Softpaw's Training [P]

[Fits]

Heroneye
| she/her | RiverClan | Lionheart |

Heroneye heard her apprentice say something about wishing she'd swam back, but Heroneye was glad she hadn't. She still didn't know what was down there and didn't want to tempt anything happening to Softpaw. In other words, it would simply be safer to move first, before anything else happened.

Heroneye didn't want to say anything, but the growing pit in her stomach and churning in her head were screaming, Change the subject. Please, just talk about something else. That was irresponsible, right? Selfish? One shouldn't just... ignore things like this. And of course Softpaw had questions; Heroneye did, too. Any cat would. Heroneye just wanted to go back to training. She thought that was easier.

"I believe it was mostly the... blood," she answered after a pause that was just a beat too long. She had to spit that last word--"blood"--out now. Okay, she couldn't just go about her day like nothing happened. Random blood just... showing up in the river? That wasn't supposed to happen. Obviously.

Okay, no, she couldn't do this. Going on with the training, acting like this was normal, was just plain stupid. She stopped walking suddenly and turned to her apprentice from across the water. "Softpaw, swim to my side of the river here." They were a decent enough distance from the blood (and any dangerous creatures or substances that may or may not have caused it), so Softpaw should have been able to make it back safely.

"We're going back to get a better look." It felt strange to change her mind so suddenly. If it turned out that a Clanmate had hurt themself and died because Heroneye had been too quick to dismiss them... She shook her head, clearing it of the thought. It would be nothing, just as she had told herself prior.

"Or you could return to camp now, if you'd prefer. To tell Stormstar, Owltalon, or one of the other Lionhearts." The primary reason she'd made that offer went unsaid. Still, though, Heroneye would leave that up to the apprentice. Who knew, maybe telling a high rank or Lionheart would simply be a waste of their time--though the increasing pit in her stomach insisted otherwise.

(we can have them find sweetsap's body when they go back if you want, though that would mean that they wouldn't be able to continue that day's training for obvious reasons)

( @ChromeSpooky_Hwaa - Softpaw )

[MangoBearGoGrr]

Originally Posted by Fits

Heroneye
| she/her | RiverClan | Lionheart |

Heroneye heard her apprentice say something about wishing she'd swam back, but Heroneye was glad she hadn't. She still didn't know what was down there and didn't want to tempt anything happening to Softpaw. In other words, it would simply be safer to move first, before anything else happened.

Heroneye didn't want to say anything, but the growing pit in her stomach and churning in her head were screaming, Change the subject. Please, just talk about something else. That was irresponsible, right? Selfish? One shouldn't just... ignore things like this. And of course Softpaw had questions; Heroneye did, too. Any cat would. Heroneye just wanted to go back to training. She thought that was easier.

"I believe it was mostly the... blood," she answered after a pause that was just a beat too long. She had to spit that last word--"blood"--out now. Okay, she couldn't just go about her day like nothing happened. Random blood just... showing up in the river? That wasn't supposed to happen. Obviously.

Okay, no, she couldn't do this. Going on with the training, acting like this was normal, was just plain stupid. She stopped walking suddenly and turned to her apprentice from across the water. "Softpaw, swim to my side of the river here." They were a decent enough distance from the blood (and any dangerous creatures or substances that may or may not have caused it), so Softpaw should have been able to make it back safely.

"We're going back to get a better look." It felt strange to change her mind so suddenly. If it turned out that a Clanmate had hurt themself and died because Heroneye had been too quick to dismiss them... She shook her head, clearing it of the thought. It would be nothing, just as she had told herself prior.

"Or you could return to camp now, if you'd prefer. To tell Stormstar, Owltalon, or one of the other Lionhearts." The primary reason she'd made that offer went unsaid. Still, though, Heroneye would leave that up to the apprentice. Who knew, maybe telling a high rank or Lionheart would simply be a waste of their time--though the increasing pit in her stomach insisted otherwise.

(we can have them find sweetsap's body when they go back if you want, though that would mean that they wouldn't be able to continue that day's training for obvious reasons)

( @ChromeSpooky_Hwaa - Softpaw )

Softpaw blinked to her mentor, "Alright" she mewed, leaping into the river and paddingly a bit clumsily towards her mentor, as she climbed up to the other side she mewed, "I want to stay with you... I can fight now, if something comes up then I can help." Softpaw mewed. Her eyes scared but determined as the white feline stood beside her mentor, looking into the waves. "I want to see what it is... isn't investigating the blood, finding the source and then reporting the best option? For starts your already a Lionheart, and if we leave the blood not attend to it can easily disappear by the time we head back, explain what's happening, find some cats to round up and go look, run back, and find the spot again." Softpaw mewed, the innocent apprentice had no idea what she was in for. But she was sure as hell eager to find out.

