how the days fly by / thunder(p)aw's final assessment

[Aspenfang]

(Alright, so just like our training thread I want you to keep all posts to a 20-word minimum. Other than that I don't have much to say, so lets get this thread started!)

Aspenfang's heart leaped as she exited the warriors den. Today she would be giving her first final assessment! She had gone through many, I and I mean many, on her road to becoming a warrior, so it was exciting for the she-cat to be on the other side of the first time. "Thunderblaze !" she called into the apprentices den, hoping the tom had a good night's sleep. It was just past sunrise. "Come on, buddy, we've got an assessment to start!"

[Thunderblaze]

Thunderpaw woke with a jolt. Today was the day! He bounded to his feet and fled the apprentices den, heading to meet his mentor. "Ready!" He shouted with excitement. The tom could hardly contain his positive and excited attitude, which, not a lot of things made him this happy. He would finally become a warrior! If he passed the assessment....

[Aspenfang]

Aspenfang beamed, instantly brightened by the excitement of her apprentice. "I'd hope so!" she chuckled, and motioned towards the fresh-kill pile. "I already ate, but you should get a good breakfast. I'll explain how things will go down while you're eating," the tabby padded over to the pile of prey and sat next to it, waiting for Thunderpaw to pick out something to eat before speaking again. "I want to catch four different types of prey; a rabbit, a mouse, any type of bird, and a vole. You can catch more than four pieces of prey, but by sun-down you must have caught at least one of each of the types I've listed. I'll try my best to keep out of sight, to keep from distracting you and all that, but keep in mind that I won't stray too far. If you need to check up on your progress, in case you've forgotten something or just need to calm your nerves, just call out for me, okay?" Aspenfang smiled warmly, proud that her apprentice had made it this far. Even if he was unable to meet the requirements, all Aspenfang really wanted to see was that the young tom had a drive and a passion for becoming a warrior.

[Thunderblaze]

Thunderpaw padded over to the fresh kill pile and looked around it intently to try and find out what to eat for breakfast. A little vole stuck out to him and he grabbed it, eating it as he listened to Aspenfang about how the final assessment would go. Four different types of prey? He made sure to take a mental note of each one he'd have to get. Rabbit, mouse, bird, and a vole. Seemed fair enough. Even though it's Leafbare, there shouldn't be too big of a problem. It was good to hear that Aspenfang would be nearby in case he was struggling to hunt or needed any help from her. He finished the prey, stood up and was ready to head out into the territory. "Where do we go to hunt? Just anywhere in the territory? And can I start?" He asked. The tom was very eager to go out and hunt.

[Aspenfang]

"You can hunt anywhere you'd like, as long as it's within FireClan's borders," the tabby she-cat gave Thunderpaw a teasing grin, then heaved herself onto her paws, "we can go right now, if you're ready?" She was eager to get started as well, wanting very much to see how the young tom would do. She was confident he would pass with flying colors.

[Thunderblaze]

Thunderpaw gave a vigorous nod and headed out into the territory. So anywhere, as long as it's in Fireclan... He kept that in mind and padded quickly around, sniffing the air for any possible sign of prey. With luck! He spotted a mouse. Okay, start small... maybe work your way up. He stalked low to the ground and unsheathed his claws. His breathing quietened just before he got close enough to leap, and he launched off of his hind legs coming down onto the little piece of prey and delivered a small bite to the neck. Success. One down, three to go. He had only just remembered that Aspenfang said she would not be around or in sight at least, close, but not in sight.

His attention shifted to another small piece of prey nearby. Bird? Okay, not as easy a mouse. They had wings. The tom debated the thought in his mind whether he go for it swiftly or work his way up. Probably best to work his way towards the bird then go in for the kill. He stalked low to the ground again and eventually leaped. He killed the prey swiftly. Got it!

He buried the bird and the mouse before stalking off to find another piece of prey. A rabbit and a vole were left, that shouldn't be too hard.

[Aspenfang]

Aspenfang followed slowly behind Thunderpaw, letting him get much further ahead. When he stopped for a catch she crept a little closer, so she could more carefully watch his progress, but still gave him a fairly wide berth. She hid herself in the tall grass of the FireClan territory, although her dark pelt didn't blend perfectly with the pale grass she was still hidden enough that prey wouldn't be able to spot her. Good form, Aspenfang noticed as she watched Thunderpaw catch a mouse. Hunting was her specialty, and she liked to think that she was able to pass down at least some of her vast knowledge of the subject onto her apprentice. The russet tabby was impressed at how quickly Thunderpaw was able to spot another prey. She nodded approvingly at his catch. Halfway done! she thought, giddy. 

