you’re gonna go far, kid (c)

Goldengale sat by their makeshift camp’s entrance, tail beating slowly against the ground as she waited for her apprentice.

Fully the height of any cat in WindClan and much more bulky, she cut an imposing figure, long golden fur silhouetted by the distant winter sun, totally unbothered by the chill. With a yawn, she glanced out at her surroundings, sloping hills covered by snow. Hmm. Hopefully she could still teach the ‘paw to hunt so far from home. Surely, right? Tallpaw had suggested that she start with hunting, and leave fighting for a few days or even weeks… she’d see. If they came across a weasel, well, more meat for the Clan, right? Besides, she was confident in her ability to keep her apprentice safe from anything that could possibly try to harm him. They’d start with that warren Pantherpaw had mentioned, she decided, and she’d try to chase a rabbit toward him so he could get the feel of it without having to chase prey through deep snow. That sounded smart.

Galepaw

Galepaw woke with the first traces of the sun in the starlit sky.
His first night in the apprentice den had been rough. It was new and unfamiliar, and his mind raced with thoughts about the future all night. He counted himself lucky that he had Cloudypaw to keep him company, her back pressed up against his all night. He had eventually been lulled to sleep by her breathing, as it was all that seemed to remain of his former life in the nursery.

Training! he remembered, and sprang up from his new, imperfect nest, scattering bits of moss and feathers in his wake. He scrambled outside and his wide, amber gaze darted around the clearing. It looks like I'm awake in time, he thought with relief as he spotted his mentor, Goldengale, sitting by the entrance.

As he padded up, flinging moss and debris from his fur, Goldengale's enormous looming figure was imposing. He had grown used to most cats in the clan by now, but he couldn't get used to how much larger Goldengale seemed to be, towering over most other cats. He was proud that he was assigned such a magnificent mentor, even if she was a little less experienced compared to others.

"Good morning, Goldengale," Galepaw mewed politely with a dip of his head. "I am ready for our first training session!" He was doing his best to keep his composure, but energy seemed to tingle in his paws. He recalled the memory of his first time outside of camp as a kit, when Tallshadow had told him the story of the first WindClan cats. He remembered the sensation of some unseen force encouraging his legs to move, to sprint across the fields, down to the lake, and explore every bit of WindClan territory. And now I can actually do it!

"I want to know all the best hunting spots!" Galepaw chirped enthusiastically. "I am excited to perfect my hunter's crouch! Look," he continued, demonstrating his best hunter's crouch from what he had observed older apprentices practicing in camp. His tail lashed from side to side with anticipation, and he worked at the frozen ground with his claws He felt like the energy inside him might spill out at any second!

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ooc: I’ll give ya a brief explanation of the hunting system just for a little clarification :D this is the tutorial proper. Basically, what you’re gonna want to do is state what prey you’re going after, preview your post, then scroll down to the bottom and add a hunting die roll. You then send post, check to see what number Mistpelt gives ya, then check here to see if you caught anything! No worries if you mess up, it’s a bit tricky :D


Her apprentice trotted up (Galepaw, she remembered with a start, like her name) and Goldengale gave him a bright grin, leaping to her paws. He was a bit… formal? Unexcited, maybe? Had she done something wrong- no, surely he’d lighten up as soon as they got to running, to feeling the wind in their fur. Or maybe she couldn’t expect everyone to be bouncing up and down with excitement all the time. Hmm. Maybe that had something to do with it.

“Not bad, kid!” She chirped back, cuffing his ears gently (for her, at least). “Let’s head out, huh? As long as you follow me, the snow shouldn’t be too thick.”

With a playful flick of her tail, Goldengale started off at a trot, ploughing through the snow and creating a sort of path for her apprentice to follow. Once they got to higher ground, the snow wouldn’t be that bad, but it was a bit of a walk. Hopefully he could keep up, with her taking the worst of the wind and the weather.

At last, they reached the top of a rise, where the snow was less of an obstacle and more of a minor annoyance. “Alright, take a moment ta catch your breath. There’s a rabbit warren over there, see? Under the thicket, where all the little tracks are. Rabbits always have an escape tunnel or two, but they won’t be too far. I’ll frighten ‘em out by digging around a bit, and you can try to catch one, ‘kay? Just bite ‘em at the base of the neck and try to not get kicked, ‘cause that might hurt a little. Don’t worry, though, these ain’t hares, worst you’ll get is a couple scratches.”