(I suppose we could do that and then maybe have Softpaw do the rest of her training another day? (Whenever your comfortable posting next) But it's fine with me <3 )

[Fits]

Heroneye
| she/her | RiverClan | Lionheart |

So Softpaw had decided to come with. While that didn't surprise Heroneye, she only hoped they didn't find anything to make her regret that decision.

The Lionheart only barely listened as Softpaw went on, only nodding tightly or giving an affirming grunt here and there. Her focus was drifting to her paws now, and she had to make an active effort to keep her gaze from falling to the ground completely in avoidance. They couldn't have been farther than a few foxlengths from the spot in question, but the time they spent walking there may as well have been an eternity.

She briefly glanced at Softpaw. The apprentice's eyes were wide with nervousness, but there was also a sort of eagerness to her expression. She wondered what was going through the apprentice's head, what she thought was going on.

"Alright," she murmured to herself as they returned to the general area they'd been in before. She was reminded of a patrol she'd gone on several sunrises ago, back in the mountains. When Stormstar--then Dusklion--went missing, she had been in one of the search parties to find her, alongside Fadingstar and Goldfish. It was a similar feeling of apprehension and expectation. She hadn't found much of anything that day. She hoped today would be much the same.

In any case, she had immediately begun searching again. Maybe she was dreading it, but there was no point in delaying it any further. In fact, if anything, that would only bring more trouble. She paced along the river, gaze flicking from the cloud of blood, then to the forest. The cloud of blood, then riverbed. The cloud of blood, then the tuft of white ear fur just barely visible over the lapping tide.

"Wait," Heroneye muttered, making a beeline for the tuft, heart pounding in her ears. Part of her hoped that Softpaw would look away and wouldn't have to see this. Maybe it was naive, thinking there was any point in trying to obscure the truths of Clan life. There was no use in hoping that the object in the water was anything less than what it clearly was.

She leaned down, slowly submerging her muzzle in the cloudy, red-tinted water. Judging by the position of the ear, it was fairly easy to find the scruff. She drew the body out of the water, trying to suppress any feelings of disgust or flinches. At last, the cat's face became visible, and once Heroneye could bring herself to look upon it, she let out a hiss and nearly released the scruff out of shock.

It would have been awful, no matter who it was. Obviously. But Sweetsap? Of all the awful things she could have seen, it had to be her own mother, of all cats, in this state? Heroneye stood in silence for several heartbeats, not daring to look at her apprentice.

"Softpaw," Heroneye said at last as she placed the body down, her tone soft yet firm, somehow. "Can you go back to camp? I'll carry her." She didn't want Softpaw to be here for this. She didn't want the apprentice to watch her drag her mother's body back to camp. Her gaze never left the top of Sweetsap's head as she spoke, still not able to meet the apprentice's.

( @ChromeSpooky_Hwaa - Softpaw )

[MangoBearGoGrr]

Originally Posted by Fits

Heroneye
| she/her | RiverClan | Lionheart |

So Softpaw had decided to come with. While that didn't surprise Heroneye, she only hoped they didn't find anything to make her regret that decision.

The Lionheart only barely listened as Softpaw went on, only nodding tightly or giving an affirming grunt here and there. Her focus was drifting to her paws now, and she had to make an active effort to keep her gaze from falling to the ground completely in avoidance. They couldn't have been farther than a few foxlengths from the spot in question, but the time they spent walking there may as well have been an eternity.

She briefly glanced at Softpaw. The apprentice's eyes were wide with nervousness, but there was also a sort of eagerness to her expression. She wondered what was going through the apprentice's head, what she thought was going on.

"Alright," she murmured to herself as they returned to the general area they'd been in before. She was reminded of a patrol she'd gone on several sunrises ago, back in the mountains. When Stormstar--then Dusklion--went missing, she had been in one of the search parties to find her, alongside Fadingstar and Goldfish. It was a similar feeling of apprehension and expectation. She hadn't found much of anything that day. She hoped today would be much the same.

In any case, she had immediately begun searching again. Maybe she was dreading it, but there was no point in delaying it any further. In fact, if anything, that would only bring more trouble. She paced along the river, gaze flicking from the cloud of blood, then to the forest. The cloud of blood, then riverbed. The cloud of blood, then the tuft of white ear fur just barely visible over the lapping tide.

"Wait," Heroneye muttered, making a beeline for the tuft, heart pounding in her ears. Part of her hoped that Softpaw would look away and wouldn't have to see this. Maybe it was naive, thinking there was any point in trying to obscure the truths of Clan life. There was no use in hoping that the object in the water was anything less than what it clearly was.

She leaned down, slowly submerging her muzzle in the cloudy, red-tinted water. Judging by the position of the ear, it was fairly easy to find the scruff. She drew the body out of the water, trying to suppress any feelings of disgust or flinches. At last, the cat's face became visible, and once Heroneye could bring herself to look upon it, she let out a hiss and nearly released the scruff out of shock.

