Hunting Hard Mode

He was back again. The cold shadows of the forest wrapped around him sharply. The spots of his pelt trembled with his muscles as he forced himself to stay solid against the chilly cold of the place. Mud shifted beneath his paws as he stepped out into the darkness of the shadows around him. A silver tom sat beneath a lone tree.

It was bare of any leaves, and Sedgestrike didn't think it ever grew them. The stagnant black branches looked too ruined to support any form of leaf or life. He frowned at the other cat, then swallowed his fear before it choked him.
"You're not real." He mewed, his tail lashed behind him as the other silver tom stood with a cynical smile.

"Not yet." The other Sedgestrike smirked cruelly. Blood slowly began to seep from it's muzzle, as though it had bitten something despite standing perfectly still. It turned it's head and Sedgestrike felt his heart plummet. Cold rushed through him at the grusome sight of Honeypaw, of Rippedstar... his family... suddenly, it felt like something inside of him broke as he staggered towards the limp shapes and stared down at them. Tears welled in his eyes as the other Sedgestrike padded up to him. He had the audacity to look proud.

"This is the road you lead." The tom meowed ominously as Sedgestrike's attention was on the bodies. Tears fell that he couldn't control. "We're above all other cats. Who needs them? Let them fee-"

"Shut up." His tone was sharp, commanding as Sedgestrike breathed, then snapped his eyes at the sinister other version of himself. Pelt spiked with fury. "This will never happen! I'll never let it!" He snarled, watched as the other shape of him tilted it's head with disbelief.

"Oh really?" Sedgestrike yowled a fierce battle-cry as he lunged at the blood covered counter-part.

---

He jolted awake in his nest. His heart beat wildly in his chest as he looked around his surroundings. Took in the sight of his beloved mate, of the other warriors in the den. He breathed deeply, the air was clean, crisp and new. It spoke of a gentle rain that fell during the night, of prey that would soon shuffle about. A lesson to be learned for little Honeypaw...

The sight of the bodies still haunted him. He stepped out of the warrior's den just as the first rays of dawn were starting to rise. He looked at the apprentice's den, then towards the leader's. There was no sign of blood or violence. It was simply a blissful quiet. Tranquil in it's own way. It had only been a dream, but unlike the last time where he was drowning, this time he was left with an itch beneath his pelt. Was that really what he would become? Could he possibly lose so much control that he would resort to that?

He could. That potential hit him sharply. He knew he was wreckless, did things other cat's shouldn't do, made demands that other apprentices would normally fail under. For what? To prove his worth? What good did that do if Honeypaw was hurt? The thought stayed with until the sun was truly in the sky.

Honeypaw shifted in her nest, restless.

There was a slight draft from the opening of the den just behind her, chilling the fur of her back. It smelled of rain – light rain, not the thundering, noisy kind – but it still bothered her, prickling at her spine. She woke several times in the night, rolling on her thin layer of moss to see the droplets fall.

It didn’t make sense.

Since becoming an apprentice, Honeypaw usually slept fine – another benefit of Sedgestrike’s training pushing her until she ached. It wasn’t like in the nursery – when the ginger she-cat would lie awake at odd hours, scratching at the emptiness of the nests beside her. Where her mother used to be.

Sedgestrike hadn’t pushed her so hard the last few days, though. Not since the raccoons. Maybe that's it.

Honeypaw shifted again, facing further into the den. She tried to close her eyes, determined to get as much energy for the day’s training, but the sight of the other apprentices – and their soft, even breathing – stopped her. From the faint light of the sky, falling from the entrance, Honeypaw could see them... all curled closely together.

Honeypaw was a distance away from the group; at least several tail-lengths. Just how she wanted it, of course. And demanded from her denmates, who were – well… liable to disrupt her vital sleep, after all.

But they looked… warm. Peaceful.

“What do you care?” she mutters to herself, stamping out any weird feelings bubbling in her. Honeypaw was going to be a warrior – she didn’t need to… cuddle, or spend time with any of those cats. They were weaklings, and some of them riff-raff – they’d only hold her back. Wanting to play chase, and – “explore” and talk about insipid things, like toms.

The she-cat scrunched her nose at the thought, nodding firmly. It wasn’t like she was alone or anything. She had… well… Other than her mentor…

Flicking her ear in irritation, Honeypaw shifted again, kicking against her nest – until finally she just got to her paws with a huff. It was almost dawn, anyway. Casting a scornful (and not jealous) look back at the other lazy apprentices, the she-cat shook her pelt and stalked out of the den.

