| Sprucepaw |
Kitty Softpaws - Active | Ultimate Predator - Active | Agatha Kitty - Active
Taking the time to clear himself off the mess of leaves he had become evidently being the right call, Fudge's ears only perked up once The Boulder was done with their stalking lesson, deadpanned eyes disinterestedly moving towards them as he kept lazily licking at his chest. He was, of course, interested in what his mentor had to say. It was the giant and the giant alone who had gotten him this far in life. He wouldn't know how to hunt if it wasn't for them. To defend himself. His potential future survival had been all thanks to them. That alone earned them his utmost attentiveness. The young tom simply didn't like displaying it in so obvious and open a manner.
As the three legged mountain explained the advantages of reaching over for prey with limbs instead of teeth during hunts, the chocolate point could feel his chest puffing up importantly. He had discovered this very trick back when he was much, much younger. During his very first hunt, as a matter of fact. After his then kitnapper's explanations on how to hunt the various species of critters throughout the territory, the former kittypet had stalked and effectively hunted a bird, catching it in midair as he accidentally stepped on a branch of some sort on his way towards it. He had received ample praise for his feat that day, and it gave him a certain sense of smugness to know that he had accomplished such a thing without being given the same hints these lesser felines were being given now. Hmph. But of course, he was The Boulder's number one apprentice. He couldn't expect the rest to keep up with his hunting brilliance.
As he had come to expect of them, his mentor had taken this into account for their next exercise, and thus a new challenge was presented to the Havana Brown mix. Interest gleamed in his mostly deadpanned gaze. Instantly the tom began wondering if there was some way to mix these two techniques together. A running pounce alongside a midair twist. It would no doubt have no actual, relevant hunting applications, but even to his rather survival focused mind the idea sounded... fun. Besides, if he could pull it off, it would be fairly impressive looking. Being able to appear impressive without words might not be such a bad thing in the long run, in any case.
At the word go, Fudge turned his attention to their surroundings. He wasn't certain what the rest of the clans were like, but ThunderClan? It had trees. Lots and lots of trees. And The Boulder had just made it clear that they were probably better off avoiding those. Wise words, of course, but the eight moon old apprentice had plans brewing in his mind already, and his whiskers quivered with anticipation. Lowering himself into a hunting crouch, he wiggled his hindquarters, a playful posture he hadn't done since his days as a kittypet. Emerald hues were locked on to a target. An oak with some low hanging branches. Eyes narrowed with concentration, he let his breathing settle for only a moment before he was off.
Speed had never been the paw's forte. Coordination. Reflexes. Awareness of space. The ability to form plans on the fly. That was were his strengths lay. Whenever he could be bothered to pay any attention at all, which he made sure to do now.
Running to gain the momentum he required, Fudge bolted... straight up the tree, unsheathing his claws only when necessary to allow his movements to propel him up the trunk for only a moment before he pounced, allowing the leap to take him away from tree's scratched up bark as his eyes lay on their mark. Using movements he had used before during his tree climbing lessons, he twitched his tail almost instinctively, shifting his position. Claws unsheathed as he raised his paw, aiming straight for that low hanging branch. Unfortunately for the young tom, he was too short on his jump, no amount of repositioning helping him reach his target, instead snagging a single leaf from the branch as failure washed over him. Refusing to make a complete fool out of himself, the dark brown apprentice shifted once again, making sure to land on his paws, the leaf still stuck to his claw.
A mild frown marring his features, he looked up at the branch, tail lashing out once behind him. It would appear he would have to practice more if he was to master this technique. Or grow more... Whichever came first, truly. Disappointed, he allowed himself a single snort of derision before padding back towards his mentor, shaking the leaf dejectedly from his paw before sitting down, his blank expression hiding the silent simmering beneath.
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Rani [Mudhound]