The Beginning [[_S_K_Y_E]]

[Hawky]

<sup>Hawkshadow blinked a few times as the first signs of dawn approached in the warrior's den. A few creeping fingers of light had made their way to his eyes, reaching for him and pulling him to conciousness as the sun rose and tiny breezes made thier way into Hawkshadow's fur. Taking in a deep breath, he yawned, licking the bad taste out of his teeth and gums that he always awoke to. Pulling himself up off the dusty floor of the den, Hawkshadow stretched his sore muscles, unsheathing his claws and digging them into the dirt. He liked waking up early, contrary to what other cats might think. He had a somewhat happy-go-lucky personality, so most of the cats would think that he liked to sleep late. Truth was, there was nothing in the world that Hawkshadow enjoyed more than being up earlier than any cat other than the morning patrol and the night guards. There was just something about walking around the camp when there was no one else about, and listening to the silence of the morning before starting another long day. He was going to go out training today with Cinderpaw, and Hawkshadow was going to be testing Cinderpaw's battle skills.

He figured that getting some breakfast might ease his stomach a little, as he headed over to the fresh-kill pile, enjoying the fresh scent of the breeze as he did so. He hated having to leave thier old home, but he had to admit, he liked it here. And at least Phantomsun was here with him. It was hard to think about what had happened with them just a few days ago, strange to think that they were now mates. She had always been so wrapped up with her memories of Virosleek that it didn't seem like she would ever make room for Hawkshadow. But he guessed all of his pursuing paid off, Phantomsun was his now, and nothing would take her away. Just thinking about her made Hawkshadow's throat rumble with a soft purr as he took the last few steps to the fresh-kill pile. Flipping over a few choices, he finally settled with two water-voles killed sometime last night. He always liked to keep the fresher food for the queens and the kits, figuring they needed it more than he did. Besides, he liked the kits, and couldn't wait till they were made apprentices. It wouldn't be too long now...

But right now he had his own apprentice to deal with. As Hawkshadow moved to a corner of the camp and started tearing into his breakfast, he thought about what he could teach Cinderpaw today. He seemed like the kind of apprentice who got more pity than he deserved. Yes, he lost a brother, but Hawkshadow had a hard time feeling especially sorry for the small tom. In fact, Hawkshadow was probably one of the only cats that didn't give him special treatment in the clan. He wasn't sure if that bothered Cinderpaw or not, guessing that he'd find out eventually, but he was sure that he didn't give any quarter when it came to training. This was the future of the clan that he was going to be teaching, and he wasn't going to treat him any different than he would any other apprentice. He needed to be properly trained, and that was that. Hawkshadow wasn't about to start messing around with the future of the clan, so he would teach Cinderpaw as he himself was taught.

Gulping down the last remnants of his voles, Hawkshadow gave himself a thorough cleaning and buried the remains of his breakfast. Going quickly into the warrior's den, he spotted Phantomsun amoung the sleepers, right next to where he had been sleeping earlier. Staring at her a moment, he touched his nose to hers and smiled, giving her a soft lick on the cheek so as not to wake her. Hawkshadow smiled again, and stared at her for another moment, then rushed out of the warrior's den. Hawkshadow made his way into the apprentice's den and spotted Cinderpaw right away, still sleeping away, his flank moving up and down with his rhythmic breathing. Walking over to the still body, Hawkshadow pushed him a little with his paw, "Time to get up, we're starting training a little early today." Hawkshadow stared down at the tom, waiting for a response and twitching his tail with excitement and nervous energy.</sup>[/sup]

[__ S K Y E]

You have learned something.
That always feels at first
as if you had lost something.

