only really was good at counter attacks his true offense was lacking. This meant Lightningpaw was mainly the type to react to his opponents moves not knowing much first attacks. However, Lightningpaw was slowly approaching her despite this. Lightningpaw would still try but he was taking his time studying Twilightstar trying to figure out what she might do first once he made his opening move thinking opening after opening. Lightningpaw would methodically play attack after attack as he tried to figure out what to use first. Lightningpaw however never saw Twilightstar fight meaning there was only one option. Lightningpaw would just have to try something and see what worked and didn't. Lightningpaw would try to move with quick graceful movements to attempt to go into Twilightstar's blind spot where she didn't have an eye. However, instead of attacking that side Lightningpaw would aim to faint Twilightstar out with a fake attack to that side if she reacted to that faint he would aim another paw at her good eye. Lightningpaw assumed that many cats tried attacking Twilightstar from her missing eye side this would mean that she would expect this move but Lightningpaw didn't expect to make contact. Still he kept his claws sheathed to not hurt his leader. @Moonraven (I am so sorry this is so late I kinda been dealing with stuff irl.)