great heights [C]

Birdchaser

The still air was surprisingly warm. Despite the season, the midday sun helped to keep some of the gnawing chill of leaf-fall at bay. That, or Birdchaser's thick fur was keeping her well-enough insulated that today, she didn't notice the cold. Hopefully, Rainpaw wasn't too bothered by it, either. As they walked through the territory, burnt and golden leaves lining their path, she took a moment to pause and look over her shoulder at him. He was always eager to learn, even if he'd grown a bit stiffer about it as he aged, and if she knew him at all she'd say he'd been more than excited to actually begin their training in earnest. Hopefully, she would prove to be a good mentor to him; hopefully, her own time spent learning SkyClan's ways would be passed smoothly onto him.

Nearing a spot in the territory where the trees thinned and they were provided a little more room, Birdchaser suddenly ground her paws to a halt. She angled her head steeply upwards, surveying the trees that ringed them. They were sturdy-looking enough, with low branches that Rainpaw should have easily been able to clamber up. And when she breathed inwards, the warm scent of prey hit her tongue. This will be good for him. Slowly, Birdchaser angled her head downwards, focusing steadily on Rainpaw. "We're going to start with learning to climb today, and some hunting after that. Climbing is... easy enough, I think. Once you get the hang of it." She shrugged, a little mildly, and shuffled her paws over the earth. "I may not be able to explain the best, but I can show you." She neared one of the thicker trunks and stalled, bunching her weight into her hind legs, then sprang forward. Strong claws sank into the bark, and Birdchaser pulled herself just far enough upwards to scrabble onto the lowest branch. It swayed against her weight, but she was quick to steady herself and peer down at Rainpaw. "Use your weight, and use your claws. Balancing is the hardest part, but once you get up here it's not so bad. We spend most of our lives in the trees; it's a good skill for you to learn young, and a good first lesson."

Rainpaw had woken up bright and early, meeting Birdchaser as soon as she had approached the apprentices' den to gather him for training. He wore a serious, determined expression as he followed Birdchaser through Skyclan's territory, tilting his head back to take in the towering trees above him. A leaf fell on his nose, prompting a sneeze and an embarrassed mumble. It was strange to be out in the territory like this, but strange in a good way. He had gotten warped glimpses at his new home when he had first arrived, seen trees and bushes turned into something terrifying, into monsters that loomed above his head. Now as Rainpaw took in the sight of the orange-tinted leaves, the smell in the air heavy with oak and prey, and the sound of birdsong nearby, he felt comfort. Peace.

When Birdchaser slowed down, Rainpaw did too, coming to a stop and sitting down in his normal stiff pose, tail resting over his paws and back straight, eyes fixed on his mentor. Climbing. Climbing was one of the tasks he knew he would need to learn and was, admittedly, the most worried about. He hardly had the same natural strength and size as some of his fellow clanmates. But, with a determined nod, he focused his eyes on watching each of Birdchaser's movements, taking note of the way she held herself and how she steadied herself.

"Yes ma'am." He said with another firm nod. He took a deep steadying breath, rising back to his paws. He backed up a few paces before taking a more running start to leap up and grip onto the bark of the same tree, clumsily attempting to recreate Birdchaser's smooth, practiced movements. Unfortunately, he couldn't find the same grip in the bark with his claws, and he slipped, skidding on the tree before falling down and narrowly twisting in midair to avoid falling on his back. He stumbled on his paws when he fell, letting out a startled little yowl from the painful shock that ran through his limbs.

Rainpaw grit his teeth in frustration, nipping at his tongue in the process. Before Birdchaser could even speak again, Rainpaw was whirling around, fur puffed now and determined expression briefly slipping for one of frustration. With a tiny, brief growl, Rainpaw steadied himself and then took another running leap. This time, he found a hold, and he didn't give himself the chance to stop and catch his breath lest he fall again, intead clumsily scrambling upwards and into the branch with claws and rough movements. He finally found a steady purchase, the branch beneath him shaking, though hardly bowing beneath his light weight unlike with Birdchaser. He breathed hard, eyes wide and fur puffed, before he looked at Birdchaser. "I did it!" He declared triumphantly, pleased to have even made it this far.

However, the brief victory is quickly overshadowed, and Rainpaw dimmed. "...It wasn't very good though, was it?" He glanced back at the claw marks he left in the trunk of the tree and winced thinking about how he must've scared off every bit of prey that could've been in the tree.