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Post by Fadingstar on Aug 3, 2008 9:34:01 GMT -5
Swiftriver paced back and forth in the complete darkness of the cavern, he was waiting for the small slit of light to come over the clearing so it would at least be acceptable to wake his apprentice up at this time. Finally a small inkling of yellow light signified the start of his usual day, Swiftriver had had trouble sleeping. It was kind of hard when he was already ready to go out and get some training done with his apprentice.
Yesterday he had shown her the territory that StoneClan called home, it was probably hard for the new apprentice. Not many could keep up with Swiftriver and his neverending trot, by the end of the day Shadowpaw was a ways back from him panting hard. She would definetly become fit in the next few moons, learning at least that Swiftriver doesn't slow down for anybody.
He hopped over to the Apprentice's Den and quieted his step as he headed through the mess of sleeping masses. Swiftriver looked for one dark furred body and poked it in the side. Quietly as to not wake any of the other apprentices up he whispered into her ear, " Rise and shine Shadowpaw. It's time to get out there and go" His bright blue eyes shone with alert excitement, this was going to be his first day of real training with Shadowpaw.
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Post by Duskstar on Aug 3, 2008 9:56:23 GMT -5
Shadowpaw groaned. She was still rather sore from yesterday, and now he expected her to get up at the crack of dawn to train MORE? The prod in the side didn't help either. After all, there are gentler ways to wake up a cat. Sighing, the apprentice forced herself to her paws, and began to give herself a quick grooming. As always, her pelt was covered with her moss bedding, and also some tuffs of fur from the kits that were playing "Apprentice" in her nest. Once her fur was completely clean, (she was purposely taking her time), Shadowpaw glanced down at Pebblepaw, and held back a sigh.
"Duskstar probably won't wake her up for a long while." She thought.
Then, thinking about how she was suppose to be in Pebblepaw's position, she brushed passed Swiftriver and into the Stone Clearing.
Shadowpaw shivered. The darkness was great, but she would NEVER get used to that morning coldness. Just as she had expected, no other cat was stirring but her and her mentor.
"Of course." She mumbled to herself, tail lashing for a moment.
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Post by Fadingstar on Aug 3, 2008 10:10:29 GMT -5
Swiftriver glanced at the apprentice, naturally she was tired only he and the Dawn Patrol ever got up this early in the morning. Though the long strokes that seemed to take forever to clean her fur was questionable.
As his apprentice brushed passed him he started after her as quickly as his legs could take him. Swiftriver closed his eyes for a moment to let the chilling morning air seep through him, he loved how every fresh day started with that.
Then opening his blue eyes Swiftriver padded through the entrance of the camp, at his natural trot. Soon the dawn light could be seen at the end of the tunnel, as he burst through into the golden start of the day he couldn't help but pick up his speed a bit. Swiftriver loved the feel of the crisp morning breeze running through his pelt when he ran over the rocky ground to the Sharp Stones.
He slowed once more when he could start to see the jutting rocks that marked the Sharp Stones, manuevering through them to the clearing in the middle he sat and wrapped his black tail around his paws. Silently and ever patiently he waited for his apprentice to catch up. Today they would start with hunting, her slight build made him think of a huntress when he saw her so this was as good a place to start as any. Perhaps if they finished with the basic crouches soon enough they could do a bit of hunting.
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Post by Duskstar on Aug 3, 2008 10:20:29 GMT -5
Shadowpaw didn't have that long to herself, as expected, because soon Swiftriver had trotted passed her and towards the tunnels that lead outside. Her stomach growled for a moment as she realized that he had left without letting her eat. Hissing softly when he was out of sight, the apprentice started after him. Hopefully she could control her growling stomach enough to not completely embarrass her.
After a few twists and turns of the tunnel, a sudden amount of bright light hurt Shadowpaw's eyes. Back in the cave it was so early that not much light shone through the hole, so the huge amount all at once made the apprentice jump. Blinking to try and regain her vision, she started after Swiftriver who was speeding up.
