Early Hunting || (Rabbit,Timber,Osprey,Lake)

[LAKEHEART]

The cream-and-white tabby led the way through the territory, careful to tread lightly even as she did so and keep her senses alert in case they happened to cross paths with a bit of unlucky prey. As it was, a few moments into their travel, she felt the urge to run overtake her - she was a WindClanner at heart, after all - and promptly broke into a sprint, bounding across the territory towards the spot she had indicated for them to try for prey in. Despite her speed, her pawsteps were still the light bounds typical of a WindClan cat, and she was confident that if a rabbit did appear, she would be able to veer off and catch it before it would have the chance to even think about escaping.

It wasn't long at all, it seemed, before they were approaching the bit of moorland she'd mentioned, and she started to slow her pace in anticipation of reaching it. "One of the elders told me that snow hares used to use this old tunnel as a den in leafbare," she murmured softly as they neared it. "Since it's caved in not too far on, they won't have anywhere to burrow deeper to." She blinked for a moment, considering; maybe she ought to ask the apprentices something. Though she wasn't either of their mentors, and this was a patrol, she had suggested taking them as a chance to improve and test their skills. "How do you think we could drive them out of their den?" she finally settled on asking, turning to look where she assumed the apprentices would be as she slowed to a full stop.

TAGS - ✗ The Timid Fawn ✗ LOST TIMBERPAW ✗ Rabbitstar ✗

[✗ Rabbitstar ✗]

Rabbitstar followed behind the cream she cat as she led the little patrol out onto the territory. Even though she was the leader, she let her stance slack, allowing her posture to show that she was just another member of this patrol and Lakeheart was the lead. She was the kind of leader that was willing to give up her authority for a day, to keep things fair and fluent with the cats around her. And sometimes, it just felt nice to get that burden of the world off her shoulders - though she would never admit that out loud. Her pace was slack, but steady and naturally silent on the snowy floor around them. The bitter wind seemed to slice through her fur like badger claws, but she held steady and followed behind the apprentices. It was simply a protective gesture. She wanted to hold the end while Lakeheart held the front, that way nothing could sneak through and see the apprentices as an easy kill.

About mid way through their walk, the cream colored leader of the hunt seemed to read Rabbitstar's mind. She pushed into a sprint and the tabby wasn't too far behind her. She had been named after her quick sprints and ability to chase down the quickest of rabbits - it was her nature as a Windclan cat, as well as just her natural instinct to get as close to flying as she could. Her paws flew across the ground, making her feel as if she were floating on air. Yet, even in such quick movements, her paws were almost silent on the grass and snow below. She wasn't even really watching for the apprentices in anymore, she was in her own world. However, all of it seemed to end too soon as she came skidding to a halt, spraying snow on Lakeheart on accident. She laughed quietly, shaking the snow from her fur, before she gathered herself to check on Timber & Ospreypaw. This was her revealing her fun side, which was very rare.

Usually, her fun was kept quiet and only between herself and maybe a few close friends. But, something about being on the patrol, a good run to warm her up, just brought out that enthusiastic and almost kit-like behavior. However, when she stopped, she composed herself, and then began to listen as Lakeheart explained about snow hare's living in the end they stood a few tail lengths from. Now, she was in leader mode. Her pale green eyes gave the hunt leader an approving nod, her muzzle curled in a small smile. She knew Lakeheart was a good hunter, now she was silently assessing the two apprentices, especially her own, Timberpaw. Her ears twitched as  the cream and white she cat asked the apprentices a question, and another amused, yet impressed smile fought on her lips. Now, she turned her green-eyed gaze to the apprentices, waiting for an answer.

Tags: LAKEHEART OSPREYPAW TIMBERPAW

[TIMBERPAW]

TIMBERPAW.
weep for yourself my man, you'll never be what is in your heart.
weep little lion man, you're not as brave as your were at the start.

╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗

It was cold out here, colder than it was back at camp. Timberpaw didn't like it, the way the snow and frost bit into his pads and the wind freezing his bones right down to the core. He tread carefully on the snow, shadowing behind Lakeheart, flanked by his den mate, and Rabbitstar taking up the lead. The tabby shivered, glancing back over his shoulder at his mentor. He almost wished he could fall back and stick close to her, feeding off whatever warmth she could give. But above all, Rabbitstar was a leader by heart. It was her instinct to protect her clan mates, not be apart of them.

Timberpaw was pulled from his thoughts as Lakeheart broke into a sprint. He sprang after her, feelings his joints and limbs protest as though breaking from a chunk of ice. Soon enough he felt his body starting to warm up and the blood beginning to flow through him again. His ears, though, gosh they were cold, so cold. Timberpaw pulled them back, not out of distaste, but a vain effort to shield them from the arctic air.

Finally, the stopped. Lakeheart paused at the dens of old snow hares, reciting that they had caved in and the rabbits only had one place of escape - at the mouth of the den. Timberpaw craned his neck to peer at it with mild curiosity, then snapped back to attention as she looked now to the apprentices for answers. The apprentice blinked and for a moment he had a look of a deer in the headlights. Stage fright was awful - Timberpaw didn't much cope well with being put on the spot. He'd much rather answer the question internally and let Ospreypaw speak for him. Though the apprentice knew this wouldn't sit well with his mentor.

Timberpaw shivered, he looked to Ospreypaw, then Rabbitstar. She was silent, expectant. Suddenly his heart was drumming in his chest, so loud that he thought Starclan themselves might here it, so hard that he thought it might tear right out of his ribcage. The sheepish tom swallowed, ducking his head and looking at the ground uncertainly. "S-Scare them out?" Timberpaw managed to force out timidly. He knew Rabbitstar would have liked a better explanation but he couldn't think, not now when the cold sickened his core at the lime light was trained on him. Your turn now, Ospreypaw! Perhaps his den mate would be his saving grace. 

╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
your grace is wasted in your face, your boldness stands alone among the wreck.