First Day Out [closed]

Shadewillow sat heavily on the soft, muddy earth beside the entrance to camp, thick tail wrapped neatly around his paws as he continued to wait. Shortly following Darkpaw and Blackpaw's apprentice ceremony, he and Larksong had decided that it would be a bit less overwhelming for the two newly-named apprentices if they went out of camp together in a group- plus it would likely make it more fun for the pair of apprentices as well. Tilting his head upwards, he gazed at the cloudless sky with a satisfied flick of his ear; the weather couldn't of been more perfect for such an outing as well! "Hopefully with the weather turning warmer, we'll be able to find easier prey for Darkpaw and Blackpaw to practice their hunting skills on." He reflected, absently twitching his ear as his gaze fell back upon the camp, searching for the familiar pelts of Larksong, Blackpaw, and Darkpaw.

Blackpaw got on his paws and raced to her mentor then said''Are we going in patrol or hunting?''she flicked her ear in any response of Shadewillow.
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Darkpaw was standing out of the Apprentice's den, as Blackpaw raced to his mentor, she started
to look around the camp, for any sign of Larksong.

Larksong came padding out of the warriors den, a brisk bounce in her step. Eager to start Darkpaw's training, she had been pleased when the warrior agreed to take both Darkpaw and Blackpaw out together for their first training. She blinked in surprise to see that she was the last to arrive of the small group - Blackpaw already excitedly chatting with Shadewillow while Darkpaw seemed to have been trying to spot her. With a flicker of her tail to gather Darkpaw's attention, she came to a stop next to Shadewillow. "Are we ready to start?" she asked, having failed to hear Blackpaw's question.

Darkpaw saw her mentor and raced to her and smiled, she will have her first day out!, she
stood next to her and flicked her tail, waiting for Shadewillow's answer.

"I think we'll do a bit of both," Shadewillow answered, glancing down at Darkpaw and Blackpaw "We can go along the borders and if we're lucky we can hopefully find some prey." He rose to his paws as he spoke, stretching each long foreleg briefly. Flicking his tail to signal that the little party could finally get moving, he slipped through the prickly thorn tunnel, the tightly woven brittle branches rattling as he did so. He made sure to keep his pace rather slow as he wanted Darkpaw and Blackpaw to observe as much as they possibly could, despite the fact that all he currently wanted to do was take off in a run and stretch out his rather stiff muscles.

Throwing a glance over his shoulder back towards Larksong, Darkpaw, and Blackpaw, Shadewillow slowed down his brisk jog even further as he waited for the trio to fully catch up with him. "Larksong, what do you think we should start with? Checking the borders or some hunting?" He called, halting in his trekking as he waited for the she-cat's answer. Truth be told, he wasn't entirely sure where to begin when it came to starting Blackpaw's training- Spiderpaw's training so far had been a tad bit more vigorous, but with Blackpaw he intended to take the more gentle approach that Larksong seemed to be expert in. 'All I know for sure is that we're going to steer clear from the Thunderpath for now- the last thing we need is a Thunderclan cat breaking the ribs of an apprentice.' He reflected, tail tip twitching irritably.

Larksong nodded her head as Shadewillow announced at they would be doing, sticking close to the young warrior as he led the small group into the territory. It felt nice to be out of the camp - she hadn't done much since that badger attack during Emberpaw's training. She purred at the perfect weather, happy with the slow pace that they were doing as it allowed her to soak it all in but she came to a halt as Shadewillow spoke up. Her answer was quick. "Checking the border," she meowed with a simple blink. "If we catch it and bury it, there are chances we may forget where we put them when we return after checking the borders and we don't want to be forced to carry it around while patrolling. So we check the border first and hunt on the way back to camp."

Blackpaw walked alongside, Shadewillow, with excitement, as her menot spoke, she expected to start
hunting, but when Larksong answered him she flicked her tail, a bit sad, but for Blackpaw
search in the borders wouldn't be boring, she heard how Darkpaw talked with courage, she admired her.
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Darkpaw walked next to Larksong, happy, when Shadewillow asked to Larksong a question, that she
didn't catch Darkpaw twitched her ear, when Larksong responded at him, Darkpaw talked with courage ''Great! It'll be so good to check in the borders, i don't want any mangy Thunderclan cat tresspasing, or if did, i will claw intruder's ears off!'' Darkpaw hated Thunderclan, she thinked they where annoying and arrogant.

Shadewillow nodded at Larksong's words, satisfied with the she-cat's answer, before beginning to steer the patrol in the direction of the Thunderpath. He noticed the slightly crestfallen look in Blackpaw's face, but he knew that experiencing the Thunderpath for the first time would easily make up for the missed opportunity. A slight snort of amusement burst past his lips at Darkpaw's words, his broad shoulders gently shaking with laughter at the thought of the small dark she-cat facing off against a ThunderClan warrior- the only cat who would get their ears clawed would likely be her. "You'll have the ThunderClan cats shaking in their fur." He rumbled, gently teasing the apprentice.

