ThunderClan Territory

[chaton]

Originally Posted by Arie

As soon as Myrtlepaw made it, Ploverspot perked up, grey ears twitching. At his question the old tom rose to his feet once again and started to explain, "Today's we're hunting. Basics. Nothing too overly complicated, but we're still going to practice. Now, now, I learned how to hunt back in Shadowclan and it is quite different. Here, you'll learn to hunt voles, mice, squirrels and birds. Take a deep breath, there are clear scents of mice and voles in this area, and if we move further out we can possibly run into a squirrel or some sort of bird." With that he moved a bit further away, dropping his hips and then his haunches as he slid into a crouch, not the traditional Thunderclan crouch, his old bones was making it harder for him as well as seasons as a Shadowclan cat. "This is not optimal, but its the easiest, a mix of Shadowclan and Thunderclan. You'll have to place your weight on your hindlegs and move extremely careful. Mice are aware of the vibrations in the ground and will therefore feel and hear your presence before they can see you. Now you try." He nodded at Myrtlepaw as he slid out of the crouch, his bones creaking a bit as he sat up.

{ Myrtletraining }

Myrtlepaw stood patiently as Ploverspot took his time to get ready and into position. He knew the warrior was getting quite old, but he didn't mind taking things slow either. The apprentice opened his mouth to help scent, noting how the smell of mice was all around him, much as Plover had said. Following his mentor slightly deeper into the territory, Myrtle carefully observed the crouch of the elderly tom, taking a mental note of what that would look like. At the offer of trying it for himself, the young apprentice stepped up hesitantly "Alright..." He dropped low, trying to rest much of his weight on his hindlegs as he was told. It was difficult, and he was wobbling quite a bit trying to keep his balance like was shown. Turning back to Ploverspot with an uneasy expression, he mewed quietly. "This... is... it... good? It... is difficult... to... keep... my balance..."

[Socks]

@Queenie

Softbriar smiled and nodded, turning towards the entrance of the camp with a flick of their tail to signal Eveningpaw to follow. As they emerged into the territory they took a moment to breathe in the air. "Try scenting the air, I don't expect you'll recognize any of the smells now but we'll work on that." They gave the apprentice a moment to do as they'd advised before turning towards the direction of the RiverClan border. They'd there and along the WindClan border. They would keep a little distance from the ShadowClan border for now but still show the whole territory to the young she-cat.
"When we reach the border it should be easy for you to smell the markers, they're pretty strong. You should do good to remember where they are because I don't want to see you crossing them anytime." They spoke in a stern tone to show they were serious but were quick to return to a gentle smile. "While we're walking, I want you to think about all the prey you're had from the fresh-kill pile. Try and remember what they smelt like and see if you can smell any of them. It's okay if you can't, it usually takes a little to learn to pick scents apart."

[Abyssopelagic]

Breezehen let out a few chirps of encouragement to Ivorypaw as they left the clearing. She still wasn't keen on leaving the camp, but she eventually managed to convince her, but only if Ravenspirit came with them.
She came to the conclusion that there really weren't many named places to show to the apprentice. Sunkissed Creek had the possibility of predators; apprentices were already forbidden from going to Cliff Pass and she wasn't keen of Ivory being taken from her- either by death or by Duskstar.
She hated young cats, but she had grown on the grump- like moss on a tree.

Speaking of trees, the Tree of Murmers was about the only place she could think to take a freshly made apprentice aside from borders. Breezehen hoped she didn't spook easily.
"You wanna see the borders first or the Tree of Murmers? I know, it's just a tree, but a lot of stories are made around it- supposedly the moss whispers at night."

@Zesty Mango @Shimm (you still ok with being dragged along?)

[Mango]

Originally Posted by Rainquail

Breezehen let out a few chirps of encouragement to Ivorypaw as they left the clearing. She still wasn't keen on leaving the camp, but she eventually managed to convince her, but only if Ravenspirit came with them.
She came to the conclusion that there really weren't many named places to show to the apprentice. Sunkissed Creek had the possibility of predators; apprentices were already forbidden from going to Cliff Pass and she wasn't keen of Ivory being taken from her- either by death or by Duskstar.
She hated young cats, but she had grown on the grump- like moss on a tree.

Speaking of trees, the Tree of Murmers was about the only place she could think to take a freshly made apprentice aside from borders. Breezehen hoped she didn't spook easily.
"You wanna see the borders first or the Tree of Murmers? I know, it's just a tree, but a lot of stories are made around it- supposedly the moss whispers at night."

@Zesty Mango @Shimm (you still ok with being dragged along?)

Ivorypaw glanced at Ravenspirit,” Which one should I go see first?” she asked not really sure of which one she wanted to chose.

[Abyssopelagic]

She had to keep herself from huffing. Ivorypaw didn't seem to like making her own decisions. She was going to have to break her of that- gently. No point in berating a young, dependent cat.
If this kitty was going to survive, she'd need to be able to make her own decisions and stick to them. The clans were harsh, especially in battle and she couldn't always fall back on another's opinions.

[Queenie]

Originally Posted by Socks

@Queenie

Softbriar smiled and nodded, turning towards the entrance of the camp with a flick of their tail to signal Eveningpaw to follow. As they emerged into the territory they took a moment to breathe in the air. "Try scenting the air, I don't expect you'll recognize any of the smells now but we'll work on that." They gave the apprentice a moment to do as they'd advised before turning towards the direction of the RiverClan border. They'd there and along the WindClan border. They would keep a little distance from the ShadowClan border for now but still show the whole territory to the young she-cat.
"When we reach the border it should be easy for you to smell the markers, they're pretty strong. You should do good to remember where they are because I don't want to see you crossing them anytime." They spoke in a stern tone to show they were serious but were quick to return to a gentle smile. "While we're walking, I want you to think about all the prey you're had from the fresh-kill pile. Try and remember what they smelt like and see if you can smell any of them. It's okay if you can't, it usually takes a little to learn to pick scents apart."

