╰┈➤ howdy! welcome to the training hollow. ⊱ ───── {.⋅ ❆ ⋅.} ───── ⊰ ➸ here, apprentices may roleplay with their mentors to learn fighting moves and hunting tactics. **NOTE. TOPICS IN THIS MAY DISTURB SOME. SKIP PAST THE FIGHTING MOVES IF YOU ARE SENSITIVE TO MENTIONS OF VIOLENCE. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. please also note that claws should /ALWAYS/ be sheathed, no matter what a character thinks of another character. ⊱ ───── {.⋅ ❆ ⋅.} ───── ⊰ ➸ fighting moves! ● front paw blow – a straightforward smack to an opponent's face or body; used to temporarily stun / disorient ● front paw strike – basically the same as front paw blow, but much stronger, and with claws unsheathed. used to wound or scare an enemy. ● belly rake – one will roll onto their back and kick upwards with their hind legs, claws unsheathed, and lash out at an opponent's belly. especially effective if one is pinned. ● leap-and-hold – a cat will leap onto an opponent's back and dig their claws into their opponent's neck, forcing the enemy to thrash and struggle, inevitably tiring themselves. useful against targets such as foxes or dogs. ● upright rear – a defensive and intimidating move where a cat will stand on their hind legs, making themself appear larger and bring down more powerful attacks on the opponent below. ● scruff shake – one will grab an enemy by the scruff in their jaws, shaking them violently in order to make them dizzy and disoriented. works best on smaller opponents such as apprentices or younger cats in general. ● tail yank – a witty surprise attack that is often under-used. one will grasp the tail of their opponent, biting it hard, and pulling extremely hard towards themself or near themself. can throw an opponent off balance if pulled off successfully. ● play dead – a well-known trick that can be used if one is in a sticky situation. drop to the ground, hold your breath, and stare off into nothingness. if the opponent falls for it, one can quickly jump back up to surprise them and begin attacking again. ⊱ ───── {.⋅ ❆ ⋅.} ───── ⊰ ➸ hunting tactics! > hunters crouch . - the most basic and essential hunting stance. ➸ how to do it: ❆ keep your body low to the ground with your belly fur barely brushing the surface. ❆ tail straight but not dragging. ❆ move slowly and lightly, placing each paw carefully to avoid noise. used for: mice, voles, squirrels, and most small mammals. – > stalk & pounce . - a classic approach for sneaking up on prey. ➸ how to do it: ❆ creep forward using light, silent paw steps. ❆ keep your ears forward and eyes locked on the prey. ❆ when close enough (a few tail-lengths away), bunch your muscles and spring forward, landing a quick kill bite. - used for: birds, rabbits, hares, and mice. – > fishing strike . - used for catching fish in rivers or ponds. ➸ how to do it: ❆ stand completely still near the edge of the water. ❆ keep your shadow from falling over the water so the fish won’t see you. ❆ when a fish swims close, dart a paw in quickly and scoop it out onto land. ❆ finish with a swift bite behind the gills. used for: fish (trout, grayling, char, etc.). – > snow & tundra hunting . - helps cats hunt in deep snow. ➸ how to do it: ❆ stay light and fast on your paws to avoid sinking. ❆ use drifted snowbanks to hide and ambush prey. ❆ if the prey runs, use short, powerful leaps to move through the snow instead of running normally. - used for: hares, lemmings, ptarmigans. – > wind directions . - uses wind direction to avoid being detected. ➸ how to do it: ❆ always approach prey from downwind so your scent doesn’t reach them. ❆ if hunting in strong wind, use it to mask your sound as you move in. - used for: almost all prey, especially rabbits. – > fake retreat . - a tactical trick used against larger or aggressive prey. ➸ how to do it: ❆ startle the prey by charging toward it. ❆ if it tries to fight back, suddenly retreat, making it believe it’s safe. ❆ once it relaxes, strike again, this time catching it off guard. - used for: large birds, hares, or aggressive rodents like rats. – > hunting larger prey . - requires teamwork between multiple cats. ➸ how to do it: ❆ one cat herds the prey toward an ambush spot. ❆ others wait in hiding until the prey is close. ❆ once near enough, the group leaps at once, overwhelming the prey. - used for: large birds, young caribou, or fox kits
