|
|
Post by darkwolf45 on Jun 6, 2019 12:44:27 GMT -6
Dawn. The sky was lighting up with the fire of the sun and it had her holding her breath as she watched the dark sky turn into several shades of red and orange and pinks. She still felt haunted by that night that seemed like just yesterday and yet a full cycle had passed and she could still feel the pain of that night, the losses the clan suffered, the betrayal. Ripping her gaze from the sky she steeled herself, finding an old resolve as she made her way toward's the apprentice's den. It was almost funny, that once upon a time she was sleeping in this den, wide eyed and naive, looking for herself. She still felt like she was looking for who she was, but now she felt jaded, tired. Ducking her head into the den she called out softly so as not to wake everyone in the den. "Cougarpaw. It is time for training." With that she backed away to allow the young tom to exit the den.
|
|
|
|
Post by Warrioress on Jun 20, 2019 14:15:33 GMT -6
Cougarpaw slipped out of the den, his jaws stretching in a yawn before he shook out his fur. "Morning Blazefern" he mewed with a small smile, excited to begin training. Though he had to admit that there was still no getting used to the early mornings that came with training, he didn't think he could ever get used to waking up early.
|
|
|
|
Post by darkwolf45 on Jun 21, 2019 19:57:21 GMT -6
The orange she-cat hummed in greeting, giving the young tom a small smile, "Morning Cougarpaw. Are your ready for today?" Flicking her tail for him to follow she headed toward the camp entrance, and once outside she started talking. "We're going to do a little more hunting training today. I know I've taught you quite a lot on that already but I want to teach you a few basics on hunting in wooded areas. So we'll be going to the more wooded part of our lands." The idea itself stemmed from her time in WillowClan and AspenClan, having to learn how to hunt around roots and trees after she had grown up learning the moors had been rough. So to have that basic knowledge was something she wanted for Cougarpaw.
|
|
|
|
Post by Warrioress on Jun 28, 2019 13:35:21 GMT -6
Cougarpaw followed after Blazefern, his ears flicking once as he slipped thru the entrance. He straightened with curiosity at the knowledge they would be hunting in wooded areas, something they hadn't done yet. "is it harder than the moors?" he asked, wondering which would be harder.
|
|
|
|
Post by darkwolf45 on Jul 1, 2019 19:53:19 GMT -6
Blazefern nodded slightly, paws guiding her towards the border with AspenClan, "It can be. We can't just freely run like here on the moors. There are thorns, holly bushes, trees and their roots, plus the dips and holes we already have to avoid on the flatlands. It can also be easier as there are more places to hide to not be easily seen by prey or enemy." The transition from moorland to woodland had been jarring for many of the RavenClan cats, many a sprained paw and leg had occured. As they left the open sky and the sunlight dappled through the leaves instead, roots beginning to show, holly bushes shivering in a breeze.
Once she determined they were far enough into the trees of RavenClan territory she stopped, turning to look at the young tom. "Hunting in the trees requires more stealth than speed. You must sneak up on your prey and get as close as possible. It is much harder to chase anything through the trees and typically most forest prey can run and hide quicker than you can say 'mouse-dung'."
|
|
|
|
Post by Warrioress on Jul 1, 2019 20:06:11 GMT -6
Looking up at the trees as they approached, Cougarpaw couldn't help the feeling of being caged in the deeper they went. He came to a stop as she did, his ears perking as he listened to what she was saying, his head tilted. How do you do that will all the leaves on teh ground? Won't they make noise that gives away your position?" he asked, looking at the debris on the ground around them.
|
|
|
|
Post by darkwolf45 on Jul 1, 2019 20:30:49 GMT -6
A small smile danced across her muzzle for a moment as she nodded, "Yes. They are very loud, especially in leaf-fall and leaf-bare. It's why you have to be aware of where you put your paws so much. You remember the basic hunting crouch yes? Let's start with having you learn to walk on the leaves." She gestured with her tail for him to get into position. "Try giving walking across this area. Keep your ears and eyes open for paths of least resistance."
