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Post by Fawn on Aug 26, 2016 9:19:28 GMT -5
 22 Moons. Tom.--It was an honor to be acknowledged by Firestar; when he had been told that he was to mentor Sunnypaw, Mudpelt's heart had stopped for the briefest of moments—not with fear, but with a nervous excitement. It was inevitable that he should train an apprentice, it was a natural part of Clan life, yet once that day finally arrived, and with a cat he had not anticipated staying in the Clan, Mudpelt had been unduly surprised.
He took Sunnypaw's training very seriously, however. Not only did Sunnypaw have 2 moons to make up compared to the other apprentices, but his loner heritage was going to make him a target for bullying or suspicion. The ginger kitten was going to have to work hard to prove he was a loyal Clan cat; LightningClan was somewhat open-minded, and clearly Firestar would never have let Burningleaf and Flashbrook keep the kittens if she thought they would be an unfortunate burden to the Clan...
But there was one thing he'd learned recently, with the hostile takeover of the sun stones; what the leader did and how her warriors felt about it were not always compatible concepts.
"Burningleaf and Flashbrook have surely gone over the Code with you before," Mudpelt's somber mew rose above the humming of cicadas, storm clouds gathering lazily above them as he took the young tom on patrol of their newly acquired landmark. "However, I still want to go over the Code, and why it's important. Do you remember the first rule of being a Clan cat, Sunnypaw?"
It was a big one. A mouthful, surely, for a cat who would rather be out chasing rabbits than memorizing three lines' worth of rules, but it was the backbone of Clan life. Mudpelt had memorized it as seriously as he could; with Redstar as his mentor, the Clan leader herself, he had done all he could to familiarize himself with the Code as soon as possible.
Mudpelt could never be accused of embarrassing her or LightningClan by breaking the rules; he'd determinedly saw to that.
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Word Count: 350 Words
Tags: Hellion
Notes: This world will break your heart
Nobody's falling in love |
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Post by Hellion on Aug 31, 2016 21:41:00 GMT -5
Sunnypaw wished he had gotten to know other clanmates and perhaps he wouldn't feel awkward around Mudpelt. It wasn't that he didn't like the older tom, but he felt that he was watching his every move. Did Mudpelt see him as a burden on the Clan? Unable to find the courage yet to ask such a question, Sunnypaw focused on keeping close to his mentor.
From what he understand and was told by the other apprentices he was behind in his training. No one really seemed to care, they often acted surprised he was still here, waiting to be recognized as a full member of LightingClan. Firestar had made it clear to the rest of the Clan that he and his siblings were welcomed. For a brief moment Sunnypaw was distracted on what could be said about Niko. Was his little brother also apart of that welcome?
It wasn't until Mudpelt spoke to him that Sunnypaw actually refocused on the tom's words. His ears twitched for a moment. He had been told the code a few times and most of the rule stuck. However, he wasn't sure if he memorizes them.
Kneadinig the ground with his paws, Sunnypaw began to go through ever 'lesson' he learned from his fathers. There was a rule about not stealing prey and another about making sure the elders an queens were fed first. Sunnypaw didn't doubt their importance but didn't think they were 'number one'.
Flicking his tail to expel all the nervous energy Sunnypaw mustered up what he wanted to say into a short reply.
"Protect the Clan even at the cost of your life..." He answered, searching his mentor's eyes for a sign if he was right or wrong.
Fawn
288 words.
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Post by Fawn on Sept 1, 2016 7:29:22 GMT -5
22 Moons. Tom.-- The heavy brown tom nodded. "That's right. I wanted to talk about this one first, because it relates to you the most." Mudpelt was not the kind of warrior who skirted delicate issues; he wanted to give his first apprentice the best education he could; Firestar had chosen the mud-colored warrior because he was serious and patient. A good combination when indoctrinating a loner-born kitten into Clan life.
"It's why Clan cats are so wary of letting outsiders join." Mudpelt turned his somber gaze upon the Ginger tom, remembering when he'd asked his mentor about some of the trickier aspects of the Code; HalfClan cats and loners came up.
"It's hard for Clan cats to picture an outsider being willing to fight and die for the Clan. It's scary, to place your life in the claws of someone you didn't grow up with, or someone you know who has a branch of their family tree in two Clans."
Mudpelt understood the apprehension. The judgment and uncertainty. But he was also a practical tom, whose thoughts were usually well ordered and not too deeply rooted in passion that he could not see the logical side of things.
"Don't get discouraged. I didn't tell you that so you would feel bad about yourself. I told you that because we have a lot of hard work ahead of us. I think loyalty is forged, not something you're born with. Loyalty comes from bonding with others, feeling welcome and a sense of pride in your family." Pausing thoughtfully, Mudpelt took a moment to stand on the sunstones, conscious of the dark stains on the rock that had yet to be washed away with the next rain shower.