It was just as her paws stepped into the clearing, however, that she saw her mentor’s sleek white form emerge from the warrior’s den. Honeypaw’s ears perked, amber eyes sparkling.

Who cares what those kits have? she decided. Honeypaw had Sedgestrike.

The memory of his affectionate nudge to her shoulder – the shine of pride in his eyes, when she’d trained well – came to mind when she lighted up, mood improving. Of course he’s already up!

A bit more quickly that a regal warrior should, the young apprentice skidded to a stop several mouse-lengths behind him… only to notice that, for once, her mentor, hadn’t noticed her approaching – as if he were lost in thought.

Distracted.

Feeling an unusual streak of playfulness -- or wickedness -- Honeypaw kept her pawsteps soft. Sedgestrike was all about constant vigilance and being aware of her surroundings…

Using his own training against him, Honeypaw stepped into a crouch… remembering just how Sedgestrike bunched his haunches just before she leaped – ambushing him across his back! She gripped his wide shoulders with unsheathed paws, teeth gripping into his scruff – and immensely proud of herself, of course.

Not every apprentice could catch their mentor off guard. Especially not Sedgestrike!

Sedgestrike watched as the sunlight moved through the canopy of Skyclan's trees. It was such a stark contrast to his dream. One which both comforted him and warned him. The blood thirsty Sedgestrike of his dream... he sighed quietly. His paws felt heavy, his body clumsy in a way it hadn't felt in many moons. Back when he had actively snuck away to train while Rippedsky's back had been turned.

Rippedstar. He huffed as he glanced towards the warrior's den. He still didn't understand it. He shook it off with a growl just in time to be knocked forwards by a sudden weight on his back. Unused to this, no cat had even dared to do that to him, he leaped. A powerful surge of muscle power that had him actually flipping over to attempt and dislodge the weight. The tiny pinpricks of claws felt loosened and he twisted fiercly again in a move he had been slowly perfecting since early apprentice hood. Surprised, when a flash of gold caught his eye.

He was immensely glad he didn't yowl. Instead, he stopped and glanced properly at where Honeypaw now was and... chuckled. Actually chuckled in a strange show of light hearted-ness that he had never really shown to any except his own kin.

"Good job Honeypaw." He praised as she climbed off. His paw lifted and tousled some of the fur on Honeypaw's forehead. Then as he heard other noises of clanmates rousing, his sterness was back again. The joyful jubilance locked away until another time.

"I suppose it's time I take you proper hunting." He meowed sternly. "By the end of today, you should be fast enough to catch the quickest squirrels and rabbits." He nodded firmly, then stood up a bit straighter. "If you do very well, I might even show you how to get the greatest height in an upwards leap before we come back." He added as he began to lead the way towards the creek.

Honeypaw's mentor jerked violently beneath her but the apprentice held firm -- stubbornly hooking her fangs into his scruff. Her head started to spin -- the agile warrior was twisting -- but Honeypaw was determined!

Her paws were slipping a bit when suddenly, Sedgestrike stilled -- and Honeypaw found herself staring into the green eyes of her mentor, neck arched to stare at his apprentice. The ginger she-cat flushed at the scrutiny -- expecting a sharp bark to release him -- but for once, Sedgestrike's green eyes were... almost sparkling. What was...?

And then he chuckled. Honeypaw blinked, body still tense across his flank; feeling the sound ripple beneath her paws. Maybe if she'd thought about it, Honeypaw would've assumed it was a mocking noise -- wasn't Sedgestrike irritated? -- but the sound felt genuine, seeping like a warmth through her chest.

Realizing he wasn't going to buck her off, Honeypaw let her claws sheath, releasing. A little push, and she was rolling off her mentor to fall clumsily to the ground. But at the sleek warrior's paws, the ginger apprentice ears still flicked -- hesitant. Was Sedgestrike okay? She'd assumed he'd be angry -- though it'd been worth the accomplishment to Honeypaw -- and when Sedgestrike lifted a paw, she almost recoiled.

Her mother had hated rough-housing -- especially being caught unawares.

But when the paw hit her head -- just over her eyes -- the touch was gentle. Ruffling. Almost... affectionate? And after a blink, the words reached Honeypaw. "Really?"

