Sharpening Claws [c]

Feral language
Forest language

With listening ears on, Vinepaw watched and listened with great intensity to his mentor and took note of every little thing during their tour. He asked questions and nodded at each of their answers with interest, each being answered in a way that satisfied him. He really did find it all interesting, but he couldn't help but be disappointed when they reached the border: why was ThunderClan confined to such a small patch of forest when the clan was growing so rapidly?

Just as he was about to ask, a completely new and exciting idea replaced the small seed of resentment of being confined to one area. Hunting or battle training... Vinepaw fancied the idea of tussling with his new mentor, but the thought of food already had his tummy growling. "Hunting! I'd like to learn how to hunt!!" The overgrown apprentice tapped his feet on the sandy ground beneath him, mouth beginning to water.

Feral language
Forest language

Amber eyes watched carefully as Thrushnose crouched low, muscles effortlessly falling into place in a smooth balance. With an intense focus, Vinepaw mimicked his mentor, falling out of balance a few times before realizing he had to account for his own body weight and size and crouch in a way that suited him. "Like this?" He was crouched in a way that his belly slightly brushed the ground, and haunches were ready to send him forward at a moments notice; like a coiled spring wound too tight.

Vinepaw didn't really think too much about being an apprentice other than it not being fair that he didn't have any more freedom than a kit, what with having to have a warrior with him if he wanted to go places. But now that he was out here with the cat assigned as his mentor, he couldn't help but want to impress him. Be the best apprentice Thrushnose would ever have. He didn't break his steady focus on the bushes in front of him as his body grew more steady in the crouch, but he was well aware of his mentor's eyes on him.

The member 'Arcana' has done the following action : Dice roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 8

Feral language
Forest language

Vinepaw was only a little disappointed to only be told that he had done "good", but it was praise nonetheless (his own raspy purr starting to rise) and he would remember to try much harder the next chance he got. Which may be coming very soon as he mimicked the movements of his mentor, scenting the air - so many mouth-watering scents - and dropping into a hunting crouch that showed how much more experienced the warrior was than him. It was a swift, clean kill as Thrushnose landed on the squirrel he had targeted with ease.

Dropped in front of him, Vinepaw looked up at the older tom in awe. Sure, this was the first time he had witnessed a warrior in their element, but he was still greatly inspired but what he had just witnessed. "Amazing-! You're so cool..!!!" He corrected himself into the forest tongue, accidentally speaking his fathers language in his excitement. "Bury it before a predator can find it... That's a good idea." Digging a rather shallow hole, Vinepaw nosed the limp creature into the earth and scooped the dirt back over it. A look of triumph crossed over him as he patted it one last time with his large paw.

Right! Now it was his turn. His head raised, nose concentrating on a one of the previous scents he'd caught when he'd mimicked Thrusnose earlier: feathered prey settling in a low hanging tree branch. Crouching low and stalking as quietly as he could manage, the sandy apprentice launched himself from ground to tree, body twisting as claws came in contact with black wings.

While not a quick kill, the struggle didn't last long. By the time he landed all fours on the ground, the bird was held limp within his jaws. He beamed at Thrushnose.

Natural Instinct is active! +1 to all hunts
Vinepaw successfully caught a bird! (-3 SP)

Vinepaw
57 / 60 SP

The member 'Flybot' has done the following action : Dice roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 2

Mother Tongue
Forest Tongue

Vinepaw's sandy tail swished back and forth at the praise, only wagging faster when Thrushnose gave the go ahead to eat his catch once they returned to camp. Oh, how his mouth watered! Celebration was cut short, however, as his mentor stepped in front of him with a shout. A long hiss and the slight sound of something crawling across the ground made his ears perk, catching sight of it only as it was flung backwards by the warriors paw.

He was a little puzzled by the reaction. Such a small creature couldn't possibly hold enough venom to kill him or any other cat, right? If that were true, he was amazing by the God of Life's creativity. For now, he would kill it just in case it really could harm either of them, but he would be back for it later... Unless it was edible? He looked to Thrushnose. "Can we... Eat it?"

Vinepaw used Front Paw Strike on Snake, killing it.

Thrushnose
60/60 HP
130/140 SP

Vinepaw
20/20 HP
50/60 SP (-7)

Snake
0/15 HP
75/75 SP

Mother Tongue
Forest Tongue

Thrushnose was right about it being a sort of status symbol to bring home a predator. He watched both Acornstem and Firefly bring home an owl, though he never saw anyone actually eat one. If no one ate it first, how was he to know if it would kill him or not? "...Maybe I'll just leave it here." He would be back for it, no doubt. Just to examine it privately without his mentor to tell him to back away. The Sun had given this creature the life they had taken from it, but that was just how things were meant to be: dying without hesitation was still an honorable death. It came swiftly and without remorse, just as it should be. "Slither to your hearts content within Gekala, venomous one."

Just as he finished the prayer, his stomach growled ferociously. "Could we go back now? I think I might die." Before his mentor had time to answer, Vinepaw had alreadys cooped his catch up between his teeth with an expectant look. A drop of drool slowly dripped from his maw.