A Tour of Borders (Noctali)

[Silvergrass]

(Tags: Noctali
Okay Noctali we will start at the camp entrance and go to Midnight border, then head to Whisper border before looking at the landmarks around okay?)

Birchshades calico pelt caused a shadow to block the entrance to the Stormclan camp. She turned around to see her new apprentice Specklepaw follow her. She visually planted a map of where to go in her head, before turning to Specklepaw. "We will start by heading over to the Midnightclan border."

[Noctali]

Specklepaw instantly started to run after her, then slowed herself down. She knew that she'd need to pace herself, this was a much longer journey than she was used to making. Following her mentor closely, keeping pace, she nodded. "Are MidnightClan nice cats?" She hoped she didn't end up embarrassing herself with such a question.

[Silvergrass]

Birchshade watched as the cat set off at a fast speed, and was about to yell at her to slow down, when just like that she did. Birchshade decided not to say anything, Specklepaw seemed to know she was going to fast. Birchshade set after her at a light trot. My very first apprentice. She thought to herself. She was so lost in her thoughts she nearly missed Specklepaws question.
Are Midnightclanners nice cats?
Birchshade thought for a while, before looking at the young cat. She answered with "Well many of them can be very nice, but some can be really cruel. Also, if a Midnightclanner found you on their territory they wouldn't be that nice at all. I think it is basically who it is and what position you are in that affects how nice they are." Birchshade wondered if Specklepaw would get it.

[Noctali]

Specklepaw thought on Birchshade's reply for a minute. "So...for example, if you were a medicine cat, they'd be nice to you, but if you were just an ordinary warrior, they may think of you as a threat and be cruel?" She hoped to herself her reply seemed 'smart' enough. "What happens to us if we get caught on the border?"

[Silvergrass]

"Yes! Very good Specklepaw. And if you where caught on their territory they would probably be quite mad even if you are a medicine cat. If you where caught hunting on their territory you probably wouldn't live to tell the tail." Birchshade replied, before realizing they were almost there, as by now she could her the sound of water rushing through her ears. "Hear that? We're almost there." The calico cat mewed to her apprentice, before picking up her speed a little.
Now she will be able to scent what Midnightclan cats smell like.
Hopefully there will be a fresh scent.

[Noctali]

Specklepaw was coming to realise there was a strange smell coming across her scent glands. She opened her mouth, to drink in the scent, as if committing it to memory: it was so different from the scent of StormClan that she was used to, but it wasn't horrible. She whispered "Is that the scent of MidnightClan?". Specklepaw was nervous being this close to the border, as if an enemy patrol would leap out on them at any moment. Her fur was fluffed up to twice its size, not out of coldness, but out of an instinctive need to make herself appear more threatening. With the rational part of her mind, she reflected that they had no reason to be in trouble; after all, they weren't crossing the border, just heading up to it to recognise where it was. but there was still the part of her mind that reflected that these were enemy cats.

[Silvergrass]

Birchshade gazed at the apprentice as the young she-cat looked across the river. Specklepaw scented the air, before asking her mentor Is that Midnightclans scent? Birchshade was really impressed by this cat, and was looking forward to training her. "Yes, well done! Now breath it in Specklepaw, that is the scent of Midnightclan." Birchshade also scented the air, just in case there where any invaders.

"Now, let me take you to the platform young cat." Birchshade mewed, starting to turn left, along the riverbank. She flicked her tail for Specklepaw to follow.

[Noctali]

Looking furtively around her, as though they would be leaped upon by an enemy patrol at any moment, Specklepaw followed her mentor along the riverbank. While doing so, she thought on what she'd learned so far in her journey around the borders. MidnightClan smell like this... they're not necessarily 'horrible', but they don't tolerate any cat crossing their border with us. Well, I can understand that, easily. We're exactly the same in StormClan.

Catching up to her mentor, she stood next to her, squaring her small shoulders. If there was ever going to be trouble, she, Specklepaw, Apprentice of StormClan, would show them who truly ruled.

[Silvergrass]

Birchshade watched her young apprentice carefully, making sure that she was not on the side of the river. Even though she was a Stormclan cat and had a natural ability to swim, she was still young. Smiling, Birchshade continued on the rivers path. We should see the platform any minute now. She thought, remembering the first time she saw the platform.

As they padded on, a smooth rock, slap bang in the middle of the river became visible. "Here we are!" Birchshade mewed happily. With a massive leap, she jumped up onto the rock and turned around. "Come on!" She yowled to her apprentice, ready to catch her if she fell.

[Noctali]

OOC: I want her to fall in the water, and get soaked, but otherwise be perfectly okay (apart from maybe a chill that needs the medicine cat's attention or maybe the meddie cat apprentice? [Acro.]

Specklepaw silently surveyed the situation, flicking her tail at her mentor to show she had heard her instruction. So... it's a little bit further away than I can normally or comfortably jump... Hm. And I'm willing to bet the water on either side is cold. Oh well, I can only try. Sniffing the edge of the water, she nodded, as if making up her mind, she took a few tentative pawsteps back. Running and bunching her legs beneath her, she leaped, trying to reach the stone her mentor was standing on.

She fell short, and fell headlong into the water. Luckily, it wasn't too deep. She came up spluttering, ears plastered flat to her head and water running in rivulets down her nose and dripping off the end. Deeply ashamed of herself, she pulled herself up next to her mentor, sopping wet, too embarrassed at her failure to begin to try and dry her fur. Keeping as far away from her mentor as the platform would allow, so as not to get her wet too, Specklepaw shivered to herself - not visibly, lest her mentor would see and order her back to camp - but she was soaked through, and she was freezing.

Words: 205
Muse: Fantastic
Tags: Silvergrass

[Silvergrass]

Birchshade watched her apprentice, making careful notes on what she did wrong and right. Maybe I'm being to tough. She thought, but pushed it away. This could be a valuable lesson for Birchshade, she wanted to see how much her young apprentice could take. So, when she bunched up her muscles and leaped, Birchshade remembered to tell her that if she put her paws out higher she could reach further.

For a moment she thought the little apprentice was going to make it. but her jump was to short in the end and she flailed out her paws when she realized. Trying to grab her as she fell in the river, all Birchshade could do was compliment her when she got out. Specklepaw was seemingly embarrassed by her little swimming trip. "That was brilliant!" She yowled as she went up to her.

"That was some amazing swimming, Specklepaw. Next time when you jump, raise your paws higher okay dear?" She instructed her young 'paw as she started to lick her fur back. It was important to keep warm. "Now, how about we look to see if we can see any Midnightclanners?" She suggested, the smile returning on her face. Truth be told she was not angry, or disappointed with her apprentice. She was actually amazed at how well she swum.

Words: 220!!