ShadowClan Territory

[Arie]

--
{This is Raven's death, anyone is welcome to find the evidence of his body and report it to Icestar}

Ravenvine had been out patrolling again at night. He find it more enjoyable as he walked through the forests and it was all quiet, all still and all dark. It was peaceful. So he walked and walked, further up north than he himself went on his lonely dark night trips. He was blind but it was no evident as the black tom wandered with extreme confidence through the pine trees. He was confident.

He'd never set a paw wrong as soon as he'd learned to see with his other senses. However this would not last forever and his confidence despite his blindness would be his downfall. He did not hear the roaring lake in the distance as he was too busy just enjoying the quiet and enjoying the peacefulness.

He walked and walked, closer to the cliffs and the lake beneath them... That was when a wind buffeted him and caused him to change his direction. He picked up his pace and started running, enjoying the strong wind through his fur.

However that was when it was too late. The black tom had run out over the edge, and his momentum was too strong and he plummeted directly down into the lake, letting out yelps and screeches of panic. It was horrible, he felt the cold of the water set in quick and he kept moving his legs trying to stay aloft, trying and trying and he kept calling out. But there was no one. No one... And as the weight of his fur finally dragged him under, the breath left the black tom one last time and he was gone.

Gone to join his ancestors in Starclan... That was all the black tom could do as he stared at the remains of a shell he no longer needed.

[Cloudsky]

Originally Posted by Shimm

"Of course! It's my pleasure." A kill with two birds and one stone. She could get to know her apprentice more and hang out with her mate which she missed. The mutli-hued molly bumped shoulders with Shadequill as she allowed the apprentices to walk behind them to chat in private as they strolled through the forest. "How are you?"
@Estelle @Cloudsky @DarkNight

His smile was wide and plastered on his face as he walked along his mate's side. The touch of his mate always made him warm and fuzzy, and today was no different.
"I'm feeling wonderful, sweetheart! After all, I get to hang out with some of my favorite cats in the entirety of the clans and the world beyond!" He purred to Stormlily, before turning to the two apprentices.
"What about the three of you? After all, it'll be good to know my own kitter and his lady friend! Of course, I must also accommodate my mate!" He meowed this teasingly, bumping him a bit with his shoulder, before doing the same to the love of his life.
@DarkNight @Estelle

[Moonraven]

Originally Posted by Salt

"Mice are tricky too," Crocusblaze lowered their voice to a whisper. They could see one scurrying around in the pine litter covering the mossy earth, but they weren't going to make it that easy. Of course they could let Elfinpaw know where the little creature was but they intended to train her to figure it out on her own. Still, their amber gaze was fixed on the little brown rodent, eyeing it eagerly. "To them, we're giants with deadly claws and fangs. They- like you can, I think- can feel a cat coming from a certain point away, from the vibrations in the ground. And obviously they're gonna run away and hide."

To tell the truth, Crocusblaze wasn't sure if they enjoyed hunting. When they had originally ventured out into the forest and joined ShadowClan as a young cat, they had been hesitant to take the life of another creature. Even having grown up eating dry cat food they weren't entirely aware that it had been made of something alive in the first place, if it had at all. They had learned that it was just a necessary part of life, but they didn't take it lightly. If they did catch anything out in their training session that day they would bring it back to camp as soon as possible.

They wouldn't be able to teach by example this time, so they'd have to explain it to their best ability and then work from there. "I want you to try and focus in on that mouse you smell. Disperse your mind bugs, best you can dearie, because hunting takes a deep focus. When approaching, I want you to watch out for dry leaves on the ground, and try to keep your paws light. I know it might be hard at first but you should be able to feel the texture of a dry leaf vs a damp leaf with your pawpads, yes? Just be careful," they advised quietly enough to not alert the mouse minding it's own business. "I want you to try and approach and pounce when you're comfortable. I could tell you when and where to jump but I want you to try it on your own first, see if we can get it by trial an error."
@Moonraven

Elfinpaw did her best to heed her mentor's words and squish those bothersome flitterbugs. She had to concentrate since she wasn't hunting for herself but her clan, she had to prove herself. Elfinpaw did not let her blindness hurt her self-confidence. She had high self-esteem in regard to many of her abilities and was more than determined to let it be known that she would not let her blindness deter her from living freely and taking care of the clan like everyone else. However, sometimes this acted as a ruse to hide personal insecurities but more often than not, she really didn't mind being blind.

