[Deleted]

Cicadapaw bounced from paw to paw beside Smokestorm, impatient to be off, but they still had to wait for Darkfrost before they could head out hunting. With Hawkstar's new rule in place for the amount of cats required in a patrol before heading out, she and Smokestorm couldn't just head out on their own, but she understood the reason behind the rule so she wasn't about to complain. She didn't know Darkfrost very well, but she did know the senior warrior was kin to Smokestorm, so when the silver she-cat appeared and made her way toward them Cicadapaw did her best to still her paws. She definitely didn't want Smokestorm's kin to think she was poorly behaved.

Darkfrost greeted them both and naturally let Smokestorm take the lead as deputy, even though the other she-cat was older, and Cicadapaw trotted along beside and slightly behind her mentor, with Darkfrost taking up the rear. “Where are we going to hunt today? What are we going to hunt? Do you think we'll find any lizards out sunning? I love lizards...,” the black and white she-cat trailed off, briefly lost in thoughts of tantalizingly delicious lizard. Most of her peers seemed to prefer birds, the most common staple of StoneClan's diet, but there was just something about lizards Cicadapaw couldn't resist.

She cleared her throat then, with a quick glance back at Darkfrost, “Uh, but I know I can't eat anything until we take prey back for the Clan.” She nodded affirmatively, ears twitching. She knew the Warrior Code and didn't want to make Smokestorm's kin think she would ever break that rule. Cicadapaw was quite determined to try to be on her best behavior so she didn't make Smokestorm look bad as a mentor.

Taxx
LF 28: Nice and simple, a cold breeze with sunshine.

[Taxx]

Smokestorm

This gal right here's gonna rule the world
No, I won't sit still and look pretty

Smokestorm rose to her paws as Darkfrost approached, greeting the older she-cat with a nod before slipping through the came entrance and heading off. Cicadapaw followed close behind, keeping up easily with the deputy's stride. Smokestorm set a quicker trot, meant to warm them all up for the coming hunt despite the cold air. The sun shone down, offering some warmth on their fur, but that wouldn't last.

"We're going to the Little Woods," she replied, forcing herself not to fixate on the tragedy that had happened there; she couldn't avoid the place forever, and it was one of the best places to find prey, especially now. "We'll hunt what we can find. Even now, when mice are starting to gather to hibernate through the winter, the birds will still be active. It's always best to hunt them in the morning, when they're hungriest after night."

Her ears flicked and she tossed an amused glance over her shoulder at the apprentice. "You've got a smart one here, Smokestorm," Darkfrost remarked, her gaze resting briefly on Cicadapaw before returning to the approaching forest.

Smokestorm purred in response. "If we find plenty of prey, and if we can find and catch a lizard, I'll make sure you get it. They're not common prey at this time of year, but who knows, we might get lucky. Quiet now," she added. "Birds hear better than you'd think, so no unnecessary noise."

It was colder in the shadows of the trees, and Smokestorm's pace slowed to a creep among the leaves that littered the ground, her tail flicking Cicadapaw to signal her to watch, to be careful. It was a good lesson in minding where you put your paws, and how to step lightly enough not to rustle leaves when you couldn't avoid stepping on them. It was a hunt, yes, but it was also a learning experience, and how better to teach than when to act recklessly would mean losing prey?

Cicadapaw had a good head on her shoulders, though, and she'd so far picked up what Smokestorm had taught with ease, so the muted calico was hopeful that she'd learn this quickly too. Darkfrost's tail swiped over Smokestorm's shoulder and she froze, her own tail moving to bar the apprentice's way before flicking to the thrush in the shade of a tree, poking through the fallen leaves for food. A glance back and Smokestorm mouthed the word 'watch' as the silver senior warrior began to slink forward.

Deputy of StoneClan

Tags: @zen Notes:

[Deleted]

Ears pricking with interest as her mentor told her where they were going, she listened to Smokestorm's explanation and advice as they walked and purred with some amusement, “I guess cats aren't the only ones hungry first thing in the morning.” She stood up a little taller at Darkfrost's praise, though hearing that lizards were harder to find this late into leaf-fall had her tail drooping in disappointment. She got over it quickly, though, as Smokestorm's promise that she could have it, should they find one, lifted the brief drop in her mood. If they didn't she could just as easily eat something else, but it had been a while since she'd had a lizard and catching one herself would just make it even better. Then again, if she could find a mouse maybe Beetlepaw would want to share with her.

For the time being, however, it seemed birds were the focus. Smokestorm warned her to quiet and she nodded in response, following after her mentor and doing her best to pay careful attention to her steps. When her mentor's tail blocked her way she watched Darkfrost as the older she-cat crept forward, spotting the thrush the senior warrior was targeting. Darkfrost's catch was smooth and clean, showcasing her moons and moons of practice and experience to the utterly impressed Cicadapaw.

“Wow, Darkfrost, that was-”

“Hush!” the dark tabby hissed warningly at her and Cicadapaw's ears flicked back in embarrassment, realizing how loud she'd been.

“Sorry,” her pale gaze flicked to Smokestorm apologetically as Darkfrost covered her catch to retrieve later. This was why she was better at fighting than hunting. Stillness and silence had never really been her forte and her excess of energy lent well to wearing down her opponents. Sometimes she wondered if she shouldn't have been born in LightningClan. She'd had the chance to see some of their neighbors chasing down a rabbit. Now that was the sort of hunting she was sure she would be good at.

