Spread Your Wings [Birdpaw Assessment]

[Estelle]

It was not often she took such an initiative outside of her group setting lessons; most often apprentices came to seek her out and asking for training or assessments - she could hardly keep track of all the clans' apprentices ready for assessing by herself, after all, lest she began to take out more groups for training. That... Could be a wise choice indeed, to become more involved in the apprentice's training progress of each. She liked that idea. Nevertheless, it was not the topic of today, and the youngest enforcer had to set aside her thoughts in favour of finding her younger sister, the sweet one.

You see, her siblings' training was a rather different story. She had heard the words of Birdpaw's progress, how she was doing and fulfilling her duties as an apprentice - how, after these moons, she may find herself ready for the next step; not by exact conversation, to be sure, but rather by overhearing the everyday gossip of mentors and teachers alike. And if Birdpaw was ready, then she wanted to take it upon herself to fulfil this next step - mama appeared busy besides, she could perhaps... Surprise Birdpaw with this. She had heard of it being done; Nightshiver's ceremony, for instance, had been a surprise.

T hat is what had brought her to rise her younger sister from her nest this morning - or wherever she had been laying - to take her out on an impromptu training session; practice, if you will, preceded by some morning hunting to wake up her muscles and finished by a spar to ensure her safety against any predators that may lurk these lands. So, deep in ShadowClan's woods, she stood still with an unwavering gaze settling upon the apprentice.
"Hunt,"
She began, a bit more curt than she would have liked.
"I will be near."
Sleepysunrise finished, tone softening alongside her gaze, for just a moment, a flicker of warmth through the professionalism.


[ @Mica - Birdwarrior !! Setting this before larkdeath announcement if that's okay! ]

[Mica]

Birdpaw
ShadowClan Apprentice
she/her | 9 moons | 92/100
[Grey tabby with dark overcoat, white underside and amber eyes]
Purrks: Lyrebird's Lullaby [PERMANENTLY ACTIVE], Don't Mind If I Do!
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽ The Fool ☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
· · ────────────── · ·
[Sleepysunrise - @Estelle ]
· · ────────────── · ·
Birdpaw was curled up in her nest, happily snoozing away, when a curt voice jolted her from her slumber. Birdpaw recognized it immediately, a rumbling purr starting up in her chest as she stretched and yawned before greeting Sleepysunrise with a smile. "Hi Sleepysunrise~" She chirped, pushing herself to her paws and giving her face a quick clean. Ooohhh some sort of mission? Patrol? Birdpaw trotted out of the den on Sleepysunrise's heels, excitement and curiosity making her amber eyes bright in the early morning sunshine.

Ohhh hunting! Hunting patrol! Fun! Birdpaw saluted her sister with a wave of her tail, a little confused as to why Sleepysunrise wouldn't be hunting as well, but maybe she just wanted to see Birdpaw's skills. And oh Birdpaw was very skilled! She was the BEST hunter!

Slipping into the brush nearby, Birdpaw opened her jaws to scent for prey. She caught a whiff of a squirrel nearby, her eyes shooting in the direction it came from. Bingo! With practiced pawsteps, Birdpaw slunk under bushes and through roots towards her target. The squirrel sat on a gnarled root of a pine tree, picking at a pine cone which had fallen off. Birdpaw crouched low, keeping her usually constantly moving body stock-still. She chittered at the squirrel, earning a surprised look (could squirrels look surprised??) in her direction. Grinning, Birdpaw silently shifted to the right, the squirrel still staring at the spot she had been previously. Then, she struck! Leaping out of the bushes, Birdpaw slammed down on the squirrel and killed it with a swift bite to the neck. It died without struggle, the pine cone falling to the ground beneath their feet. Hooray!

Birdpaw looked up, wondering if Sleepysunrise wanted her to catch multiple pieces of prey. She might as well, since they were out here!

