Tutor [Mintpaw]

Wolfblossom had asked Mintpaw to meet her in the territory not far from camp. She had a mentor who could teach her much... But there was one thing that Beechfang couldn't teach, and that's where Wolfblossom stepped in. The she-cat leapt lightly from branch to branch, chasing after a starling. Her claws quickly caught the dark-feathered bird, and Wolfblossom dropped to the ground with it. Smugly, she plucked a gold-edged, almost shimmering feather from the bird.

"Mintpaw!" She called out cheerfully, the apprentice had come into view shortly after Wolfblossom had sat on the ground, and the deputy trotted over to her with a grin, dropping the feather at Mintpaw's... paws. "You'll be learning to climb today. It'll make catching birds easier. Take this! It's not your first catch from the trees, of course, but I bet by today's end you'll catch your own!"

OOC: Florida Man chases bird, offers its feathers to a stranger

When she had been asked to meet Wolfblossom, Mintpaw wasn't entirely sure where to go at first. Sure, she was told to go in the territory not far beyond camp, but just exactly where to go had been a little bit... lost on her. Directions were something she was getting better at, but didn't have as much of a natural sense for as some of her other clanmates. Thankfully, the deputy's scent was still easily enough found, and it led her right to a grove of trees before going... up?

Widened eyes stared right up into the branches just as the deputy called out her name. That cheer was easily infectious, a wide grin quickly growing onto the lanky apprentice's maw. "Oh! Yes! Thank you!" Absolutely delighted by the feather, the apprentice thought for a moment before using her paw to hook it into some of the thicker fur that surrounded her neck. It went close enough to her ears that the feather now stuck out rather nicely, decorating her pelt and giving some vibrance against the silvery tones. "I'm excited! Who taught you how to climb, Wolfblossom?" Her question was punctuated with a purr, the silvery molly practically vibrating with excitement and gratitude of having been given the feather.

Wolfblossom grinned at the apprentice, tail twitching at her question. "My aunt Ravenclaw taught me." She mewed, "And now I'll be teaching you. Beechfang is... Not exactly fond of being in the trees." Wolfblossom was never quite sure how much of it was Beechfang's personal preference - or trauma, rather - or injuries that dictated her decision to stay on the ground. Either way, she was happy to take on this part of Mintpaw's training.

"You're lanky, and your paws are large, so you've got some growing left." She began, "The most important thing to know about climbing is which branches will be able to hold your weight. Well, and being able to judge the distance as you leap from branch to branch, but we will start off simple and work our way to that. Come." She mewed, leading Mintpaw to the base of a nearby tree.

"Reach up and place your paws on the bark, like this." Wolfblossom rose onto her hind paws, front paws resting against the tree with her claws unsheathed. "You use your hind paws to propel you forward, and use your tail for balance. Hook into the bark with your claws and pull yourself up, basically." She demonstrated this too, climbing about a foxlength before dropping back to the ground. "This is different from hunting and sparring, and it'll take a lot out of you at first. For now, our goal will be that low-hanging branch there." She added, pointing at the branch in question. It wasn't quite in jumping distance from the ground, but it wasn't one that Mintpaw should have too much difficulty getting to once she had the basics down.

Mintpaw tilted her head to the side, nodding at the way the knowledge had been passed down. She knew better than to pry into her mentor's business behind her back, but made a note of it to ask at some point. After all, being in the trees was one of the traits that made them unique. Without it, they practically were the same as Thunderclan. Well... save for the fact that they seemed to like thorns and brambles much more. She'd smelled that much on them at the gathering she had gone to.

Part of her felt embarrassed by Wolfblossom's comments about her frame. But, it was simply fact. Her body was of more than a little awkward proportions, and that was just how she would be for a short time. Her body was in fact growing. As the deputy led, the silvered tabby would dutifully follow, her tail rippling with enthusiasm in the air. It worked its way from her tail all the way to her front paws, and she could hardly keep the literal wiggle of excitement contained.

