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 ]

[Undertaker]

@Daragca - Cottonpaw

Well, that went just about how he'd expected it to go. Leechscar scowl grew deeper as he watched Cottonpaw miss his catch. The older tom got to his paws, internally wincing, and walked over to Cottonpaw, ginger sniffing him for any injuries before gently pressing his nose into the apprentice's cheek.

"Keep your chin up, I wasn't expecting you to catch one on your first try," Leechscar admits, sitting down to take the weight off his burns. "Birds are among the hardest prey to catch since they can fly, I just wanted to see if you had a natural talent for hunting. It doesn't seem you do, still, you'll make a great hunter with some practice." The warrior promised. Perhaps he was a little mean trying to see if an apprentice fresh out of the nursery could hunt a bird. He didn't feel too bad, though, most apprentices don't catch their first prey anyway.

"You did a great job with stalking, the bird didn't hear or see you until you were right on top of it. Your crouch and pounce weren't too bad either. You show more promise than Owlbait, she landed on her face the first time she showed me her crouch and pounce. I'll have to tell her how much better you did than her once we find her." The grump yawned. He did hope they found her in camp.

"You want to see if we can find some rabbits and mice to hunt. You'll probably have better luck with prey that sticks to land than birds. Otherwise, we can head back to camp."

[Daragca]

Cottonpaw
he/him | Windclan Apprentice | 7 moons
The Collector - Lucky Duck T1
The Stowaway Child
[23/100]

The youngster felt Leechscar’s nose press unexpectedly into his cheek. Even managing a little giggle at his comment about Owlpaw, his disappointment in himself was palpable. But he wasn’t about to give up that easily. His mentor’s words had only steeled his resolve, he was determined to prove himself.

I..I would like to try rabbits! I don’t w..want to give up just yet.” He lifted a paw to wipe away the salty droplets lining his eyes. Looking up at Leechscar, face lined with resolve. He opened his mouth and sniffed through his nose trying to soak in any scents in the air, just like Owlpaw had suggested earlier. There were a few warm prey-like scents he could pull in.

He was almost certain Owlpaw would be alright, he’d just have to keep an eye out for her when he got back to camp.

[​​ @Undertaker ]

[Undertaker]

@Daragca - Cottonpaw

Leechscar grunted softly in mild delight as Cottonpaw quickly picked himself back up. He knew he should make the apprentice do the scenting himself this time, but spending time waiting for him to catch the correct scent was a lesson in itself. He lifted his head and took a deep breath through his nose smelling the air until he found an almost pleasantly sweet scent of grass and flowers.

"Come on this way," Leechscar called for the apprentice as he led him toward the rabbit. They didn't have to go far and arrived at a field of heather with a lone pine further back. "This is the Sky Glade, and see that dense woodline full of pine trees, that the Whispering Wetlands, the start of ShadowClan's border. We've had a lot of battles over this territory with ShadowClan some time ago, a lot of good warriors put to rest here or so I've been told." Leechscar explained their surroundings before his green eyes found what he was looking for.

"And there's our rabbit." He crept forward a tad, gritting his teeth to ignore his sore paws. Leechscar nodded to the small rabbit that was nibbling on some dying flowers. "A rabbit's ears hear things incredibly well, so you'll want to be extra quiet. You'll want to try and pounce on it before it hears you and runs, I don't think you'll be fast enough to catch it once it starts moving. Oh, and watch out for its hind legs, Owlpaw managed to catch a rabbit but got nicked in the chin with a kick. Be careful." Even though he'd be right there to back up Cottonpaw, he didn't want to see him injured.