Private Territory i'll make a hunter out of you 🍷 pepperpaw

[GECKOFLAME]

geckoflame moved with poise through the low-hanging mist that clung to the pocosin. every pawstep placed is calculated and clean, always ensuring that she never sank too far into sodden peat. pepperpaw trailed close behind yet not a word was spoken between mentor and student, the silence instead being filled by the droning buzz of insects and the occasional croak from frogs.

the skeletal remains of the burnt sycamore soon rose into view from the clearing like an ancient beast that refused to be buried. geckoflame's gait slowed to a halt, chin lifted as she draws in a slow breath to take in the surrounding scents. "there." she hums, eyes half-lidded, expression unreadable. a starling was perched upon the gnarled roots of the tree, its back facing the two felines as it foraged for insects, unaware that it had an audience. "go ahead." geckoflame shifted her focus to pepperpaw now, cool and expectant. "let me see what i'm working with." the lessons will come later. first, she wanted to see what kind of skill—if any—her apprentice possessed.

ooc- @Pepperpaw

 

[Pepperpaw]

Pepperpaw flicked her ears, casting a quick sideways glance at Geckoflame, as if offended by the implication that she had anything to prove. Her tail lashed once behind her, rust-flecked fur bristling faintly, not with nerves, but anticipation. " Watch closely... " she muttered under her breath, more to herself than to her mentor, as she dropped into a crouch. The scent of moss and ash filled her nose as she slunk forward. Her movements were low and practiced, too practiced, perhaps. She moved like a cat who knew she looked good doing it. Each pawstep was precise, her body fluid and balanced, but she wasn't watching the starling so much as performing for Geckoflame, aware of the eyes on her. Her tail swayed just a little too high. Her breath, just a touch too loud.

She sprang. For a heartbeat, she soared!! Graceful, powerful and for that same heartbeat, the starling never stood a chance. But in the next, the bird exploded into flight with a shriek of feathers and fury, Pepperpaw's paws snapping shut on empty air as she landed in the soft mud with a squelch. She whipped around, green eyes blazing, mouth twisted in disbelief. " What was that? " she snapped, as though the failure belonged to the wind or the angle of the sun or... StarClan forbid, the starling itself. She shook one paw clean of muck, refusing to meet Geckoflame's gaze, her fur fluffed in a storm of wounded pride. " I had it. It just... moved weird. " There was a beat that passed and then her lip curled.

" Next one won't be so lucky. "

___________________ I'VE GOT THICK SKIN ☆ AND AN ELASTIC HEART ___________________

• "speech"
  

• 

• PEPPERPAW she/her, ShadowClan, eight moons.
  ☆ a sh black rusting cat with lightgreen eyes
  ☆ mentored by who / mentoring no one
  ☆ whichever relations / want listed
  ☆ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
  ☆ penned by lion ↛ lionheartedphoenix on discord, feel free to dm for plots.