What Happens When You Mix Fire with Fire? [Ligia]

[Twineheart]

[ Ligia I apologize for making you wait! :3]


Rainbriar was up before dawn even cracked over the horizon. She had business to attend to, and not the usual business either. No the young warrior had received her first ever apprentice by the name of Pebblepaw. She knew little about the tom besides the fact that he was a tom and her apprentice. Aside from this he was a mystery to her, but one that would soon be under investigation. Rainbriar wasn't sure how she felt about receiving her first apprentice. Sure it was nice to think that Bramblestar had enough faith in her to train this tom in the ways of being a warrior. but on the other hand, if he was a dim-witted dolt or a cocky little mousebrain she would probably lose her patience rather quickly.

Her misgivings shoved aside, the young wiry looking she-cat treads across the quiet camp and into the apprentice den. Her dark yellow gaze scanning each nest for signs of her new apprentice. Then after a few seconds she spots his unique brown form. " Hey sleepy! Time to get yourself up and out of this den!" She calls, her voice carrying with ease. She flickers her short tail ignoring the groans of annoyed apprentices who she'd woken. Sticking her mangled jaw in the air, she rolls her gaze. " I'll be outside the den." She adds, turning around and weaving her way back to the entrance. " Chop! Chop!" She adds putting zero effort into keeping her voice down. 

[Ligia]

[No problem!]

Pebblepaw had barely managed to sleep since his naming ceremony the night before. He couldn't believe he had finally been made an apprentice. All those exciting thoughts about learning to hunt in the forest, and to fight for his clan had buzzed into his head, and kept him awake for a long time. but he eventually gave in to his tiredness, and now he woke up to his first day as an apprentice. Pebblepaw's ears flicked as he heard a call from the entrance of the den. He lifted his head, his vision still a little blurred from the sleep, just in time to see a tabby tail disappearing from the entrance of the den. Rainbriar!, he thought.
"Yes!", Pebblepaw exclaimed, shooting up from his nest. His sleepiness seemed to have vanished instantly. Around him, his Clanmates complained against all the noise.
The small apprentice excitedly made his way out of the den, trying to avoid the sleeping forms of the other apprentices. A protest was heard when he accidentally stepped on the tail of a Clanmate. "Oops. Sorry", he whispered, hurrying out.
Finally the dim light of dawn hit Pebblepaw's eyes. He spotted his mentor right away: a tabby and white she-cat padding around the camp. He was eager to get to meet his mentor, and eager to learn everything she had to teach him.
"Hi, Rainbriar!", he meowed, walking to her excitedly. "I'm here."
Now that he was close, he could see something peculiar on the she-cat: her deformed jaw. He had never expected her mentor to have that, but he told himself not to stare, focusing on her yellow eyes instead. She probably doesn't like anyone poking around that. Just like me!

[Twineheart]

[ Ligia ]

Rainbriar turns when Pebblepaw's voice calls out to her. " Oh good your up." She says, her eyes flickering over him once without much interest. He'd have to prove himself to her if he expected her to give him much thought. No she had too many other things on her mind at the moment, none of which involved a pesky apprentice. but she was stuck with him and might as well make the best of her situation. " Now that your awake we should be going..." She says briskly, flickering his short tail. Her dark yellow gaze staring down at him in a rather stoney manner. Like they could see through him instead of at him. " but I don't want your belly rumbling the entire time were out so you better go have something to eat first. And make it small or you'll regret it later." She adds not wanting to listen to the tom complain of a belly ache. Nodding her mangled jaw to the fresh kill pile, she sits and waits for the tom to do as he was told. Wondering just what Bramblestar had gotten her into.

[Ligia]

[ Twineheart ]

Pebblepaw's tail, which was high up in the air, dropped while his mentor talked. She really didn't seem to have any interest in mentoring him, and he noticed the way Rainbriar looked at him - no, she looked down on him. The faint pang of hunger he felt on his belly was replaced by anger, flaming inside him. She thinks I'm weak, he thought. He was sure of it, and he was determined to change the way she thought of him, change the way she looked at him.
Pebblepaw stomped to the fresh-kill pile, choosing a mouse and settling down to eat it. He had to admit he felt kind of disappointed - he was so excited to be an apprentice! but with Rainbriar, it seemed like they were off to a bad start. but he was going to change that. Finishing his mouse quickly, the small apprentice went back to his mentor, his tail lashing out from side to side. Pebblepaw looked up at her, little more than a kit fresh out of the nursery. "I'm ready", he said, straightening up to make himself taller. "Let's go."