|
|
|
|
Post by Warrioress on Jul 1, 2019 20:38:04 GMT -6
Cougarpaw twitched his ears before crouching down, adjusting himself until he was balanced, his gaze scanning over the area around him. He moved forward, nearly cursing as his back paw scraped against some leaves that had been resting under his belly. He adjusted and started again, carefully placing his paws, making sure they were soft and stable before moving foward. He wanted to curse everytime he misjudged and ended up hitting leaves or bushes near him.
|
|
|
|
Post by darkwolf45 on Jul 1, 2019 21:48:53 GMT -6
The orange she-cat watched with careful eyes, noting his annoyance whenever he crunched a leaf or rustled a bush, he was doing well though. It made her proud, that he was a quick learn. Stepping forward she slid into her own crouch, mirroring his movements opposite of him, lifting her paw mere whisker lengths above the ground and gliding forward with quiet steps, leaves gently rustling beneath her as if she was a mere breeze. "Move like the wind and water over the earth, let your body be fluid like water, silent as a breeze."
|
|
|
|
Post by Warrioress on Jul 1, 2019 21:57:47 GMT -6
Noting the way she was moving, Cougarpaw tried to copy her movements, feeling better as he caused less noise than previous. He grinned as he moved forward, feeling more confident as he strived to make his movements smoother and more fluid as well.
|
|
|
|
Post by darkwolf45 on Jul 1, 2019 22:16:26 GMT -6
Grinning, Blazefern nodded in encourgement, halting her movements and sitting up, "Very well done. You'll make a forest cat in no time." She joked lightly. Casting her gaze around them she gestured with her tail towards their surroundings, "The wind can't take scents away as easy here, try and scent what might be in the area, and once you've got something you might wanna try and catch, try it out."
|
|
|
|
Post by Warrioress on Jul 1, 2019 22:30:34 GMT -6
Taking in a deep breath, Cougarpaw took in the scents around him, trying to focus on finding some prey. His ear flicked as he heard movement moments before he caught the scent of a mouse. He turned towards the scent and sound, moving slowly and confidently. He spotted the mouse after moving nearly five taillengths thru the trees, his ears flicked once before he moved again. He halted and waited a beat before lunging forward, hissing as he misjudged adn the mouse bolted away, disappearing into the roots of a tree near it. "mouse-dung" he growled
|
|
|
|
Post by darkwolf45 on Jul 2, 2019 0:02:06 GMT -6
Blazefern was silent as she followed, letting him learn and do his own thing, watching with calm and sharp eyes. "That wasn't bad for your first try. Remember to try and get as close as possible. Would you like to try again?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Warrioress on Jul 2, 2019 0:13:51 GMT -6
Cougarpaw sat up, disgruntled at losing the mouse, he turned as he heard Blazefern's words. He took her words to heart to heart and nodded in response to her question "yes" he mewed as he got back into a crouch, using his senses to search out prey in the area once more. he managed to locate another mouse and moved towards it, his tail flicking once behind him as he moved even closer to this one, pausing whenever the mouse twitched. The satisfaction gained from managing to catch the second mouse had him purring as he sat up, his eyes shining.
|
|
|
|
Post by darkwolf45 on Jul 2, 2019 12:53:04 GMT -6
Pride swelled in her chest and she grinned openly as she approached from where she had sat watching. "Very good! You caught on really good. Learning to hunt in the woods is good for hot days, the shade will have more prey than the hot moors sometimes, and if we ever have to hunt solely in the woods again for any reason it is good to know how to." Flicking her tail she nodded to the mouse, "Would you like to continue to hunt? Or would you like to go back to camp?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Warrioress on Jul 2, 2019 20:16:43 GMT -6
Cougarpaw purred at the praise given, his shoulders straightening as he grinned. He was glad that he seemed to be gaining a new skill, determined to practice it more. Her question had him shifting his paws slightly "go back to camp please" he mewed, he wanted to show his mouse to his siblings, talk about the difference between hunting on the moors and under trees.
|
|
|
|
Post by darkwolf45 on Jul 2, 2019 21:37:19 GMT -6
Blazefern smiled, rising to her paws and nodding for him to follow, "Let's go then. I wanna show you off to all the other cats. You've done very well today, I couldn't be more proud." She was indeed very proud of his fast learning, proud of herself as well for being a good teacher. Leading the way back to camp she hummed softly, grateful that she had succeeded in this.
_Fin_
|
|