Eveningpaw bounced after Softbriar, out of the camp and into the territory. The young apprentices brain could barely function with all the new sights and smells. As Softbriar spoke, she took note to not run into another territory. They didn't need another raid from another clan. She shivered, if only she had already been an apprentice when Shadowclan came. She saw a small pile of rocks a few fox-lengths away and it took all of her willpower to stay by her mentors side, as to not run and climb it. However, the rocks were good for something. They were directly in the path of the wind. She opened her maw and focused on the pile, surely there was something hiding in between the cool stone on a sunny day like this. "A vole, or a shrew. Over there, in between the rocks." She scrunched her eyes together trying to think about the different prey she'd eaten. She hardly payed attention to what it smelled like. She often wolfed it down as fast as she could so she could get back to playing. "Or maybe a mouse... It's a rodent I'm sure of that." She looked back to Softbriar hoping for some sort of praise.

[Socks]

Originally Posted by Queenie

Eveningpaw bounced after Softbriar, out of the camp and into the territory. The young apprentices brain could barely function with all the new sights and smells. As Softbriar spoke, she took note to not run into another territory. They didn't need another raid from another clan. She shivered, if only she had already been an apprentice when Shadowclan came. She saw a small pile of rocks a few fox-lengths away and it took all of her willpower to stay by her mentors side, as to not run and climb it. However, the rocks were good for something. They were directly in the path of the wind. She opened her maw and focused on the pile, surely there was something hiding in between the cool stone on a sunny day like this. "A vole, or a shrew. Over there, in between the rocks." She scrunched her eyes together trying to think about the different prey she'd eaten. She hardly payed attention to what it smelled like. She often wolfed it down as fast as she could so she could get back to playing. "Or maybe a mouse... It's a rodent I'm sure of that." She looked back to Softbriar hoping for some sort of praise.

Softbriar watched Eveningpaw scent the air, trying to decipher the rodent scent from the rocks nearby. "Great job!" They let their tone show they were proud of her attempt, it was great for her first time out of camp. They continued along, they wanted to reach a clearing before giving a short demonstration of hunting, so that Eveningpaw might take the chance to make her first catch during the tour. Seasons of paw steps wore down trails in the undergrowth that Softbriar followed until the area opened up to a small, grassy clearing. "I'm going to show you how to stalk, just watch what I do and do that same thing, okay?" They'd see how Eveningpaw could replicate the demonstration before giving them pointers more tailored to what she needed to improve on.
They lowered into a crouch at one side of the clearing, taking care to keep their tail from rustling any plants around them. They moved forward quietly, taking their time so Eveningpaw could see their movements until they'd reached the other end of the clearing. Turning to the apprentice, they gave a nod. "You give it a try."

[RedHead]

Foxbound flicked her ears in interest as Bouncesnarl padded up, tilting her head a little bit. "Sounds fun I suppose? But now's time to focus on hunting." Tail twitching behind her, the ginger she-cat turned around, scenting the air. Catching the scent of a squirrel, Foxbound turned to the other two. "I'll leave you to do some training with Ivypaw, alright Bouncesnarl?"

@Sparkling Bliss @Sneakyfox55

[Arie]

Originally Posted by starshooter

Myrtlepaw stood patiently as Ploverspot took his time to get ready and into position. He knew the warrior was getting quite old, but he didn't mind taking things slow either. The apprentice opened his mouth to help scent, noting how the smell of mice was all around him, much as Plover had said. Following his mentor slightly deeper into the territory, Myrtle carefully observed the crouch of the elderly tom, taking a mental note of what that would look like. At the offer of trying it for himself, the young apprentice stepped up hesitantly "Alright..." He dropped low, trying to rest much of his weight on his hindlegs as he was told. It was difficult, and he was wobbling quite a bit trying to keep his balance like was shown. Turning back to Ploverspot with an uneasy expression, he mewed quietly. "This... is... it... good? It... is difficult... to... keep... my balance..."

Ploverspot watched with amusement glinting in his green eyes as he watched Myrtlepaw struggle with the crouch. Walking up to him he poked a bit on his haunches and the back and then free'd Myrtlepaw's tail from his legs. "Don't keep your tail so tucked in, you'll need to use it to keep your balance. You can stretch it out, but keep it from touching the ground and be aware of its position in regards to what you're doing." His own long furred grey tail flicked up and down lazily. "Some prey will be able to see you, and often by your tail. So either you stick to areas in which your tail will be camouflaged by the colours or you just don't give them a chance to see it and keep it out of sight as best as possible." He then righted himself to his full height and then began moving, "you've learned the basis and well. Now it's time to see if you can execute it with a real target. For this first hunt, if you catch something you'll get to pick your own prey off the food pile.. Instead of having Shaded or I force you to eat something... Which could maybe be some starling of some sort which is preferably tasty but not the easiest to get used to." With that he stalked away, his tail low but not touching the leaf floor.

[Shadowsight]

Shadowsight lept on the mouse. Triumph shining in her eyes as she picked it up in her mouth. She unearthed the rest of her catch and padded to a small clearing where she then caught a squirrel. She padded back to camp.