Training (Shimmer)

[Lionhearted]

Tagged: @shimmerstar1161 [Shimmerpaw] 

OOC: I think they were near the StormClan border, so we'll go from there ^^

"Good," Lakepounce said, "and now what should we do? You smelled a mouse, okay- shall we all go catch it, or one of us? Or should we just leave it be?" she prompted. This was supposed to the hardest part of mentoring; teaching others to teach. How was she supposed to do that perfectly? Silently, she bit her lip, hoping that she wouldn't fail herself. 

[Deleted]

Shimmerpaw paused, and began thinking aloud. "Sending all of us after it would be ridiculous; we'll scare it away quickly. If we leave it be, we'll pass up the chance to get more prey for the clan. So, I think one of us should go after it." She looked at Lakepounce, hoping she made the right choice.

[Lionhearted]

Lakepounce remained stoic, but jerked her head to Logpaw, who nodded timidly.

"I think so, too," he remarked, "but what shall the rest of us do? Also, I think you should go after it- you're the leader."

Inside, Lakepounce beamed. This seemed to be going fine, and it looked as if Dapplefur had trained Logpaw well, too. Perhaps the two would become friends quickly. "Okay. What now? Who goes?"

[Deleted]

Shimmerpaw's eyes lit up. "Lakepounce, why don't you go catch it? You have the most experience out of all of us." She glanced at Logpaw to see if he agreed. "Meanwhile, Logpaw and I will continue down the border, and keep marking it." The grey tabby apprentice began padding down the border, glancing back to make sure Logpaw was following.

[Lionhearted]

"All right, then, I will." Padding away, Lakepounce crouched, stalked, and quickly took down the mouse. Carrying it in her jaws, she buried it under a tree, then returned to the patrol.

---

Nodding, Logpaw mutely followed Shimmerpaw down the border, occasionally stopping to mark.

"Hello," said Lakepounce, who had caught up. "Finished? Is this all?"

[Deleted]

Shimmerpaw hesitated. What did Lakepounce want her to say? "Yes, I think we are for now." Shimmerpaw replied. "We have marked the whole Stormclan border, and I saw a patrol go out to mark the other one this morning." She continued, new-found confidence spreading to every hair on her pelt.

[Lionhearted]

"Good," Lakepounce said again in approval. "So, shall we return to the camp?"

-At the camp-

Lakepounce pulled Shimmerpaw aside once she had dismissed Logpaw. "Great job out there. Some advice- you found your confidence near the end of the patrol. However, you need to sound more sure in the future- I'm not going to be there asking you questions, and nor will anyone else. So you would need to keep things moving.

"Tomorrow is your final assessment," said Lakepounce. "There will be two cats watching and assessing you, one of them being me. The other is another warrior- I haven't talked to Fangstar yet. but do your chores, eat well, and get good sleep. Best of luck."

(New day! Last day!)

[Deleted]

(Awesome!)

Shimmerpaw nodded. She noticed that as well, and made a mental note to sound more confident when she speaks. When Lakepounce mentioned her final assessment, Shimmerpaw's heart suddenly jumped to her throat. She had grown rather fond of her mentor, and trusted her to watch her train. but having another warrior watch her made Shimmerpaw feel nervous. Another warrior didn't know how Shimmerpaw trained and acted; they wouldn't know anything. However, she put on a smile and nodded. "I'm very excited!" She replied with a purr.

[Lionhearted]

"Good," replied Lakepounce, walking up with a black tom. "This is Whatevertail. We'll be watching your progress throughout the entire assessment."

-In the forest-

"All right," said Lakepounce, turning to Shimmerpaw, "the first task is solo hunting. Catch as many prey as you can before one of us comes to get you. Go!"

OOC: Whatevertail is an NCP, just saying XP

[Deleted]

OOC: Lol, okay XD

Shimmerpaw nodded, and then began padding deeper into the forest. She placed her delicate paws carefully, making sure she didn't make any noise. She opened her mouth and sniffed the air; instantly she smelled rabbit. Crouching, the apprentice's eyes scanned the area, and then she spotted it. She crept forward, eyes glued to her prey. It looked up, and then Shimmerpaw paused. Then it looked back down, and she continued to advance. but then she stepped on a twig, and the rabbit began running. Shimmerpaw leaped up and dashed after it. Thanks to her wonderful running skills, she quickly caught up to it and sank her claws into its rump. Heaving herself on top of it, she quickly killed it with a lethal bite to the neck.

[Lionhearted]

Lakepounce narrowed her eyes and nodded. That was a good catch. She crawled silently, following Shimmerpaw. She prayed that her apprentice wouldn't make any big screw ups- she would like to see her first one become a warrior without any faults. Keep going, she willed quietly, and counted. Only a little while left.

[Deleted]

Shimmerpaw quickly buried her catch before returning her attention to the scents in the air. At first she didn't smell anything, so she moved a little ways away. She smelled the air again, and smelled a squirrel. She spotted it, and crouched, repeated all the steps she had with the rabbit. Except for one; she forgot to check the air. Her scent was blown toward the squirrel, and it successfully escaped. but the apprentice didn't allow that to slow her down; instead, she smelled the air again and smelled bird. She saw a starling sitting on a branch, tiny, beady eyes on the sky. The branch was fairly low to the ground. Wriggling her haunches, she leaped upward, claws sinking into the startled bird's wing. She dragged the poor bird down to the ground before killing it and burying it.

[Lionhearted]

"Time's up!" said Lakepounce, sliding out of the bushes. She gave Shimmerpaw a few tips (I'm gonna skip that part), and listened to Whatevertail's criticism as well. "Okay, that's that! You've passed," she purred. "At least for now. Now, do a solo border patrol along the StormClan border, please."

And with that, she hopped into the woods with the black tom.

[Deleted]

Every hair on Shimmerpaw's pelt warmed with pride. She passed the hunting test! She kept her excitement inside, though. It wouldn't look to professional to jump up and down like an excited kit. "Alright." She mewed, and began padding over to the Stormclan border. Once she reached it, she sniffed the border. "Smells a bit stale. They must have marked it this morning." She thought aloud, wanting the older cats to know what she was thinking. Then the tabby she-cat marked it.

[Lionhearted]

Grinning to herself, Lakepounce readied herself. This was the best part of the assessment! Nodding to Whatevertail, she narrowed her eyes...

"Smells a bit stale. They must have marked it this morning," said Shimmerpaw loudly.

"Hi-yah!!" Lakepounce leapt out at Shimmerpaw in a flurry of fur, and knocked the younger apprentice over. "Claws sheathed!" she said sharply, and batted at Shimmerpaw. "I'm an invading warrior! Defend yourself!"