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Post by Diamond on Aug 8, 2008 12:52:36 GMT -5
It was a lovely day in CherryClan camp. Simply beautiful, not a cloud in sight. Hardly any noise, even...except for the shuffling around inside of the Warriors Den.
"Oh my gosh, I can't be late!" Petaldance whispered to herself. She was doing a sped up version of a cat washing them self. 'Left paw on face, wash. Right paw on face, wash. Now to tear out that knot.' Petaldance thought to herself, as she looked down on a small knot in her cream colored fur.
She held the knot in her teeth and pulled. And pulled...and pulled, until she finally ripped it out. "Ouch..." She mumbled. Crude...but very effective, no more knots for her. "And away I go!" Petaldance cheered, this time a bit louder then a whisper. She walked out of the den as...professional looking, as possible.
"I'll just wait outside for Fawnpaw." Petaldance told herself. She wasn't a bit hungry, so she didn't even think about breakfast. "I'll let Fawnpaw eat first, but then we're going out to the field to learn how to hunt field mice..." She whispered to herself with a laugh. This was going to be so much fun! Or at least, she thought so.
'Wait, I have a great idea! I'll mock attack Fawnpaw when she steps out of the apprentice den! That way she'll know that she always has to be prepared for the unexpected." Petaldance thought with a smile. The cream-colored she-cat quietly padded to the apprentice's den side and waited for Fawnpaw. But how would Fawnpaw react to a surprise attack?
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Post by Wazo on Aug 9, 2008 22:06:48 GMT -5
The sun streamed into the apprentice den, unhindered by even a dab of clouds, and fell upon the sleeping apprentices. A rich brown bundle of fluffy fur was curled up in the corner, moving slightly as the sun danced upon it. Fawnpaw's chest rose and fell slowly with each breath in peaceful dreams.
The sun finally coaxed her out of her sleep and she blinked slowly, lifting her head from her delicate paws. She yawned, exposing tiny white teeth and a curled pink tongue. Then it hit her. Her first day being mentored.
She nearly bolted out of her nest, shaking dust from her richly striped tabby coat. Her brown eyes shone with excitement as she glanced around the apprentice den. This was no time to sleep, not with work to be done with her mentor. And what a mentor. Petaldance was a bundle of fun, rather then a stuffy old mentor.
It was a little weird to wake up in the apprentice den, without the warm bodies of her siblings and the soft fur of her mother, Brackenwing. Her siblings were still here, but she had been a little hesitant to leave the safety of the nursery. Still, she was an apprentice now and didn't have time to be lamenting over her lost kit days. She wondered what she would do today for training, hunting, fighting, patroling...
Fawnpaw smiled with anticipation and danced out of the apprentice den, unaware of an impending attack from the cream-colored she-cat. |
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Post by Diamond on Aug 12, 2008 10:18:05 GMT -5
Petaldance's lips curled into a smile and her blue eyes narrowed as she saw Fawnpaw walk out of the apprentice's den. There she was...her target. At first, Petaldance considered yelling something out like 'Roar'. But she decided against it. A cat that really wanted to pounce on it's target and surprise it wouldn't make any noise to announce it's presence. Now...get down into position...wiggle the behind...wag the tail...get ready...and spring!
Petaldance silently sprung onto Fawnpaw, claws withdrawn, of course. This was only practice. It would be interesting to see how Fawnpaw would react. Well...and honestly, it would also be funny, or atleast Petaldance thought, to see if she could scare the living daylights out of the little brown colored apprentice.
(Ick...short, sorry X.x'. )
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Post by Wazo on Aug 12, 2008 14:31:55 GMT -5
Fawnpaw knew that Petaldance, like herself, had energy to spare. She knew that as an apprentice, things were likely to be very different. But she was certainly not expecting this.
With even a smidgen of warning and certainly without the clumsy stalking of her brother or sister, Petaldance pounced on Fawnpaw, barely seconds after she had left the apprentice den. Her mouth formed a perfect O of surprise as she was blindsighted by her mentor. After being so surprised she stumbled to the ground, without even bothering to see who it was, she hissed and sprang back, as if the tiny apprentice would be any match for her attacker.
But that didn't really register to Fawnpaw, for her fur was already standing on end and her normally bright brown eyes were flashing. She sprang back not really knowing what would happen next... |
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Post by Diamond on Aug 16, 2008 12:22:56 GMT -5
Petaldance smirked, as all went according to plan. She got up off of Fawnpaw and watched as the small apprentice sprang back, as if to take Petaldance on.
Petaldance stared at Fawnpaw, serious look on her face for a moment and then just broke out into a goofy smile. "Hah hah...well, hi Fawnpaw!" Petaldance greeted her apprentice with a good natured chuckle. "I'd say your reaction was okay, for a first time. But we're gonna need to work on that some more, okay? Jumping back is all well and fine, but you need to learn to be offensive too." Petaldance explained to Fawnpaw, in such a cheery, happy tone.
