Lessons In Life {Tagged}

[Stormwhisper]

Stormwhisper rosepaw

The smell of morning dew filled the air, quiet sounds of birds chirping as they awaken from their nightly slumber. The sun was barely peaking over the horizon, and Stormwhisper had woken up along with it, he enjoyed these moments of silence among the camp. When most warriors were still sleeping or the ones who were awake, off on a patrol, but Stormwhisper hadn't awakened early morning to enjoy the view and silence, there was a certain goal in mind. Slow steps were taken in the direction of the apprentice den, nodding to any fellow warriors who passed him with a huff and grumble, barely paying any mind to them. Head raised above proudly over his shoulders as he walked forward, he was finally going to give dear Rosepaw her first lesson. He didn't know much about the apprentice since he was appointed as her mentor, but he was determined to turn her into a true warrior windclan. No matter how stubborn she may be about it, she was going to have to get use to waking up early in the mornings like this.

The large tom stopped at the entrance of the apprentice den, seating himself upon the ground, posture remaining stiff and strong, "Rosepaw, it's time to get up! You have training."
He'd holler into the apprentice den, waiting for Rosepaw to respond and join him outside.

OWL

[rosepaw]

[googlefont="Oswald"]

玫 ,

Rosepaw woke with a start. A cold draft hit her nose and she grumbled. She wasn't in the usual warmth of the nursery. WindClan cats are supposed to sleep in the open, her mother had told her. The protection of the nursery had been temporary, sheltered to wait for their fuzzy kit fur to fall out. Groggily, she tried to give her messy, long pelt a few licks.

Her siblings were still sleeping near her, and Rosepaw rolled her eyes. Either Stormwhisper was over-eager, or her siblings were lazy furballs.

"Yes, I know I have training," she grunted as she made her way toward Stormwhisper. She flicked her tail across her mentor's paws, not intimidated at all by his larger build. She was grumpy, but even Rosepaw knew it was bad to leave a sour impression on your first day of training. "I know when I have to wake up, you don't need to make a scene. What are we doing today?"

She started toward the camp entrance and looked back, giving an expectant look. Wasn't Stormwhisper supposed to lead the way? She didn't know what they were doing!

rosepaw , played by io

i'll show you how a real queen behaves

Stormwhisper

[Stormwhisper]

Stormwhisper rosepaw

He watched as the young molly emerged from the den, expression turning serious and cold the moment she presented herself in front of him, her attitude immediately shining the moment she began to speak. Stormwhisper heard of the tongue Rosepaw held, and perhaps such was the reason Nightstar appointed her to him, where else was a leader to put her other than with him. He was patient, even more patient with the younger cats of windclan, but he wasn't planning on giving Rosepaw special treatment or an easy time all because she was his apprentice. It was up to him to teach her proper respect and how to be a true warrior of windclan. "Here's your first lesson, it'll be in your best interest to address your elders with respect. But we'll practice that, each time I gather you for training. I want you to greet me with proper respect. Pull your chin up, and look at me in the eyes, and give a Good morning, Good Afternoon, or A good Evening to me. And each time you don't, your training that day won't be pleasant." He'd say sternly, before raising to his feet and beginning to walk forward, waiting for Rosepaw to join him. "We're heading to the rolling hills. Today I will be teaching you how to hunt." He'd explain, moving forward with grace and pride, head held up high.

"Hunting is a skill you must learn, for it depends on our survival. Our clan is our home, and with that, we must respect one another no matter our differences, or how sour we are with one another. You must be willing to sacrifice for even the weakest of our clan. You can start by catching food for the queens within the nursey den." He'd begin to speak as the two walked forward, glancing down at Rosepaw every once and in a while to study her reactions to his

OWL

[rosepaw]

[googlefont="Oswald"]

玫 ,

“Good morning, good afternoon,” Rosepaw rolled her eyes and snickered sarcastically at Stormwhisper’s idealistic vision of their relationship. What did he think he was, some submissive queen? WindClan was better than this. “Haha that's cute, Stormwhisper, but no, that’s not going to happen.”

She bounded forward and circled around on her mentor, completely not intimidated by his larger size. Eyes cool and narrowed with a glint of defiance, she stopped in her tracks and spoke.

“Listen here you piece of foxdung. Just because Nightstar thinks you’re fit to be a mentor doesn’t mean you can enforce how other cats greet you. Apprentice, mentor, elder, or whatever. Respect is something that’s earned. Now teach me well, before you lose the respect you have left.”

