[Silver]

Warrior Apprentice of TreeClan

Everything here was a dull grey now. Trees that had once been abundant were now nothing more than piles of ash. Some remained, blackened and dead, and Ravenpaw knew it would be hard to find prey here. She also knew, however, that fire tended to bring new life with it as things settled. It had been a few weeks since the fire raged in these lands, and already she could see the tiny sprigs of green here and there as life, inevitably, found a way. Despite the dull grey landscape, however, Ravenpaw felt nothing but elation at being out so far into her home territory.

She wanted to bring some prey she'd caught back to camp and show everyone that she was a talented hunter even without stupid Honeysong to be there attempting to teach her. The she-cat...she tried to hard to pretend like she understood anything Ravenpaw was going through, it only made her look foolish. And in the end, Ravenpaw had been the one to be the bigger cat about their situation and move passed it because the older she-cat had been nothing but exhausted and upset; refusing to acknowledge her own weakness.

It was stupid, and it still annoyed her that Honeysong had come to see her even though she'd been so tired. Honestly, did the entire clan think she was such an unreasonable cat that she wouldn't have understood if her would-be Mentor had told her she was still too exhausted from the greencough incident to come meet with her? That was ridiculous! Letting out a low hiss of agitation, Ravenpaw forced her mind onto other subjects. Despite the lingering smell of wood-smoke she also had scented something living nearby and was determined to catch it. 

It was likely just a mouse or shrew that had wandered too far away from its burrow but that was their loss and her gain. The lack of trees meant she stood out a bit against the grey of the world around her, but the lingering smell of smoke and ash also hid her scent from her prey. Slowly she shifted into a crouched position and held perfectly still, waiting. She waited for a long while; several minutes at least, until finally she caught movement and without any hesitation jumped and pinned her unsuspecting prey before it could so much as squeak an alarm.

Pleased with herself despite the small offering, she picked up the mouse in her jaws and turned back towards camp; tail held high and proud of herself. Who needed a silly bubble-headed Mentor when she could figure things out for herself? Hah!

I know I'd better stop trying - You know that there's no denying - I won't show mercy on you now

Tags | Fawn

[Fawn]

55 Moons, Warrior of TreeClan

The damaged forest brought Zephyrfang back to his loner days. He didn't live in the past, not usually, but the scent of scorched earth and the ashen debris stirred up with every step was too hard for even him to ignore. Tawny-pelted and large, it was a surprise to most that he could maneuver so stealthily, but most didn't know about Shatani. His mother had been a few more evil plans short of evil, a matriarch with a blood-feud against NightClan and every intention of using him as a means to dispose of her enemies.

That he had been trained for stealth, brutality and remorselessness, was not so surprising after all.

Following the lithesome shape into the wounded woods, Zephyrfang witnessed Ravenpaw's successful catch. He could give credit when it was deserved; she could hunt decently, despite any setbacks caused by the incompatible mentor and apprentice pairing before now. Zephyrfang didn't care for gossip. He didn't care for most things, actually. Family was all that mattered, and by the grace of Silentsong's compassion and loyalty to her Clan, that extended to TreeClan as well.

Sort of.

Treating her raised tail like a welcome gesture, Zephyrfang walked over with the kind of fluid, easy gait of a cat who hardly ever knew danger - but could handle it should something decide to pick a fight with him. "Once is luck, twice is skill. Catch another one, Ravenpaw." While observing the apprentice, Zephyrfang had kept tabs on his surroundings. Specifically, on the sound of a vole snuffling for grubs under a fallen, soot-stained log nearby. He'd catch it if she would rather bring her kill back to camp - but Zephyrfang wasn't much impressed with laziness.

Not when he had a mate and kits that needed fresh prey. Oh, and a Clan too.

Word Count: 297 Words Tags: Silver Notes:

[Silver]

Warrior Apprentice of TreeClan

Ravenpaw held perfectly still at the scent of another cat approaching her. She turned and spotted Zephyrfang, and flicked her tail to show she acknowledged his presence. She tilted her head to the side at his words and shrugged. So it looked like she had gotten a new Mentor after all. She supposed anything was an improvement over Honeysong. Stretching she scanned her area carefully before putting down the kill she'd just made and shifting down back into her hunting crouch.

She could hear things moving around in the hush around her, and for a moment she didn't move a muscle as she listened. She could hear another mouse nearby, but something larger caught her attention. She scented vole and in one fluid movement she went from complete stillness to motion and without letting her prey alert those around it, she soon had her second kill down for the count. She couldn't help but be proud of herself as she trotted back to Zephyrfang with her newest catch. 

It was silly, she knew, to be so prideful about catching a silly vole and skinny mouse, but she wanted to be a good Warrior for the clan and proving herself meant much to her; even if she didn't show it. She put the vole down next to the mouse and turned inquisitive orange eyes on the strange tom that was now apparently teaching her. She liked that he was a tom of few words and he seemed straight to the point. It was a vast improvement over Honeysong.

