xx stand alone complex [Last;Jasper;Swirl;Ghostly]

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>Thunder...?
No...was it a Monster?
No, the stench wasn't tangy and sharp. It was more like an overbearing cloud of bird.

Claws on granite scrambled onto the scene and leaves exploded into the air as a large mass of black, brown, and white feathers came squawking out of the hollow underneath the birch tree. It landed with a loud chirp in front of the slim-shouldered black tom leader. Ghostlystar's electric-blue eyes widened and he paused, backing up a few steps on his little paws as the quail tried to flee. It had been following his scent but the curious bird had dragged its eye away from trailing him and seduced him into following the smell to the hole. It had snapped a twig and out came he to attack.

Ghostlystar's ebony hair stood on end as if he was confronted with a lightning storm. He hissed and tried to make himself bigger as he lunged, but missed.

Having reached a good distance facing the quail, Ghostlystar turned and ran after it, slender tail waving in the distance. He ignored the crunching of leaves. Some of those that fell hit him in the face or hid already half-concealed logs that he nearly tripped over. He hurdled the obstacles like a fleeting doe.

His rich voice called out a snarl, pointed ears bent back in anxiety as he skidded to a halt on the damp leaves matting underneath the quail.

The creature's flittering gait belied its presence as it squeaked at the pursuer. Ghostlystar's claws rent wet wood and leaves into pieces under his pawprints at the chase.</sub>

[SHADE. :D]

Soft footfalls brushed the leaves underpaw. Jasperpaw shivered as cold moisture dripped down onto his pelt, chilling him. It was as cold as snowmelt. The young tom licked his paws as he went, which were covered in scraps of leaf and mud. The creamy ginger tom halted, pricking his ears, as he heard paws crashing through the undergrowth. Jasperpaw jumped as Ghostlystar appeared, but stayed still. He did not want to distract the great warrior from his prey. The apprentice watched, wide eyed. He had not ever caught prey himself, so this was a new experience for him. Jasperpaw sank his claws into the leaf mould, quivering with excitement. He could not wait to start training.

[falconkit]

Swirlpaw bounded after Jasperpaw, trying not to make any sound. Even for brightclan it was cold today. He shivered, his short pelt did not help in this weather. He hoped his winter coat would grow in soon. slowing when he saw jasperpaw he padded up behind him. Looking up at his mentor not far of chasing a bit of prey, he stayed as silent as the wind, not daring to distract him. His ice blue eyes looked around, trying to figure out where they where exactly in the territory.

((dont have much muse right now v.v))

[(aurora) of the problematique]

Ghostlystar tackled the quail with a heavy snarl, claws and fangs plunging into the animal's feathers. He hooked his forelimbs against the bird's wings and sent his ivories crashing down into the quail's neck. The bird squealed and squalled, rolling around in pain before the leader's last plunge made the bird limp. The black tom leapt from the quail, spitting out a feather. "Ptui," he commented, shaking his head as he trotted to his apprentice's side.

((and since Falling gave my permission to RP Lastie until she returns...))

Lastfalling silky legs padded swiftly after Jasperpaw and he flashed a small smile at Ghostlystar's kill. "If it's okay with Ghostlystar, we can use the quail as practice before taking it back to the fresh-kill pile. The Warrior Code says that we must thank StarClan for all of our food," the black and white tom said. He glanced down at Jasperpaw. "All right, first off, get your body into the hunting position. That's tail down, legs tensed for a leap,and claws unsheathed." He demonstrated with his own lithe body. "Then, we leap as fast as we can, hooking our claws into as much flesh or feathers." The deputy lunged and leapt onto the dead quail's back. "You try."

Ghostlystar nodded and turned to Swirlpaw. "While Jasperpaw is practicing with the quail, ya can come over here wit' me and work on some trackin'," he told his apprentice, padding a couple badger-lengths zig-zags away. "All right, track that quail fer me." Since Swirlpaw was older--almost a warrior!--Ghostlystar figured that most of this would be review.

[falconkit]

Swirlpaw nodded to his mentor and parted his jaws a slight bit to catch the scents of the clearing. he followed the scent of the quail, also picking up visual clues along the way. But after seven badger lengths he lost the trail. he looked looked around for any visual clues but could find none. Sighing he turned back to Ghostlystar. "I lost it" he mumbled sounding defeated. Tracking wasn't his strongest point. He was better at fighting.

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>"Dun give it so easily," Ghostlystar said, his voice tinged in stern kindness. "Take a deep breath." He demonstrated, filling his nose and lungs with cool, prey-scented air. "Empty y'ar mind and focus on th'prey." He lowered himself to the ground, tail low and ears erect. He promptly caught the quail's scent and snuck forward. Using his tail, he brushed aside some leaves, showing Swirlpaw a quail footprint coupled with his own.

"A chase," he told his apprentice. "And since the footprints are forward, the quail must be ahead. You try."</sub>

[SHADE. :D]

Jasperpaw stared up at Lastfalling, wide eyed. The young tom was drinking in the deputy's words, all seriousness now. Jasperpaw wanted to become as skilled as Lastfalling, so that one day maybe he would become deputy. The creamy ginger apprentice nodded after Lastfalling paused, pricking up his large furry ears. Jasperpaw listened carefully to Lastfalling's description of the hunter's crouch, trying to stay sombre as the deputy performed it. As Lastfalling pounced, Jasperpaw could not prevent a squeal of excitement escaping from his tight throat. He flushed, embarrased, and gave a small cough. The ginger apprentice rearranged his limbs uncertainly, trying to copy what Lastfalling had done. At first his posture was unsteady, his tail crooked and his legs bandy, but soon, after much shifting, Jasperpaw fell into a ntural position. It was not quite right, but almost. The young tom crept forward, his pawsteps making soft noises on the grass. He pounced, landing with his claws on the jay's wing. His jump had been slow, his crouch faulty and his steps noisy, but pride swelled within him nevertheless.

