the dreaming pool | wolfheart

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    To say that Moonwillow was unaccustomed to Clan life was an understatement. In fact, she had never known about Clans very much in the first place. Her father had never liked them, even though her name was similar to them. Not to mention their customs were entirely different. Wolfheart, her shadow, was one of the things that surprised her. She could fight. She talked to all the males here as if she were equal to them. It was all pretty confusing to the molly.


    "Hey, Wolfheart. Could you teach me some of WindClan's customs? I was never taught anything about hunting or fighting, but the she-cats here seem to do it," she would meow to the other female, curious. Was she going to have to learn how to hunt and fight? She had only ever been taught what she-cats should know - mothering and healing. At least, that was how it was where she came from.


    {WolfHeart}



    "speaking"

    Most Disputes die and no one shoots

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    The dark gray she-cat would look up from her prey and blink warmly at her shadow, "Sure thing Moonwillow, sit with me." She would wave her tail to motion for the she-cat to take the spot next to her and then purred softly, "Let's start with what confuses you the most?"





    "This man will not make an orphan of my daughter!"

    Yeah, she was really glad she had Wolfheart as her shadow. For one, she had been raised to always submit to toms - no doubt she'd be too scared to speak out with a male shadow. She sat next to the WindClan warrior, looking at her gratefully. "Well, she-cats and toms can be warriors here, right?" she started. Wolfheart was one of them, wasn't she. "I don't know how to hunt or fight, though. So could I still learn and become a warrior, too?" that kind of question was probably ridiculously obvious to any native Clan cat, but Moonwillow had grown up in her own, cult-like family. None of the children had experienced Clan life. She just had to ask and see what she could do. After all, she wanted to help since they were willing to let them in, even after the fighting that had occurred between her brothers and WindClan.



    "speaking"

    Most Disputes die and no one shoots

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    Wolfheart would nod gently, "That is correct. We Clan cats believe that each member should be taught to hunt and defend themselves." Her dark pine green eyes would flash in warm amusement as she purred, "I don't see why not. Jasperstar is a particular leader, and as such takes loyalty to Windclan very seriously." She looked at Moonwillow thoughtfully as she nodded, "I would be more then happy to teach you the hunting and fighting basics, if you'd like. You're brothers will not always be around to protect you, try as they might, and although the rest of us would die for each other if the situation called for it, you don't want to be dead weight."





    "This man will not make an orphan of my daughter!"

    The feline's golden eyes would widen upon hearing Wolfheart's words. Anyone? Even someone like her, too, could become a warrior. The idea went directly against her family's beliefs, though... their father had always taught them to rely on toms. Moonwillow thus had more experience in mothering and healing with herbs than she did in fighting or hunting. In fact, she hadn't even tried. Some of her sisters had, the more rambunctious ones, and had been met with proper punishments. Moonwillow was an obedient daughter; she did what she was told to. She listened to males, her superiors. The thought that she could go against those kinds of things felt wrong, but... it enticed her. She always watched in envy as her brothers sparred, or as they brought prey back for the she-cats to eat. She wanted to be part of that. In WindClan... she could do that.


    When Wolfheart offered, her heart nearly jumped out of her chest - in happiness, excitement, and from the adrenaline that pounded through her at the thought of breaking the traditions of her family. "I..." I can't do that, is what she should say. "I would love it if you taught me. I... I want to help out!" she said quickly, before her expression changed to that of disbelief. Wow, she... she really said it. Wolfheart would really teach her, wouldn't she? The molly didn't doubt that. Her brothers, on the other hand, would not be approving of the idea. They didn't have to know, though.



    "speaking"

    Most Disputes die and no one shoots

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    WolfHearts gaze seemed to light up as Moonwillow accepted her offer. "I was hoping you would say that!" She rose to her paws, stretching happily, her muscles rippling underneath her glossy pelt, as she then meowed, "I can also teach you the warrior code as we work through each step. One if the more important rules maybe something you're already familiar with." She would flick her tail for Moonwillow to follow her as she trotted towards the entrance, "Especially during times like Leaf bare when prey is short, we always make sure that the queens, kits, elders, and sick cats eat first. They are the weakest in terms of physical strength, but they have also served their clans loyally for many moons, and as such, they deserve our care. So today, we can practice hunting and then we will deliver it ourselves to the queens and elders. Does that sound ok?"





    "This man will not make an orphan of my daughter!"

