My Teacher

So Graypaw was back up to his old tricks of watching me from the bushes.  I was careful not to show that I knew he was there.  I knew that he just wanted to watch me and not act, afraid of his own feelings.  I was sure he would come around in time.  I just had to be careful not to push.

I wanted so badly for him to just jump out of those bushes and tackle me.  He was comfortable staying back and just imagining, I guess.  I had to find a way to get him out of his shell.  I knew deep down inside he wanted more, but I had to be careful how I worked to bring that out.

I needed to get him alone, somewhere that he's comfortable.  I'd have to take him hunting.  I knew he enjoyed hunting.  I was not a hunter by any means, but that would help me get him to go.  I could use the premise that he could show me how to be a great hunter.  It was genius.

So, I went up to him one morning and asked.  "Can you teach me how to be a better hunter?"

"Of course!"  he responded, all to excited to be giving tips on something he loved.  So we grabbed a couple of bows from the hunter's lodge and he started to walk toward the practice range.

"No, I mean show me out in the field.  I want to see you in action, where you can really show me how it's done."  I told him, grabbing his arm and pulling him out toward the hunting grounds.  He was resistant at first.  Then he let himself be lead.  I let go of his arm, so as not to linger too long.

We went out into the hunting grounds.  Graypaw was so graceful, tracking with silence.  My clumsy paws dropping hard, making Graypaw cringe with every crackle.  Finally, as a twig snapped under my paw he looked at me with half pity, half frustration.  "We'll never catch anything if you keep scaring all the prey away," he sighed at me.

"Sorry."  I said, embarrassed.  I'll try to be more quiet.

"Try stepping like this," he said showing me.  "And watch where you are stepping.  Try to avoid stepping on things that will make noise like dry grass or sticks.  So I started staring at my feet and tried walking forward.  "Well, that's a little extreme.  What I mean is you need to be aware of your surroundings.  Not literally watch your paws at you walk."

Of course.  Could I look more stupid?  At least I had him alone.  In time I would be able to make my move...