[Taxx]

Smokestorm

This gal right here's gonna rule the world
No, I won't sit still and look pretty

Smokestorm had not anticipated getting another apprentice so soon; she could not deny that she missed having someone to train. Dustleap had been a challenge but a joy too, and she had enjoyed watching him reach his full potential as a warrior; younger, but now equal to any warrior of the Clan. She had swelled with pride when he had been given his name.

Now she had another: little Cicadapaw, sister to Beetlekit. The young tom was still in the medicine den, not yet healed enough to take on the role of apprentice, but he was alive and getting stronger every day. Perhaps it wouldn't be long. Smokestorm had stepped forward to touch noses with the she-cat, purring at the excitement in her clear gaze. As the Clan broke up, the deputy beckoned with her tail as she turned to face the camp.

"If you're hungry, you can take something to eat. I'll be showing you our territory, and it's a long walk for an apprentice used to staying in camp. Look, this mouse is still warm, it must have been caught just before the ceremony." Pausing by the freshkill pile, Smokestorm pawed the mouse toward Cicadapaw, suggesting but not ordering her to eat it. She could certainly understand if Cicadapaw was simply too excited to even consider eating. She waited for the she-cat to answer one way or the other, her gaze flashing around the camp before settling back on her new apprentice once more.

Deputy of StoneClan

@zen Notes

[Deleted]

She'd been excited for her ceremony, but a little disappointed her brother wasn't beside her getting his new mentor. Every cat said it wouldn't be long, but it still didn't quite feel right to be standing in front of the Clan without him. Still, her excitement got the better of her in the end and when Smokestorm was named her mentor, she turned with wide green eyes to stare up at the deputy and grinned as they touched noses. Her mentor was the deputy! She stood a little taller as her new name was called, and hoped her ceremony made her mother and father happy. Since the fox attack, Beetlekit's injury, they had been... different. Sad. Despite her best efforts to cheer them both up.

But now Smokestorm was beckoning her and the excitement of her first day as an apprentice managed to wash away her worry for her family for the time being. She bounced along after her mentor and stopped beside her at the freshkill pile, where the older she-cat pushed a mouse toward her. She listened as the deputy suggested she eat to give her energy for the long trek around the territory they would be making today and managed to look slightly embarrassed as her belly rumbled with hunger. She nodded and tucked into the mouse, taking quick bites, eager to be off despite her hunger.

Swiping her tongue over her muzzle, she sat up from her meal, tail flicking behind her, “I'm ready, Smokestorm! Where are we going first? Will we get to see a LightningClan cat? Does RainClan smell as bad as every cat says?” She shifted from paw to paw as questions tumbled out of her mouth, heedless of answers, “Will you teach me to fight a fox? I wanna be able to protect Beetlekit like you did. And Skunkspots and Valiantstride too. And every cat.”

Taxx

[Taxx]

Smokestorm

This gal right here's gonna rule the world
No, I won't sit still and look pretty

Smokestorm gave an approving nod as Cicadapaw ate, waiting patiently for her apprentice to finish before leading her from the camp for the first time. The rush of questions amused her- reminded her of Dustleap, of herself, and she answered just as eagerly. “Let’s see. We’ll start by going by the Moss Meadow; that’s a good place for you to know, and we can usually find a mouse or two there as well, and sometimes we can catch birds like falcons, who also prey on the mice. This way,” she guided, turning toward the meadow as they exited the camp.

“Then we’ll go around to the Sky Springs. Their waters are calm, and you can put your paws in if you’d like, but we won’t be swimming today. That takes energy and you’ve got to see all your territory. The Little Woods aren’t far from the springs, and that’s where we do most of our hunting- rabbits, mice and birds all live in the woods.” Her voice lowered as the two neared the Meadow, and a flicker of motion caught her gaze, but the mouse had seen them and was fleeing for a hole. Smokestorm let it go after a slight tensing of her muscles, an instinctive reaction to give chase.

“As for your other questions,” she continued, her tail flicking across her apprentice’s shoulder to urge her to follow as she turned to carry on with the tour, “We may see a LightningClan cat, if they’re patrolling their borders as we pass. You can decide for yourself if RainClan smells bad- they smell like fish, and mud, and wet fur. Different from us. And perhaps a little on the stinky side.” Offering a purr of amusement at her concession, because to her, they didn’t smell great- and what cat liked getting wet?

“I will teach you to fight. Our fighting moves can be used for foxes, or badgers, but I hope you never have to fight either; they’re nasty opponents and they’d have no trouble killing a scrap like you. Besides, you won’t be fighting in any battles for a while.” Her gaze softened at the declaration, pride coupled, as it usually was, with guilt that she had not been quick enough to save Beetlekit from losing his foot. “You’ll have your chance, Cicadapaw, I promise you. For now, let’s keep on. Perhaps, if you’re not too tired when we reach camp again, I can show you how to hunt.”