It made her excited to see what else he'd challenge her with, and her words showed that excitement that only the very young seemed to show. It was a weakness, she knew, but she didn't care to let him hear her being so excited like any other young Apprentice. "There's your second kill. It's not just luck, so then, what's next?"

I know I'd better stop trying - You know that there's no denying - I won't show mercy on you now

Tags | Fawn

[Fawn]

55 Moons, Warrior of TreeClan

Zephyrfang's tawny face showed a satisfied smirk. "Good, you've got some skill after all. Now we go hunt somewhere a little more challenging." Most TreeClan cats didn't hunt in the mountains. Not enough cover. Zephyrfang didn't tie his safety into his environment; while a lot of their Clanmates felt secure surrounded by trees, Zephyrfang felt secure wherever he set paw.

The remnants of a loner's lifestyle, probably. Zephyrfang had roamed far and wide throughout the valley, unafraid of these so-called borders. Unafraid of the world at large.

He took the lead with an easy striding gait, comfortable in these surroundings despite the damage of the forest. But burnt grass gave way to short mountainous vegetation, and his movements slowed to compensate for the slopes and hills. He had a hunch that plenty of the mice and hare that had survived the fire had gone to higher ground. The frequency of birds of prey in the area was confirming Zephyrfang's suspicions.

"No trees. No tall grasses. No shadows and roots to hide in." Zephyrfang flicked his tail, signalling that they were to stop now that they had reached a small rocky outcropping. There was the stale scent of mouse, but he accepted it as a good starting point. "Strange place for a forest cat. But we're not leaving empty-pawed. Tell me what you smell. Tell me what you see." In his opinion, apprentices and warriors got a little too comfortable in their own forest.

It was better to branch out, try a new place.

Word Count: 230 Words Tags: Silver Notes:

[Silver]

Ravenpaw was proud of herself for proving what she could do and so was willing to follow as her new Mentor seemed to want to lead her. She was curious as they moved far from the normal paths walked by the clan and into more dangerous territory. A thrill of delight coursed through her at this unexpected change and she moved on silent paws after him; coming to a stop beside him when asked. She held perfectly still and scented the air around her, completely at ease even in these new surroundings. She was with a capable Warrior and he wasn't worried, so why should she be? Making herself focus, she scented the area and concentrated. The smell of smoke yet lingered in the air but there was more than that.

Her voice was quiet and thoughtful as she spoke, most of her focus on what she was doing. "There is still the scent of smoke in the air from the fires. Also ash and a sort of heavy scent of burnt wood. But there's more than that, there's the scent of mice and rabbits underneath the smoke smell. They probably ran upwind during the fire to save themselves. Hardly any cover here but the small cracks and crevices would provide some cover for them I'd imagine. Especially from birds." She turned her orange gaze sideways to glance at her Mentor; curious to see what he thought of her assessment of her surroundings. He was a curious one, was Zephyrfang.

--

Tags | Fawn

[Fawn]

58 Moons, Warrior of TreeClan

It was a good assessment, and Zephyrfang's tail twitched in overall agreement. With a burgeoning glint in his amber eyes, the former loner glanced skyward, taking in the sweeping clouds and the bright blue surrounding it. It wasn't hard to make out black, winged shapes riding the currents above. "There's only so many places to hide. I'd bet my tail some of those hawks and eagles have gotten fat from the escaping prey. They might be bold enough to try something a little bigger." Zephyrfang didn't have much experience with birds. However, he'd seen an eagle harry a young, apprentice-aged loner. The cat had been forced to run pell-mell as if its tail had been lit on fire.

Zephyrfang had thought it funny at the time. In hindsight... He probably could've lent a paw. But that wasn't his way, or the smartest choice for a cat on their own to make.

"We're going to be flushing rabbits," Zephyrfang turned to the she-cat, decisive and finding it easy to take charge. Others fretted over being mentors as if apprentices so fragile, they'd break like robin's eggs. Zephyrfang believed differently. In fact, the harder they were trained, the stronger they would be; was that a stilted view thanks to his unorthodox, often unforgiving upbringing?

Probably.

But it had worked. He was still here, wasn't he?

Back on task, Zephyrfang began a slow but investigative pace, his ears twitching at the distant sounds though he was obviously engaging his sense of smell the most. It was turning out to be a boon that they went through the damaged clearing first; now they smelled like soot, and smoke.

The rabbits were in for a rough morning.

Zephyrfang gestured with his tail for Ravenpaw to slink up beside him, the tabby warrior having located his prey. "Chase the rabbits downhill. It'll confuse them as the smoke gets thicker." And that would make it easier for him to pounce.

Word Count: 322 Words Tags: Silver Notes: