Sootpaw's Assessment [Closed]

Today was the day. Smokestripe lingered near the entrance of the camp, trying to put on a chipper mood. Things...Things hadn't been the easiest for the tom. With Ravenclaw being as sick as she is and Pinepaw...He took in a deep breath as he recalled stumbling across his young kit's body, having been killed by...Something. There had been no markings of death, just a cold body. But...Now wasn't the time to focus on that. It was time for Sootpaw's assessment. If he completed this, he would be a warrior in a matter of sunrises. A time for pride and so Smokestripe put away his grief, focusing on the task he was given. He already had an idea of what he was going to ask Sootpaw to catch...He could only hope that luck would be in Sootpaw's favor.

Sootpaw had just come back from a patrol, and was tired and ready to rest. The second he saw Smokestripe though, all sleepiness was cleared from his mind. Bounding over to his mentor, he knew what this might be, it could be his assessment! He tried not to get his hopes up, but knew that if he succeeded, it wouldn't be too long before he was a warrior. "Smokestripe!" He meowed, "Is this my, is it my..." He was out of breath and falling over his paws excited.

Smokestripe turned as he heard the hurried steps of Sootpaw, giving the tom a small smile. "Its your assessment," he finished for Sootpaw as he let out a chuckle at the apprentice tripping over himself in excitement. "I know your excited but try to contain yourself, don't want to scare off all the prey before you even started it." He paused, giving Sootpaw a few moments to collect himself before he turned and headed into the territory, expecting the apprentice to follow.

Sootpaw took a few deep breaths, then plunged after his mentor into the territory. Will I pass the assessment? He wondered. Will I become a warrior? Will I be Sootpelt? Sootleap? Sootheart? Thoughts flew through his mind as fast as can be. He could now be the great cat he wanted to be! Finally he collected himself enough to say, "So, what do I have to catch to pass?"

Smokestripe didn't give Sootpaw an answer until they had reached the location he had already decided would be the starting point of the assessment. Finally he came to a stop, turning to look at the apprentice as he cleared his throat. "For your assessment, I am tasking you to catch a mouse, a lizard, and two frogs. Any order will do. During your assessment, I will be watching from the shadows - unseen but always around. I will be judging your progress as you go. Once you have caught all four pieces of prey, we will head back to the camp and I will inform Leopardstar that you are ready to become a warrior." He finished explaining with a soft nod of his head, pausing as he glance up at the sky. They were starting later then he had been expecting to do so due to Sootpaw's patrol prior but it was certain that they would have enough time. "You have until sunrise to perform your assessment." A small pause. "Start." With that, he spun and stalked into the shadows until he was certain that his apprentice couldn't see him. Then he dropped into a couch as he waited for Sootpaw to start.

Nodding, Sootpaw saw his mentor stalk away, until he seemed to disappear. It was almost creepy... Sootpaw shook his head. He had other things to worry about. Opening his mouth, he tried to scent any of the animals his mentor had instructed him to hunt, but nothing seemed to come up. Finally, the fresh scent of a mouse appeared, and Sootpaw stalked it all the way up until he pounced, killing the small creature instantly. Proudly, he buried it, then started to attempt to find the next piece of prey.

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 2

Smokestripe peered from the shadows, a small grin on his face as he knew his dark pelt made it much easier for him to blend in. It didn't want to get in Sootpaw's way or bring any attention to himself as he did his best to keep out of sight. It was easy as he kept an eye on his apprentice, watching his movement. Finally, a mouse showed up and he leaned forward with interest to see how Sootpaw would do. To his joy, Sootpaw easily caught and killed the mouse before hiding it and stalking off to find the other required prey. One down, three to go. But the assessment was just getting started.

Sootpaw hoped to get the frogs out of the way sooner than later, as his first catch was a frog. That should've been a good thing, but his first catch was followed by an owl attacked on him and Smokestripe, which they both luckily came out of ok. But whatever the case, he wanted them done. Picking through the scents, he found a frog and followed the scent to the base of a tree. Leaning back on his haunches, he flung himself forwards, catching and overpowering the creature in his paws. Burying it, and very pleased with himself, he set out to finish the second frog.

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 5

Smokestripe continued to follow after Sootpaw as silently as he could, finding pride in how skillfully the apprentice moved around the marsh with almost any sound. It could be hard at times but when Sootpaw stumbled across a frog and killed it without a sound, Smokestripe knew that his apprentice was a proper ShadowClan cat. He was already half-way done with his assessment. A frog and a lizard to go.

Sootpaw couldn't believe his progress, all he had done as an apprentice, and now only two pieces of prey away! He knew it was only a few moons ago when he was just Sootkit, a snobby, obnoxious cat that didn't give a care to anyone but himself. Now, he was Sootpaw, soon to have his warrior name, a noble Shadowclan cat. He had hunted, patrolled, and even fought an owl on his first time out of camp! He knew, once he finished... He mentally corrected the statement. If he finished...he would get to be a warrior! He knew it might be a little while still, he hadn't gotten to go to his first gathering yet, but after that... His eyes shone with wonder as he thought of the possibilities. Leading hunting or patrols on his own, helping train other cats... He knew he let his mind wander off too far in the future, but eventually, his own apprentice! He thought of how his training went, how Smokestripe was such a good mentor, he hoped he could live up to him all his life. Allowing himself to come back into reality, he caught the whiff of a lizard. He knew he wanted to finish the frogs first, but also knew that a warrior faces their fears. Cautiously following the scent, he stalked it quietly for a bit. It weaved between trees, under bushes, and when he was finally about to give up, he spotted it sitting a top a branch. Crouching down, he crept up carefully, and pounced! The lizard fumbled around in his paws, and eventually escaped. Groaning, he picked himself up. Usually he would be exploding, but he knew not every catch could be good. He carefully went around the tree to search for another scent.

OOC: Darn should've hunted frog. BUT I HAVE A COMPUTER AGAIN YAY!!!!!!

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 8

Smokestripe followed carefully, proud of the progress Sootpaw had been making. When they had first left the camp for their first training, Smokestripe had been unsure of the apprentice. Had he been the right choice for mentor? It was clear that Sootpaw had favored battling while that was something that Smokestripe dreaded. But he managed to open the apprentice's eyes to the world outside of battling. Perhaps Sootpaw still favored the idea of protecting his Clan by sharing blows with the other cats but at least he didn't scorn hunting anymore! His ears perked as he spotted the apprentice making a leap at a lizard - almost catching it but failing to land the killing blow before it escaped. Smokestripe simply watched, wondering what Sootpaw's reaction would be and to his joy, there was little reaction. A simple determination to continue and not fretting over his lost of prey.

Ooc: Shortness

Sootpaw quickly traced another scent, this time a frog. He was happy as he pounced, quickly killing it and finishing the frog portion. He buried it, and began to hunt for the last prey, a lizard.