Private Thread Heather the Hunter!

The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all
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Heatherpaw’s paws kneaded the ground beneath her as she listened. She wasn’t always sure what to do with Bayflower praise, and their warmth made her chest feel light...and gave her the figets.

"That sounds good. I...I’d like to try it." There was a flicker of something nervous in her tone, but she also didn't want to mess up whatever Bayflower had planned. Her claws were beginning to tear up strands of grass as she sat there before she caught herself fidgeting again.

Smiling up at the black cat, Heatherpaw beamed up at her mentor. "I'll do my best."

"Your happiness is mine."

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Bayflower purred and nodded, always pleased by Heatherpaw’s eagerness to try something new and learn. “Do not fret,” the older molly assured her apprentice. “Just do your best! I’m sure that you’re going to do great.” the she-cat purred before starting to explain the new hunting move to her apprentice.

“This move is called ‘The Chase’.” Bayflower began “Rabbits and hares are amongst the largest of the common prey caught in all the clans. They possess amazing speed through powerful hind legs. But I need you to be careful, Heartherpaw. Those same legs can kick hard enough to break legs and ribs in cats, not quick enough to make a clean kill, or not strong enough to hold the animal firmly."

"There are two methods that work for hunting and chasing prey: the first being to wait along the paths they use frequently. The more reliable method, however, is to simply stalk carefully close enough and then give chase, as both rabbits and hares are prone to panic and a swift cat with good reflexes can follow the dodges and get closer by running in a straighter line than the rabbit’s erratic course.”

Bayflower paused as if waiting for Heatherpaw to process the information. She knew that it was kind of a lot so she didn't want to overwhelm her apprentice.

The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all
❖ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❀ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❖

Heatherpaw listened closely, teal eyes wide, trying to hold every word steady in her mind. She swallowed when Bayflower spoke of bones breaking. Her ears flattened against her head briefly as if feeling the shadow of the blow.

"I understand..." She mewed, trying to keep her voice steady. "Don’t get too close until I know I can hold it. And keep to the straighter path when it runs." Her claws flexed once in the grass, testing the brakes so to speak. "So… I have to trust my paws more than my eyes when it starts zig zagging...Do we start with stalking first?"

"Your happiness is mine."

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Bayflower nodded, attempting to offer Heatherpaw a reassuring smile. She wasn't sure how reassuring it exactly felt though. "Yes. Now. Tell me, do you smell any rabbits out and about, Heatherpaw?" the feline questioned, gentle yet encouraging. "Hares work too."

The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all
❖ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❀ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❖

Heatherpaw lifted her head, drawing in a slow breath like Bayflower had taught her. Her nose twitched once… twice… then she padded a few fox lengths away, ears pricked. She wasn't expecting to scent anything so soon, but who knew, the moors could be full of rabbits this time of the year.

At first her face fell, whiskers drooping just a little. "Aww. I don't think..." The young she-cat begun, sounding a bit disappointed. But then something faint brushed the inside of her nose and her ears immediately perked.

"Wait... hold on." She inhaled again, her small chest heaving, affirmatively. She glanced back to Bayflower. "…I do smell one."

"Your happiness is mine."

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Bayflower watched Heatherpaw closely. Silently. The molly smiled softly as she watched her apprentice search for a rabbit in hopes of being able to learn this new move today. The older she-cat's heart blossomed with pride as she imagined her apprentice all grown up and becoming a warrior.

When Heatherpaw picked up the scent, the senior warrior gave her apprentice a nod of approval. "Very good, Heatherpaw. Now, just stalk carefully close enough and then give chase. Trust your instincts. I believe in you."

The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all
❖ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❀ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❖

Heatherpaw nodded,  trying to steady the rush of nerves buzzing through her paws. She sank low into a crouch each step deliberate as she let the faint rabbit scent guide her. She could see it now eating a patch of clover. Her heart thumped hard enough she wondered if the rabbit could hear it.

But before she got within pouncing distance, the rabbit’s head snapped up and bolted. Heatherpaw gasped and lunged after it on instinct, paws scrambling for purchase as she burst from the brush.

For a heartbeat she kept pace but as the rabbit spun sharply and the she-cat tried to follow, her paws skidded in the dirt. Hind legs slipped as she stumbled. By the time she scrambled back to her paws, the rabbit already dipped into sheltering ferns.

She stood there for a moment, fur slightly ruffled, breath coming fast as disappointment pooled in her chest. Her ears drooped and she gave her neck fur a quick embarrassed lick. "I...I slipped. I didn’t turn fast enough...Or maybe too fast. I don't know..."