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Post by Thistlespot on Mar 31, 2012 19:05:30 GMT -5
Applepaw struggled to raise herself from her sleep, it's fleeting feeling leaving her to realize she had rolled off her well-groomed patch of dried grass and onto ... well, the hard ground of the apprentice den. Getting to her feet, she licked the dirt off her black speckled fur and decided she was going to take a walk. Since she was technically no longer a kit, she didn't really need a mentor to walk with her. Stalking past the fresh-kill pile, she headed for the vast territory Thunderclan has. Sitting just a fox-tail from the camp's edge, she began to groom herself, purring in self-content.
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Post by Hawkclaw on Mar 31, 2012 19:24:52 GMT -5
Hawkclaw sat on the hard ground of the ThunderClan camp near the center of the rocky clearing. His tail curled softly around his paws, the deputy watched intently as the other cats of the clan went about their daily business around him. He had just received the report of the dawn patrol, and it seemed that everything was fine in the territory. The fresh-kill pile also seemed quite plenty, and aside from eventually organizing the dusk patrol, Hawkclaw had no pressing matters. Moving to stand on his paws, the dark brown tabby was about to stalk towards the warriors den to catch a bit of sleep when a black specked cat emerged from the apprentices den. As he watched the deputy saw the cat move towards the fresh-kill pile, but rather than take something for herself the cat continued on until she moved out of site, leaving the camp. Turning around Hawkclaw began to slowly follow, his pawsteps leading him to exit through the thorn tunnel a moment later. He quickly spotted the specked cat, and walking towards her he lifted his head, his gaze moving questioningly over the cat. ”And where do you think you’re going Applepaw. I don’t recall that you and Duskpelt have any training right now.”, he growled, coming to a stop near the apprentice as he continued to stare intently at the cat, waiting for an answer.
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Post by Thistlespot on Mar 31, 2012 19:32:34 GMT -5
Applepaw knew she probably should have just stayed on camp, but it was so boring there, and she enjoyed having a few moments for herself. Besides, the dawn patrol had come back and one of her friends were on it; there wasn't any danger in sight, and she only wanted a few minutes for herself. Applepaw's tail flicked out behind her as she groomed herself, before a voice startled her. Raising to her paws she turned and saw the Deputy of Thunderclan there. "Oh, Hawkclaw!" She mewed, slightly startled. "Great Starclan you nearly gave me a heart attack." Applepaw cast her bi-colored eyes at the deputy, before dipping her head slightly. "We don't," Applepaw admitted guilty. "I just needed to get out of the den for a while. One of the warriors on patrol said it would be fine, since there isn't any danger," She looked back at the deputy.
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Post by Hawkclaw on Mar 31, 2012 19:50:39 GMT -5
The deputy stared at Applepaw as she turned around, startled by his sudden appearance and quickly leaving her grooming to face him. Hawkclaw continued to regard the speckled apprentice, listening as the she-cat lowered her gaze partially and began to explain that she indeed did not have training, but that she wanted to get out of the apprentice’s den for a while, and that she was told there was no danger around. Any suspicion the brown tabby held was dropped immediately, but he continued his glare as the apprentice returned her gaze towards him. ”Danger could come at any moment,” he meowed harshly, ”you know that apprentice’s aren’t supposed to leave the camp without a warrior.” Sitting down, the deputy flicked his tail towards the entrance of the camp, about to order the young apprentice back to her den. It was foolish in his mind that she would want to leave the camp alone, but even as he glanced at Applepaw his glare softened and he stopped himself. He had nothing else to do for the rest of the day, and turning his head back towards the entrance to camp he saw that as far as he could see everything was fine inside. Pulling himself to his paws, the deputy walked slightly past the apprentice, tilting his head back to gaze at her. ”If you plan on being so mouse-brained then we may as well take this day to do some training after all, so maybe one day you could become a warrior yourself.” Returning his attention before him the deputy began to move, his pawsteps slow but continuous. Though his words may have sounded harsh, his voice had been softer, and as he walked he tilted his ears back, expecting Applepaw to follow.
