Lovely day out, isn't it? [P]

[burntToast]

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•| Aspenpaw |•
he/him | 15 moons | Riverclan apprentice
“If you want to be strong, learn how to fight alone”
{Silver tongue || inactive ||}
|{Post count: 109 / 200 }|
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The smoky grey and stripped apprentice had heard he'd been reassigned a new mentor. Hmm he supposed he did need one, the last one was- uh. Oh yeah caveclaw! He hadn't done a single ounce of training with that warrior nor had he interacted with ‘em either. Yeah. It was getting a bit late in his training now, he should have finished it moons ago! Well he had missed the meeting and hadn't greeted his new mentor but that would change right now. It was time to pull His weight too! The apprentice thought back on what training he could possibly still need. He'd picked up on combat training by observing others and teaching himself but he supposed a brief lesson or spar could help stabilise what he already knew. Plus it would also add to the opportunity of meeting someone new if his mentor insisted on bringing someone to join them!

Actually no, aspenpaw was two pawsteps ahead he would pick someone to come with, one of the younger apprentices who still needed battle training. It seemed like a common problem the lack of training apprentices were getting but it went both ways really. Amber eyes scanned over the different apprentice, sleeping/sitting in their nests. Finally his eyes settled on a lil cat named gladepaw. She was on the quieter side, he didn't think she had many friends. Poor thing, he'd help!

With little to no grace aspenpaw made his way through the maze of nests to reach the dark tabby and tried his hardest not to stomp on everyone's beds. ”Heya kid, you'll be joinin’ me for some dueling- or uh battle training. Yeah. This will count towards your training” this ‘invitation’ was followed by his trademark smile before he turned tail and headed out the den unsure if the apprentice was really following him or just chose to ignore him. To be fair if she didn't come he would necessarily hold it against her. Not like he'd asked if she wanted to come more like he told her she was.

When he reached the warriors den, aspenpaw poked his head inside. Amber eyes trying to adjust to the darkness. ”ahem, Fogmask sir- come out here and teach me some defence or uh battle move stuff.” he called before stepping back out fully into the clearing and waited.

{ Fogmask ; @Purely_K2 | Gladepaw ; @iliri }

[Purely_K2]

"You should say 'please', but ok." Fogmask purred at the older apprentice. He didn't like battle, fighting, or even training for the two of them, but he helped others whenever he could. And if this was how he could help these apprentices, he would do it to the best of his ability. Who knows? Maybe they'd use it for defence rather than attacking others.

Getting up from his nest, he padded into the clearing and over to the camp entrance. "Come on!" He purred again, happy to be helping the future generation of his clan.

@iliri | Gladepaw [OOC: Is this the first non-TSE thing we've had together?]
@burntToast | Aspenpaw

[iliri]

Gladepaw
long-furred, scarred, dark brown classic tabby with amber eyes
purrks: n/a
she/they | rc apprentice | 6 moons

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Gladepaw had just begun to settle into the dim quiet of the apprentice’s den, her thoughts finally starting to untangle after the day’s events, when Aspenpaw’s voice sliced through the soft murmurs and rustling pelts like a claw through cobwebs. She flinched. Not because he sounded angry, but because his energy hit her like a gust of cold wind. Her ears flicked back instinctively, amber eyes blinking wide as she tried to process what he’d just said. Dueling? Her heart immediately began to beat faster. She hadn’t been expecting… well, anything, really. Certainly not an older apprentice suddenly appearing in front of her like a storm with paws. She blinked up at him, a little overwhelmed by the way he stood there, all confidence and charm and a kind of ease she didn’t know how to carry herself. She didn’t speak right away. Words stuck in her throat as she tried to make sense of this abrupt shift in her evening. One moment, she’d been curled up in her nest, hoping for a peaceful night, and now she was apparently being… selected? Voluntold? To go sparring? Her mouth opened slightly as if to object and ask if this was really necessary, if maybe there’d been some kind of mistake. By the time she found her voice, Aspenpaw was already leaving.

