Post by LιθΠΗΣαRτεD on Aug 20, 2017 0:26:46 GMT
"Nice work, Shadowpaw! Keep up the effort!" Runnningwolf crowed encouragingly, watching Shadowpaw wrestle with Lightpaw. The two mentors had decided to let the friends-- who had quickly declared themselves best friends-- train together. Shadowpaw gritted his teeth and tried not to let his annoyance at his mentor's constant optimism get to him, and focused on the task at hand. Lightpaw was currently having the upper hand. Despite being one of the youngest apprentices, the cream-colored tom was one of the top 'paws of the Clan. Shadowpaw dreamed to be like Lightpaw.
Well, not completely. Lightpaw was dishonest as he was talented. Twice after the first time Shadowpaw had met him had he faced punishment once again for cheating. Shadowpaw didn't even know that there were that many ways to swindle, but Lightpaw seemed to have a knack for finding a way. It made Shadowpaw uncomfortable, but he shrugged it off. Lightpaw was a fun friend, and he was a nice cat. Plus, Shadowpaw had never been on the receiving end of Lightpaw's dishonesty, and so he turned a blind eye to it all.
"Okay, stop," Carpleap ordered, and Lightpaw clambered off Shadowpaw, looking triumphant that he'd topped him again. Shadowpaw curled his lip and stared his friend down, but the rivalry was playful. Lightpaw's eyes sparked with a challenge, and Shadowpaw bunched his muscles, his tail tip twitching impatiently as Carpleap rattled off criticism for the both of them. I'll beat him next time. Next time, I promise.
"Jeez, you're making it seem like they're not doing anything right," Runningwolf interrupted, cutting the other she-warrior off mid-sentence. "Why don't we try it again? I think it was more of a lack of enthusiasm from Shadowpaw."
Lack of enthusiasm? Shadowpaw thought furiously. Was his enthusiasm not evident in his expression, in his efforts? And why should he be so happy all the time? It would only make him lose focus, hinder him. Thunderhound was gloomy all day and look how respected he was! Runningwolf was all smiles, like Fangspider, and it made Shadowpaw frown. It seemed like they weren't taking it seriously enough.
"Relax," Runningwolf whispered to him as he readied himself to go against Lightpaw again. "You can do it."
"I know I can," he replied through gritted teeth, and shot towards Lightpaw, only to be pinned by the older tom again.
"Runningwolf says you're improving," said a voice with a familiar upbeat tone. Thundering pawsteps approached, and a shadow loomed over Shadowpaw. He tilted his head, swallowing a bite of his thrush in the process, to meet the smiling, kindly face of Fangspider.
"Hi," he said.
"Don't chew with your mouth full," chided his uncle playfully, dropping a large portion of pheasant beside Shadowpaw, folding himself beside him and tucking his long legs beneath him. "Now, how is your training going? From your perspective, that is."
Shadowpaw thought for a moment, swallowing. Should he tell Fangspider the truth? I trust him. "It's going really well," he began, "but honestly, Runningwolf's a bit overwhelming."
"In what way?"
"She's so... smiley. And she cracks jokes all the time, and sometimes I don't even know when to take her seriously. I can tell she's a good warrior, really, and she's a very good mentor but I don't like how she can stay happy even when the situation doesn't warrant it."
Fangspider paused, looking half amused and half thoughtful. "Runningwolf is a very serious cat. But she is also one of the most upbeat cats I know."
"Like you."
"Right," Fangspider replied, "and that's why I recommended her for you."
"What?" exclaimed Shadowpaw incredulously. "You recommended her?"
"I have that influence." Fangspider smirked. "I know you're all hearts for my ol' bro Thunderhound, and I know how solemn and grim and serious he can seem. I know you want to follow in his pawsteps-- he's a very respected warrior. More than your father, but don't tell him that. But I want you to know that not everyone can be Thunderhound. In fact, no one can be Thunderhound but Thunderhound. Focus on being yourself, Shadowpaw."
Shadowpaw was silent, half contemplating Fangspider's words, but more annoyed at the tom telling him to lighten up. He'd never seen Fangspider in action before, but he could guess that Fangspider probably wasn't the Clan's best fighter. He laughed too much, and seemed to smile when not necessary. He could see how him and Runningwolf were friends.
