It was early morning. The weather had been warming up lately and the sun was already beginning to rise. It was the perfect day and time to get this territory tour out of the way. The Commander padded across the camp clearing, coming up to the APprentices' Den and clearing his throat before calling into it. "Shiverpaw! Let's get your tour out of the way. I'll be by the camp entrance, meet me there," the statement was simple. So, the tabby padded towards the camp entrance, sitting and waiting just as he said he would. He wouldn't wait forever on the apprentice, though.
It was early morning. The weather had been warming up lately and the sun was already beginning to rise. It was the perfect day and time to get this territory tour out of the way. The Commander padded across the camp clearing, coming up to the APprentices' Den and clearing his throat before calling into it. "Shiverpaw! Let's get your tour out of the way. I'll be by the camp entrance, meet me there," the statement was simple. So, the tabby padded towards the camp entrance, sitting and waiting just as he said he would. He wouldn't wait forever on the apprentice, though.
Shiverpaw rolled out of her nest. It was it, finally a proper training session?
She deftly groomed the messy, tangled parts of her fluffy speckled coat, before stretching a bit, then pacing out of the apprentices' den into the clearing.
She yawned before looking around, bleary-eyed, for her mentor at the camp entrance. She was still not able to completely shake the sleepy outta her.
The small molly was a bit confused at not finding her mentor, Quietsparrow, at the entrance of camp, but rather one of the enforcers. Of course, her mentor wouldn't bother to train her at all.
Still, even if this was a cat Shiverpaw was not entirely familiar with, training was training, right?
With nimble steps, the black-and-white feline approached Hawkbite, wary about him.
He's an enforcer, apparently a commander, but does it really make him trustworthy?
She didn't want to outright hate him and stay away, but once again, paranoia was ruling her judgement.
Shiverpaw tried to push the thoughts away. There's no reason to suspect, why is she making up reasons?
She took a deep breathe to try to quiet down her thoughts, and spoke. "Uh, hello?" The apprentice was unsure what to say.
How is one supposed to greet a cat of such a high position? Is there specific protocol she hasn't learned?
Oh stars, did she just ruin the whole thing before even starting? Did she give a bad impression? She can't stop rushing her thoughts over her suspicions, each more improvable than the last one.
Hawkbite flicked his ears, cocking his head downwards to address the younger feline. For now, they were smaller than he was, but he wasn't exactly a large cat. He was definitely the smallest of the Elites, but a bit larger than Sleepysunrise. A lot of cats don't tend to see him as scary or unapproachable unless it was the rank that was getting to them.
The Commander offered a small smile, breaking the unreadable look on his face as she spoke. "It's time to get your territory tour done, you don't have any of it done, correct? Or have you been anywhere yet?" Hawkbite would speak as he got to his paws and gestured for the apprentice to follow him. He'd travel through the entrance, breaking way into the ShadowClan Territory. The evergreen were tall and kept the forest dark, especially in times of sunrise and sunset. His eyes would adjust to the dim lighting easily, able to see off into the distance a bit, but he was unsure if she'd adjust right away.
"Our Territory is vast, making plenty of room to hunt and patrol with the size of our clan. It can be easy to get lost in if you're not familiar, so try to pay attention while we walk. Don't get too distracted and don't wander off away from me."
Hawkbite flicked his ears, cocking his head downwards to address the younger feline. For now, they were smaller than he was, but he wasn't exactly a large cat. He was definitely the smallest of the Elites, but a bit larger than Sleepysunrise. A lot of cats don't tend to see him as scary or unapproachable unless it was the rank that was getting to them.
The Commander offered a small smile, breaking the unreadable look on his face as she spoke. "It's time to get your territory tour done, you don't have any of it done, correct? Or have you been anywhere yet?" Hawkbite would speak as he got to his paws and gestured for the apprentice to follow him. He'd travel through the entrance, breaking way into the ShadowClan Territory. The evergreen were tall and kept the forest dark, especially in times of sunrise and sunset. His eyes would adjust to the dim lighting easily, able to see off into the distance a bit, but he was unsure if she'd adjust right away.
