Birds of Prey Get Hunted

[Wolfy//June]

Wolfstar walked across the dry terrain, his apprentice, Hiddenpaw, trailing behind him. The air crackled from heat and he knew a fire was very likely. The flap of wings in the distance gave him hope though. This outting wouldn't be for nothing.

Wolfstar turned his head to look at Hiddenpaw. "What kind of bird is that?" he asked her, quizzing her on her memory.

[Hiddenpaw]

Hiddenpaw's ear flattened in memory. "Uh...Its...a hawk?" She waited for his response with anticipation. She looked at her leader with wide and curious eyes.

[Wolfy//June]

Wolfstar smiled proudly. "You are a quick learner. Yes, that is a hawk. The easiest way to distinguish a hawk is through not it's scent, but the rhythmic beat of it's wings. They are actually the loudest. When they spot prey, they become a bit louder. I suppose the mouse may not be able to hear as well as we can, but the hawk's feathers ruffle a certain way as to startled the mouse enough for them to make an easy kill." Wolfstar explained. He turned back and watched the hawk climb the sky. "We aren't going to hunt it today though."

[Hiddenpaw]

"We can't hunt the bird? Why not?" Hiddenpaw asked, her eyes shining. She didn't like that she couldn't hunt the bird, but she obeyed her leader with quiet calmness. She looked away for a moment. "What do we do now?"

[Wolfy//June]

Wolfstar saw the question coming. "It's too high up and I don't want to waste time waiting for it to come down. I still want to teach you some things, like the perfect bird of prey jump." he meowed. He stopped walking and turned to face Hiddenpaw. "Ok, copy what I'm about to do." Wolfstar crouched down low against the ground, his head facing the sky. He bunched up his muscles and leapt up several feet in the air, landing neatly on his paws. "Now you try."

[Hiddenpaw]

Hiddenpaw gave him a blank expression. "Um...ok..." She crouched low and remembered his trick. Her lifted her head to the sky, judging her leap. The cat's muscles bunched up and leapt into the air. Though her landing wasn't as perfect as his, she landed on all four paws. "Was that alright? I think i did it right!" she mewed excitedly. She sat and wrapped her tail over her paws. Her excited nature quickly transitioned into calmness.

[Wolfy//June]

Wolfstar watched her jump. He noticed that she twisted her paw to the side as she jumped, costing her her smooth landing. Still, she was impressive on her first try and showed real potential. "Great job! If you would have been more careful of how you put your foot on your take off, you would've been perfect. Great first try, though! You'll have it in no time." he meowed incouragingly.

[Hiddenpaw]

Hiddenpaw sighed. "Alright, Wolfstar." She got up, feeling the pain in her leg. "I'm sorry for messing up. I didn't try to." She knew it would have been better not to apologize, since he complemented her, but it seemed like right thing to do.

[Wolfy//June]

A purr rose in Wolfstar's throat. "Don't apologize. You did a great job. And besides, it was your first try. You'll have it down in no time!" he encouraged his apprentice.

[Hiddenpaw]

Hiddenpaw sighed. "Alright, Wolfstar." She looked back at the sky, her eyes shining. "I wish i could join them in the sky. It would be free, and fun. Until i'm hunted."

[Wolfy//June]

Wolfstar gave a nervous laugh. "Oh, trust me. You don't want to live up there with those ruffians! I tried to take one of them down once, I had to have three cats help. Greenlily tried to help me. Then Batflight......" he trailed off, a sad expression crossing his face.

[Hiddenpaw]

Hiddenpaw's eyes clouded. "I'm sorry about Batflight. What a good cat..." Hiddenpaw shuffled her paws, clearly nervous. "I'm sorry for saying what i said about joining the birds. I didn't know...Being raised a rogue and all that."

[Wolfy//June]

Wolfstar sighed. "Oh, it's fine. You're a young, curious cat. Let your mind go where it must go. Cats like you always think flying would be fun. And I'm not saying that it wouldn't be. I just wish I hadn't brought her name up 'tsi all."

[Hiddenpaw]

Hiddepaw quickly nodded. Worry glimmered off of her. "I'm sorry that i said anything that made you upset, Wolfstar. I didn't try to, i swear. Its just..." She trailed off and looked away, clearly upset and tearful. Hiddenpaw's ear flattened. "Again, sorry."

[Wolfy//June]

Wolfstar looked down at the young apprentice. "What's wrong, Hiddenpaw? It's not your fault. But, clearly something is upsetting you. You can always tell me, you know." he murmured to Hiddenpaw.