Immediately, the young apprentice's chest puffed -- positively glowing -- even when Sedgestrike's tone shifted quickly. The serious mentor she'd known took over immediately, telling her his training plan in that stern tone as he walked -- expecting her to follow at his heels as he strode from camp. And she followed dutifully -- a spring she'd never acknowledge bouying her steps.

Sedgestrike led her into Skyclan territory, weaving through the trees. After her time as his apprentice, his brisk pace didn't wind her so much anymore, and Honeypaw glanced at her mentor.

"How did you get so good at fighting, Sedgestrike?" she mewed, curious. Had the warrior not realized it was her, he would've certainly knocked her off -- and painfully! Her amber eyes focused on his long, powerful strides -- trying to match the glide of his paws. "Did Rippedstar teach you?"

Being the deputy's -- now leader's -- apprentice, he must have learned a lot. Even if Rippedstar was so short-sighted not to see how Sedgestrike would have made a superior deputy -- something that still burned in the apprentice's chest -- he had to be leader for a reason. And with those scars on his face... Rippedstar must have been through some vicious battles.

OOC: I'm assuming this is before the Your Mistake topic? cx I feel like Honey lost respect for Ripped after his Hazel decision, but at this point, she's still asking questions (and likely triggering Sedge, if I'm not mistaken, lol.) cx

Sedgestrike continued to lead Honeypaw, though he glanced back at her first question, then stopped altogether when she asked the second part. His green eyes narrowed in thought as he nodded firmly, then resumed the journey at a slightly slower pace.
"He taught me some things. My battle training mostly came from myself." He told her, then sharply ducked down a random tree. As his paws touched the ground, he turned and smirked at her.

"I used to sneak away from camp. I was restless, sitting in a den made no sense when there was progress to make." He explained as he led her a short way to the bank of the creek. "So I spent that time developing my own fighting moves, my own style. Even if Rippedstar, never appreciates that effort, it doesn't mean SkyClan shouldn't." He bent down to lap at the water. His nose scenting the air for any prey nearby, ears pricked and ready.

"Now. Let's begin your hunting lesson." He meowed as he stepped back from the bank. "The best prey for us is squirrels or birds." He paused as he heard a shuffle in a nearby bush. His muscles tensed, then he moved. A silver and black streak that was on the ground, but with a tremendous leap which was even higher now that Honeypaw wasn't on his back, he seized a large feathery and brown shape that had burst from it in a sudden flutter of wings.

He landed solidly on the ground. The pheasant's neck in his jaws as his side heaved with a couple deep breaths to recover from the spring as he lay the large bird onto the ground with a lick of his muzzle. "Of course, hunting from trees is our specialty, a lot of prey prefer the ground." He nudged the bird's head with a paw.

The member 'Abbess Cays' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 2

Eyes widening at the speed of the powerful tom's strike, Honeypaw's jaw fell. That was fast!

"How can you teach yourself?" she couldn't help but ask -- gaze drawn the speckled brown bird at her mentor's large paws. She shut her jaws with a flushed snap, though unable to help the awe in her mew. "I don't think there are enough hours in the day for me to do that..."

Sedgestrike kept her busy enough! Honeypaw shook herself of her hesitation, straightening. If Sedgestrike could do it, so could she! But....

Mouse-dung... how do I get a style?

Honeypaw didn't have time to think of that, though -- they were in the middle of hunting! The ginger apprentice remembered Sedgestrike's leap -- committing it to memory -- before darting away with a flick of her tail before her mentor could mew another word.

Sedgestrike hadn't shown her the crouch, but luckily, Honeypaw had seen it before -- Blossomheart had shown her! It had been when she was a kit, just before her ceremony, but Honeypaw remembered it keenly. She'd practiced the same crouch many, many times -- thrilled that a warrior had taken time to train her something!

It was undoubtedly clumsy, and rough, but Honeypaw knew to keep silent as she settled into a hunter's crouch -- amber eyes intense as they raked over the forest. The trees -- old clawmarks in the bark -- and the foliage, rustling softly in the early morning...

Until she caught sight of something -- a hint of brown flickering in the undergrowth.