"Our Territory is vast, making plenty of room to hunt and patrol with the size of our clan. It can be easy to get lost in if you're not familiar, so try to pay attention while we walk. Don't get too distracted and don't wander off away from me."
The tiny apprentice followed Hawkbite, steps brisk and light although her eyes wandered to her surroundings, taking any landmarks she can find to memorize the paths.
She recognized a certain place as they approached it, one she visited recently. "I know this place. When Newtbelly and Owlthroat organized a night hunt."
Shiverpaw wasn't very sure if the commander enforcer was there that night, but she knew that for herself, it's been a nice time. She made a friend.
So, she'd only been to the basic territory. That was unfortunate, but he would work with that. He'd glance towards the area she pointed to, remembering the hunting event, but only nodding slightly. He'd have to take her word for it, the Commander hadn't joined that event, not seeing the point when he had others things to do around the clan. Maybe next time he'd be hosting the training event. They'd be due for one soon with the increase in apprentices lately. It was time to get back onto his training grind to push them to warriorhood as soon as he could. ShadowClan would need warriors soon, it'd been too peaceful here for too long. Something was bound to snap.
Breaking free of his thoughts, Hawkbite lead them towards a ruined shelter. It was a broken building with a rather large tree sitting beside it. He'd gesture towards it, not drawing too closely since he wasn't sure what predators could be inhabiting it this time. Owls were here recently, so who knew what else would be here.
"Tha't the Mourning Ruins. A place good for hunting, but predators seem to be drawn to it. We sometimes have to use it as a shelter if something happens to our camp. It's been a while since that happened last, though, so I don't see us using it anytime soon. Some herbs grow there, too, but it's not an area we utilize as much as we should," he'd explain, looking towards Shiverpaw for any comments or questions before starting to lead them towards the next location.
So, she'd only been to the basic territory. That was unfortunate, but he would work with that. He'd glance towards the area she pointed to, remembering the hunting event, but only nodding slightly. He'd have to take her word for it, the Commander hadn't joined that event, not seeing the point when he had others things to do around the clan. Maybe next time he'd be hosting the training event. They'd be due for one soon with the increase in apprentices lately. It was time to get back onto his training grind to push them to warriorhood as soon as he could. ShadowClan would need warriors soon, it'd been too peaceful here for too long. Something was bound to snap.
Breaking free of his thoughts, Hawkbite lead them towards a ruined shelter. It was a broken building with a rather large tree sitting beside it. He'd gesture towards it, not drawing too closely since he wasn't sure what predators could be inhabiting it this time. Owls were here recently, so who knew what else would be here.
"Tha't the Mourning Ruins. A place good for hunting, but predators seem to be drawn to it. We sometimes have to use it as a shelter if something happens to our camp. It's been a while since that happened last, though, so I don't see us using it anytime soon. Some herbs grow there, too, but it's not an area we utilize as much as we should," he'd explain, looking towards Shiverpaw for any comments or questions before starting to lead them towards the next location.
Mourning Ruins. Sounded familiar, as it if has been the center of attention for some time before.
Ah, that was it. When she was a kit, and Dawnstar told the clan not to get close because of owls.
She's heard tales about the owls. Gigantic birds that could scoop up a cat stupid enough. "This is where the Dawnstar said the owls were, innit?" Shiverpaw asked, mostly for confirmation.
Hawkbite would begin leading them away, nodding his head towards the apprentice. "That was where the owls were, yes. Sometimes we get other things here, but I've seen plenty of owls make their home here for some reason," the Commander spoke.
It wasn't long before they'd come to their next stop. The territory around them shifted into something marshier, bushes were everywhere, filling with blossoms and red berries as the days grew warmer. "This is Darkwater Mire," Hawkbite spoke, gesturing to the area around them. "We must avoid those bushes with red berries at all costs. Those are deathberry bushes and one berry will kill you. Keep away from them and make sure otur clanmates do the same," Hawkbite warned. He'd continue through the marshy terrain. His paws used to the squishy ground, but he was curious on how Shiverpaw would handle it.
