Fly High Osprey [hunting training]

- Ospreypaw -

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Ospreypaw was already awake and sitting up in her nest full of anticipation. Who knew how she even managed to sleep as an apprentice, buzzing with so much excitement for the days of training ahead. She’d only managed to drift off with the comfort of her siblings nearby and the sound of their soft, rhythmic breaths luring her to sleep. It was good to share a den again. Her nest was squeezed close to theirs, with Ospreypaw on the outer edge shielding between them and the entrance. A bit of a chilly spot maybe, but thick fur kept her insulated from any cold draft that blew through the gap, and it felt right to her.

Golden eyes turned to the forms of her dozing siblings, gaze landing on one in particular. She still remembered her sister’s odd words whispered in Ospreypaw’s ear at the ceremony. Of course Cricketpaw was always nervous around warriors but even so-

She was almost startled as the object of her thoughts peeked into the den right at that moment, but her mentor’s whisper was so soft the surprise barely registered. His presence was nearly as familiar as Honeypaw’s after the long journey together. Honestly, the thought of Stormwatcher as “terrifying” would have made Ospreypaw laugh in any other context. It was best left to Cricketpaw being Cricketpaw, timid as usual.

With a swift stretch and silent nod she stood up to go, finally mindful enough not to wake anyone else. Her smile was maybe not as wide but certainly still present as she joined Stormwatcher outside the den. She tried to dispel the heavy thoughts with another enthusiastic nod. For now Ospreypaw’s eagerness and trust outweighed whatever caution her sister was trying to instill in her.

“So ready!” At least, she hoped she was. Either way the apprentice was more than willing to try her paw at catching prey. Maybe if she was successful today she could share the fresh-kill with Cricketpaw to prove Stormwatcher was a good mentor not someone to be afraid of. “Let’s go!” She nudged Stormwatcher light-heartedly and started towards the exit of camp, nearly outpacing the warrior as excitement hurried her paws.

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- Ospreypaw -

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Ospreypaw followed to the base of the tree. She listened to her mentor's every word with rapt attention and copied his pose. She backed up a tail-length and copied his origional pose, crouching to better leap up onto the trunk. She managed to snag her claws into the bark, scaling the rest of the way up with a bit of effort to join Stormwatcher.

The apprentice nodded silently, golden eyes staring straight down the branch her prey. The squirrel was frozen in place, alert but with no other nearby branches to jump to safety. Ospreypaw's confidence swelled as she started to move forward in quick, stalking steps. The catch was set up nicely. All she had to do was go for it, as Stormwatcher had said.

One pace closer... one more... she pushed off the sturdy bough with an eager pounce. The thrill of the leap lasted a split second, imagined wind rushing past her ears, and then unsheathed claws came down on her prey. Her tail swished wildly to regain her grip on the branch but after a moment she found balance. A slightly clumsy first catch, but successful!

"I did it!!" Ospreypaw broke into a not-so-whispered cheer. She made sure to hold the fresh-kill securely under one paw while she turned to beam at Stormwatcher. Excitement immediately took over, her focus from the hunt tossed out the tree so to speak. She felt as tall as the very tree she was standing on grinning at her mentor.

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