Shaping You Up [Stoatpaw]

Frostbite was dead.

Everytime those words crossed his mind, it was like a fresh wound had been cut across his chest, bleeding his heart out. He missed her. Stars, did he miss her. It just wasn't fair. She had so much life to live.

A life he had wanted to live with her.

He wasn't going to pretend that he hadn't fantasized having Frostbite as a mate. He knew he loved her. Stars, why didn't he tell her he loved her. They raised Asterpaw together, they could have had their own family. Their own kits. Why didn't he just say something? Now he wouldn't get the chance. Maybe that was what hurt the most. The words he had left unspoken.

Sometimes, he liked to imagine she was still there. Putting him in his place as usual, or even just sitting there, talking. Maybe they would talk about Asterpaw, or their respective apprentices.

Her apprentice. Stars, she left behind an apprentice. Stoatpaw already had a knack for getting in trouble while she was sick, but now the tom truly had no one.

Guess that just meant Crimsonflame would have to take over training. Maybe he could use the distraction anyway.

Getting to his paws, the large tom padded over to find Stoatpaw, dipping his head in greeting once he did. "Come on. You and I are going training. I got a few things to show you that you would do well to learn."

Crimsonflame narrowed his eyes at the apprentice. "No, I don't have to. But I am going to. So I suggest you curve your attitude and be thankful I am doing this."

With that being said, Crimsonflame led the way out of camp. If he learned anything from the porcupine fight, it was that this cat didn't fully know how to defend himself. Frostbite had grown ill not long after he was made an apprentice, so he guessed that shouldn't surprise him. This cat was learning solely from experience, but he had no guiding paws.

Closing his eyes, Crimsonflame stopped, taking a deep breath to stop any thoughts of her from intruding. Then he turned to face the apprentice. "Show me your hunting crouch."

Crimsonflame let out a huff of satisfaction as Stoatpaw did what he had asked. And this time he did so silently, thankfully. "Alright. Now move your legs closer together, and raise your head slightly. Now you've got yourself a battle stance. I don't know how much you had been taught in fighting, but it is time you learned the proper way. Now, pretend that tree is an invading cat, and show me some claws."

Sitting down, Crimsonflame narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the movements of this apprentice.It was about time he learned how to properly take care of himself in the heat of the moment.

Crimsonflame's lips drew back in a snarl as that attitude came right back. He rushed forward, pinning the apprentice to the ground, his eyes full of rage as he pushed himself into the apprentice's face.

"Remember your place, Stoatpaw. I am a senior warrior, whom you are to respect. You do as I say. You curve that attitude of yours, or I will curve it for you. Do I make myself clear?"

His tail was still lashing by the time he got off of Stoatpaw, his fur on end. "Your form was sloppy, if it was an actual enemy they would have easily been able to knock you over. And then you would be exposed. You need balance when you attack. So we are going to keep doing this either until you get it right, or your paws are bloodied, do you understand? Now, do it again."

Finally, Crimsonflame had enough.

"Alright. We're done. You're not even trying, and I am done wasting my energy on you. No wonder why you were so easily beaten by a porcupine. You're soft, and you're useless. You rely on your Clan to do everything you can't be bothered to do, and yet how can we rely on you?"

Crimsonflame let out a snort of disgust, turning away.  If he had been part of his family, growing up with his littermates, this would have never been allowed. Stoatpaw would have been dead by now. Dawnhawk may have done many things wrong, but at the very least, every single one of his kits knew how to take care of themselves by the time he was done. They learned to hunt, or they starved. If they couldn't fight, they would learn if it killed them.

That gave Crimsonflame an idea.

"Three sunrises. You stay out here for three sunrises. Do not come back to camp. Should you survive, then you will be allowed to return, hopefully better than you are now, and with some more respect. Learn what it is like to live like a rogue, then maybe you won't take living in a Clan for granted as much."

And with that, Crimsonflame turned to leave.

Crimsonflame let out a snarl, pinning Stoatpaw down, this time not bothering to keep his claws sheathed. "I may not have the authority, but I have the means to make you stay. Time for you to learn that I am not to be tested."

Crimsonflame dragged Stoatpaw, flailing or not, by the scruff of his neck, not caring if the apprentice hit debris in the dirt. He placed him just close enough to a large-ish branch that he could force Stoatpaw down, using his larger size to get the branch on top of him. Easy enough for a massive tom like Crimsonflame, see how well Stoatpaw did moving it.

"I will come back for you tomorrow. If you can manage to somehow get the branch off before then, by all means welcome back."

And now Crimsonflame padded off, not caring to hear what Stoatpaw had to say next.