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Post by Fate Admin on Jun 18, 2009 14:39:31 GMT -5
Maverick purred reassuringly, "It was the same for me when I first came here. I knew little about the Clans, though we have stories of their ancestors helping us in times past. The Tribe of Rushing Water... they have their own ancestors... the Tribe of Endless hunting. While the Clans have a leader, a deputy, and a medicine cat, the Tribe has but one Healer to do every job." His tail twitched in annoyance as he thought about it. It was too much power for one cat to hold... and yet no one in the Tribe questioned it! His eyes narrowed and his ears flattened against his head as he thought more on the subject.
"Well...," Aurora picked up since Maverick seemed to be stuck in bad memories, "I do not know very much about the Clans, though Misty has answered most of the questions I've asked her...." Her ear twitched, she hadn't seen Misty about today, perhaps she had gone off hunting, "I'll be sure to introduce you to Misty later. She's the one helping Maverick keep MountainClan going. She used to be a Clan cat... I can't remember from which Clan. But she was treated unfarily so she left. If you wish to now more about Clan life you should talk to her later."
Maverick seemed to come back at the mention of Misty, "She's a good cat, and I'm glad for her help. She helps me to see all the ways the Clans go wrong so I can do something different in MountainClan. And I know all the ways the Tribe has gone wrong, so... I'm just trying to make a good place for cats to live among each other and help each other and still be free to do as they wish and live their lives how they want to live them. The only thing I ask of my cats is that when they hunt, they try to bring a little extra back for those who have a harder time hunting for themselves and that while in camp, they do not fight. Other than that... every cat can do as they please. They can leave for a moon and still come back and be welcome." He twitched his ear dismissively. "They... most of them... do look to me as their leader. If that is what they want in me then that's what I'll be, but I will never order any cat to do anything." He spoke firmly on this point. Cats generally left places like the Tribe and the Clans because they were sick of being ordered around. He wanted MountainClan to be different.
Aurora sighed, returning to Raven's question about the Tribe, "The Tribe... it is broken. Our healer decided everything for us and no one ever questioned him. When we were just kits, he decided our futures as either a cave-guard or a prey-hunter, we had no choice-" she cut off, realizing he probably didn't know what either of those things were, "A prey-hunter is... fairly self explanatory, they hunt, while cave-guards protect them when they go out and stand gaurd at the cave to make sure all is safe. But... that's why Maverick left... he wished to be a prey-hunter, like me... but Stoneteller gave him the destiny of cave-gaurd. Then everyone treated me unfairly because I was the sister of the cat who spoke against our Healer... so I left as well... and searched for him. I tried to live on in the Tribe, but... I just... maybe if Maverick had been there to hep me through their scorn, I could have stayed but... I had no one.... Even my own mother and father were afraid to speak up for me because they already had their own scorn from the Tribe.... You can not be different in the Tribe... if you do not obey the Healer you are no longer worth anything." She stared at her paws, her ears flat against her head.
Maverick nodded, "From what I've heard, it is better in the Clans, but I know Misty would never go back after how she was treated. Instead of seperated the duties of fighting and hunting, every cat does both, except for the medicine cat. They are called warriors. I know many of the warriors and they are very happy in their Clans...." He thought of his mate, Dawnpelt, and realized he need to go and visit her soon. It had been too long. She was probably worried sick, about him and about her problem with their kits coming soon. If her Clan did anything to her or their kits.... he shook his head to rouse himself from such thoughts and turned to happier ones, "I would be happy to take you out on a hunting patrol sometime, perhaps tomorrow. Aurora could come with as well... she's a far better hunter than I." His ears twitched. She was a better hunter because that was the destiny Stoneteller had given her, while he had been taught to defend. Luckily Aurora had taught him some hunting techniques when they were alone at least.
((sorry if thats kind of confusing to read! lol... kind of a jumbled up rant... ;P))
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rockheart
JUST PASSING BY
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Post by rockheart on Jun 18, 2009 17:24:16 GMT -5
(... I understood it just fine...)