    Moonwillow similarly rose as her shadow did. Unlike her, however, the former loner's muscles weren't developed much at all due to being taught only to heal and mother. But in time, as her skills developed, maybe she would have powerful muscles beneath her long pelt too. "Alright. I'm not sure if I will be able to catch anything, but... it's worth a shot." she meowed, following Wolfheart. The warrior code, huh... in her family, it had just been 'toms catch the food and feed the mollies before themselves'. She respected the way that WindClan operated, through their warrior code. It seemed honorable so far - feeding those who do not have the same strength as you do. In fact, she was excited to maybe make her first catch today, and feed it to someone else. Wolfheart was right. It was Leafbare and prey was scarce. In times like these, it was imperative that she helped out. Speaking of hunting, though, Moon realized something. "How do you hunt in the moor?" she asked. The land was flat and open. Prey would see you coming from foxlengths away, if there was even any during Leafbare.



    "speaking"

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    As they set paws onto the open moorland, a strong wing would buff both of their furs and Wolfheart would purr on content as she meows, "Good question! We Windclan cats rely very heavily on our speed. Our food source heavily depends on rabbits and mice, but," She would turn back to look at her shadow with a mischievous glint in her pine green eyes, "Some of us bolder types will hunt hawks too." She would swish her tail gently as they started walking, and she smiled, "Of course, you and I can do that at a much later time, once you have experience and build up your speed." The dark gray warrior would pause once they reached the middle of the territory and she would turn to face her charge, "Ok Moonwillow, go ahead and scent the air, and tell me what you smell."





    "This man will not make an orphan of my daughter!"

    Moonwillow nodded as Wolfheart talked. Speed? She wasn't really that fast... although perhaps that would come with time. Besides, if her brothers could do it, she could do it too... right? "Even hawks? That's amazing," she meowed in awe. Hawks would take little kits away from their mothers, she remembered. But hunting them? She never expected to be able to do that much. At Wolfheart's command, she paused, closing her eyes as she took in a deep whiff of the air around them. Mostly what she smelled was the cold air; frostbitten grass. However, a faint smell underlying all that took hold. Smelled like... "A rabbit?" she finished her thought aloud, turning her head to where she thought the smell came from. Yes, it definitely had to be this way. She narrowed her eyes as she scanned the land in front of her, although she saw nothing yet.



    "speaking"

    Most Disputes die and no one shoots

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    The dark gray warrior would nod approvingly as she smiled, "Good. Learn that scent and commit it to memory. Now, with rabbits they are very fast, faster then some cats even. BUT," She would motion with her tail towards the southern part of the territory and there, if Moonwillow looked close enough, was a small brown figure moving slowly and cautiously among the tall grasses, "That doesn't mean they can't be caught." Wolfheart would meow gently, "It does normally take two cats to take down a rabbit. One to chase it towards the other who would then pounce on it and deal the killing blow. And today, that will be your job." Wolfheart would point with her paw in the direction the wind was blowing, "You always want to keep the direction of the wind in mind when you hunt on the moors. Right now we are down wind of the rabbit and that is to our advantage, as the rabbit won't be able to smell us coming until it's too late. I want you to go over to those rocks, and crouch behind them. I will go after the rabbit and chase it towards you and when it's close enough, pounce out on it and kill it with a bite to its neck."





    "This man will not make an orphan of my daughter!"

    Moonwillow listened carefully, intending to remember these exact words that Wolfheart uttered. She saw the rabbit now that her shadow pointed it out - a brown splotch on a canvas of green and white. Seeing the rabbit now, along with Wolfheart's words, were starting to make her nervous. Rabbits were fast, really fast. Could someone like her, who had never even tried to hunt before do it? She wanted to believe in herself, though. Wolfheart certainly seemed to. She would be more than just a passive molly who stayed with the kits and healed the toms. And so, with a determined look on her face, she nodded in acknowledgement to Wolfheart's words before scampering over to the rocks, crouching low behind them. Her paws seemed to tremble with nervous energy as she bent her legs, poised to pounce at any moment.



    "speaking"

    I was meant to be yours — tags

    Once Moonwillow was in position, Wolfheart would turn and move through the tall grass like a silent shadow. Always remaining up wind from their target, the warriors green eyes would become sharp and focused as they zeroed in on the rabbits movements. For a moment, the moor would seem to become quiet, as if nature itself was holding its breath in anticipation for what was about to come. Suddenly, after several tense moments, movement would explode into the open. Wolfhearts figure rushing towards the rabbit and expertly herding it right towards where Moonwillow would be waiting. Once the rabbit was close enough, Wolfheart would meow encouragingly, "Moonwillow Now!"





    "We were made to be one..."

