|
Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2018 18:16:51 GMT -5
Fernpaw was, in Rushwhisker's opinion, quite ready to be a warrior. Today would be something of an assessment for her, for his own satisfaction rather than anything official. That would be Moonshine's job. As he led his apprentice out of camp, Ashflight beside him, he slowed, gesturing with his tail for Fernpaw to take the lead, something he'd never done before. But from his own experience as deputy, he thought it would be a good lesson for her to take on something of a leadership role on this outing.
The two warriors allowed the apprentice to pass, Ashflight falling back a bit and Rushwhisker keeping pace just behind and alongside the younger she-cat as he finally told her what they'd be doing today, “Our first day as mentor and apprentice, I showed you RainClan's territory. I led, you followed, you listened and you learned. Today I want you to do the same for me. I'll be your apprentice, and this is your patrol to lead.” He glanced back at Ashflight briefly before returning to attention to Fernpaw, “There may come a day when you'll be asked to lead cats who are older than you, more experienced, whether it's only on a border or hunting patrol, at the head of a battle patrol, or as deputy of RainClan. If you're a competent warrior, how many seasons you've lived through means little when it comes to leading. Don't be afraid to make your voice heard, and don't let older cats silence you for your youth.”
Behind him, Ashflight's whiskers twitched in amusement. Rushwhisker never talked so much to any cat but Fernpaw. It was easy for her to see that her brother was fond of the young she-cat, as he was fond of very little these days. Rushwhisker pointed ahead with his nose, “I want you to lead the both of us around RainClan's territory and tell us what prey we can expect to catch at each place we visit, and demonstrate the best places and techniques to do so. Teaching is a good way to learn.” His shoulder brushed her flank briefly, what was meant to be an encouraging touch, “I know you'll do well, and once we've returned to camp I'll speak to Moonshine about assessing you properly. There's little more for me to teach you, Fernpaw.” That didn't mean there wasn't more for her to learn, no, but she would have to learn on her own, through living her life as a warrior, coming to her own conclusions and finding her own truths. Taxx
|
|
|
Post by Taxx on Jun 16, 2018 21:15:21 GMT -5
Fernpaw Apprentice of RainClan
How quickly the moons had flown by: from a gangly kit fresh from the nursery to the she-cat she had grown into. Fernpaw strode along behind Rushwhisker and his sister Ashflight, her gaze flicking between the terrain around them before flitting back to her mentor; her steps faltered as the older tom slowed his own stride and beckoned for her to go ahead.
She did so, her gaze staying on him as he explained the lesson, her tail flicking in a gesture of apprehension at the thought of leading him and Ashflight around like they were a pair of apprentices. But, surely if he was fine with it- and he had mentioned it- then she ought to do her best. And make him proud. Dipping her head, Fernpaw paused and considered their direction from here.
“We’ll go by the Sandbar first,” she decided; it was almost second nature to glance back at Rushwhisker for approval, only to remember his instructions and carry on. It was just a short run to the landmark, a length of sand jutting out in the middle of the river, and she paced along the bank as she spoke again. “We can catch fish from there; the water’s deep and the current strong, but any RainClan cat is a match for it.” Her gaze drifted ahead to the log where she had had her own first lesson.
For a moment she debated mentioning it- but Rushwhisker had told her to do this how she wanted, and wasn’t part of teaching also including knowledge she had gained? “It’s easier to catch fish from there, when they hide under it for shade and protection.” But she turned away from the log, choosing to crouch on the bank of the river, her eyes fixed on the water sliding past and the lean shapes of the fish below the surface. One paw lifted, claws unsheathed, and the moment she judged a fish within her reach, she struck, sure and true, hooking the flailing fish out of the water. “Keep it?” she asked, glancing back at her mentor in question.
@zen ooc:
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2018 13:48:54 GMT -5
She hesitated, but only for a moment, and Rushwhisker and Ashflight were soon following the apprentice to their first destination. Rushwhisker listened to Fernpaw respectfully and attentively, just as she always had for him. His whiskers twitched with some amusement as she pointed out one of the very first places the two of them had visited together. It was good to know the lesson had stuck. He waited quietly, Ashflight beside him, as she settled by the bank, poised to catch a fish. Her aim was true and she landed her prey, Ashflight's tail flicking against his flank as if to say thanks to your teaching. Since he had taken to asking Ashflight to help out with Fernpaw on occasion, after his injury, his sister seemed to take as much pride in Fernpaw's accomplishments as though she was her apprentice. Rushwhisker was just glad his prickly sister got along with the younger she-cat so well.