Raven nodded as they informed him about the Tribe and what they knew of the Clans. "I see, I wouldn't have liked that kind of life, being told what to do at all times, either. This Healer sounds like a rotten cat, but I suppose it is better to make judgements after you have experienced something before you set your mind." Raven's ear twitched as he heard about Misty. "I would like to meet her, if you wouldn't mind letting me know when she's back." Raven smiled, peering back at Wander, "He is an entergetic pawful, isn't he?"
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Post by Fate Admin on Jun 18, 2009 19:04:58 GMT -5
Aurora purred, "Indeed he is. His name suits him well. If some cat is not watching him at all times and keeping him occupied he is bond to wander off. It has happened a couple times already, with Umber in a frenzy about it. Most cats helped us look and we found him not too far away, but... we're trying to make sure at least one cat always has their eye on him now. I would hate for him to wander off and get taken by an eagle or a hawk... or Demon...."
Maverick yawned and arched his back in a stretch, "We won't let anything happen to the little furball." He winked at his sister and bent his head to drink from the spring, "Misty has been wandering about the mountains lately, spreading the word about MountainClan when she can. She comes back every now and then.... I wish she'd come back for good already, I'm starting to miss her." He purred and sat down to groom his long fur.
"So that's where she's been? She shouldn't be out there alone...."
Maverick's ear twitched, "Well, she's an independent cat, I suggested her taking another cat with her, but I think she needs a little alone time for herself anyway...."
Aurora's ears twitched with worry, but she dropped it since there was really nothing to be said or done about it that could change it, "So, Raven, if you think you're rested enough I could begin to teach you some of the Tribe's hunting techniques."
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rockheart
JUST PASSING BY
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Post by rockheart on Jun 18, 2009 20:00:02 GMT -5
Raven stretched out, then gave her a short smile. "I'm rested enough, let's start." He started toward the camp entrance, before stopping suddenly. He gave the siblings a comical look, which he meant to convey 'I'm ready, but I have no idea where I should be heading...'
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Post by Fate Admin on Jun 18, 2009 21:45:32 GMT -5
Aurora purred and stood, padding after him, "There's a good place Maverick and I use to help the others learn all the time, this way," she flicked her tail against him as she passed and trotted in the opposite direction of the way Raven had come from.
Maverick padded out to watch them go before turning to what remained of the hawk. Someone had to stay in camp and look out for newcomers, or perhaps Misty's return. And of course some cat needed to make sure Wander was being watched. Aurora was a better hunter and a better teacher than him, so he would stay in camp.
Aurora stopped at a natural trail that had somehow been carved away into the mountain with a nice overhand above it and a couple nooks and crannies where smaller prey might hide. Even as she watched a mountain-thin mouse scurried a few paces from one hole to the next, sniffing as it went, hopeful for the smallest scrap of food.
Aurora sat, curled her tail around her paws and nodded toward it, her voice soft, "You see that mouse... it would hardly feed a single cat." She turned her gaze to the skies, "But... large birds are attracted by such prey... and large birds feed many cats, and sometimes you also get the mouse." The ouse finally wriggled its way into another crevice and disappeared. "Have you ever caught a hawk or an eagle before?" It generally took more than one cat if you wanted to bring one down without injuries, but she didn't know the extent of this loner's experience.
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rockheart
JUST PASSING BY
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Post by rockheart on Jun 18, 2009 22:31:26 GMT -5
I come from lush forests, so we never see large birds of prey. I had heard they existed, but until Maverick brought in the bird he caught, I had never seen one." Raven answered honestly. He watched the sky, his ears twitching as a bluebird flitted by. "Now, if that bluebird lands somewhere nearby, I could catch it easily..." He kept his gaze on the bird as it flew past them, then looked away. "I used to climb trees after squirrels and birdsin the forest." He realized she may not know what a squirrel was, since she lived in the mountains, he guessed, her whole life. "A squirrel is like a mouse, only it has a large fluffy tail. They are good at scrambling up trees at high speeds, too, so it's easiest to get them on the ground, but if you catch them unaware, you can get them in trees as well."
