[Deleted]

Wolfjaw

The unusually large black tom padded quickly through the boulder filed, leading the way towards the barren scrublands. He had been given his first apprentice, Palepaw, and he wanted to make sure that the ginger-and-white she-cat excelled. How well her training turned out would be a testament to himself as a warrior, and he wanted to make sure that it reflected well on himself. He glanced his bright yellow eyes back making sure the small apprentice was following along, and gestured with a flick of his tail for her to follow him.

Leafbare had crept up on them and prey was scarce, but Wolfjaw never shied away from a challenge. It was important for Palepaw to learn how to provide for the clan regardless of what season it was, even when it wasn’t easy. He chose the barren scrublands because it was usually plentiful in prey. It wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to expect to find at least a mouse or a lizard here, even in leafbare. There was a lot of hiding spots around the scrublands that prey often took advantage of. He halted once they reached the chosen spot, and swung around to face his apprentice with a serious look on his face.

“Okay, Palepaw. Our first lesson will be hunting,” He began, wrapping his tail around his paws as he sat on his powerful black haunches. “Hunting is certainly more difficult in leafbare, but I have a feeling you will rise to the challenge.” His eyes twinkled micheviously, knowing full well that his apprentice was known to be competitive. He would use that side of her to his advantage, and to make her learning experience fun for her. “What do you smell?” He asked, watching her intently.

TAGS: Taxx

StoneClan | Warrior | 31 Moons | Tom-Cat

deltra of gangnam style

[Taxx]

Palepaw trotted after her mentor, her shorter legs and smaller build making her have to move a bit faster to keep up with his stride. She was excited for the coming training session, even glad to be out of camp after so long being afraid of what might be waiting if she dared leave the security of it. It'd been a full season, though, without any hint of foxes about; Smokestorm and the other warriors were careful about making sure of that each day. And Palepaw didn't want to live on the edge of fear her entire life- how would she ever be as good as Smokestorm if she stayed hidden away within the camp?

She paused as Wolfjaw did, lifting her head to meet her new mentor's gaze; she missed Wolfclaw's instruction, but the older tom had decided to retire recently, and now she had a new tom to guide her through the rest of her apprenticeship. It might take a while to get used to his methods, but she'd learn, and she'd make him proud of her.

Nodding along as he began, Palepaw's tail whisked at his obvious confidence in her. She wouldn't let him down! Tipping her muzzle skyward, the young she-cat took a deep breath. I smell him, whispered that voice in the back of her head, a note of amusement in it. Palepaw's whiskers quivered, but she kept her poise as she concentrated on the other scents drifting on the slight breeze. "Snow," she replied, scuffing a white paw through the thin slush on the ground. "Plants. And mouse. And... um..." her eyes narrowed for a moment, trying to place the scent before it came in a flash and she brightened. "And lizard!"

Mmm, lizard. Go for that first. You know I like lizards.
@ash

[Deleted]

Wolfjaw

The large black tom watched his apprentice with his bright yellow eyes. Her whiskers quivered and he watched with pride as she focused on the scents around her in the scrublands. He tasted the air for scents as well, nodding at her assessment of the scents on the air. “Yes, very good Palepaw.” He mewed matter-of-factly. He wasn’t entirely sure if her previous mentor, Wolfclaw, had gone over any hunting methods with her yet.

The black tom fixed his eyes on her. She lit up when she scented the lizard, and he decided to use that excitement to encourage her further. “Ah, lizards,” He said with a nod. “Can you tell me the best way to catch a lizard?” Wolfjaw asked. They were quick little creatures, and a bit more difficult to catch than a mouse. They also blended in very well with their environment which meant a cat would need to rely more on scent alone to catch one.

TAGS: Taxx

StoneClan | Warrior | 31 Moons | Tom-Cat

deltra of gangnam style

[Taxx]

Her tail waved in joy at the praise, her paws doing a shuffle in her pride. She knew she was out of practice with training, which made her all the more thrilled that she’d managed to remember the scents of the prey her Clan hunted. She was behind the others of her age, but she'd catch up- she had to. Wolfjaw moved on to another topic, that of how to hunt lizards, and Palepaw made herself still, sitting quietly before her mentor as she replied to the question.

"Well, they're fast, and tiny, so they can fit into little cracks that my paws couldn't- and their tails break off easy." She remembered the first time she'd seen a lizard with no tail, remembered asking Mistcloud about it, and her mother's answer. "I have to be quick and accurate, and pounce on them before they can escape, and try to avoid catching them by the tail. Can I try?" she asked, blinking at Wolfjaw hopefully, her nose twitching again as she caught the scent of lizard on the wind.
@ash

[Deleted]

Wolfjaw

The large black tom watched Palepaw with calm yellow eyes. She sat in front of him quietly, listening to his question. He nodded, impressed with her hunting knowledge. “Yes, that’s right, Palepaw! Very good,” He praised. He was happy to have such a sharp she-cat as her first apprentice.

The fact that their tails fall off made them even more difficult to catch, coupled with their skill and camouflaging abilities. Her enthusiasm to give it a try made him chuckle gruffly. He dipped his head in approval, watching his apprentice carefully to see what she would do next.

“Yes, Palepaw. Let’s see what you got!” He rose to his paws, backing up to give her some space. He always enjoyed hunting lizards. They were also much tastier to eat than mice, in his opinion. His thoughts wandered to when he was an apprentice, learning everything that he was teaching now. He was glad he was selected as a mentor.

TAGS: Taxx

StoneClan | Warrior | 31 Moons | Tom-Cat

deltra of gangnam style

[Taxx]

Palepaw

Apprentice of StoneClan

Take me in, into your darkest hour

Given permission to try, Palepaw beamed; she sprang up and turned her head into the wind, breathing in the faint scent of lizard and following it. She made sure to keep her pawsteps light, eyes scanning back and forth as she tried to spot one of the little creatures against the thin covering of snow and rocks. There was no sun for them to bask in, but they might have been drawn out by hunger, to try to hunt. She just had to find one.

A small crack in one of the rocks drew the young apprentice's nose down to it; the scent was strong there, but much too small for her to attempt to reach a paw in. Frowning, Palepaw circled the jumble of rocks, looking for any other lizards or possible ways to dig down into where the scent was coming from, but she couldn't see any. Was it too cold? Glancing over at Wolfjaw in disappointment, Palepaw sat down with a bump. "They're too far down. I can't reach!"

And I'll never desert you

@ash || Made by Fawn