Mimicking the older molly beside her, her claws dug and tested the bark. Certain parts didn't seem to grab as well, so she adjusted. Inching her paw up just slightly while she could, or perhaps a bit down if there wasn't enough for her to grasp. "It feels... weird." She commented. Not that it felt wrong, but part of her almost felt as if she couldn't quite trust her claws and the bark of the tree alone to be able to hold her. Fear nibbled at her for a moment, but as Wolfblossom demonstrated, Mintpaw figured she could at least try.

As she did, the very first thing she noticed was how quickly it made her muscles ache. Surely, she wasn't that heavy of a cat?! She got about halfway up at first, before catching on a too-loose strip, and having to jump right back down. The power in her back legs was certainly there, though, as she had just about launched herself off the trunk rather than gently push herself away. At least she landed on her paws. "How do you know if you got enough bark? Or can you dig your claws in more?" The apprentice asked, once more trying again. Her ears pinned back just slightly, as she certainly was overthinking this to a degree. Her back legs dug in a bit more, and with some effort, she at least managed to make it to that low branch.

Once she got there, though... she froze. "Uhm. What now?"

"It does feel weird, at first. Being on the ground, your body isn't used to moving this way. We build muscle strength with repetition, it won't always feel so strange." Wolfblossom answered, keeping a careful eye on the apprentice as she tested the bark with her claws.

"Don't be afraid to dig your claws in a bit more. The tree can handle it. Take it slow, for now." She added. There was no use in rushing this type of training. Doing so would only lead to injury. For Mintpaw to become better acquainted with the trees, she would need to be comfortable with the basics first. Then they'd work their way up. The apprentice jumped back to the ground after a moment, though didn't seem injured. "Be careful, but that was a good landing. You have the instinct of a Skyclanner, even if you haven't done much climbing yet. Maintaining your balance and landing on your paws is important."

Wolfblossom watched as Mintpaw made it to the low-hanging branch, an approving purr rumbling in her chest. "Well done. Take a moment. You can sit, but be careful to stay closer to the tree trunk rather than the outer part of the branch. It'll be sturdier."

Mintpaw ultimately gave a nod to Wolfblossom. It was something she'd learn with time. She'd get the basics down, and be able to grow her strength from there. Already, the apprentice was considering what trees in camp might work well for a daily practice session, even just to get her muscles built up. Following her guidance to take a spot at the lowest branch, the molly pressed her back against the strong trunk, her claws gripping into the bark beneath her. "How do you learn which branches hold you? Is it... trial and error? What should I do if one breaks on me?" It was anxiety that lay beneath her voice, though hopefully, they were all good questions. If she was to prepare to be a tree-dweller, she had to know how to handle the bad situations!

Allowing herself a moment or two to breathe, once she had caught her breath, Mintpaw looked down. Sure, she could jump, but something told her that would hurt. Carefully turning around on the branch, she let her claws hook in, before instinct had her bolting down the tree trunk. It was much, much easier for her to get down than it was to get up. "Can I watch you one more time? I'll try again after."

Wolfblossom thought about Mintpaw's question for a moment. It was something that had become second nature to her, but knowing what branches would hold your weight was also something that ought to be explained as best she could. "The lighter, thinner branches sway a bit more in the wind. Branches that are damaged - from rain or snow usually - will have visible signs of discoloration from the rest of the tree. Branches like those will be weaker and too unstable to hold even lighter cats. When you're comfortable in the trees and have been training for a while, you'll be taken on the limb patrols to knock those branches from the trees. They're not just a risk to those climbing, but to those on the ground." She explained, "Some of it is trial and error... But if you wind up on a branch that is unsteady, your first priority is staying close to the tree trunk and getting off of it. By jumping to another branch or to the ground. Or climbing along the trunk. If you have to fall, you want to try and twist to land on your paws, if you can. You can use your tail to help balance."

"That was good." Wolfblossom purred as Mintpaw made it back to the ground, and nodded at her request. "Of course. It helps to watch others, as well as practicing yourself." She mewed. With that, the fluffy deputy hooked her claws into the bark again, climbing up to the branch and sitting. "When you're ready." She mewed.