higher branches, harder fall [closed]

ooc: takes place the morning after this topic

To some cats, returning from an exhausting journey to two new students would have been a problem. Thrushnose should have felt the same; she disliked having things, especially important things, sprung on her without warning, and few things were more important than apprenticeship. In this patch of forest, a young cat’s training could easily become a matter of life or death. But by making her a mentor, Stoat (Stoatstar, now…but then, hadn’t she called Minkstar Dad more often than not?) had handed her a lifeline.

Thus she appeared, ruffled and red-eyed, in the apprentice den’s entranceway promptly at dawn. She offered the usual pleasantries, good morning, we’ll head out when you’re ready, all the while trying to pull the loose scraps in her head into lesson plans. It was doomed to fail. All she knew about her apprentices was their pelts and names.

Ultimately, she led the two of them to the Sandy Hollow. Not the best place for cats as experienced as they were—despite being half-frozen, the terrain didn’t pose much of a challenge—but she needed to stay close. Within yowling distance. Turning on her heel, she looked over the pair. Pale-furred Flurrypaw was from RiverClan—there had to be a story behind that, though Thrushnose couldn’t find the energy to pry—and Mottlepaw was Mottlepaw. Small for a ThunderClan cat her age, but strong, nearly a warrior already. Thrushnose's striped tail flicked low. “So,” she said, voice raspy from her brush with whitecough, “what have both of you learned so far?” Stoat had caught her up, and presumably Mottlepaw and Flurrypaw had gone out on patrols to sharpen their most important skills. Still, the best way to know what they felt comfortable with was to ask.

Eyes bleary, the white-furred apprentice grumbled internally. Too early... for whatever this is- Carefully, she lifted her frame, trying not to disturb her sleeping siblings. Outside, a rather ragged-looking warrior awaited her. At least it wasn't Stoatstar. A part of her wondered why she couldn't seem to let that go. Quickly, she cleaned her paw and brought it over her face to wake her body, but another scent emerged from the den. Oh. Right. Someone else is coming too...

The complicated tangle of thoughts and feelings in the apprentice was brought up again on the stiff trek to their destination. She'd been here once before, but with different company. "I can hunt, though I'm not the best at it." was all the molly was willing to say. The apprentice still couldn't bring herself to trust any of these Thunderclan cats, though she was one of them now. You'll have to sooner or later...

Mottlepaw had stirred rather easily upon her mentor prodding her to get up. She was well used to early morning calls to go out and train, especially considering she had been under Stoatstar's direction during Thurshnose's absence. She had even taken to rising early on her own accord to go out and hunt, either with Minnowfin or on her own. Outside of her training, the tortoiseshell had taken an acute interest in making sure the Clan was taking care of themselves. Stoatstar in particular had been one that she harped on consistently to ensure he wasn't about to croak over from exhaustion or lack of food.

Following Thrushnose out to the Sandy Hollow, she sat politely and curled her tail over her paws. Her head tilted in its signature fashion as she heard the raspy voice prompt as to what all they had learned so far, a bit of worry instantly spiking. "I've learned how to hunt, and battle." She offered. Oddly enough, that lesson had been combined when she went on her first outing with Minnowfin. The harsh weather had left everyone scrambling for food, and their competition had let them know of that message very clearly.