"Think of the Clan like this, Sunnypaw. The day you became an apprentice was the day your family joined an even bigger one." But we still have many pawsteps ahead of us. He would not let Sunnypaw walk that path alone. If the tom truly understood the code, truly wanted this life, then Mudpelt would help him see the value in himself, and help the Clan see it too.
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Word Count: 349 Words
Tags: Hellion
Notes: This world will break your heart
Nobody's falling in love |
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Post by Hellion on Sept 12, 2016 1:05:18 GMT -5
Sunnypaw knew that as a loner-born cat he would be forced to deal with a lot. His father had tried to prepare him for it, but even they couldn't be sure what would happen. However, considering that Mudpelt had showed some concern and wanted to talk about it right away made Sunnypaw less nervous. At least Mudplet was giving him a chance to defend himself and his own feelings.
Mudpelt had made a few clear and valid points about growing up with cats in the same Clan, but Sunnypaw didn't see it that way. He and the rest of his siblings were barely 4 moons old when they were taken to the Clan. Leafbare had made them tired and weak, if anything LightingClan was their home. Niko was the only one holding on to his loner name. For a moment Sunnypaw wondered if that was the reason the rest of the Clan didn't trust them. Was it Niko's choice that ruined it for them? Pushing away such thoughts Sunnypaw refocused on what his mentor was saying.
It was comforting to know that he had joined another, bigger family. And he truly saw LightingClan that way. It was where his sibling lived, where father and dad grew up and where he wanted to live. Regardless of what the other Clan-born would say, Sunnypaw saw himself as one of them.
"I consider myself a LightingClan cat. I know no other home besides the nursery and now the apprentice den. I know that because my mother was a loner I will have to deal with this, but I don't ever want a loner life. I love this place and I love my Clan. I wouldn't trade it for anything," He replied, offering a small smile. Wondering if Mudpelt believed what he said.
Fawn
note: this is why he will be named Sunnyheart
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Post by Fawn on Sept 13, 2016 14:42:20 GMT -5
25 Moons. Tom.-- Sunnypaw's words touched him, and Mudpelt responded by gently laying his tail on the ginger tom's shoulder, a compassionate gesture from a cat who wasn't used to showing affection towards anything. Sunnypaw's words should be acknowledged, and his dedication rewarded. Smiling ever-so-slightly, Mudpelt replied in a tone that was a shade less somber than normal. "Hold tight to that feeling, Sunnypaw. There will be days ahead where you might disagree with what the Clan is doing or how you are treated, but deep down, if you truly are a Clan cat, then I believe this is the only place for a cat like you. And like me." Mudpelt drew himself up, back straight, gaze forward, his wide brown jaw set firmly. "I will train you to hunt for your Clan, to defend your Clan, and keep the borders safe. If you have questions about the Code, or anything I am teaching you, Sunnypaw, you are always welcome to ask me."
Sunnypaw's interest in being a good warrior was a relief. It wasn't as if he was training a kitten that had chosen Clan life because the alternative was more frightening. More challenging. Mudpelt would have tried his best to instill in Sunnypaw a sense of loyalty and pride for a Clan that would not always love him completely, but he was not so confident that the heart could be changed so easily if Sunnypaw truly wasn't interested.
That he had embraced a Clan cat's name was also a good sign.
"If you don't have any questions, then I have one for you." With a flick of his thick brown tail, Mudpelt signaled for Sunnypaw to keep pace alongside him. "Do you remember the third rule?" He skipped the second; not because it was unimportant, but because knowing not to hunt or explore another Clan's territory was so obvious even the kits in the nursery could grasp that one. And sometimes they had trouble just stay in camp.
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Word Count: 332 Words
Tags: Hellion
Notes: This world will break your heart
Nobody's falling in love |
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Post by Hellion on Sept 18, 2016 21:43:36 GMT -5
In the eye of a hurricane there is quiet
For just a moment a yellow sky Sunnypaw smiled toward his mentor as he placed his tail on his shoulder. It was comforting to know that a clan-born warrior saw the loyalty that ran deep within him. The words that followed the gesture were supportive in a way. He knew the struggles ahead because his fathers prepared him for them, but he also had faith that Firestar would stand up for them if ever their lives were in danger, after all she agreed to bring them in. There wan't a reply Sunnypaw found suitable but he nodded in understand instead.
Hearing that Mudpelt would indeed train him had his ears perking up and his eyes seeming to glimmer. He truly wanted to learn to fight and hunt to protect the Clan that protected him and his siblings in their moment of need. Also knowing that Mudpelt would be a guiding cat in on his journey was a comfort. "Thank you," Sunnypaw replied to Mudpelt.
