After the meeting he immediately makes his way to Owlstar's den. She didn't assign him a new mentor, and he doesn't know if he's grateful or upset. Who says he can't be both? Talonpaw lives for being contradictory. Either way, he should've been a warrior by now, but outside circumstances and his own issues prevented it. Still, he's taking responsibility instead of lazing around and not caring about his own training. And if he makes Owlstar take responsibility at the same time, then all the better.
"Owlstar. Since you didn't assign me a mentor, I'd like you take me out to for battle training and land hunting. It's the only things I've got left." Talonpaw knows he could be less demanding, but he's never been one to mince his words. He's certainly not going to start now, especially since Owlstar hasn't done a damn thing to prove herself as leader. He ignores the small part of his brain that tells him she hasn't had the time to.
After the meeting he immediately makes his way to Owlstar's den. She didn't assign him a new mentor, and he doesn't know if he's grateful or upset. Who says he can't be both? Talonpaw lives for being contradictory. Either way, he should've been a warrior by now, but outside circumstances and his own issues prevented it. Still, he's taking responsibility instead of lazing around and not caring about his own training. And if he makes Owlstar take responsibility at the same time, then all the better.
"Owlstar. Since you didn't assign me a mentor, I'd like you take me out to for battle training and land hunting. It's the only things I've got left." Talonpaw knows he could be less demanding, but he's never been one to mince his words. He's certainly not going to start now, especially since Owlstar hasn't done a damn thing to prove herself as leader. He ignores the small part of his brain that tells him she hasn't had the time to.
After the meeting, Owlstar was expecting at least somecat to come and waltz to her den. Turns out, she was right. The scarred she-cat faced Talonpaw, making out his silhouette through greenery.
Hm, he truly was almost done with this training. Owlstar briefly wondered what would've happened if Stormstar hadn't died. He probably would've been promoted mere moments ago. Instead of calling Talonpaw into her den, she stepped outside herself, tangled fur catching on lichen like a magnet.
Even if his tone was biting, Talonpaw always sounded like that, so Owlstar took no offense to it, plus it'd be a pretty petty thing to get worked up about, she had bigger problems. "Al'ight, let's get 'er done then." She pushed past him and headed for the camp exit.
Yes it was leaf-bare, yes it was cold, but she was sure she'd be able to find something for Talonpaw to hunt. As for battle, she just wanted more space to spar. Even she didn't like to be cooped up in camp like a claustrophobic chicken.
Once she reached general territory, she paused and turned to face him. "Figure ya don't 'ave any prior knowledge a either, but do ya 'ave an idea of how battle n' huntin' works?" A general question, one she asked evenly.
Owlstar steps out of her den, and for a moment Talonpaw thinks she is going to try to humiliate him in front of the whole Clan. Instead she simply agrees and brushes past him on her way to the camp exit. He turns to hurry after her, unsure how he feels about the way Owlstar easily agreed. It's completely new to him—the majority of leaders either outright ignored him or made excuses for their abhorrent behavior—so he keeps his mouth shut as Owlstar leads them into the territory. There will surely be time to get on her case about a failure sooner or later, just like all the leaders—minus Stormstar—he lived through. Or watched from StarClan, in Skystar's and some of Snowleap's case.
Pushing his thoughts to the side, Talonpaw refocuses on Owlstar as she asks him what he knows about hunting and fighting. "Not much officially for battling. Did well enough when ThunderClan attacked us in our camp though. Same for hunting, but I do know you have to stay downwind. Learned that when I lived as a loner for a bit."
Owlstar steps out of her den, and for a moment Talonpaw thinks she is going to try to humiliate him in front of the whole Clan. Instead she simply agrees and brushes past him on her way to the camp exit. He turns to hurry after her, unsure how he feels about the way Owlstar easily agreed. It's completely new to him—the majority of leaders either outright ignored him or made excuses for their abhorrent behavior—so he keeps his mouth shut as Owlstar leads them into the territory. There will surely be time to get on her case about a failure sooner or later, just like all the leaders—minus Stormstar—he lived through. Or watched from StarClan, in Skystar's and some of Snowleap's case.
Pushing his thoughts to the side, Talonpaw refocuses on Owlstar as she asks him what he knows about hunting and fighting. "Not much officially for battling. Did well enough when ThunderClan attacked us in our camp though. Same for hunting, but I do know you have to stay downwind. Learned that when I lived as a loner for a bit."
The tabby gave the apprentice a nod before rolling her shoulders. "Guess we'll start with battle. Bein' a loner is enough ta know a bit of somethin', but combat is probably yer weaker area." The she-cat flexed her paws, revealing long and tinted claws that were smeared with crimson. She held them in front of Talonpaw.
"Battle's kinda like huntin', except yer goal usually ain't ta kill, n' yer squarin' up with a predator." She gave her paws a wiggle. "It's always important ta hit vital organs whenever ya can. Stomach, head, eyes, ears, legs, tail. That's why I got so many scars on my face. If ya cain't see, ya cain't dodge, if ya cain't hear, ya cain't detect. Which is why dodgin' is also important. Wanna keep yer own organs inside a ya? Ya oughta be as tricky as a fox. Come along." She then stood and trotted to a nearby tree. Snow frosted it's roots and left icicles on every leaf.
She then lifted a paw and slashed at the bark, the sting of the hit unnoticeable to her but greatly seen on the tree. Brittle bark slid off easily, exploding like broken glass. She turned back to Talonpaw with a ghost of a smile. "Any blow can be impactful if ya know how ta hit. Ya use the force in yer legs n' forearm, not yer paw, lest ya wanna end up with a broken bone yerself." She flicked an ear at the tree behind her.
"C'mon chap, it's yer turn. Gotta perfect the force ya gotta use ta knock a cat out cold. Then, ya can start sparring with me. Don't give me any warning, I wanna be surprised." Owlstar shuffled away from the tree, settling down into a sit and curling her tail around her paws patiently. If anything, she was just seeing what Talonpaw could do. The tree was nothing more than a dummy to observe him on.
not losing our spirit
