sharpening skills {solo, training}

+2 to all hunting chances. Sagepaw attempted to catch a frog/toad [1-7 +2 = 1-9] for -3 SP [57/60 SP]. Success!

The member 'isla' has done the following action : Dice roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 5

Her prey tried to jump away, able to go in any direction out on the muddy flat. Sagepaw had to swerve dextrously. Not a bad catch. She scrambled up the slope to bury it on drier ground where it would not get sucked away into the bog. Sagepaw chose a quirky and distinctive pine she would remember.

She was in the right place for mice and rats which often scurried around under the roots of the trees. Being silent here on the crackly ground of the forested grove was very different than in the sloppy mud of the marsh.

However, the apprentice's paws were well-trained and expert. She navigated the thick arched roots with ease, ducking quietly over and under as she followed a scent trail.

Scents were rich here and lingered in an easy path to prey. It did not take long before she saw another pair of eyes in the dark, small and beady.

The air was still and, even in the dark of night, suffocatingly hot. No breeze to carry her scent to alert the other animal. In Sagepaw's experience, mice and rats were quick to flee, so she must be prepared for a run and chase.

She did not get very close before its head shot up. Whether it had felt or heard even her light steps, smelled her, or seen the flash of her eye, she gave chase as swift and soft on her paws as her prey.

The member 'isla' has done the following action : Dice roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 6

Sagepaw pinned the rodent under her paws, careful to kill it quickly before it could make a squeak.

Her thanks for the prey was silent and private. She was in a flow now, her second catch more graceful than her first.

Sagepaw took a moment to think about her next move. Lizards were as abundant as frogs or toads, if she remembered where to look.

These animals enjoyed the warmth of sun-baked stone. Although it was nighttime, the cool-bodied animals were likely to have stayed out in the unusually intense green-leaf heat.

Sagepaw knew a small heap of rocks in the pine grove and padded in its direction. If she could avoid snakes, who had habits much like lizards, she may be able to make a catch there.

The lizards blended into the rocks in the dark and dappled moonlight through the trees. Even distinctive markings would do Sagepaw little good. A sun-bathing lizard could stay perfectly still for a long time.

The serious apprentice was a stubborn match. Able to gradually creep closer and closer to the lizards potentially dozing on the rocks, she waited patiently with watchful unblinking eyes.

Finally, the flick of a tail gave away the prey's position. Her paw shot out.

The member 'isla' has done the following action : Dice roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 4

Sagepaw grasped the lizard's body in her claws. Not its tail which a lizard could easily free itself by. Her grip was strong and the catch was easy. Nonchalant, the apprentice returned to her chosen pine tree to bury the catch.

She stretched with satisfaction. Now for something more difficult. Rabbits or hares were not usually found in the wetlands...

But with the moor and woodlands neighbouring the bog, it was far from impossible. Especially here, in the pine grove.

Where there was one rabbit, there were always more, so Sagepaw begun looking for rabbits first.

In the lush green heart of the pine grove where shrubs and grass grew up, a rabbit nibbled peacefully at the grass.

Sagepaw crept up, not needing the help of grass or shrubs to conceal her. She crept confidently through the darkness, bright yellow eyes narrowed on the white tail of the rabbit.

She slithered forward in a fluid motion, gliding across the ground as she gave chase. The rabbit's white tail bobbing in the darkness as it ran from her.

The member 'isla' has done the following action : Dice roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 3

Her swiftness surprised even Sagepaw herself as her paws gracefully closed the distance. It inspired her to try again. If a warren was nearby, it would be a waste not to try to catch as many as possible.

Sagepaw buried the rabbit beside the others and retraced her steps to where she had found it. She sniffed around, trying to pick up the trail of where it came from.

The sleek pure-black apprentice slunk around invisibly until she found the burrow in the side of a bank. She would tell her patrol where it was when they all regrouped.

Now, all she had to do was wait for a rabbit to come out, ideally far enough from the burrow that she could chase it in the other direction without alerting the others.

When one daring bunny finally hopped out far into the clearing, Sagepaw snuck around and cut it off from the warren, trying to replicate her last catch.

The member 'isla' has done the following action : Dice roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 10

Sagepaw was not the only hunter in the pine grove. She came face-to-face with a weasel, finding she had helped to chase the rabbit right to it.

More interested in the rabbit than in Sagepaw, the weasel had an easy and short chase. Impressively fierce, it took down the much bigger animal.

The weasel was cunning. It had watched Sagepaw stalk her prey and positioned itself to take advantage of it.

But it had underestimated the apprentice. The weasel's distraction with the prey gave the apprentice an opening.

Sagepaw darted carefully in, yanking the weasel by the tail away from the rabbit and stunning the weasel. It squirmed and shook itself, knocked completely off balance.



Sagepaw - used tail yank
20 / 20 HP

The weasel would not be stunned for long, so Sagepaw had to think quickly.

Here in the green heart of the pine grove, she was not in her most advantageous environment. Sagepaw arched her back and hissed at the weasel, driving it to retreat toward the marshes.

With water and mud under her paws, the young she-cat had the other predator just where she wanted it. Scooping up a paw of mud, she slapped it into the weasel's eyes to blind it.

Turn 2

Weasel - stunned by tail yank
6 / 20 HP [-5 + -1 HP]
132 / 135 SP

Sagepaw - used mud slap
20 / 20 HP
20 / 60 SP [-10 SP]

The weasel whipped its head around in panic, not sure where she was and trying to flick off the mud.

It was hissing in fury and frustration, still dangerous. Sagepaw showed her fangs warningly, snapping at it.

Her teeth snapped its scruff like a kit and Sagepaw flung it away. It landed with a squeak several tail lengths from her and scurried away.

Sagepaw glanced back up the bank to the pine grove, padding over to where the weasel left the rabbit it had gone after.

Under the branches of her pine tree, Sagepaw took a breath. She shook out her fur. Next challenge.

Hares were big and strong compared to rabbits, with even more powerful hind legs. Getting kicked while taking down a hare was dangerous.

But Sagepaw was feeling tough. With the thrill of a fight, and energy to spare, she was brave enough to seek out a hare.

She trotted through the pine grove, curious if she would even see one. Luckily, she saw one, poised in its loping journey wherever it was going. With any more luck, if it would be going to the prey pile.

Without breaking stride, Sagepaw gave chase. Of course, not losing herself so much that she forgot to move gracefully and silently, but enjoying the cool rush of air against her sleek short black fur.