Becoming A Star [Shade]

[Stormsy]

Smokeshade
Among the sleeping warriors in the den that sheltered them, one was a gray tabby. The deputy of the Clan, actually. His green-blue eyes opened slowly, and he pushed himself to his paws. One ear twitched as he made his way out of the den. Smokeshade stretched out in the pre-dawn air -- it was still before the sun had risen, because he was a believer in early training. He was also a believer in getting right into things, example being that the pair would start with battle training on the first day.

The mentor made his way to the apprentices' den and carefully stepped around the sleeping cats until he found the cat he was looking for : Dawnpaw. Smokeshade nudged her slightly, whispering, "Dawnpaw, get up, it's time for training," and then turning to leave. He hoped she would wake up and meet him in the center of the camp so they could begin.


OOC: I put the thread in the hollow because that is where they are going, but they start in the camp  Ambrose

[Ambrose]

Dawnpaw lay peacefully, curled up in the foetal position, her young mind dreaming.

In her dream, everything was silent, except the slight white noise emitted from the swaying trees, and the rustling of Dawnpaw slinking through the bracken. Branches scraped her pelt, but she did not waver. Right in front of her was a handsome tom, brown-pelted and strikingly handsome. She sashayed over to her and nudged her side, strongly, as if it wasn't a dream...

"AGH!" she yelped, her body unfurling rapidly. 

She rolled over rapidly and jumped to her paws, which were damp with sweat. Surprise was written across her golden complexion as she addressed the deputy. "Oh, S-Smokeshade, it's just you. Sorry!" she cried, holding back the words "You scared me." She was better than to tell the deputy and her mentor that. 

Dawn was already starting to spread out across the land when she ran out of the den, running for fear of being late. She skidded to a halt in the centre of the camp.

[Stormsy]

Smokeshade
Smokeshade smiled softly when his apprenticed raced out to meet him. He noticed how startled she was when he woke her, and understood that the young she-cat was probably lost in a dream. "I assume you slept well, with how deep in sleep you were," he purred as Dawnpaw approached. "I hope you don't mind, but I think we should start battle training today, if you'd like," the tabby added, his tail twitching a bit. He wanted Dawnpaw to have a say in her training, and if she didn't want to fight today then he could change their plans a bit.

As he spoke, he walked his apprentice to the fresh kill pile. "Go ahead and grab something to eat, before we go out." Smokeshade knew that since Dawnpaw was only a new apprentice, she probably wouldn't be used to the amount of energy that she was going to be using throughout the day, and food would help her out with that. Even though the deputy had trained young cats into warriors before, he still felt a bit nervous. I hope I'm a good mentor. Dawnpaw has some potential, I can tell.

[Ambrose]

Dawnpaw was glad that Smokeshade was smiling when she met him outside; he wasn't angry that she was scared, or that she was late. Phew, she thought, giving her chest a few licks in nervousness. She nodded at his statement about how well she was sleeping rapidly. "I hope you don't mind, but I think we should start battle training today, if you'd like." She smiled. "Oh yes, sure! I'd love to!" she purred. "...but where do we do battle training?" Her tailtip twitched curiously.

Smokeshade started walking in the direction of the freshkill pile, Dawnpaw trotting alongside him. She was quite hungry, so she followed his instructions gleefully. She took from the pile an average sized vole and started to eat gingerly, taking care to eat properly. 

Her meal was over quickly, despite her etiquette. "Okay, I'm ready!"

[Stormsy]

Smokeshade
"It's a place called the Murky Hollow. You can learn many different battle tactics there," the mentor replied to his apprentice's question. He waited patiently while she ate, joy soaring in his heart. He had forgotten what it was like to be a mentor, and have a young cat to bring up into a fine warrior. Another small smile crossed Smokeshade's face, and he snapped out of his little 'trance' when Dawnpaw spoke again. "Let's head out, then!"

Smokeshade led the way out of camp, admiring the beauty of the trees and the quiet singing of the birds. It was a nice day, which was definitely a plus on the mood factor of cats. "I figured we could just start with basics today, and use that sort of as building blocks to make you an even better fighter," the tabby explained, not wanting Dawnpaw to be confused in any way.

[Ambrose]

Dawnpaw was just finishing her meal when he started to chat again. He answered her question expertly, Dawnpaw nodding in understanding. "Okay, I can't wait! This is so exciting!" she squealed, just keeping in: And the deputy is my mentor! A wonderful smile spread across Smokeshade's face, all Dawnpaw's worries fading. As much as he was the deputy, he was also a cat, just like her. 
"Let's head out then!" Smokeshade mewed, Dawnpaw lighting up. She stood up, giving her pelt a few licks, before cantering up to him. 

A chilly dawn wind rattled her, as Smokeshade led her out of the camp. She was also grateful for this gust; sleep called to her, come back, come back! This voice in her subconscious was blown away by the wind, renewing her with new-found alertness. Dawnpaw took in everything around her; the surroundings were beautiful. Birds were singing, unaware of predators prowling the forest floor. She snapped out of daydreaming about the fantastic terrain around her and listened to Smokeshade. "That's perfect! What are we gonna do first?"

[Stormsy]

Smokeshade glanced at Dawnpaw when she responded, and meowed, "I think we will start with pouncing, because that can be used as an offensive and defensive move." The tabby lifted his head a bit to catch the scents around him, noting that they were close to the Murky Hollow where the young apprentice's first training would occur. He led the way into the hollow, looking for the driest spot -- he didn't want to start in a slippery and difficult place on the first day! "We will start training in the wetter places as you get better, but for now we can start here," Smokeshade explained.

The gray cat faced his apprentice, crouching down. "Crouch like this to begin. Make sure your hind legs have room to push off of the ground, because that is where you will get most of your power from," the deputy added, signaling that the training session would begin now. "Also, just as a reminder, since this is only training, we keep out claws sheathed and do not aim to hurt each other. That should be common sense, but I'm just making sure I don't get my fur clawed off!" Smokeshade said next, teasing Dawnpaw towards the end.