clawing out my eyes so everything i see won't remind me of you [c]

Sycamorepaw blinked the sleep out of his eyes as he heard an unfamiliar voice call out his new name. He crawled out of the apprentice den and saw Cloudypetal waiting for him. He had seen her a few times and caught her name once when another cat called out to her. Before he could say anything, the she cat was beaconing him to follow her. Sycamorepaw padded after her wondering where they were going.

Once they got to Lone stump, the tom tried to look for the camp again like he had with Oatpaw, but he still had no luck spotting it. “She has not!” Sycamorepaw turned his attention to the calico. He was curious why she had taken an interest in him, but then again he was also excited that he may get to try his paw at hunting. “My first few attempts before I came to Windclan, didn’t go well. If it wasn’t for Sleepyhollow, I probably would’ve starved!” He exclaimed wagging his tail slightly with amusement. It was funny now, but it was terrifying before.

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Discord: ChaoticCrow | Timezone: Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) | Code (c) Kieer

Cloudypetal's ears perked at Scyamorepaw's words, and her gaze softened. She didn't anticipate such a dire beginning for the young tom. She hardly knew anything about him at all.

"I'm glad you found your way to WindClan then," She mewed, her voice soft and sincere. "We take care of our own. I'll make sure you become a skilled hunter in no time, and you'll never have to worry about another hungry night again." She touched the tip of her tail to his shoulder, in hopes it would be reassuring.

But, she was curious - she wasn't going to hesitate to learn a little bit more about his life. It was going to be hidden expertly, though. "What about your parents?"  She mewed softly, adding. "Did they teach you how to do a proper crouch?"

She immediately dropped into a crouch of her own to demonstrate. If Sleepyhollow had yet to take this apprentice hunting, it's unlikely he knows the proper techniques. "Make sure your belly doesn't touch the ground and focus on your breathing. Think of yourself as part of the moor - a silent shadow slipping through the grass! That helps me."

discord: kieer  | timezone: EST (UTC -5) | code (c) kieer

“I’m glad I made it to Windclan too!” Sycamorepaw purred as he looked up at the beautiful tortoiseshell cat. She seemed kind and caring and that made the young tom feel more comfortable. A smile quickly formed on his face when she mentioned hunting and showed him how to crouch. He was excited and followed the molly into a crouch. It was kind of sloppy at first but the more he wiggled the better his form was.

Once he was confident in his stance, he turned his attention back to Cloudypetal. “I don’t really remember my parents. I remember the strong smell of my mother and a faint smell of my father.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “My mother had a beautiful white coat, that was so long and shiny. I don’t know about my father though.” Sycamorepaw looked down at the ground.

Most of the cats in the clan knew their parents. Why could he not really remember his? “I-I think I don’t remember them because the other two-legs took me from them.” Sycamorepaw’s voice cracked slightly as he spoke, and tears wailed up in his eyes. What had he really missed out on? The parents of the clan cats taught their kits how to survive in the wild and he knew nothing. His previous life all he needed to know was what time the food was brought to him and where his box was to potty in. ‘Would my parents even know how to live in the wild?’ A tear streamed down his face, at the realization, Kitty pets really are so much different than wild cats.

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Discord: ChaoticCrow  | Timezone: Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) | Code (c) Kieer

Cloudypetal watched him mimic her crouch - undoubtedly, there was potential within him, desperate to be nurtured and honed. Why did Galestorm feel otherwise about these cats? It didn't make sense. He was as capable as any apprentice despite his past.

As tears welled up in Sycamorepaw's eyes and he began speaking about his parents, her mismatched gaze continued to soften and her ears flattened. Oh Cloudypetal... What did you do? She lifted from her crouch and listened - the best she could do in the moment. To not remember one's own kin - to be taken away from them by Twolegs... It was a fate no cat deserved. She approached him gently, resting her bushy tail comfortingly on his shoulder.

"It's okay, Sycamorepaw," She murmured softly, touching her nose gently to his ear. "You may have not started the same as clan-born kittens, but it does not prevent you from being a strong WindClan warrior. If any cat says otherwise, they'll have to answer to me." She purred softly. She believed that, and she'd protect his honor without a second thought.

"You're here now. One of us. And as for your parents... they may have not taught you the ways of the wild, but they gave you life. That's something to cherish." She added. She only hoped she was saying the right thing, at the right time.

discord: kieer  | timezone: EST (UTC -5) | code (c) kieer

Sycamorepaw sniffed as the molly draped her tail over his shoulders and smiled up at her. She barely knew the young tom and she was so kind to him. A purr started to rattle in his chest, ‘One of them’. The young apprentice had never felt more welcomed into the can than he did now, other than when he was with Oatfluff. “Thank you.” He softly mewed before standing up.

He dropped back down into a crouch and looked at Cloudypetal. The tears that were in his eyes had disappeared and they sparkled with ambition once more. “Should we continue?”

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Discord: ChaoticCrow | Timezone: Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) | Code (c) Kieer