Private Thread More Coyote Spots

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
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Leopardrose listened patiently as Coyotepaw spoke, her pale aqua eyes soft with understanding. She noticed how the young she-cat’s words trailed off, how her shoulders slumped slightly as she hesitated to express her full thoughts. The Bengal warrior recognized that feeling all too well - of wanting to say more but holding back, unsure if she had the right to speak her true feelings.

As they walked, Leopardrose considered Coyotepaw’s question, one that tugged at her heart. "It wasn’t always easy. At first, I felt like I had to prove myself every single day, to make sure everyone saw me as more than just an outsider." Her gaze turned thoughtful as they reached the clearing, where pale sunlight filtered down through the trees. "But I do love ThunderClan. It’s where I belong now. And it will feel that way for you too, in time. Just give yourself space to grow into it."

Leopardrose watched Coyotepaw lift her head and part her jaws to scent the air. Her apprentice was trying so hard, the warrior could see it in the way Coyotepaw’s brow furrowed with concentration. When she mentioned the familiar scents of trees, dead leaves, and finally mice, Leopardrose nodded with approval.

"Good." Came her soft purr. "You’re right about the mice. Leafbare makes it harder to find them, but they’re out there if you know where to look." She stepped forward, padding toward the edge of the clearing, where the underbrush grew thicker, casting faint shadows on the frosted earth. "Don’t worry if you can’t hear or scent everything perfectly just yet. That’ll come with time. You’re still learning, and I’m here to help you."

"The trick to hunting in leafbare is patience. The prey moves slower, but so do we. We can use the cold and quiet to our advantage, but it takes practice. Let’s see if we can catch that mouse you scented. Would you want me to demonstrate for you first, or try on your own first? If you stay low and keep your movements controlled you might be able to catch it. And even if you don't on the first round it’s the effort that counts."

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
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Leopardrose gave Coyotepaw a reassuring nod as the young apprentice trailed off, clearly still uncertain but willing to try. She could see the tension in Coyotepaw’s posture, the way her ears flicked and her nose twitched as she strained to pick up more scents. It was admirable, but Leopardrose understood that confidence would take time.

"Don’t worry." Leopardrose meowed gently, noticing the way Coyotepaw’s thoughts seemed to be clouded with self-doubt. "It’s normal to feel like you’re not catching everything right away. Trust your instincts. We’ll work on sharpening them together."

When Coyotepaw offered for her to catch the mouse instead, Leopardrose hesitated for a moment, then nodded. She could sense the apprentice’s desire to watch and learn first before trying herself. It was a smart decision - Coyotepaw wanted to absorb every detail before acting, something Leopardrose could appreciate.

She gave another nod, crouching low as she turned her attention to the underbrush where the mouse hid. Her muscles rippled beneath her spotted pelt as she moved with quiet precision, each step measured, her weight carefully shifted to avoid the dry leaves underpaw. She crept closer, her tail hovering just above the ground as she neared the mouse’s hiding spot.

With a sudden, graceful pounce, Leopardrose landed lightly on the mouse, swiftly dispatching it with a sharp bite. She straightened up, the mouse limp in her jaws, and padded back toward Coyotepaw, setting it down between them. "There we go." She meowed, her voice warm. "Did you notice how I kept my movements slow and controlled? No sudden rushes until I was close enough to strike."

As she spoke, she couldn’t help but notice Coyotepaw’s quiet, almost longing expression. The apprentice was clearly troubled by something more than just the challenges of hunting. Leopardrose didn’t push - she knew that Coyotepaw would speak when she was ready - but she made a mental note to keep a closer eye on her.

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
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Leopardrose flicked her ears in amusement at Coyotepaw's question, appreciating the young apprentice's curiosity and eagerness to learn. She had been exactly like that once - so focused on every detail, worried about getting everything right.

"It might look like I pounced randomly," Leopardrose began, sitting down beside the apprentice with a gentle purr. "But it’s all about reading the prey’s movements. You want to wait until it’s fully distracted, when it’s not paying attention to you anymore. The moment it’s focused on something else - whether it’s eating or grooming - that’s your chance."

She raised her paw, flexing her claws to emphasize her point. "As for your paws, don’t worry too much about that. Every cat has a different style when it comes to hunting. You’ll learn how to move in a way that works for you, big paws or not. Just practice keeping light on them - feel the ground beneath your pads before you step, and try to avoid twigs or dry leaves."

Her gaze softened as she dug a shallow hole for the mouse to go in, a treasure to be unearthed later once they were done with the hunt. Her aqua eyes flashed towards her lilac pelt as she gave her encouragement. "Why don't you take the lead now and see if you scent anything else for a bit."

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
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Leopardrose watched intently as Coyotepaw crept forward, her pale aqua eyes warm with pride as she saw the apprentice mimicking her earlier moves. She could sense the focus in Coyotepaw’s every step, the careful attention to detail. When the twig snapped, Leopardrose didn’t flinch. She had been expecting mistakes - they were part of learning - but she knew Coyotepaw had the drive to push through.

The young she-cat’s pounce was swift and determined, and despite the fumble, she managed to catch the mouse. Leopardrose padded over as Coyotepaw turned around, mouse dangling from her jaws, a mixture of embarrassment and triumph flickering in her amber eyes.

Leopardrose let out a soft purr of approval, her tail curling slightly. "You did catch it." She meowed, nodding encouragingly. "And that’s the most important part. Startling it doesn’t mean you failed - in fact, reacting quickly like that shows you have good instincts. Not every hunt is perfect, and sometimes things don’t go as planned. What matters is how you adjust in the moment."

