The Final Step (Tagged)

[Lionhearted]

Tagged: Phantomspirit [Wolfpaw] 

Thrushleap sighed as he woke up early again. Today was his apprentice's final assessment day, and he hoped Wolfpaw would do well. Not that he was particularly eager to get rid of her- sort of, he had to admit, as he didn't exactly like younger cats in general, but he was getting used to them- but it would reflect back upon him. It was his first time as a mentor, and he only wished to be successful. 

"Wolfpaw?" he called into the apprentices' den. "It's time for your final assessment. Please get ready. We'll be going soon."

[Phantomspirit]

Wolfpaw shot up like a bird when she heard her mentor's call. Today was the day that she would finally become a warrior! She quickly bathed herself and ran out of the apprentices' den. She had been preparing for moons on end to do this! She padded up to her mentor, and sat down, ready to leave at any moment.

[Lionhearted]

Thrushleap gave Wolfpaw a curt jerk of his head to say "good-morning." Really, he scolded himself, I ought to have more warmth towards her, as she was my apprentice for the last few moons. "All right," he greeted. "Today we will be starting our final assessment. There are a couple of steps that you need to do. My assessment will test you on various aspects of your training. It is somewhat different from the, er, traditional ways, but nonetheless effective.

--In the forest (TIMESKIP)--

"The first task is the old hunting test," Thrushleap said. "I will be watching you as you hunt in the territory. Hunt as much prey as you can. Do not think about the fact that I am there. Just do the best you can, all right? Now, anytime you're ready, you can head into the woods and start."

[Phantomspirit]

Wolfpaw nodded and ran into the undergrowth. She looked for a scent. Her nose pointed out one of a thrush, and she was off. She hid in the bushes and saw the bird pecking at the ground. Her muscles tensed, and she leaped at the thrush, pinning it to the ground. She killed it with a bite before it could alert the other prey. She buried it, and licked her muzzle of the blood.

A different scent touched her nose then. It smelled... Familiar... She looked up and saw a strange figure in the distance. It was looking directly at her. She blinked, and it was gone. Wolfpaw shook it off, figuring that it was just Thrushleap, and took off towards a mouse scent in the other direction.

[Lionhearted]

Thrushleap narrowed his eyes as Wolfpaw looked in his direction. Don't you dare get distracted! he fumed in his head. Thankfully, Wolfpaw left, and shot in another direction. Silently, Thrushleap crouched in the tall grass and followed. She seems to be fairing well. Let's see how she does... time's almost up.

[Phantomspirit]

Wolfpaw covered the pair of fat mice in the hole. She looked around for another scent. After smelling a rabbit's, she took off.

She tracked it under a tree, she hid in the bush, and waited for the rabbit to get close. Once it did, she leaped over it, and pinned it down from behind. She swiftly finished it and buried the prey.

So far, she had caught a thrush, a fat pigeon, two mice, and the rabbit. She figured it was time to get back to Thushleap, so she padded towards where she had started.

[Lionhearted]

Thrushleap frowned, wishing she would've gone on; he hadn't told her it was time yet, and she still had a couple moments. However, Wolfpaw had stopped, so he stepped out behind her. "Hello," he said, "nice catches. We'll collect those at the end. For this next step, you'll be partner hunting with Lakepounce. We will both be judging your leadership skills, and your cooperation skills."

The tortoiseshell smiled at Wolfpaw, recognizing her from a patrol.

"Begin when you like," Thrushleap said, flicking his tail and disappearing again.

[Phantomspirit]

Wolfpaw nodded and went back into the forest with Lakepounce. She lifted her tail to stop both of them when she scented a rabbit. She nodded towards Lakepounce and whispered, "Rabbit". It smelled fresh, so the snow-white she-cat slowly padded in the scent's direction. She spotted it nibbling on a piece of dew covered grass. "Lakepounce, she whispered, try to get behind it. It won't be able to smell you. Chase it to me and I'll finish it off."

[Lionhearted]

Lakepounce nodded her affirmative, and moved off. She winked at Thrushleap, who was in the tall grass, and weaved her way behind the rabbit. It didn't seem to notice, but she bunched her muscles and shot out of the grass, chasing the startled rabbit towards Wolfpaw. She's not bad for an apprentice. Huh. Thrushleap taught her well.

[Phantomspirit]

Wolfpaw saw her chance she leaped towards the rabbit and cornered it between her and Lakepounce. She finished the scared creature off quickly, and nodded towards the warrior that had helped her in thanks.

"Let's go, I smelled a mouse that way." She gestured with her tail for emphasis.

[Lionhearted]

Lakepounce hurried along in Wolfpaw's wake. Were they supposed to head to the next step already? Hm. I'll have to trust her mentor. "What do you want me to do?" she quipped. Glancing back at Thrushleap, he nodded slightly. Lakepounce smirked and turned back to her partner. "And you still have a couple of moments."

[Phantomspirit]

Wolfpaw nodded towards her partner, "Hmm, once we track the prey down, I'll try to chase it to you, swapping the roles of what we did with the rabbit. Ill go downwind of it, you stay to the side and I'll herd it over to you." She didn't know weather or not she should switch the roles of the hunt for the time being.

[Lionhearted]

Lakepounce nodded, and flicked her tail. "Okay, then. I'll just stay here and wait for your signal, all right?" She walked over in the tall grass and crouched, ready to pounce anytime. "Sounds good. Go ahead whenever you feel like it, yes?"

[Phantomspirit]

Wolfpaw crept silently towards the rabbit. She leaped at it a mere heartbeat later. The white apprentice purposely landed beside it, scaring it off towards Lakepounce's waiting paws. She ran after it and herded it to where Lakepounce was waiting in the grass.

[Lionhearted]

Lakepounce shot out and killed the rabbit in an instant, and placed it at Wolfpaw's paws. Thrushleap stepped out of the trees, flicking his tail.

"Good hunt," he said. "That is all. I'm glad to say you have passed your final assessment, and are ready to become a warrior." He gave Wolfpaw a small smile.

OOC: Have we done everything? If so, feel free to request a ceremony for Wolfpaw ^^