"Okay," was all he said in the end, but he was already trashing Fangspider's words.
Shadowpaw was quickly rising in his status. He could see that, and it hadn't even been a moon. Though he definitely wasn't the best of the best (not yet, at least), his reputation for being a talented yet hard worker was beginning. He gained countless praise and encouragement from the warriors, and the older apprentices invited him to eat sometimes.
"All cats who fight like thorns gather 'round the Flailing Oak!" came the familiar yowl of Kitestar. Shadowpaw's ears pricked. What could it be? As he padded towards the tree, though, it was clear that there were new ceremonies going on.
"Cats of ThistleClan," Kitestar was continuing to say, "today we welcome new warriors into our ranks. They have completed their Trials with great satisfaction from their Trial guides, and it is time for us to acknowledge their full rights as adults. Today, they will be receiving their names, as well as placing their voting stones among the rest of ours. Vixenpaw, please step forward. From this day on, you will be known as Vixenmist. We recognize you as a full warrior of ThistleClan.
"Larchpaw, please step forward. From this day on, you will be known as Larchfoot. We recognize you as a full warrior of ThistleClan.
"Leopardpaw, please step forward. From this day on, you will be known as Leopardflame. We recognize you as a full warrior of ThistleClan.
"Ternpaw, please step forward. From this day on, you will be known as Terncry. We recognize you as a full warrior of ThistleClan.
"And finally, Cloverpaw, please step forward. From this day on, you will be known as Cloverleap. We recognize you as a full warrior of ThistleClan. Congratulations to all of you. And, to address the last item on this agenda-- the Gathering is tonight. I have asked some warriors to stay behind in camp, and I have already spoken to those. The rest of you, please prepare for the event." On that final note, Kitestar flicked her tail and the meeting was dismissed.
"Wow, you're warriors now!" Shadowpaw breathed excitedly to his friends and former denmates, breathless after chanting their names. "Great job."
"Thanks," said Larchfood proudly. "Looks like you'll only have Lightpaw and Almondpaw to keep you company." She wrinkled his nose, and leaned in slightly to whisper in Shadowpaw's ear. "Stick close to Almondpaw, okay?"
Shadowpaw rolled his eyes as she glanced away to accept a congratulations. "Sure." Larchfoot had been one of the apprentices who had hated Lightpaw a lot. But Lightpaw was his best friend, and he wasn't about to ditch him. And the thought of his first Gathering was enough to drive any other thoughts from his head.
Well, not completely. Lightpaw was dishonest as he was talented. Twice after the first time Shadowpaw had met him had he faced punishment once again for cheating. Shadowpaw didn't even know that there were that many ways to swindle, but Lightpaw seemed to have a knack for finding a way. It made Shadowpaw uncomfortable, but he shrugged it off. Lightpaw was a fun friend, and he was a nice cat. Plus, Shadowpaw had never been on the receiving end of Lightpaw's dishonesty, and so he turned a blind eye to it all.
"Okay, stop," Carpleap ordered, and Lightpaw clambered off Shadowpaw, looking triumphant that he'd topped him again. Shadowpaw curled his lip and stared his friend down, but the rivalry was playful. Lightpaw's eyes sparked with a challenge, and Shadowpaw bunched his muscles, his tail tip twitching impatiently as Carpleap rattled off criticism for the both of them. I'll beat him next time. Next time, I promise.
"Jeez, you're making it seem like they're not doing anything right," Runningwolf interrupted, cutting the other she-warrior off mid-sentence. "Why don't we try it again? I think it was more of a lack of enthusiasm from Shadowpaw."
Lack of enthusiasm? Shadowpaw thought furiously. Was his enthusiasm not evident in his expression, in his efforts? And why should he be so happy all the time? It would only make him lose focus, hinder him. Thunderhound was gloomy all day and look how respected he was! Runningwolf was all smiles, like Fangspider, and it made Shadowpaw frown. It seemed like they weren't taking it seriously enough.
"Relax," Runningwolf whispered to him as he readied himself to go against Lightpaw again. "You can do it."
"I know I can," he replied through gritted teeth, and shot towards Lightpaw, only to be pinned by the older tom again.