Shaking the snow from her pelt, Goldengale stalked forwards with heavy footsteps, unsheathing her claws to dig at the main burrow in the hopes of sending the rabbits fleeing into her apprentice’s jaws. Maybe not the most… typical method of hunting, but she was confident that Galepaw’s instincts were good. If he missed, no biggie; they could try again, but she wasn’t about to start her apprentice by pouncing on leaves. That was kit stuff. He could handle himself.

Galepaw

Galepaw let out a mrrrow of amusement as Goldengale cuffed him. She's going to be fun, he thought to himself. She was huge and strong. The perfect mentor for a cat who's going to become the greatest in all of WindClan, he mused. With an enthusiastic nod of agreement, he started after his mentor out of the camp and into the snowy fields beyond.

The snow crunched beneath his paws as he trailed behind Goldengale. His breath formed misty clouds in the cold air, and the winter silence enveloped the landscape. The frost-kissed air stung his nose, but beneath the chill, a warmth kindled within Galepaw. The thrill of learning, of exploring the winter-clad fields under the guidance of his mentor, fueled his determination. He stole glances at Goldengale, observing her every move, absorbing the nuances of her experience.

As Galepaw and Goldengale ascended to higher ground, a sense of awe and accomplishment filled Galepaw's heart. The crisp air seemed to invigorate his senses, and the panoramic view unfolded before him, revealing a breathtaking expanse of WindClan territory blanketed in snow. It might not be WindClan's original territory, he considered, but this is all I know. This is home to me. He paused momentarily to catch his breath, suddenly aware of how his lungs ached and his paws stung from the trek uphill.

From his vantage point, Galepaw felt a surge of pride. The fields stretched out like a vast, uncharted canvas, painted in hues of white and silver by the winter's touch. The distant outlines of WindClan's camp and landmarks became miniature, yet significant details in the grand tapestry of their territory. The wind tousled his fur, and he felt as if he could almost touch the secrets carried by the breeze.

Goldengale's voice shook him from his thoughts, and his attention was brought back to their current objective. That's right, this is a hunting lesson! He had been so captivated by the beauty of the land that he had nearly forgotten the entire reason they had come all the way up here.

"Right," he responded. Galepaw's eyes widened with a mix of excitement and uncertainty as Goldengale laid out the plan for hunting rabbits. His eyes narrowed with concentration as he made out the tiny tracks below the thicket where Goldengale was gesturing. I wonder if the rabbit tunnels are anything like those that Molehill makes, he mused. Then he had a thought. Certainly a WindClan cat could chase a rabbit down its burrow if it were to escape. We are used to being underground, with the dens that the tunnelers like Molehill dig out for us. He made a mental note to ask Goldengale about this later.

"I won't let a silly little rabbit get the best of me," he promised Goldengale, puffing out his chest importantly. He nodded eagerly in response to Goldengale's instructions, determined to prove his skills as a capable apprentice. As his mentor stalked off toward the thicket, and lowered himself into his own crouch.

Starclan, Galepaw prayed, Hailstorm, guide my paws.

As Goldengale approached the rabbit warren, Galepaw followed suit, his senses alert and his instincts honed. The crunch of snow beneath his paws was drowned out by the anticipation of the hunt. The flurry of activity as Goldengale began digging at the burrow only heightened Galepaw's anticipation. His focus sharpened, and he readied himself to spring into action when the rabbits made their move.

There was an explosion of movement, and the rabbits scattered! Galepaw felt a surge of adrenaline, his instincts taking over. As the rabbits darted out from their burrows, he reacted with lightning-fast reflexes, his eyes fixed on the nearest target as he sprinted through the snowy terrain. His heart pounded in his chest, matching the rhythm of his agile strides.

The rabbit, agile and quick, zigzagged through the snowy patches, testing Galepaw's agility and speed. He matched each change in direction with precision, his determination overriding any fatigue that threatened to slow him down. The pursuit became a dance between predator and prey, a dance that Galepaw was determined to master. As the distance closed between them, Galepaw prepared for the final pounce. His muscles coiled, and with a burst of energy, he lunged at the rabbit, aiming for the base of its neck just as Goldengale had instructed. The cold air rushed past him as he closed in, and for a moment, time seemed to slow.

Galekit attempts to catch the rabbit. (55/60 SP

However, in the crucial moment of his pounce, the rabbit, quick-witted and agile, executed an unexpected dodge. A swift sidestep from the small prey sent Galepaw sailing through the air, overshooting his target by a whisker-length. The cold rush of air whispered past him as the ground beneath him approached faster than anticipated.