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Post by Thistlespot on Mar 31, 2012 20:02:51 GMT -5
'Danger could come at any moment,' Duskpelt used that line once or twice before, the she-cat could remember. Feeling foolish, she lowered her gaze again, her long tail wrapping around her paws. As long as the deputy didn't tell Duskpelt - which Applepaw wasn't betting on - she would be fine. But the foolish feeling left, replaced with slight annoyance. As headstrong as she usually was, Applepaw refused to let this effect her in future training. "Yes, I know." She answered cautiously to his scolding. Applepaw wasn't one to let scolding take any effect on her, if only to just propel her further into her training or whatever it was she was doing. She saw his tail flick, and almost instantly she wondered if she was being sent back to camp. But, he stood and walked past her. Following the deputy's body with her eyes, she lifted her head when he said that they might as well train. Slight excitement came to her eyes and she stood. "I'm not mouse-brained," She purred under her breath, but followed the Deputy. "Will you tell Duskpelt that you helped to train me today?" She meowed, catching up to her clan's deputy, walking beside him.
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Post by Hawkclaw on Mar 31, 2012 20:23:00 GMT -5
To his satisfaction the brown tabby soon heard the footsteps of the apprentice behind him, as the she-cat quickly caught up. Not moving his gaze, the deputy continued to walk forward, increasing his pace slightly now that Applepaw was in stride with him. He listened as the young apprentice asked where he would be telling her mentor that he had helped her training today. Hawkclaw paused for a moment, knowing that he would indeed tell Duskpelt what he thought of his apprentice’s progress after today. The question was, would Applepaw give him reason to congratulate or scold the warrior? Tilting his head slightly the deputy peered at the she-cat. ”Duskpelt will know all about your actions today,” leaving it at that as he shifted his eyes ahead. Whether he would tell the warrior that his apprentice tried to sneak out of camp would be up to Applepaw and her performance, but for now the deputy would allow her to think what she wanted about his words. He padded forward for several moments in silence, shaking his pelt slightly as a frigid breeze blew through the forest. Leaf-bare was on them in full force, and they would need all the warriors they could get to make sure they survived without harm. And apprentices like Applepaw would soon be helping do just that. Coming to a stop on the cold ground, Hawkclaw turned to face the apprentice. ”Prey is hardest to find during Leaf-bare, and we will need everything we can get, he meowed, motioning around him with his tail, ”can you smell any prey around us?” Opening his own mouth slightly the deputy scented the crisp air, and noticed the faint yet unmistakable scent of a vole somewhere nearby, likely hidden in its underground burrow from the cold. Turning an expectant eye towards the apprentice in front of him, Hawkclaw waited for the she-cat and to see whether she would start off on a good paw or not.
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Post by Thistlespot on Mar 31, 2012 20:37:13 GMT -5
Applepaw followed in silence, her mind pacing back and forth. Would Duskpelt be surprised, not surprised? Applepaw had never been as bold as to actually do what she had done today, but if there had been any more of a boring day than today, the she-cat would have left the den danger or no danger. 'Maybe not', Applepaw corrected herself, as she kept up with the Deputy's pawsteps easily. When he mentioned that Duskpelt would be told of her actions, she almost paused in her steps, but she didn't; not letting herself be cowed, she continued as if the statement hadn't effected her. Naturally a graceful cat, this leaf-bare had been personally tough; ice had never been her friend, and the she-cat would always prefer Greenleaf to Leafbare. She was caught up in her thoughts she nearly crashed into Hawkclaw. Good thing she had enough sense about her. Standing with ears perked and alert, Applepaw watched Hawkclaw carefully. Hunting? Here? She had hunted only twice before with Duskpelt, and the snow had not been as deep as it was here. Tail flicking behind her, she turned her head to the west, sniffing. Her nose could barely pick anything up, the drifting snow making scents difficult to trace. "There's always something around," She meowed, "but finding it is the trick.' Applepaw daintly moved half a fox-tail from the deputy when the extremely faint trace of vole hit her. "There's something over there," She nodded her head in the direction of where the scent of vole was coming from.
