Rabbit Hunting (OPEN)

[Wolfie]

    The black shadows moved through the moor as a rabbit nibbled on the grass. Slowly the black tom placed his paws as his yellow eyes stayed focus on rabbit before him. As he came within a fox length, he bunched up his muscles and gave chase to the fast little rabbits. His paws chased after the rabbit as it zigzaged. He tackled it just before it hit it's warren. He quickly gave it a killing blow. 

    Jaybreeze raised his black and white maw up to the sky and mewed, "Thank you for this foo, Starclan." He then, bent down and picked up his prey. His eyes landed on his leg. He saw the white patch/scar and sighed. His own mentor gave him that wound when he figured out that Silverwing's kits were in fact his own. Only a few people knew he was the father, must knew they were part Windclan, just did not know which one.

[Tiny]

Smallpaw

Finally, she would be able to spend the night back in the apprentice’s den. With her latest illness she had been secluded to the medicine cat’s den and had not seen her own bed since her apprentice ceremony almost a half moon prior (she had been apprenticed a quarter moon early). She couldn’t wait to get back and curl up in the nest. Now that she thought about it, she could move her nest back towards the warmer part of the den..surely the other apprentices wouldn’t mind. Especially since she hadn’t slept in her nest for more than a day before she had gotten sick. If she slept toward the back, hopefully it could help her frail body recover easier. Maybe this would help her not get so sick…wishful thinking there.

Just as she was finally about to curl up in her nest, deciding to move it later, she heard shuffling pawsteps. Half of her day had been spent with waiting for permission to return. Smallpaw rarely slept much anyway. She was too eager to get out and help. She was eager to get back out and train, to do something other than just sit still and rest. Instead of trying to go to sleep, she became curious. Though she knew it was probably no more than a fellow apprentice awaking and going to train or just giving her some peace, she shrugged it off.

She was no longer tired and itching to do something, anything. It hit her then. She hadn’t been out on a territory walk or anything. Her mentor was going to take her the day she had gotten sick. But she was too weak to go anywhere at that time. Smallpaw knew it was probably not a good thing to go out and do what she was thinking, but half the time she never thought things through.

The tiny apprentice looked around, made sure no one was watching (or thought so) and snuck out of camp, running into the territory. Maybe she could even catch a rabbit! With a large grin, Smallpaw bounded around the territory. She had no clue where she was going, all she knew is she was finally free! She had been told to take it easy, not do anything too strenuous for a few days. Running wasn’t strenuous was it? As she was running, she spotted a rabbit. Would this really be a good idea to try and catch this? Most rabbits were larger than she was. It was rare to find a rabbit smaller than her. In the end, Smallpaw ended up chasing the rabbit more than trying to catch it.


Word Count: 440
Tags: WC cats

[Featherclaw]

Get out of the camp, Kestrelwhisker had said. A walk around the territory will do you good.

Copperstar shook her head slightly, tilting her face up toward the clear sky. The breeze ruffled her fur affectionately, as if the wind itself was trying to cheer her up, but Copperstar couldn't help but twitch her tail anxiously. It still felt like she was a kit with a ball of moss slightly too big to properly play with - but the ball of moss was the state of WindClan itself.

She took a deep breath and slowly let it out, forcing her muscles to relax. Kestrelwhisker was right - she worried too much. StarClan had allowed her to become leader, and she had to have faith that they would guide her pawsteps. Surely they wouldn't let her run WindClan into ruin, even if it was unintentional.

Movement nearby caught her attention, and Copperstar's ears twitched in anticipation. Was that a rabbit? Instinctively, she stalked up to a clump of heather and couched inside it, opening her mouth to taste the air. What in StarClan could it be running from? It's too messy to be a proper hunt. Beneath the terrified rabbit, she caught the scent of one of the apprentices and forced herself not to scowl. She shouldn't hold it against an apprentice to hunt this haphazardly, but she'd have to have a word with the medicine cat and their mentor later. She was fairly certain this particular apprentice was supposed to be confined to the medicine den until further notice.

As the rabbit raced towards her, Copperstar darted out of the clump of heather that was her hiding spot, leaping towards the rabbit with claws outstretched. The rabbit, panicked, tried to skid to a halt to change its direction, but it was too late. Copperstar latched on to the rabbit and swiftly delivered the killing bite, snapping its neck before sending a silent thanks to StarClan. Once she laid the rabbit down, she turned to face the tiny apprentice. "I see your mentor hasn't taught you how to hunt yet. Where are they?"

[Wolfie]

    As the black and white tom turned to head back to camp he caught the scent of Smallpaw. He liked the younger she-cat. She reminded him of Hollypaw, just by the size of her and also of Lionpaw for her color is the same. He let out a small smile, and then dropped it. Hollypaw and Lionpaw were not his kits anymore, they belonged to Thunderclan. He stood up and began to look for the apprentice. She was supposed to be confined to the Medicine Cat’s Den, obviously that did not happen. As he found her, he saw she was giving chase to a rabbit and then Copperstar stepped in and killed it.

