Falconpaw's Training: Part 1

Duststorm sat near the entrance to camp. The sun had risen shortly before he left the den, and he now sat watching it drift higher into the sky. With a jolt, the tom realized he now had an apprentice that needed training.

Approaching the apprentice's den, Duststorm cleared his throat before calling softly but firmly, "Falconpaw, we start training today."

Falconpaw woke with a start at the voice calling to him. That dream again... Shaking off the thought, the new apprentice stifled a yawn as he left the cozy den and came face to face with his mentor.

"Hello Duststorm," he mewed quietly before letting his eyes drift around the camp.

Duststorm looked at his apprentice. The faintest hint of a smile shone on his face.
"Are you ready to begin training?" he questioned.

Falconpaw turned his gaze back to his mentor and gave a courteous nod, his tail swishing once from side to side. "What are we going to do?"

Getting to his paws and stretching, Duststorm answered, "We'll be conducting an informal border patrol, simply so that you may get to know the territory." The tom began leading the way towards the camp entrance.

Falconpaw started padding after his mentor, quickening his pace so he could keep pace with the bigger warrior. A shiver of excitement spread through his paws: he was finally going to see Windclan territory!

Once out of camp, Duststorm quickened his pace to a trot. As he moved, he thought about what his mentor had taught him. He sorted through the important tidbits in his mind as he and Falconpaw approached the gorge.
Pausing on the edge of the rock, Duststorm sat and turned to his apprentice.
"Always be careful near this edge," he said.

Hurrying his pace, Falconpaw was able to step alongside his mentor's trot, but quickly stopped when Duststorm did. As Duststorm was giving his warning, the brown-and-white-furred tom peered over the gorge, his eyes widening at the sickening drop. A thought briefly crossed his mind: What would it be like to fall down there? Falconpaw quickly stepped back from the edge, suppressing a shudder.

"This is the gorge that separates our territory from Riverclan's," Duststorm explained further. "Now come, we have much more to see." Thinking he might enjoy this, the tom led the way along the edge of the gorge, watching the waters below as they came closer.

Falconpaw hurried along after him, his gaze occasionally straying down to the waters below. It looked terrifying, but the young apprentice refused to show any fear, continuing to walk close to the edge.

Duststorm moved along the edge of the gorge until they had reached the falls. Here he took a left, leading the way along a dirt track.
"Oh, I nearly forgot!" he exclaimed. "Here is how you mark the territory." Moving towards a rock, Duststorm demonstrated for his apprentice. "We have to renew the scent markers every now and then. Otherwise, the other clans forget their place."

Falconpaw watched and nodded. He knew how important it was to make sure the other clans didn't cross into their territory.

"Duststorm," he mewed, "if the markers are so clear, why would the other clans stray into our territory?"

"Ah, now that's an excellent question," Duststorm smiled. "Sometimes, we neglect our duties, or it rains and we cannot get to remarking the borders quickly enough. Also, some other clans are fond of pushing their luck when chasing prey. We don't often run into that problem, it is usually only with Thunderclan."

Falconpaw nodded thoughtfully, continuing to follow his mentor while wondering why other clans would be so careless.

"Where are we off to next?"

"I'm going to show you Fourtrees," Duststorm answered. "It is a place where the clans hold peace, on the night of the fullest moon." As he said this, they arrived at the small clearing, where four large trees formed corners to the spot.