It only took Honeypaw a moment -- it was all instinctive, the way she reacted. Limbs jolting, she lunged -- fur scraping across the bark of a tree as her jaws closed around fur and bone. The squirrel screeched in her grip but Honeypaw didn't even pause as her teeth clamped across its back -- snapping it cleanly.

The member 'pastor ginger' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 2

Sedgestrike watched Honeypaw with a serious gaze, before he sighed and sat down next to the head of his prey. A blink of his eye as he processed her words.
"Honeypaw. You have SkyClan in your blood and your heart." He meowed seriously. "I was not perfect when I started. Far from it infact." The memories of him consantly in the elders den made his muzzle wrinkle in disapproval. Just because Rippedstar told him and validated his logic, it still didn't make the job any less disgusting.

He paused as Honeypaw took off in a flash. A smirk on his muzzle as she leapt and caught a squirrel on her first try. His green eyes full of stern pride once more as he nodded at her catch.
"As expected from a true SkyClan cat." He flicked his tail encouragingly to tell her to place it next to the pheasant. "Now, I'll show you a proper stalk so that you can catch a rabbit." He explained as he stood and positioned himself low to the ground.

"Rabbits are faster than us on the ground, so be ready to spring the second it raises it's ears or head and you think it's seen you. Your muscles should be ready to go. Just like when you took down that squirrel." He nodded firmly. "You have good hunting instincts. Use them. Practice them. "

Honeypaw proudly lifted the squirrel -- surprisingly heavy in her jaws -- as she laid it beside Sedgestrike's pheasant. Her first kill.

The instinct had been all there -- the instruction she'd received in her kithood guiding her. It had felt natural -- the rapid movement, the satisfaction of having prey in her jaws; sustenance for her clan that she provided.

But it was satisfying in a way Honeypaw hadn't known she longed for when Sedgestrike nodded in approval -- pride shining in his eyes. For her.

"You have Skyclan in your blood and your heart."

It made her stand taller, warmth filling her chest -- giving her strength. Her amber gaze followed his demonstration with rapt attention -- soaking up his every movement. The way he kept low to the ground; the angle of his legs; the way his limbs seem to glide smoothly into the position. She was going to do this perfectly!

"I'll catch a rabbit, Sedgestrike. Just wait here!" she promised -- meaning every word. Honeypaw was born for this -- it was her element. Hunting was like fighting, but instead of making blood rush through her, it made Honeypaw sharp and aware -- alert for all sounds.

Skyclan's territory was rocky and uneven in a lot of places -- cut with cool streams and tall, looming trees. Honeypaw sank into the crouch as Sedgestrike showed her as she made her way through -- belly low to the ground; legs burning as she kept every pawstep quiet.

It was more difficult than it looked, over some distance. Her muscles felt the strain of the movement, though Honeypaw bore it stubbornly -- but even the lightest of pawsteps rustled leaves; cracked twigs. The apprentice winced every time she made a sound -- knowing the distinctive rustle of prey darting away, out of reach.

But she could do this!

She crawled a distance away, until she reached a place where the ground seemed to flatten, becoming more even. Perking her ears, Honeypaw's amber eyes watched... waiting... And there it was!

An idle rustle stirred the taller grass to Honeypaw's right -- unaware of the deadly gaze trained to it. It was only aware of Honeypaw with the fierce she-cat was upon the little rodent -- fangs closing around its neck!

Landing smoothly on her paws in the grass, Honeypaw straightened -- the mouse heavy in her jaws. Although smaller than the squirrel, the mouse was plumper -- richer. She beamed at her catch -- it would feed her clan well -- even if a part of her was disappointed. It wasn't a rabbit -- what Sedgestrike had sent her after. She would find one, though!

She wouldn't return to Sedgestrike until she did!

The member 'generic ginger' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 2

The silver tom followed quietly as Honeypaw dissappeared into the bush. He used the branches of the tree to keep a careful eye on her, a confident grin on his muzzle as she caught a mouse. Sure, it wasn't a rabbit, but it was prey. More importantly, she wasn't giving up. When she placed it with the pheasant, she left immediately to continue. She didn't say it was good enough in an attempt to end the lesson.

Truly, he had been blessed with the best apprentice Skyclan could have to offer. One with true ability and potential. One who perhaps, someday, could out perform him. His green eyes glittered with satisfaction at the thought. For the cat who once considered himself the best apprentice in the forest, it was a step in the right direction as he let himself enjoy his apprentice's success.

