the huntress [open]

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Sandpaw padded down the hill. She listened as her feet slamed against the hard ground under her paws. Coming down in between two hills she stopped. A gust of wind went by and she could see and almost feel as the grass moved to the wind. She was in a great mood today. It has been about one moon since she had been named an apprentice. She was learning something new everyday but today she desided to go out on her own to hunt. She just wanted to pracitice her hunting skills, because she hasn't really mastered that skill yet.

Tasting the air she caught the scent of a rabbit. She padded off in that direction. The smell of rabbit kept getting stronger, and she looked for the dust brown pelt of the rabbit in the grass. She was still far away but she should beable to see it by now. Scaning the grass, she spotted the prey. She got into a crouch and start silently moving towards the rabbit.

She got close to it, now all she had to do was catch it. She waited and she could feel her heart beat in her ears. She slid her legs underneath her body and perpared for a chase. Jumping out of her hiding spot the rabbit shot off, and pounding off after it she was close on its tail. She reached her front paw and she hooked the rabbits hind leg and it went down. She stummbled a bit and then she killed it with a sift bite. She stood up with the rabbit in her jaws.

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At the moment Swiftstar really had nothing to do for once. Being a leader of Windclan usually kept her busy tending to th emany chores the position entailed. No matter how much work she ever had though it was worth it. Watching her clanmates help Windclan grow into a strong clan was worth every hour of every day. Foxstar had indeed left the clan in capable hands. To think, it had been a spur of the moment outburst and act against the leader that led her to be where she was today. It only brought home to her just how quickly fate could change and any cat could become high in the chain of command. No matter what though, she always kept it in the front of her mind that every cat was great in thier own ways no matter what position they held. From a kit to a leader, each cat held something special that only they had and she was proud to help nurture it in Windclan.

Seeing this as an oppurtune moment to have a moment to survey the territory for herself and catch a breathe of fresh air, she slipped out of camp. Within moments she found herself on top of a hill as the wind blasted her fur back. With a giggle, she took off at a run, enjoying the sensation. Her kitten like attitude seemed to spring to life with the speed. Only when a butterfly distracted her did she stop. Staring at the amazing colors, she watched until the smell and sound of a scuffle brought her back to the real world.

For a moment she thought there was a skirmish happening, but opening her mouth yeilded only the smell of rabbit and a clanmate. Walking through the tall grasses, she saw an apprentice running after prey. The rabbit streaked through the grass as the ball of fur was on it's heels. Within moments the cat had the kill within her mouth, standing proudly.

Swiftstar made her way to the apprentice, taking note that no mentor was around, and meowed happily. "That was the best rabbit take-down I've seen in a while. Great job, Sandpaw," she grinned. The thought of no mentor being present nipped at her mind a bit, but she kept her full attention on the apprentice. Sandpaw's mentor had taught her well if she could already catch a rabbit so quickly.

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Having the weight of the rabbit in here jaws was a different feeling for her. She could feel the blood pounding in her ears, then feeling of excitement move through her body like poison. It started in her ears, then she felt the tingle in her paws that made her just want to run more. It felt like she was still running after the rabbit, but yet she was still standing there with the rabbit in her jaws. Then this excitement went to her eyes, they were shining with excitement.

I caught a rabbit. I actually caught a rabbit! My first catch is a rabbit! A rabbit!

That's the only thing that ran through Sandpaw's mind after standing there a bit. That she had caught her first piece of prey. Usually other apprentices don't catch a rabbit first but she did. She knew that it wasn't a small one either. It was heavy in her jaws it made her neck hurt just holding it up there. Though she did not want to set it down.

Then she heard something. It was the voice of a clan mate. Not just any clan mate, she recognized the leaders voice right away. She cringed with fear knowing she should be with her mentor doing some training but just for some reason she didn't feel like training so she just left camp. Not even telling her mentor where she was going.

"That was the best rabbit take-down I've seen in a while. Great job, Sandpaw," She looked at the leader and saw that the orange tabby cat was grinning. That was a praise, the leader was praising her out of all other cats. Sandpaw's eyes sparkled even more and she could feel the excitement all over again. She placed the rabbit at her paws hoping it wouldn't get dirt on it.