___ Cinderpaw wasn't sleeping well, to put it plainly. He tussled in his sleep, sweat beating off his forehead and face flushed as he tried to rid the horrible memories that plagued his dreams. Pale gray hues, mingled with lighter ivories and darkened ebonies, flashed through his eyes in small blots of paint, temporarily blinding him as his dream-self lifted his head to look up to the sky. The air around him was lukewarm, the moist feeling sticking to his fur in the mild-cold as the ailing, indisposed feeling clung to him like an irritating thorn, and the young tom-cat, his green eyes - normally bright and happy - poisoned with some sickness, couldn't escape it. The ghouls of the night whispered treacherous things in his ears, their slimy fingers grasping his coat with undeniable malice as they whispered sickly sweet nothing's in his ears, their voices much too smooth - much too sweet. He suddenly felt trapped, like a bird in a cage.

In the waking world, small groans escaped the small apprentice as he tussled and turned in his moss, desperatly trying to escape the horrible nightmare. His ivory-painted muzzle sunk deeper into his bedding, eyes closed in part-fear and part-frustration, and his breath was warm, ears flat against his head in an obviously uncomfortable manner, as his heart quickened.

What was he actually dreaming about, though, that made young Cinderpaw feel so uneasy? Unlike some others, the tabby tom wasn't one to have nightmares often plague his dreams and past memories taint his thoughts. He had these same thoughts not long after the death of his brother, but once the tom had realized that it was no use mourning over a dead cat for so long and decided on his mission in life, they seemed to disappear like a vanishing mist. [ Sure, Cinderpaw often visited his late brother's grave -- but it was mostly because he felt that the memory of the great cat would soon die away if he wasn't there to keep it alive and even then, the thoughts that occupied him were often warm and peaceful] However, every now and then the dark spirits would creep back into his mind, planting dark seeds of doubt in his mind as the unexpected nightmares came haunting back.

During these occurrences, Cinderpaw either dreamed of two things -- one being the obvious, his brother's death and the other were filled with faded cats, their pained voices simply soft whispers in the wind until they finally rose to an angry yowl that made the quiet apprentice want to cringe, but whether it was in fear or surprise, he flinched, he couldn't decipher. The ones that concerned his brother often started out like most of his dreams before it suddenly exploded in a terrifying feeling helplessness, coupled with extreme anxiety and ending with sorrow.

It was this dream that Cinderpaw felt torn between because they seemed to come most often if the young tabby was losing grasp on the memory of his brother and even the most emotionally-inept cat could see that he so desperatly wanted Talonpaw back, despite his own private arguments. The tom-cat loved his brother, a fact that cats for miles could see from a single glance, but what most cats failed to see was that his whole life - unlike some - didn't revolve around his brother's. Fine, perhaps a huge portion of it did, but that didn't mean anything. Like any other cat, the bracken-colored tom got jealous, angered and at times, had even gone so far as to hate Talonpaw -- and perhaps, it was the guilt that ate him alive that made him go to the late Talonpaw's grave everyday to rekindle the memories they shared and silently ask for forgiveness. If he were to be completly truthful, Cinderpaw had never truly appreciated his slightly-older brother while he was living, and hadn't loved him unconditionally like a brother should, so made the tabby tom such a lot cause in the eyes of many others and thus, so pitied by his clanmates.

The faint whispers of unknown cats began to die away, the frantic breathing of the living Cinderpaw ceasing to a relaxed rhythm, as another cat came into view and in the midst of his dream, the foggy mist surrounding his tabby frame, the young apprentice squinted against the darkness to make out the figure just a fox-length away. He let out a relieved breath, the frightening feeling that had captured him before suddenly letting go like a bird that's escaped his cage, and he leaned back on his haunches, ignoring the she-cat as he closed his eyes and let the cool wind brush softly against his coat. 'Cinderpaw, her voice was warm and inviting; the said tom couldn't help but blink his eyes open again and direct his subdued gaze towards her, suddenly captivated. He took a single step forward, but as soon as his white-tipped paw touched the soft floor, he stepped backwards. Blinking in confusion, the young cat stubbornly stepped forward - only to be flung back this time and he closed his eyes fearfully, ready to feel the harsh ground smash against his fur -- but then the ground gave way and the young apprentice could only feel emptiness. " Who are you? ", his voice was just an echo of the wind.

