[Silver]

"There’s a lot of things you need
to get across this universe.
You know the thing
you need most of all?"

Snow lay heavy on the ground and the cold in the air caused joints to ache and made travel much harder. Foxstar didn't have time to think about these things though, she had picked up another Apprentice and training had to begin for the young tom if he was ever to become a proper Warrior. She was going to start with bringing him along while she went throughout the territory so he could learn about his home.

Her leg ached from the old injury done to it but she couldn't afford to let any of them see her looking so weak as to be limping so she grit her teeth against the pain and kept her gait smooth and confident. She was a large cat, she knew this, but that didn't stop her from being graceful. Pausing outside the Apprentice Dens, she called for the one that she would teach. "Brindlepaw, come. It's time to begin your training."

Especially because she was ready to be back inside her own warm den where the ache in her bones would fade and she could relax again. There would be no doing that though until she finished with everything she needed to do. She sighed to herself; knowing a leader's work was never done.

"You need a hand to hold."

Tags | williams

[williams]

Brindlepaw didn't mind the snow. His pelt was long and his frame was broader than other cats his same age, thus the cold didn't seep in as quickly. When Foxstar had said the previous day they would be touring the territory, a smile filled his face from excitement. Yes they would have to brave the snow, but finally! His mind drifted back to meeting Flamepaw, knowing he had been incredibly lucky to meet another apprentice in his foolishness. The fluffy apprentice hadn't even told his parents of the encounter, knowing they would only chastize him for not leaping at the chance to hurt an enemy cat. Now though, he was going to learn the territory! He decided he was going to be the best at knowing it, know all the secret places to find moss or prey, or to leap out at unsuspecting cats. Flamepaw will be so impressed!

Foxstar's voice rolled into the den, and she did not need to wait long. "Coming!" He said back, detangling himself from the mess of apprentices. Having the warmest body had its perks, except when he needed to leave without disturbing anyone. Ears flattened as he probably stepped on a few paws and tails, Brindlepaw rushed to meet Foxstar. Shaking out his pelt to dislodge the last of pieces of his nest, he smiled up at her in excitement, tail curling over his back. The young tom already knew he was going to have to take more steps to match her gait, but did not let that deter him. "Where are we going first?" He asked, keeping his questions at bay while they were so close to his sleeping clanmates.

280|| Silver || eee!!

✿

[Silver]

"There’s a lot of things you need
to get across this universe.
You know the thing
you need most of all?"

Foxstar couldn't help the gentle, amused smile that lit her face at the tempered excitement in her new Apprentice. It was a good trait for Bridlepaw to be so considerate of his clanmates at such a young age. She wholeheartedly approved, and she knew the trait would serve him well as he got older. She moved on silent paws and stayed silent until they were well away from those that remained asleep. Finally she tapped the young tom on the shoulder with her tail and offered him a purr of approval for his actions. "That was very considerate of you, Bridlepaw." 

The large she-cat stretched her body out before rolling her shoulders and continuing on her path. She had a lot to show her Apprentice today and couldn't afford to slow down. First though, she needed to warn him. "First off, I need you to stay close to me and remain as quiet as you can. The first place we are going is also the most dangerous. Branch Trail was taken from NightClan during a raid by TreeClan. The territory does belong under their control because of this, but it remains part of NightClan's lands nonetheless. We'll start our journey here. To be a good Warrior you have to understand that sometimes this land that we often take for granted can be taken from us by force if we are not vigilant and very careful."

She shifted her weight again and kept her gait calm and confident so she didn't worry her young Apprentice. They'd pass along the edges of the area before continuing on, but she knew they needed to remain on alert for any sign of their enemy. That was why her ears were moving back and forth and her amber eyes were always looking out at the world around them. This would be a good lesson for the young Apprentice; one she hoped he never forgot.

"You need a hand to hold."

Tags | williams

[williams]

That was very considerate of you, Bridlepaw." Brindlepaw's face immediately lit up at the compliment, chasing the last of the sleep fog from his brain. He hadn't done it out of kindness technically, as grumpy sleep mates yelled and the young tom didn't want to be yelled at. But once Foxstar said it, he knew that was probably the root of why he had chosen to be quiet. He smiled at her again, whispering a quiet 'thank you' as they moved off to the forest, pleased that he had done something right.

Keeping up was not as easy out in the forest, the snow coming up just high enough on Brindlepaw's shorter legs that he stumbled through the patches. He couldn't listen and find a good rhythm of bounding through the snow, so the apprentice gave up on finding a good path and listened intently as his mentor spoke.

A quiet stream of repeated bits and pieces followed the pair as they walked, the young tom trying to get the words in his head the first time so he could ask for clarification at their destination. Branch trail, right. Giving one last shake of his back leg, Brindlepaw turned his eyes up and scanned their location. "We patrol, right? To watch the borders? And learn quickly if someone has crossed? How will we know if it's been moved? Is it always a marking? Did we know this time, before the fight happened?" He frowned out into the forest, trying to determine how the trees changed where it hit the other clan's actual territory, then suddenly realized something. His bushy tail swept forward as his eyes widened. Foxstar had asked him to remain quiet. He shuffled up to her side, features almost vanishing inside the fur that puffed out in embarrassment. "Sorry."

304 || Silver || low muse so sorry friend <3

✿

[Silver]

"There’s a lot of things you need
to get across this universe.
You know the thing
you need most of all?"

Foxstar sighed quietly to herself, amused and slightly frustrated at just how loud her Apprentice was being. She shook herself and settled down as the young tom puffed up in embarrassment and knew he'd realized his mistake. She tapped him on the side with her tail and answered his questions in a low tone, needing him to understand the meaning of quiet. "Scent markers as well as physical markers are placed along territory borders to tell all who it belongs to then the clan in question protects the area. Because it is currently controlled by TreeClan, we must be careful and vigilant."

She grew quiet for a moment before gently nudging the Apprentice in the direction of the Black Forest. Once safely inside NightClan territory again, she relaxed a small bit. She had taken a bit of a risk bringing him to a contested area, but he did need to learn and she never had done things by halves. Taking another deep breath, she continued in a slightly louder but still calm manner. "Alright this area is firmly under NightClan control. Never go into a contested area alone, be you Apprentice or Warrior. It's dangerous and you have to remember that always. Now then, can you tell me anything about where we are currently?"

He should know things about his home, even if he'd never been in this part of it before. Also she was curious what he knew already.

"You need a hand to hold."

Tags | williams