It was in an open field that Honeypaw found her quarry.

The area was just a little past the creek, where the rocky ground flattened gently into a field of trimmed, rippling grass. Honeypaw had stopped to sip from the cool stream -- the water refreshing on her tongue -- when the slight rustle alerted her.

It was always those sounds, Honeypaw was learning. She'd caught another mouse beneath a tree root -- a success that had her proudly burying it next to Sedgestrike's catch -- and it had been the same way. A little rustle -- a flash of fur. This time, however, her prey wasn't hiding beneath the leaves and foliage -- it was right out in the open, nibbling on some weeds!

"A rabbit!" Honeypaw mewed, excitement brewing beneath her fur. The little brown creature hopped once, bending down to nibble again; unaware of the she-cat's deadly fixation. It was in the open, downwind of Honeypaw and facing the other direction. A perfect catch. I've got this!

Settling into the crouch Sedgestrike had shown her -- evenly balanced -- Honeypaw crept upon her unsuspecting prey, paws light as feathers upon the soft, silent grass. It was perfect! Honeypaw narrowed her eyes, focusing on nothing but the rabbit in front of her -- it's oblivious movements. She was so focused that she didn't notice the flap of wings heavy overhead -- nor the keen eyes staring down from above.

It was only when Honeypaw was a few tail-lengths away -- priming to spring. Her haunches bunched, claws unsheathing, when abruptly the rabbit jerked its head up, ears flying into the air.

"Mouse-dung!" she hissed -- Has it seen me? But a moment later and the little rabbit wasn't moving, as if frozen still, fur stiff in terror -- and it wasn't even staring at Honeypaw... but above?

With a snap, her prey was suddenly running -- turning to bolt for its life -- but Honeypaw realized, with a thump of her heart, that it wasn't from her. And then a forceful gust billowed above her ears, like a roaring wind -- and before Honeypaw could stop herself from giving chase to the rabbit, she saw huge dark wings above her.

The eagle closed in fast -- more quickly, more savagely than Honeypaw could process. She stopped short with her heart racing but the enormous bird was like lightning -- talons grasping for the rabbit that darted across the field. It's wings were huge -- longer than Honeypaw several times over -- and it seemed to screech as it descended upon nothing, talons sinking into the dirt in front of Honeypaw.

It had missed the rabbit. But not because Honeypaw's prey had run into the brush, or evaded it into the trees... but because it was running toward Honeypaw.

And so was the eagle.


The eagle screeched, wings beating harshly as she yanked her talons from the thick, empty earth -- where the soft flesh of her meal should be! But the timid food had evaded her -- turning sharply around -- and it was faster than she. The eagle's hunger gnawed and her wings carried her higher again, turning her for a second try.

The timid, running food were always such a chore, once they spotted her. Turning or diving into their little tunnels, where her talons couldn't reach. But it was as she rounded smoothly -- arcing with deadly grace -- that her eyes locked on another creature. It was bright-colored -- achingly so -- in the field of open grass, frozen with its red stripes across its back.

Her timid brown food was scurrying off -- far into cover, where the eagle had a difficult time hunting. But when she arced low to the ground, her talons flashed forward with opportunistic certainty -- slicing the ginger food and sending it tumbling!

Her eyes gleamed at the flash of bright red.


The eagle used Talon Strike on Honeypaw, dealing 10 damage and costing 10SP.

Honeypaw
10/20 HP [-10]
80/80 SP

Eagle
60/60 HP
190/200 SP

OOC: why does this happen cays cx

The member 'grapefruit ginger' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 10

Sedgestrike's careful observance of Honeypaw's methods were interrupted when the Eagle swooped down. Immediately, he leapt from the tree he had been watching from. A silver streak that raced towards the feathered foe like a bolt of lightning. The moment it dared to lay a single talon into Honeypaw, was the moment he was upon the beast.

His green eyes glared the eagle right in it's dark amber eyes. His teeth reflected off the bird's eyes as he launched himself without restraint and slashed his claws down it's back and across to the underside of it's neck as it tried to flap away. A yowl of fierce determination as he stood in front of Honeypaw. Fur bristled and ready for whatever this beast would dare to try.


Sedgestrike used Leaping Bound on Eagle

Sedgestrike
45/45 HP
145/160 SP (-15)

Eagle
50/60 HP (-10)
190/200 SP