"Thanks Swiftstar! It is my first catch! Sandpaw's was high pitched and almost squeaky because she was so excited. But she still hoped that Swiftstar would not noticed that her mentor wasn't there at all.

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The excitement and pride rolling off the she-cat made Swiftstar smile that much more. Seeing an apprentice like this was one of the many things she enjoyed while being a Windclan member. Yes, she didn't quite like apprentices when they were being annoying, just like kits, but everything else was what she adored. Her clan was growing strong, especially if Sandpaw was able to catch a rabbit of such size.

When Sandpaw had realised it was her whom had spoken, the surprise and other feelings melded together in her voice as she replied with a thanks and boast. Really? Her first catch? Her mentor must have a knack for training on hunting moves for a rabbit. By the way, that reminds me...

Swiftstar's tail twitched in happiness at Sandpaw's reaction. It was then time to call down the authority that this apprentice was supposed to be under. "Really? Well I'm amazed for sure if that's your first ever catch. Your mentor must be training you well," she remarked and then cocked her head as she started again. "By the way, where is your mentor Sandpaw?"

The orange tabby hated having to put a dampen on the apprentice, but rules were rules. An apprentice, especially as young as Sandpaw wasn't supposed to be out of camp grounds without an older cat present. Swiftstar remembered back in her days of being an apprentice and how much this rule seemed unfair. Unfortunately, now that she knew the dangers it was more than fair. Foremost, it kept cats safely out of danger from predators and other cats.

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Sandpaw looked at Swiftstar waiting for the leader's reaction. Which was another smile, and Sandpaw smiled back at the leader. Just inside her she hoped that Swiftstar would continue on and just leave her to some more hunting but she had a feeling that Swiftstar wasn't going any where quite yet.

Sandpaw waited a bit just to see if Swiftstar would say anything to her. "Really? Well I'm amazed for sure if that's your first ever catch. Your mentor must be training you well," Sandpaw nodded and then noticed that Swiftstar had cocked her head to the side, and Sandpaw knew that a question was coming. 'Please Starclan to not let her ask about my mentor.' This thought ran threw Sandpaw head as she waited.

Then there it was the question that she didn't want to deal with was asked. 'Where is your mentor.' She knew for being a young apprentice that she need to be with her mentor at all times, or an older warrior in that matter but just for once she wanted to go out by herself. She knew that there was dangers out here but what in the chance would she run into a fox or dog or something. Its not like they get spotted every day. She knew that she broke the rules leaving this morning but once again she didn't really care but she had no idea what to say to the leader.

'I should just tell her the truth. At least then maybe I won't get in as much trouble.'

"Well, um..."Sandpaw looked at the leader and with a shaky voice said, "I left camp without telling my mentor." She felt embarrassed but she didn't want to show Swiftstar any weakness so she fought to look at her leader square in the face. Well at least she was telling the truth and not lying about it and having her find out about it later.

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She waited happily for the apprentice's answer. Swiftstar could almost see the uncertainty playing on the she-cat's features as she thought about what to say. The leader felt bad that she had to break up a moment like this with such a serious question, but it had to be done. Even though Sandpaw was on her way into turning out to be a fine warrior, she still needed to follow protocal no matter what. The dangers at the moment weren't as high as they could be, but that didn't mean they didn't exist.

Her ears were ready to hear any answer given, even if it was a lie. When the young apprentice finally opened her mouth to respond, Swiftstar waited patiently. Through the shaky voice, she was surprised to hear the truth. Dispite the shaky tone, the cat had even looked her square in the eye. Sandpaw was defintely leaving an impression upon her that she liked.

"Ah, that's what I thought. Thank you for telling me the truth Sandpaw," she meowed. "I can understand not wanting to be under watch all the time, but I due hope you bear with the rules until you are a warrior from now on." She blinked thoughtfully for a minute before looking at the freshly slain rabbit and then the windswept hills.

