Icy beginnings (Closed)

Snow broke beneath a large heavy paw as Oakstar padded towards the apprentice’s den. His brief sickness had been tiring to say the least, but he had to push forward. A new apprentice waited for his instruction, and he was bound to ensure they were taught well. He looked around for his white pelted pupil.

Icepaw, was an appropriate name for an apprentice that almost vanished into the snow. He chuckled as he found himself subconsciously checking each snow drift in case she was hidden among them.
"Icepaw! Are you ready to go hunting?" He called into the apprentice’s den. His head turned towards the warrior’s den, where Dustcloud was with an affectionate smile and wave of his tail. He’d find the largest prey he could for her. He turned back when Snowpaw appeared, gesturing towards the camp entrance as he began to lead the way. "Stay away from the edge of the ravine and close to the wall." He ordered, the edge of the path up the ravine was bound to be covered in ice… the idea of her falling made him shudder in concern.

Icekit skidded out of the den and into the snow in front of oakstar. "Hey Oakstar! I want to go hunting am i really allowed to go!?" Her eyes glittered at the thought of going hunting, and in the snow her white pelt blended in fairly well. She quietly looked at oakstar with her glittering eyes, hoping his answer would be yes. She was excited to go and didn't want to be left behind. Smudge had already had his first training, and she was getting antsy!

"This is so exciting!" She jumped up and down her tail swishing back and forth playfully. she had been in camp for so long and was just itching to get out of camp. The snow was cold but icekit liked a little cold, heat wasn't her type thing.

Oakstar chuckled as the small white apprentice ran up to him. The snow drifts hardly seemed to stop the excited apprentice, and he could hardly blame her as he led the way to the sloping trail that guided cats out of the gorge.

"Well, it’s your first day as an apprentice." He responded. Each step was careful and deliberate as he guided their way to the top. "Your to learn in your apprenticeship all of the skills you will need to become a good warrior… and it’s my job, to teach you these skills… though it would be easier in greenleaf... " He looked down at the bright eyes of Icepaw. "I hardly think you want to wait that long. So go on then, pick a direction… in leaf bare prey can hide almost anywhere."

She looks north. “Can we go this way!” She was excited and could hardly stay still


(OOC: On my phone.)

(OOC: Would you like a rundown on the hunting mechanics?)

He nodded, then padded northwards. He led the way through bramble bushes, observing the leafless branches above them as they walked until they were a few tail lengths from the ravine. Then he turned back to Icepaw, the scents of prey drifting on the light breeze.

"Alright Icepaw. As you know, it’s leafbare. Many of ThunderClan’s prey like to burrow beneath the snow for protection against the cold. Some creatures bury food in the ground to return to later. Can you tell me what you scent right now?" He asked as he sat down patiently in the snow.

(OOC: Yes, please!)

Icepaw pokes her nose into the air and took a deep breath, she smelt an aroma of smells but she couldn’t quite pick one out. She looked at her mentor, “I can smell Squirrel!” she said excitedly to oakstar.

(OOC: Alrighty then. So the first thing you want to do is find “Squirrels” on [This chart here]. Read the numbers for ThunderClan under the Leaf-bare section. Then, click ‘post reply.’ Write her hunting the squirrel, then on the bottom left, you’ll see a dice option. Select ‘hunting dice’ and roll. After you’ve rolled, edit your post with whether you have caught or failed to catch the squirrel. )

"Very good. Now, try to follow the scent. Crouch down slightly, but don’t let your belly fur drag on the snow. Make sure your tail is lifted, level with your back, and spread your paws to get more traction on the snow." Oakstar instructed calmly, crouching his own body next to her white one.

He slowly took a step. Let her watch as his body seemed to roll with the movement. The snow a hushed sound beneath his wide paws as he stalked a couple more steps, then looked back at Icepaw, with a tilt of his head gesturing for her to keep going.

Icepaw padded up behind a squirrel and crouched lurking behind the squirrel. She pounced, her aim for the squirrel being as quiet as possible. She landed on the squirrel and bashed it with her forepaw knocking it dead.

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 1

The large tom winced at the brutal blow Icepaw delivered, but chuckled softly. A smile on his muzzle as he padded towards the white-pelted apprentice with approval.
"Well done! Your first attempt as well, very good. We’ll bury it here in the snow and come back to it once we’ve caught something else to take back." He instructed as he scooped a large pawful of snow, until a small hole large enough to completely cover the squirrel was dug.

"Since there aren’t many birds around, we’ll focus on shrews and mice. They dig shallow burrows in the ground, and can be hard to detect. Want to guess how?" He asked curiously.

“Do we stay low to the ground?” She asked curiously. Almost leaping with joy, and excitement.

"Well, yes. Besides that." Oakstar chuckled as he lowered his own body to the ground. His ears twitched in a clear sign of the answer as he listened to the rustling forest around them. His own white tipped paws gliding across the forest floor as he looked for signs of a den. "Look for small indents that might be perfect for prey to scurry down. Listen for the sounds of leaves and snow shifting. Move slowly, evenly, to avoid shifting weight giving you away."

Icepaw watched oakstar closely and did the same. She crouched down and looked for an indent. Looking for a mouse. She patiently stayed still and tried not to shirt her weight unevenly so the mouse wouldn’t know she was there. She saw a mouse scurry up to the top of its hole and she swiftly knocked it dead. She was starting to like hunting.

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 1