Yesterday [Ripplepaw]

[timbersmoke]

Timbersmoke padded his way through the RiverClan camp and sighed softly. He was really having a rough day today and he knew why. It was the anniversary of the day that his little sister was taken by two-legs. It left a sour taste in his mouth and caused his whole demeanor to be a little off. He felt edgy and his tale flicked in agitation. He wasn't normally like this and he wanted to to change his mood. However, he couldn't figure out how. He had opted out of the patrol group today, knowing that he wouldn't be of any good use to them. He was usually the tom that all cats could reply on but today he just wasn't himself.

Unfortunately, he had to figure out a way to snap himself out of it quickly considering that he would be meeting with his new apprentice, Ripplepaw,soon. The little she-cat was going to under his charge and he had to look out for her. Great. Just what he needed. A small she-cat. Someone to remind him of the little sister he had lost many moons ago. Lifting his right pawfrom the ground, he allowed his claws to unsheath themselves and he flexed them before laying his foot back down as they hid beneath his fur once more. He did the same ritual with his left paw and then idly licked it. Today, Timbersmoke was just walking and breathing. He felt out of sorts but he wasn't going to let it stop him. With a hiss to himself, he flicked his tail and bounded up onto a rock in front of him. This rock was placed near the stream that he would be swimming in momentarily while he waited for his young apprentice. The she-cat was barely a newly appointed apprentice, he thought, but he didn't mind. Timbersmoke was good at what he did and enjoyed training young kits and the like. He was a well-respected and honored mentor and he would never let anything change that. Flinging his head this way and that, he let his gaze roam the premises as he kept his eyes peeled for the small cat.

After a moment, he became unsatisfied with his vantage point and took to the tree next to him. Unlike some other RiverClan cats, Timbersmoke, much like his name, enjoyed being among the trees. It gave him a better vantage point than most and he was going to use that as his advantage today to give his yooung apprentice her first lesson. She wouldn't have any idea where he was and that was exactly the way he wanted it.

[ripplepaw]

Her movements sluggish, she felt heavy and slow, not wanting to move but knowing she needed training. She had to be the warrior her father would expect her to be, that Crimsonleaf expected her to be. The she-cat was one she looked up to, her father had trusted the warrior enough with deputyship, so Ripplepaw would as well. Her heart raced a little at the thought of becoming a friend with the new leader, another connection to the father she was so close to. She prayed to find a mother in the new leader, the thing she never had. Perhaps this was Starclan's way of giving her a parent, she ahd lost both, but gained another surrogate. Yes, this could be it. She would make it so.

Feeling her body gain new spirit she bounded forth, following her mentor Timbersmoke's scent until she came to the trees he was at. She could smell him but not see him, how? He had to be here, but where. She glanced around, vibrant blue gaze glancing all around, wondering where the cat her father had trusted to train her was. Flicking her long striped tail the tabby apprentice felt rather stupid. What kind of warrior was she going to be if she could not even find her own mentor? Obviously not a tracker, although she was unsure if she could ever be a fighter, truly kill another cat in battle, although the warrior code says not to kill another warrior unless necessary, it did happen. She was unsure if she could do that herself. To take the life of a friend, brother, sister, daughter, son, mother or father was too much for her bear. How did cats fight?

[Sorry I am awful at life and it took me so long to respond.]

[timbersmoke]

Timbersmoke could smell the young she-cat as she approached the area where they were supposed to meet. He could tell that she had followed her nose to find him instead of using his directions directly. He could tell this because of the way she was circling around herself, looking for him. He knew that she had to smell him all around the area but she couldn't spot him. It was frustrating for her senses he could imagine, but it was good for her. It kept her on her toes and made her all the more alert. This was the way that Timbersmoke had learned and it had created an agile and worthy warrior. He was quick on his toes and clever at that. He wanted Ripplepaw to be the same. None of his young apprentices had let him down thus far and he was proud of each and every one. She continued to look for him and he smirked to himself, allowing her to wonder for just a few more moments and have one more look around.

It was at this point in time that he finally positioned himself, getting his body ready for what he was about to do. His muscles slid into their appropriate places smoothly as he prepared himself to jump from the branch that he was currently balancing on. With a deep breath, he flexed his claws and re-sheathed them before finally jumping from the tree and down towards his apprentice. He didn't make a sound but rather pounced on her, taking her small body against his own and rolling with her, protecting her with his unsheathed claws. Though, if she were really to be attacked this way, her attacker wouldn't be so gentle. They wouldn't be gentle at all. They would strike fast and claw hard, ripping at her fur and flesh in order to maim and kill. But, in this case, Timbersmoke wanted to surprise her, to get her aware of what could happen. As he rolled to his feet, he released her, his tail flicking as he looked at the young cat. "Rule number one." Timbersmoke said, licking his paw as he looked at Ripplepaw. "Never give up on tracking your opponent. Even when you think they're gone from the area, keep looking."

Timbersmoke looked at the young cat for a long moment and sighed, thinking. "How're you faring today, Ripplepaw?" he asked. Knowing what kind of mood an apprentice was in helped Timbersmoke understand what would be the easiest training route to go. It would help him choose what lesson would be the one that sunk in the easiest. There would be many sessions between these two cats so it wasn't like they had to rush. Timbersmoke just liked being prepared.

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ooc; you don't fail at life. it's okay. i'm a patient person.