[Silver]

"There’s a lot of things you need
to get across this universe.
You know the thing
you need most of all?"

Foxstar looked out at the world from the quiet and safety of her own den. So much had happened this season it honestly made her head spin just to think of it. Now though, she'd brought her young Apprentice into her den so they could have a quiet place to just sit and talk as he'd asked her to. She wasn't sure what he needed from her, but she was always willing to listen when needed.

She wondered if maybe he had questions about anything she'd taught him or if he was doubting his own ability because he learned in a different manner from those around him. The only way to find out was to talk to him and that was why they were here in the first place so she might as well get going with it as waiting never solved anything. "Alright Brindlepaw, you needed to speak to me? This place is safe and private for us, so I hope that helps you feel more comfortable speaking your mind." 

She was attentive towards him, honestly wanting to help if she could. She felt like she was always so busy helping others and solving problems she rarely got to just sit and talk like this so it was a novel experience for the she-cat.

"You need a hand to hold."

Tags | williams

[williams]

Brindlepaw, in a small fraction of his mind, felt proud of himself for his courage. He felt a question aching at his paws as soon as he woke, but knew it would take some serious thought to bring it up with his mentor. It didn't help that Foxstar was a 'star, leading the clan and taking care of issues much more important than his singular question. The fluffy tom had waited patiently for Foxstar to finish the first half of her duties, getting a gentle smile from Briarthroat when the older tom walked by to deliver assignments. He sort of blurted out that he needed to ask her something, but the she-cat had taken him seriously and so now they curled up out of sight in her den. He sighed into his tail, the bushy thing curled wide across his paws as he watched Foxstar settle back into her nest. This is it, He thought, keep being strong.

"Am I going to be a good warrior?" The thought tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop it, the rest of his worries spilling out soon after. "You had- we had to do things differently and I'm still not really good at actually catching any prey, and I get the borders confused sometimes because all the trees honestly look the same in that one patch of the forest. I just," His wide eyes blinked down at his paws, pretending to examine the excess fluff between each toe. "I don't want to be a waste of your teachings."

--
brindle goes in deep with the anxiety
Silver

[Silver]

Foxstar waited patiently until her young Apprentice finally explained to her the things that had been weighing on his mind lately. She listened in silence until he'd talked himself out, the anxiety clear in his tone, before rising to her feet and giving the top of his head a reassuring lick before settling back and smiling at him. "Just because you learned a different way doesn't mean it was a bad way. I had trouble as an Apprentice because I was impatient and stubborn, I think you've been doing well. And some take longer than others before their Mentors feel they are ready. That is what I'm here for, to make certain you are ready to be a Warrior. I wouldn't put you out into the world if I felt otherwise. As it stands, you are well on track to becoming a fine Warrior once you find your confidence and learn to trust in yourself and your abilities."

She took a deep breath before continuing. "Brindlepaw, you don't have to do everything right to be a good Warrior. It's your loyalty and willingness to be there for your Clan that marks you as what you will be. Maybe you won't be the best fighter or hunter, but you are an amazing tracker; one of the best I've seen in while truth be told. Hold onto that fact, and work with it to improve yourself. So long as you are constantly working to better yourself, there is nothing you can't achieve."

--

Tags | williams

[williams]

As Foxstar replied, Brindlepaw felt his emotions swell to overwhelm him. She cared so much, he realized. He hadn't known a superior cat could give him advice that took the weight from his shoulders and cleaned off the remaining strands of doubt. Her gentle expression was a comfort in itself, and the apprentice found himself studying his paws out of embaressment for worrying so deeply. "Thank you Foxstar," he managed to get out, genuine relief coloring the words.

"How did you get past your short-comings? I feel... I feel like I'm just stuck in them, like mud." His fluffy tail curled tight around his paws, eyes glaring at the ground before him. Brindlepaw wanted to make his mentor proud, be a strong asset to Nightclan as she suggested. But how could he do that when he felt so trapped? He turned his green eyes up, blinking at Foxstar with his question. What could he do?

--
Silver 

[Silver]

Foxstar took a deep breath and settled herself at the question of how she overcame her shortcomings. she understood Brindlepaw wanting the assurance, and she didn't mind the telling even if it was a sensitive topic for her. "When I was young, I didn't care overmuch for training or rules. I felt like I was good enough to be a Warrior no matter what my Mentor said. It was because I wasn't ready that I was lured away by a loner and nearly killed by Demon for my foolish pride. When the clan came to my rescue despite the dangers, I knew then I had been so very wrong. While I was healing, I learned patience and also that confidence is fine and good so long as it's in the right time and place for it. It took nearly getting myself killed to overcome my shortcomings. As for you, sometimes all that's needed is time and the willingness to keep trying."

She purred quietly at her young Apprentice. Offering him her quiet understanding of his worries and concerns. "Just be willing to stand up for those that cannot hope to defend themselves, be willing to protect those that need you, and be willing to say no when something is unjust. Being a Warrior, a good one at least, means knowing that it isn't about you but about the clan. That you are worried about it, tells me that you're going to be just fine because you care about this Clan and the cats in it." She stretched a little and turned to watch the cats milling about beyond her quiet refuge. It was rare she got to sit like this and just be a normal she-cat helping her Apprentice. It was a good feeling and helped her stay focused on taking care of the clan.

--

Tags | williams