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Post by Hawkclaw on Mar 31, 2012 21:17:48 GMT -5
Hawkclaw watched as the apprentice stopped, pausing for a moment in the snow before tilting her head and beginning to scent the air. He knew the snow falling softly from the sky and the already rather high amount on the ground would make any scent, even to him, hard to find, and the occasional frigid blast of air didn’t help either. But the clan would have to eat during the season of leaf-bare as well, and so the apprentice would have to learn how to hunt given such conditions if she was to one day become a warrior and provide fresh-kill for her fellow clan mates. He listened as Applepaw softly meowed that there was always something around, nodding slightly at her determination, watching as the young she-cat cautiously moved away from him. A moment later she called back, saying that she had found something, and motioning in front of her. Shaking the flakes of snow from his dark fur, the deputy pulled himself through the cold snow until he stood next to the apprentice, sniffing in the direction Applepaw was pointing. Purring softly with approval despite the disapproving attitude he held but a few heartbeats ago, Hawkclaw indeed picked up the scent of vole again, coming from the direction in which the apprentice was pointing. Turning towards the speckled cat the deputy flicked his tail in the direction of the scent. ”Very good. Anywhere in the forest at anytime you may need to find prey, and it’s important to be able to detect it even in such weather.” The apprentice had already proven herself capable of scenting prey, even in the snow, but Hawkclaw was not about to let her off so easily. ”But finding prey is only half the work, he growled, his tone again hardening slightly, ”I’m sure the elders wouldn’t mind a nice piece of fresh-kill for when you return.” Ready to spring after Applepaw for when she would, at least hopefully, go after the vole, the deputy couldn’t help but glance at the apprentice for a moment more, his eyes gleaming slightly, before turning to look into the snow filled forest. Perhaps this wouldn’t be a waste of his time after all.
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Post by Thistlespot on Apr 1, 2012 10:59:36 GMT -5
Aah, fox dung. The she-cat had hoped the deputy would look past the hunting part, but no luck. Hawkclaw had to bring up the hunting. Instead of shying away from it, Applepaw's fur bristled slightly. She wasn't the strongest of hunters, her lengthy legs tripping her once in a while, and she fumbled with the prey. But, he wanted her to hunt, so be it. "Fine." Was her mewed reply. The elders were cats that the she-cat ... well, she didn't like to be around them; but since they were elders she wasn't really allowed to say a bad thing about them. She thought they were old and grouchy most of the time, and preferred the company of other elders over kits and warriors. They reminded her of a big group of Cindertooth's. The apprentice began her trek towards the vole scent, keeping her body low should she have to lunge to get it. As she walked the scent was getting slightly stronger, until she paused over what she hoped was the vole-hole. Beginning to dig slightly, Applepaw kept her weight on her back legs should she have to spring to catch it. "So, Hawkclaw. How am I doing?" Applepaw meowed.