Refusing to be left behind again, Shadowpaw quickened her pace so that she was always just a tail length behind her mentor, and he didn't have long to wait when they reached Sharp Stones. Her yellow eyes shone with triumph at keeping up. This would be an important task throughout her training, obviously. Then she sat on the cold rock and wrapped her long elegant tail around her paws, waiting to be told what to do.
She sent a silent prayer to StarClan that it wasn't fighting.
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Post by Fadingstar on Aug 3, 2008 10:29:58 GMT -5
Birds chirped all around, it was odd that their song seemed to reach this rocky territory, what bird wanted to make a nest on a boulder? A hawk's cry erupted from somewhere above the two cats.
Shadowpaw had actually kept up rather well this time, perhaps it wouldn't take as long as he had expected to whip her into shape, this disrespectful thing she had going with the walking right passed him and taking as long as possible to clean her pelt would have to be worked on though.
As Swiftriver realized that Shadowpaw was waiting to be told what to do he asked the simplest of questions that every mentor always seemed to give their apprentices on the first day of hunting training. " What's the difference between hunting a mouse to hunting a rabbit?" This piece of information was a key part of hunting. If you didn't pay close enough attention the rabbit would end up hearing your pawsteps as a mouse would scent you no matter how quiet you were. Getting the two mixed up could mean the difference between bringing back prey or coming back sore and without any.
His blue eyes locked onto Shadowpaw's amber ones as he waited for her answer.
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Post by Duskstar on Aug 3, 2008 10:40:16 GMT -5
Shadowpaw stopped in mid eye roll as Swiftriver looked at her. Well, rabbits have big ears, so maybe they would hear you before they scent or see you? Then mice don't really have anything going for them when it comes to sight or hearing, so they must have powerful scent. After a moment of thinking, the apprentice answered,
"Because of the rabbit's large ears, they would be able to hear you before they see you, so you have to step lightly and be extra quiet." Shadowpaw meowed halfheartedly, "The mice will be able to scent you before they see or hear you, so you'll have to be downwind from it."
The dark pelted apprentice kept thinking about a day when she was four moons old. Three apprentices were outside their den practicing crouches, and after one crouch they would mumble, "Rabbit.", and after another mumble, "Mouse." She had sat outside watching them for the longest time. Hunting had always fascinated her, so naturally, she knew a lot about it. Yellow eyes unemotional, Shadowpaw looked up at Swiftriver expectantly.
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Post by Fadingstar on Aug 3, 2008 10:50:17 GMT -5
Swiftriver really didn't like the way Shadowpaw seemed to be handling him as her mentor.
When her answer came after a moment he spoke, " Excellent, now would you mind showing me what you think a hunter's crouch for mice should look like?"
Awaiting her next move Swiftriver had a feeling that before midday the two would be able to go out and try a crouch or two on some live prey. This definetly wouldn't be that tough of a day of training by the way Shadowpaw so far seemed to be on top of hunting. Though he feared that if she showed extra talent in this area of being a warrior fighting would end up being tough for her. That would end up being the area he would have to work on the most if so, hunting seemed to give him the impression that he could just let her go out on a hunting patrol and she would be able to hold her own. If she did prove more than capable of hunting with only a little bit of instruction Swiftriver would just start taking her on Hunting patrols.
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Post by Duskstar on Aug 3, 2008 11:04:07 GMT -5
Shadowpaw yawned out of pure tiredness. She was not used to getting up this early in the morning. The worst part was, it seemed like she had not had fun the past two days. She was either too tired to be hyper, or too angry. Fluffing her pelt up against the chilly morning air, she dropped into a sort of lopsided crouch. The general form was right, but she was leaning on her left side more, and her tail was dragging on the ground. The apprentice, of course, was oblivious to this and thought she had it perfectly.
"Swiftriver doesn't know anything..." She thought to herself, "Duskstar could teach me way more."