His eyes fluttered open as the dream ended, only to find his bedding lain with sweat from teh uneasy night before and he almost groaned in frustration at the sticky feeling that clung to his fur, coupled with usual morning fogginess that plagued most cats, if not for the cat standing before him. Blinking in confusion, he continued to stare at his mentor and then suddenly in clicked, causing the young apprentice to flush in embarrassment as he scrambled to his paws.

" Okay, " he meowed quickly, eager to show that he wasn't just a lazy apprentice and was ready to train at any time, to the older tom's statement as he began to wash himself. Licking a small paw, the silver hairs glinting in the light as the sun's first ray's spilled into the den, and raising it over his head to wash his face, Cinderpaw looked at Hawkshadow with excited eyes, his tail flicking happily. Trying this best to shake of the warding thoughts that continued to plague him, even now in his waking form, Cinderpaw shook his pelt and green eyes bright with enthusiasm, flashed his mentor a wide smile. " What are we doing today?"

He was hoping they'd do some fighting since they had done hunting last time, but at the moment, that was the last worry on Cinderpaw's mind. The young tom had long suspected that Hawkshadow may have been prolonging the battle session for as long as possible because like some other's in the clan, he might've been afraid that he would develop a heart disorder like his grandfather had -- Cinderpaw was already as weak and small as he was. It didn't bother him though because the young tom was eager to prove himself -- whether it be in his hunting and fighting skills or his mind.

Cinderpaw was determined to gain his respect whatever it took.


comments;; rawr. the ending sucks, i know. sowwy. D;
status;; fini
word count;; 1214

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[Hawky]

<sup>Cinderpaw didn't seem to have been sleeping well. His fur was slick and damp with sweat, and he had been moaning as Hawkshadow came in. He sometimes found his apprentice in this state, but he chose not to comment on it. He knew what it was like to be haunted by the things of your past, even things that never happened. The ghosts of old battles followed in Hawkshadow's pawsteps every night, and the only time they ever left was when Phantomsun came along. Smokeear, his only friend, died on the battlefield during the fight with Brookclan. Hawkshadow's eyes glazed over momentarily as he thought about Smokeear, his father, Wildtail and his mother Nightwing. Both of them dead before Hawkshadow got his warrior name. Seeing his parents dead at the hands of a neighboring dog had done it's work in Hawkshadow's mind, and he had never been the same after seeing them being ripped to pieces defending him. He had lost almost everyone dear to him. Yes. He knew what it was like to be haunted.

Phantomsun had brought new life to him, giving him a reason to shed his anger and bitternes toward the world. It had been hard though, with Phantomsun still pining over Virosleek and not exactly showing intrest in Hawkshadow. He'd tried his hardest to get her to notice him, and it had paid off. His mate now slept in the warrior's den, closely guarded by himself at night. Since they had become mates, Hawkshadow's nightmares had melted away to the depths of his mind, the far corners and crevices of his heart, only to be revisited on special occasions. Hawkshadow didn't like to linger on the deaths of his past, and instead looked toward the future, his future with Phantomsun. And although he had made a point of moving on, he was still adamant in the fact that his first litter would be named Smokekit, Wildkit, and Nightkit, in honor of his fallen loved ones.

Coming back to reality, Hawkshadow looked down as Cinderpaw awoke with a start, trying to make a show of not having nightmares. Hawkshadow had known about them for a while, but again, didn't feel right saying anything about them. It was no business of his what haunted his apprentice's dreams. Cinderpaw got to his paws, still taken off guard for a moment, and started to clean his fur, which still had a light sheen to it from the apprentice's fevered nightmares. Hawkshadow suspected that the show of eagerness was partially his fault. He was treating him the way that his own mentor, Brightstorm, had treated him. Brightstorm was a great mentor, battle-hardened and ready for anything. She had never quite given Hawkshadow the feeling that he was good enough, or that she was pleased with his skills until he truly deserved it. That was what made him work hard, and actually earn the respect she had finally given him.

