can we be normal again? [training topic]

It was good to have familiar territory beneath his paws again. As Lichenwing led Sunpaw through the trees, he took a moment to appreciate, truly appreciate, the sights and sounds around him. The landscape was smoothed and softened by a fresh snowfall, but beneath it, the trees, the bushes, the rocks, it was all as Lichenwing remembered. Confidently, he cut a path through the snow, towards a dense thicket. "When it's cold like this, prey likes to find thick, tangled parts of the forest to hide in. Snow piles up on bushes an' branches that are close together, an' it creates tunnels and dens for 'em to sleep in, and shelters them from the wind, too. If you're ever lost in the snow, that's a good thing to know - it can save your life."

Lifting his muzzle to the air, Lichenwing drew in a slow breath. There was prey here, somewhere. "If you go 'round to that side-" he pointed with his tail "-ya can take a shot, and flush them towards me, in case ya miss." He crouched down, stretching as he did so, and then settled into a hunting crouch. "Remember... keep your spine level, tail straight out, like I taught ya." He nodded, then started creeping around the side of the thicket.

Murky green eyes wide, Sunpaw padded quietly through the unfamiliar forest at his mentor's side. He had already seen Lichenwing as one of Thunderclan's greatest warriors, but since the tom had rescued him during the attack at the lake and kept a constant eye out for him on the difficult journey to the forest, Sunpaw held him in even higher regard. That was why he stuck so close to his side– the return to Thunderclan camp had suddenly plunged him to an entirely new world. To make matters worse, the older apprentices who had known life before the five clans' journey seemed effortlessly confident in navigating Thunderclan's camp and territory. But Sunpaw had been born on the lake's shore. Before now, he had only known sandy beaches and the harsh terrain of the mountain pass they'd traveled through.
Fears of a late warrior ceremony mingled with fears of unknown monsters crashing through the dense undergrowth. His tufted ears twitched in acknowledgment of Lichenwing's advice even as he struggled to make sense of the tangled mess of scents and sounds. He breathed deeply, parroting his mentor. Beyond the smell of burning cold snow and rich undergrowth, he caught a hint of– something. Even the prey here was unfamiliar.
His large paws sunk into the snow as he waded toward the other side of the bush, doing his best to copy Lichenwing's stance, and even half-succeeding. So focused was Sunpaw on his hunting form as he crept forward through the dense thicket that he didn't realize what was happening until the scent was overpowering. He suddenly found himself practically nose-to-nose with a very unprepared rabbit. Without thinking he leaped forward, fur on end and claws outstretched. After a brief struggle, he emerged triumphantly from the undergrowth with the prey hanging from his jaws, eyes shining with pride. "Easy." His voice was muffled, and still shook slightly from adrenaline.

-7SP
Sunpaw:
Hp 20/20
Sp 53/60

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 4

The air was still for several heartbeats as Sunpaw made his way towards the rabbit. Lichenwing tracked him, watching with amusement as he made it within a tail-length of the rabbit before either of them knew the other was there. If anything, the kid was stealthy... definitely a talent Lichenwing would encourage. The inevitable happened, and Sunpaw bolted into the bushes after the rabbit, in the opposite direction, and emerging a few moments later with the rabbit swinging from his jaws.

Lichenwing barked a laugh, charging forward and meeting his apprentice, eyes gleaming with pride. "Well done, Sunpaw! Yer form was great, but next time, try usin' yer eyes and your nose." The warrior grinned, making it clear that there was no admonishment in his words, only advice.

"Let's stash that an' go try for somethin' else."

Around the other side of the thicket, Lichenwing caught the sound of a mouse scampering around in some tall grassed. "Watch me," he whispered. Dropping into a crouch, Lichenwing moved forward. One paw at a time, the rear paw occupying the same place the front paw had just vacated. The mouse stayed still, nibbling at something on the ground, and Lichenwing was a tail-length away when he sprang forward and snatched the mouse from the very spot it had been standing.

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 5

Studying the smoky grey warrior with rapt attention, Sunpaw's face scrunched in concentration. One paw after the other... the older warrior moved with a careful precision that Sunpaw's clumsily large paws and thin growth-spurt legs would never allow him to match.

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 2