[Deleted]

Honeygaze
Senior Warrior || RainClan || 46 Moons || She-Cat

It had been a successful hunt for Honeygaze. She returned to camp, jaws laden with a skinny carp and a small, but plump, trout, a triumphant grin plastered across her face. The golden tabby she-cat had awoken before even the sun that day, so had decided to try her paw at a little pre-dawn hunting after failing to get back to sleep again.
It was a rather chilly morning, so the senior warrior had fluffed up her golden pelt against the harsh cold. Paws drumming against the frosted ground as she emerged into RainClan's camp, Honeygaze made straight for the fresh-kill pile to deposit her catches.
Today was to be the first day of, what would admittedly be a real challenge, even for a warrior with the experience of Honeygaze. Because today was Honeygaze’s first day mentoring Irispaw.

Now, although Honeygaze wasn’t familiar with brown-and-white she-cat, she was sure that Irispaw was a nice enough cat. No, it wasn’t that that was making the golden tabby feline apprehensive about the next six moons or so, it was more the fact that Irispaw certainly wasn’t a normal apprentice. Irispaw was deaf.
Her disability would certainly make communication between the mentor and apprentice pair very difficult and in all honesty, Honeygaze had no idea how she was going to teach the teal-eyed she-cat.

Taking a deep breath, the senior warrior padded over to the Apprentices’ Den, fluffing up her golden pelt in an attempt to keep out the icy cold. Once standing by the entrance to the reed den, Honeygaze peered inside, straining her honey-amber eyes in an attempt to make out figures in the shadows.
“Where are you, Irispaw?” she murmured absently, blinking. Her gaze seeking out any movement in the dim light of the Apprentices’ Den, a wide yawn parted the senior warrior’s jaws.
“Ah, well. I’ll just have to go in and find her.”

Shaking the weariness from her paws, the golden tabby feline cautiously stepped inside, pausing once she had done so to give her eyes chance to adjust to the change in light.
Blinking, the golden she-cat took her first tentative step forward, the familiar scent of the Apprentice’s Den crashing over her and drawing her back into memories of her own Apprenticeship. At last spotting the brown-and-white apprentice in the darkness, Honeygaze made her way over, stepping over the bodies of sleeping apprentices.
“Irispaw?” as soon as the words left her jaws, the amber-eyed she-cat felt a little ridiculous. She can’t hear you, mouse-brain! Shaking the thoughts away, the RainClan senior warrior stopped by Irispaw’s nest.
Reaching out and poking the young apprentice gently with a golden forepaw, Honeygaze mumbled softly, “Rise and shine, Irispaw, we’ve got a lot to go through today.”


ooc – So sorry for the long wait! I’ve been super busy!

[Fawn]

Irispaw
6 Moons || She-Cat || RainClan || Deaf

"The World is Quiet Here."

When every morning was a quiet, peaceful one, how could she possibly wake up in a bad mood? Of course, it wasn't just her mornings that were quiet, but the sunhighs and the evenings as well. Nudged into consciousness by a drowsy Denmate, the brown and white apprentice sat up, smelling Honeygaze before seeing her and turning those brilliant teal eyes upon the cat who had expanded Irispaw's social circle by one. No labels existed in the deaf apprentice's mind, she had no names for the cats around her, they were distinguished by sight and scent and the feelings they gave her. With the beautiful female warrior before her, Irispaw had a veritable clean slate, knowing nothing of her beyond that they had touched noses at some kind of special event in which her sibling and a few other young cats would take part in every once in a while.

She knew not of Honeygaze's plans for the morning, but she could make the connection that she was to spend most of her time with her – that's what happened in her Clan, the young cats paired up with the older cats and then they would disappear from sunrise to sunhigh, and sometimes go out in the evenings, either returning with fish or returning empty-pawed.

Perhaps Honeygaze would show her where the other apprentices went?

Throat vibrating with a soft purr of greeting, the she-kitten mimicked what she had witnessed other cats do – and that was dip her head to her mentor respectfully, willingness to greet the day and begin behaving like the other felines her age evident in Irispaw's eyes.

Aware of the sensation of being hungry, Irispaw could not notice the sound her stomach made, announcing to the whole den that it was empty, or else the kitten might've flushed beneath her fur at how loud it was, feeling only a hollow pang and a desire to bite into a nice plump trout. Still, she waited eagerly for Honeygaze to move, taking a few seconds to groom the fur along her narrow chest and wash her face with a wet paw, making sure to get each of her dark hued ears.

No matter what happened today, it at least promised to be more interesting than being in the nursery all day.

[Deleted]

Honeygaze
Senior Warrior || RainClan || 46 Moons || She-Cat

Finding Irispaw, having already awaken, staring at her with those deep teal eyes of hers, Honeygaze gave a small reassuring smile. She touched her tail-tip to the deaf apprentice's flank as an act of comfort before leading the way out of the den.
Emerging from the gloom of the den into the chill of the morning, the golden tabby warrior blinked in the light, raising her head to the sky briefly to drink in all the scents of dawn. Suppressing shiver, the wind sending a ripple of cold down her spine, Honeygaze glanced over her shoulder at her new apprentice.

"Did you sleep well?" she asked the brown-and-white apprentice, inclining her head to study the young she-kit. It took a few heartbeats for the golden warrior to remember that, of course, Irispaw couldn't hear her question and most certainly wouldn't be able to answer it. You fish-brain, Honeygaze! She's deaf, she can't hear you!
Flattening her ears in embarrassment, Honeygaze avoided her apprentice's gaze for a moment, a little unsure of where to go from here, "Oh, sorry. I, uh, just keep forgetting that you're... Uh, never mind, you can't hear me anyway," she gave a shake of her head, at last letting her honey-amber gaze return to the brown-and-white RainClanner.

