Learning the Borders

[Skye *Sukai-chan*]

Swifttail walked a little ahead of the small group. He and Songheart were showing their apprentices, Featherpaw and Oakpaw, the borders of StormClan territory. They had decided to go to the Dry Streambed first. They were almost there, but Swifttail had taken a bit of a longer route then usual to go to the extreme edge of the territory.

[[Hea]ther[/sky]]

Songheart walked along, just ahead of the apprentices. She got to lead a lot of things, being deputy, so she let her mate take the lead here. Knowing she should be quizzing the two or something along those lines, she thought about what to say. Featherpaw and Oakpaw were quick to learn and grasped concepts quickly, which Songheart was proud of in a Clanmate. Turning, she meowed, "We're almost to the Dry Streambed. The borders are near here, so remember this place. It isn't the fastest way to the Dry Streambed, but someday you may need to take an alternate route, and it's always a good idea to know where you're going."

[</cloudii>]

Cloudmist was out near the Dry Streambed, patrolling the borders. She had wanted to find another cat or two to go with her, but not very many cats were in camp...probably on patrol or something, she told herself.

Now, she caught the scent of a few other cats. Sniffing the air, she scented her kits, Songheart and Swifttail. Quickly trotting towards the four cats she dipped her head to the deputy and smiled at her kits. "Would you mind if I joined your patrol?" she asked politely.

[Kiri-chan]

Following the news that he and Heatherpaw would be doing some Apprentice training with their Mentors, Oakpaw had practically been a ball of excited nerves wanting to pingpong off the trees. He'd contained himself, however it was clear by how he carried himself that he was extremely excited and eager to prove he would be a great Warrior.

As they made their way to the Dry Streambed, he kept pace with Songheart for most of the trip, and he noticed she seemed content to follow rather than lead. Mimicking her attitude, Oakpaw was even more eager to please her the more he was around her and got to know her.

"We're almost to the Dry Streambed. The borders are near here, so remember this place. It isn't the fastest way to the Dry Streambed, but someday you may need to take an alternate route, and it's always a good idea to know where you're going."

Oakpaw meowed an "okay" and happily jaunted ahead a few steps to sniff the air, thoroughly enjoying himself. A few moments later, his mom Cloudmist appeared as inwardly he sighed. He really felt like she was checking up on them and felt momentary annoyance at her overmothering-ness. This was his chance to prove to Songheart he was a good Apprentice and his MOTHER was here. He did love her, but that part of him that was growing into an independent tom was embarassed she was there and hoped she'd leave, though he worked to keep that off his face and instead looked around the clearing like it was of utmost fascination.

"Would you mind if I joined your patrol?"

ACK! She was going to JOIN them?! Part of him wanted to blurt out NO, but he knew it would be horribly rude not to mention completely out of line. He didn't want to get out of line to his mom - especially not with Songheart there! Still, his mind frantically pleaded that Songheart or Swifttail say no, even though he knew they wouldn't. He immediately felt guilt at having such unwelcoming thoughts towards his own mother and ducked his head, pretending to have great interest in a patch of grass near the base of a large oak tree.


((the awkward adolescent teen years. hehe))

[Skye *Sukai-chan*]

Swifttail twitched his ear as Cloudmist came up to the little group and asked if she could join. It would be a little awkward if Featherpaw's and Oakpaw's mother was watching the traning, but Swifttail just didn't have the heart to send her back to the camp. "Sure," he said, keeping his annoyance out of his voice. "We're just going to the Dry Streambed." he infromed her. "We took the long route, though, so we could shw Featherpaw and Oakpaw all of the border." he explained in case Cloudmist was wondering why they didn't just use the path the would've gotten them there much sooner.

[[Hea]ther[/sky]]

The fire-colored tabby she-cat couldn't help but feel a little interrupted when Cloudmist came. She felt nothing but respect for the warrior, but this was double-training for Oakpaw and Featherpaw, and having their mother there might impair their ability to perform to their fullest. But, like Swifttail, she wouldn't turn away a warrior willing to join them. After all, all the better if they ran into trouble. Songheart was considering what to say when Swifttail spoke up. Feeling a twitch of annoyance for her mate, she felt that annoyance be replaced by love, and smiled. "Yes, we're giving them the grand tour." She grinned warmly, but felt a little troubled when she spotted Oakpaw, standing awkwardly away from Featherpaw, Swifttail, Cloudmist, and herself. Would it be alright to show them around, asess them, train them, when their mother was right there? Yes, they would have to deal with it eventually, she thought, grin still across her face.

