Private Thread Busy, Chapped Paws

Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light; I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night
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Palestar’s whiskers twitched with faint amusement at Redpaw’s uncertainty. His enthusiasm and rawness reminded her of her first days as an apprentice. "We’re looking for prey - and an oppertunity like this mouse. Smell it?" She motioned with her nose toward the faint quiver of the dried grass. "This will be small practice before the main event - You are crouching, good. Watch how it moves. You need to be just as slow and patient to catch it."

Head low and voice teasing the softest notes in the chilled air. "We are heading to the Forest's Edge to hunt rabbit. If we're lucky we can catch one in its burrow. They don’t sleep during leafbare, which makes them valuable prey - but they’re quick if they are out of their burrow."

Her gaze fell back to the young tom, her sharp odd eyes expectant. "But first, practice on this mouse. Distribute your weight evenly on your paws as you go and remember - patience." She nodded toward the grass, her tail-tip signaling him to begin as she stole a couple steps to the side, allowing him to make his own way like she had demonstrated before.

Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light; I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night
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"Your nose will get used to it." With quiet reassurance, her voice steady and light, though her sharp gaze flicked to his twitching tail. She tucked her own tail tightly against her flank, a subtle reminder of what he needed to correct.

"To keep your nose warm, breathe through your mouth and exhale through your nose. It helps warm the air as it passes through. Try it - it’ll help you pick up scents, even in this frost." She demonstrated the action herself.

She shifted her attention briefly back to the mouse’s hiding spot in the grass. "As for knowing it’s a mouse…"Her whiskers twitched."I saw it scurry a moment ago into the grass. Rabbits move differently -  their steps are heavier and more spaced out. You’ll learn to spot the signs."

Her odd colored eyes met his, her voice dropping to a near whisper to match his. "Your crouch is good, but that tail of yours will give you away. Tuck it low, keep it still." She stepped quietly to the side, her posture relaxed but watchful, letting Redpaw have his moment to try.

Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light; I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night
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Palestar’s ears twitched, her whiskers lifting in somber amusement at his question. "Yes." Her voice was calm but firm. “I already know how to catch prey. This is about you learning. Whether you catch it or not, it’s the effort and the practice that matter."

Her gaze softened slightly, her tone encouraging. "Leafbare is harsh, yes, but we can’t afford to let that stop us from training our skills. Every warrior learns by trying, even if they don’t succeed at first. This is about preparing you for the future as well as feeding the clan."

She motioned toward the grass with a slow flick of her tail. “Trust yourself. You’ve got the stance and the patience - now put them to use. I’ll be here to help if you miss, but this is your moment." Her odd-colored eyes gleamed as she settled quietly to the side, letting him take the lead.

Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light; I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night
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Palestar’s eyes narrowed shrewdly as Redpaw’s pounce fell short, her eyes tracking the streak of motion darting away from the reeds. Her own muscles twitched, ready to intervene if the mouse veered too far out of reach, but she kept herself planted. This was his hunt, and he had to see it through.

"Mice zig zag to throw you off. Stay focused, and don’t hesitate." She hoped her encouragement would push him to take charge of the moment. Success or failure, this chase would teach him more than any lecture she could give. Eventually Palestar followed their trajectory, ready to help if needed.

Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light; I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night
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Palestar approached her apprentice, her expression patient as she padded closer. "Yes. That’s how you know it’s fresh prey - something your clanmates will be grateful for tonight."

She crouched beside him and nodded toward the mouse, her gaze calm. "The life you take today will give life to many others. That’s the balance of the forest. You’ve already done the hard part, Redpaw. Now, finish it swiftly and with respect. It’s the kindest thing you can do for it - and it’s what StarClan expects of us."

Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light; I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night
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Palestar’s ears flicked at Redpaw’s question, her gaze briefly shifting to the frosted grass before returning to him, thoughtful and steady. "Hickorystorm’s survival is a testament to his strength and StarClan’s will. His story is not the same as this mouse’s..." she began, her tone even but contemplative.

"There’s no honor in death itself, Redpaw. Honor lies in how we live."  She paused, her gaze softening as she crouched to his level. "This mouse didn’t have the chance to think about survival the way we do. It acts on instinct. It doesn’t weigh its choices or its future. That’s why it’s our duty to ensure its death isn’t wasted."

Her voice grew quieter, yet no less firm. "When we hunt, we honor the forest by taking only what we need. That’s the balance - not a trade, not a punishment, but a cycle... It’s okay to question these things, Redpaw. A good warrior doesn’t follow blindly. But it’s also important to understand that survival comes with difficult choices. You’ve done well today. Now lets go check out those burrows." The pale she-cat of her namesake picked up the mouse and buried it in the snow for later.