He nodded as Fernpaw asked if they should keep the fish, “There's no reason not to. Ashflight can carry it so you can continue with your teaching.”
Ashflight's ears flicked back against her head as if offended, but her tone was teasing, “Oh I can, can I? I see why you brought me along now.” She padded forward to take up the fish, pausing long enough to offer Fernpaw a rare bit of praise, “Good catch, Fernpaw.” And then her mouth was full of fish.
Rushwhisker joined the two she-cats, nodding in agreement of Ashflight's compliment, and he offered her a bit of his own subdued encouragement, not wanting her to lose confidence about leading two older warriors around, “You're doing just fine. Where to next?” Taxx Justice (if you wanted to bring Jade in maybe after Taxx's next post?)
|
|
|
Post by Taxx on Jun 27, 2018 21:03:11 GMT -5
Fernpaw Apprentice of RainClan
With the agreement, Fernpaw quickly pinned and killed the fish before giving it up to Ashflight, purring happily at the older she-cat at her praise. “Thanks, Ashflight!” She caught the tease in the warrior’s words, when once she might have worried that they were serious. She glanced at Rushwhisker as he offered his own approving words. It helped, really, and as she turned again to continue, the brief self-conscious doubt at how she was doing faded- mostly. Not entirely, but there was still a hint more confidence in her demeanor as she carried on.
“We’ll pass by the Willow Stream. There’s really not much to catch there, but it’s a quiet, nice place, and it’s not too far from the StoneClan border. NightClan’s is over there, across the river,” she added, flicked her tail toward the opposite bank, deciding it wasn’t worth the effort to swim the river just to sniff at a border marker and then have to swim back. Maybe if she was leading a real apprentice, but Rushwhisker knew this better than she did. This was meant to be a test of how well she knew the territory, and she hoped she was proving that. Without having to needlessly cross the river.
“This way!” she called, and sprang ahead into a trot, tail up as she headed for the small stream crowded in by willows. At the very least, the trees would give some shade from the sun. From here, she’d circle back to the Cove- maybe try to catch something there to demonstrate her ability to catch land prey- and then see what Rushwhisker thought.
|
|
|
Post by Justice on Jun 29, 2018 15:00:30 GMT -5
She'd been just walking the edges of the territory, looking mostly for the tom she'd left here when leafbare bore down on her and staying to compete for prey became impossible. She'd returned early in newleaf but had been unable to track down Rushwhisker when she returned to her home on the outskirts of RainClan's territory. She'd kept her head down, gone back to life as normal, but worried over the tom. He should have come with her, gotten away from the poison and hurt his clan put him through with their actions towards him. At the same time she understood that it wasn't that easy. He had his own duties to his clan, and at the time he'd had a young cat to train, to leave something good to a clan that didn't deserve the apprentice anymore than they did the mentor. Jade tried to remain neutral towards the clans, but she had absolutely nothing but disdain for RainClan's cats. She knew they weren't all like that, that some had to be redeemable. But their queens had no idea how to properly protect their kits, with the pawful of kits she'd seen from the clan having been near drowned in the river, their leader was a cat who took no action towards anything, and the tension and split in the clan itself was obvious even to an outsider like her. Honestly, if they would just disperse and start over things would be better for everyone. Not like she was saying that. But today she'd detected the scent of RainClan cats, not unusual, but when she followed it to see how close they were to her nest she instead heard the voice of the tom she hadn't seen in several seasons. She was so happy to see him looking at least well enough that she didn't notice the other cats with him. In fact, she crept along until she was closer to him then pounced on him. "Found you!" Taxx @zen
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2018 11:53:57 GMT -5
Rushwhisker nodded at Fernpaw's explanation of their next destination, and her conclusion of the current. She sprang ahead then, to which Ashflight gave him an amused look and quickly followed. It seemed she was feeling a bit more at ease with the lesson. Rushwhisker padded a few steps behind his sister as the trio made for the willow stream. But they didn't get far before a body collided with him, taking him down out of sheer surprise before he could react. Panic and fury flashed through him, briefly, as he expected to face one of Swanfeather's rogues that was still roaming out there somewhere. Instead the cheerful and triumphant exclamation was quite contrary to what he expected from one of the banished Purists, and the voice, and scent that got through to him were familiar and welcome.
He looked up at Jade, blinking back his aggression and confusion both, forcing his claws to sheathe and his fur to lie flat. He wasn't quite sure how to react to such an enthusiastic greeting from the loner she-cat. Then Ashflight snarled, reminding him that he wasn't alone.