    He listened as Copperstar spoke he listened, before making himself known. He came into view of the two she-cats and nodded his head. He dropped his rabbit down and spoke, “I not think they knew she had come out here, Copperstar, now did them, Smallpaw. And she has been confined to the Medicine Cat’s den til further notice and has been since her training started, therefore unable to tend to her hunting in training needs.” He mewed respectfully to his leader.

    Then, his eyes glazed on Smallpaw and smiled. He felt bad for the she-cat, “Why not teach her out here, I mean she is out now and she is probably anxious to start her training. I know she should be punished for disobeying orders, but she can clean the medicine cat, elders, and your den,” Jaybreeze suggested.

[Featherclaw]

Copperstar twitched her tail slightly. She would have preferred that Smallpaw speak for herself, but it was her own fault for not scenting Jaybreeze's approach. So much for giving Smallpaw a chance to explain herself. She sat down next to the rabbit, resisting the urge to dig her claws into the ground to release some tension. Instead, she took a deep breath and hoped that it wasn't too obvious. "I am aware of this apprentice's status, Jaybreeze," she said, "and it will be up to her mentor and the medicine cat to decide on punishment." She paused for a moment to think, casting a sidelong glance at Smallpaw. She certainly seemed healthy enough, at least for now, but Copperstar couldn't help but wonder if, at this rate, Smallpaw would have to retire to the elder's den well before her time. Her gut clenched at the thought, and she quickly shook it off. If she were to avoid that fate, she would need training.

"You make a point, Jaybreeze. If this apprentice is feeling well enough to chase a rabbit around the moor without intending to catch it, then she can at least learn how to properly respect her prey. Come here, Smallpaw." she said, flicking her tail. "You may be ill, but a WindClan cat that can't run is like a bird that can't fly. Now, pretend this rabbit is still alive and show me your hunting crouch."

[Tiny]

Smallpaw

Smallpaw was actually having fun for once. The way her sickness came and went she was not like other apprentices. They could play, or do whatever they wanted whenever they wanted. Smallpaw was sick more than she was well. This caused her to sit out on much of the fun that happened. As a kit she would watch others play and she would either be in the medicine cat’s den, or forced to sit out and rest. Every part of her body gave up on her quickly. Her body would tire out way before her spirit would. She would try her best to keep going, but her body would just collapse. It still is the same to this day.

She ignored the tight feeling in her chest as she was running. This was not the greatest idea to do, right after being released from the medicine cat den. But when was Smallpaw ever doing something that was brilliant? Her ideas usually all ended up with her hurt, more sick, or passed out from exhaustion. This was the freest she had felt in quite some time. Smallpaw’s fun soon came to a halt when, as her luck would have it, the leader caught the rabbit she had been chasing. Oh great. Now she was in for it. She blinked and was about to respond to Copperstar, but unfortunately her chest was tightening and she was breathing harder. She would have to wait to catch her breath before she could speak.

Relief washed over her face when a familiar cat came into view. She knew better than to speak when another cat was talking…most of the time. But this was Jaybreeze, she needed to listen to him. So she just nodded at whatever he was saying. She looked at Copperstar, nodding her agreement. Though the idea of cleaning out dens she gave a scowl to.

Deciding that her breathing was more under control and that she could speak she spoke up. ”I was coming to find you, Jaybreeze. I just got the all clear to go back to training. I’m suppose to take it easy for a few days but I don’t know what that means. That doesn’t mean I can’t train or practice stuff does it?” she questioned curiously.

Turning to Copperstar she sighed, ”I wasn’t chasing it for the fun of it, at first. I tried to catch it but it’s really really big. I think it is a little bigger than me even. And I’m huge!” And there she went again. Smallpaw was the biggest cat in the clan in her mind. It was hard to convince this cat just how small she was at times. The tiny apprentice made her way to the leader. What was going to happen now? Was she in big trouble? Would she have to go back to being a kit? The little she-cat listened and nodded. ”I’m not ill, though. I’m fine, the medicine cat said so. I wouldn’t be able to be out of the den if I wasn’t!” she mewed. Smallpaw began to crouch down, wiggling her bottom as she stared at the rabbit and grinned. She had learned the crouches from the apprentices when she was a kit, but being in the medicine cats den for so long had weakened her muscles slightly and she was unbalanced. And she knew she was off balanced and huffed.

Word Count: 566
Tags: WC cats

[Featherclaw]

Copperstar couldn't help but twitch the tip of her tail in irritation. "Don't get smart with me, Smallpaw." she said, rising to her paws. "You should have stayed in the camp and waited for your mentor to return, if the medicine cat has truly allowed you to leave their den. The moors are dangerous, and rest assured I will be having words with both your mentor and the medicine cat about you wandering out on your own. Don't think that you'll be getting off without some kind of reprimand." She firmly placed her paw at the base of Smallpaw's tail, holding the squirmy apprentice in place. "And keep still. You'll scare off every rabbit from here to Highstones if you keep wiggling about like that, and pouting about it as you are isn't going to make it any easier. Jaybreeze," she said, turning to the other warrior, "please demonstrate a proper hunting crouch to this apprentice."

