Mentoring [Harepaw]

Beechfang had not given herself time to become complacent now that Skyclan was back home. She had an apprentice to continue training, and with the forest seemingly healed from the famine that had caused them to leave, she was glad to be leading Harepaw out of camp, paws light across the familiar ground as she led them toward the moonlit creek. Despite the threat of Riverclan hanging over them, Beechfang seemed... Almost relaxed.

They had made it home. Not everyone had, but most of them. She had held out hope that she would see the familiar rocky forest again. Bloodstrike hadn't been wrong when he'd said they would always find their way back. This territory was Skyclan's whether they set paw on it or not, their blood running as deep as the roots of the trees within it. The younger cats born at the lake might not have been familiar with it, but it was theirs too.

Beechfang's paws slowed as they neared the creek. It was partially frozen over still, but she could hear the soft scuffle of prey among rocky crevices and leafbare-dead undergrowth even so. With how silent it had been before they left, it was a welcome sight. She was simply happy to be home.

"There's always prey around here... The water attracts them as much as it does us. Predators too, so keep your wits about you." Beechfang mewed, keeping her voice soft as she spoke to Harepaw. "Let's see what we can catch out here."

Harepaw didn't know the territory as well as Beechfang. There was an expertise in her steps, one that he didn't know if he would match one day or not. Every twist and turn in this tall forest confused him. He made sure to take note of any potential land marks he might need if he had to find his way back on his own. Some of the land was slowly becoming familiar but it wasn't as familiar to him as the lake had been.. He missed the lake, his missed where his mother was buried.

He could understand why Beechfang brought him here. It made sense for water to attract prey. Everyone needed water, though he wasn't too happy about hearing the fact predators could be lurking around too. He had enough of predators to last him a life time. Especially after the wolves. "Alright." Was the tom's simple response.

The golden tom glanced around the area, trying to figure out where exactly he wanted to start. He walked carefully, not to disturb anything as he scanned roots and tree tops alike trying to find anything. And it seemed like Starclan answered his prayers because not much later did a bird flutter down to pick at the ground among the roots. Carefully the sickly tom moved forward in his crouch, hoping to catch the bird. As soon as he leapt, he could feel the feathers underneath his paws. His heart jumped as he moved with more speed to kill the prey. Slight joy sparking in his chest at his successful catch.

The member 'Reaper King' has done the following action : Dice roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 6

She knew that Harepaw, and probably many of his peers, were not as familiar with the territory as the older warriors. That would change, though, and in time they would be just as familiar as any cat born in the territory. He seemed determined to learn where things were, and that was something Beechfang would encourage.

Beechfang stayed silent as she watched her apprentice search for prey, a soft smile flitting across her expression as he found and tracked a bird. A leap that had some speed behind it and well-placed claws, and the bird was theirs.

"Good catch, Harepaw." She mewed warmly. "You've been learning well. And this place will be teeming with more prey in the coming moons."

Harepaw shifted with slight embarrassment at his mentor's compliment. Even still he wasn't fully comfortable with praise, he didn't feel he was deserving. He hid his feelings in the process of burying the bird for them to retrieve for later. He was sure that they needed to keep going. They couldn't return with just one thing of prey, but he wasn't certain if that is what his mentor wanted. "Should I keep going?" He asked, noting that his mentor hadn't caught anything herself.. Was this just for him?

"Yes," Beechfang nodded at Harepaw, "Bury that one and we'll keep going." She turned to scan the forest floor for other signs of prey. The trees were beyond her reach for more than one reason, but that did not mean she couldn't provide for her clan still. It was probably strange to some of her clanmates that Beechfang avoided climbing trees at all, but too much had happened for her to ever feel comfortable in them again.

The scent of squirrel caught her attention, and Beechfang carefully stalked toward it. The prey remained unaware, the wind was favorable... And a quick snap of the neck was all it took. Turning, Beechfang sought out the familiar pelt of her apprentice to check on his progress.

He finished up the process of burying the bird, making sure to look around at the area to note where he buried his prey. He hoped he would be able to catch something else, that this one catch wasn't just a fluke or something. He noted that his mentor had gone off, and caught her own thing so he turned to find something else to grab.

The pale apprentice looked around the area, steel blue eyes scanning branch and roots alike looking for any sign of prey, eventually moving away from the spot he had made his last kill in. Eventually he came across another bird, obviously unaware of the dangers that lurked near by. Harepaw crept up to the bird, making his move at the last second, and it was a second too late. The bird took off right as his front paws left the ground. A quiet curse left his maw, as he realized it really was just a fluke he caught the last one.

The member 'Reaper King' has done the following action : Dice roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 8