Bramblepaw's Training

[Sleetfoot]

Sleetfoot poked his head into the apprentices den. He noted the heaving chest of his young new apprentice and trotted over to his side. "Bramblepaw. Wake up. Why don't you get a nice plump mouse and we can go out on our first day of training." He flicked the small cat's ear with his tail as he turned to walk out.

This would be as much training for Sleetfoot as it would for young Bramblepaw. Though it was true, Sleetfoot had mentored four separate apprentices in The High Lands, this was his first MountainClan apprentice, and he needed to prove to his Leader, his Clan, and his mate, that he was able to do this job. He needed to teach all of his knowledge of hunting and fighting on to this young cat, o make him one of the best warriors MountainClan could have.

He sat by the fresh-kill pile and waited patiently for Bramblepaw to appear. With as much excitement as he had had the day before, there was no doubt he would be coming out soon.

[Willowfoot]

Bramblepaw was half-awake when Sleetfoot had come to wake him up. He was still so exited about being an apprentice now that he instantly sprang into awakeness when his mentor mentioned training. He looked around the apprentices' den, taking notice of the other four sleeping cats, the biggest of which being the older Ivypaw. ((Her warrior ceremony hasn't happened yet (to my knowledge) so I'm assuming she's still an apprentice)) He stretched, yawning, then padded out to follow his mentor.
Choosing a plump mouse from the pile, he thought: Today I learn how to be an apprentice.
"Sleetfoot," he meowed quizically between bites, "what are you showing me today?"

[Sleetfoot]

"Today I will be showing you the territory and, if we get through that quickly, the best places to hunt." He smiled at the small cat. "Then, maybe after that if your sister and Pearlclaw would like they can join us for a little basic battle training." He stood when Bramblepaw had finished eating and headed towards the mouth of the den. He took a deep breath. He could smell a light rain in the air, but it had just past, and it was nothing that would stop the two adventurous toms from their first day of training.

[Willowfoot]

Bramblepaw wondered how they could do all that in a day, but maybe that was why Sleetfoot woke him up so early. Swallowing the last bit of mouse, he followed his mentor towards the entrance of the camp.

ooc: BRAINBLOCK *rams head with hammer*

[Sleetfoot]

Sleetfoot made sure his apprentice was following him before setting out into the early morning air. He started towards the boarder until he found it' beginning. He waited for his apprentice to catch up. When he did, he pointed at a large boulder. "This is the first major landmark that sets our territory apart from the other Clans."

[Willowfoot]

Bramblepaw's amber eyes surveyed it. "Wow," he said almost reverently, "it's so big!"

ooc:

[Sleetfoot]

**Hehe, it's fine. We have no body to impress here **

Sleetfoot smiled, then sighed. Bramblepaw wouldn't always be this easily fascinated. Soon, he'll be on his way to learning how to fight against other cats, how to kill. It was almost shameful to be the one teaching such innocence, how to be so menacing. That's when he shook his head so vigorously that it hurt. No! This is an honour! He wasn't going to teach his apprentice to be a killing machine. He was going to teach him how to be a defender of his Clan.

He flicked his tail. "Come on. We have a lot to do today." He continued along the borderline, making complete sure to be on the correct side, and that Bramblepaw was following directly behind him.

[Willowfoot]

Bramblepaw followed without hesitation. Once, he stopped and sniffed the invisible line. "What clan's on the other side?"

[Sleetfoot]

"That, young one, is the IslandClan's territory. You can see the many streams running along the ground and the watery scent int he air." He continued for a few more minutes before beckoning Bramblepaw forward with his tail. He headed away from the border for a few more minutes before stopping in a small clearing of cliffs. "This is the best place int he territory to hunt for mice. She, they like to hide in these rocks here.

[Willowfoot]

Bramblepaw took IslandClan's scent to heart before following Sleetfoot to the cliffs. He could taste the scent of mice on the air. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a mouse creep out from behind a rock. He slowly crept towards it, until his small frame could easily punce on it. He attempted catching it, but his paws missed by an inch. Snarling, he sat down.

[Sleetfoot]

Sleetfoot chuckled as he turned to watch his apprentice's first attempt at a catch. "Don't worry. Even I didn't catch my first mouse." He lay his tail on the small cat's shoulders, pushing lightly. "Bend forward into a crouch. Like this." He demonstrated the proper mouse hunters crouch.

[Willowfoot]

Bramblepaw tried his best to imitate Sleetfoot, his chest fur almost touching the ground and his back end still in standing position. "Like this?"
He tried not to be startled that he had not caught the mouse. He had spent a good amount of his time as a kit copying the apprentices' movements. He must be out of practice.

[Sleetfoot]

"Very close." He pressed down slightly on his apprentice's rear to match more of his position. "Then you just slink along, paw by paw untill your about a mouselength away then-" She cut off as he leapt forward. Though any mouse int heir right mind would have fled after hearing meowing, it was just for demonstration.

[Willowfoot]

He couldn't help being ashamed by his mistake. "Quit being stupid," he told himself, "Everyone makes mistakes. Even Sleetfoot."
He copied his mentor, pouncing just as he did, doing much better this time.

[Sleetfoot]

The white tom beamed. "There you go! Much better!"