redmask
Redmask stifled a yawn, trying to hide his lack of sleep from the others, eager to get in a training session with Morningpaw. His apprentice had begged to train with her best friend, Featherpaw, and today was finally that day. He looked down at his calico apprentice, a soft smile forming on his face - Morningpaw was his first apprentice, and he wanted to do his best with this responsibility. She was eager and energetic and would be a good asset to their clan, but Redmask knew she had much to learn, and the russet tom promised himself that he would be the best mentor he could. The exhaustion escaping his thoughts, the shadowclan warrior glanced at Rowanshade, less excited to mentor alongside the outspoken she-cat. The russet she-cat has always been known for coming up with ideas that diverged from tradition, but Redmask firmly believed the tradition of the warrior code and the warriors' way of life was necessary and shouldn't be meddled with.
Then came the imposter, who at first, promised to punish code breakers and change the clans for the better - and while Redmask believed the warrior code must be upheld and followed, he hesitated at the methods used and the harsh treatment towards his clanmates. He also remembered Rowanshade's support of the imposter, and that distrust continued to follow him despite the resolution of past events. Now, with the current state of Shadowclan, he knew it was important to maintain trust, but he couldn't help but feel wary around the other warrior.
Redmask shook his head as if to rid his mind of these thoughts, regardless of how he felt about the she-cat, he had to work alongside her and he couldn't let his suspicions affect the two apprentices they promised to train. Letting out a sigh, the tom led the patrol to the Tall Pines, wondering how the group would handle today's training session - he and Rowanshade hadn't really discussed the plan, and he did not want to step over her toes and take control of their training. As they reached their destination, Redmask raised a brow at his companions, as if thinking of what to say.
"Well, now that we're here, shall we begin?" He paused, calmly glancing at Morningpaw and then Rowanshade, "Would you want to do some battle training?"
Rowanshade slunk along behind the other three members of the party. She still couldn’t believe she’d been given an apprentice, after everything. Featherpaw was a beat-up little dusky gray tabby of a rogue, but she was still a soul entrusted to Rowanshade for guidance. Was it some kind of trick? Mistrust had become her bread and butter since the battle, so she found herself regarding her Clanmates with as little trust as they did her.
“Yeah, that would be best.” she meowed, chin set. She fluffed out her russet-colored fur, and looked Redmask directly in the eye as though challenging him. She was shorter than he, and indeed most cats.
“These two are former city cats. City cats are all posture and bluff, because they don’t have healing herbs and Clanmates to care for them. It might seem crazy to attack outright, but a Warrior has no need of such a dance.”
And without warning, she launched herself at Featherpaw. She didn’t attack head-on, being much heavier and stronger than her pupil, but instead aimed a glancing blow claws sheathed on her left side. Featherpaw reacted instantly, side-stepping and smoothly extending a slender limb to catch her mentor mid-air. The sudden preparedness was not what Rowanshade had been anticipating, so the defense caught her solidly knocking the wind from her as she landed in an ungraceful heap.
“Er, not bad. Guess you’ve had some fighting training before?” She coughed, getting to her feet with as much dignity as she could muster.
Featherpaw said nothing.
“Alright Morningpaw. Let’s see you block an attack.” Rowanshade gave a jerk of her head, indicating that Redmask should engage his apprentice.
Though she had the benefit of forewarning, Morningpaw couldn’t help but swallow nervously as she eyed her mentor. She had a feeling this would be very different than the casual combat training Wisteriastar had shown her back home…