Then, Rosepaw brushed past him toward the Rolling Hills and let his words roll on. The molly had no problem hunting for the queens and kits of the Clan. What she did have a problem with was hunting for up-tight old bastards like him.

“Alright,” she gave a shrug as they continued on. “So what’s the first step? Finding a suitable location to track prey?”

rosepaw , played by io

i'll show you how a real queen behaves

Stormwhisper

[Stormwhisper]

Stormwhisper rosepaw

Now it made sense as to why Nightstar appointed Rosepaw to him, who else would have the patience to deal with a brat like this. Lucky for the young apprentice Stormwhisper saw no reason to smack her, for he took in consideration she was still young and learning, violence would only cause fear. Stormwhisper was looking for compassion and respect, she already had a fire burning deep inside of her, he could only hope to help her redirect the flame. Her insults thrown at her did not phase him, expressio unbroken as he watched her circle around him, once she stopped. He’d come to a stop right at the exit of the camp, tail curling around his paws and posture relaxed as he stared at her. “No.” He’d say bluntly at her question, not making a single movement as he sat there. “We’re going to sit right here, and you’re going to explain to me why you think a brat such as yourself is worthy than to become a windclan warrior. If you can convince me, I’ll train you. If you continue to hurl insults at me, I’ll tell Nightstar you’re nothing more than a lost cause and far from worthy to be upon our warriors. You’d be better fit as a pampered kittypet with your attitude.” He spoke with no emotion in his voice, expression blank along with his words.

Stormwhisper had all the patience one could have, “You can run off if you wish, enjoy your day free of training. I won’t stop you. But I’m not going to train you until I’ve seen that you’re capable of having a heart.”

OWL

[rosepaw]

[googlefont="Oswald"]

玫 ,

Rosepaw rolled her eyes once again. Older cats who thought so highly of themselves were awfully annoying. She doubted Nightstar would even have much to say. Besides, if she failed training, she was going to make sure the whole camp knew it was Stormwhisper's fault. With her mouth full of rumors and gossip, Rosepaw decided she could make sure Stormwhisper was seen as an embarrassment.

But in truth, she had hoped for a bit more peaceful of an apprenticeship. There were enough cats - like her own brother and sister - to argue with back at camp.

"Fine. For Starclan's sake, Stormwhisper, I'm six moons old. I'm not worthy to be a WindClan warrior. Making me such is your job, sir. You can tell Nightstar that I'm a lost cause instead, but I'm pretty sure that would reflect way more badly on you as mentor. Considering you've hardly tried. So for the better of both of us, let's just try to get along, hm?"

She waved her tail at the moors. This was their very first session, after all.

"Alright, I admit, I don't know what your idea of a mentor-apprentice relationship looks like. But I'm here for training, not life lessons. Now, can we please get started with hunting?"

Violence to her did not cause fear, and if Stormwhisper refused to train her, she was going to take matters into her own paws. Rosepaw cared not what little training she had. She bunched her muscles and without warning, leaped playfully at Stormwhisper as she turned back around. Her claws were sheathed, since she clearly still knew the rules, but she aimed to land and latch onto Stormwhisper's shoulder. She was hardly out of kithood, after all, and a little play always loosened things up in her experience.

"Unless, you prefer we start with combat? You seem eager enough to rip my ears off."

rosepaw , played by io

i'll show you how a real queen behaves

Stormwhisper

[Stormwhisper]

Stormwhisper rosepaw

He remained silent once again as she spoke, laying her case before him. Even if she still spoke with ill words and bitterness, Stormwhisper found his answer. Rosepaw knew her worth. That was all he needed, the large tom raised to his hackles once more, head nodding gently in response to her. “That’s the point you’re missing Rosepaw, if I fail to teach you ways to handle every situation as a warrior rather than a golden princess upon a high rock. You’ll be quick to learn that not many cats out there are as patient as I am. Knowing your worth, and knowing when to speak out against those who oppose you is different than actively trying to anatagonize those you dislike.” He’d say, walking past Rosepaw once more, “I don’t want to fight you, nor do I hate you Rosepaw. I was a bitter and angry child like you once too.” Although Stormwhisper wasn’t stuck up nor did he believe he was a pampered gold child of a bloodline, he did have alot of anger festering inside of him as an apprentice. He wanted to train to become a warrior so he could have an outlet to release the unchecked rage, but only learned doing such things could get him killed. “We hunt today. Something simple and easy, I don’t expect you to get it the first time. So we’ll start with a rabbit.”

