A Fleeting Maple Leaf [tagged]

[Kado]

OOC: Titled in black within the thread are the different training session/chores.
Border Training
Tag: Inkheart

A black and white tom padded from the warrior den. He paused and sniffed the air, the chill biting at his nose. He was one of a few who were up before dawn. Fleetthorn stretched and padded over to a boulder. The tom jumped up and sat down to give himself a groom.

The wind picked up, ruffling through his short fur. A shiver forced him to look up, light grazed his face as the first sun rays started to appear. Fleetthorn stood, stretching his right rear leg with a grunt. 

The tom padded over to the apprentice den. Poking his head in, Fleetthorn called quietly yet firmly. "Maplepaw, time to get up." He ducked back out and sat down in a sunny spot, tailed curled around his paws as he waited.

[Inkheart]

Her head shot up at the sound of her mentor's voice. Opening her mouth in a wide yawn, Maplepaw noticed the morning sun peek through the entrance of the den.

She sat up, giving her brown torbie pelt a quick lick to get the moss off. Maplepaw shook her short pelt before heading outside. As soon as exited the den, she felt the immediate chill as the wind blew through her fur. Shivering, she made her way over to Fleetthorn.

[Kado]

Fleetthorn's spotted his apprentice as she padded her way over. He waited for the torbie cat to stop and and nodded a greeting. "Go and get yourself a bite to eat." the black and white tom commanded after noting her shiver. "Meet me by the entrance when your finished. We'll be exploring the territory, today." He flicked his tail to reinforce his words.

Without waiting for a response, he stood and padded to the entrance. His green eyes searched for a sunny spot to sit in. Fleetthorn settled on a patch of dead grass, gazing out towards the sea. He daydreamed of the warmer weather, where he could go and swim without worrying about catching green cough. Not that it stopped the tom much, his love of navigating the sea sends him out on any sunny, breeze-free day.

[Inkheart]

At the fresh-kill pile, Maplepaw grabbed a small fish and sat down in a sunny spot to eat it. She sat down quickly finishing the fish, her excitement visible in her behavior. Once done, she ran over to her mentor who was by the entrance, her green eyes full of curiosity and excitement.

[Kado]

The sounds of quick pawsteps snapped Fleetthorn out of his daze. He shook his head before giving Maplepaw a nod and turning to lead them out of the entrance. Once out, He paused to wait for his apprentice to exit. When the small she-cat had caught up, he turned and sprinted to the left of camp. His ears swiveled to make sure Maplepaw was following.

[Inkheart]

Maplepaw quickly caught up with Fleetthorn. Outside of the camp, the young cat took in many new scents. Some she recognized, others she didn't. The ocean waves crashed against the shore and seagulls circled the air above them. Looking around eagerly she asked "What are we going to see first?"

[Kado]

Fleetthorn's ears perked as he heard Maplepaw's question. He turned his head slightly to call back to her as he ran across the sand. "To wear the wind blows the leaves!" He grinned at his riddle.

Turning his head forward, he took in the scenery. The sand glistened light in the sun, its warm appearance was rivaled by its cold leafbare touch. Ahead of them was a large group of rocks. Fleetthorn locked his path on them, content on stopping and explaining the surrounding area.

[Inkheart]

Maplepaw turned her head confused at the riddle. Shaking it off, she ran after her mentor, her long legs helping her keep up. The sand was warm on her paws despite the cold air. Watching where her mentor was going, Maplepaw noticed that he had veered his path to a group of rocks. She followed him as the rocks got closer.

[Kado]

Fleetthorn bounded up a couple of the rocks until he settled onto a large wide boulder. He stole a quick glance at the sea before turning and sitting before his apprentice.

"We have four borders. The sea makes one of them." He gestured at the body of water with his tail. "It can give the illusion of safety/defense, but we still have to be vigilant as rogues, loners, kittypets, and other clans may trespass onto our beach." He paused to let the information sink in.

[Inkheart]

As Maplepaw took in the information, she looked at the ocean. It was dark blue this morning and the waves seemed kind of harsh. She knew Fleetthorn was right, while the ocean did seem safe, there were many places that cats could come from to get to the beach. Turning her green gaze back to her mentor, she waited for more information.

[Kado]

Fleetthorn continued, "Opposite of our sea if a vast no-cat's land. Just like the ocean, we have to watch for intruders." His green eyes narrowed, "To the right of us is a big twoleg place and to the left is Leafclan."

He stood and stretched his hindleg with a grunt. The cold weather was bothering his left hip. He turned and hopped down the rocks "Come, let us continue to the Leafclan border." He called before establishing a brisk, but slower pace.

[Inkheart]

Maplepaw hopped up and followed her mentor, noticing that his leg seemed to be bothering him. She didn't say anything as she managed the new pace. Again new scents and sights were abundant as they traveled. Sand was caught between her paws but she didn't complain, and shook her paws a little as she walked.

[Kado]

OOC: I just realized that the camp isn't far from the leafclan border. oops...

Birch Trees loomed up ahead as the two padded on. Fleetthorn paused when they were within a few feet of the bushes that gave way to the Leafclan's wooded territory. "Those bushes mark the border to Leafclan territory. On border patrols, warriors refresh the markers to make sure cats know this is Sunsetclan." He meowed. "This border is close to the camp, so it is a top priority in making sure all activity here is checked." He sniffed the air. The sunsetclan scent was strong, but weaker than it should be. "Let's refresh the markers. Smell for bushes with strong smells of Sunsetclan and Leafclan." He padded down the line, marking every few feet. His ears pricked, listening...

A brown ticked young tom padded through the trees. Find the Sunsetclan border...I hope I'm going the right way... He noted the thinning of the trees and swallowed his doubt. He must be getting nearer.

[Inkheart]

Maplepaw had noticed the birch trees from camp when she was a kit but they seemed way bigger up close. A strange and nasty scent filled her nose and mouth when she breathed in. She listened closely as Fleetthorn explained the Leafclan border and the purpose of marking the edge of the border. She padded closer to the bushes marking the border to find where the scents were most fresh. Slowly she followed her mentor down the scent line, Maplepaw kept her ears pricked listening like her mentor was doing. Though all she heard was the leaves from the birch trees rustle.

[Kado]

Fleetthorn had traveled a bit aways. At the sound of leaves rustling, his head shot up eyes searching. Finding nothing, he focused on the wind. There was a slight breeze coming across from the Leafclan's side. He narrowed his eyes as the other's clan scent hit him, but it was difficult to distinguish how close it was. Instinctively, he turned and begin padding back towards Maplepaw.

Logpaw pushed through the bushes. Strong scents assaulted his nose Yes, This is the correct way. Suddenly, he froze. Before him was torbie cat. His heart was beating in his throat. He swallowed and padded closer. Planting his paws with fur raised, he watched the apprentice, semi-prepared to chase them off if they crossed over.