    Moonwillow was entranced by Wolfheart's movements - it was as if she was the moor itself, her movements fast and calculated. Something only to be expected from WindClan cats. Shockingly fast with long limbs, perfect for chasing their prey - rabbits - across the grassy land. She probably would have been kept in her daze had the warrior not called out her name, snapping her out of it. She narrowed her eyes as the rabbit came nearer, imagining how her brothers would do it. Moonwillow was lithe, skinny. She could get the rabbit. She jumped out a second too late, the rabbit swiftly dodging and continuing to run. No. It can't end like this. Without pause, the gray-and-white molly, surprisingly quick on her paws, leaped after the rabbit, catching it dead-on in the neck with her jaws. She promptly snapped it, ending the prey's life quickly.


    Just as soon as it had been done, she dropped the rabbit in surprise, amazement. She had done that. She had messed up, and it almost cost her her rabbit, but she still - she still managed to kill it. Her first prey. "Wolfheart! I-I can't believe it! I did it - with your help of course," the words streamed out of her quickly, her excitement barely contained.



    "speaking"

    I was meant to be yours — tags

    Moonwillow would feel a gentle pounce as Wolfheart bumped her and purred, pride glowing in her pine green eyes as she smiled brightly at her shadow, "I told you, you could!" She would look down at the rabbit approvingly, "The queens will really appreciate this prey. Should we try for one more piece or are you done for the day?"





    "We were made to be one..."

    //EEE IM SORRy i put this off for a while


    Moonwillow was surprised when Wolfheart bumped into her, turning her head to look the warrior in the eyes. She took in her words slowly. In this place where she was met with hostility, she was glad that Wolfheart was here, willing to help her do these things. "Yeah... I guess you were right," she agreed, looking down at the rabbit in awe again. "We should try to get another one! The queens and the kits will need much more than one rabbit," the she-cat insisted. Deep down, she knew Wolfsbane would be so pissed if he knew she was doing this. Not once, but twice. She even wanted to do it.



    "speaking"

    I was meant to be yours — tags

    Wolfheart would nod excitedly as Moonwillow proposed going for another hunt, "Sounds like a great idea! But rabbits aren't the only thing we hunt in Windclan. Come on, I'll show you." She would flick her tail for her shadow to follow her, taking a moment to bury their first catch before trotting towards the northern part of their territory. "I think the next type of prey you should learn to catch are birds. I'll hunt one first, and then you can work on getting one before we head back." The dark gray warrior would raise her tail for her friend to wait and watch her as she scented the air and moved forward one the scent of quail hit her. She prowled forward, her eyes keen on the target before her. After several tense heartbeats, she would shoot forward like a viper, the quail attempting to take flight but Wolfheart would jump right after it into the air, grabbing it with both her paws, before landing expertly on the ground and delivering a swift killing blow to its neck.





    "We were made to be one..."

    Moonwillow watched as the warrior buried the rabbit, slightly confused before she realized that they couldn't very well keep the rabbit with them while they hunted. Silently, she followed Wolfheart towards a part of the territory she hadn't seen before. "Alright," she responded, waiting and watching carefully, her eyes absorbing and retaining what was happening in front of her. For a few moments, she couldn't even see what Wolfheart was pursuing. She noted that once again, the warrior was very well-trained in hunting, her movements fluid and confident. She even jumped to get to the bird! "That's so cool! Wolfheart, you're really good at this," the feline exclaimed, running up to the other she-cat. Moonwillow was clearly impressed, the emotion clear and open on her face.



    "speaking"

    I was meant to be yours — tags

    Something akin to a blush would touch Wolfhearts cheeks at the praise. She placed her catch down and meowed warmly, "It helps to have been training since I was a kit. It all just takes practice." Her dark pine green eyes would flick the she-cats ear in companionship as she smiled encouragingly, "Ready to give it a try? Birds are especially tricky to hunt in the open moorlands, so if you do miss don't feel discouraged about it." She would bury her bird and meow, "So, scent the air like you did for the rabbit, stay downwind, and keep your tail still so it doesn't brush against the tall grass and cause unnecessary sound or movement." The dark gray warrior would sit and swish her tail for Moonwillow to begin.





    "We were made to be one..."

    "I see. We always let the toms hunt for us so..." Moonwillow's voice trailed off. So she never got that practice. In a different world, would she have practiced since she was a kit, like Wolfheart? No use thinking about it. The she-cat nodded at her shadow's words, sniffing the air first to find her bird. As the scent hit her nose, she lowered herself to the ground, slowly approaching the avian - keeping herself as quiet as possible, her tail unmoving. As she leaped for the bird, however, it quickly flew off and she couldn't recover fast enough to catch it. "They're quick," she mused to herself, looking a bit disappointed as the bird flew.



    "speaking"