Post by xvinn on Sept 7, 2022 2:32:19 GMT -5
russetpaw (he/they) | galeclan
Nothing could have prevented Russetpaw from thinking that today was potentially going to be the greatest day of his entire life. Well, except any future days that would also later be believed by him to be the greatest day of his entire life, but that was for then, and this is now. They had excitedly found a nest in the apprentice's den the night before after their apprentice ceremony and settled in, but falling asleep was no easy feat when they knew that the next day would be their first day of apprenticehood. How could they sleep when everything felt so exciting all at once?
When it seemed like the sun was finally beginning to crack over the horizon, the ruddy-coloured tabby practically rocketed out of the apprentice's den and straight towards the entrance of the camp before skidding to a stop. He shook out his fur and looked back at the camp, realizing that he was probably supposed to be waiting for his new mentor, Nobleflame, to come and join him.
They had to admit there had been a little bit of a sour feeling left in their stomach when Nobleflame's name was announced. Now, it had nothing to do with her whatsoever, and instead everything to do with the fact that Russetpaw had hoped that Flintstorm was going to be their mentor. He had looked up to the warrior for his entire life, wanting nothing more than to walk in their pawsteps and grow up to be exactly like them. Plus, the fact that they didn't have an apprentice of their own meant that the opportunity was ripe for the picking for the pair to be placed together. Russetpaw didn't totally understand why Owlstar couldn't see that if he was going to listen to anyone with perfect clarity and follow their every word, it probably would have been Flintstorm. Of course, he would try his best to listen to Nobleflame, too, but it didn't stop him from being at least a tiny bit disappointed in the whole situation.
It was probably no longer than the length of a birdsong that the newly named apprentice already became impatient. He was pacing back and forth in front of the entrance of camp anxiously, eager to dash out and see the world beyond the camp walls. He knew that if anyone could become one of the greatest warriors in all of GaleClan, it could be him. He would be strong, fast, brave, smart, determined, and strong (again). The cat had ambitions beyond even some kits' wildest imaginations, knowing that the future was laid out for them to be the greatest cat that GaleClan - no, that the entire valley had ever seen. Elders would tell stories of their escapades for generations to come, about the great Russet-whatever-his-warrior-name-would-be! About the time that he saved a litter of kits from a devastating fire, about when he rescued an injured warrior from a vicious badger attack, about when he caught an apprentice who tripped and almost fell into the cracks of the valley to their death - okay, maybe none of those things had actually happened, or not yet, at least. But they could! And Russetpaw would be the hero that saved the day, and everyone would sing his name and praise him to StarClan above, grateful for his determination in keeping GaleClan and all cats of the valley safe.
Perhaps most of these desires would never happen, but they couldn't help from having these dreams anyways. As a kit, Russetpaw had often been rather lonely, after all, having only Flintstorm as a friend who hardly even seemed like they cared some days. Russetpaw was big for his age, and always had been. At a certain point, some of the queens didn't let him play with their denmates because the mothers were afraid that they would carelessly step on or lay on top of one of them and hurt them, but Russetpaw would have been as careful as possible! It broke their heart thinking that the queens didn't trust them to be cautious when playing with the other kits. Maybe they could be a lot, but they had always been well-meaning at the core of it all.
Alright. It had been too long. After all, it had now been the length of two birdsongs and Russetpaw was still waiting by the front entrance to camp.
So, he dashed off towards the warriors den, skidding and almost colliding into the side. He got to his paws and shook off his fur before curiously sticking his head inside, something he probably shouldn't be doing, but he didn't really think twice about it as Russetpaw began to loudly whisper, "Psst ... Nobleflame?" looking around for a sign of the ginger and white tabby warrior who'd been assigned as his mentor. They ducked their head back out, pleased with their decision to show such readiness for their first day, sitting outside the warriors' den and doing their very best to wait patiently (easier said than done) for Nobleflame to appear so that the pair could finally begin! If kithood was only the prologue to Russetpaw's story, today would be chapter one, and he knew it would be a tale of epic proportions.
When it seemed like the sun was finally beginning to crack over the horizon, the ruddy-coloured tabby practically rocketed out of the apprentice's den and straight towards the entrance of the camp before skidding to a stop. He shook out his fur and looked back at the camp, realizing that he was probably supposed to be waiting for his new mentor, Nobleflame, to come and join him.
They had to admit there had been a little bit of a sour feeling left in their stomach when Nobleflame's name was announced. Now, it had nothing to do with her whatsoever, and instead everything to do with the fact that Russetpaw had hoped that Flintstorm was going to be their mentor. He had looked up to the warrior for his entire life, wanting nothing more than to walk in their pawsteps and grow up to be exactly like them. Plus, the fact that they didn't have an apprentice of their own meant that the opportunity was ripe for the picking for the pair to be placed together. Russetpaw didn't totally understand why Owlstar couldn't see that if he was going to listen to anyone with perfect clarity and follow their every word, it probably would have been Flintstorm. Of course, he would try his best to listen to Nobleflame, too, but it didn't stop him from being at least a tiny bit disappointed in the whole situation.
It was probably no longer than the length of a birdsong that the newly named apprentice already became impatient. He was pacing back and forth in front of the entrance of camp anxiously, eager to dash out and see the world beyond the camp walls. He knew that if anyone could become one of the greatest warriors in all of GaleClan, it could be him. He would be strong, fast, brave, smart, determined, and strong (again). The cat had ambitions beyond even some kits' wildest imaginations, knowing that the future was laid out for them to be the greatest cat that GaleClan - no, that the entire valley had ever seen. Elders would tell stories of their escapades for generations to come, about the great Russet-whatever-his-warrior-name-would-be! About the time that he saved a litter of kits from a devastating fire, about when he rescued an injured warrior from a vicious badger attack, about when he caught an apprentice who tripped and almost fell into the cracks of the valley to their death - okay, maybe none of those things had actually happened, or not yet, at least. But they could! And Russetpaw would be the hero that saved the day, and everyone would sing his name and praise him to StarClan above, grateful for his determination in keeping GaleClan and all cats of the valley safe.
Perhaps most of these desires would never happen, but they couldn't help from having these dreams anyways. As a kit, Russetpaw had often been rather lonely, after all, having only Flintstorm as a friend who hardly even seemed like they cared some days. Russetpaw was big for his age, and always had been. At a certain point, some of the queens didn't let him play with their denmates because the mothers were afraid that they would carelessly step on or lay on top of one of them and hurt them, but Russetpaw would have been as careful as possible! It broke their heart thinking that the queens didn't trust them to be cautious when playing with the other kits. Maybe they could be a lot, but they had always been well-meaning at the core of it all.
Alright. It had been too long. After all, it had now been the length of two birdsongs and Russetpaw was still waiting by the front entrance to camp.
So, he dashed off towards the warriors den, skidding and almost colliding into the side. He got to his paws and shook off his fur before curiously sticking his head inside, something he probably shouldn't be doing, but he didn't really think twice about it as Russetpaw began to loudly whisper, "Psst ... Nobleflame?" looking around for a sign of the ginger and white tabby warrior who'd been assigned as his mentor. They ducked their head back out, pleased with their decision to show such readiness for their first day, sitting outside the warriors' den and doing their very best to wait patiently (easier said than done) for Nobleflame to appear so that the pair could finally begin! If kithood was only the prologue to Russetpaw's story, today would be chapter one, and he knew it would be a tale of epic proportions.
♛ 𝔽𝕒𝕓𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 ● 874 words