Darkfrost turned back to them then, flicking her tail in indication, “I'll head this way. I won't be far.”

Cicadapaw watched her go, eager to make her own catch, “She's a really good hunter. Do you wanna go next or should I?” Her bright gaze returned to her mentor, clearly not at all put off by being shushed earlier, though she did keep her voice down this time.

Taxx

[Taxx]

Smokestorm

This gal right here's gonna rule the world
No, I won't sit still and look pretty

Darkfrost made short work of the bird, her stalk and catch as smooth as expected of a long-time hunter, and Smokestorm sat up as she padded back to them, leaving the bird buried in leaves to fetch later; Cicadapaw piped up to praise the hunt, only to subside quickly when the senior warrior hushed her. Smokestorm blinked down at the apprentice, tail flicking in a moment of irritation. She'd meant no harm, but she needed to remember, without being told, that she needed to be quiet while they were on a hunt. Especially after she had been told.

A nod to Darkfrost as she turned to carry on her own hunt on her own, and Smokestorm gazed around, lifting her head to take in a deep breath. The woods were quiet, save for bursts of bird calls. There shouldn't be any harm in letting Cicadapaw try her skills by herself. "Go hunt. Do your best, but don't go too far. If anything happens, yowl as loudly as you can; Darkfrost and I will come. I'm going to see if there's anything else around here to hunt. Whether or not you get anything, be back here by sunhigh, understand?"

With that, Smokestorm started off; she paused before she'd gone far and glanced back, tail lifting. "Consider this an assessment. If you do well, you could be a warrior by the next Gathering. Be stealthy, be quick, and remember what I've taught you." Warmth for the younger she-cat flickered in her eyes before she continued on her way, carefully scenting for something to track.

Deputy of StoneClan

Tags: @zen Notes:

[Deleted]

Cicadapaw nodded along with Smokestorm's instructions, her green gaze widening slightly as her mentor brought up the possibility of her warriorhood. She stood a little straighter then, and thoughts of her possible warrior name whirled around in her head. What might it be? Cicadaspots, like her mother's name? Did cicadas have spots? Did it matter? Cicadaflight? Cidadas did fly. She was pretty sure, anyway.

But then Smokestorm was walking away and she shook her head. Right, her name didn't matter right now. She was supposed to be hunting. She waited for Smokestorm to disappear from view before she turned and made sure to take a different direction from Darkfrost and her mentor, parting her jaws to scent for any traces of prey, careful with her steps as she ranged through the sparse trees of the little woods.

Mouse! She stopped in her tracks as she caught the scent. Smokestorm had said they were hunting birds, but she doubted the deputy would be disappointed by anything Cicadapaw could bring back for the Clan. Mouse was Beetlepaw's favorite, too... maybe they could share it, since it was unlikely she'd be finding any lizards. She crept forward, finally spotting her prey nibbling on something near the base of a tree, occasionally pausing to look up, wary of predators. Cicadapaw reminded herself to still her tail, creeping forward even more slowly so she could stop moving at once when the mouse looked up.

She wasn't good at this. She hated all this slow movement and quiet. It wasn't her at all. But she really wanted to share a mouse with her brother, so she toughed it out. Proudly, she stood over her catch. It was plump too, stuffing itself before leaf-bare arrived, probably. She purred softly, pleased with herself, and scraped some leaves over the body to come back for it after she'd maybe caught one more thing. She knew she wasn't a great hunter so if she could get one more she'd be pretty happy about it. Maybe a bird this time.

She managed to catch a robin as it was taking off, scared into flight by a careless misstep she'd made. Luckily her leaping skills were strong so she managed to take the bird down before it rose out of reach, but not before it called a warning to any other prey in the area. Her tail flicked in annoyance at herself as she stood over the bird and glanced around. She wouldn't be able to catch anything around here now. With a sigh, she picked up the bird and went to fetch her mouse as well, glancing at the sky. She had time to try again, but now she had to find a new area to hunt in. She hoped the robin's cry hadn't disturbed Darkfrost or Smokestorm in their hunts.

Taxx

[Taxx]

Smokestorm

This gal right here's gonna rule the world
No, I won't sit still and look pretty

Smokestorm put Cicadapaw out of her mind long enough to catch a careless sparrow pecking in the fallen leaves at the base of a tree. She buried it quietly and then padded on; an easy catch of a shrew followed. It was enough, for now; she gathered both and returned to the tree where Darkfrost had buried her first catch. She was there, waiting, another bird lying at the senior warrior's paws. Her tail flicked in silent greeting and Smokestorm nodded back, dropping her catches and settling to wait.

For a short time there was no noise but the song of birds and the quiet rustling of leaves on the ground. Smokestorm's ears pricked when she heard the sudden squawk of alarm that rang out, followed by the abrupt silence from the other birds that had been calling just a moment before. Darkfrost snorted and Smokestorm flashed a glance at her- no cat was perfect, and sometimes a cat just wasn't quick enough to kill their prey before it gave the alarm.

Rising, Smokestorm padded forward to meet Cicadapaw as she returned. Her eyes brightened at the sight of the catches her apprentice had made, tail whisking. "Well done," she praised, warmth in her voice. "We'll head back now- take a rest, and eat. You did wonderfully." Turning, the deputy gathered her prey and then trotted back to walk by Cicadapaw's side, Darkfrost leading the way as they returned to the camp.

Deputy of StoneClan

Tags: @zen Notes: