ShadowClan Territory - Page 752

**gs29513** · #**7511** August 3rd, 2020, 09:03 PM

Ok, so where were her patrol mates? This was a bit annoying. She hadn't spotted Starrypelt or Flintspot, and her apprentice hadn't shown up either. With a sigh, she set about to complete the hunting patrol herself. Creeping towards a squirrel, she managed to snag it just before it scooted up a tree. Killing it, she dropped it with her mouse, and moved on. Pausing besides a ditch, she sat still for a minute. Spotting a frog hopping it's way out, she leaped forward, but coming up empty pawed. Unless you counted swamp water.
With a small huff, she sniffed the air once more. Picking up the scent of a shrew, she leaped at its hiding place, managing to pin and kill it. Dropping it in a differnt hole and scratching leaves over it, she looked around again. Taking the risk of scaring off the prey, she called out softly Starrypelt? Flintspot? Squirrelpaw? We're hunting you know! If you don't get over here now Squirrelpaw, you'll be doing the elders ticks for a week!
@Azzi @Neon Lights @Echopeak

**Vixenstar** · #**7512** August 3rd, 2020, 10:50 PM

The sound of grass being trampled could be heard as Squirrelpaw bounded up to Doeflame, a leaf in her jaws. "I was trying to teach myself how to hunt!" Squirrelpaw exclaimed. "I caught this leaf!" @gs29513

**gs29513** · #**7513** August 4th, 2020, 06:30 AM

And I was waiting to TEACH you to hunt. Doeflame huffed. Mice, and birds, and squirrels. But YOU were off gallivanting in the forest, playing instead of feeding your clan. With the telling-off out of the way, Doeflame sniffed the air, finally detecting a hint of mouse. Waving her tail to Squirrelpaw, she decided to demonstrate, AGAIN. They were going to be out her all day! Creeping forward, her paws sliding an inch or so above the forest floor, her tail low and straight, and her whole body crouched, she got within pouncing distance. Gathering power in her haunches, she propelled herself forward, landing on the mouse, and killing it with a bite to the neck.

Turning around, she placed it with her shrew, and turned to her apprentice.Alright, you try the crouch, and moving in it. she mewed, waving her tail for her apprentice to move. You have to be good at that before you can catch anything. Hopefully her apprentice would be decent at this quickly, and they could move on to something a bit more challenging, like actually catching prey. @Azzi @Neon Lights @Echopeak

**Vixenstar** · #**7514** August 4th, 2020, 08:28 AM

Squirrelpaw dipped her head in embarrassment. She tried to copy what she saw her mentor doing; lowering her body and keeping her tail close to the ground. "Is this good?" she asked. @gs29513

**gs29513** · #**7515** August 4th, 2020, 08:47 AM

Yes, that's good Squirrelpaw. Doeflame mewed, trying to bolster the apprentice again. She might have been a bit harsh about the running off. Apprentices still needed to play like kits for a while, especially at first. Perhaps leaf hunting had helped her, because she was actually in quite a nice crouch, for a first attempt. Why don't you try gliding around a bit, like you're stalking something. Doeflame suggested. Once she had that down, they could try on some actual prey. It would be good for her to get some practice as soon as possible, because a clan as big as they were always needed fresh-kill. @Azzi

**Vixenstar** · #**7516** August 4th, 2020, 08:53 AM

Squirrelpaw nodded, focused on the ground. She tentatively reached out a paw and quietly crept through the grass. This is pretty fun! she thought, losing her focus and not noticing a big tree root ahead of her. "Fox dung!" she cursed as she tripped and landed flat on her face. @gs29513

**gs29513** · #**7517** August 4th, 2020, 09:07 AM

Watching her apprentice, Doeflame was impressed by her first attempt. As Squirrelpaw stumbled, Doeflame padded up beside her. You should glide your paws above the ground, to avoid roots and sticks like that. But other than that, you're doing very well.
Why don't you try again. If she did well, Doeflame might just let her do a bit of actual hunting. That would be a nice thing to announce back at camp, her first prey. @Azzi

**Vixenstar** · #**7518** August 4th, 2020, 09:16 AM

Squirrelpaw got up and recomposed herself. "Okay!" she said before dropping into the crouch again. This time, she hovered her paws about a mouse-length above the ground during each stride. @gs29513

**gs29513** · #**7519** August 4th, 2020, 09:29 AM

Very good job! Doeflame praised, glad her apprentice was doing well. The same couldn't be said for Flintspot and Starrypelt, who STILL hadn't shown up. Beastspark was certainly going to hear about that! Refocusing on Squirrelpaw, she mewed What can you smell? hopefully the prey hadn't all run off by now. They had four pieces, but more was always better. @Azzi

**Vixenstar** · #**7520** August 4th, 2020, 09:35 AM

Squirrelpaw took a deep breath. "Hmmm... I think I smell mouse. Not sure though." @gs29513