Shadowpaw stayed in this crouch and started to stalk across the training area, her yellow eyes glinting. Her general happy and hyperness showed for a bit as she jumped into the air and landed on a stick, cracking it in half. The sound echoed across the rocky land. The apprentice stretched once more as the hyperness faded from her eyes. The exhaustion flowed back into her limbs.
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Post by Fadingstar on Aug 3, 2008 11:19:28 GMT -5
Swiftriver gazed at his apprentice through a critical gaze, her form was good but she was leaning way too much onto her left side when her weight needed to be evened out between her body. Her long black tail was dragged behind her and worst of all she seemed completely oblivious to the fact that it was all wrong. She actually seemed rather smug about it as if she thought this was a perfect crouch and not anything about it could possibly be wrong.
Sighing he padded over to her side only for her to start stalking across the traning ground, suddenly jumping to land on a wig her weight cracking it in half. The noise that echoed from it would probably put quite a few prey animals on the alert for predators.
"No, no, no!" He mumbled to himself as he padded quickly back to her side. " You need to balance your weight, don't have it all on the left side it makes it harder to pounce without making uneeded noise. Your tail isn't supposed to drag on the ground, that also would make noise but don't go sticking it up as a flag to all the prey in our territory that they are being hunted, keep it level like your weight. And for StarClan's sake don't go around cracking twigs! That made enough of an echo to alert all of the prey from here to Waterfall Cave!" His voice hed a stern tone she definetly had a lot to learn about these things, and her attitude sure didn't help a thing.
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Post by Duskstar on Aug 3, 2008 13:22:04 GMT -5
Shadowpaw's eyes flared up in anger. How could he think that? Her crouch was perfect, and the twig didn't make that much of a noise! She hated her mentor. He was so mousebrained! Claws unsheathing, though the apprentice new she would never use them, she hissed,
"Well maybe you should have showed me how to do the crouch before making me do it by myself!"
Then, realizing what she just said, Shadowpaw quickly sheathed her claws in. If Duskstar ever found out what she said... she would be picking ticks off of elders for the next moon! That was extremely disrespectful, and especially to the mentor, HE picked for her. Panicking, she looked up at Swiftriver once again,
"I'm sorry!" She meowed quickly, "Please don't tell Duskstar, I'm really sorry, I promise I'll do better!" Shadowpaw dropped into her crouch for a second time, adjusting to what he said to do. She kept her tail level and balanced out her weight.
"Like this?" She asked desperately. Though the apprentice still wasn't thrilled with her mentor, she did NOT want to get in trouble with her father, so she decided to try and be nicer. Dull yellow eyes met Swiftriver's.
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Post by Fadingstar on Aug 7, 2008 12:53:40 GMT -5
Swiftriver's ears flattened and his teeth bared, she had angered him which wasn't the best thing she could've done. " Well I'm sorry for treating you like an apprentice then! This training session is over get back to camp now, I'm going to have to have a word with Duskstar about this."
As she tried to apologize his icy blue gaze narrowed and he watched as Shadowpaw tried to correct her mistakes but it was too late, he didn't give breaks to anyone even if she was the leader's daughter. When her dull yellow gaze hit his own he felt his icy blue gaze narrow even farther. One moment of anger couldn't be made up by simply doing what you were supposed to be doing in the first place, she was going to have to learn that even if this was fair not everything was.
He flicked his tail in the direction of camp and trotted forward at a quicker pace than before. He didn't stop until he stood before Duskstar's den. Tail lashing still in fury he sat down and took a breath. "Duskstar? I need to talk to you." His head bowed in respect Swiftriver awaited his leader's prescence.
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Post by Duskstar on Aug 7, 2008 17:06:19 GMT -5
Shadowpaw gazed into Swiftriver's eyes fearfully. He was going to tell Duskstar, even after she apologized! Frantic thoughts moved through her mind. Pebblepaw would get done with training before her if things continued at this rate. "No Swiftriver, please don't!" Her tone was full of self pity and fear, but the efforts were futile. She watched desperately as he sped toward camp.
Shadowpaw was in so much trouble.