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Post by Hawkclaw on Apr 1, 2012 18:11:58 GMT -5
Hawkclaw turned to regard the apprentice when she agreed to go hunt the vole, narrowing his eyes slightly when his ears caught her tone. It was not harsh, but the deputy could get a faint sense of annoyance at his request, and looking closer, he figured the bristling fur wasn’t at all about the cold. He did not say anything however, but merely continued his hard stare as the she-cat stood and began to slowly move forward towards the scent of the prey. The brown tabby respected a motivated and independent cat; qualities like these were only a few of what made ThunderClan great. But it brought some measure of, well, disapproval, that the apprentice almost seemed like she wanted to decline his suggestion that she take some prey to the elders. The deputy had once been an apprentice, and knew well that the daily chore of taking care of the elders was taxing at best, if not grimaced upon, by the to-be-warriors, but that did not mean they could disregard such a vital function in the clan. Shaking his head slowly, Hawkclaw began to follow Applepaw, keeping enough distance to stay out of her way, but close enough that he could observe her hunting. He begrudgingly noticed that her hunting stance and crawl were fine, though a little unbalanced, but not dreadful. He soon caught up with the speckled cat as Applepaw began to shovel snow and frigid dirt away with her paws. Lowering his nose, Hawkclaw smelled the clear scent of vole, and soon spotted the small hole in between the she-cats moving paws. He watched the apprentice for a moment, lifting his eyes to her when she asked how she was doing. ”Your form is a little off, but I’ve seen apprentices that stalk like three-legged badgers become great hunters,” he meowed, sitting down and curling his tail across his paws, ”with some work you might be catching squirrels by newleaf. But when hunting you should always-” Just then the sound of small, rapidly scuffling steps reached the deputy’s ears, as a small vole darted from its hole. ”-concentrate!”, he hissed sharply, following the prey with his eyes as he sprang to his paws. It wasn’t far, and the tom guessed if Applepaw was quick enough she could still manage to catch the half-starved prey. But was she?
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Post by Thistlespot on Apr 2, 2012 14:12:42 GMT -5
Applepaw continued to dig, her deputy's words distracting her slightly. Coming from a small family in Thunderclan whom had only spoken good things about her, as well as being groomed to become a Warrior by a cat whom never had a bad thing to say to her, Applepaw was beginning to regret leaving the camp with the Deputy. Her form was off? Duskpelt told her she was doing a fine job! Then again, Hawkclaw probably had mentored far more cats than Duskpelt, and with a slight sigh she made the note in the back of her head. 'Unbalanced my hide,' The she-cat thought before the vole darted out of it's hole. Startled she nearly tripped over herself, her tail sticking straight up as it darted away. "How in Silverp-" Applepaw didn't give herself time to complain though, realizing that the Deputy was still there. Launching herself after the vole, the apprentice prayed that she wouldn't trip. Coming within a kitstep of the vole, Applepaw stretched one paw out further than the other and her claws snagged the vole's fur. "Gotch-" She fumbled; the vole wiggled from her grasp and darted out. Hissing she launched after it again, only to land on the vole, both paws holding it down. Triumphant, although embarrassed, Applepaw sunk a claw into it's neck.
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Post by Hawkclaw on Apr 2, 2012 18:14:12 GMT -5
The deputy had half a mind to chase after the vole himself as he watched its hasty retreat through the snow, but only placed half a paw forward before he stopped himself. The clan needed prey, but the whole reason he was out here was to test Applepaw’s abilities, and it wouldn’t do well if he ended up doing all the work. Turning his head rapidly around the brown tabby faced the apprentice, who seemed to fumble slightly in surprise at the voles sudden appearance, but before he could even so much as yell for the she-cat to move she sprang after the prey, a cloud of snow the only thing left behind. Hawkclaw came quickly behind, jumping from where he stood as he followed after the apprentice, his large paws sinking into the frigid snow as he moved over the forest ground. From the rapidness of the entire situation as well as the heavily falling snow, the tom couldn’t tell whether Applepaw had successfully caught the creature or not, and already as he moved after her he muttered a string of grumblings as he watched the speckled cats tail disappear into the white covered forest. Several tail-lengths away, the deputy saw the apprentice grab for the vole as it scurried away, and for a moment his eyes shined in triumph as claws met prey. But then he stopped quickly in his tracks, his paws kicking up powder as he stared dumbfounded at the she-cat as the vole wriggled free from her grasp, once again darting away.
