[Deleted]

redscar

It hadn't been much time since Shadeheart had become a warrior, and Redscar initially had doubts she would take to the profession as well as she had. Clearly she had shown him the error in his line of thinking, and sure there were new challenges daily, but her bright and exuberant attitude had seen her through each day. Lightningclan's deputy made it a point to touch base with the blind warrior, as he was still sure she would need more attention than many of the clan's other denizens, however to this day she had never found herself in need of saving. In an effort to slyly check in on the she-cat Redscar informed her that she would be joining his border patrol this morning. As the small party was assembled and ventured into their territory Redscar found himself taking up a position behind Shadeheart and watching her. If he hadn't known she was blind, he would have had a hard time deducing it from what he was seeing.

deputy of

lightningclan

background image | Taxx | table by phoenix

[Taxx]

Shadeheart

Warrior of LightningClan

I don't really care if nobody else believes

Shadeheart enjoyed border patrols. Scenting and hearing were things she did well at, and she relied on them as surely as any other cat relied on sight. She didn't know how to explain it- she just did it. It was natural to her, was all she could say. And now, out with Redscar, she was using those abilities to their fullest.

One ear swiveled back to where the deputy was trailing behind, and she paused at one marker to freshen it. "I can almost hear you thinking," she quipped, turning toward him. "Nothing's wrong, is it? Firestar's okay? You're okay?" Concern for the welfare of her leaders was obvious in her tone, her ears pricking toward him and tail flicking a bit nervously. He might not tell her- after all, she was only just a warrior, and any troubles in the Clan were more likely to be discussed with the senior warriors. But there was no harm in asking, was there?

'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me

@poptart   || Notes

[Deleted]

redscar

Redscar knew that Shadeheart was in tune with her surroundings, however he had no idea how closely she tracked the cats that were presently around her. The deputy wondered for a moment if she could actually feel his gaze upon her, and figured it best he stop treating Shadeheart as if her lack of sight meant she was destined for a life of obliviousness. "Both Firestar and I are fine Shadeheart." Redscar began attempting to assuage the younger she-cats fears. "I wouldn't have guessed you knew I was watching." Redscar added, wondering what he could learn from Shadeheart if he took the time to try. Perhaps she had kept track of his distance, could an errant step have given him away? Or perhaps it was his breathing, had some unnatural frequency taken over his breathing patterns as he closely studied her? "Was there anything in particular I did to clue you in?"

deputy of

lightningclan

background image | Taxx | table by phoenix

[Taxx]

Shadeheart

Warrior of LightningClan

I don't really care if nobody else believes

The young she-cat breathed easier at the deputy's assurance, her flicking tail lowering so the tip brushed the ground. That was good news; it was no secret that Firestar was growing old, and her previous grieving period after Russetfall's death had had the whole Clan worried, but she had seemed to finally bounce back. She had lost a life in the badger fight, but though she'd had to take time to recover from that, she had seemed to be doing fine otherwise.

"Oh- I didn't know you were watching me," she replied, ears angling toward him and her gaze settling on the place his voice came from. "I just- the way you were walking. First, you're usually at the head of a patrol, but you were falling behind a bit. And your steps were... when a cat's thinking hard, they tend to walk different. More slowly. It's hard to describe," she added, ears flicking a bit self-consciously. It was something she paid attention to without really being aware of it. Hearing, smells, and vibrations from those walking nearby- these were her senses.

"Why were you watching me?" she asked, blinking at him and then tipping her head to the side in curiosity.

'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me

@poptart || Notes

[Deleted]

Redscar listened to the explanation that Shadeheart provided, and he didn't have to do any additional prying to get the answers he was looking for. As she spoke Redscar imagined the little tells she described, and wondered if he would ever be capable of picking up on such things. Clearly there were alternative ways to interpret ones senses, and Redscar wasn't sure if Shadeheart's techniques were born out of creativity or necessity. Upon being questioned about observing the younger she cat, Redscar gave his reply as to why he was so interested. "You get on really well, and are capable of doing things the rest of your clan mates tend to rely on their sight for." The deputy began hoping his words were well chosen so he wouldn't end up offending Shadeheart at some point during the conversation. "I am always wondering what the rest of the clan could learn from you."

Taxx

[Taxx]

Shadeheart

Warrior of LightningClan

I don't really care if nobody else believes

Shadeheart blinked, a bit surprised. She'd been complimented before on her ability to get around without sight, but she'd never had anyone, especially the deputy, tell her there were things she could teach the rest of the Clan. "I- I'm honored," she managed, dipping her head toward him. "But I don't think there's much I could teach anyone. If I could choose to have sight, I would. It's not easy running when you can't see what's in front of you. I'm at risk of breaking a leg each time I try it." A heightened sense of hearing and smell worked well enough, but they weren't always enough to make up for her lack of sight.

"I prefer hunting in the tunnels because it's easier. Less likely to trip down there, and it's harder for prey to elude me. Plus the walls hold scents and sounds. It's harder out here, when the wind blows and the scent of grass is everywhere.." What could she possibly teach anyone, when she was blind and barely out of her apprenticeship?

'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me

@poptart || Notes

[Deleted]

Redscar fell silent and yet again found himself listening as Shadeheart explained her take on on the situation, and the newly minted warrior did, in fact, have plenty to say. There was doubt expressed in Redscar's words, and a clear maturity had found itself in what was said by Shadeheart, which showed that her journey to becoming a warrior was indeed different than that of many of her peers. In no way did Redscar find Shadeheart's more negative comments to be self deprecating, in fact they were clearly rooted in honesty, and the deputy could understand just how tricky it could be barrelling around without sight. However just after Shadeheart finished on some of the bigger negatives she launched into her take on tunneling, and Redscar was pleased she did. It made sense under those conditions, especially after Shadeheart clearly laid them out, that tunneling would see the young warrior in her element. "Maybe you are correct, but I think you have plenty to teach LightningClan, and your approach to the tunnels is likely one of them."

Taxx

[Taxx]

Shadeheart

Warrior of LightningClan

I don't really care if nobody else believes

Redscar could be right, and she couldn't deny her willingness to pass on what she had learned and picked up from hunting the tunnels. She hoped he wasn't just trying to make her feel better in telling her she had something to offer her Clanmates- the thought of training an apprentice what she knew was exciting. Maybe, since Redscar seemed to think she was doing quite well, he'd talk to Firestar about giving her one.  Owlmind's three would be six moons soon...

"Thank you, Redscar. I'm glad you think so. I had a good mentor in Mudpelt- he helped me a lot during my training." Nice to know that he approved of her ability to get around, and hunt. It was nice to hear, from the deputy himself, that she had something potentially useful to teach the rest of her Clan, or at the very least something she could pass on to an apprentice sometime.

'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me

@poptart || Notes