"You'll see," Hawkshadow narrowed his eyes to see better in the semi-dark den as he peered down at Cinderpaw. "We're going down by the old Two-Leg place." It was a decent treck to the campsites, which was why he had made sure to get Cinderpaw up before dawn. He wanted to be back in time for the afternoon patrol so that he could go out hunting with Phantomsun. Blinking away the last remnants of his past and the ghosts that lived there, Hawkshadow twitched his ears back on his head and turned out into the sunlight again, breathing in the cool breeze that ruffled the fur on the inside of his ears. He could smell the dew on the morning grass, Cinderpaw could drink that on the way there if he needed it. Pointing his muzzle toward the entrance of the den once again, Hawkshadow whispered just loud enough for Cinderpaw to hear, "Get yourself some breakfast, we leave before sunrise."

There was quite a few things that Hawkshadow was going to be teaching Cinderpaw this morning. Mostly about how to use your surroundings to your advantage. There were plenty of things to mess around with in the old Two-Leg place. Things to climb on or corner cats into, yes. Cinderpaw would learn to use the things around him in battle. It could mean life or death if you used them correctly. Brightstorm hadn't been able to teach him there, but she had taught him the exact same things in the old territory. There were many ways to use your environment, and Hawkshadow had used them to escape death more than once in his lifetime. Unsheathing and sheathing his claws, Hawkshadow pushed his paws into the ground beneath him, and readied his tense muscles for the beating they had ahead of them. He didn't let his apprentice know, but he was learning well. Well enough to start actually putting up a decent fight for an apprentice. Especially such a small cat. But that could come in handy when you're in a tight situation. Being small didn't always have to be a curse.

))Psht, you're fine.((</sup>[/sup]

[__ S K Y E]

You have learned something.
That always feels at first
as if you had lost something.

___ It did make it slightly different, though, when the apprentices would gather after a hard day of training and all of his companions - except Cometpaw, though, seeing as she never spoke to him - would boast about how great they did. How much their mentor praised them, how they would absolutely gloat at the amount of prey they caught or what amazing moves he learned. It hurt, yes, that he hadn't been good enough to gain Hawkshadow's respect. It was also slightly troublesome to know that all the other apprentices, those who were lazy and did nothing, didn't have to try and work for their respect.

But this type of thing wasn't anything bad that a cat like Cinderpaw would grow angry with, or over a span of time let any sort of bittersweet hatred and resentment burn deep, but rather the type of problem that the young apprentice did brood on, wondering if his mentor would ever think of him as the others thought of their apprentices. It was confusing, but it was also something he could understand and live with -- beacause, as said before, the young cat was someone determined. Cinderpaw, long ago, had vowed that what ever it took, he would gain the respect of those around him and while getting others to stop deeming him as small and fraile, he would also make sure to get the respect of others -- not the sympathy and pity that everyone, except two or three cats, seemed to be giving him now. There was no way that he would let the death of his brother be the death of him too.

" I can't wait, " he mewed quickly in response as the older tabby's voice shook him out of his reverie, and paws twitching with anticipation, eyes glowing with excitement, Cinderpaw couldn't wait to get out of camp. 'The Old Two-leg Place..' he wondered, feeling something tugging in the back of his mind - as if urging h m to remember something important. What was it?

Recalling the old elder's tales from his kithood days, the only thoughts the small tom could conjure up was that of the origin of their camp, how the Old Twoleg Place had once been a campsite when RavineClan's first patrol had found it and that the route to the familiar place was close enough to not make his paws hurt from traveling, but it wasn't exactly right next to camp either. The former Twoleg Campsite was just another part of the territory that the clan held control of, wasn't it? Surely it wasn't anything more?

