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Sandstrike

Sandstrike felt like he was lost between a dream and reality. It had never occurred to the sandy-furred tom that he would get picked as a mentor, not in a million moons. He had hoped of course, but he had never really thought he'd actually be chosen.
And now, here he was, about to awake his apprentice for their first of many training sessions. The pale ginger tom crouched by the entrance to the Apprentice's Den, peering into the murky dim through bright blue eyes. He tried to make out the shape of the small grey she-cat in the dim and for a moment the sandy-furred tom considered calling her, but that could risk waking up the other apprentices. I'll go in and wake her then.

Being sure to step lightly, the warrior tentatively entered the den, piercing blue gaze flitting from side, seeking out Streampaw. The scents of the Apprentices' Den overcoming him, Sandstrike found his mind relaying to his own apprenticeship. His own mentor, Nettleclaw, although strict, had taught Sandstike well and shaped him into the warrior he wanted to be.
Sandstrike intended to be as a good a mentor as Nettleclaw was to him, to Streampaw. Right now, she was a naïve, untrained young apprentice, with luck, by the end of six moons, she'd be a warrior to be reckoned with. Sandstrike wanted to help his apprentice reach her full potential, to help her become the best she could be.

Spotting the grey she-cat in her nest a few paces away, Sandstrike grinned warmly. He made his way over to the small grey apprentice and when he reached her, crouched down and poked her softly with a forepaw, "Wakey, wakey, Streampaw," he murmured softly, as not to awake the other apprentices, "Time for training!"

Words: 297
Notes: ---
Tag: Spottedpaw

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Streampaw

~*~

Streampaw was awoken from her slumber when she felt a gentle paw prodding into her side. She wanted to hiss in annoyance but then she remembered she was an apprentice now, there was no more sleeping in, and lounging all day long. The she cat rolled onto her paws, an excited glimmer in her pale green eyes as she met her new mentors. Sandstrike would make a perfect mentor, and she was almost positive it was a perfect match. Her tail swayed slightly as she followed the larger tom out of the apprentice den, trying her best not to step on the paws or tails of the other, many apprentices. The Clan had frown well, and by the looks of it, new cats would be coming in soon. When she thankfully was relived and out of the den, she took the free moment to lower her body, arching it in a large stretch, waking up her sleeping bones and muscles. 

She could tell it was still early, not much was going on, but the birds were singing in the sky and that was enough to add a new bounce into her paws. Streampaw shook her head as a yawn escaped her jaw and she licked one of her pads, quickly drawing it over her face, and long white whiskers to try and wake her up some more. The apprentice didn't bother with her fur, there was no need for that. It was pointless, the second she began moving again, the thick, long fur would knot up again. Right now it was simply relaxing at her side smoothly, and she was somewhat proud of that. With a flick of her ear, she turned her attention toward Sandstrike, "What are we starting off with, hunting or battle training?" Her tail tipped twitched with energy now, paws bouncing on the ground slightly. She couldn't wait to get started.

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Sandstrike

As soon as Streampaw had awoken, Sandstrike led the way out of the den, carefully stepping over sleeping apprentices as he did so.
Stepping into the pale morning light, the sandy-furred tom blinked for a few moments until his piercing blue orbs had adjusted to the change in light and he could get a good look at Streampaw. Flicking off a scrap of moss, which had somehow attached itself to his tail, Sandstrike offered the grey apprentice a warm smile, "I thought we could do hunting today," he told her, before adding, "But before that, I'd like to show you around a little of our territory."

He let his blue gaze wash over Streampaw for a moment before letting his eyes wander over to the Fresh-kill pile, "Are you hungry? You can always grab something off the Fresh-kill pile before we go, if you like?" Streampaw would certainly need all the strength she could get for the day ahead of her. Sandstrike remembered the first time he'd ever ventured out of camp with his mentor, all those moons ago. By the end of the day, he'd been so exhausted, that he'd been worried his paws might fall off!
That day seemed so long ago now, he'd been a young, naïve apprentice with only one ambition; becoming a warrior. Sandstrike had changed a lot since then, he'd matured, grown more patient, he even had a mate, which he'd never even imagined would happen.

