Big and little [p]

[Rani]

Bleedingpaw
Shadowclan Apprentice | He/Him | 6 Moons

Just a Scratch | Shadow Fiend

Todays the day!!!!! Sleepysunrise said she had a free day and would do some training with Bleedingpaw, just the two of them!!!!



The bengal was going nuts with excitement really, having woken perhaps a bit to early and been so loud and excited during breakfast he'd gotten the boot from the other apprentices until his sister could come collect him but he couldnt help it! Sleepysunrise was just like, the best big sister ever and this was the first time they'd found time to hang since she became a big warrior and enforcer. She was one of the greats now (not that it was a surprise that she made it) and now more then even the wobbly tom wanted to be like her in every way. So step one of that was learning directly from her!


Spotting the older molly approaching Bleedingpaw rocket up from where he'd been sitting, borderline vibrating, and wobbled his way on over in a fast but uneven stumble, excitement making the spasms worse as always. He was all smiles, bumping into the warrior with a loud purr and rubbing a cheek against her fur, rambling out a "Todays the day! Youre gonna show the the territory, the whole territory today right??? Ive been to the mire and the general area but I wanna see everything!!! Oooh! And the borders too, can be pleeeeease see the borders? I wanna learn who Im gonna fight when Im big like you, like you did riverclan!" Poor naive child, unaware the horrors he'd experience in battle and how unsuited he was for it.


"I bet if you tell me the weaknesses of the other clans I could even defeat an apprentice of my age, after all everyone says shadowclan are the best fighters!"
He couldnt, but the confidence was new and nice.


@Estelle

[Estelle]

Training. She had not trained another before, at least, not an apprentice. She had to teach Springburst the ways of ShadowClan, but Springburst, despite coming from the clan of rivers, had once upon a time gained warrior status there. And though she could not trust the skills or teachings of the fish, it still meant she had learned at least something.

It was different with Bleedingpaw. Bleedingpaw was younger than her, an apprentice, and most of all, her brother. Mirepaw’s kidnapping under her watch still hung heavy on her heart and Sleepysunrise could not accept anything of the like happening to any of her other siblings. Even so, that did not mean she would deny them training. As an apprentice Sleepysunrise had exclusively sought the teachings of Miss Grandmama and those trusted by her, any stray cats who fell out of those requirements had not lived up to the standards of what a mentor ought to be.

Then, and now, her confidence in the teachings of those was fickle. And as it were, Dawnstar had put Bleedingpaw under the care of such a cat. This meant she had to work to ensure the apprentices of the clan were being adequately trained, including her siblings (most of all, in fact, was she not trying to avoid favouring them over other trainees much like Miss Grandmama did).

Today her paws were taking her towards the den she had avoided during her training days, approaching to pick up the rocket that was fast in coming for a tour of the territory, as she had promised before. She had been unpleasantly surprised that Bleedingpaw’s mentor hadn’t covered such an essential part of his training yet, and hoped it was at least justified by covering other essentials. Although, she wasn’t expecting much.

The petite cat was nearly overrun by the excited Bleedingpaw, any thoughts cut short as the cat so eagerly came to her and rubbed her fur in such open displays of affection. Perhaps that was why Sleepysunrise was still for several moments, watching the apprentice with such an air of inconspicuous curiosity, not accustomed to such displays. She could hardly recall the last time mama had held her in her arms however much she missed it, and Miss Grandmama never was one for clear signs of affection beyond the tell-tale flick above her ear, something she equally missed and yearned for now that their interactions had become less frequent.

How was it that Bleedingpaw was so sure in the love her gave her, even when she had done nothing to earn it yet? Not as of recent, at least. Still a better part of the once apprentice couldn’t turn this away, a paw hesitantly lifted to gently pet the back of Bleedingpaw’s head as she watched on with little to no expression, silence filled by his excited chatter.

The mention of RiverClan left a strangely bitter taste in her mouth, memories of the spilled blood coating her tongue as life seeped from her every victim until the realisation hit that she killed them. Downed them in the fight and could not even recall when or how. It wasn’t her intention. She only needed to win. However odd the feelings were she couldn’t let them distract her, and the youngest enforcer soon shook off these excess ideas and turned to Bleedingpaw with a slow nod. Weaknesses. She hadn’t considered that before.

“...I can tell you. But you have to be crafty. They will use your weaknesses against you, too.”
She mew after a few moments of contemplation, tail waving lightly as she began to leave camp, unruly fur ruffled by the breeze.
“Let us go.”


[ @Rani ]

[Rani]

Bleedingpaw
Shadowclan Apprentice | He/Him | 7 Moons

Just a Scratch | Shadow Fiend

It didnt matter how many times the little tom was taken from the camp to go on outings and training sessions, it was amazing every single time. He was star struck, looking at the goings on of the forest in wonder and occasionally bumping into his sister affectionately, almost bouncing along as he wobbled. Itd be notable progress to Sleepysunrise, his newfound ability to keep pace with normal cats when before he could achieve speed but it was slower then ones average pace before. Now he was almost normal, if forever all over the place.