[Twineheart]

[ Ligia So sorry for my late replies! I've been super busy lately! Oh and Rainbriar seems real cold and everything but she does have a softer side that will come out eventually lol]


Rainbriar had sat down to wait for Pebblepaw. Her dark yellow eyes watching him the entire time he ate, her short tail flickering impatiently. When he finished and returned to her she couldn't help but notice he seemed agitated. His tail was lashing and his excitement seemed to of faded. Unsure whether she was better of with an overly excited apprentice or a pissed off one she merely shrugs it off. He'll get over it soon enough, she thought rising to her sturdy paws as he approached. " Good." She murmurs before turning and padding out of camp swiftly.

Outside of the camp boundaries, Rainbriar's paws fell onto the familiar and well worn paths that led all over the territory. She chose the path which would lead them to the first border. Her eyes roaming over her shoulder to Pebblepaw. " Keep up and stay close." She says tartly. " I don't need you wondering off and getting yourself killed on our very first day." She adds her tail tip twitching some. The last thing she needed was something else to fret about. " Our first stop will be the river..." She adds, nose twitching as the wind blew the musky river's scent into their faces. " Can you tell me who we share that border with?" She asks him, dark gaze holding his.

[Ligia]

[ Twineheart It's ok, don't worry!]

Pebbleheart followed Rainbriar out of camp, keeping up with her. His bad mood dissipated almost immediatly as the forest scents hit him. It was the first time he was out of camp, and everything was so new and unfamiliar and exciting.
The lush colors of greenleaf were all around him. He got distracted watching insects buzzing by, feeling the forest floor under his pawpads, absorbing all the scents he could. He almost got separated and went out exploring before Rainbriar told him not to. Her voice brought him back to reality and he sped up to catch up with his mentor.
Pebblepaw still wasn't over his anger, but his mentor was showing him the territory he had always wanted to explore, so he kept his mouth shut. He smelled the river, a scent he had never known before. Pebblepaw had to admit he didn't particularly like that smell.
"StormClan!", the apprentice replied confidently, puffing out his chest. He had always paid a lot of attention to the elders' tales and the warriors' talk, so he knew a bit about the other clans. He stared into Rainbriar's eyes, his tail tip twitching, wanting to impress her.

[Twineheart]

[ Ligia ^^]

Rainbriar who's attention was fixed on where they were heading, glances sideways at the young tom when he spoke. At least he isn't completely ignorant, she thought blinking her dark yellow gaze at him. " Yes that's correct." She says, her short tail flickering over her back as they tread along, the sound of the river getting louder as they went. " Now what do you know about Stormclan?" She asks him, her mind drifting some as she said this. Unable to keep her thoughts from a certain Stormclan tom. Blinking she shakes the thoughts away. Focus! She scolds herself feeling annoyed.

[Ligia]

[ Twineheart sorry for the delay! ]

Pebblepaw followed Rainbriar closely. The closer they got to the river, the more excited he got. He had barely even heard his mentor's question over the gurgling of the river in his ears. He looked into the distance, trying to remember things he'd heard the older cats say about Stormclan, but his mind was drawing a blank. but he couldn't let Rainbriar think he knew nothing, so he took the easier route out. "Well...", he started, a little uncertain, but faked confidence as he went. "I know they're our enemies!"

[Twineheart]

[ Ligia Not a problem ^^]


Rainbriar's head snaps around to glower at the young tom at his response. " Well knowing that isn't going to do you a rats behind amount of good in battle!" She snaps at the younger tom disappointed with his answer and slightly agitated. Meanwhile they'd broken through the shelter of the oak trees and out onto the river bank. Here the air was much cooler and a chilly breeze pulled at their fur. Taking a long breath Rainbriar wonders what Webfire might be doing at this moment, but she quickly shoves this thought aside. " Sniff the air." She orders holding out her short tail so the tom must halt beside her. " Tell me what you smell and do not tell me enemies or I'll cuff your ears!" She adds with a slight grumble.

[Ligia]

Pebblepaw flinched as his mentor snapped at him. He knew he was wrong, but he couldn't help but feel irritated all the same. He was trying, after all! What does she have against me?! "It's true, though", Pebblepaw mumbled grumpily, his dark tail lashing from side to side.
He didn't let go of his irritation as they got on the river bank, but he did allow himself to be fascinated by it for a while. It was the first time he saw the river, which ran and raged, separating Midnightclan's territory from Stormclan's. If it was still Greenleaf and the days were hot, he might even feel like going for a swim.
The cold and humid Leaf-fall breeze sent a shiver down his spine, and for a moment he felt a pang of worry. The gelid season was coming. Even though he had grown a lot, his health was still poor, and Pebblepaw hoped he didn't get sick. Not now that I finally can enjoy being an apprentice.
He was distracted until he felt Rainbriar's tail brush against him, making him stop. Under his fur, his skin still felt hot with irritation, but he obeyed. He lifted his head and sniffed with his nose, but couldn't detect much above the smells of the river and of the forest. The young cat parted his jaws, copying what he had seen other cats do. Tasting the air, he felt new scents, scents he had never smelled before. He could identify an unfamiliar cat scent. "Is that...", he started, this time unsure of himself. "Uh... Stormclan scent?" Pebblepaw surely did not want to get his ears cuffed.