Galepaw's paws landed in the snow with a soft thud, a split second too late to make contact with the rabbit. He skidded through the frosty surface of the grass, a mixture of snow and fur, before coming to a stop. The rabbit, now a streak of brown darting away, left Galepaw momentarily stunned in the aftermath of his missed pounce.

"Fox dung!" Galekit yowled after the escaping rabbit. His pelt flushed hot with embarassment as he looked around and realized all the rabbits had disappeared from his sight. He glanced at Goldengale, seeking reassurance and guidance, ready to learn from the experience and eager to make another attempt.

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 8

She was right; he did have good instinct.

Back and forth, always on the rabbit’s tail, zig-zagging between snowdrifts; he leapt, and as his paws met nothing but frozen dirt Goldengale shook her head in sympathy, amused at his little outburst.

“Not bad,” she purred, trotting over to flick her tail against his flank, eyes already focusing on not-distant movement. “They’re tricky little buggers, aren’t they? Gotta be ready for the last-second zig. Lemme give ya a demo- see that hare, all white against the snow?”

Goldengale turned back to her apprentice, all smirking confidence. “Watch an’ learn, kiddo.”

Snow cold against her paws, she slunk forwards, sun to her back and wind to her face. Forwards, forwards, stop, impossibly pausing just before the hare lifted its head. Ten seconds forwards, five stopped. This hare might be kinda dumb (it hadn’t run when Galepaw had been making such a ruckus just a hill over), but it might just be because of its size. A biggie, this one, plump and healthy and totally unafraid. Honestly, this thing wasn’t too far shy of her apprentice’s size, and hares had claws.

Prey that wouldn’t be afraid to fight back; and Goldengale liked it that way.

The hare’s head shot up, and then the chase began. With every ounce of strength her bulky frame possessed, Goldengale threw herself forwards, paws pounding against the earth, following the hare as it bolted around snowdrifts. She didn’t follow its every zigzag, instead ploughing through the snow and instinctively knowing its turns and twists. Closer, closer, gaining—

With one last leap, soaring through the air, Goldengale’s teeth met the hare’s neck. It kicked and struggled, twisting its head around to snap at her ears, but the rushing battle-fury was in her eyes, now, and her teeth sunk deeper and deeper until the hare finally fell still. Brutal, messy, savage: all the marks of her hunting, of her kills, of the blood that marred the snow.

Goldengale dropped it to the ground, the scratches on her chest bleeding slightly, a new nick in her ear, and grinned crimson.

“That’s how you do it, kiddo. Any questions?”

Roll for hare, success! -5SP (I like to make “Nat 1” successful hunts a little more impressive/show off a little and higher-number successes near-misses, but that’s just me)

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 1

Galepaw

Galepaw's jaw hung open as he watched his mentor go. She's powerful! he thought as she raced across the field and brutally brought down her prey. His amber eyes widened into huge orbs as Goldengale looked up from her prey, covered in its blood. Adrenaline pumped through his veins and his paws shook with the heat of the moment.

"That was AWESOME!!" Galepaw yowled and bolted straight over to his mentor, bouncing around her in jubilant circles. "That hare is going to feed half the clan!! Can we go again??" he asked hopefully, his eyes glistening. "I want to catch something for Daisypaw." His expression suddenly hardened into that of a more serious cat. "She works really hard for the clan, all the while she's sick. I want to be able to do something in return for her. Please, Goldengale," he mewed, "Let us find another spot to hunt!"

Galepaw's keen eyes scanned the field on every side of them, his mouth open for more scents. Their hunt here would have scared away the prey in the area, but surely there was somewhere else they could go? The WindClan territory was sizeable, after all. I just can't stop now that I've seen what Goldengale has to teach me! Galepaw's heart surged with pride for his mentor, and a desire to serve his clan.

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Goldengale grinned at her apprentice’s enthusiasm, licking down a stray patch of fur on her chest. “Aww, why not? I’ll bury this ‘un, see, and you can try up that hill, maybe? Don’t go too terribly far,” she added, almost as an afterthought. “Yowl if you need somethin’.”

Maybe that wasn’t the most responsible thing to do, but he’d be fine. Goldengale set about burying the hare, digging into the frozen ground with an effort. They might be doing a fair amount of hunting today, and she didn’t want this kill to be stolen.

Galepaw

"Great!" Galepaw chirped, "Thanks, Goldengale!" He was thrilled to be given a chance to catch prey on his own, and could only hope that this time he would succeed. He scanned the distant hill and lowered himself into a crouch, stalking his way through the snow and tussocks, determined to get the jump on his prey this time around.