His lips parted once more, as if he was about to say something, but was interppted by the older cat's order to eat before leaving. His eyes, once glowing with anticipation, suddenly dulled to a sub-dued green and he couldn't help but let out a groan. " Aww, Hawkshadow!", he whined, ears down and despite his next set of words began padding towards the fresh-kill pile to follow his mentor's words, already anticipating the look on the tabby's face. Still, he couldn't help from asking, " Do I hafta eat? Can't I just eat later? "

Laughter twinkled in his emerald pools as he turned his head expecatings and eyes glowing with mirth, mouth twisted upward in a crooked grin, he watched the older cat's face for any sign of a reaction - some humor, praise, anything. Roar!, his belly gurgled and rumbled [at such a lucky time, eh?] much to his embarrassment. His mentor hadn't said anything before Cinderpaw, already knowing what was to come and the stern face that came with it, swiveled away in the direction of the fresh-kill pile. He dipped one ivory-hued paw into the pile, picking out a small rabbit [although his stomach was rumbling, he chose to leave the better prey for more unfortunate members of his clan and he was going to eat afterwards anyway]. Padding quietly towards a sunny spot, the sun's brilliant rays casting a warm, inviting golden hue upon his bracken pelt in such a way that he almost glowed, he set down his prey and quickly gulped the rabbit up, already itching to get out of camp. He licked his lip and quickly sprang to his paws, running towards the much larger tabby.

" Can we go now? Can we? ", his mew was almost pleading.


comments;; eew. it's late and I rushed the ending. [instantdeath] D;
status;; fini
word count;; 734

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[Hawky]

^{" I can't wait, "}[/i]

Hawkshadow was hoping that the apprentice didn't get too excited. The old Two-Leg place wasn't that interesting, it was just new. The only reason he was even taking his Cinderpaw there was because it was the only place Hawkshadow knew of that he could teach him to use his battle skills. The main thing about it was that it was new to Cinderpaw, so he'd never gotten used to where everything was. He was going to have to stay on his toes, and keep his eyes out for what he could use. When you're in battle, it's hardly every anywhere you've battled before, and you have to use your surroundings to your advantage, no matter where you are. If you don't know how to do that, you might as well just give up, because most of the time straight up battle skills aren't good enough. Strategy is everything, and using your surroundings to help you out can be the difference between life and death when it came to fighting. There were things made of wood, and rocks, and piles of shiny sticks and dirt everywhere. Yes, there would be plenty of things for Cinderpaw to learn with, and it was Hawkshadow's job to make sure he learned it right.

Hawkshadow hated how much some of the other apprentice's were praised, and it almost made him feel bad for poor Cinderpaw. He had gone through so much, and now Hawkshadow had denied him the respect that he had rightfully earned. Well, he would be better for it though. The apprentices that had it easy would learn soon enough, and Hawkshadow had no doubt that it would be Cinderpaw saving the lives of other warriors when it came to battle. Hawkshadow may not be the best hunter in the clan, but he was by far one of the best fighters, and he knew without a doubt that it was because of the way he was trained. He was still fun, and carefree most of the time, but when it came down to business, Hawkshadow was definitely a fierce fighter. There was no messing around when it came to defending the clan, defending the future. If he didn't do his best to train his apprentice, then what was the point of training him at all? If he didn't fight for his clan, then what was there to fight for? He had already had to fight for his clan multiple times, and he wasn't about to chance losing what he had fought for by being lazy or lax with his apprentice. No, Cinderpaw would be a great fighter, just like Brightstorm.

"Aww, Hawkshadow! Do I hafta eat? Can't I just eat later?"[/i]

It was a good thing that Cinderpaw decided to do as he was told. Lucky his stomach grumbled, or Hawkshadow would have just left. If he didn't want to eat, he didn't have to, but he would have learned to do as he was told when his stomach was growling all through training. When was he going to learn that everything Hawkshadow told him to do was for a reason? If he didn't eat, Cinderpaw's stomach would have been growling even before they got to the two-leg place, and he didn't want his apprentice to be lazy during training because he was hungry. And there was no way that Hawkshadow would have let him hunt on the way there or the way back. In fact, if Cinderpaw hadn't done as he was told, Hawkshadow probably would have made him wait till sundown to eat. If he didn't feel like doing what Hawkshadow told him, didn't feel like eating, then he obviously wouldn't be hungry later. Yeah, it was harsh, but that was the way Hawkshadow dealt with things. Cinderpaw had learned on more than one occasion that once he disobeyed about something, he usually didn't do it again. It was how Hawkshadow learned, and just like Cinderpaw, he rarely did something stupid twice. That's what made a good learner, and a good warrior.