Sandpaw had been honest and as far as she was concerned, deserved to be rewarded in some way to show that it was best to follow such a life. "How about this? Since you were honest with me and I want to see your skills as a hunter further, you can continue hunting if you wish and I'll step in for your mentor. No one will have to know about this stunt either, Sandpaw."

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Sandpaw kept looking at her leader square in the face, she was trying not to look into the leaders eyes but looking at her like that it wasn't hard not to. She was prepared for a beating, or something like "Your going to be punished, and your punishment is..." Was all that would run through Sandpaw's as she looked at the leader.

Sandpaw waited for the answer as she stood there she looked into the leader's face and eyes trying to make out an emotion or an expression on how mad the leader was. But she didn't see any of that. All she saw was the leader thinking on what to say. She didn't look mad at all but she knew that the leaders of all the clans could hide there emotions very well.

Then the voice of Swiftstar flooded into her ears. Sandpaw narrowed her eyes knowing and expecting a punishment but it wasn't that at all. She listened on how Swiftstar explained to her about her honesty, and how that she should break the rules and such again. Sandpaw, nodded but knew inside that she probably would be breaking the rules again just because that's how stubborn she was.

Sandpaw noticed that Swiftstar's gaze went down, and Sandpaw knew exactly what the leader was looking at. Her rabbit. Sandpaw's own gazed went down to the rabbit that laid right at her paws, then they went back up to the leader.

Then a smile grew on Sandpaws face. The leader wanted to look at her hunting skills today. Sandpaw knew that was her first catch but she remembered what her mentor had told her about hunting. The catch was that she could tell anybody. Out of her mouth instantly came. "What stunt?" but then a smile grew on her facing letting Swiftstar know that was just wanted to hear.

"Hunting, that's all you want me to do right?" Sandpaw's smile was gone and she looked at the leader waiting for an order.

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Sandpaw had been clearly a bit afraid of her punishment considering the way she was having a hard time adjusting her eyes and the way her body's movements were. Swiftstar knew what was going through the young one's head and was sorry that she made such emotions run through her. However, the words she delivered seemed to make Sandpaw just as confident as she ever was. Her eyes shined and the teasing words towards not remembering anything made Swiftstar herself smile.

A serious look then passed over Sandpaw's face and she had to hold back a laugh as she nodded. "Show me what a descendant of Thunder can do," she meowed with a flick of her tail. The thought of catching prey right now had her own blood start to course fast, but the watching an apprentice do it was going to be just as fun. Swiftstar was excited and she was glad that she had chosen to leave camp for a bit. Now she could watch Windclan's future sail through the windswept hills. It'd be a thrill for sure.

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Sandpaw looked at her leader and she saw the leader nod a pretty much say 'go hunt.' So thats what she was going to do. Sandpaw needed to work on her hunting skills and what not for only being a moon in her training Sandpaw would say she has a head start, but yet other apprentices have already caught there frist prey before she had. That didn't bother Sandpaw much.

She picked up the rabbit and dug a hole in the ground. Gently she placed the rabbit in the ground and quickly covered it back up before she headed off in a random direction to continue her hunt.

Tasting the air Sandpaw smell a lot of things, rabbits, other prey, and grass. Normally she would go for the rabbit but she descided if she could find something other than a rabbit to show Swiftstar that she could hunt things other than rabbits. She tasted the air again and a whift of Sparrow flooded into her mouth. She turned her head off in that direction and padded over there.

The scent kept getting stronger the closer she got. Slowing down she looked around to see the bird in the grass. Looking to her left she noticed the small brown bird hopping around looking for something in the ground. Crouching down Sandpaw stalked the bird. She got close and stopped and waited. She stared the bird down with her eyes noticing every single movement that it made.

Sandpaw bunched up her muscles preparing to pounce but she wasn't aware of the dead dry grass around her. She flicked her tail hitting the grass. The loud rustle startled the bird and it took off in the air. Before Sandpaw frozed not realizing she should have jumped after the bird at least, but it was too late now. She padded out of her hiding spot and looked up at the sky.

"Mouse Dung!"