show you the world [closed]

He was leaner than before - gaunt and handsome, despite the way his coat lacked a usual shine. But the light that danced behind the tom's eyes was as persistent as ever. Hunger might have slimmed his sides but it had yet to break his spirit. Especially now that a friend had been apprenticed to train underneath him and they would get to see the territory together. It was a pleasant morning with the sun low in the sky, promising a warm and favorable day. Slow, heavy flakes drifted from the sky.

Crickethop trotted towards the apprentice's den with a broad grin on his maw. Slender paws picked their way through the sleeping lumps until he found Elkpaw. Gingerly laying his chin on the edge of her nest, the tom stared down the bridge of her nose. One paw reached to prod her shoulder, "Wake up, Elkpaw, we're going for your first day of training."

Watery grey light burned sharply behind the confines of Elkpaw's clinched lids, the sinewy tendrils of Crickethop's low voice an invitation for the bleak morning light to sever the final clinging tendrils of dream-fuzzy absence; the faint warmth of pleasant unconsciousness dwindling like the pulse of a wounded rabbit. Effectively concealed within the mounds of bedding promptly stolen from neighboring denmates, a singular pale eye practically lost to the effortless cover of her moss and downy feathers was the only indicator that her mentor's words were received, grouchily peering back at the tom practically slipping into her cozy, hard-earned shelter.

"It's cold," Elkpaw rasped out, slurred confessional sticky upon her dry tongue and teeth, the wet remnants of cool drool wetting part of her ruffled features, "do we have to go now?" It was easier to brave the cold when Bloodstar anointed her, for there was an immediate reward- change, newness above the monotony. Slogging through the snow didn't seem like it would offer any of that.

"You'll be warrior-aged before it's cold, we have to go now or it'll be moons before we train." Crickethop chuckled, butting his head into her shoulder encouragingly as he tried to nudge her along, "Besides, once you start moving it will get a tad warmer. And when the sun comes up, we might be able to find it in the treetops - it will be perfect!" Excitement stirred his paws and he turned to lead her out of camp. Every few moments, he would glance back across his shoulder to make sure she was following closely. He stuck close to the trunks of the trees as if they radiated a certain warmth and sanctuary.

A skinny bird rooted around the base of a tree. He'd intended to show her the basics but what better than in practice, "I'm going to show you how to hunt, Elkpaw. Watch carefully." Crickethop's voice was a low whisper as he dropped into a hunter's crouch. Padding lightly across the snow was more difficult than the normal rocky terrain but he managed to keep his composure. Regardless, the icy crunch set his target off in only a few steps and the bird fluttered away and out of reach. A sheepish grin crossed his maw as his head shot up into a stiffened stance.

"Well, ah, the point is to actually catch the prey but I suppose you get the gist."

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 6

The building winterbleak sun dawned rosy and without inhibition; bitter cold gradually steeping away without the biting influence of a freezing breeze to ward away whatever limited warmth could be gleaned by the snowy day.

Old trees, stiff under the coiling tension of both building snowfall and the worn-weight of constant heavy creatures trekking between fraught branches, rose up all around like a spindly mimicry of bared teeth; casting long, twisting shadows all across the barren and grey earth. Delicate nose aflame with the biting pressure of the gathering chill, Elkpaw's softly-scruffed features remained torqued beneath the weight of a disquieted frown; lifting only slightly in pointed amusement at her friend's failed attempt. "Ah yes, we'll I'm certain that we're all sorely well aware of how much easier it is to hunt for ShadowClanners, as opposed to great and mighty birds." She quipped, chilly tongue slow and clumsy under the beguiling cold air inhaled on the turn of each word.

Ranging outwards from the lean shape of Crickethop with little preamble, synchronized steps upon rocky earth careful and knowing, pale gaze gleaming with the knowing gaze of one meant to be roaming. The faint tap, tap, tap of another bird, unfortunately unknowing of the ruckus inflicted upon the still forest following her friend's failure, lured her in with little complaint; sense of self tense and verging upon buckling under the stress of trying to recall just what Crickethop had done. However, much to her chagrin and the faulty loosing of several sharp-tongued hissings, a conveniently-placed branch served as ample warning for the fortunate little bird to easily escape her clumsy, untrained paws with little effort.

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Elkpaw has FAILED to catch a bird!
current stats: 20/53.

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 7