Post by Dragon on Jul 30, 2009 1:26:25 GMT -5
Morningpaw slid through the lengthy grass of a forest clearing. She could feel the eyes of her leader and mentor watching her with the same steely intensity. Today was her assessment. All of her training was being pounded into a single morning in the forest. One slip up could be another moon in the apprentice's den.
Her flat-ish nose twitched at a scent so strong she could taste it on her tongue. She inhaled silently. The heavy smell of a shrew hung in her nostrils, until she exhaled with gusto. Her gray eyes narrowed to slits in concentration.
Soon she would have her moment of sound, but the moment was not now. Mutely, she glided forward with fluent grace for such a large she-cat. Her black tail tip caressed, gently swaying, dew covered grass. She was the hunter.
The Serpentclan apprentice's spotted flank was dampened by the time she took leave from the wet blades of grass. She cocked her head upward and scented it with her jaw slightly ajar. Still, the scent of shrew was strong in her throat. The she-cat swung around and lightly trotted into the undergrowth of the wood.
Her head motioned back and fourth through the thick, humid air. There was dry smells from the scarce pine trees that succeeded in living among maples and oaks. Also, the damp under leaves supplied a more confusing environment to catch the prey.
Suddenly, she froze. Her gray eyes glinted ominously and her ears pricked forward with interest. Once more she had detected the aroma of the elusive rodent. Among the confines of a small patch of briers that she could easily penetrate with a single paw swipe. The hunt was on. Blood began to pulse in Morningpaw's ears. This was her element, what she was born to do. With measured skill her paws worked the debris laden ground. She did not even have a single twig twitch as she swept by it all.
Morningpaw cut back, and her speed diminished as quickly as it had come. And then she slowed to not moving at all. Her entire body was rigid and stiff like a boulder. The shrew, was still unaware of any feline presence. It was nearly time. The roar of blood in her ears was nearly deafening. Her heart thumped against her chest with such force she thought she would explode. A growl bubbled from the back of her throat. The fur along her spine bristled.
The apprentice's claws unsheathed and sheathed again. And her entire body tensed, her muscles coiled like tightened springs. Then, she lurched forward. Her paws were outstretched in front of her in an almost triumphant gesture. The briars broke before her claws and they landed on the dusky gray animal. The impact of her weight killed it instantly. Her eyes closed briefly, sending prayers to her ancestors. Morningpaw lifted the kill proudly before burying it in a pile of leaves and soil.
On the same hunting trip, Morningpaw captured one robin and two more mice. Even through the pressure of being watched by her leader and mentor her skills and tactics had shown through beautifully.
Her leader, Badgerstar, did not speak with her after the assessment. The small cat simply slunk off into his den again, maybe to contemplate, maybe to be alone. But afterword her once sour faced mentor, Ratwhisker, approached with eyes glowing with pride.
"Great job, Morningpaw!" The gray mottled tom meowed warmly, giving his apprentice an affectionate lick on the nose. "I've never seen you hunt better!"
The she-cat thrust her chest out in gratification. Her gray eyes seemed more blue as they radiated honor of her mentor's compliment. She sat straighter and kept her chin up. "I did my best, Ratwhisker!"
Ratwhisker stood, his long whisker's twitched in amuesment. He licked her ear as he passed her. "I'm positive you'll be sitting vigil tonight." He purred before he pounced into the camp with his tail in the air.
The black spotted she-cat pranced into the camp with a skip in her step. She saw warriors glance at her strangely but she took no notice of it. Redeeming happiness surged through every limb in her body. From the tip of her tail to the end of her whiskers. Her eyes locked on the Warrior's den. And she could barely wait.
Her flat-ish nose twitched at a scent so strong she could taste it on her tongue. She inhaled silently. The heavy smell of a shrew hung in her nostrils, until she exhaled with gusto. Her gray eyes narrowed to slits in concentration.
Soon she would have her moment of sound, but the moment was not now. Mutely, she glided forward with fluent grace for such a large she-cat. Her black tail tip caressed, gently swaying, dew covered grass. She was the hunter.
The Serpentclan apprentice's spotted flank was dampened by the time she took leave from the wet blades of grass. She cocked her head upward and scented it with her jaw slightly ajar. Still, the scent of shrew was strong in her throat. The she-cat swung around and lightly trotted into the undergrowth of the wood.
Her head motioned back and fourth through the thick, humid air. There was dry smells from the scarce pine trees that succeeded in living among maples and oaks. Also, the damp under leaves supplied a more confusing environment to catch the prey.
Suddenly, she froze. Her gray eyes glinted ominously and her ears pricked forward with interest. Once more she had detected the aroma of the elusive rodent. Among the confines of a small patch of briers that she could easily penetrate with a single paw swipe. The hunt was on. Blood began to pulse in Morningpaw's ears. This was her element, what she was born to do. With measured skill her paws worked the debris laden ground. She did not even have a single twig twitch as she swept by it all.
Morningpaw cut back, and her speed diminished as quickly as it had come. And then she slowed to not moving at all. Her entire body was rigid and stiff like a boulder. The shrew, was still unaware of any feline presence. It was nearly time. The roar of blood in her ears was nearly deafening. Her heart thumped against her chest with such force she thought she would explode. A growl bubbled from the back of her throat. The fur along her spine bristled.
The apprentice's claws unsheathed and sheathed again. And her entire body tensed, her muscles coiled like tightened springs. Then, she lurched forward. Her paws were outstretched in front of her in an almost triumphant gesture. The briars broke before her claws and they landed on the dusky gray animal. The impact of her weight killed it instantly. Her eyes closed briefly, sending prayers to her ancestors. Morningpaw lifted the kill proudly before burying it in a pile of leaves and soil.
On the same hunting trip, Morningpaw captured one robin and two more mice. Even through the pressure of being watched by her leader and mentor her skills and tactics had shown through beautifully.
Her leader, Badgerstar, did not speak with her after the assessment. The small cat simply slunk off into his den again, maybe to contemplate, maybe to be alone. But afterword her once sour faced mentor, Ratwhisker, approached with eyes glowing with pride.
"Great job, Morningpaw!" The gray mottled tom meowed warmly, giving his apprentice an affectionate lick on the nose. "I've never seen you hunt better!"
The she-cat thrust her chest out in gratification. Her gray eyes seemed more blue as they radiated honor of her mentor's compliment. She sat straighter and kept her chin up. "I did my best, Ratwhisker!"
Ratwhisker stood, his long whisker's twitched in amuesment. He licked her ear as he passed her. "I'm positive you'll be sitting vigil tonight." He purred before he pounced into the camp with his tail in the air.
The black spotted she-cat pranced into the camp with a skip in her step. She saw warriors glance at her strangely but she took no notice of it. Redeeming happiness surged through every limb in her body. From the tip of her tail to the end of her whiskers. Her eyes locked on the Warrior's den. And she could barely wait.