Perhaps unknown to most of LightingClan and even to Mudpelt, Sunnypaw had ever intention to see LightingClan as his only home. There was no life for him in the mountains or lurking in the valley. His home was amoung the clan-born cats. His duty was to ensure that LightingClan was healthy as a whole until the time he was buried in the earth that LightingClan claimed.
Picking up his stride Sunnypaw did his best to keep pace with Mudpelt. He had been growing but his legs weren't yet at their full height and it felt awkward. He wondered if he looked like a fat bird on skinny legs. The question from Mudpelt didn't come as a surprise but his ability to answer quickly slipped his mind. He knew the code, but the order wasn't his strongest suit.
"Um..protect each kit even if its not your own?" He mumbled realizing he was wrong. "I forget the order," He confessed, realizing that it might be seen as a mark against him being a true cat of LightingClan.
Sunnypaw |
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Post by Fawn on Sept 20, 2016 13:12:19 GMT -5
25 Moons. Tom.-- Mudpelt shook his head. "That's the twelfth one. 'No warrior may neglect a kit in pain or in danger, even if they are from a different Clan'." He didn't expect Sunnypaw to commit that to memory instantly, the right answer had simply spilled from Mudpelt's mouth like water over a fall. The stocky brown tom couldn't help himself; he had memorized the Code, and he oftentimes found himself to be one of the few cats in the Clan who could recite it perfectly from memory without a lot of 'er,' 'um' and 'what was the next one?' in between each line.
"The one I'm talking about is one of our most important ones. Elders and queens must be fed before the rest of the Clan." Mudpelt paused to let this one sink in, looking into the ginger apprentice's earnest face. "If you and I catch a rabbit right now, can we eat it right away?" Mudpelt was certain Sunnypaw knew the answer to this; because of the kits' unusual arrival to the Clan in the dead of winter, it was likely one of the first rules they'd ever learned. No matter how much the Clan might've begrudged extra mouths to feed, no warrior would dare refrain from delivering prey to the nursing queens and their kits. With this rule in place, Sunnypaw and his siblings could not be neglected, not even by the most hard-hearted of warriors.
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Word Count: 244 Words
Tags: Hellion
Notes: This world will break your heart
Nobody's falling in love |
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Post by Hellion on Oct 12, 2016 20:58:31 GMT -5
In the eye of a hurricane there is quiet
For just a moment a yellow sky Sunnypaw admired how his mentor seemed to be a fountain of knowledge. There was a lot he didn't know, clan stuff mostly. He knew that if he ever had a question Mudpelt would know the answer or know someone who did. As he attempted to commit to memory what Mudpelt said, Sunnypaw's strides picked up to ensure he didn't wall too far behind. He hadn't not being at his full height yet, he wanted to be full grown already.
Hearing the actual rule Sunnypaw nodded thinking back to all the parts of the code he could remember away. The rule itself made sense. Those unable to hunt for themselves should be fed first. His fathers took care of that for him but still Sunnypaw wouldn't hesitate to feed a queen or elder even if his own tummy rumbled. However, as he thought about it some more he wasn't sure he'd be able to resist during leafbare. His memories of the terrible time of year were enough to give him nightmares. Could he really go hungry then for an elder? A queen he could easily deny food in favor of her eating, but an old elder wasn't a little harder for him to understand. However he pushed the thought of his head quickly. He preferred not to think on the 'what if's of life.
Hearing Mudpelt's question Sunnypaw slowed his stride for a second. He wanted to give the right answer, or at least one he thought was right. "No, we have to bring it back to camp to be sure the queens have eaten," He answered, looking at Mudpelt for any sign he was right or wrong. Sunnypaw |
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Post by Fawn on Oct 13, 2016 18:14:01 GMT -5
25 Moons. Tom.-- Mudpelt gave a single, solemn nod. Good. it will take a little while, but he seems to have a good memory. Together, mentor and apprentice continued their territory exploration. Mudpelt did the majority of the talking, and though he knew the young tom would get tired quickly, Mudpelt preferred to be thorough.
By the time they returned from the border patrol, Mudpelt's voice had developed a bit of a rasp, so much of it had been spent informing Sunnypaw on all there was to know of LightningClan's home. Sunnypaw had answered his questions well enough, and Mudpelt was satisfied with what he had learned for this outing.
Tomorrow, they would focus on hunting.
"Well done today, Sunnypaw." He mewed to the ginger kitten. "Get a piece of fresh kill and rest. We are done for the day. But if you find yourself bored, pay a visit to the elders' den, they might have some stories to share." Or some moss that needs changing. There was always something to be done around camp.
Releasing the apprentice to do as he pleased, Mudpelt veered away towards Redscar, intending to join the forming hunting party.
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Word Count: 176 Words
Tags: Hellion
Notes: Ended, starting a hunting thread ASAP. This world will break your heart
Nobody's falling in love |
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