"Well yeah they'll use my weakness against me but everyone will! My weakness is obvious, so I need to know theirs in advance so Im on equal footing. Its tactics, Miss Brairsplash is teaching me lots about that stuff!"

Bleedingpaw would need to be twice as smart, twice as persistent, twice as something to match up to these other cats even at their most average. And he would be, he just needed some help to do so.


Still, he wasnt the most important cat here, never was in his own mind, and the little tom had picked up on his older sisters upset even if he didnt get why she was. And he'd help fix it, if he could!
So after a long silent peaceful moment he spoke up, tone soft but serious. "You ok big sis? You seem.... Not proper sad but unhappy. Maybe I can help? Or at least give my thoughts if you want them." It was not super valuable perhaps but it was all the tom really could give and as the most emotional (and emotionally healthy) of the siblings maybe those emotions could be of use. It was the least he could do until they got to the first territory location after all.



@Estelle

[Estelle]

There was something odd about leaving camp with siblings, despite the thoughts clouding her mind. There always was this anxiety, that some twoleg would come and get them - that she would lose them, and never see them again, like so many other of her siblings. And yet, Bleedingpaw still had such a lightness to him… Something she couldn’t quite explain. Much like Grousepaw. The tom always had that odd lopsided grin that got her so… She couldn’t place it. But the sight of it had something infuriating. He was infuriating.

Not Bleedingpaw. Besides… Bleedingpaw didn’t seem the type to suddenly turn hos treatment of others right around, Sleepysunrise still didn’t understand why that teasing devil-may-care look was replaced with such coldness whenever their eyes met. She cared not, of course, she should not care. It was merely an observation. A bothersome observation. All she meant to say was that Bleedingpaw seemed to have a similar brightness - positivity - as Grousepaw had, is all. Though the tom did have a habit of pocking her thoughts.

She had the blink slow, focusing on the rhythmic bumps of Bleedingpaw against her side, mentioning nothing of his improved strides or seemingly touchy walking habit. It was Bleedingpaw, her brother. She supposed she could bear through the repeated contact, if anything for him. If it brought him joy. A dull hum sounded for the petite molly when the apprentice at her side spoke, eyes lifting to inspect the territory around them. He seemed so amazed.
‘’Good. You can show me.’’
She commented, wanting to get some inkling of what Briarsplash has been telling him.

He spoke again. Unintentional, but Sleepysunrise had rifted off in the vast scapes of her mind once more, pondering all what she should not be questioning. Her actions, those of her clanmates - the mystery of how some could be so happy, even with such seemingly mediocre lives. But Bleedingpaw, somehow, seemed to have caught on, and a long stare was left in his direction before the enforcer finally blinked and shook her head in a light, slow motion.
‘’I am fine.’’
She stated, matter-of-factly, seeing no reason as to why she shouldn’t be. Besides, any thoughts were hers to bear, and for the world to never know. She couldn’t show any worry or questioning in what she had done when everycat seemed to praise her for it. …Why had it even crossed her mind that the source of this ‘upset’ feeling was that?
‘’Briarsplash. What else has she taught you?’’

A switch in topic, an smooth one she hoped. Their first destination was soon in sight, but to fill the silence and avoid any other troubling questions, she preferred to return upon her previous point until the ThunderClan border came in sight.
‘’Herondive Hollow.’’
She would begin, stopping short of the border and inviting Bleedingpaw to sniff around, assuming he knew not to cross.
'’ThunderClan. They’re known for their ability to climb trees… Useful skill, if they know how to use it.’’
Attacking from the trees – she had to ask Hawkbite about that. Silently, Sleepysunrise began marking the border, now that they were here anyway.
‘’Bumblestar is younger. Than Miss Grandmama. She seems… Strict. They had unstable leadership, before. That has changed, it appears.’’

She tilted her head.
‘’They’re swift. Hunt squirrels, run up the trees. Match them in their territory. Besides. If they can’t see you, they cannot jump you. But… Watch for the above, still. Learn to ambush, to avoid being ambushed.’’
She paused, pondering.
‘’No trees. They can’t climb, then, they won’t have the upper paw. Your territory, it’s important, when you fight. Some places will favour others. Utilise it.’’

She eyed Bleedingpaw for a moment, pausing. Could her climb..? She wasn’t entirely sure, if he fell out with his wobbles… She didn’t want him hurt. But maybe… At least, to help himself when needed.
‘’They seem proud, too.’’
She muttered finally, casting her gaze back on the border, waiting if the apprentice had any questions.


[ @Rani ]