"This area is good for hunting. There's apparently some good herbs around here, but I hardly pay attention to that. If it interests you, though, be mindful of what Sleepysunrise and Silentpaw send you to find on patrols," he finished. He'd keep walking, but slow enough that Shiverpaw could look around and question or comment on anything.
Hawkbite would begin leading them away, nodding his head towards the apprentice. "That was where the owls were, yes. Sometimes we get other things here, but I've seen plenty of owls make their home here for some reason," the Commander spoke.
It wasn't long before they'd come to their next stop. The territory around them shifted into something marshier, bushes were everywhere, filling with blossoms and red berries as the days grew warmer. "This is Darkwater Mire," Hawkbite spoke, gesturing to the area around them. "We must avoid those bushes with red berries at all costs. Those are deathberry bushes and one berry will kill you. Keep away from them and make sure otur clanmates do the same," Hawkbite warned. He'd continue through the marshy terrain. His paws used to the squishy ground, but he was curious on how Shiverpaw would handle it.
"This area is good for hunting. There's apparently some good herbs around here, but I hardly pay attention to that. If it interests you, though, be mindful of what Sleepysunrise and Silentpaw send you to find on patrols," he finished. He'd keep walking, but slow enough that Shiverpaw could look around and question or comment on anything.
As she trailed behind the enforcer, Shiverpaw stepped on a deep part of the water in the marshy terrain by accident.
She yelped, scared and startled, just to realize the muddy water didn't reach past her underbelly.
With some effort, she pulled herself back on track, climbing with claws unsheathed.
Well, that was embarrassing, but other than getting her fur messy, it was not as bad as it could have been.
She shook her whole body to get rid of the heavy mud on her fluffy, silky coat. Then, she briskly followed Hawkbite again.
Really, she hasn't heard of this place, so she had no questions to ask about it. The presence of deathberries was noted, and so was the recently learnt lesson to pay attention to one's path.
Shiverpaw turned her nose to the air, sniffing the air, mouth slightly open. Yes, the scent of prey could be felt, and also the scent of the medicine den, minus the sickness.
This seemed like a nice place for hunting and forraging, but she has to admit that she doesn't really like the terrain.
Hawkbite's whiskers would twitch when Shiverpaw realized what the terrain of this area was like. To be fair, he had a similar reaction when he was younger, but he'd grown accustomed to this since. "Yes, do watch your step the best you can, you'll come back much muddier if you're not careful," he mused, moving forward.
The next location was rockier. The trees changed to less pine and more oak and others. The roots were curling up out of the ground, becoming more of a tripping hazard than anything else. "This is another great area for hunting and herbs. The light is more plentiful here if you ever chose to escape the shadows. This is called the Dawning Woods. It's one of the last areas before the borders," Hawkbite spoke. Of all the areas they'd been in, this was his least favorite. Hawkbite had already preferred the shadows.
Hawkbite's whiskers would twitch when Shiverpaw realized what the terrain of this area was like. To be fair, he had a similar reaction when he was younger, but he'd grown accustomed to this since. "Yes, do watch your step the best you can, you'll come back much muddier if you're not careful," he mused, moving forward.
The next location was rockier. The trees changed to less pine and more oak and others. The roots were curling up out of the ground, becoming more of a tripping hazard than anything else. "This is another great area for hunting and herbs. The light is more plentiful here if you ever chose to escape the shadows. This is called the Dawning Woods. It's one of the last areas before the borders," Hawkbite spoke. Of all the areas they'd been in, this was his least favorite. Hawkbite had already preferred the shadows.
Less shadows meant less potential enemies lurking, waiting to attack. Shiverpaw already liked this place.
A silly question came to her mind. "Is this what ThunderClan's territory looks like?"
Probably a bit unnecesary, but she can't really stop herself from inquiring. Surely Hawkbite knows.
The apprentice has heard tales about ThunderClan from the elders, but obviously hasn't seen it with her own eyes.
Shiverpaw's Tour [t]
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