Deputy of StoneClan

@zen Notes

[Deleted]

Cicadapaw listened eagerly as Smokestorm began her explanation to her many questions. The Moss Meadow. She'd heard the apprentices talk about the place more than once as a kit. Usually they were complaining about changing bedding. For a moment Cicadapaw wondered if Smokestorm planned to have her starting on those apprentice chores after their tour, but then the older she-cat went on about the prey that could be caught. Her ears angled forward with interest. Falcons were not common on the freshkill pile, but she had seen them on occasion. An elder had told her they were hunters, just like cats, and as Smokestorm herself had said, they liked to eat mice and smaller birds. It had been strange to think about a bird eating another bird.

“Will we catch a falcon? They're not easy to catch, right?” Otherwise, Cicadapaw figured, they'd be on the prey pile a lot more often. Her plumed tail raised like a flag behind her at the thought of catching a falcon on her very first trip out of camp. She'd take it right to Beetlekit, and her parents, show them what a great hunter she was. Surely that would make them happy? She listened as Smokestorm explained about the Sky Springs and the Little Woods, but she was too focused on her mentor to notice the mouse the older she-cat had noticed herself.

The deputy's tail flicked over her shoulder as they continued on, Cicadapaw doing her best to pay attention to both her mentor and her surroundings, with all the new sights and scents, but it was hard to do both at once. The world outside of camp was so big. Padding along with Smokestorm, she only vaguely registered the she-cat's voice as she explained about LightningClan and RainClan, her pale green gaze fixed on the mountains in the distance, stretching up into the sky like the fangs of some unimaginably massive monster. The deputy's purr of amusement brought her back from her wonderment and she blinked up at her mentor for a moment before she registered what she'd said. She purred back, amused as well. If the deputy said RainClan cats were stinky, then Cicadapaw would believe it. Apprentices always liked to exaggerate things to make them more interesting, so she was never sure what to believe when they were the source.

She nodded as Smokestorm moved on to fighting. Her fur fluffed out a little at the older she-cat's assurance that she would not be fighting any time soon, “Oh, that's good. I don't want to fight if I don't have to, I just wanna be able to protect cats so they don't....” Her ears flicked back as she thought of her family again and how that fox attack had affected them all so terribly. If she had to choose a word to describe it, she supposed the closest she could come was broken. Her family just seemed... broken after the attack. She hoped when Beetlepaw was fully healed and had joined her in the apprentices' den, everything could start getting back to normal. Her brother would never get his paw back, but that didn't mean he couldn't be a happy, competent warrior. And she would be there to help him as much as he needed.

Smokestorm said perhaps she could start learning to hunt today, and she nodded, a bit subdued, and looked up at her mentor, “Hey Smokestorm... when do you think Beetlekit will be made an apprentice? He... he will be an apprentice, right?” It wasn't as though she hadn't overheard some cats whispering about what sort of a warrior a cat with only 3 paws would make. Maybe it would make things harder for him, but she had faith in her brother, and he wouldn't have to do it alone.

Taxx

[Taxx]

Smokestorm

This gal right here's gonna rule the world
No, I won't sit still and look pretty

Every apprentice was different; most were excited to begin their training, to learn all it meant to be a warrior- some were more driven, others more thoughtful, some eager to please, though it wasn’t unheard of to have one think they knew plenty already and didn’t need to actually learn anything. This outing, as well as to show Cicadapaw her territory, was equally a way for Smokestorm to get a better feel for how she reacted to what she saw and heard, and what her mentor told her. So far, she seemed pleasant enough- she was listening, and the desire to protect her family was definitely something Smokestorm could identify with.

“Not today,” she replied. “It’s better to have more warriors to work as a team, because as you said, they’re not easy prey. Their beaks and claws are sharp, and very strong, and it has to be done quickly. The best method is if one cat attacks from the back and pins it down while another does the kill-bite. Going at it from the front puts you at risk of getting grabbed or bitten, and you don’t want those sharp claws near your eyes.”

She had begun walking again as she talked, guiding Cicadapaw toward the Springs. A glance down at her as she replied that she didn’t want to fight, a touch of surprise at that. Perhaps she’d read wrong into the young she-cat’s confident statement that she was going to protect her family. She didn’t want to fight for the sake of fighting, but to protect those who couldn’t. Slowing her steps, Smokestorm kept a close eye on her apprentice, noting her quieter demeanor and wondering what she was thinking about…

She found out as Cicadapaw asked her question and for a moment she paused, settling down and meeting the young cat’s gaze. “When he’ll become an apprentice is up to Sandblaze to say, but I’m sure it won’t be much longer. And yes, I am quite certain he’ll be an apprentice; Hawkstar would give him a chance, I’m sure of that much- after all, look at Sootpaw. If she can be an apprentice, why not Beetlekit? He’ll likely pick someone with moons of experience, who’s patient and won’t push your brother too hard, but who would also try not to hold him back. And Beetlekit himself is growing strong enough now; he won’t be content to lie about camp all day. Plus,” the tabby added, “I know you’d help him too, won’t you?”

Deputy of StoneClan

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