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Post by Fate Admin on Jun 18, 2009 23:42:14 GMT -5
Aurora wrinkled her nose, "Some of the rogues that stay with us hunt in Clan territory and have brought back squirrels. They are too much fur and too little meat for my taste." She stood once more and looked over at Raven, "Falcons are the easiest, they are smaller. One cat can probably take one down on their own without too much of a struggle, but its better to have two cats to do it anyway. For hawks, three is best, and for larger eagles, four cats at least. They have large claws and sharp beaks, and unlike that bluebird, they fight back and they fight back well. They are big and strong and they are hunters like us. Cats have had their eyes clawed out and paws bitten off by eagles. No matter how good the opportunity is to catch one, unless there are at least four experienced cats you must never go after one. Only Maverick and I are very experienced with hunting this way, so we have never brought back an eagle for the Clan... but they are learning, perhaps one day soon we will bring one down."
Twitching her ears as she realized she had rambled off, she continued, "You always want to come at them from behind where they can not reach you with their claws and beaks. With a falcon, you could easily end it there by sinking your claws into its head and biting the back of its neck as you would normal prey. But a hawk takes a little more work." She paused to let the basics sink in.
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rockheart
JUST PASSING BY
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Post by rockheart on Jun 19, 2009 8:18:25 GMT -5
Raven nodded, visualizing for a short bit the damage which could be done by an eagle if hunted on one's own. He shuddered, then brought himself around so he could hear what she was going to say next.
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Post by Fate Admin on Jun 19, 2009 14:17:50 GMT -5
"Often times, after one cat has jumped on the back of a hawk... the other twi will take the first opportunity to take its wings, try to get it on its belly and keep it down so that the first cat can do what they can to end it. Biting a hawk's neck is a little bit tougher, and is very hard to do when its fighting back. Usually you try to get your claws around to its throat instead.... Its a bit messy but it gets it done." She pause once more, briefly, before continuing to describe it a bit more in detail.
"Pretend that mouse came back and it was scurrying about again. We would crouch down and we would wait, perhaps for some time. All of a sudden a dark shape appears in the sky and after a short while, it would dive for the mouse. Right when it was about to grab it, we would rush forward, and the first cat who could get as close to behind it as possible would leap. As soon as they had their hold, the others would come forward and do what they could to get a hold of the wings, and once you have the wings you need to hold on very tight and stretch them as far away from the hawk's body as you can to avoid the beak and claws. Then, the weight of the cat on the hawk's back and the two cats stretching out its wings, unbalancing it, shud knock it on its belly for the kill."
She paused once more, thinking on what to do next. She supposed the only thing left was to practice techniques since there was little left she could describe, "There are a few techniques that can be used, depending on your role in the catching of a hawk, but ultimately it is on you to decide which technique to use when for the best effect. So, shall I stop chattering and we'll begin then?" She purred.
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rockheart
JUST PASSING BY
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Post by rockheart on Jun 19, 2009 19:18:57 GMT -5
Raven nodded, agreeing. The way she'd explained it had barely made sense, although he was careful not to let it show, and instead gave a polite flick of the tail to show he was ready. He watched her intently, so that when she began to demonstrate the move he could memorize the maneuver. "Ready when you are." He meowed calmly.
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Post by Fate Admin on Jun 20, 2009 0:16:41 GMT -5
"Alright, first, I'll need you to be the hawk," her eyes sparkled with amusement, "Go up on that ledge," she flicked her tail toward it, "And I'll show you just how quick of a reaction you need to have. Jump down whenever you want, but don't give me any signals. It's not quite the same but close enough for now." She crouched low to the ground, ready and waiting. She remembered how her mother had taught her this way... she had made her be the hawk. She remembered how impressed she had been by her mother's speed and how she wanted to be just like her.... Twitching her ears to get rid of thoughts of the past, she focused on the present.
