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Post by Fawn on Oct 1, 2017 17:18:30 GMT -5
Frozenrain73 Moons // Warrior-Queen // StoneClanThe sky springs had not begun to chill quite yet. Frozenrain and her apprentice, Sorrelpaw were making as much use of them as they could before the cool seasons robbed them of this chance. Frozenrain laid down on the bank, watching, a kind of protective maternal presence as she had the younger cat performing a few laps through the deeper pools.
It would put the least amount of strain on her leg, with little chance of agitating the scar tissue. Frozenrain couldn't take full credit for this training idea; conferring with both Dawnblossom, Sandpaw, and a handful of senior warriors (and the elder, Fallenleaf), their advice had culminated into the training exercise currently going on. Frozenrain's gaze, as blue as the waters Sorrelpaw swam through, watched for signs of fatigue or pain.
When the dragonflies began to hum over the pools, and her pelt had sufficiently warmed with bright rays of sunhigh, Frozenrain signaled for Sorrelpaw to get out. "Well done," Frozenrain stood, and the Clan matriarch elegantly stretched, coaxing her tightened muscles to relax. Fluidity of movement restored, Frozenrain straightened. "That is, more than likely, our last opportunity to swim. Fortunately, I do not think you need to do that exercise any more. We can move on to hunting again."
It had been a semi-long healing process. Frozenrain was confident that Sorrelpaw would not need too many remedial lessons. Cats simply didn't forget how to hunt. It was in their natures. It was a part of what made them who they were. Sorrelpaw had done just fine before the injury. "Tell me if you feel weary or sore, Sorrelpaw. It's important that we heed Dawnblossom's instructions." Frozenrain's pale features were soft, and there was the same tone of calm order that she used on her own kits.
Let me know if I need to change anything! |
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| thanks for the two years <3 |
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INVENTORY
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Post by williams on Oct 2, 2017 12:31:39 GMT -5
Sorrelpaw felt like a Rainclan cat. She didn't even know she could swim till her mentor had come up to her one day with a suggestion for keeping her strength up. It worked, thankfully, after a couple false starts and embarrassing sputters if she missed a stroke and knocked her face into the water. Now as the water chilled, the apprentice was swimming with ease. The water wasn't the best thing to swim in, but it forced Sorrelpaw to work harder to keep her temperature up. As she swam, her focused dialed into the motions, feeling the stretch and contracting muscles move beneath the waves she caused. Each stroke had to be precise in her mind, something she could hold onto while ignoring how the water tingled against her skin.
"Well done," the call brought Sorrelpaw out of her mind, a flick of her mentor's tail appearing in her vision. Sorrelpaw swam towards the edge, getting out as Frozenrain continued. "That is, more than likely, our last opportunity to swim. Fortunately, I do not think you need to do that exercise any more. We can move on to hunting again." She nodded, giving her pelt a short shake to avoid splashing the older she-cat. Then, she stared up, eyes wide and a smile appearing. "I can hunt again?" Sorrelpaw asked, knowing she was repeating her mentor's words but wanting the confirmation nonetheless. Her eyes glowed with excitement, shoulders shifting with energy. I get to hunt!
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Post by Fawn on Oct 4, 2017 17:29:11 GMT -5
Frozenrain73 Moons // Warrior-Queen // StoneClanSorrelpaw's enthusiasm was rewarded with an affectionate smile. "Yes. We will start with mice and other ground prey. No birds until you're further along in the healing process." It would break both Sorrelpaw's resolve and her own heart to see the apprentice set further back by a reinjury. Frozenrain beckoned the brown she-cat after her, trusting the sun and wind to help Sorrelpaw dry in due time. "This will require concentration on your footwork. I'm sure you remember how sensitive mice are to vibrations in the ground."
Even before Sorrelpaw's injury, Frozenrain had kept an eye on the tabby she-cat's progress. Hunting had been difficult for her, but pure diligence and the invaluable support of Sorrelpaw's father, Brackenclaw, had turned Sorrelpaw's ineptitude into capability. Because of the first struggle, Frozenrain was mindful that this hunting lesson, if it did not go well, could chip away at Sorrelpaw's self-confidence if they weren't careful.