The pine trees were beginning to thin out and mix with other trees and foliage more commonly found in ThunderClan and SkyClan territory. The air also smelled much more foul here- it was tainted with the acrid, harsh scent of the Thunderpath, with the reek of ThunderClan and SkyClan border markers also souring the air- and thats how Shadewillow knew they were approaching the most dangerous strip of territory in the entire forest. "We're coming up to the Thunderpath," He mewed, nodding forwards to show the apprentices what he was talking about, "It's a fairly dangerous place, so I don't know how close we'll go to it today." He finished, glancing over towards Larksong, waiting for the she-cat to chime in as well.

Larksong followed after Shadewillow as he turned to led them in the direction of the Thunderpath, happy to let the younger warrior take charge and led. She did notice Blackpaw seeming to be upset over the fact that they were saving hunting for last but she was sure that the sadness would soon disappear over the excitement of seeing the borders for the first time. The tortoiseshell flickered an ear however when Darkpaw spoke up in excitement of the idea of fending off a ThunderClan warrior. Larksong had to agree with her statement - after what had happened with Blazeflight she wasn't willing to stand any ThunderClan cats on their border lest risk letting it happen again. "Once they catch sight of you, I'm sure they will turn tail to go running back to their camp," she added playfully after Shadewillow, a warm smile on her face.

She grew quiet as the trees started to even our and the ground grew firmer on their paws. Her nose quickly picked up the dreaded scent of the Thunderpath as they grew close. She listened to Shadewillow speak, grimacing as he mentioned how dangerous it was as she reflected on when Smokestripe had come into the camp carrying the body of her nephew Finchpelt, a tom she hadn't known all that well despite blood relations, who had been killed by a roaming monster on the Thunderpath. "Shadewillow is right, it is a very dangerous place. Many cats have lost their lives on the black paths from the monsters that roam up and down it but often you can tell when they are coming from how they cause the ground to rumble along with the mighty roar and the sicking scent they give off...But still, you never want to get to close to the Thunderpath lest one sneaks up on you."

Darkpaw smiled, at her mentor, she flicked her tail and said ''Thanks! I know they will, when they trespass i will appear and claw it ears off their heads!'' she teased and as Darkpaw did it, she did as she where stalking something and jumped forward but when she tried to get in the ground, the only thing she gained was ther nose got in the dirt, making embarassing, Blackpaw was laughing at her, she blushed and said ''T-that was isn't f-funny, B-blackpaw! I just failed!'' she got up and used her paw to get the dirt of her nose.

Shadewillow listened to Larksong's words intently, beginning to steer the patrol away from the rumbling, formidable Thunderpath and back towards the Deep Marshes, noting that the half-frozen marshlands would likely be a more safe place to let Darkpaw and Blackpaw off their leashes. A slight frown twisted his lips as both she-cats completely glossed over both his and Larksong's words, but he knew that the excitement of being out of camp for the first time usually made words go right over newly-made apprentices heads.

Now the ground grew a bit more slush-like underpaw but Shadewillow continued to tread onward, forging a more clear path between brittle, frost-bitten brambles that ringed the swampy-territory. Turning back towards the little she-cat's, he flicked his tail eagerly, "Now who's ready to start hunting practice?" He questioned, springing a short distance away from the party and onto a more firm, dry patch of earth.

Larksong glanced over at the two apprentices when Blackpaw started to giggle, spotting Darkpaw's fail attempt at pouncing. Taking in note that she would have to correct her apprentice on how to pounce correctly, her gaze shifted over to Shadewillow as the tom took to more solid ground and addressed the apprentices. For a second, Larksong thought about joining Shadewillow but she did prefer the mud between her paws and so she decided to remain near the apprentices. She said nothing as she watched the two she-cats with a slight smile. This was no doubt going to be a fun hunting lesson...

Darkpaw, glared a bit a Blackpaw and then said ''Blackpaw! one day you will faint like me'' She said a bit embarrassed, when Shadewillow asked about a huning practice she got up and wagged her tail ''I want! i want! i want!'' Darkpaw glanced at Larksong and said ''Come one Larksong! I wanna hunt'' She with a smile, raced to Larksong side and saw how Blackpaw raced to Shadewillow.

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Blackpaw stop laughing and looked at her mentor, she smiled when Shadewillow asked about a hunting practice she, flicked her tail and said ''I want to go too!'' Blackpaw was happy with the idea about hunting. She raced to Shadewillow's side and meowed ''Should we go in different ways?''