It would have been awful, no matter who it was. Obviously. But Sweetsap? Of all the awful things she could have seen, it had to be her own mother, of all cats, in this state? Heroneye stood in silence for several heartbeats, not daring to look at her apprentice.

"Softpaw," Heroneye said at last as she placed the body down, her tone soft yet firm, somehow. "Can you go back to camp? I'll carry her." She didn't want Softpaw to be here for this. She didn't want the apprentice to watch her drag her mother's body back to camp. Her gaze never left the top of Sweetsap's head as she spoke, still not able to meet the apprentice's.

( @ChromeSpooky_Hwaa - Softpaw )

Softpaw watched her mentor, seeing it was a cat sympathy and fear grew. Eyes widened in shock as Softpaw saw her own beloved mother, Sweetsap. Green eyes wide in fear and grief. Softpaw tried to agree with her mentor, but all she could manage was a choke of horror. Finally, after a moment of collecting her thoughts, Softpaw whimpered, "She....she was pregnant." Softpaw whispered. Softpaw crept forward to her mother, gently licking her water logged eyes shut as she pressed her muzzle to her mothers soaked fur. "Take care of them mother...." Softpaw whispered. Her eyes filled with pain as she leaned back, "I......I want to help...." Softpaw meowed, somehow keeping the waiver out of her tone. She had been through this before, her father Hawksun had died, her aunt Brightnight had died, her cousins Rootkit and Weepingpaw had died. All she'd felt was grief which was what made her so quiet.

[Fits]

Heroneye
| she/her | RiverClan | Lionheart |

Heroneye listened to Softpaw silently. Sweetsap had been pregnant, too, as if to add insult to injury. Well, maybe that was a reductive way of looking at things, but... Why did this have to happen? What happened? Surely she hadn't been murdered, or anything of the sort. Right?

She was snapped back to reality as the apprentice's next statement. She wanted to help bring Sweetsap back to camp, which didn't come as much of a surprise. Softpaw wouldn't just to back to camp after
this. Part of Heroneye was glad for the help; it wouldn't be easy to carry Sweetsap back to camp with her soaked fur. She quickly dismissed that thought, though, with a pang of guilt.

"Right," said Heroneye, bending down to scoop the body back up. She waited for Softpaw to get her own hold on Sweetsap.

( @Strawberry_SpookyBear - Softpaw )

[MangoBearGoGrr]

Originally Posted by Fits

Heroneye
| she/her | RiverClan | Lionheart |

Heroneye listened to Softpaw silently. Sweetsap had been pregnant, too, as if to add insult to injury. Well, maybe that was a reductive way of looking at things, but... Why did this have to happen? What happened? Surely she hadn't been murdered, or anything of the sort. Right?

She was snapped back to reality as the apprentice's next statement. She wanted to help bring Sweetsap back to camp, which didn't come as much of a surprise. Softpaw wouldn't just to back to camp after
this. Part of Heroneye was glad for the help; it wouldn't be easy to carry Sweetsap back to camp with her soaked fur. She quickly dismissed that thought, though, with a pang of guilt.

"Right," said Heroneye, bending down to scoop the body back up. She waited for Softpaw to get her own hold on Sweetsap.

( @Strawberry_SpookyBear - Softpaw )

Softpaw took a small inhale, calming herself as she padded to help carry her mother. Softpaw hid her emotions, she seemed normal, and calm, just like normal. But on the inside, the white apprentice wanted to scream. She wanted to cry, she wanted to break every thing that touched her pelt the wrong way.

[Fits]

Heroneye
| she/her | RiverClan | Lionheart |

Several sunrises had passed since that day, when Heroneye and Softpaw had uncovered the apprentice's own mother, drowned in RiverClan's artery. Several sunrises since Heroneye had pulled the waterlogged body out, right in front of her daughter's eyes. Not an easy thing to swallow for Heroneye, much less for Softpaw, she had to imagine.

Even so... It had been long enough, hadn't it, to at least try asking if Softpaw was ready to train? The loss of someone so near to one wasn't so easily gotten over (not to mention seeing the freshly-dead body), and Heroneye obviously didn't expect her to be "back to normal" or anything, but Heroneye also didn't want to hold Softpaw back by delaying things. She was so close to her warrior's ceremony, after all. It didn't seem fair to stop now. It wasn't fair.

"Softpaw?" Heroneye called into the apprentice's den, more tentatively than usual. "Are you up for some training today?" That was a good way to ask, right? Asking about her wellbeing, while also acting somewhat casually and hopefully not seeming patronizing or anything.

Patronizing or hasty? In her mind, she was definitely coming off as one of those two. She really didn't know which, or to what extent. That's why she was asking. But asking was itself so difficult... Or maybe Heroneye just made it so by overthinking. She never could tell. Hopefully the answer wouldn't be so complicated. Whatever it was, though, the Lionheart vowed to accept it.

( @MangoBearGoGrr - Softpaw )