Recipe for Disaster (Midnight)

[Wolf]

Midnight

Poppydusk walked along the chasm, about two tail lengths away from the edge, with their head held high and their jaws slightly agape as they scented the trail left by other cats in order to keep themself from falling. The tortoiseshell's sightless blue eyes stared unblinking ahead as they paused to make sure their apprentice was following, speckled head turning so their voice would be able to be heard. "You doing okay back there Ravenpaw? It's pretty nerve wracking being up here before you're used to it."

The blind warrior always questioned Briarstar's decision to give them an apprentice, and a blind apprentice at that. Living up in the mountains, two blind cats on their own was a recipe for disaster. Still, Poppydusk tried their hardest to keep Ravenpaw safe and was paranoid at times that the cat may fall over the edge. Or that they would stumble and take them both down. Or accidentally push Poppydusk over the edge. There were all sorts of things that could go wrong, and it was a constant fear in the tortoiseshell cat's mind...though they'd never let Ravenpaw know that.

"Make sure you focus on how the rock curves under your paws, if it starts sloping down, move the other way so you don't slip. Keep your claws out at all times. I know it will get sore but it will keep you safe." They called, thoughts running thick with contained panic. When they realized they hadn't taken their apprentice to the Catastrophic Chasm yet, and that as a mentor they were required to take their apprentice to all parts of the territory, Poppydusk had thought they might die from fear at the thought of not only one, but two blind cats trying to navigate the part of their territory that was specifically named for the dangers it posed.

[Midnight]

"Yeah, I'm fine," Ravenpaw mumbled her response, slowly trudging behind her mentor. She had only been out of the camp a few times before, and had always had a a cat to lean on, so walking alone outside of the cave made her nervous, and her fur was sticking up all over the place. Of all cats to be born blind, why her? Couldn't StarClan have taken a limb from her instead? Sure, getting around would've been slower, but at least she'd be able to see where she was going.

Ravenpaw sighed as she listened to Poppydusk's instructions on the rock curves, "Yeah, I know. See, I've been blind my entire life. This isn't new to me," she hissed with a flick of her ear. Oh, right, Poppydusk couldn't see that. Of course. What in the name of StarClan was Briarstar thinking, giving a blind warrior a blind apprentice? It was just so wonderful that neither of them could pick up on visual social cues. It meant that they both had to rely on scent, and they'd probably have to walk close together to understand how one another were feeling, or they'd have to yowl and hiss constantly.

The young apprentice slipped her claws out, hoping her mentor didn't hear the scrape against the rock that indicated she was just now following the advice she'd been given. She sighed. Would it be better to fill the silence, or leave it alone? Ravenpaw flattened her ears against her head and spoke, "Where are we going? What are we doing?"

[Wolf]

"Your paws need to learn the territory, even if you can't see it. You need to learn how to walk on more dangerous terrain since when you're a warrior, you won't have another cat to lean on all the time if you have to fight or run on a steep section of the mountain." Poppydusk explained, their ears pricking as they heard the scrape of claws behind them. "Well clearly keeping your claws out when walking on rock is still new to you." The tortoiseshell cat retorted, though their voice gave away that they weren't actually scolding the sour young cat.

Only now answering the second part of Ravenpaw's question, Poppydusk twitched their ears before responding. "We're just taking the long route by going along the chasm edge. My mentor took me here when I was your age so I could learn early how to prevent myself from sliding down the edge without seeing where the edge actually begin." They explained, pausing for a moment to taste the air to make sure they were on the right track. "I won't take you across the pillar today but eventually you may have to learn how to cross it." They added, shuddering with anxiety as a loose piece of rock gave way under their claws and went bouncing down the chasm walls, echoing loudly as it fell.

After a few moments' silence, Poppydusk sighed. "I know you're not happy with being given a mentor that's blind as well, believe me I don't think it was a brilliant decision on Briarstar's part either. but on the positive side, at least there's no learning curve." They pointed out with a shrug, wincing as they took a step and spasms rocked up their leg from their claws scraping hard against smooth rock to keep grip. "Careful, there's a smooth patch." They warned quickly to the end of their sentence.

[Midnight]

Ravenpaw scowled. The older warrior's attitude ruffled her fur, and her pace was slowing even more. Poppydusk was blind, too, so they had to understand, right? What was with this cat?

No cat's fur brushed up against hers, no head nudged her to guide her in a different direction. Ravenpaw trembled slightly, her breathing uneven. She swiveled her ears, listening for Poppydusk's voice. When it came, the she-cat's ears perked, focusing on the location of the voice. Would the echoes move it? No, the warrior was too close, right?

"The chasm?!" Ravenpaw yowled, pressing her body against the cool rocky terrain. "N-no, Poppydusk," Ravenpaw whimpered, shaking her head wildly, "I-I can't... no, not now." Her lip curled. Poppydusk had brought her apprentice to the chasm on her first outing? "I think that I should get a new mentor," Ravenpaw hissed, "You're clearly insane if you think that bringing me here on my first journey out of camp is a good idea. You're blind, I'm blind, shouldn't we get use to each other a bit more first? I-" don't trust you, she finished mentally.

[Wolf]

The blind cat turned around, made their over to Ravenpaw's side facing the chasm, and pressed their nose to Ravenpaw's shoulder. "We're a long way from the edge, Ravenpaw. It's completely safe. You don't need to be frightened. I'll walk beside you on the edge side." They spoke gently. "My mentor brought me here on my first outing, only dumb cats stray too close to the edge. I'm not stupid, you know." Poppydusk soothed, a raspy purr rumbling in their throat to try to soothe the young cat.

"I know you don't trust me yet and that's fine. You're safe with me Ravenpaw, I promise." Their voice softened and gave the apprentice another nudge. "I would never take you anywhere if I thought you could possibly get hurt. The tortoiseshell warrior's fur brushed against Ravenpaw's as they stood up, waiting for the apprentice to do the same. "I'm sorry I scared you. I guess I'm not used to being around someone who can't see where they're going either. You get used to being around seeing cats when you come out here." The mentor calmly stated, a hint of amusement in their voice.

[Midnight]

Ravenpaw lifted herself off the ground a bit, taking kit-steps forward. Her fur smoothed out and her ears perked again, breath slowing. Ravenpaw slowly forced herself up until she was standing straight again, and she took another few pawsteps forward, her fur lightly brushing her mentor's. "Right," the fresh apprentice mewed, "I'm ready when you are." If Briarstar could trust that Poppydusk would be a good mentor for Ravenpaw, why couldn't she? She had to have faith in her leader. Ravenpaw flexed her paws to check that her claws were still out, and she began to wave her tail, feeling for the position that would help her balance best. "Poppydusk, were you born blind? Do you know what the chasm looks like?" Ravenpaw asked.