Life's too short [c]

Stormdance was always willing to lend a paw to the younger members of his clan. Sometimes it felt like only yesterday that his own warrior ceremony had taken place, but becoming a mentor had sparked quite the caretaker urge in the tom, one that had only deepened as both Woolywing and Rowanpaw grew older. With all the chaos that had occurred as of late, Stormdance hadn’t been spending as much time with his younger clanmates, something he intended to remedy.

Which is why he had extended the offer of joining him on a hunt to some of the apprentices that had been around camp that afternoon, and how he ended up going through the territory towards the river with young Toadpaw at his side. The air was chilly, the sky heavy with clouds that threatened rain, or perhaps snow. Still, it wasn’t too unpleasant, and certainly warmer than it had been, so Stormdance didn’t mind the dreary weather all that much.

“Have you done much hunting with Reedtail yet?” Stormdance asked, looking towards the young tom. He knew Toadpaw was made an apprentice not all that long ago, and that Reedtail was a fairly busy warrior.

Stormdance turned his head to look at Toadpaw, a soft smile on his face as he watched the apprentice. And then he’s blinking in surprise. Brag… about Stormdance being his mentor? Since when was that a braggable accomplishment? He has a sudden memory of Woolywing and feels equal parts touched, amused, and a little flabbergasted.

“Well- please don’t go saying I’m your mentor, as Reedtail is your mentor.” Stormdance said as he gathered his thoughts. “I’m no more special than any other mentor, I assure you.” He let out a soft chuckle. “But I’ll happily take you out hunting,” He promised. “We can go down to the river now,” He said, tilting his head up to look at the sky for a moment. “It’ll be cold, but there should be plenty of fish to catch.

Stormdance’s whiskers twitched in amusement as he had the idle thought that he hoped Toadpaw would not be inclined to leap headfirst into the river, as Rowanpaw had done on their first outing. It was far too cold still for swimming, so Stormdance doubted it. “You don't need to feel pressured to impress me,” He added as he changed his course towards the river. “Everyone struggles when they’re first learning.”

“One time, when my mentor brought me out,” Stormdance felt a familiar pang for Owlshriek, the old ache of loss smoothed over but still stinging, “I caught a fish, but I didn’t quite kill it fast enough. It thrashed around so much that it smacked me, I got startled, and it swam away. Owlshriek didn’t let me live that down for a while.” Stormdance let out a huff of laughter.