"Well, here's what I have planned for us today. We're going to go out into the field that surrounds the Cherryclan camp and go hunt field mice. Perfect prey for apprentices who are just starting!" She said, excited, cream colored fluffy tail wagging back and fourth, back and fourth. "Come, come. I'll show you where." Petaldance added, turning to walk out of camp.
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Post by Wazo on Aug 16, 2008 19:28:22 GMT -5
Fawnpaw merely stood there, her mouth gaping open like a fish out of water, unsure as to what exactly had just passed between her and her new mentor. Petaldance had just...attacked her as she exited the apprentice den was about the just of what Fawnpaw had grasped so far. Her reaction had been purely instinct, a mix of surprise and anger had governed her movements. She let the fur settle down on her back as she stared with wide brown eyes at the back of her new mentor.
This was not what she had expected. She had always wanted a nice mentor, who would be a good teacher and not boss her around too much. But Petaldance...Petaldance was fun, she thought with a grin stamped on her features.Once Fawnpaw got over the initial shock of the stalk, her tail flicked enthustiastically. Just wait until Stagpaw and Deerpaw heard about this! Of course when Fawnpaw retold it, she would certainly come out on top...but none of them were as lucky to get such cool mentors.
She leaped after her mentor, trying to make up for the lost ground between them, her tiny frame appearing miniscule against her mentor's. "I like mice, I bet I'll catch one," she commented confidently. "They are not that smart and I'm too strong for them," she added, not seeming to realize she wasn't much bigger then one... "You will show me how, right?" she asked, her head tilted curiously, as she wasn't sure how one would go about catching a mouse. |
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Post by Diamond on Aug 22, 2008 12:31:31 GMT -5
"Hmmm..." Petaldance said, listening to everything Fawnpaw was saying about catching field mice. " Yes, you can overpower one with ease. But I wouldn't underestimate them, if I were you. Field mice aren't that stupid and their fast little buggers. You'll see." Petaldance added with a laugh. After a few good minutes of walking, they had finally gotten out to a good place in the field.
"Alright, listen closely Fawnpaw. This is your first time...so try not to go after more then one mouse at each time. Now...watch me." Petaldance said quietly, as she went down into stalking position. There was mouse, just a couple of feet away, idly nibbling on a nut. 'Hope I don't mess this up...' Petaldance thought to herself. It would be horrible to mess up on her first apprentice. She creeped towards the mouse, still hidden by the long grass in the field. Then she sprung onto it!
The grass where Petaldance and the mouse were moved around a bit. When Petaldance came back to Fawnpaw, it was with a small mouse clamped between her jaws. She dropped the mouse and buried it. "Just like that. But I realize that the tall grass around here may have made it hard for you see. Did you see the basics of the hunting position, or should I go through it again?" Petaldance asked Fawnpaw. '...Ah, right, tall grass might have made it hard for her to see me...why didn't I think of that...' Petaldance scolded herself in her thoughts.
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Post by Wazo on Sept 19, 2008 2:09:17 GMT -5
Fawnpaw shook her head, her brown eyes shining as she eyed the grass that Petaldance just appeared from, a juicy catch clamped in her jaws. "No I think I got it," she commented. "I won't underestimate either. Besides, they got a bigger motivation then we do. We are running for our meal. They are running for their lives," she added with a soft laugh shaking her slender body.
Her ears perked slightly as she heard a rustle in the grass and caught the whiff of a mouse, easily noticeable with a scent of one right under her nose. Please let me impress Petaldance she prayed to StarClan, before mirroring the crouch she had seen Petaldance with and the one she had been practicing with her siblings.
She moved silently, easy enough for her considering her body was so small. Her brown eyes caught the sight of a mouse tail and with a spring of her paws, she pounced with an outstreched claw. She had the element of surprise to her advantage, but the mouse had other plans. Despite Fawnpaw's speed, the mouse wriggled its way out of her tiny paw and slipped through like water, speeding away through the bushes as fast as its feet could carry it.
Fawnpaw shook her head with disgust at her own attempt, unable to look at her mentor. |
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Post by Diamond on Sept 21, 2008 21:19:42 GMT -5
Petaldance stepped back and watched as Fawnpaw copied the standard mouse hunting position. 'So far so good...' Petaldance thought, just a slight bit nervously. It was Fawnpaw's first time trying to catch a mouse...chances were fairly good that she wasn't going to get it right away. Petaldance's eyes widened slightly in anticipation.
'Oh mouse dung!' Petaldance thought, watching as the mouse slipped through Fawnpaw's outstretch claw. "Huh...lucky mouse. If you had trapped the mouse better with your claws, you would have gotten it." Petaldance said with a knowing nod. "Still...not too bad for a first try." She added.