As he made his way to the top of the rise, he could scent grouse. His eyes narrowed as he scanned the area, and heard a faint pecking noise to his left. He turned, his belly fur just scraping on the snow, thankful for the cover of the tussocks as he eyed his quarry. Just a few tail-lengths ahead, Galepaw watched the bird's movements. He stalked forward...

...and just as the bird's head shot up, Galepaw leaped with all the strength in his legs! His jaws closed around the neck of the bird, and, remembering Goldengale's demonstration, he sank his teeth as deep as they could go. Sweet blood filled his mouth and he felt the quail's neck snap under the force. He gave it a triumphant shake and turned back toward the rise from where he came, ready to show off his catch to his mentor.

He stumbled down the hill, nearly tripping over the bird he was carrying, as he approached Goldengale proudly, his tail raised confidently. He laid his prey down at her paws, his amber eyes shining.

"I did it!" he announced jubilantly. "Daisypaw is going to love this," he purred. "Maybe it will help her feel better."

Galepaw catches the quail! (50/60 SP)

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 5

She watched him lazily, grinning at the sight of crimson staining her apprentice’s maw. “Good job, kid! We’ve done a fair deal of huntin’, doncha think, and frightened off most of the prey in the area- so how about a little fightin’ trainin’? Nice lil’ spar, get the blood pumpin’ afore we head back to camp? Whatd’ya say, kid?”

Goldengale flicked her tail against his flank, obviously hoping for a nice lil’ spar before they headed back to camp. She could teach him some, yeah, but she’d learned by fighting predators, so he could learn by fighting her. That was safer, maybe, which was kinda dull, but she had to keep him in one piece, after all. “If you’re up for a spar, just bury your bird, huh?”

Galepaw

"Am I ever!" Galepaw exclaimed, promptly finding a decent spot to bury his catch. He scraped some snow over his quail and returned enthusiastically to his mentor's side. "What will we be doing first?" Exhilarated from his hunt, Galepaw dropped down into a defensive crouch and batted at an invisible enemy, his claws extended. "Will you show me how to scratch the enemy's eyes out?" He dropped down into a mock-tussle. "Or rake my claws across their belly?"

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Goldengale grinned, cuffing her apprentice’s ears. “Nah, kid, we don’t scratch anyone’s eyes out- that’s rude, an’ Stormsoot keeps insistin’ that it’s caused wars in the past. Maybe a predator, but that’s a tricky one to practice, eh?”

The tall warrior turned, walking a few paces off before whipping around, claws sinking momentarily into the snow, teeth gleaming fiercely. She’d always been tall, but that thick pelt made her seem truly enormous, as if she were in fact descended from LionClan of legend. Her tail flicked back and forth behind her, betraying her eagerness to begin, but she’d better let him have the first move. He’d play-fought before, surely, and anyways he’d learn fast. “No claws, yeah, and don’t draw blood with your teeth either. Come at me, kiddo. Show me what you got.”

Goldengale kept her head high, supremely and recklessly secure in her cocky confidence, absolutely certain that she could kill a dog by herself. One measly apprentice was not a threat- right, but she was trying to teach him… that didn’t mean she’d go easy on him, either. She had no intentions of losing this spar, and it showed.

Galepaw

"Stormsoot...?" Galepaw murmured, mostly to himself. Oh, whatever, he thought fondly, shaking his head. "Alright, alright," he conceded, "Clawing a cat's eyes out is rude, gotcha," he meowed, whiskers twitching.

Galepaw's eyes widened at the fierceness of his mentor's stance. It reminded him of his size in comparison to her. "I'm glad you're a WindClan cat," he remarked, "I wouldn't want to mess with you if you were on the other side of the border." He eyed her posture thoughtfully. "Alright, no claws," he agreed, his expression serious. He didn't even know how to size up a cat, but he was very aware that size was not on his side. Maybe I can use speed to my advantage, Galekit thought, or use her size against her somehow...

Galepaw crouched, his eyes narrowed, locked onto his target. I have to use speed to my advantage, he decided, his eyes locked with his mentors, and sprung at her, paws extended!

Galepaw uses Jumping Strike, dealing 6 damage (+3 for first attack) (-1 for Moor Runner) and -7SP.

Galepaw
20 / 20 HP
53 / 60 SP (60 - 7)

Goldengale
52 / 40 HP (40 - 8)
100 / 100 SP

I've got the jump on her, he thought auspiciously, adrenaline coursing through his limbs. He desperately wanted to make a good impression on the older warrior. I will become WindClan's strongest! You'll never doubt that! Aware now that his time was up, he tensed his muscles in preparation for Goldengale's move, instincts at the ready.

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