“Fernpaw, stay back!” The she-cat had dropped the fish the apprentice had caught and put herself firmly between this stranger and the younger she-cat, lips drawn back and ears pressed to her head, “Get off my brother before I shred you!”
Rushwhisker twitched an ear in her direction and easily pushed himself out from beneath the smaller Jade, putting himself protectively in front of her, which instantly shifted his sister's aggressive expression into one of confusion, “It's all right, Ashflight. She's... she's a friend.” Were they friends? He supposed so.
Ashflight's pale gaze narrowed at the stranger, clearly mistrustful, “Friends, huh?”
“She's the one that's been pulling our kits from the river,” Rushwhisker explained dryly, “She's not here to hurt anyone.” And almost as an afterthought, he introduced them all, “Her name is Jade.” He glanced back at the she-cat, taking a step away so she could see his companions better, “This is my sister, Ashflight, and my apprentice, Fernpaw.” He gestured to each with his tail as he said their names.
Ashflight didn't take her eyes off the she-cat, her tail twitching anxiously behind her. Loners only cared about themselves. They were all in it for themselves, because they had to be to survive out there on their own. That's what Ashflight's experience had told her, and she didn't trust this she-cat for a second. So she'd saved a few kits. Admirable, maybe, considering that she'd put herself at risk to do so when she did not have to, but also a favor that could be held over a Clan's head. A debt to be repaid. No help came without a cost, an exchange, in her experience with loners. Is that why this she-cat so boldly came traipsing through RainClan territory? She felt herself immune to the borders now that she'd saved a few kits?
Rushwhisker studied his sister's intense expression for a moment, his ears twitching, and his tone softened reassuringly, “It's fine, Ashflight.”
She blinked up at him as if surprised he was still there, shaken from her considerations, and shook out her fur, forcing it to lie flat, “If you say so.” Her brother had become as mistrustful as she was lately, so if Rushwhisker trusted her she supposed that meant something.
He beckoned Fernpaw forward with his tail, turning the meeting into a teaching moment, “You've never met a loner, have you? The Code says to chase out trespassers immediately, but Jade is a peaceful cat just trying to live her life. Do you think she deserves our hostility just because she crossed a scent line?” He didn't, but his job was to teach Fernpaw how to think, not what to think.
Ashflight watched her brother, curious as to why he seemed protective of this she-cat. Now that she knew the she-cat hadn't been hostile, she could see how happy this Jade had been to have found him. Like she'd been looking for him for a while. Her ears flicked thoughtfully. Were they more than just friends? It wasn't as though Rushwhisker hadn't found love outside of RainClan before. Taxx Justice
|
|
|
Post by Taxx on Jul 6, 2018 12:49:19 GMT -5
Fernpaw Apprentice of RainClan
Fernpaw had no idea of the other cat before she had pounced, but Ashflight’s warning snarl had her spinning around, eyes wide at the tabby who had Rushwhisker pinned, her ears pinning back and tail lashing. Still, she obeyed Ashflight’s order, hanging back a short distance, and it gave her a minute to really see what was going on; Rushwhisker’s momentary surprise was fading, but instead of lashing out, he was gently nudging the tabby off. No claws or fangs were bared, and Fernpaw relaxed, her urge to defend a Clanmate cooling when she realized there was no danger.
Fernpaw kept her gaze on the stranger as her mentor assured Ashflight, and then glanced back at him as he waved her closer. Approaching, Fernpaw sat again once she’d reached Ashflight’s side, tail flicking again as Rushwhisker put the question to her. Was she supposed to decide what happened to this she-cat? “I’ve seen her before,” she realized, gaze flashing to Rushwhisker. “When she brought back Cedarpaw, after he fell in the river as a kit.” A grateful nod to the loner- Jade, was it? But past deeds, no matter how beneficial for RainClan, was no excuse for her being here now…
“Not hostility,” she conceded. Three of them against one small outsider? Strength in numbers was enough, without an unnecessarily forceful eviction. Besides, they did owe Jade, twice over. Who knew what would have happened to Swanpaw and Cedarpaw, if this cat hadn’t been there to rescue them? “But she- but you shouldn’t be here.” She spoke directly to the loner now. “This is RainClan territory, and we still have to defend our borders.” Her jaw set, firm in her take on this. There was no reason to be rough, to use teeth and claws on her, but she wasn't part of their Clan, and as such, her presence wasn't welcome. No matter what she'd done for them in the past.
|
|