Applepaw, to her credit, reacted quickly however and leapt after the vole, catching it once more and this time quickly finishing the hunt with her claws. Shaking the look from his face, Hawkclaw rose slowly to his paws and made his way over to the apprentice, stopping a few pawsteps away from the she-cat. He watched Applepaw for several moments, keeping quiet as he did so. It was true the chase was less than perfect, but as many times as his tail twitched in annoyance at the apprentice’s fumbling performance, the cats determination was strong, having almost lost the vole twice yet still being able to catch it in the end, which was most important. Fresh-kill was fresh-kill, regardless of how many stumbles it took to get it. His tail swishing from side to side to hide his slight disapproval, Hawkclaw began to lick the snow off his right paw, meowing in between licks. ”If you’re done gloating over that scrap of fur then maybe we can move on.” Lowering his paw the deputy made no mention of the apprentice’s chase, though he gave the she-cat a hard glare to let her know he had noted her performance. He then moved away slightly, pausing to wait for Applepaw to catch up.
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Post by Thistlespot on Apr 4, 2012 9:52:54 GMT -5
Catching the vole hadn't been easy, and she had fumbled, but in the end she did catch it; that was what mattered, right? Applepaw was proud of herself that she had caught the slippery thing, and killed it without flinching. An elder would enjoy this treat, whether she wanted to deliver it or not. Tail swishing happily behind her, the speckled she-cat picked up the dead vole by the tail and turned her head slightly, only to hear the Deputy's voice. His tone and words were almost pride-shattering. What? Really? Disappointed that she hadn't really impressed him, Applepaw returned the hard glare he had given her, to his back and followed him. The speckled she-cat wasn't going to sink though.
Following him, she picked up her pace to walk beside him. "What did I do wrong, Hawkclaw?" Applepaw mewled around the tail of the vole. "Anything I could fix?" Her tone was slightly angry. She was allowed to be angry! The she-cat had caught the vole, even though it slipped from her claws. At the very least he could have told her she had done an alright job. 'Injustice,' thought the she-cat. Keeping her pace she waited for an answer from the Deputy of Thunderclan.
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Post by Hawkclaw on Apr 5, 2012 18:17:04 GMT -5
When he noticed that Applepaw had begun to walk towards him, the deputy turned around and began moving deeper into the snow filled forest, slowly at first to allow the speckled she-cat to fully catch up. When their strides were matched Hawkclaw glanced at the apprentice, remaining quite as he listened to Applepaw ask him what she had done wrong, and what she could work on improving. Though the she-cat spoke through the vole’s tail, the prey dangling and rocking slightly as the apprentice moved, the brown tabby could hear a slight tone of anger in her voice, barely noticeable but there. It was true Hawkclaw had likely been rougher than needed; Applepaw had after all caught the vole, a fact that would have been the same even if she had made a flawless hunt. That didn’t mean the deputy was about to shower praise on the young she-cat however, she wouldn’t learn how to be a proper warrior if she expected Hawkclaw to congratulate her after nearly losing a half-starved vole.
Still, the tom’s next words sounded kinder, though still rough. ”You didn’t expect the vole to run out, prey isn’t going to throw itself at yours paws and you need to be ready for anything it might do to escape.” he grunted, his eyes moving to scan the white horizon of the forest as he walked, ”Just pay more attention next time. Concentrate, you still have a lot to learn before you’re a warrior, and it isn’t going to get any easier.” Pausing in his steps, Hawkclaw turned on his paws and faced the apprentice, his tail swishing through the air softly as the snow fell around them. ”But you caught the vole, and many cats I know would have given up and let it escape after as big a mess up as you had,” the brown tabby purred, ”and such determination to succeed you should be proud of.” Moving his paws once again the deputy continued on. Applepaw still had a long way to go before she would earn her place among ThunderClan’s warriors, but regardless of her skill or thoughts, if the she-cat held the determination the deputy saw, regardless of cause or reason, she would one day earn her place in the clan. Flicking his tail in amusement, Hawkclaw now simply wondered how many scolding’s and lessons it would take to eventually get there with Applepaw.
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