A Patrol for the Bored [Closed]

Speckledpaw heard Freckledpaw's question on what was different. Her mother, Viperfang, told her everything to know about Starclan and such. So when the sky changed a moon or so ago, Speckledpaw had a decent idea of what happened. But still, Speckledpaw was curious as to why Freckledpaw didn't know what happened.

Shrugging his question away, Mudfoot followed the deputy in silence to the next part of the border. He'd always had his doubts about StarClan, but it wasn't something to bring up around young apprentices. The patrol soon reached the border and when he was done marking it, the fluffy tom turned back to Leopardfang and the others. "Why don't we do some hunting now? Might as well teach you two how the best hunters in the clan catch their prey, right?" He chuckled playfully, turned to Leopardfang in hopes that the older tom would approve of his method to distract the apprentices from where ever the conversation was going.

Speckledpaw nodded in approval of the idea and went down into a hunters crouch waiting to start.

Frecklepaw raised an eyebrow at the obvious change of conversation, but was eager to learn how to hunt. And she didn't want to bother the most prominent members of the Clan. So she followed Speckledpaw and hunched down ready into a crouch, scenting for some prey.

Leopardfang padded on silently, considering how to phrase his answer without interfering with their parents' teachings. He was grateful fur Mudfoot's less-than-smooth distraction, and nodded in agreement. "Yes, let's do that. Spread your weight out more evenly, Frecklepaw. Don't forget to be aware of your breathing. And keep your tail from dragging on the ground or you won't catch a fly." The spotted deputy walked around his apprentice, correcting her position. Hopefully the flood of new information would keep her busy for a little bit. He was going to let Mudfoot deal with his own apprentice's form. "Tell me what you smell, Frecklepaw. Then tell me how far away it is and in what direction." Leopardfang was almost mechanical in the way he spoke, getting down to business without any emotion.

Frecklepaw shrugged at the obvious change of conversation, but listened to her mentor. She spread her tail, distributed her weight and evened out her breathing. Scenting for prey, she discovered that a vole was hiding in a bush a fox-length away. She told Leopardfang so, quietly, hoping to not scare it away.

Making his way to Speckledpaw, Mudfoot watched as his apprentice attempted a hunters crouch. "Keep your rump down, tail off the floor, and walk slowly," he meowed seriously, putting his paw on her tail which stood out like a broken claw. "When stalking prey or even an enemy cat, you never want them to hear your pawsteps and even your breathing might lead them to detect you," he meowed, looking down at Speckledpaw with a serious tone, but a small smile soon grew on his muzzle.

Speckledpaw took in all of the information, adjusting her stance as needed. She scented the air. Squirrel... she thought. She padded towards the scent as quietly as she could, but looked back while waiting at the edge of the clearing for her mentor's permission.

Leopardfang gave a short nod to Frecklepaw and flicked his tail in a silent command. He was interested in seeing if she would catch her first piece of prey on her first try, and watched her movements with sharp green eyes.

Seeing Leopardfang's tail flick, Frecklepaw knew she had to go catch it. She took a deep breath and remembered to check the wind. With the vole in her sights, the apprentice proceeded carefully and quietly towards the vole. She wanted to impress the deputy and the other apprentice, of course, but the most important part was actually catching the prey. The ginger flecked she-cat stalked through the undergrowth until she reached the vole. Never had she felt so much pressure and stress, but she took a silent breath and concentrated. When she was close enough, she measured the distance, eyeing the plump vole. It was enough for her and another apprentice- maybe Speckledpaw would want to share, and they could become friends! With that encouraging thought, Frecklepaw pounced, focusing her spring in her back legs, her front paws reaching for the vole. The quick and satisfying snap of the prey's neck told her she had succeeded. Wow... She had caught her first ever piece of prey! In front of the deputy! She carried it happily back to Leopardfang and buried it under a bush, silently thanking StarClan for its life and her luck. Which reminded her of the earlier conversation- but at he deputy's obvious discomfort, she decided not to pursue it.

Mudfoot gave a nod of approval for his apprentice to hunt whatever she'd scented out. He had faith that she would hunt successfully and sat down, waiting for her return. In the mean time, Leopardfang's apprentice ran off and soon came back with plump vole. 'Well done," he meowed, waiting for his apprentice's return. Let's hope she has as good of luck as Freckledpaw.

Speckledpaw stalked forward quickly as soon as she got the approval form her mentor. She stalked forward a few fox-lengths, until she spotted the very plump squirrel in front of her. She swerved around the prey until she was behind it. As quietly as she could, Speckledpaw pelted forward and pounced on her target. As soon as she felt fur under her claws, she put her head down and niped hre prey's neck, killing it quickly and swiftly. As soon as she knew it was dead, she picked it up in her jaws and padded back to the rest of the patrol. She set it down in front of her, not even attempting to thank Starclan for her meal. There is no use.... she thought.

Leopardfang nodded his head in approval at both of the apprentices. "Mudfoot's right. That was good for the first time. Bring it back to camp and make sure the queens and elders are fed first, understood?" He meowed sternly. There was still work to be done and lessons to be taught, but they could get to that another day. Hopefully the topic of StarClan wouldn't surface again. He didn't have an answer for once.

Frecklepaw nodded. She would give her vole to Shimmerheart- surely the deputy's old mate would appreciate it! Still not fully forgetting the hesitation to speak of StarClan, but not wanting to bring it up, the apprentice went back to camp.

Mudfoot gave a nod to Leopardfang's comment about going back to camp, and followed the patrol in silence, padding next to Speckledpaw. "A job well done," he meowed happily, glad that his apprentice successfully caught her first piece of prey.