[kee :]]

Lastfalling sat off to the side, watching the small ginger tom get into a hunting crouch. At first it looked unsteady and Jasperpaw looked uncertain about it but in moments, he was in the natural position. The walking and pouncing looked quite uncomfortable and he was a bit loud but nevertheless, it was a great try for never trying in front of the Deputy before. Lastfalling grinned slightly and flicked his tail. "Well done! But you looked a tad off balance. Follow me," he meowed and stood up. In a few moments, he was in a hunters crouch and he looked at Jasperpaw. "Keeping the weight in the back of you is a good way to get off the ground faster. Try it again keeping yourself closer to the ground and your weight in your behind," he instructed kindly. Remembering his last apprentice, Craftpaw or later called Craftcross. But he was gone now... Sighing softly, he looked back at Jasperpaw and nodded.

[SHADE. :D]

Jasperpaw clambered back into a standing position, looking up at Lastfalling. He was determined to get the crouch right, his young heart untroubled by anything else. The creamy ginger apprentice padded gently forwards a few steps, before sinking into a crouch beside Lasfalling. He took in the deputy's position, and tried to follow what he was saying. Jasperpaw attempted to put his weight into his haunches, the first couple of tries only resulting in his rear sticking up comically. But on the third attempt, the young tom managed to almost mimic Lastfalling's position. Jasperpaw stayed in the crouch for a few seconds, before taking a few less-than-sthealthy steps forward, a look of wild delight on his face.

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>((I didn't realize that Falcon was out and allowed anyone to RP her charries... Onward to Swirleh))

Swirlpaw nodded in understanding and soon began tracking on his own, waving his tail down like a metronome. The swirl-pelted tom followed the scent keenly, studying each shape and contour. His dark eyes focused, eyeballing each detail.

Ghostlystar smiled at his apprentice, feeling pleased that his apprentice had passed his accessment. The black tom lifted up his head. "Good job," he told Swirlpaw, twitching his tail. "And ya, too, Jasperpaw and Lastfallin'." The eerie-eyed Clan Leader turned and nosed Swirlpaw to the direction of camp. "Take back the scented kill t'camp. I'll meet ya there soon." Ghostlystar turned to Lastfalling and Jasperpaw. "I'm goin' back t'camp. Dun stay out too long. There'll be a Clan Meetin' fer th'new warriors." His tail waved back and forth as the lithe tom turned away. "Until then...farewell." He and Swirlpaw raced back to camp.</sub>[/color]

[kee :]]

Lastfalling couldn't help but grin when he saw Jasperpaw try to mimic him by sticking his but out. He held back a small chuckle and rested his head against a tree, feeling awfully tired for it had been a long day and it was getting darker. He watched the apprentice with amusement dancing through his eyes and finally he seemed to get it right. Then Lastfalling stood flicking his tail and giving the apprentice a slow nod. "That was pretty good! It was better then my first hunting crouch and it really all takes practice and experience," the black and white tom said, flashing a look at Ghostlystar as he complimented his apprentice as well. When the black tom turned to his Deputy, Lastfalling nodded a few times and murmured a few words like, "Yes Ghostlystar," or "Of course Ghostlystar," and "We shall see you later then," and the tom and his apprentice were gone. Leaving Lastfalling and Jasperpaw. His gaze moved to where Jasperpaw stood and he smiled. "Would you like to stay out longer and put that crouch to a test or would you like to head home and rise early tomorrow morning to work with your mentor?" he asked, his voice low and booming, yet hopefully giving the small tom some confidence.

[SHADE. :D]

Jasperpaw smiled broadly as Lastfalling praised him. The creamy ginger tom straightened up, puffing out his thin chest in pride. As he took a step forward, a hind paw caught on his trailing tail, and he stumbled. The tom quickly regained his position, burning with embarrasment. He looked up, to see Ghostlystar approaching. The young tom immediatly ducked his head so low that he bumped his chin on the hard ground. Jasperpaw lifted his head again, chin smarting. The tom shook himself to try and ease the pain, and by the time it had faded and he peered casually upward again, Ghostlystar was padding away. Jasperpaw's green eyes turned back onto Lastfalling as the deputy adressed him. "Oh," he mewed, surprised that the noble tom had asked his opinion. "I.. Um, that is, I... I don't... Really mind." The apprentice finished awkwardly. He would've loved to stay out longer, but he did not want to contradict Lastfalling.

[kee :]]

_{Jasperpaw was just making this day better and better. He was so nervous yet so proud of completing the day's task of learning the hunter's crouch and to stumble and then bow his head so low that he hit his chin on the ground made Lastfalling explode in laughter, well not out loud. His eyes were gleaming with amusement and his long agile body shook with the urge to hold back. He managed to smile, his yellow eyes glittering with a larger smile than when he was made Deputy. He loved training kits, and this was the first time he wanted an apprentice of his own, for real. But he didn't want to take that privilege away from Pearlsheen, who was Jasperpaw's mentor, and finally made up his mind. "Jasperpaw, I know how much you are excited to learn," he meowed softly, leaning down so he could look at the ginger tom at eye level, "But I can't teach you everything. Pearlsheen is your mentor and it's not my duty to do everything for her. So let's head back. I have a feeling some apprentices will be made into warriors." Lastfalling thought back to what Ghostlystar was doing with Swirlpaw, making sure he was fully ready to be a warrior, like Lastfalling had did with Craftcross. Smiling, the black and white tom hoped Jasperpaw wasn't too disappointed.}