There were a few things she needed to get used to, she was a little surprised to hear that Crocusblaze was able to pick up on the fact that she could feel vibrations through the ground. It was nothing amazing if any cat was still enough and paid attention they could feel them. Elfinpaw had managed to hone that skill a bit better and it helped greatly in pinpointing the distances between herself and others... if she was paying attention. The small feline got up and dropped into a hunting crouch. When she had first tried doing this underneath Whiteshadow's watchful gaze, she had problems finding her balance. Find balance in the darkness had been far harder than when she could see. Now she could do it without having her weight throwing off, however, her paws dragged a tad with each step she took towards her target.

The blind apprentice did her best to follow everything that her mentor had told her, she was careful of the leaves, kept her steps light, and used her nose. Still, the crippling and strange fear that one day she'd set her paw down and there would be nothing underneath it kept her from lifting her legs too far from the ground. Her back paw brushes against something that made a noise, her perceptive ears hear it about the same time the mouse does, she gets lucky as she pounces. One front paw manages to pin the mouse's tail, she flinches at the jolt of pain she receives from the retaliation bite. She finishes the small rodent with a quick nip and then sits down on her haunches to lick at the small wound on her side of her paw. "I did it." Elfinpaw chirped with less enthusiasm then she had at the start of the training. She forgot that sometimes the prey they hunted fought back.

[RAT KING]

Crocusblaze watched their apprentice with warm regard as she slipped into a hunting crouch. Though they could pick up a few minor mistakes an experienced warrior wouldn't make, this was a new apprentice. They wouldn't nitpick at this point in time when their prey was so close by. A first kill was an important step for an apprentice and they wouldn't be surprised if Elfinpaw missed- and they certainly wouldn't be disappointed. It wasn't uncommon to miss on the first try, especially for a cat who couldn't see their intended target. The huge cat's heart pounded in their tufted ears as they watched her careful approach. They were visibly excited, proud, and nervous for the young she-cat.

"Good job!" They meowed suddenly- their excitement getting the best of them and made them a bit louder than perhaps they intended. They purred softly with pride for her, kneading a bit at the peaty ground. Noticing her wound, they made their way closer on careful paws, lowering their head slightly to sniff at Elfinpaw's wounded paw. "Perhaps we should go back to camp and get that checked out to make sure it doesn't get infected," they advised. "We can keep going if you want, but mouse bites can be nasty."

For a moment though, they did want to congratulate her. And she deserved and praise she got, it wasn't mindless flattery. "You did so well Elfinpaw. First catch on your first try! I'm so proud of you," the grey cat mewed, their voice soft and honest. They weren't sure if they could articulate exactly how well she had done that day, but they'd leave it at that. They licked her forehead in a friendly manor and stepped back, looking around at the forest for a moment before glancing back to the direction camp was.

"But maybe...If you wanted to, I might be able to teach you some battle moves. I'm assuming you won't be coming to the ThunderClan raid, but it's always best to be prepared." Crocusblaze was staunchly against attacking their Clan and their camp of all places but they didn't see a way to get out of it. They'd go easy on their opponents sure but they were aware of the possibility that they wouldn't come back from this battle. Just because Icestar had ordered them to not kill any of their opponents didn't mean they wouldn't do it back in self defense.
@Moonraven

[Estelle]

Nightpaw's mismatched gaze followed Stormlily as she made walked around her. The apprentice did her best to take in what she was told- and remember it- so she would be able to do it correctly later on. Most of the things she was being told up until that point seemed to make perfectly sence to her, after all if one were to make a sound it would alarm the creature of their presence, no?
she watched her mentor drop into the position, paying extra attention to the placement and formation of her paws- Nightpaw got a little surprised when Stormlily suddenly pounded, yet she still nodded. She greatly appreciated the demonstration.
Nightpaw lowered her gaze to the ground for a moment before trying to get into the same position as her mentor was. Needless to say, it was somewhat sloppy and clearly needed improvement.
She didn't stay to long in that position either, and decided against pounding of like that, instead tilted her head slightly as she mew "b-but wh-what if one woul-would be in th-e forest? Th-there are small br-branches and le-leafs all o-ver"
@Shimm