As the two of them grew further away from camp, Stormwhisper had nothing else to say, returning to his silence and occasionally looking behind him to make sure Rosepaw was close behind, when they reached the rolling hills. Stormwhisper came to a stop once, waiting for his apprentice to join his side, “Rabbits are clever and quick, but you can outsmart them. You have to be quick and wait for the right moment to pounce.” He’d explain, “We’ll start by tracking one. Sniff the air around you, and allow every scent that comes across your nose to settle. Describe to me what you smell as you do so.”

OWL

[rosepaw]

[googlefont="Oswald"]

玫 ,

"I am neither bitter, nor angry. I am not like you, so stop trying to compare us," she hissed back at Stormwhisper. Well, wasn't this training session going so well? Stifling a grunt of resentment, Rosepaw shut her maw and decided it was counter-productive to try and get through to the older tom. She had not related to a single word out of Stormwhisper's mouth since the morning started. She wasn't going to any time soon.

Lifting her nose to the air, she copied her mentor and what she'd seen her parents do before.

Before Stormwhisper had even finished his words, she spotted a large creature nibbling in the grass before them. Flicking her tail over Stormwhisper's flank, she alerted him to the hare. A hare was similar to a rabbit, right? It shouldn't be too different from what Stormwhisper had just instructed...

"Uh... I think that's not a rabbit... but it smells... Kind of musky... mostly like grass. A little stinky," she whispered back at Stormwhisper with a wrinkled nose. "Can I give it a go?"

Without waiting for his response, she crept forward. She wasn't sure what Stormwhisper had meant by 'the right moment to pounce,' but Rosepaw interpreted that as just getting close to the creature as possible. About two fox-lengths from the hare, she darted forward, trying to grip the hare's shoulders between her claws. However, it merely leaped aside, jumping between her legs and giving her a moment of confusion before disappearing into the tall grass.

TRACK: 15 success
PREY TYPE: 12 hare
CATCH: 3 unsuccessful

rosepaw , played by io

i'll show you how a real queen behaves

Stormwhisper

[Stormwhisper]

Stormwhisper rosepaw

His attention lingered toward the hare in the distance, nose twitching at the scent of it, giving a nod at Rosepaw. “Good job, Rosepaw. What you smell is a hare, it’s larger than a rabbit, so a better catch.” He’d praise her, before he could properly explain the ways of hunting it seemed Rosepaw was already on her way to hunt the prey, so he remained silently watching her as she stalked her prey, he wasn’t too surprised that her catch was unsuccessful. A huff of breath coming from him, before he raised to his paws and walked back to her side, “It’s alright, mistakes happen.” He’d explain, Stormwhisper remembered when he first hunted, how he stumbled and grew impatient, the majority of his prey slipping from his grasp. But after moons of practice and a determination to be a better hunter than his sister, Stormwhisper learned, he would just have to teach Rosepaw his way of hunting.

“You were too quick, and you weren’t careful. Watch me.” He’d say, sniffing the air again, catching the scent of the hare, he’d lower himself to the ground, his steps were careful and silent as he marched through the grass, following the scent of the hare. Tail lashing behind him as he caught sight of it, once more nibbling on another piece of grass, he wanted a moment, body wiggling in place, getting ready to pounce, not a second later did Stormwhisper finally make his move, pouncing forward and darting after the hare.

He’d latch his jaws around the hare’s leg, yanking it toward it and being quick to finish the killing blow onto it. Stormwhisper grunted, picking it up properly and dropping it near Rosepaw. “Try again. Track something and then catch it.” He’d state plainly, “Just pace yourself, don’t get too confident. Prey is smarter than you might think. You just have to outwit them.”

OWL

[rosepaw]

[googlefont="Oswald"]

玫 ,

"Wow! It's nearly your size!" the apprentice exclaimed with a teasing grin at the hare. "We can't eat it, right? I really want to, but something something elders eat first?"

She lifted an eyebrow. Her understanding of the warrior code was honestly shaky too, and Rosepaw couldn't recall the exact words her parents had told her about food. Looking one last time longingly at the hare, she turned back to the hunt. She would get the next one for sure! Over confidence was unfortunately one of Rosepaw's flaws, and she certainly had not listened closely to Stormwhisper's advice.

Scampering a bit further out into the tall grass, Rosepaw scented the air, frowning. She didn't recognize any scents besides the grass and the fresh-kill. Disappointed, she dropped her tail low and glanced back at Stormwhisper.

"Well, I don't think I smell anything. I can only smell your already-dead hare. What do I do now?"

rosepaw , played by io

i'll show you how a real queen behaves

Stormwhisper