She bounded over to the prey, digging them up so she could get a better look. Clean wounds, nice! it was always important that the prey be killed quickly, to much of a struggle would leave the body tattered and hard to consume. Once she was done examining Thunderpaw's catches she buried them again and sniffed out the direction Thunderpaw had gone off in.

[Thunderblaze]

Thunderpaw was searching quickly for another piece of prey but then realized that he shouldn't rush as to mess up. So far he had caught two pieces of prey and needed to catch two more. The rabbit he was a bit uncertain about how he could manage to catch one easily but paid the thought no heed as he closed in on the fluffy prey. He stalked closer to the rabbit and kept low before it suddenly seemed to spot him. He mumbled something to himself and bolted after it when it started to run. He quickly landed on it and put it out of its misery. He then decided to bury it and look for the vole. Last of the prey!

He sniffed around again and spotted a little vole. The Tom padded over to its side, trying to remain downwind. 'Perfect'. He launched after it and killed it swiftly. He was done now but didn't know where Aspenfang was. "Aspenfang?" he knew she was close by but didn't know where. He wasn't exactly planning on tracking down his mentor too.

[Aspenfang]

(I'll end the thread as soon as they get back to the camp entrance <3)

Aspenfang had caught up with Thunderpaw just after he caught his rabbit, a little disappointed that she hadn't gotten to see how the whole thing went down. She was sure he had done well though, all his catches today had been swift and clean. Just one more to go! she thought, kneading the ground with her claws as she saw him spot another piece of prey. She stayed low, making sure to keep her tail perfectly still so that there was no chance she could mess up his hunt. The she-cat mentally cheered when he caught is prey, eagerly coming out of hiding when Thunderpaw called out of her. "Great job, kiddo!" the russet tabby purred, giving his shoulder an affectionate head-bump as she often did to her friends. "Now come on, I'll help you carry your haul back to camp," she trotted back over to the direction where he had buried his rabbit, beckoning with her tail for Thunderpaw to follow. "Excited for your ceremony?" Aspenfang questioned with her trademark dorky grin, wanting to make a bit of smalltalk as they headed back to the camp, "any questions about warriorhood?"

[Thunderblaze]

Thunderpaw was really excited to become a warrior and didn't feel like he needed to hide it. "Yeah I can't wait! As for questions... well, I don't know." He thought for a moment, following Aspenfang to the prey. "Well, what's the best part about warriorhood in your opinion?"

[Aspenfang]

Aspenfang grinned, "I've always loved training apprentices--probably 'cause I was one for so long," the she-cat had been an apprentice for nearly three times as long as the average cat. Thunderpaw would be the first apprentice she had fully trained, and she was glad that she had been able to watch him grow into the fine warrior he was bound to be, "being able to go around the territory on my own is fun too, although I still feel more comfortable with company around. Plus I don't have to clean out the elders den anymore!" Her eyes flitted to a nearby bush, spotting where Thunderpaw had buried his mouse from earlier. She angled her ears towards it. All we have to do is pick this up and then we can head back to camp!

[Thunderblaze]

Thunderpaw decided to be the one to unbury this prey and he got the mouse out of the ground. He smiled at the thought of no longer being the one to clean out dens. He wasn't particularly fond of searching others for ticks as well. "I got the mouse at least. Honestly happy that I won't be forced to clean out other nests." He also was glad that he would be able to be in the territory by himself and didn't need need supervision.

[Aspenfang]

Aspenfang grinned, "well, they might force you if we start running low on apprentices. We had that problem back when I was just a kit--and they always make the young warrior do it first. Old farts like me are safe," the tabby stuck her tongue out playfully, heartbeat speeding up when she spotted the entrance of FireClan's camp through the tall grass. She gestured to it with her tail. "Looks like your assessment's over, kiddo," she reached over with her tail and ruffled the fur on Thunderpaw's head affectionately, "it's been fun training you, I know you'll make a fine warrior."

(Thread end!)