[Wolfie]

Jaybreeze smiled at Smallpaw as he came to stand by her. He gave her a calming lick to the ear. "I am glad we can finally start your training, Smallpaw, but Copperstar correct. You should have waited for me. You could have been attacked since we couldn't start your training yet." He lectured the younger cat. Then shifted his glaze to Copperstar. He grunted as she yelled at Smallpaw. Whether he did not like it for she reminded him of his kit or cause he did not think she deserved this scolding, but he didn't like it. "I do not think she is being smart with you, Copperstar. Also, as her mentor I think that punishment shall do and I'll show her what to do as well, because I don't think she knows how to yet."

Then shifted his glaze to Smallpaw. He looked at her carefully. "Did you eat before coming out here? I know you don't eat that much. I get informed about you, Smallpaw." He mewed then nodded his head to Copperstar as he dropped into the rabbit crouch. He slowly moved his paws forward, making sure only his paws touched the ground. Then he stood up and looked over at the leader and his apprentice.

[Tiny]

Smallpaw

It took quite a lot to make Smallpaw feel her actual size. Usually she had a big ego and that made up for her small size. But every time Copperstar spoke, the little she-cat felt smaller and smaller. She found herself backing away from the leader and closer to her mentor. The apprentice flattened herself to the ground trying to make herself disappear. Maybe that would make the problems go away. But her stubborn pride wouldn’t allow her to back down from an argument, even if it meant she was as close to Jaybreeze as possible and using him as practically a shield. ”I’m not being smart to you, I’m just letting you know what’s going on. You asked me a question, and I answered it. I thought that is what you wanted?” And when Copperstar spoke again, Smallpaw really did feel small. ”I just wanted to show the other apprentices I’m not useless and that I can do things. They see me as a weak kit, and I thought if I caught a rabbit or something it would make me at least even with them in their eyes.” Smallpaw mewed, a bit hurt.

Then it came time for the leader’s instructions on hunting. Wait, she had to stay still? That was almost impossible for her. She had been cooped up in the medicine cat den for a quarter moon, unable to do anything. And now she had to stay still. She blinked in disbelief. And holding her in place only made her squirm more. Her body would not allow her to stay still, she was about to explode. So instead of exploding, tiny mewls escaped from her mouth. Great...now she sounded more like a kit than an apprentice. When all attention was turned to her mentor she sighed a little in relief.

Smallpaw watched Jaybreeze carefully. Looking up to the calmer cat she sighed. ”I really didn’t mean to make you mad or anything, I just was so excited about finally being able to leave and prove the other apprentices that I’m not a weak link.” She looked up at Jaybreeze and as he stood up to the leader her eyes were wide with amazement. He was awesome! She had the best mentor ever! Not only was there amazement in her eyes, but a hint of gratitude as well.

When he looked back to her, Smallpaw tried to hide the smile on her face, but it was hard. Someone else had stuck up for her. How could she not smile at that? She swallowed hard. Oh great, he knew about her. She squirmed around and shook her head. ”I wasn’t hungry, and I already ate yesterday, and I’m still full from that.” Only she would still be full from a few bites of a rabbit from early yesterday morning. Even the medicine cat had trouble with her feeding. What she hadn’t told Jaybreeze is that the food she had eaten yesterday had been forced down her throat by the medicine cat.

Jaybreeze began demonstrating the crouch, and Smallpaw’s eyes were on him. She watched his every move. That might be a little harder for her, she swallowed hard. Maybe everyone was right, maybe she should just quit and retire to the elders den. She was never going to get this stuff. The other apprentices were far ahead of her, and kits probably could do more than she could.


Word Count: 569
Tags: WC cats

[Featherclaw]

Copperstar watched Smallpaw closely, circling around the pair of cats slowly to inspect their poses. She wasn't about to let this apprentice make her feel guilty about asserting her authority - she was the leader, and Smallpaw had to know that what she had done was unacceptable. "You won't prove anything to the other apprentices if you wander around out here on the moors on your own and end up as hawkfood." she said, making sure her tone was slightly gentler. "And if you let your pride get in the way of your sense, then you'll never be able to become as strong a warrior as you can."

She dropped her gaze to the apprentice's paws on her second circle. They looked unsteady, but Copperstar could tell the apprentice was trying to hide it. "Warriors must learn to control their energy and focus it into every attack, every pounce, and every stride that they run." she continued. "But they can't have that energy unless they eat. If what Jaybreeze says is true, then you are not fit to continue training until you have eaten. As your leader, I order you to return to camp. Jaybreeze, you are not to take her out training until you have seen her eat at least a whole mouse or bird. And I do mean an entire piece of prey, Smallpaw." she added, fixing her gaze once again on the apprentice. "If you don't eat, how can you expect to keep your strength up so that you can train, hunt, or fight? Raw energy only gets you so far, and don't let Jaybreeze catch you mewling like that the next time you try to hunt." With that, Copperstar nodded at Jaybreeze and Smallpaw before picking up the rabbit she had killed and turning to walk back towards the camp.