[Twineheart]

[ Ligia ]

Rainbriar had held her tongue at Pebblepaw's grumpy mumble. Her short thick tail lashing through the air, as he halts beside her. She watches him part his jaws after her orders and pull in the scents around them. She does the same, allowing the scents to drown her senses. At his response she nods some though only slightly. " Yes... but also the musk of the river, the potent smell of fish, the pine trees from across the border, and as you stated Stormclan's scent from their border markers. Along with a otter..." She adds wrinkling her nose and turning her head in time to see a shiny brown creature slip into the river. " You musn't forget to pay attention to detail Pebblepaw. It could one day save your behind." She points out dark yellow eyes holding his intensely.

[Ligia]

[ Twineheart ]

    As Rainbriar spoke, citing every scent in the area, Pebblepaw tried to identify each one, although he couldn't really discern them very well. Under the scent of the river, of the oak forest and of cat, he could only barely make out the other ones. The apprentice got slightly nervous, his tailtip twitching, and told himself mentally that his abilities would get better with practice. They had to.
    Pebblepaw looked at his mentor, missing the otter in the river. Her tone was so serious, and her gaze so intense, that the young tom only managed to nod. Rainbriar was right, he had to admit. "I'll start doing better", he said quietly.
    The spray of the river water got in his fur, and the leafbare wind chilled him to the bone. Pebblepaw shook himself. "Can we go explore the rest of the forest?", he asked hopefully, desperate to be under the cover of the tress again.

[Twineheart]

[ Ligia ]

Rainbriar keeps her yellow eyes on his a long moment before nodding in mild satisfaction. " Good." She said, her short tail flicking back and forth. Then at his words Rainbriar snorts, " Yeah let's get away from the river." She says her wiry pelt damp with river water. She shakes her fur guiding the tom back into the tree line, her paws guiding their way. " Next I'll show you the willow tree." She tells her apprentice as they trudged through the thick undergrowth. The thistles, brambles and thorns seemed not to catch in Rainbriar's curly wiry coat. " The willow tree is great for hunting around." She tells the tom, glancing over sharply to be assured he listened. " Even in leafbare there tends to be a few mice or voles hanging about."

[Ligia]

    Even though he was cold, Pebblepaw felt a hot flush of discomfort under Rainbriar's gaze. Right now, he didn't have the energy nor the will to challenge his mentor like he had done earlier - he just wanted to follow her along, which was a first for him.
    He followed the she-cat under the trees, and was glad to shake the water out of his short fur. He fluffed up, not trying to seem intimidating, but trying to get warmer. Threading through the undergrowth, the brambles and the thorns seemed to be claws grasping at him, tearing out a few clumps of his fur here and there. Pebblepaw was getting grumpier by the minute, but tried to cheer himself up. At least this is better than being by the river.
    At the sound of the word "hunting", the apprentice lifted his head. He quickened his pace to get beside his mentor. "Are we gonna hunt today?", he asked with a sudden enthusiasm. He had been looking forward to hunting lessons, and hoped that he could at least have one today.

[Twineheart]

[ Ligia ]

Rainbriar didn't fail to notice Pebblepaw's struggles. Instead of being mad or irritable with him over getting caught up in the brambles and thorns she waited with amusement for him to struggle free. Her thoughts once again drifting to a tom who'd once done the same thing. Blinking away her thoughts and bemusement, Rainbriar tilts her skull slightly at her apprentice's question. She noticed his enthusiasm over the idea of hunting and her whiskers twitch. " I suppose if your good and keep up, I could show you a few hunting techniques." She remarks her dark yellow eyes on his. " but only once were finished and if your good." She stresses the last part eyeing the tom.

Then before them the trees parted some to reveal the willow tree. Its great tendrils of leafy branches falling around its large and gnarly looking trunk gave it an impressive look. Pushing through the tendrils, Rainbriar takes the young tom closer to the trees trunk. Beneath the leafy branches the trees roots could be found in a giant tangled mess sticking up from the ground beneath their paws. " Careful not to get your paws stuck." She warns, flickering her short tail to the nooks and crannies between roots that could easily trap and break a cat's paw.