I will find a balance between pushing her and praising her. Frozenrain was well into her 74th moon, but she had only had two apprentices prior; Badgerfang, who had fallen in the StormClan battle, and Ashpaw - who had succumbed to a fox before he could even earn his warrior name. Badgerfang had been alive what seemed like a lifetime ago; she'd been a different cat then.
Frozenrain scented the air, easing into a lighter, readied kind of movement that would allow her quick reflexes to take over should she spot something. Even though she did not have the mentoring prowess cats like Eagletalon did, Frozenrain did have one advantage; she was a parent. And as a parent, encouraging growth, sharing knowledge and providing emotional support were just some of the things she could give to Sorrelpaw. They would be fine. As long as Frozenrain's perfectionist tendencies did not get in the way. |
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| thanks for the two years <3 |
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INVENTORY
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Post by williams on Oct 19, 2017 13:52:06 GMT -5
Yes! It took all of Sorrelpaw's effort to not leap with joy. One more step towards becoming a full time apprentice again. The apprentice listened intently to her mentor's words. Hunting, as the pair knew, was not her strong suit. She could not keep her paws silent for the right prey, or would leap at the wrong prey with the wrong move. The techniques got scattered in her head. But, Sorrelpaw felt her mentor's support, quiet and motherly. No birds? Sorrelpaw thought, tasting the air. I can do that. Concentrate on your footwork Frozenrain said, and the forest dialed in with each breath she took. If she treated it like a battle, the energy was easier to gather.
Something caught her nose, unrecognizable in her excitement of being able to crouch without pain. Sorrelpaw crept forward, repeating Frozenrain's warning. quiet paws, quiet paws, quiet paws. Her mantra petered out as she spotted a mouse, chewing through some undergrowth completely unsuspecting. She leaped, too high but on the mark, her back brushing against the bush and causing a clatter. She landed a hair too late, mouse squeaking back into it's hole.
"Mouse dung." Sorrelpaw cursed, backing up to free herself from the undergrowth. She turned towards Frozenrain, frustration boiling but unwilling to let it win. "What did I do wrong?"
222 | Fawn | so sorry for the delay <3 |
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Post by Fawn on Oct 22, 2017 17:06:22 GMT -5
Frozenrain73 Moons // Warrior-Queen // StoneClan"Your enthusiasm got the best of you, Sorrelpaw." Frozenrain's expression was not one of disappointment or frustration, the experienced queen, allowing this beginner's mistake. It must have been excruciating to be trapped in the medicine cat's den for so long. Frozenrain hadn't expected her to catch something on her first time out. "Be more mindful of your surroundings and you won't make those kinds of errors in the future."
Frozenrain's tail gently brushed the she-cat's flank as she passed her by, stepping delicately through the undergrowth to select something. Her whiskers tickled the surface of a scuffed up rock - easy to identify - and drew it closer to the edge of the surrounding scrub and brush. "I want you to practice on this. Yes, I know it's a beginner's technique, but it never hurts us to refresh our knowledge of the basics."
"Imagine this rock is the mouse; I want you to figure out how to pounce without rustling the leaves or giving away your position otherwise. Your aim was good," Frozenrain purred. "Do not get discouraged." We have time.
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| thanks for the two years <3 |
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INVENTORY
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Post by williams on Oct 24, 2017 12:54:42 GMT -5
The tabby apprentice listened intently, all her focus on drinking in her mentor's words. It was hard to not be enthusiastic, she thought bitterly, but let Frozenrain's kind gesture and suggestions keep her afloat. They only just started, Sorrelpaw chided herself. Shifting out of the way as the warrior sniffed through the undergrowth, Sorrelpaw's ears flicked with interest. What was she doing? Then a rock was found and brought into the open, and she understood.
"I want you to practice on this. Yes, I know it's a beginner's technique, but it never hurts us to refresh our knowledge of the basics." The apprentice nodded, she felt like a beginner again. It wasn't easy for one to suddenly be good again after an injury. "Imagine this rock is the mouse; I want you to figure out how to pounce without rustling the leaves or giving away your position otherwise. Your aim was good," Sorrelpaw breathed a thank you at the compliment. She felt very honored to have Frozenrain as her mentor. The older she-cat was gentle, yet strong enough to bring even her mate, the great Hawkstar, down to a cower. "Do not get discouraged." came Frozenrain's last piece of adivce.
