Closed Thread [Closed] A Nuisance and A Bother (15FG)

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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The grey body of a frightful bird hung from Palestar's jaws, eyes wide and unblinking as it recovered its strength from its previous bout of wing battering harmlessly against the she-cat's skull. It would be good practice for the nearly apprentice aged kits to learn how to approach flighted creatures such as these. Their territory teemed with life and it would be vital for them to understand the different strategies to one day provide for their clan.

Bird kept still, Palestar padded through camp, head held awkwardly as she almost carefully carried her feathered cargo - she barely saw the tomkit before it was too late, and jostled by his antics, her jaws bounced - and the pideon saw its chance to flee. The bird flapped, gaining altitude quickly from Palestar's maw, but its freedom was short lived.

Illustrating her lithe form and trained muscle, she leaned back on her haunches and launched herself into the air with a hiss. Claws extended as her paws clapped hard against the bird's wing before dragging it down with her weight. Once the pigeon struggled pitifully beak half pushed into the dirt, Palestar regarded the kit with an icy stare.

"Sootkit. You know better than to barrell through camp like that." With all the grace of a fuzzheaded newborn rather than the apprentices they nearly were. Her mismatched eyes seemed to glitter like river stones as she stood over the bird underneath her.

In youth we learn; in age we understand.

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Ashkit followed his sibling at a much more sedate pace. This was camp, after all, and full of things to fun into if you weren't careful enough. "How did you know how high to jump to grab it like that?" Ashkit demanded of Palestar, ignoring the rebuke on his brother and instead focusing on the pigeon that was pinned firmly to the dirt of the camp floor. "Can you teach me how to do that?!"

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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Claws kneaded into the warm body beneath her, feeling the flutter of the creature's heartbeat from beneath her paws. "Even instinct takes practice." She replied through her fangs, her gentle mew overlaid with a honed sharpness. "When you become apprentices, no doubt you will learn a great deal from your mentors and your clan, but in this particular instance - You can learn something from me."

No doubt Hawkfeather would appreciate such a prudent lesson for her sons. "Balance is key - you must ground yourself on your haunches, a good foundation for springing up with your legs." The pidgeon would be the perfect test subject to see just how well the kits could perform. She could feel the weight in its bones shift - no doubt it had broken a wing during her second capture. It would make catchable prey for the younglings - should they heed her instruction.

"I suspect your're both pacing yourself around camp with your mother's permission?" It would first be a shrewd consideration to make sure they weren't in places they shouldn't be.

In youth we learn; in age we understand.

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Ashkit opted to ignore the Leader's direct question, instead focusing on the instructions that had been given. With a targeting waggle of his haunches, Ashkit settled his paws to the earth and gathered his body tightly to give a text spring as far straight up as he physically could. He felt like it was a respectable height for his size.

"Like that?" Ashkit's excitement was obvious as he danced about on his white paws, waiting for a response from the leader.

And I can see us taking over the world...
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Sootkit was amazed at, as well as intimidated by, the way Palestar seemed so... powerful? He wondered if being a leader gave her powers beyond just nine lives. StarClan provided their blessings, didn't they? Either way, he nodded along, eager to get a lesson in hunting. It didn't matter if they weren't ThunderClan with their dense forest; any cat could come across a bird capable of feeding a cat or two. "Awesome," he whispered.

For once, the kit decided to sit still and listen to the leader. Most days, it was a boring lesson about responsibility and acting one's age, but this was exciting. As Sootkit settled onto his haunches in the way it was explained, there was a question about what they were doing around camp. Incredulous, Sootkit huffed, "Of course! As long as we don't bother anyone, we're fine to go around. Now..."

The kit scrunched up his body and performed a jump. Landing back on his paws, he seemed displeased. "I didn't even get that high..."

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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The semblance of a cat eyebrow raised at the enthusiasm, unable to conceal the mirth behind her eyes. They were kits after all, and yet old enough for her to be considering who might hold the honor of mentoring them. It was a heavy responsibility to be sure, and any that'd she'd trust to one would have to be especially honest and loyal.

She studied Ashkit and Sootkit as they performed their jumps, bunching their muscles and trying to pull action from her words. Ashkit's wasn't bad - he got great form when he wasn't dancing about, and Sootkit's... had something to be desired, but it wasn't terrible for his first try. They would need their enthusiasm for a more practical lesson like the one she had prepared.

"Very good for your first tries, but I always think the best results involve some sort of motivation. Take, for example... this pigeon here." Her claws kneaded the creature for effect, which induced a brief flapping of its awkward wings.

"The first instinct a bird like this has is to fly up high to avoid pouncing claws. You need to be swift enough and jump high and accurate enough to prevent that from happening. Position yourselves in your best possible jumping forms - and once you two do, I'll release the pigeon and see which of you can grab it."

In youth we learn; in age we understand.

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Suddenly, Ashkit was all focused worry. "What if it gets away?" He asked plaintively. The bird couldn't escape just because they didn't know how to hunt yet. Palestar had already caught it. Twice.

He gathered himself and gave another practice leap, just in an effort to be fully ready when the bird was released. Then he gathered himself and waited, the feeble pigeon's flaps holding his full attention.

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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The pigeon would make for a good lesson, knowing that the bird would, most likely, not make an escape. At best it would hop and flail around camp if it was not promptly caught due to its injuries, and she had high hopes that one of the kits would demonstrate a natural aptitude for both listening to her advice and instinctual hunting form.

"Get ready. To your forms - be patient and trust yourselves." Palestar had high expectations, especially since she was interested in mentoring. Perhaps this would be a sign from Starclan on who she should teach. When she had determined each was prepared to strike, the pointed she-cat released the bird. Exhausted and injured, the pigeon erupted in pained feather flaps, wing hanging awkwardly as it jumped up and tried to get airborne.

Now was the perfect time to strike! Palestar waited for the kits, but had already reclined onto her haunches herself as a fail safe.

In youth we learn; in age we understand.

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Ashkit gave an excited hiss and the weak flapping, gathering himself as Palestar had demonstrated and launched himself airborne. His banded tail waived behind him, trying to target as he sailed as far skyward as his half-grown legs could take him, definitely over the head of the bird, but maybe luck would let him land on it anyways, when he came down.