Bonding [C]

Frostgaze had been feeling off since the gathering. It was mostly Webshadow's condition that concerned him, but it was something else. Perhaps the brutal simplicity in the way the shadows of the Dark Forest had slaughtered so many. So quickly. Perhaps that was it. Their constant presence didn't help either, with all the blood dripping off them, the constant stench of death. With a huff, the tom got up from his resting place, finding Deerleap amongst the cats located in the clearing.

"Deerleap, given what had happened as of late... how would you like to learn some more about our territory, about Shadowclan specific techniques? Knowledge is always powerful in the face of oppression." With narrowed eyes, he looked on at any nearby Dark Forest cats, whether they had heard him or not. He was not fighting them, they could handle some meer jeering without putting out a fit he hoped, else they'd have to maim him just as bad as Webshadow before he stopped fighting.

Deerleap blinked as Frostgazed approached her. and to offer to teach her something new! was this her lucky day or what? though it could hardly be lucky, considering the dead cats that were almost breathing down her neck at any opportunity. "Of course!" she purred.

"Well, were you taught about the tunnel underneath the Thunderpath? Some mentors neglect it, or forget about it altogether. Though I suppose that is because we do not pass under the Thunderpath often, I have used it as a safer path to the Highstones during apprentice Moonstone journeys. There is also the deceptively safe mud, which has, and will continue, to suck cats into it if they do not take the proper path through. Though sometimes it will freeze, allowing for much safer traversing of the terrain. This territory can be dangerous, but very useful defensively." Frostgaze wanted to start with basic knowledge, rattling things off from the topic of his head that he happened to remember. Anything new that Deerleap learned from this conversation would be better than nothing.

Deerleap listened to Frostgaze's words with curious silence. "there was a secret path? Swiftheart never mentioned it... I think I might have been stuck in there once during a spar with Webshadow. I was stuck in a bit of a deep hole filled with mud. If Shadowclan ever needed help from Thunderclan, we can use that path! Could you show me where it is?" Deerleap rambled as more thoughts and ideas trickled in one by one. did she go too far? Deerleap suddenly thought, panic clenched around her heart. she glanced at the white tom, as if waiting for anger at her lack of manners to show in his eyes.