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rockheart
JUST PASSING BY
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Post by rockheart on Jun 20, 2009 23:47:18 GMT -5
Raven's ear twitched in confusion. How was he supposed to learn like he usually did, through watching and memorizing, when she had him playing the prey? oh well, I can always hope that a hunting patrol I'm on gets themselves a falcon or other large bird, and I can watch them. May not be the best, but it'll do... He had been padding while he thought, and stopped an inch from the edge of the ledge. "Alright, now it's just to leap off and into the arms of chance." He muttered to himself, before waiting another couple heartbeats and leaping.
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Post by Fate Admin on Jun 21, 2009 3:27:21 GMT -5
Aurora was on her paws the moment he left the ground, leaping against the ledge he had just leapt from and onto the black loner's back just as he was landing back onto the path. She stood atop him a moment longer and purred into his ear, "From here," she shifted her front paws so that they were loosely around his neck, "You would want to get to this position as quickly as possible and tear at the hawk's throat with your claws." She stepped off him and stood waiting, "This is how all prey-hunters begin teaching their to-bes. It gives them a nice surprise and a good example of the speed this really needs to be done with. Now that that's out of the way...." She glanced around.
This was always so much easier with another cat to help.... She sighed, she had actually never taught any of the loners how to hunt hawks without Maverick's help, but then Misty had been there to look after the cats at camp while they were away... and she had never had a to-be of her own to teach due to her relationship to Maverick. She was not trusted enough. Lashing her tail in frustration, she shook her head, "I am sorry... I can not think how best to show you anything else without Maverick to help me.... Perhaps it would be best if I took you out hunting tomorrow with a couple other cats and you can see it all happen for real." Her head drooped slightly in apology, "Maverick says I am a better teacher but...," she sighed, her ears pressed against her head and her eyes closed. She had been denied much because of the unfairness of the Tribe; teaching a to-be, a mate and kits, friendship, acceptance....
Lifting her head once more, she looked up to the ledge he had lept from, "The most important thing when hunting hawks is to be a quick study, know your surroundings well enough in a glance that you can use them to your advantage in a heartbeat. Perhaps until the hunting patrol... you can practice that?" She purred, knowing it sounded a bit silly, but a couple of her fellow to-bes had been told the same thing. To be a good prey-hunter, you had to notice things, details, and notice them quickly. "Just practice really seeing... not just looking but seeing all that is around you. It will come in handy, trust me."
Pausing, she glanced around again, "I know I have not really taught you how to do much... but if you would like some action, we can reverse roles and see how you do getting behind and on top of me, getting your paws around my neck," she tilted her head questioningly, it certainly couldn't hurt, "Otherwise... I'm afraid there is not much more for me to do."
((Sorry for the godmod/powerplay thingy going on there but since its not a battle or anything I didn't think you'd mind.))
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rockheart
JUST PASSING BY
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Post by rockheart on Jun 21, 2009 10:45:20 GMT -5
"Although you did make an excellent assault, I'm afraid I'm not yet ready to practice the manuver. But I would enjoy joining you and your friends on a patrol, and perhaps by watching cats more skilled, I will learn faster." Raven smiled at Aurora, before adding "Until then, I will take your advice and study the environment. I have noticed how useful it can be to take notice of details, like escape routes and hazards, in my journey with my friend I constantly advised him about the best way to go, although he'd never admit it." His whiskers twitched in amusement. "Although a cat could say our personalities are opposite, I have seen a part of him that few cats have seen. We both learned from each other, and we trusted each other with our lives, no questions asked." Raven smiled at the memories, and spoke in a longing voice, "He's like a brother to me, and not knowing what happened to him..." he cut off, unable to put words to his feelings. He regathered himself, then gave her a short smile, commenting more cheerfully, "Although I should focus on the future, not the past. I am sorry for this."
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