Territory TC feathers, fur and future glory // hunting assessment

[Copperstorm]

{$title} hunting assessment!

You walk along the edge of danger
AND IT WILL CHANGE YOU

.

" I know you understand the lay of our land well. " Copperstorm said, pride warming his voice as he brushed his flank gently against Thistlepaw's. " You've been doing excellently, truly... " Especially with everything that had happened... Golden eyes lingered on the young cat a heartbeat longer, because StarClan knew Thistlepaw's path had not been an easy one. Serpentberry and Thornstar watched from above now... But Copperstorm hoped the apprentice could feel how fiercely he stood behind him here on the forest floor.

" But today... " he continued, voice dipping into something more instructional. " I want to see how far your paws have come with the hunt. " His whiskers twitched in a small grin. " You'll bring me back three pieces of prey, two mammals and one bird. And... " he added, tone teasing. " If you happen to catch a fish... Well, that might just make you the talk of the apprentices' den. "

A fang flashed as he chuckled softly.

" You have the makings of a fine warrior, Thistlepaw. Better than fine. " Copperstorm lifted a paw and affectionately ruffled the younger cat's ears. " When you earn your warrior name, I'll be cheering louder than the rest of the Clan combined. " He stepped back a pace, stance firm and encouraging.

" Go on then. Show me what you can do. "

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

36 MOONS

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THUNDERCLAN

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SONG

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bio

Every post, you can try to catch something!
Roll a d20 and above 10, you manage it. The higher above 10 you are, the more fluently you catch something!
Below 10, you fumble, but you can always try again!
With every roll, you can roll a d20 again! If you manage to get a natural 20, you can catch yourself a fish too!

 

[thistlepaw thistlepaw]

// rolled a 2… rip

thistlepaw breathes the crisp air as they delve deeper into the forest with copperstorm. the sweet rot of decaying leaves, the petrichor of last night's drizzle, the promise of prey active amid the undergrowth. their mentor's flank brushes their own as they come to a small clearing. ear tips warm with embarrassed pride over copperstorm's words of encouragement and… pride as a mentor. thistlepaw has lost so much in life but their mentor remains a strong foundation for the rosetted apprentice. a lighthouse amidst a stormy sea that had threatened to sweep them away into the depths.

today thistlepaw is tasked with a hunting assessment. their heart lodged in their throat, the apprentice nods dutifully and steps forward a few paces. copperstorm's words still linger loud and clear in their mind. why hadn't they replied? perhaps the right words had not come yet… perhaps thistlepaw wanted to prove themselves in deed before words? regardless, the apprentice casts a grateful glance over their shoulder before crouching and stalking through the leaf litter. the scuffing of a mouse catches their attention and thistlepaw pauses, jaw agape to scent the air.

to the left, instinct tells them and they shift course. brown peeks out from the leaves and scurries a tail length in search of seed or nut. the mouse is oblivious to thistlepaw… they lower themself even more and creep forward…

crack!

they hadn't realized a stick lie in front of them. splintered beneath powerful paw, the snap alerted their prey of danger. thistlepaw tried to leap forward in hopes of still catching it, but the mouse was long gone.