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Nightpaw followed silently as she took in the sight of the territory- from now on this would certainly be her second favourite thing to watch! It seemed to be quite peaceful at the moment and she could hear the pleasant chirping of birds in the distance. She was also quite pleased that Shadequill and Stormlily came to join them as well, it allowed them to take this walk safely and perhaps even to get to know her mentor a little better. Sure, their presence left her with a nervous feeling, nearly any presence of a cat did, but it didn't stop her from enjoying the walk.
Her mismatched gaze trailed from one spot to another until the young apprentice suddenly heard the voice of Honeypaw's mentor "o-oh um.. i-i'm do-ing fi-fine" she stuttered out quietly and in a hurry. Having been distracted by the sights, she hadn't expected for a question to be directed her way. Nightpaw lowered her gaze to her paws for a moment before lifting them a slightly "th-thank y-ou" she finally followed, still in that quiet voice.
@DarkNight @Cloudsky @/Shimm

[DarkNight]

Honeypaw smiled. "I'm doing great too! It's nice to get out of camp once in a while." He was quite enjoying the beautiful weather of new-leaf. The trees were blooming and flowers too. He lifted his nose to the sky and breathed deeply in. It smelled so nice.
@Shimm @Cloudsky @Estelle

[Sweetie]

Originally Posted by Cloudsky

His smile was wide and plastered on his face as he walked along his mate's side. The touch of his mate always made him warm and fuzzy, and today was no different.
"I'm feeling wonderful, sweetheart! After all, I get to hang out with some of my favorite cats in the entirety of the clans and the world beyond!" He purred to Stormlily, before turning to the two apprentices.
"What about the three of you? After all, it'll be good to know my own kitter and his lady friend! Of course, I must also acommadate my mate!" He meowed this teasingly, bumping him a bit with his shoulder, before doing the same to the love of his life.
@DarkNight @Estelle

Stormlily chuckled his flame matched hers. It was his jokes and light personality that drew her to him like a moth to light. Her dark amber eyes twinkled with happiness at the mention of her being one of his favorite cats. The molly turned her head to also gaze at the apprentices with a welcoming smile.

@DarkNight @Estelle

[lucidense]

Wisp sniffed the air, smelling the blood from the fresh from the battlefield Shadowclan. She shivered at the bitter smell. She hoped they wouldn't find her, she had seen how bloodthirsty they could be. (anyone can catch my scent or interact with me if they want)

[Quasar]

@WarriorsAndHorses

Sagewhisker trotted out into the pine forest, taking in the smell of the evergreen trees. She concentrated on picking up the sound of any nearby prey animals pawsteps. 'there!' She thought, turning to a rustling like of leaves to see a mouse digging around. The she cat dropped into the hunters crouch, silently making her way over to the mouse. When she got close enough, she pounced on it, ending its life with a swift bite on the neck.

[Reptilian Cabinets]

Originally Posted by Mumble

@WarriorsAndHorses

Sagewhisker trotted out into the pine forest, taking in the smell of the evergreen trees. She concentrated on picking up the sound of any nearby prey animals pawsteps. 'there!' She thought, turning to a rustling like of leaves to see a mouse digging around. The she cat dropped into the hunters crouch, silently making her way over to the mouse. When she got close enough, she pounced on it, ending its life with a swift bite on the neck.

Blackswift walked over to her as she held the lifeless animal in her mouth,”good job! Now, let me show you how it’s really done.” Blackswift said with a hint of amusement in his voice. The grey tom tasted the air and smelled a mouse scuffling through the underbrush to the right of them, he dropped into a hunters crouch and snuck through the brush as he approached the mouse ‘bye bye!’ He thought launching himself at it pinning it down with one sheathed paw and bit it ending its struggle and torture. “There, that’s how its done!” He mewed with pride in his voice, though it was only a mouse.