Training for Tanglepaw

Today was the day she would finally begin her training! Tanglepaw waited with excitement by the opening to the apprentices den and anxiously looked out for Scarletheart.

ScarletHeart was sitting by the apprentice den when she saw her apprentice. A smile parted her mouth as she stood up and walked over to Tanglepaw. "Hello, Tanglepaw! Ready for training?"

"Yes!" Tanglepaw mewed excitedly. "Where are we going to go first?" She asked, "We could go battle training or practice hunting or patrol the borders or go and see the gorge or..." she trailed off, thinking of all the possibilities.

ScarletHeart rested her tail on Tanglepaw. "Hold on now, Tanglepaw. I am going to decide what we are going to do," she chuckled lightly. "We are going to do hunting today. But first we need to warm up, let's go." The senior warrior padded to the camp exit.

Tanglepaw stood flustered for a moment before trotting after her mentor. Of course Scarletheart would have a plan. Despite her embarrassment, was a bounce in Tanglepaw's step. She was eager to hunt and hopefully make her first catch. Of course, that would require this outing to go better than a certain previous one.

ScarletHeart grew fascinated by her little apprentice. The way she thought of what they could do told her that she was serious about her training. The she cat admired that and gave her a nod of approval. Soon, they reached the moorlands. "Before we start, let's warm up. Stretch your muscles and run to the large rock over there and back twice."

Tanglepaw's paws were itching to run, and had been since they left camp. She looked across the moorlands to the big rock Scarletheart had pointed out. It was far, it would be a good run. Tanglepaw took off. Her paws thudded across the ground, and before she knew it she was rounding the big rock. She leaned into the turn and kept running. She started to slow by the time she completed the first lap and looped around Scarletheart, but she pushed on and kept running. She wanted to do her best and if that meant pushing herself she would. She would run faster than she ever had before.
Tanglepaw skidded to a halt beside her mentor. That had certainly been a good warm up, she thought as she caught her breath.

ScarletHeart watched the apprentice closely and soon nodded in approval. She liked how Tanglepaw continued to push herself and did her best. That's what made a good apprentice. After waiting for her to catch her breath, the warrior stood up. "What do you smell?" She scented a bit of hare scent, but wanted to see of her apprentice could detect it.

Tanglepaw scented the air. There was the slightest hint of a familiar scent, but she couldn't place it. "There's..." She started, but stopped. "I can scent it... It's..." She thought hard. "A hare!" She exclaimed excitedly.

ScarletHeart rested her tail on Tanglepaw. "Yes, good work. Now, find it using your nose. Be careful, don't scare it off. When you see it, freeze and stay put." The warrior waited for the apprentice to go.

Tanglepaw beamed at Scarletheart's praise, then scented the air. The hint of rabbit got stronger as she silently paced several tail-lengths. She followed the scent trail a little further until the hare came into view. It was nibbling at some grass, unaware of Tanglepaw for now. Tanglepaw silently turned back to Scarletheart for a sign to go ahead, careful to avoid any motion or sound that could scare off her new target.

ScarletHeart quietly followed her apprentice down the moor. Though she trusted Tanglepaw's nose, she still decided to search for the scent to keep her in the right track. In moments the she cat had spotted the hare and silently motioned the apprentice to stay put. Stalking to the other side, she kept clear of obstacles and kept the hare in her sight. After reaching her spot, she hissed. "Go!"

Tanglepaw turned back to the hare. Here I go! she thought and pounced. Her claws hit hare. With a quick bite to the neck and a silent prayer to StarClan, she ended it's life. Thank you for this prey's life she thought, then added ...And helping me not trip over my own paws. "Scarletheart!" she meowed "I did it!"

Tanglepaw turned back to the hare. Here I go! she thought and pounced. Her claws hit hare. With a quick bite to the neck and a silent prayer to StarClan, she ended it's life. Thank you for this prey's life she thought, then added ...And helping me not trip over my own paws. "Scarletheart!" she meowed "I did it!"

"Excellent," ScarletHeart purred and looked at the hare. "This will feed mouths today, good job. I didn't even have to jump in. Now bury it and let's hunt together. This time, you would have to come up with a strategy before we hunt the prey down." The tabby nodded her head at Tanglepaw in approval.