She leaned forward, giving Coyotepaw a gentle nudge on the shoulder. "It was a good catch, and you should be proud of that. You’re learning, and every mistake is just one step closer to improving." Leopardrose’s gaze softened further, noticing the hint of humor in Coyotepaw’s expression. "Besides." Her grin stretched on her maw, tail flicking playfully. "I’ve definitely had worse hunts."

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
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Leopardrose watched as Coyotepaw buried her catch, her heart warming at the apprentice’s growing confidence. The way Coyotepaw responded - downplaying the praise - reminded her so much of herself during her own apprenticeship. It was always easier to dismiss compliments than to fully accept them, especially when you were used to blending into the background.

Padding over to stand beside her, Leopardrose let out a small, amused purr. "You’d be surprised how much worse it can get." Her tone was light, but there was a genuine fondness in her voice. "I’ve missed more times than I’d care to admit. Once, I tripped over my own paws chasing a squirrel. Ended up tangled in a bush while the squirrel just sat there, watching me with this smug little look. It didn’t even bother running." She let out a laugh, her tail flicking playfully behind her.

She gave Coyotepaw an encouraging glance, her aqua eyes gleaming. "And besides, you’ve already got something not every cat has - the ability to laugh at yourself. That’ll get you far in this world." Her gaze softened, hoping that somehow her encouragement was wearing through the other she-cat. "Ready to see if we can try scenting something else further down?"

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
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Leopardrose’s whiskers twitched. There was approval in her eyes, but there was always room for improvement. The young apprentice’s small nod was a sign of progress, and that was more than enough for her for now. "That’s the spirit." she purred, noticing the subtle shift in Coyotepaw’s vibe.

"Yes, I want you to try again," Leopardrose meowed with an encouraging flick of her tail, yet her tone was firm. "I know it's hard to drown out the noise around you, but focus on the scent that feels the clearest. Let your instincts guide you."

She stepped back slightly, allowing Coyotepaw the space to take the lead even if her aqua eyes tried to guide her in the right direction. It was easy to see how the lilac apprentice still hesitated, unsure of herself - but every step forward mattered. Leopardrose believed in her, even if Coyotepaw didn’t fully believe in herself yet.

"Just follow your nose, and let’s see what we can find."

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
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There was something admirable in Coyotepaw's determination, even if she struggled with her confidence. But Leopardrose wasn’t going to step in just yet - not until it was necessary.

When Coyotepaw turned to her, eyes filled with determination despite her frustration, Leopardrose’s heart warmed. She could see the drive to improve, and that was something she valued more than anything. She dipped her head in acknowledgment of the apprentice’s request, but instead of offering immediate assistance, Leopardrose lifted her own head to scent the air.

For a moment there was only the scent of pine and frost. But then, just faintly, her nose caught a whiff of something small, something feathery. Her ears twitched, picking up the faintest of flutters in a bush's branches nearby.

"A chickadee." Leopardrose murmured, her aqua eyes flicking up to a nearby bush. She gestured with a quick motion of her tail. "Birds can be tricky to catch - certainly much harder than a mouse, but I'll get into position too and with both of us, we can catch it. Just keep your paws light and focused..."

She waited for some sort of acknowledgement from the apprentice before she moved forward in a crouch. Her rosetted pelt disappeared behind a tree, shadowed by withered leaves, before she came to the other side of the bush in question. Flanking the creature would give them a higher chance of a successful hunt.

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
──●◎●──

Leopardrose remained still in her crouch, watching Coyotepaw with keen eyes as the apprentice moved into position. The young cat was learning, adapting, and that was more than half the battle. Leopardrose stayed prepared to intervene, but there was a part of her that hoped Coyotepaw would succeed on her own this time.

When Coyotepaw leapt, the bird took flight, and Leopardrose tensed, ready to spring if needed. But then she saw the apprentice’s claws catch the bird mid-air. Coyotepaw’s strength showed as she brought the chickadee back down to the ground, swiftly delivering a killing blow.

For a heartbeat, Leopardrose remained where she was, watching Coyotepaw as the young she-cat turned to her, the bird hanging from her mouth. There was a certain blankness in Coyotepaw’s expression, an uncertainty that tugged at Leopardrose’s heart. It was a moment of success, but Coyotepaw seemed unsure of how to feel about it.

With a soft purr, Leopardrose rose from her hiding spot and padded toward the apprentice. Her tone tried to match the warmth of encouragement. "That was a strong pounce, and you caught it all on your own. Well done."

Her gaze softened as she looked down at the bird. "...Every hunt, every moment, it’ll get easier to understand." Leopardrose paused, then added with a playful glint. "Chickadees are no small feat."

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
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As Coyotepaw turned back, silent but with a glimmer of something unspoken in her eyes, Leopardrose dipped her head in thought. They could always continue on thier path and explore further. If they came across something to hunt that could make a lesson of, they'd stop, but for now the she-cat unburied the catch.

"Why don’t we take a longer route back? Let's continue down the border towards Sunningrocks and then head back thorugh the woods. With a bit of luck, there might still be something tasty nearby - and if not, it’ll give us a different view on the way home.”

Without waiting for Coyotepaw to refuse, Leopardrose turned, setting off at a steady pace. She cast a quick glance back, giving her apprentice an encouraging nod to follow. Today’s lesson had been about more than hunting. It was also about seeing the possibilities in each moment, something she hoped Coyotepaw would start to embrace.