Open nature chews on me | hunting failure

[scorchpaw]

Scorchpaw moves with purpose. Her long, limber legs carry her over the even prairie ground without much wasted movement. The grass rustles tactlessly around her, but she is determined nonetheless to bring home a rabbit. Jealousy thrums in her throat at the thought: many of the other apprentices have been given a warrior to 'mentor' them. But not Scorchpaw. Whether by some oversight or conscious decision she does not know. In fact, she does not have it within her to approach Dustystar or Goldenroar. Scorchpaw, in the wise words of her mother, has given this situation up to the divine.

Ill-practiced is a ginger way of putting it. Scorchpaw lacks the training altogether. Still, the warm weather has made it so that the prairie is alive with prey, and the tortie has no issue spotting movement through the underbrush. Scorchpaw practices what she does know. Stilling, crouching, and advancing. Of course, it's unsteady and poorly executed. Each breath she takes is too heavy, and each movement rustles the leaves. The hare knows she is there and takes off, giving chase across the grassland.

Despite her stamina, Scorchpaw completely lacks the skill needed to turn on a dime and watch for small obstacles during the chase. She is quickly outwitted. The rabbit darts into a warren, and poor Scorchpaw finds herself with her paw caught on a root and tumbling head over heels into some of the taller prairie grasses. Once she stops tumbling, her head pops back up over the grass and she spits out some of the fronds and dirt that have made it into her mouth. She curses under her breath and then curses towards the sky, some equivalent of shaking her fist at a god.

Scorchpaw pulls herself to her feet, shaking off her splotched pelt. She casts a glance over her shoulder in the direction of WindClan's camp, hoping she has not just become free entertainment for her clanmates. She decides it's best not to dwell on it and turns back toward the prairie, thinking she might be successful if she continues to try.

I AM WHAT I AM ★ AND I AM NOTHING

• "speech"
  

• 

• DAWN she/her, windclan, six moons.
  ★ tortie x blue spotted tabby w/ low white chimera
  ★ mentored by none (yet)
  ★ relations tbd
  ★ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
  ★ penned by carat ↛ ccaarraatt on discord, feel free to dm for plots.

 

[gorsepaw]

☼ . ° ✦

Unfortunately, Scorchpaw had become entertainment for a clanmate. Gorsepaw watched with cool amusement at the she-cat's tumbling and fumbling after a rabbit. The silver tabby was crouched behind some tall grass slowly budding and capturing the early greenleaf heat. Soon, their prairie would become a jungle of humidity and grass, but for now, it was short enough she could just peek her head over the blades.

These two were more alike than they'd like to admit. Mentorless - by way of lack of warriors available - and unwilling to ask for any. The fact that there were so many cats her age in the clan spoke to how well the barn had provided for them. Young cats could thrive and grow there without thinking of food or shelter. Maybe clan life would prune some of them and free up some mentors soon. Gorsepaw had always been one to turn away instruction, even when it came from Alder. Remembering her foster mother sent a pang through her heart, but she knew faer would want her to shake it off. The lanky she-cat shook the grief away and raised herself up enough to catch Scorchpaw's eyes. With a haughty snort, Gorsepaw ducked into the grass and scented for anything. A vole - fox lengths ahead and picking through fallen seeds - caught her nose.

With a sprint into a pounce, the apprentice wraps her jaws around the tiny rodent and dips above the grass to show it off to her peer. "Need any tips, Scorchie?" She cooed through the tiny body.

✧ ° . ✶ . ° ✧

ooc information

• ooc: bb girl rolled a 12!
• 

  NIP GORSEPAW — SHE/HER ･ 4 MOONS ･ APPRENTICE & WINDCLAN ･ PENNED BY MUDDLY!

  silver tabby with high white and yellow-green eyes. a grumpy, independent she-cat that prefers to bite before she speaks. raised by alder. adopted sibling to ice and pebble.

 

[scorchpaw]

Scorchpaw tenses when she hears rustling behind her. The hare she's been stalking is startled by her own surprise, and takes off before she can even think about pouncing. She heaves a sigh and stands. When she looks over her shoulder again, she spots the familiar silver-and-white coat of Gorsepaw. Her eyes narrow for a brief moment, suspicious that the other has in some way sabotaged her. But it becomes clear that Gorsepaw is doing a bit of her own hunting, and Scorchpaw relaxes. In the back of her mind, she hears her mother chastising her for judgment. 'So young to have such high opinions,' she would say. Scorchpaw is thankful Gorsepaw looks nothing like her mother.

Gorsepaw pops back up over the grass, a proud glint to her eyes as she brandishes a vole toward Scorchpaw. The slender apprentice visibly deflates. "No..." Scorchpaw replies quietly, though she is unsure if her voice has even reached Gorsepaw. The wind that whips about on the prairie seems to carry away any voice that does not speak up; a trait that Scorchpaw has carried since she could remember. She snuffles thoughtfully and decides to give up for now, striding through the tall grass towards the elder apprentice.

"Well. I had been hoping I could teach myself," Scorchpaw admits, still quiet but easier to hear now that her proximity to Gorsepaw has decreased "But... It is harder than I thought."

I AM WHAT I AM ★ AND I AM NOTHING

• "speech"
  

• 

• SCORCHPAW she/her, windclan, six moons.
  ★ tortie x blue spotted tabby w/ low white chimera
  ★ mentored by none (yet)
  ★ relations tbd
  ★ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
  ★ penned by carat ↛ ccaarraatt on discord, feel free to dm for plots.

 

[Dustystar Dustystar]

✪ Align my Heart, my Body, my Mind​

indentDustystar watches the pair from a small distance, concealed by tall grasses. It's not that she's snooping, exactly. She had been relaxing outside of camp when she noticed Scorchpaw and Gorsepaw together, hunting.

indentThe two weren't yet mentored. It wasn't for lack of trying, of course. There simply wasn't enough warriors willing to mentor all of the young cats in their clan. As mousers, they had been accepting of any and all needy kittens. Though their shelter had quickly become crowded, there was more than enough prey to go around.

indentThe situation had changed, since then. There was ample space now, but it made it far more difficult to keep an eye on apprentices. Likewise, prey was harder to find and more difficult to catch. Mice were smaller too, having not grown fat on the horse's feed. A young cat would have a much harder time feeding themself out here. Doubly so, without someone to guide them.

indent"Don't tease her, Gorsepaw." Dustystar stands, emerging from the tall grass. "Taking initiative to improve your skills is something to be proud of, Scorchpaw. Although-" Dustystar purrs, her face softening a bit. "I could give you a few pointers, if you'd like."

Dustystar - 26 moons - Windclan Leader