He smiled at his apprentice fondly, wondering what fate had in store for young Streampaw. Only StarClan knew what lay ahead for the small grey apprentice, but one thing was for sure; Sandstrike would do everything he could to make Streampaw a warrior to be proud of, a warrior TreeClan could be proud of.

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Streampaw

~*~


When they were finally out in the open, the she cats tail twitched with slight impatience. She would feel the morning breeze ruffling her nicely groomed pelt and she let out an excited purr. She didn't care about her fur right now, she was too freakin' excited to be on her way and running through the forest with Sandstrike. When eyes were on her once more, Streampaw found herself a little on the nervous side, but new better than to let it get the better of her. She held her head high, ears flicking toward her mentors voice when he began to speak. Her head gave a curt nod of understanding, but her pale green eyes showed plenty of excitement that couldn't be contained. She was willing to catch the best, juiciest piece of kill and bring it right to the elders, or the kits. Whichever didn't have a meal yet, and she wanted to see light shine in their eyes in praise or surprise. She wanted to prove she could do it just as well as any warrior. The apprentice was already 8 moons, she only had a few to go before she was like the rest of them.

When Sunstrike mentioned eating, the apprentice lowered her head and shook it in disapproval. She was supposed to hunt for the Clan before she ate, it was only fair. "The warrior code says I provide for the kits and elders before I eat. Plus, we will need all we can get with leaf-bare just around the corner." Her meow was friendly, but slightly hard at the same time. It indicated that no matter what the tom said, she wasn't eating until she returned with something, even if it meant not eating for the day. She sat back on her haunches for a moment, waiting for the next command. 

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Sandstrike

Sandstrike couldn't help but grin when Streampaw responded to his question, blue eyes sparkling with warmth, "Well done," he meowed softly, meeting the grey apprentice's gaze, "You've passed the first test. A warrior should always provide for the clan's most vulnerable members before he or she can even think about having their own meal."
Sandstrike had to admit, Streampaw was already impressing him with her knowledge, despite having only just started her training. He flashed the small grey she-cat a white-fanged grin, "Right, I say we head out into the forest, us standing around in camp isn't going to catch any prey," he began to pad towards the camp entrance, glancing over his shoulder, just to check Streampaw was following.

Stepping out into the shaded woods of TreeClan's territory, inhaling a deep breath of the fresh forest air. Tail twitching, he let his piercing blue gaze wander over to his apprentice for a few heartbeats before concentrating his vision on the trees ahead.
"We're heading for the Wildflower Clearing today, but I figured I could show you the Great Maple and the Sparkling Brook on the way," he told the grey apprentice, "Another day, I'll show you the whole of the territory, but today I thought we should get straight to training. The sooner you can hunt, the better."
He blinked kindly at Streampaw, then with a flick of his pale sandy-coloured tail, motioned for her to follow him as he began to stride forwards, deeper into the forest and away from the safety of camp.

As they walked, sprigs of grass crunching beneath his paws, Sandstrike decided to test the grey apprentice's knowledge a little further, "So, you obviously know a little of the warrior code, do you know all the rules?"

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Streampaw

~*~
At Sandstrike's praise, the apprentice's belly filled up with warmth, her ears flicking back and forth in excitement. She had made him proud and it was a really good feeling. As his warm gaze met hers she felt like electricity was racing through her pelt, warming her from her nose to tail tip. As he announced they would be leaving her paws moved into a quick bound, racing after her mentor on steady paws. This is what she had been waiting for her whole life and now it was finally getting started. Her tail swayed for a moment, helping her keep her balance. When they reached the forest floor, she slowed her pace, keeping her paws as quiet and steps as soft as possible to try to not scare the prey.

