With Tooth and [Claw] ~ Tagged

[ℓυиαя]

Tags: Honey
OOC: Here it is, the first training for our dynamic duo c: Thought id start it off in camp instead of not telling Sooty where we were off too lol

The Leaf-fall morning was crisp when the large golden warrior rose from his bed near the middle of the warriors den and headed out into camp. Green eyes met with a pink hues as the sun began to crest the horizon, the solid warrior making his way over to the fresh kill pile and selecting his breakfast. He had ensured to get up a little earlier so that he could eat in peace without an ecstatic apprentice bumbling around him. Sinking his teeth into a plump fish still warm from an early patrol, the tom took a seat not far away and finished his prey in a few swift bites. The experienced warrior didn't even need to think about the training plan for today.

He already knew.

From what he had seen of Sootpaw, the smaller tom seemed to have his head screwed on right but Honeyclaw knew that looks could be deceiving and he was soon to find out. No matter, regardless of the temperament of his apprentice, he was equipped to handle them. He always had and that was certainly not about to stop with this dark tom. Standing and leaving the slender skeleton to scatter around large paws, Honeyclaw stepped over it without care and headed to the entrance, hoping the apprentice would join him soon - lest he have to drag his hide out of bed.

[Honey]

((I'm so stoked! Lol))

Sootpaw sat at the mouth of the Apprentice Den with his ears pricked and eyes clear. He had actually fallen asleep quite quickly the night before, despite other apprentices rolling about and speaking excitedly. It wasn't that he didn't want to participate; Sootpaw just had a knot in his belly that he knew only sleep could cure. Now that it was dawn the knot was nowhere to be found and the broad shouldered tom eagerly waited to spot his mentor. 
Seeing the warrior eating at the fresh-kill pile, Sootpaw jumped to his paws and bounded across the clearing. It wasn't until he was about half way that he decided against sprinting at Honeyclaw and slowed to a brisk trot. "Morning!" He cringed inwardly at how excited he sounded. He didn't want to be taken for a tiny kit! Then again, he was excited. This was something he had dreamed about for moons. Keeping on his paws he dipped his head, late obviously, and felt his skin go hot. Great! Now you've forgotten your manners. Biting the inside of his cheek, Sootpaw let his tail flick back and forth in excitement while the rest of his body remained (somewhat) calm. 

[ℓυиαя]

Green eyes locked onto the tom making his way over - starting off with a bounce and then quickly dropping to a brisk walk. "Morning," Sootpaw called out, the greeting causing the large golden warrior to stand and regard him carefully. Honeyclaw easily picked up on the tell tail signs of his excitement but thankfully, he was making an effort to mask the boisterous energy he housed.

That was an important trait in a warrior - often you had to act differently to how you felt.

Nodding, the tom turned away with a flick of his tail and headed off, without waiting for the apprentice to join him. "I suggest you keep up lest you get lost. Today we will be going over balance and endurance." That was the only tid-bit he granted the new apprentice before he picked up the pace though making sure he kept himself in sight at all times. The muscular warrior crossed the terrain easily, leaping over the odd log here and there fallen moons ago in the StormClan forest. The air was cool and by the time they reached the Murkey Hollow, the sun was steadily climbing up into the sky - clothing it in a gentle pink.

Large paws slowed, and finally the warrior turned around to face his apprentice who was hopefully not too far behind him. There was nothing forgiving in that expression, nothing gentle or kind - just a hard determination. If Sootpaw fell behind, then he deserved too and Honeyclaw was certainly not, going to be holding his paw.

[Honey]

Sootpaw found himself a few seconds behind the older tom, giving a quick scramble to his paws before finding a comfortable pace. If he wanted to impress Honeyclaw he couldn't fail on his first day. Balance and endurance. In all honesty the young tom didn't know much about either. Balance was the easier of the two. For StarClan sake he practiced it every day with walking, jumping and rolling around as a kit. Endurance however...that was something he would need to work on. He watched the other cats in the clan lose their energy overtime if they didn't take care of themselves and sometimes it was inevitable. Leaving the camp Sootpaw felt a sense empowerment and responsibility. He had never ventured out from the comfort of StormClan's dens and clearing as a kit. He was too focused on following the Warrior Code early on that he didn't dare over step that boundary. 

And now? Now he was trailing behind one of the (what he thought to be) best warriors in StormClan. Seeing the honey colored warrior disappear over a fallen tree, Sootpaw had to gain speed in order to make it over. Not used to that type of height the black cat barely reached the top and when he jumped down his paw got caught on a branch he didn't see. Feeling his large body topple over itself, Sootpaw let out a small hiss and rolled back onto his feet in a few breaths. In all honesty it was a very smooth looking maneuver but left the apprentice running off course for just a moment. Shaking his head he lengthened his jog in order to keep his mentor in sight. Hopefully he didn't see that one!

((should we make a new thread?))

[ℓυиαя]

OOC: Honey, I set this in the territory already so we didn't have to c: Sorry for the terribly late reply, I just finished exams. Have holiday for a bit now c:

Honeyclaw turned just in time to see his apprentice stumble and then right himself, shake his head and continue on towards him. When he finally caught up, the large, golden tom regarded him with a tough stare and then turned to step back onto the slippery rocks behind them. Large paws gripped the smooth wet rocks and he remembered when his mentor had brought him here for the first time. His paws had been much smaller then and it had taken time.

but now, now he was used to it and he doubted the small tom before him would.

Not many cats got here and adapted to the change of terrain well hence why it was the perfect place for balance training. Flicking his ears, Honeyclaw looked over and silently ordered him to join him on the challenging surface. Water from the river splashed up against the rocks, increasing the risk of slipping and becoming soaked in seconds. "Hurry up," the tom said lowly standing there on the rocks, claws out to further lock him in place. "I saw that trip before, you I doubt you can do anything worse."

[Honey]

Feeling his skin go hot, Sootpaw pinned his ears. Seeing his mentor cross the water with ease he felt an emotion he wasn't too used to. It was hot and sickly feeling. Not looking at Honeyclaw he heard his words,

"I saw that trip before, you I doubt you can do anything worse."

The rushing of the water was lost to his blood screaming in his head. Was he really this tough? He knew Honeyclaw was a good warrior but did that mean he needed to treat him like fox dung? 
Digging his claws into the soft dirt near the water's edge he couldn't stop the words that exploded from his throat. The hotness built and soon he couldn't contain it. Sootpaw felt his mouth move and didn't realize what was out of it until it was too late.


"And what if I do worse?!" For as small as he was (which was bigger than most apprentices his age) Sootpaw's voice was loud and deep. "I made a mistake and I will make more. All I can do is be the best I can right now and improve. If you can't handle that maybe I should talk with Goldenstar about a new mentor!" Without notice Sootpaw was halfway through the river tail lashing. Large paws were set evenly from each other and maintained a decent balance. 

He was embarrassed and had messed up in front of Honeyclaw. The golden warrior was an idol of his and here he was acting like a kit! Not daring to duck his head (against his first instincts) the black tom stared his mentor down. Just because he was new to everything didn't mean Honeyclaw couldn't respect him. It wasn't until after his tantrum that Sootpaw realized, maybe Honeyclaw wasn't being rude, but was complimenting him. Regardless, he held his ground and narrowed his yellow eyes. It was all he could do from being more ashamed.