Hunting Time (Closed)

The shape of a large brown tabby moved through the shrinking greenery around ThunderClan's camp. Bushes were rapidly losing their leaves, and he nudged at a couple of branches with an observant eye. They bounced slightly, but no more leaves fell... there didn't seem to be any frost yet, but still he frowned and padded towards the entrance of the apprentice's den. The sooner Thistlepaw learned to hunt, the better for every cat including Thistlepaw himself. He poked his head in, eyes falling on the sleeping form of Ridgepaw who blocked his view. With a huff, he peered his eyes over the sleeping bulk.

"Thistlepaw, wake up! It's time for your first hunt." He reached out a paw to nudge Ridgepaw aside to leave his apprentice room to get out as he padded away from the entrance, waiting for him to show. "Eat some freshkill first, we might be out there for awhile." He ordered calmly. His own stomach was sated by a skinny mouse earlier, but he dared not take more when other cats needed energy as well. He stood and padded towards the camp entrance. "Meet me at the top of the gorge." With that, he leapt out of camp and began the walk up the steep slope.

Thistlepaw swallowed down the growl that bubbled up in the back of his throat from having his sleep disturbed. He shut his eyes for a few moments before slowly heaving his body up. He trudged towards the exit, stopping a few steps in to stretch out his long limbs before making his way to the fresh-kill pile. Picking up a puny mouse, he hurriedly gulped it down, then he buried the remains. He trotted out of camp to catch up with his mentor. He wouldn't admit it, but he was actually very excited to finally start really training to be a warrior.

Marshstorm smiled at Thistlepaw when he finally caught up to him. His white tipped tail was curled neatly around his paws as he tilted his head in thought for a moment. He wasn't familiar with what Leafstorm might have taught the young apprentice already. He thought carefully over the different areas to hunt in the forest before he stood and nodded. The sunlight would mean plenty of shadows, prey was less likely to be down by the river since puddles were plentiful after the leaf-fall rains. That left the center of the territory.

"Ready?" He asked before he turned and began to lead the way deeper into ThunderClan's forest. His pelt brushed past bushes and branches as he led them to a small clearing no larger than a couple scant tail lengths. He turned to face the large apprentice. "I want you to show me what Leafstorm taught you." He meowed patiently as he flicked his tail. The sounds of prey scuffling wasn't too far off.

Thistlepaw nodded, thinking back to the brief moments he shared with his previous mentor. He took a few moments to breathe in the scent-filled forest and feel the vibrations of the very active wildlife. Suddenly, he dropped into a crouch and slowly padded towards a squirrel that was distracted by a drifting leaf. He wiggled his hinds legs for a moment before launching his heavy body onto the decent-sized squirrel before crushing it's neck with his powerful jaws.


ooc: Did I do the dice thing right?

The member 'Dews12' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 8

(OOC: Yup! You did indeed )


He paid close attention to the apprentice when he crouched. The dark tom stayed perfectly still as he stalked past him, only turning around after he had passed to carefully watch. His eyes caught sight of the squirrel, within the same moment Thistlepaw leapt out and grabbed it. He smiled cheerfully at the young apprentice. He had been taught well.
"A great catch Thistlepaw!" He praised, stretching out his forepaws as he began to listen to the forest sounds. His ears twitched at a small 'thump'. Something had landed or moved heavily nearby. He turned his head towards it, his posture sinking deep and low.

His belly barely lifted above the ground as he prowled towards where he heard the sound. A soft rustle in the bushes told him his instincts were correct as rabbit flooded his parted jaws. It's fluffy tail was sticking out of the bush it was grazing under as he slowly approached. Mid-stalk, his prey hopped forward into the bushes entirely and Marshstorm drew short, his head lifting. Getting the rabbit out of the bushes wouldn't be worth the effort, and it would alert every piece of prey in the area with it's squeal. He huffed and turned back to Thistlepaw with a chuckle.
"Well then, let's see what you catch next." He said with encouragement as he licked a piece of twig off his paw.

The member 'Cays' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 8

"Thank you." Thistlepaw nonchalantly accepted the compliment. He watched his mentor dive after the rabbit before it scurried into the bushes. "Maybe I should be the one teaching you how to hunt." He chimed in, his whiskers twitching with amusement. He opened his jaws slightly to taste the air before locking his senses on a bird that was singing on a low hanging branch. He pondered for a moment, wondering how to even sneak up on a bird. He dropped low and slowly crept towards the branch. He was so focused on the bird that his heavy paws snapped a twig. In response, the bird flew away. He growled in frustration, watching helplessly as his prey escaped.

A feigned look of hurt etched itself across Marshstorm's face before it lifted into a smile as he chuckled and flicked his tail on Thistlepaw's ear playfully.
"Right, then show me." He added, a glint of seriousness in Marshstorm's amber eyes as he settled down to watch. When Thistlepaw crouched low his approach was certainly correct... but he winced when he stepped on the branch. The loud crack seemed even louder to ears straining to hear a single noise. He chuckled softly to himself and padded up to his apprentice with a comforting smile. "There's no shame in failure. Go ahead and try again."

"This is mouse-brained! My strength is better used for fighting, not for trying to catch birds." Thistlepaw hissed. The fluffy apprentice was frustrated with himself for not being good at hunting and chose to lash out at his mentor.

Marshstorm tilted his head at the outburst. He watched the apprentice quietly for a long moment.
"Oh really?" He asked, the words drawn out as he settled down to sit. Amber eyes stared firmly down at the apprentice before him as his tail curled neatly around him. "Strength is only one attribute to being a warrior. You need the cunning to outwit your opponent, the speed to strike quickly. Lack both of those things, and you're not going to be a very swift or capable warrior." He explained, his voice calm and measured as he stood. "Strength fades if there is no food. You would find your muscles and body weaken. You will find that out in leafbare. Let me assure you, this chance to hunt is a blessing. If you don't believe me however, you are free to not eat at all tonight. See how strong you are tomorrow with nothing in your belly."

Thistlepaw bowed his head in shame. "I think I smell a mouse." He mewed, his voice uncharacteristically soft. He got into the proper hunting position and crept toward a rather plump mouse. He pounced onto the mouse, before locking his jaws onto it's neck, killing it.


ooc: Does this count as Thistle's hunting requirement that he needs to become a warrior?

The member 'Dews12' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 8

(OOC: Sorry for the delayed response, yes. It counted when he made his first rolled catch.)

The dark tom watched as Thistlepaw went back into a hunting position. He wondered briefly if he had been a little too hard on the young tom. Yet the chilly bite of the air told him leaf bare was to be soon... and they needed the apprentices to understand how serious it would be. He sighed softly, shaking off the sensation of guilt that prickled the back of his neck. It was neccasary sometimes, and Thistlepaw will either have learned a valuable lesson, or he will learn one. With that conclusion, he padded in a different direction to try his luck. His senses brought him to where a small mouse was snacking on some fallen acorns.

His catch was swift this time. A simple bite at the back of the neck had him carrying back his modest prize and burying it safely to store.

Thistlepaw watched the older tom catch his prey. "Have we caught enough prey for today?" He asked with hopeful eyes. Being an apprentice was more tiring than he thought it would be when he was a kit.