Her eyes shone with excitement when she learned she would be seeing the Wildflower Clearing, Great Maple, and Sparkling Brook today and she felt as excited as a kit. Her gaze kept swiping over the trees, the grass, her ears flicking at the sound of prey deep in the forest and the bugs overhead. Streampaw felt like she was somehow in a whole new world, seeing everything for the first time. Technically she was, but she and the other kits had snuck out before, seeing some of it. But today she would go even farther, and it was going to be an amazing story to tell. The gray apprentice couldn't wait to show the hunter crouch, she had been dying to teach it to the kits in the nursery. She knew most of it, but she could use some help on getting the balance down. She would bring back the best mouse she could find!

As they got deeper into the forest, the apprentice found herself a little nervous, sticking a bit closer to her mentors side. It wasn't that she was scared, but this was unfamiliar ground, she wasn't sure what would be lurking in the shadows of the forests depth. Sandstrike's voice tore her from her thoughts and she held back a sigh of relief. At least this was something she understood like the back of her paw. Her mother would make her repeat it every night. With a proud step in her walk, she gave her ears a flick before speaking. "Number One, defend your Clan with your life. You may have friends in other Clans, but remain loyal to your own, for one day you may meet them in battle. Number Two, You may not hunt or trespass on other Clan territory. Number Three, Elders, queens, and kits, eat before apprentices and warriors. Unless a warrior or apprentice is sick or injured, then they may eat. Number Four, Prey is only killed to be eaten, thank StarClan for it's life. Number Five, A kit must be six moons to become an apprentice." Streampaw paused for a moment to take in a large breath. She wasn't arrogant about the knowledge, but it gave her self pride, which was easily seen in her movement and in the flicker of her pale green eyes.

After a moment pause, she continued. "Six, New warriors must sit vigil for one night after receiving their warrior names. Seven, A cat cannot become deputy unless he/she has has mentored at least one apprentice. Eight, The deputy becomes the leader when the leader dies, retires, or is exiled. Nine, After the death or retirement of the deputy another must be chosen before moonhigh. Ten, A gathering between all four clans is held during the full moon, there is a truce and there can be no fighting among the Clans. Eleven, Boundaries must be checked daily, all trespassing cats are to be challenged. Twelve, No warrior can reject a kit that is sick or injured, even if it is from another Clan. Thirteen, The word of the Clan leader is law. Fourteen, An honorable warrior does not need to kill another cat to win battles unless the cat is outside the warrior code or it is in self defense. and Fifteen, A warrior rejects the soft life of a kittypet." Her tail swayed slightly as she walked beside her mentor, her head held high.

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Sandstrike

Sandstrike's blinked in surprise as Streampaw recited the whole of the Warrior Code, word for word, line for line. The rhythmic thrumming of his pawsteps against the earthy forest floor was temporarily silenced as he paused midstride to just gaze upon the small grey apprentice.
"Well," he meowed, honestly a little speechless, "I certainly wasn't expecting that. Someone taught you well," he offered Streampaw a proud smile, "Well done, I was going to teach you a little of the warrior code, but it seems that won't be necessary now."
He touched his tail-tip to her flank reassuringly, "Again, well done, Streampaw," he meowed warmly, beaming down at the small she-cat.

Padding onwards, it wasn't long until the mentor and apprentice pair reached The Great Maple. Leaf-fall was certainly the best time to visit the ancient tree as the leaves was a flaming red colour and has just started to fall, carpeting the forest floor in thick layers of red and gold.
Sandstrike turned to Streampaw, striking blue gaze warm, "Well, I bet you can guess where we are now," he chuckled, gaze slowly drifting back to the spreading sugar maple tree, "Here we are at the Great Maple, squirrels and birds are very fond of it here, so if you keep your eyes open and keep quiet, you may spot something," he lowered his voice to a soft whisper, "Just listen for a moment," he paused, "Do you hear that soft humming?" he motioned with a flick of his sandy-coloured tail to one of the lower branches where, concealed by the maple's golden leaves, was a bee hive, "That's because there's a bee hive up there, so make sure you're always careful when climbing the Great Maple, you don't want to get stung."
He flashed the apprentice a white-fanged grin, tail twitching, "Don't worry though, we won't be doing any climbing today."