The sun was rising, and Hawkshadow could feel the rays burying themselves deep into the roots of his fur. There was nothing he enjoyed more than sitting and basking in the sun, just to feel the warmth balanced with the cool breeze that swept through the surrounding camp. They were mostly protected from harsh winds, but some cool trickles still made their way through in certain spots. Hawkshadow sat, watching the camp and greeting the others that had woken early, hoping to see Phantomsun among them. He knew that she wouldn't be though, she had taken a late guard last night so that she could go on the mid-day hunt with Hawkshadow. It was rare that they got so much time together, but it was nice that they finally did. During the move and after, she had been so busy that Phantomsun rarely had time to spare for Hawkshadow. It had greatly improved his mood now that she did, and he was sure that Cinderpaw noticed the change in his demeanor when it came to his training. Hawkshadow was much more patient, and much more supportive than he used to be, though his usual tactics still stayed firmly in place.

"Can we go now? Can we?"[/i]

Hawkshadow stretched and twitched his ears in the direction of his apprentice, giving him a look that definitely displayed the fact that he better do what he was told the rest of the day. They were going into the deep territory of Ravineclan, and not many cats went there unless they had a reason. They were going to have to be careful, being so close to clan borders. They didn't want to start anything, because with only the two of them, they would lose. "Keep close, don't fall behind. Most of all, keep quiet, we don't want to disturb any of the prey that the hunting patrol may find later today." Hawkshadow turned and made his way toward the camp exit, flicking his tail to signal Cinderpaw to follow. As he left the confines of the camp, Hawkshadow breathed in deeply the scents of the forest, savoring the taste of the trees, dirt, and air that floated on the breeze. His eyes dilated slightly, and he unsheathed his claws into the dirt, kneading the ground with his paws. Yes, this was what he lived for, what he was destined to be. No kittypet life would ever be better than this.[/color][/sup]

[__ S K Y E]

You have learned something.
That always feels at first
as if you had lost something.

___ Cinderpaw truly loved Hawkshadow - in the mentor-apprentice way [he had no interest in tom-cats, really] and obviously respected his ways, but this time it took a little bit more self control not to huff and then snap at his mentor for his much-too-serious teachings. The young tabby tom was often a happy-go-lucky and all around easy-going cat to be around, but although he could make most anybody grin with his playful antics, not once had he ever been graced with a warm chuckle or amuse smile from Hawkshadow. It was quite annoying, to be truthful, and the quiet tom silently vowed to make his mentor laugh one day -- either today or the next.

Instead of voicing the frustrations prickling in the back of his brain, the young tom flashed a happy smile and his mentor, paws still twitching with anticipation for his next words. His glowing jade pools suddenly dulled to a dejected ivy hue, ears flat against his small cranium, as a wary, apologetic smile twitched at the edge of his lips. His mentor's words, harsh and abrupt, sent a stinging pain of woe through him before the young tom shook the sullen feelings of melancholy and focused his bright pools upon the larger tom again. Mouth flopped into a goofy grin, Cinderpaw nodded whole heartedly and trotted after his mentor, careful to keep his paws light and soundless.

Noticing his mentor's pause and how his claws unsheathed into the soft dirt beneath them, the young tom scampered past Hawkshadow on dancing paws. He held back a joyous laugh, eyes twinkling with laughter, and restrained the urge to do as his mentor had done -- to dance in the wind, laughter chiming in the air, as he breathed in the scents of the forest. "Come on, slow-poke! " he joked as he turned around, grinning from ear to ear, and even as he spoke he was careful not to let his voice rise too much -- in case it would scare away the hiding prey. Without waiting for an answer, the young tom trotted off in the direction of the old two-leg place.

Don't ask him how he knew where to go -- he just did.


comments;; eew. shortest post ever, but you didn't give me much to reply to -- I think. DD;
status;; fini
word count;; 371

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