Her ears twitched. She could stay. She could pretend to fall back asleep and hope he wouldn’t notice. But… something in her twitched with guilt at the idea. He hadn’t been mean. And the way he said “this’ll count toward your training” sparked a tiny flicker of resolve somewhere deep in her chest, where most of her courage usually lay curled up asleep. She did need the training. And maybe… maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. So she stood. Carefully, the large molly rose from her nest like a leaf peeling away from the forest floor. Her fur prickled with nerves, but she followed anyway, tail low and steps light as she padded out into the clearing. The cool night air rushed against her pelt, sending a chill through her limbs, and she found herself instinctively trailing a few paw-steps behind Aspenpaw, trying not to draw too much attention to herself. He was already ahead, poking his head into the warriors’ den with the same boldness he’d shown in approaching her. She felt like a shadow in comparison. When Fogmask appeared, Gladepaw dipped her head respectfully, eyes flicking to the older warrior with a mix of nervousness and silent admiration. He had always seemed nice, but that didn’t make the prospect of battle training any less intimidating. She padded after the two toms, saying nothing at first, just trying to keep her breathing steady and her paws from trembling too much.

“I-I… I d-don’t know if I’m the r-right cat f-for this,” she said softly as they neared the training spot, her voice barely above the breeze. Her eyes flicked toward Aspenpaw, unsure if he’d even hear her. “I-I’ve n-not really f-fought much… o-or at all. N-not like you’ve p-probably done. I d-don’t wanna mess up anything…” She hated how small her voice sounded next to theirs. Hated how uncertain she felt walking beside them. But she was here. That had to count for something, didn’t it? Even if she was nervous and quiet and completely unsure of herself, she had still gotten up.

@burntToast @Purely_K2 (yes it is!)

[burntToast]

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•| Aspenpaw |•
he/him | 16 moons | Riverclan apprentice
“If you want to be strong, learn how to fight alone”
{Silver tongue || inactive ||}
|{Post count: 115 / 200 }|
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”Oh uh, sorry- May you train us please” he added, though less confident and more embarrassed than before. Aspenpaw mentally cursed himself for his fumble and engraved: remember to be more respectful; into the corner of his mind. Lucky for him fogmask didn't seem to care too much about aspenpaw accidental disrespect and agreed to take him training anyway! The grey stripped apprentice stepped aside to allow the older tom to walk past before following behind him. Aspenpaw didn't need to look back to know gladepaw was following, though she seemed to be keeping her distance.

Aspenpaw hadn't been out in the territory at this hour before, it was oddly nice. The cold breeze tugged at his fur as they traversed through the territory along small paths still young. Not yet tramped along for seasons and seasons, still felt like new territory to him even if it had been moons. The sky had darkened and a few stars were finally showing face. Only complaint this apprentice had was the distant sounds of crickets- insects- bugs. All gross, all disturbing. It seemed to multiplied at night, if not for those disgusting things he would have enjoyed this walk without constantly glancing at plants nearby. He would have thought his fear for these tiny pests would have dwindled as he grew. To be fair at least he wasn't jumping and crying at every sight of them but he still couldn't stand them in the slightest.

Gladepaw, who up until now had been trailing them like a silent shadow, finally spoke up and voiced her concerns just as they neared the training spot. Aspenpaw slowed his pace until he came to full stop and turned to face the younger apprentice. She sounded nervous, that much was certain. Aspenpaw wasn't quite sure why, he expected her not to know much about fighting after all she was just a kid. 6 moons were still young, most kits only got apprenticed at that age. Besides that in this clan where training seemed to be spontaneous, a lot of apprentices lacked battle training at the ages of 10 to 13 moons or more. “the whole point about training is to learn, plus no one is expecting you to be a natural at this especially if it's your first try kid” he tried to reassure, offering gladepaw a smile. ”messing up is part of learning, at least you trying you know?” with that being said he continued his walk to catch up with Fogmask.

{ Fogmask ; @Purely_K2 | Gladepaw ; @iliri }

[Purely_K2]

Fogmask purred an looked at the younger apprentice. "Aspenpaw is right. The whole point of learning is to, well, learn. You don't need to worry about not knowing." Fogmask hoped what he had said made sense, but either way, he figured they should head out.

Turning around, Fogmask exited the camp, watching to ensure that the two apprentices were following him. And getting to a clearing near the water, in case the apprentices wanted to learn how to fight in water at all, then he sat in the clearing and waited for the apprentices to get comfortable. "Ok," he started, looking at Aspenpaw, "What were you thinking of learning? Water combat? Land combat? Strategies?" He didn't know what the apprentice already had learned, so he figured asking would be the best way to know, especially if he was their new mentor.

But as soon as he spoke, he realized that he might be unintentionally intimidating Gladepaw, so he turned to them and commented to hopefully ease any worry they might have. "Don't worry if you don't know what I'm talking about, I'll go slowly and please ask questions if you have them." He didn't know how exactly to phrase it, but hoped he got his notice across.

@burntToast
@iliri