Stuffing the squirrel under the roots of the pine tree, Birdpaw trotted off in search of more prey. The scent of a frog caught her attention, and she veered towards it. She could hear it croaking its morning song, and felt drawn to echo it. But no, she wouldn't. She couldn't reliably make frog noises (she had tried, repeatedly), and she didn't want to risk scaring it away. Soon enough the frog came into view, and Birdpaw crouched low to stalk towards it. It hopped slightly to the side, and Birdpaw shot forward to catch it before it hopped away. It squeaked in terror before dying, Birdpaw's teeth in his throat. Yippee! Another piece of prey!

Birdpaw turned back to her squirrel, grabbing it alongside her frog and heading back to Sleepysunrise. If her sister wanted her to catch more, she would!

[Estelle]

Birdpaw's hunting was on par. She saw no glaring issues, nothing that would eliminate the apprentice becoming a warrior and Sleepysunrise couldn't lie about the light swell of pride in her chest. Birdpaw would make a fine warrior, she wanted to think, and see her younger sister get her name all the sooner. She was doing good. But the enforcer forced herself to remain professional, blinking slowly and giving Birdpaw a small nod, taking her back to drop off the caught prey at camp - a simpler activity than burying and possibly forgetting it.

Before long, Sleepysunrise was once again guiding her youngest sister through the grounds ShadowClan called home. She wanted to find a challenging place; some trees, muddied grounds - or both, anything that would challenge Birdpaw in the practice, anything Birdpaw could try to be creative with.

The place she deemed acceptable was just died; some slight mud patches from recent rain, a circle of trees nearby - if they moved about, they could try to use those. Unlike with Gutspaw, Sleepysunrise did not feel the need to surprise attack her sister. Instead, she turned to face the younger cat and observe her with a professional distance, stepping back lightly to allow for space.
"Begin."
Is what the older feline said, expecting Birdpaw to begin their fight -- or force Sleepysunrise to begin it herself.


[ @Mica ]

[Mica]

Birdpaw
ShadowClan Apprentice
she/her | 9 moons | 95/100
[Grey tabby with dark overcoat, white underside and amber eyes]
Purrks: Lyrebird's Lullaby [PERMANENTLY ACTIVE], Don't Mind If I Do!
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽ The Fool ☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
· · ────────────── · ·
[Sleepysunrise - @Estelle ]
· · ────────────── · ·
The pride in Sleepysunrise's gaze was not lost on Birdpaw, and she grinned up at her big sister. She had done good! Hooray! They brought the prey back to camp, and Birdpaw had resigned herself to puttering around camp to avoid boredom, but instead Sleepysunrise gestured for her to follow the Enforcer out of camp again. Oh? Another patrol, perhaps? Great! Birdpaw loved patrols.

They approached a clearing, and Birdpaw unwittingly padded to the center of it, ready to hunt. But Sleepysunrise's voice behind her startled the apprentice, and she canted her head as she studied her sister's stance. Then it hit her. Panic lanced through Birdpaw's chest, and she stumbled back a step. No, nonono--she hated battle! It always made the thoughts even worse; it made her think about hurting the cats she loved! Her claws would itch to tear flesh and her mouth would water at the idea of tasting blood. She hated it! She hated the intrusive thoughts and she had promised to never get into a fight ever!

But Sleepysunrise was looking at her expectantly. Birdpaw knew if she refused, Sleepysunrise would attack her first. Had Birdpaw done something wrong?? Her big amber eyes grew watery. "Did--Did I do something?" She squeaked.

But Sleepysunrise was very direct. She wouldn't hurt Birdpaw for nothing. Maybe... maybe this was another training lesson. Maybe she had heard that Birdpaw had been avoiding battle lessons and instead focusing on other skills. Maybe she just wanted to help. Besides, she didn't have her claws out. So... okay. Birdpaw could do this.

The apprentice took a few deep breaths, willing the burning tears to go away. She was a strong cat! She could do this! She thought back to her singular battle lesson and the things she had learned. After sizing up Sleepysunrise, Birdpaw struck. Her small form and many moons practicing skittering around at high speeds helped her dart forward with incredible speed. She raised a sheathed paw to swipe at Sleepysunrise's face before darting away again, watching her sister warily for her move. This was what Sleepysunrise wanted? Yes?