She couldn't help but have a small smile on her face when she saw Fawnpaw shake her head at herself. "Ah, it's alright. Cheer up, you'll get it next time! As a matter of fact, we should look for more mice." She said with obvious enthusiasm. "...So come on. You won't get any better if you don't try. " Petaldance added softly, as she started to walk a little bit further into the tall grass.
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Post by Wazo on Oct 27, 2008 22:28:46 GMT -5
The tiny she-cat's ears perked up happily at her mentor's words, before she had been unsure what sort of criticism to expect for her failed attempt. She smiled at Petaldance broadly, her eyes bright. "It's hard to remember to use claws, I'm so used to fighting with my brother and sister," she commented, her eyes already scanning the prairie looking for her next challenge. "Next time I won't forget," she promised, more to herself, pausing to watch a slight rustle in the golden fields.
Her nose told her it was a mouse, easy enough after having one right on her paws only a few moments ago. She dropped down into her crouch again, pausing quickly as she remembered to unshealth her claws. With her belly scraping the dirt, she crept closer and closer, finally pouncing. The mouse let out a squeak but it was too late as her claws closed around him.
At first Fawnpaw was stunned, staring down at the mouse in her paws, decently sized, espcially for her small statue. Then her warm brown eyes lit up and she purred in triumph, grabbing it with her teeth and setting it before Petaldance, hardly able to keep still. |
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Post by Diamond on Oct 28, 2008 15:37:35 GMT -5
Petaldance nodded, now a little bit more serious. "Yes, the claws. One of the most important tools of a cat. Do your best not to forget them..." Petaldance trailed off. She could see that Fawnpaw must have found the presence of yet another mouse. Well, of course she did. After all, the golden fields of Cherryclan were loaded with them.
'Here she goes...' Petaldance thought, narrowing her eyes slightly to watch how Fawnpaw would do this time, Would she miss again, or would she catch the mouse? This wasn't just a test for her...it was a test for Petaldance too. 'Easy does it, you can do it...' Petaldance thought. Though Petaldance tried to hide it, one could note the slight traces of anticipation on the she-cat's figure...
"Phew..." Petaldance sighed to herself, quietly so her apprentice would not hear. She smiled and looked up at Fawnpaw, beaming at her. "Very good job, you got it!" She said with large amount of cheer and joy in her voice.
Petaldance's gaze drifted down at the mouse. "Now, just because you caught the mouse, doesn't mean your job is done yet. You need to bury it now, so we can come back for it later." Petaldance pointed over a simple path of dirt with her right paw. "We still have more training to do." She added.
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Post by Wazo on Nov 12, 2008 2:12:32 GMT -5
She purred happily and began scooping away the soft dirt with smooth easy strokes of her delicate paws, placing her mouse gently in the hole as if it were buried treasure, and covered it quickly. Joy graced her soft features as she thought about how she would return to camp, triumphant, to her siblings and especially to her mother. Perhaps the picture would complete if there was a loving father also waiting to hear the news, but she would have to be content with what she had.
She paused from burying her catch at the thought of her family. So closely knit, yet if her mother wanted more kits, and Fawnpaw, with all her energetic bouncing about, had noticed the way she lovingly helped Ashenwind with hers. Would it change, if suddenly her, Stagpaw, and Deerpaw had half brothers and sisters? Would Brackenwing not pay as much attention to them? The thought troubled her and she hardly heard Petaldance's comment.
Snapping her head up she glanced a little guiltily at Petaldance. Mousedung! She should have been listening more carefully to her mentor and not thinking about something that might never happen. What did she say? Training...something about training...Of course! "Sure thing Petaldance! I'm ready," she responded cheerfully, if not a little relieved at her recovery. "Lead the way," the tiny she-cat added. |
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Post by Diamond on Nov 14, 2008 16:58:01 GMT -5
Petaldance giggled to herself a bit as she watched Fawnpaw bury the mouse. Of course, immediately afterwords, she silenced her giggling. 'Act professional, Petaldance!' Her thoughts screamed at her. Of course, she couldn't help but chuckle a bit at herself.
Petaldance shook her head and looked up at her apprentice. Was it just her, or did Fawnpaw look like she was lost in thought? The apprentice's eyes had a bit of a...far away look in them. 'Should I ask, or not? I guess the polite thing to do would be to ask...wait, wait, isn't it rude to pry into other cats business?! Well, then again...' Petaldance stopped thinking when she heard Fawnpaw say 'Lead the way.'
Petaldance smiled. "Fawnpaw, oh Fawnpaw, are you sure you heard everything I said? Do you know that you still have more mice to catch? " The mentor asked, in a slightly sing-song voice. Petaldance slowly started to walk forward, though she glanced back at Fawnpaw, to see if her apprentice heard everything she said that time.
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