Normalcy Amid Chaos [closed]

Subject: Normalcy Amid Chaos [closed] Sat 2 Jul 2016 - 13:56

This was the last thing she'd expected to be doing under the shadow of Highrocks, training an apprentice. But here she was, out in the treeless foothills that lead to the peaks high above, with Vinepaw. With their current situation, it was much more valuable to know how to hunt in any sort of environment, wasn't it? Although the constant feeling of rocks under her paws was becoming quite uncomfortable. However, under the larger rocks some prey could hide, which she could sometimes smell when she passed.

Subject: Re: Normalcy Amid Chaos [closed] Sun 3 Jul 2016 - 15:09

Vinepaw rounded the corner of a large rock that made up the base of high stones, her white pelt stark against the medley of brown. She spotted Darkstar and picked up the pace, coming up behind her. The rocks under her paws were rolling against her pads and were not ideal, but she ignored it as best as she could. "Hey Darkstar" she mewed excitedly, eager for her first training session with her mentor. Vinepaw was hardly phased by the Dark Forest situation and was just ready to become a warrior so she could have her own apprentice, and a mate, and kits, and... she shook her head quickly and looked back to her mentor, sitting down and curling her fluffy white tail over her dainty paws. She needed to keep focused on the task at hand and not get ahead of herself. First, she had to learn how to hunt and fight to support her clan. "What are we doing today? she asked, her tail twitching against her toes in excitement and nervousness.

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Adderpaw - WindClan - Tom
(no gathering, 0/2 patrols, 0/1 assessment)
Vinepaw - ThunderClan - She-cat
(no gathering, 1/2 patrols, 0/1 assessment)
Bearpaw - ShadowClan - Tom
(no gathering, 0/2 patrols, 0/1 assessment)
Cloverpaw - RiverClan - Tom
(no gathering, 2/2 patrols, 0/1 assessment)

Subject: Re: Normalcy Amid Chaos [closed] Tue 5 Jul 2016 - 19:09

The leader stood up at Vinepaw's approach, glancing at the sky to check to see what time it was. The sun hovered a quarter way's up from the horizon and steadily climbing higher. It was still somewhat cool from the night, but the hot Greenleaf sun would start warming the rocks to a boiling temperature if they stayed for too long. And with her long, thick dark fur, Darkstar wasn't sure if it was the best idea for her, as well as her children. They were apprentices, but no amount of training could prevent heat exhaustion.

"This is not how I imagined teaching you to hunt, but I suppose it will do." She smiled at the apprentice warmly. "I know you were not born in our home territory, and it is nothing like this. However, one thing is the same. You must never be seen, smelled or heard by your prey." There was practically no cover here, vastly different from the dense thickets back in the forest. It had been so long since she had set paw there. "In our home there are many bushes and scents to hide yourself in. This place will be a good training ground to become away of how much your presence itself has on your ability to successfully catch your prey. You must always remain downwind of your prey, especially if it is a rodent, or else they will smell you and flee before you can take a single step." She got down into a hunter's crouch, modified slightly to account for her lame leg. "Copy and pretend to stalk me." Here there were loose pebbles that could mimic the noisiness of a twig when stepped on, something that her ears were waiting for.

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{help me update the wcc family tree!}
Harebounce | Redsun | Snaildance | Ramone

"Close your eyes, I'll be here in the mornin'."

Subject: Re: Normalcy Amid Chaos [closed] Wed 6 Jul 2016 - 13:21

Vinepaw zoned out momentarily when Darkstar mentioned "their home." She had never been to the real ThunderClan territory and wondered if she would ever get to call it home. The thought of that saddened her slightly but then she snapped back to attention when Darkstar said the word 'prey.' She watched her leader crouch down and she copied, her shoulder blades raised higher than any other point on her body. She kept her head low and her ears pinned back against her head, and she made her center of gravity hovering right above the ground with her position. She remembered how she used to play as a kit. This was how she stalked bugs, but she knew smarter prey would sense her long before the bugs ever did. She inched forward and was fairly quiet, but her eagerness made her tail subconsciously wag behind her and she brushed some stones, which made noise behind her. She winced at them and looked up at Darkstar, adjusting her body back to the stalking position to try moving again. "Like this?" she asked, trying to move closer to Darkstar as quietly as possible.

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Adderpaw - WindClan - Tom
(no gathering, 0/2 patrols, 0/1 assessment)
Vinepaw - ThunderClan - She-cat
(no gathering, 1/2 patrols, 0/1 assessment)
Bearpaw - ShadowClan - Tom
(no gathering, 0/2 patrols, 0/1 assessment)
Cloverpaw - RiverClan - Tom
(no gathering, 2/2 patrols, 0/1 assessment)

Subject: Re: Normalcy Amid Chaos [closed] Mon 11 Jul 2016 - 12:38

Darkstar nodded appreciatively at Vinepaw's attempt, it was a great start. Hearing the brush of stones, she added, "Keeping your tail level with you spine is the best all-around way to keep it from making noise, as well as keeping an eye on the path ahead for things such as twigs, leaves, and of course stones. Once we have our territory back, watch for any brambles that might get caught in your tail. You can also use them to trap larger prey such as rabbits." A small shadow flickered across her face, betraying a bird flying overhead, but she couldn't look at it directly due to the sun mixing with its pale plumage. That gave her an idea. Vinepaw was a white cat, shouldn't the same work for her.

"I have an idea. This might only work here, with no trees to block the sun, but I am sure it will have its uses. Stand on that boulder over there." Darkstar pointed with her tail to a mound of rock poking out of the sea of pebbles. She had seen Riverclan and Skyclan warriors do something similar to what she was suggesting.

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{help me update the wcc family tree!}
Harebounce | Redsun | Snaildance | Ramone

"Close your eyes, I'll be here in the mornin'."