[Hellion]

PETALRAIN

Don't you have an apprentice to train?"

A strong wave of embarrassment rushed to heat Petalrain's ears. Having just settled down to groom Foxtrot, her eyes shifted upward to stare at Wolfclaw. The Clan's former deputy left little room for a reply as he flicked his heavy tail and left the area. Watching the tom with her eyes set down in a glare she gave a huff before turning back to her task.

A moment later and Foxtrot wiggled away from the pretty she-cat. Flustered with her poor treatment to his pelt. "I just remembered I'm supposed to go hunting with Hawkfall," The tom told her before departing from her and seeking out the aforementioned tom. Petalrain fixed Foxtrot's with a glare as he walked, she knew for certain Hawkfall was asleep in the warrior's den, having gone on the dawn patrol.

Annoyed at his excuse to get away from her and still reeling over Wolfclaw's comment, Petalrain set forth to seek out Sootpaw. While she didn't have it in her to admit it to Hawkstar that she wasn't suited to train the young apprentice, Petalrain was still at a loss. She had no idea how to train an apprentice who was blind and likely never able to hold up her own in a fight. A cynical part of Petalran wanted to explain to the younger she-cat that she was better off getting a warrior name and retiring to be a queen.

Finding her apprentice near the medicine cat's den, Petalrain made a show of clearing her throat and greeting her loudly. Doing the best she could to alert and help gain the she-cat's attention.

"Can you go with me for a walk, just around the outside of camp," Her tone lacked friendliness and felt forced out of her but no matter what she was determiend to talk to Sootpaw. Figure out what they could do to end it with both cats happy.

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tags: @calico
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notes: blah

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Sootpaw had just woken up and was stretching any tiredness out of her fur and her muscles. Petalrain's voice rang out at the entrance to her den.

It sounded... forced. Like she didn't really want to be there. 

Sootpaw understood all too well. How was she meant to train in the normal warrior apprentice ways? Yes, there were protocols in place for cats who couldn't see, but most of them were blind since birth.

It was very rare for a cat who had their sight to lose it this early. Sight loss was mostly done by much older cats as they aged, once they had provided their full service to the clan. Then they could retire to the elders and be waited on by the apprentices. 

is that what will happen to me?

Petalrain sounded impatient and Sootpaw realised that she was keeping the pretty she-cat waiting. She leapt to her paws and angled herself for the entrance of the apprentice's den.

"I'm here, Petalrain. Obviously... you can see me. Silly me. Where are we going, again?"

Hellion / 180 

[Hellion]

PETALRAIN

Petalrain moved closer to Sootpaw but still kept a half a tail-length away. She didn't know how to approach her blind apprentice, but thing had to be said and changes made. Leading Sootpaw out of camp and toward the outside edge of it, she was pleased to see Foxtrot standing guard. Even if their relationship was on the strained side, it was nice to see his handsome face.

Moving in silence, Petalrain struggled to find the words. How was she to train a blind cat?! She figured that with time Sootpaw would rely on other senses but how soon would that be? Conflicted and letting it show, Petalrain slowed down before clearing her throat.

"I don't know how to train you. How can I show you battle moves when you can't see them! I know it's not your fault what happened and you were really brave when you protected Beetlepaw but I don't know how to do this," She confessed, a sign leaving her at the end of her words.

"I understand if you want to talk to Hawkstar about getting you a new mentor. Maybe someone older," She added, looking away from Sootpaw to stare at her paws, not that the apprentice would be able to tell.

tags: @calico
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[Deleted]

Sootpaw was conflicted. She wanted to finish her training with the beautiful she-cat she had been assigned to, she wanted to not have to have a second, different, mentor so late into her training.

But then she became blind.

It was only fair to realise that her blindness would not only have a profound effect on her, but all the cats she was closest to as well.

Not that she and Petalrain were close, but two cats cannot go through what they had been through together without some kind of bond being established.

Hence how conflicted Sootpaw was feeling.

It wasn’t just about her anymore. It never really had been. She was just one in a long line of StoneClan cats. Eventually, if she was lucky, she would have kits of her own, and would add to the StoneClan numbers.

Her feelings, though infinitely important to her, weren’t the only feelings that had to be taken into consideration.

“If that is what you wish. We’ll go talk to Hawkstar together.”

171 / Hellion BlooRey DVD (Hawkstar mention)

[Hellion]

PETALRAIN

Petalrain could read Sootpaw's expression, the slight shift and it pained her. It wasn't the she-cat's fault she was blind. All the blame was placed on the fox.

When Sootpaw agreed, Petalrain suddenly felt even worse. A feeling of regret washed through her. Then came a strong desire to pull back all the words she muttered. The idea of no longer being her mentor was crushing. She'd admit at first it was an annoying burden but having been there right after the fox attack, Petalrain felt something she thought had faded long ago. An emotion that terrified her.

The more she pushed on the tender spot in her psyche where the emotion dwelled it finally revealed itself. The loss of her brothers hung heavily on a corner of her heart and now Sootpaw was being added to it and it terrified her but not enough to give up on Sootpaw.

"I take it back, I want to stay our mentor. But we have to promise each other that we will try harder. I know I've been the worst mentor in the world and I'm sorry," Her words were sincere.

tags: @calico
word count: ###
notes: blah

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[Deleted]

Petalrain's apology had Sootpaw smiling to herself. Not because she was mocking Petalrain, definitely not that, more because their shared experiences had bought them closer together after all. She had hoped that they would. 

Petalrain's promise to be a better mentor, though, had Sootpaw's smile turn into a slight frown.

"But Petalrain, you don't need to be a better mentor. I'm perfectly happy with you as you are. In fact, and I might be a little biased when I mention this, but I think that you're the best mentor i've ever had!"

Sootpaw thought to herself for a few moments. 

Petalrain felt bad, this much was obvious. But how could she make the beautiful she-cat feel better? Maybe some hunting would help? 

Maybe a bit of nostalgia for her? 

"This... this may be a bit of a silly question, but would you like to play a game of catch the moss ball? When I was a kit, and I was sad for some reason, it would always make me feel better."

Back when it was the three of us, myself plus Kestrelkit (Kestrelstar) and Meadowkit (Meadowflight) against the world and all we had to worry about was not getting scolded by our mothers.

She could smell a patch of moss where it lay, not too far away, slightly dried from the heat of the sun, but not unusable. Padding gently over to it, she clawed some up, rolling it into a tight ball as she went. 

She had to roughly gauge where her mentor was standing by her scent, and she threw the ball in that direction. 

273 / Hellion / Please please can Sootpaw misjudge and like land it on her head or something, just a mental image that made me laugh. 

[Hellion]

PETALRAIN

The shift from heavy conversation to something light was comforting. Petalrain didn't have the personality to keep up serious talk all the time. She preferred things light and fleeting. Smiling sweetly to Sootpaw, she knew she could finish out the younger she-cat's training and be done with it.

Her duty to the Clan and could with a good conscience never be a mentor again. One and done.

Watching as Sootpaw found them a moss ball, Petalrain checked the area around them. The last thing she wanted was for someone to get hurt during their game. The moss ball mad it's dried up way to her, landing near her forepaws. Batting it between her paws for a moment, she flung it back. Petalrain was careful to ensure the sense of motion went by Sootpaw, aiding the young apprentice the best she could in finding and returning the ball.

A lightly airy giggle slipped past her when Sootpaw went for the ball by misjudged her leap and tumbled. Moving to her apprentice's side, Petalrain gave a gentle nudge to Sootpaw. "Up you get," She encouraged.

tags: @calico
word count: ###
notes: blah