[Fawn]

30 Moons StoneClan Tom

Kestrelclaw

"Our prime purpose in this life is to help others.
And if you can't help them, at least don't harm them."

_{-Dalai Lama}

It had taken multiple days of very very light manual labor, but Kestrelclaw was soon cleared for full warrior duties by the Clan’s healers. It was another two sunrises before Dawnpaw was given permission to return to training. Kestrelclaw had waited with bated breath, half-afraid that all the healing progress the younger tom had made would be reversed by the slightest display of impatience - but his was proving as strong as the spirit that housed it.

What are we gonna learn next? Those keen eyes asked him, and Kestrelclaw’s heart swelled with grief and warmth both, still apologetic over his apprentice’s injuries, but nevertheless admiring the sheer strength of the exuberant tom’s heart. ”I know the other apprentices are no doubt learning battle tactics against other cats,” said Kestrelclaw as he led the way to the training grounds. ”But it serves no purpose to neglect teaching you how to defend against predators, too. But promise me, Dawnpaw, if anything hurts, you have to tell me. Understand?”

Effective without raising his voice, stern in a way that replicated the late great Eagletalon, Kestrelclaw had never had reason to be curt or sharp with Dawnpaw. But this was serious. He wouldn’t forgive himself if Dawnpaw got hurt again - and this time by overworking himself. If that happened, then Kestrelclaw would be the first one to march into Hawkstar’s den and beg the wise old leader to give Dawnpaw to someone more deserving.

Ginger & 246 Words

Backdated to late Greenleaf Yr 6.

[Ginger]

Sitting in the Medicine Cat's den while others got to train had been awful. Paintedpaw had often come to visit him, telling him that she wished she could have his position of lying in the dark, and that had always made Dawnpaw laugh. But it still hurt every time that she had to leave him alone again to go and do her training.

He had worked hard on being able to walk, and it was slow. But it happened. Every day he moved more, and he moved faster. 

And then came the day where he could actually leave. The young apprentice was practically bouncing, albeit it was an incredibly awkward bounce accompanied by a slight limp. 

Dawnpaw and Kestrelclaw made their way out of camp, and Dawnpaw listened eagerly at what it is they were going to be doing. Battle training! But... not against other cats. The young tom couldn't help but wonder if the reason for this training was because of his extreme injuries fighting the eagle. But, quickly, the apprentice brushed away the negativity. "I'm gonna be the greatest monster-hunter this clan has seen!" His chest puffed up at the thought of it. "Dawnfighter. Dawnhunter! DawnEagleEater! Dawndestroyer!" The warrior names just kept flowing out. Dawnpaw was ready to fight for his clan in any way possible.

At Kestrelclaw's more stern tone, Dawnpaw's puffed out chest deflated ever so slightly. "Okay, I will..." 

But nothing could keep this happy tom down for long. "So what am I going to learn first? A flying leap to attack flying birds? A stone smash to attack badgers? A daring dash to daunt Demon?"

---

271 words
Fawn

[Fawn]

30 Moons StoneClan Tom

Kestrelclaw

"Our prime purpose in this life is to help others.
And if you can't help them, at least don't harm them."

_{-Dalai Lama}

DawnEagleEater! Kestrelclaw’s whole muzzle twitched, and the laughter nearly escaped, distorting his words as he tried to corral Dawnpaw’s enthusiasm. ”I want you to learn how to defend yourself against snakes, badgers, and large birds of prey. We’re going to start with snakes, because there’s still a big risk of bumping into them, especially after sunhigh when the territory gets a little cooler.”

Kestrelclaw gave his coat a quick shake, the warm grit of sand under paw as familiar to him as his mother’s tongue against his ears. He had trained here, and he had trained hard. Though Silverglade’s unique history had taken Kestrelclaw on a journey far, far away from here, he had not been a stranger to StoneClan’s territory. How could he, when his father Eagletalon had defended it so staunchly? He had wanted to at least partly live up to his father’s standards - and that meant working just a little harder than everyone else.

”I want you to tell me everything you know about snakes, Dawnpaw. It’s okay if you need time to think on your answer. Once you know what you’re really up against, then you can properly counter it.” Kestrelclaw mewed, turning to face the kitten. Otherwise it comes down to dumb luck and instinct. And the odds of walking away from that kind of fight could be… shockingly low.

Ginger & 235 Words

[Ginger]

Everything he knew about snakes. That wasn't too much. But there was some information for sure. "Uh... Well we can eat them!" He remembered that from the training session in which the two toms had been attacked by the eagles. He shook the memory away. "We have to attack them before they can bite us!"

And...that was all he knew. Dawnpaw sheepishly adopted an air of quiet, very uncommon for the talkative and friendly apprentice. Would it be better for him to fill the air with useless information about snakes? Or to just leave the useful information and be more quiet. One would make him seem wiser, but the other option was just more fun. 

Him being Dawnpaw, it was clear which route he went with. "They don't have legs, and they smell super weird. And they have scales! And they sound funny when they move.. And they hiss! A lot." 

Dawnpaw sure could be a pawful, but if anything was for certain, it was that he loved to be out here again with Kestrelclaw. Even if he spent that time annoying him.

---

184 words
Fawn

[Fawn]

30 Moons StoneClan Tom

Kestrelclaw

"Our prime purpose in this life is to help others.
And if you can't help them, at least don't harm them."

_{-Dalai Lama}

Kestrelclaw chuckled. ”You’re right, but there are more to snakes than hissing and not having any legs. They do smell weird though. Like cold earth, but stranger.” The tom shook his head, not going to indulge in any distracting thoughts or get carried away on minor details. ”What I know of snakes, and what my father’s told me, is that snakes are attracted to heat. They like to sun themselves on rocks. We especially have to be careful near Sun Stones. Do you remember? We saw them a couple days ago.”

Kestrelclaw’s first order of business upon regaining Dawnpaw had been a bit of light exercise. So they’d walked, refreshing their minds on the territory and essentially finishing the tour the young eagles had so savagely interrupted. Dawnpaw was still quite new to the world of apprenticeship, but Kestrelclaw firmly believed in preparation. It would help him reach adulthood, and that, almost more than Dawnpaw becoming a warrior, was the goal Kestrelclaw had fixed into his mind.

”If you encounter a snake at the Sun Stones, what do you think you should do?” Keen eyes focused on Dawnpaw, pressing him for an answer. The young tom was all energy, but that didn’t mean his head was full of pigeon fluff - even if it took him a bit longer to find the answer than someone more intellectual. Kestrelclaw was patient, though. This wasn’t something meant to be rushed.

Ginger & 243 Words