Her gaze lingered on Irispaw for a further few moments before Honeygaze decided to make an attempt to a communicate with her new apprentice, non-verbally. She tipped her head to one side, motioning with a flick of her golden tail to the fresh-kill pile, honey-amber gaze questioning. Irispaw was bound to be hungry and though, generally, Honeygaze believed in catching prey for the clan before taking any of her own, today was the young RainClanner's first day as an apprentice, so she made an exception.
The golden tabby RainClanner had absolutely no idea whether her apprentice would understand what she was trying to say, but she remained hopeful, watching her apprentice with interest for a response on her behalf.

It was then that she let her thoughts wander a little. The next six moons would certainly be interesting, mentoring an apprentice with absolutely no means of communicating with her, other than making motions and signals of course. But Honeygaze didn't see Irispaw inability as a downside, she viewed it as a challenge. In fact the golden she-cat was rather interested as to how Irispaw would fare as an apprentice and, hopefully, a warrior. With one of her senses non existent, Honeygaze wondered how she would accustom herself to the tasks required.

At last letting herself drift back to reality, the amber-eyed warrior let her gaze rest on the young apprentice thoughtfully, tail flicking from side to side. Well, the next six moons certainly aren't going to be easy, but I'm going to do my best to help Irispaw realise her full potential and develop into a warrior RainClan can be proud of.

ooc - Fawntastic ~ Again, sorry for the long wait! At last got everything under control, so shouldn't take as long next time. :3

[Fawn]

Irispaw
6 Moons || She-Cat || RainClan || Deaf

"The World is Quiet Here."

Irispaw watched Honeygaze's behavior with a kind of resigned fascination, as if she had already given up on trying to understand her but instead had settled for simply waiting to see what peculiar antics came next.

Unable to understand this secret language with which everyone else communicated, the deaf kitten did put forth her best efforts, bright teal eyes watching and registering a flash of understanding when Honeygaze gestured towards the fresh kill pile.
Are you inviting me to eat with you?
That must be it.

Eating together was a popular custom of this great big family she was a part of, and one Irispaw would love to engage in with her brand new...'friend' that the Clan had given to her via ceremony. Dipping her head like she had observed the other apprentices do, Irispaw looked in all directions before setting a paw towards the fresh kill pile, making up for her lack of auditory senses by keeping an alert gaze on her surroundings.

She would never forget the time a warrior had stepped on her because she'd gotten in the way; that awful crushing sensation on her paw was one she didn't want to ever repeat. The pretty kitten would not be getting in the way again, if she could help it.

The scents from the fresh kill pile made her stomach gurgle with longing; distinctive name escaped her, but the scents were distinguishable, as well as the taste. Irispaw chose a fish that had pinkish flesh when bitten into, finding that she liked it's savory texture the most.

Turning, the fluffy she-cat looked at Honeygaze inquiringly, wishing to double-check with her friend that she had done what was intended. That was a habit of hers - and a good one to keep around - observing others to follow by example, as well as to correct any behavior that didn't match with the everyone else's.

In part, she would be an attentive pupil, whose desire to prove herself would undoubtedly surface and make her a studious, determined individual. Their training together would be a tremendous challenge for them both - but the two she-cats would definitely grow from the experience.

How could you not, when dealing with a cat who could only communicate and understand unorthodox methods?

It would be a long, interesting six moons.

OOC: :3 No problem! @littleflower I just started college so I've gotten incredibly busy lately, sorry for how long it took me to respond!

[Deleted]

Honeygaze
Senior Warrior || RainClan || 46 Moons || She-Cat

When her apprentice gave a dip of her head and began to make her way towards the fresh-kill pile the golden tabby warrior gave a warm smile of relief, glad that the brown-and-white apprentice seemed to have understood her attempted communications. Whiskers twitching, Honeygaze followed her apprentice to the Fresh-kill pile, but rather than claiming a meal for herself, she instead waited patiently, observing Irispaw thoughtfully.
The golden senior warrior would have her breakfast later on, when she’d brought back prey for the clan; only then would she eat. Honeygaze could make an exception for young Irispaw; it was only her first day as an apprentice, there was no guarantee she’d catch anything today. Even for normal apprentices, bringing back prey on the first day was an achievement.

When the brown-and-white she-cat had finished her meal, she turned to her mentor, gaze questioning. Honeygaze gave a warm smile, and even though she wouldn’t be able to hear it, let out a soothing purr, touching her tail-tip reassuringly to Irispaw’s shoulder.
You’re doing great.

The wind nagging slightly at her glossy, golden pelt, Honeygaze ignored the rumbling of her own belly and gave a nod of the head to her apprentice. It was time to get moving, her paws were growing cold.
Tipping her head towards the camp entrance, Honeygaze gave a sharp motion with her tail, beckoning for her apprentice to follow as she got to her paws and began to pad forwards, shooting a quick glance over her shoulder to check Irispaw had understood her and was following.
It’s a pity I can’t do telepathy, she thought, a slight grin creeping to her face, That would make communications so much easier.

Word Count ~ 318
Tag ~ Fawn
Notes ~ So sorry for taking such a long time! I’ve really had my hands full, and sorry it's such a short reply, my muse is very much lacking at the moment :3