"Runningwolf says you're improving," said a voice with a familiar upbeat tone. Thundering pawsteps approached, and a shadow loomed over Shadowpaw. He tilted his head, swallowing a bite of his thrush in the process, to meet the smiling, kindly face of Fangspider.
"Hi," he said.
"Don't chew with your mouth full," chided his uncle playfully, dropping a large portion of pheasant beside Shadowpaw, folding himself beside him and tucking his long legs beneath him. "Now, how is your training going? From your perspective, that is."
Shadowpaw thought for a moment, swallowing. Should he tell Fangspider the truth? I trust him. "It's going really well," he began, "but honestly, Runningwolf's a bit overwhelming."
"In what way?"
"She's so... smiley. And she cracks jokes all the time, and sometimes I don't even know when to take her seriously. I can tell she's a good warrior, really, and she's a very good mentor but I don't like how she can stay happy even when the situation doesn't warrant it."
Fangspider paused, looking half amused and half thoughtful. "Runningwolf is a very serious cat. But she is also one of the most upbeat cats I know."
"Like you."
"Right," Fangspider replied, "and that's why I recommended her for you."
"What?" exclaimed Shadowpaw incredulously. "You recommended her?"
"I have that influence." Fangspider smirked. "I know you're all hearts for my ol' bro Thunderhound, and I know how solemn and grim and serious he can seem. I know you want to follow in his pawsteps-- he's a very respected warrior. More than your father, but don't tell him that. But I want you to know that not everyone can be Thunderhound. In fact, no one can be Thunderhound but Thunderhound. Focus on being yourself, Shadowpaw."
Shadowpaw was silent, half contemplating Fangspider's words, but more annoyed at the tom telling him to lighten up. He'd never seen Fangspider in action before, but he could guess that Fangspider probably wasn't the Clan's best fighter. He laughed too much, and seemed to smile when not necessary. He could see how him and Runningwolf were friends.
"Okay," was all he said in the end, but he was already trashing Fangspider's words.
Shadowpaw was quickly rising in his status. He could see that, and it hadn't even been a moon. Though he definitely wasn't the best of the best (not yet, at least), his reputation for being a talented yet hard worker was beginning. He gained countless praise and encouragement from the warriors, and the older apprentices invited him to eat sometimes.
"All cats who fight like thorns gather 'round the Flailing Oak!" came the familiar yowl of Kitestar. Shadowpaw's ears pricked. What could it be? As he padded towards the tree, though, it was clear that there were new ceremonies going on.
"Cats of ThistleClan," Kitestar was continuing to say, "today we welcome new warriors into our ranks. They have completed their Trials with great satisfaction from their Trial guides, and it is time for us to acknowledge their full rights as adults. Today, they will be receiving their names, as well as placing their voting stones among the rest of ours. Vixenpaw, please step forward. From this day on, you will be known as Vixenmist. We recognize you as a full warrior of ThistleClan.
"Larchpaw, please step forward. From this day on, you will be known as Larchfoot. We recognize you as a full warrior of ThistleClan.
"Leopardpaw, please step forward. From this day on, you will be known as Leopardflame. We recognize you as a full warrior of ThistleClan.
"Ternpaw, please step forward. From this day on, you will be known as Terncry. We recognize you as a full warrior of ThistleClan.
"And finally, Cloverpaw, please step forward. From this day on, you will be known as Cloverleap. We recognize you as a full warrior of ThistleClan. Congratulations to all of you. And, to address the last item on this agenda-- the Gathering is tonight. I have asked some warriors to stay behind in camp, and I have already spoken to those. The rest of you, please prepare for the event." On that final note, Kitestar flicked her tail and the meeting was dismissed.
"Wow, you're warriors now!" Shadowpaw breathed excitedly to his friends and former denmates, breathless after chanting their names. "Great job."
"Thanks," said Larchfood proudly. "Looks like you'll only have Lightpaw and Almondpaw to keep you company." She wrinkled his nose, and leaned in slightly to whisper in Shadowpaw's ear. "Stick close to Almondpaw, okay?"
Shadowpaw rolled his eyes as she glanced away to accept a congratulations. "Sure." Larchfoot had been one of the apprentices who had hated Lightpaw a lot. But Lightpaw was his best friend, and he wasn't about to ditch him. And the thought of his first Gathering was enough to drive any other thoughts from his head.