Eaglepaw's Patrol Topic

Nightcloud paced outside of the camp, looking up to glance across the marshy territory. She was planning to so Eaglepaw around the territory, but the idea of also teaching him how to hunt seemed like a good one...Perhaps they would do both? The silver tabby wasn't completely sure on if she should do one or the other, or maybe even both. She glanced over at the apprentice den, wondering if Eaglepaw remembered that they had training today or if she had to remind him.

Eaglepaw slowly lifted his head, yawning. He glanced at the dim light filtering through the den and he eventually got to his paws. Ducking outside he headed for the fresh-kill pile, until he remembered his training today. He glanced towards the entrance, then padded towards Nightcloud with a reluctant huff.

"Good for you to join me, Eaglepaw," Nightcloud said, nodding toward the tom. She paused as she glanced toward the fresh-kill pile before turning and started to pad into the territory. "Don't worry. I'll try to hurry though this so you can eat. Today, we are patrolling the borders. However, I am also thinking of adding hunting. How does catching you own meal sound? Of course you would have to wait until we got back to the camp to eat it."
 

He padded after wearily, gazing around as they trekked through the marshy territory. "That sounds nice. Does it taste different when it's your own prey?" he asked, swishing his tail for balance as he slipped through the mud.

A small laugh came from the silver tabby as she glanced at her apprentice, shrugging. "Some could say that it does, but who really knows? Maybe you just think it taste better when it is your prey." Nightcloud paused as she glanced around, slightly changing her course. Finally, she came to a stop as she stared at the black path that laid before them. On the other side of the path, all signs of tree and bushes pretty much disappeared; showing it was WindClan's terriory. She turned to Eaglepaw, clearing her throat. "This is the Thunderpath. It serves as the border between us and WindClan. The Thunderpath is very dangerous as Monsters run across these paths. They can kill a cat easily if you get under their paws..." she grew quite as a soft rumbling started, causing her to take a small step back as a pure black Monster appeared in the distance. It quickly started to grow larger as it came closer, before flying past with a mighty roar, having payed no mind to the two cats. She sighed softly as the growling of the Monster slowly disappeared. "Lucky, monsters usually stay on the Thunderpath but very rarely they are known for moving off of it, but they always quickly get back on it..."

He watched the monster drive past in wonder. He was fascinated with the strange creature, yet a natural, instinctive fear boiled inside his stomach as his chest tightened and his eyes widened. He coughed and gagged at the foul scent it stirred into the wind, and watched as it disappeared. He pricked his ears as they twitched about, listening for a slight roar. He stepped forward, putting a paw on the path. He gazed up at the sparse land dotted with heather and sedge across and he wondered if he could bounded over the roaring Thunderpath and then come back. The black, hard surface suddenly trembled under-paw and the tremble reached its way through his paw into his blood as he looked up. The roar of a monster filled his ears in a great, deafening burst of sound as a small, bright orange way flew past, it's belly skimming close to the ground as the twoleg inside it yowled with what seemed to be delight. Birds scattered into the air, and the young tom started to stumble back before the blast of air knocked him onto his side. Curling his tail over his side he shuddered, his already ruffled fur starting to raise and create a private storm of it's own.

Nightcloud eyes widen when she saw the small orange Monster fly past, and quickly hurried over to her fallen apprentice. Fear sparkled in her eyes as she gently poked him with her nose, a soft sigh coming from her. "Are you alright, Eaglepaw?" she said, her voice shaky. She lifted her gaze to look at the Thunderpath, and quickly turned back to Eaglepaw. Her eyes still were wide with fear for the young apprentice; the kind of fear that a mother would have for her kit if it got hurt. She gently helped him to his paws, her tail flicking. "Should we head back to camp? Or do you think you can go on?"

He sighed shakily, pausing to let himself process everything that had just happened, regain his bearings and determine whether he could continue or not. We should head back now. he thought miserably, parting his jaws to speak before snapping them shut. No! We can't quit because of some monster! If I'm going to be the best warrior I can be, I have to be brave! he encouraged, giving himself a firm nod. "We can go on. I'm fine." he reassured, turning away from the path as fear made his paws tingle.

Nightcloud frowned softly, but nodded. "If you say so," she whispered and started to walk toward Fourtrees. She made sure to remain near Eaglepaw as if she was afraid another Monster would come out of no where and attack them. She glanced at Eaglepaw every once in a while, but didn't stop until they had finally reached Fourtrees. Stepping into the clearing, she headed toward the grand rock that loomed over them before stopping at the base of it. "Welcome to Fourtrees. As you may know; every full moon we have a Gathering here. Also; it is placed between all of the Clans so it isn't uncommon to see a cat or two from different Clans gather here. However, even if it isn't the full moon, most meetings that happen here between Clans remain peaceful."

Placing a paw on a ledge of the rock, he lifted himself up. "Think I can make it to the top?" he mewed, pawing at another ledge that seemed to create a fair foothold for him to pull up on.

Nightcloud let out a small laugh as she watched Eaglepaw, padding over so she was standing next to him. "Perhaps, but I wouldn't try it. The leaders usually just jump to the top thought. While you may not be able to jump that high due to the fact you are just a new apprentice, I am sure you will be able to jump onto it when you have your warrior name. Now come on, I think we are done exploring the borders today." She spun and started to walk toward ShadowClan's territory, frowning a bit. She had skipped ThunderClan's border but she had done that for a very good reason. With the border between the two being a Thunderpath, she didn't want to startle Eaglepaw. She had a feeling that no matter what he said; he had been very shaken up by what had happened at the WindClan border. She paused at the outskirt of Fourtrees, glancing back at Eaglepaw. "Come on; I'll teach you how to hunt before we head back to the camp!"

As she started to pad away he'd looked a bit upset, looking up towards the top of the rock sadly. But, with the notion of learning to hunt, he eagerly leaped down from his spot and raced to catch up to her.

Occ: I really need to stop slacking in posting...

Ic: Nightcloud paused as she came to a stop, looking around the marsh. She seemed like a good post to work on their hunting. She turned to her apprentice, her eyes shining as she flickered her tail at him. "Now, I am sure you know the basic of hunting. Hunting is more than catching things for fun, it is how we survive. We don't catch food to waste it, but to instead feed us and the future generations of the Clans," she said as she smiled softly. Hunting had always been her favorite thing; when she had been a kit, while most cats would fight each other, she would of been off to the side working on hunting a 'frog' for her denmates. It was the most needed thing the Clans had to do, and she knew not to waste something that could be life or death to her Clan if prey started to run short. "Now, how about you show me your best hunting crouch."

He nodded, crouching down and flexing his claws. He pressed himself so low to the ground, the mud seemed to swallow his belly fur and his chin brushed over the sticky ground, too. "How's this?" he mewed, his limbs starting to tremble from the awkward take of the crouch.