Keep On [Closed Patrol]

They needed to get out. Rippedstar had been neglecting his apprentices in his general avoidance of, well, everything. He had taken to hiding away at the back of Crowstar's den more than was probably healthy. However, he hadn't abandoned the clan. Things were running well between him and Poplartooth. The young deputy had done well in picking up his duties. It was strange not having to organize the whole clan. But, he still had a paw in everything that happened. They saw him, sure, yet it was different than before. The new leader was distant; he was not quite cold, but far away.

His tail flicked in a mild irritation as he stepped into the day like. Crowstar's scent grew fainter by day and it made him uncomfortable to leave that behind. Other than a flicker of frown across his features, the leader betrayed no other internal emotions. Rippedstar's face was neutral and almost unfeeling. The black and white tom cast a glance around for his apprentices. He had ordered Poplartooth to let them stay behind in camp so that they could go out with him. Hopefully, the trio would work well together. This would be a first for all of them. He settled down not far from the entrance and waited silently for the young cats to join him. Although they were almost warriors, save for Ashpaw, the three were all so much younger than him. Rippedstar sighed at the memory of his age. At least there were cats older than him in the forest.

ooc: carp first post sorry fam

Brokenpaw made his way to the leader's den. He had not visited with his mentor since before the dogs invaded the camp, and Crowstar had died. His mentor was now Rippedstar..so strange to think. Not that he believed Ripped was not worthy of leadership, in fact in his young mind, it had almost felt like Ripped had always been the leader of Skyclan.

He approached Rippedstar at the entrance of his new den. His first noticed that he smelled different since Crowstar had died, almost as if the new leader's sadness at his friend's death had changed even his scent. Brokenpaw could tell Rippedstar had changed in more ways than just his name.

Brokenpaw was nervous about meeting with his mentor again, because he was still suffering in his own guilt at having frozen while he knew Skyclan was being attacked. Not that he could have expected much help from an apprentice, but still, Brokenpaw's action, or more so his lack of action had disgusted the apprentice himself.

Ashpaw silently stalked towards the two cats, his gaze down at his paws. Like several others, the tabby tom had refrained from speaking (Starclan, even looking in the general direction of him) with Rippedsky. No, Rippedstar. He still couldn't believe his mentor was the deputy; and now he was leader. Times were changing too fast for the little tom to keep up with.

He took one glance at Rippedstar and flinched; something had changed, though he couldn't put a paw on it. Something was missing from the cat he had known as a kit. Had something inside him snapped due to the stress of it all? Ashpaw was too afraid to ask. He shifted his paws as he settled behind Brokenpaw, too uncomfortable to get a little closer to either of the two toms.

"Don't focus on anything but our training, Ashpaw," The young apprentice hissed to himself, "Today we have to prove our worth. We have to show Rippedstar we're not wasting his time by existing." He unsheathed his claws and dug them into the ground, narrowing his eyes as determination coursed through him. He would not fail today. He couldn't afford to.

Fernpaw emerged from the apprentice's den, her nearly fully-grown body starting to be pretty cramped as she ducked her head to avoid bumping the roof of the den.  It was about time that she earned her warrior name, but she still had so much to do...  She didn't resent her adopted father at all for being a bit slow with her training - he was deputy, and now leader, and had many other more important duties to attend to - but the young bi-color she-cat was beginning to feel restless.  Reaching the group at the other side of the clearing, she nudged Rippedstar's shoulder affectionately with a purr; "Good morning dad."  She didn't know Brokenpaw or Ashpaw all that well, but she spared a moment to shoot them each a friendly nod before purring; "So, when do we leave?  I can't stand being cramped in this camp any longer."

His eyes glanced over each one of the apprentices, each cat that meant something to him. They were the reason he kept going and kept striving to find a way to lead this clan. As each young cat approached he managed a slight twist of his head as a greeting. When his adoptive daughter butted his shoulder, Rippedstar had to stop himself from flinching. It had been some time since he was in close contact with another cat. She had likely gotten her show of affection from him, who was usually so casual. But, after Whiteheart's death, he had distanced himself from others figuratively and literally. The closest thing to him these days was how intimately close to his nest he had become.

"We will leave right away. The hope is to cover as much territory as possible and get as much accomplished as we can. All of us can eat what we catch since it isn't a formal patrol. I'm sure you and Brokenpaw will help show Ashpaw a thing or two." He padded towards the entrance and flicked his tail as a signal for them to follow. Stepping out of the camp walls felt... different. His eyes glanced through the trees as if he was seeing them for the first time. Rippedstar headed for the nearest one and after hauling himself swiftly up with surprisingly little hesitation given he had spent a few days away. Once he reached the lowest sturdy branch, he looked down and instructed the apprentices to do the same. Blue eyes watched them with a mild curiosity. The leader had seen Brokenpaw and Fernpaw climb before-he had taught Fernpaw-but this would be Ashpaw's first time.

'Oh, sure, being roped in to help train another cat into the delusion of being warriors. Well, at least we do all have to know how to hunt I guess', the aging apprentice thought, as he followed Rippedstar''s path into the forest.

He quickly leaped up the tree after Ripped, joining him on a close branch.

Ashpaw quickly followed after the small group of cats, his determination deflating immediately. Self-doubt occupied his thoughts, nervousness caused his pelt to prickle and his tail to stand on end. "Who am I kidding, we're done for."

He stopped short to watch both Rippedstar and Brokenpaw scurry up a tree. His eyes widened and he gulped. He had never climbed before. Starclan, he hadn't been so high up before either. The thought of climbing so..so high caused a stone to drop in his stomach. The gray and tabby tom chuckled nervously and cleared his throat, looking down at his paws instinctively, "U-Um..s-sorry to bu-burden everyone but..I-I can't cl-climb..?" 

Fernpaw followed the group, her mind wandering elsewhere as she gazed around at the towering trees that they would soon be climbing in search of prey.  Once Rippedstar had chosen a sturdy starting branch, she raised onto her hind paws to follow, but pricked her ears at the sound of Ashpaw's hesitant voice.  With a faint sigh, she fell back onto all fours and padded up to him, her face displaying impatience.  "It's not that hard Ashpaw, just follow our lead."  With a confident flick of her bi-color tabby tail, Fernpaw leaped upward and sunk her claws lightly into the bark, and began to climb up to the low branch where her adoptive father and Brokenpaw waited.  She went slower than she usually would, so that Ashpaw could examine her movements, but she eventually reached the group and turned around to peek down at the gray tabby tom below.  "C'mon!"