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Post by Twilidramon on Jul 3, 2014 14:08:53 GMT -5
Squirrelstar sat on the Pale Stone, listening idly to the sound of the mountain spring babbling nearby. The sun wasn't up yet she felt the heat bearing down on her back. While taking a sip from the spring was a tempting thought, Squirrelstar was waiting for someone.
Someone who was late.
Now, it had been a while since Squirrelstar had had an apprentice - ever since the death of her second apprentice she was more careful about choosing which young mind deserved her teaching. Shadowpelt had been a good apprentice, with level skills and a good head on his shoulders. There was a tiny part of her that wondered if her newest apprentice would be any good - if it was a good idea to even take another apprentice.
She shook her head and sighed. Alderpaw still had a little bit of time - he would make it.
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Post by sparky on Jul 3, 2014 19:28:56 GMT -5
Alderpaw streaked from the apprentice's den and through the MountainClan camp, heading to the Pale Stone. Today was his first training session with his new mentor, and he was probably going to be late. He had been surprised but overjoyed yesterday when Squirrelstar had announced that she would be his mentor. Alderpaw had trouble sleeping this past night, his excitement and apprehension had energized him, keeping him awake for much longer then intended.
He ran by several of his clanmates, flicking his ears in greeting as they called out to him. Ignoring the growling pit in his stomach as he passed the fresh kill pile, he exited the main cave. The Pale Stone was in sight, and so was his mentor. She sat on the rock, looking over the territory. As he got closer Alderpaw began to feel nervous. Although she was a great leader, Squirrelstar could be rather rough. Training under her was probably going to be extremely difficult. He shook away the nervousness, he would do whatever it took to become a MountainClan warrior, no matter how hard. He ran the last few steps to the Pale Stone.
"Squirrelstar," He puffed, slightly out of breath from his run. "I'm here!"
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Post by Twilidramon on Jul 3, 2014 22:29:25 GMT -5
Squirrelstar flicked her ear as Alderpaw skidded to a stop before her, his flanks heaving for breath. She sighed.
"You have much to learn," she told him thinly. "Running out of breath in the mountains... is not good. We will be touring our territory today, Alderpaw. Do you think you can keep up?"
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Post by sparky on Jul 3, 2014 23:02:04 GMT -5
Alderpaw tried to slow his breathing down. He couldn't disappoint Squirrelstar already!
"Of course!" He answered. "I'm sorry, I'm just really excited." Having been stuck in the camp for his entire life, Alderpaw was ready to see the rest of his clan's territory.
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Post by Twilidramon on Jul 4, 2014 9:21:49 GMT -5
Squirrelstar nodded her head at him, and then leaped off the Pale Stone. She led Alderpaw in the direction of the stream, as it was the path with least rocks. She looked back occasionally, making sure the young apprentice hadn't slipped up yet. Though she wanted to seem stoic and authoritative, she couldn't help that part of her. Losing another apprentice was a secret fear.
She led Alderpaw to a small clearing surrounding by spires of rock. A landslide had claimed half the clearing, but it still left plenty of room.
"Here is where we will be doing our training," Squirrelstar stated. Gesturing with her paw to the landslide, she mewed, "There is where you will be practicing your climbing and leaping skills. That landslide fell long ago, and the rocks have not budged since."
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Post by sparky on Jul 4, 2014 14:19:04 GMT -5
Alderpaw gazed around the clearing in wonder. The short trip here had taken a bit out of him, but he kept his breathing in check and his entire body alert. Not only did he want to see the rest of the territory, he didn't want to disappoint Squirrelstar again. After he took in most of the clearing, he turned to his mentor
"So where are we going next?" He asked.
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Post by Twilidramon on Jul 4, 2014 18:16:26 GMT -5
Squirrelstar flicked her ear.
She hopped up onto a boulder. Beyond it was another path, this one slightly steeper and a little more treacherous. She was confident that Alderpaw could handle it, if they took it slow.
"This is a path that warriors use to get to a prime hunting ground," she meowed, gesturing with a paw. "Stay close, and try not to put a paw astray - you're not as experienced in mountain pathways yet, and this one has a drop that will break a small cat like you."
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Post by sparky on Jul 4, 2014 20:53:20 GMT -5
Scrambling up beside his mentor, Alderpaw observed the path, nervously staring down the steep drop. Once again trying to keep a calm resolve in front of Squirrelstar, he merely said.
"Looks easy enough, lets go!"
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Post by Twilidramon on Jul 5, 2014 8:51:15 GMT -5
Squirrelstar made sure that Alderpaw was close by the whole way. The first few lengths weren't bad - but when one of the stone walls fell away to reveal a chasm and a tugging breeze Squirrelstar tensed and became more conscious of her apprentice's pawsteps.
They came to the end, though, without incident. Before them lay a tumbledown of stones - easy for a warrior to climb, not-so-easy for an apprentice. And with that drop on the side...
"You go first," Squirrelstar told Alderpaw. "I'll be right behind you. You won't fall so long as you keep your head out of the clouds and take it slow."
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Post by sparky on Jul 5, 2014 14:46:50 GMT -5
He nodded, trying to focus on the path and not the drop. The drop that could send him plummeting- Alderpaw shook his head. If he thought he would fall then he probably would. Before he could cower out, he started climbing down.
As he got further down the tumbledown, Alderpaw's muscles began to strain. He flinched, but continued down the path, trying to keep his balance.
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