The apprentice ran after her mentor, panting next to him, "Please!" However, again he did not stop. Seeing that begging would only make her look worse, the black pelted cat slowed her pace, tail dragging on the ground.
Shadowpaw didn't arrive at the Stone Clearing until after Swiftriver. Her head hung as she saw him outside the Leader's Den. A low rumble came from the she-cats stomach, and the emptiness reminded her that she hadn't eaten sense yesterday. Then, spirits down, Shadowpaw padded over to the fresh kill pile.
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Duskstar lay in his den, head on paws. Would Swiftriver be a good choice to mentor his daughter? Would she be angry that she didn't get the deputy? The tom shook his head to himself. Of course not! Shadowpaw would never doubt his decision. Then, feeling a little bit better, he moved on to the next problem. The leader could tell Pebblepaw didn't want him as a mentor. She acted uncomfortable around him, and it seemed as though he hadn't seen her eyes sense she was a tiny kit. Maybe even before then.
A meow from outside the den made Duskstar jump.
"Duskstar? I need to talk to you."
The tom heaved himself to his paws. "I hope there is no problem..." His mind spun at the thought, hoping Shadowpaw was thriving so much she needed praise from her father. Deciding that had to be it, Duskstar padded to the entrance of the den, poking his head out.
"Yes, come inside, Swiftriver."
He turned and re-entered, sitting on the stone floor next to his nest. Dull yellow gaze locked on his daughter's mentor as he waited for him to speak.
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Post by Fadingstar on Aug 7, 2008 21:38:00 GMT -5
Swiftriver paid nop mind to Shadowpaw's pleads to spare this one outburst. The thing was however if he did it would set him as a mentor who didn't care about being insulted and wouldn't report to Duskstar about it. How would she ever learn self-discipline and holding herself back when she needs to if he didn't teach it to her.
His tail had slowed slightly by the time Duskstar had poked his head out of the den and told him to come inside. Gazing around for a moment Duskstar's den seemed to be just another cave of the giant Stone Cavern StoneClanners called home. He sat down, curling his black tail around his small paws and looked up into Duskstar's eyes as their gazes locked. Shadowpaw's gaze was exactly like her father's, Swiftriver couldn't help but wonder what else they had in common that he couldn't visibly see.
Then opening his mouth to speak Swiftriver told Duskstar about Shadowpaw's disrespect. " Shadowpaw has been disrespecting me, I don't really think she accepts me as her mentor. I should probably work this out myself and not bother you, because you have your own apprentice to train and such but I thought I would inform you of it." Swiftriver couldn't help but feel silly speaking to Duskstar about an issue he should probably handle himself but, he couldn't help feel that it was necessary.
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Post by Duskstar on Aug 7, 2008 21:56:52 GMT -5
There was a part of the tom leader that new what was going to come out of the mentor's mouth. The other half, however, was in complete denial that his daughter would do such a thing. He nodded after Swiftriver's little speech. Duskstar couldn't believe it. He thought that, being her father, he would have taught her to be respectful. His mind swam with ideas that he had failed as a parent.
Finally, after a moments thinking, he spoke, "I would like to see Shadowpaw please."
Duskstar felt as though Swiftriver needed to be there when he spoke with Shadowpaw, so the mentor would know what punishment she would receive, and, on another note, he knew she wouldn't like it. Two pairs of scolding eyes were always worse than one, especially with the help of Swiftriver's piercing ice blue gaze. Shadowpaw didn't like him in the first place, and surely she hated those eyes as much as he hated her long, elegant tail.
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Post by Fadingstar on Aug 7, 2008 22:25:47 GMT -5
Swiftriver nodded to his leader and padded out to look for Shadowpaw, she was near the freshkill pile. "Duskstar wants to see you." His blue eyes were narrowed as he headed back to the leader's den, he took a position next to the entrance, his black pelt blending into the shadows of the edge. Only his wavelike blue eyes could be seen from his position.
He waited for Shadowpaw to enter and then awaited her punishment from Duskstar, hoping to himself he had done the right thing.
[o.o eewwww really short]
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