Sorrelpaw dropped into her crouch, waddling sideways to find the best angle on the rock. Her paws felt lighter now that she had tried once. They skimmed over the leaves, rustling them only as the wind would. Then, before she reached the pile of sticks, Sorrelpaw leaped. Her aim, as before was accurate. Her claws skipped off the rock, turning into a cage to hold the rock down. Her tail wagged with joy at her success. Before getting a response, she wanted to try again. Getting repetition in was what had helped her before, and it was going to help her now. Bounding away from the rock, Sorrelpaw settled back into her stance, creeping up on the rock, again and again. Not every leap was quiet, and she glared at the soil beneath her to find its secrets. On her fourth and successful hit, she stopped and turned her amber eyes to Frozenrain, expectant. Was she doing better?
366 | Fawn | tiny time lapse |
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Post by Fawn on Nov 3, 2017 7:56:55 GMT -5
Frozenrain73 Moons // Warrior-Queen // StoneClanSorrelpaw was mature enough to realize the importance of repetition. Frozenrain looked on with approval, recalling the lessons she herself had learned what felt like a lifetime ago. "You are improving. As you finish recovering from your injury, I believe your steps will get a little lighter. You may take a small break, then we'll try real prey again."
Frozenrain knew how importance it was to end training sessions on a high note. However, Sorrelpaw wasn't fresh out of the nursery and could handle the outcome of this last hunting excursion, regardless of success or failure. Sorrelpaw had improved, and improvement was sometimes almost more valuable than success, in Frozenrain's eyes.
It represented dedication and preserverence; any success Sorrelpaw achieved later would be won through hard work and delligence. Would this try Sorrelpaw's patience? Quite likely. Frozenrain, after Sorrelpaw's rest had concluded, beckoned the she-cat beside her. "One last hunt for this morning. If you scent a mouse or lizard, keep in mind what you have just practiced and you will do fine."
The ground near the sky springs was often a little damp; that would do well to cushion Sorrelpaw's landings should she end up a little log-footed.
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INVENTORY
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Post by williams on Nov 5, 2017 20:05:03 GMT -5
"You are improving. As you finish recovering from your injury, I believe your steps will get a little lighter. You may take a small break, then we'll try real prey again." Frozenrain's words were soothing, like a balm over her anxious heart. She wanted to be better again, immediately. But her body had already proven that that mindset was a dangerous one, that would lead to pain. Sorrelpaw wanted to be a fit warrior, not walk with a limp that she already knew would come with age. Accepting her mentor's break, the tabby apprentice sat, cleaning her injured leg with quick and deep strokes of her tongue. It helped, she realized, to keep the blood flowing even when inactive. Mornings were becoming better and better, but the stiffness was still there. Especially with the weather turning colder. I hope I don't freeze entirely! She thought with a flutter of panic. Maybe I can ask our elders what they do... after bringing in some prey of course.Feeling rested, Sorrelpaw got back to her paws as her mentor's command. "One last hunt for this morning. If you scent a mouse or lizard, keep in mind what you have just practiced and you will do fine." One last try. I will succeed. Sorrelpaw thought, a light frown appearing on her face. It was one of concentration, that continued as she nodded at her mentor and turned to find prey. Paws light, she trotted into the undergrowth, jaws parted to catch the scent of something, anything, that hadn't been startled away by her own clumsy steps and her repeating leaps. There! Her whiskers quivered with excitement. Sorrelpaw immediately dropped into her crouch, creeping achingly slow towards was smelled like a mouse. Her pawsteps felt light, and she kept her ears flattened in case of low leaves that had messed her up before. The mouse skuttled ahead of her, unaware it was being tracked while it found a meal. No! She thought silently, watching it run for its hole, mouth full. Desperate to bring something back, Sorrelpaw leapt with a correction for its movement. Her mark was true, landing almost on top of it to keep it from running away. Before it could cry out, she bit its neck, and swung it up high to show her mentor. "I did it!" She said, muffled by the prey. Her eyes shone with excitement. Her leg didn't ache at all, and she had caught something. She could actually feel the progress of healing happening. Thank you Starclan! -- notes / good to wrap up if you are <3 (table still broken) words / 433 tagged/ Fawn |
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