[</cloudii>]

ooc - Perhaps I could get her away somehow...?

Cloudmist suddenly realized how awkward it would be for her kits, although she loved them, for their mother to be here, watching all the time. She cast a sidelong glance at the Clan deputy and meowed, "Perhaps I'll go over there," she pointed with her tail at some large boulders, "And see if I can bring some prey. I'll catch up with you at around sundown."

There was a knowing look in the depth of her sparkling green eyes as she spoke to Songheart. Surely the ginger she-cat would agree? The tortoiseshell warrior knew that Oakpaw would definitely like her to go away since he would train better without his mother watching.

ooc - How's that?

[Skye *Sukai-chan*]

Swifttail nodded indiferently. He didn't want to seam grateful that Cloudmist was leaving incase he offended her. Instead he shrugged and sayd, "Ok, that's fine." Before continueing down the pathway. A few minutes later, he reached the Dry Streambed. He turned to let Featherpaw and Oakpaw sit down as well before he started talking.

[[Hea]ther[/sky]]

Songheart nodded to Cloudmist. She was very glad that Cloudmist understood that it was not important for her to be around, but she was also glad she didn't have to ask the mother to leave. If she had, that might have hurt not only her feelings, but also those of the she-cat's kits, so it was good that she understood. "That's a great idea, and the more prey the better," Songheart said with a grin. She nodded, and turned to catch up with Swifttail and Oakpaw.

[Kiri-chan]

(sorry for the wait!)


"Sure, We're just going to the Dry Streambed. We took the long route, though, so we could shw Featherpaw and Oakpaw all of the border."

Oakpaw heard Swifttail reply and forced himself to keep it cool, but acting like he didn't have a care in the world if his mother was coming along. His hopes were pinned that Songheart would overrule Swifttail, but they were dashed quickly as she smiled at Cloudmist.

"Yes, we're giving them the grand tour."

He saw Songheart glance in his direction and he knew she was expecting him to be on his best manners. Like he wouldn't be, but it was embarassing! He turned and slowly made his way back to Songheart's side and put on his best fake "happy" face and scuffled his paws, hoping they could at least get going and get it over with.

His mom suddenly decided she was going to go hunting instead. Swifttail and Songheart meowed consents as she left, but Oakpaw suddenly felt a stab of guilt and hung his head. He knew she'd seen how he didn't want her around. Scuffling his paws some more, he felt bad about it, but gosh, she was his mother! And he was here training with SONGHEART.

Squirming a bit inwardly as he wrestled with his guilt and slight male ego, he saw the others were moving and dashed to catch up. Shoving his feelings into a box for now, he took a seat and perked up his ears, giving both adults his attention as they prepared to start the lesson.


(ugh, I've done better. Sorries.)

[</cloudii>]

ooc - Should I RP her hunting around here or just going to meet them at around sundown?
Sorrii for just posting in ooc...

[[Hea]ther[/sky]]

((Whatever works for you ^^))

Songheart looked at both apprentices, and then at Swifttail, then back to Oakpaw and Featherpaw. "Alright. So today, we're going to show you the StormClan borders, beginning with the Dry Streambed here. This is an excellent place to hunt, especially in greenleaf, since many mice and voles choose to make their home here." She gestured around at the trees surrounding the four with her tail. Many of them were oaks, or other trees that dropped some sort of food for the prey. "It is also a good place to hunt during leaf-fall, because acorns will fall off of the oak trees, to be easily gathered by the squirrels. Squirrels are quite difficult to catch, but they're a good bit of food for the Clan, so it never hurts to try to catch one, if ever you see one."

Looking around in the trees briefly, she spotted two or three squirrels in the treetops, rustling in their nests and storing away food for the long and harsh leaf-bare ahead. She turned back to the apprentices. "Can you scent any squirrels?"