It was mid-afternoon when the young molly went out with her mentor for a little hunt maybe even some training throughout the territory in the aspect of tracking things to battle training. Asterpaw had rather enjoyed her apprenticeship so, having been given her name a few moons prior she had just simply soaked it all in. Being able to finally able to see what the world was like outside the confiments of the camp. Learning what it's like to being a warrior and the things needing to be done to protect the clan left her in awe and kind of scared her in a way. Hearing the stories of the killings from renly to the war that captive the neighboring clan made her worry, what would happen if she had to be put in that situation so soon? Would she ready for it or be in the way?
Whatever it was she wanted to be ready, her loyalty with her clan was strong despite her young age and she was willing to throw her life away to ensure her clanmates were protected the best she could muster. When Nightstorm had told her to go down to the tunneling systems to see if she could find some prey to hunt, all they while being sure to find her way back out and avoiding getting stuck down there the molly was rather eager to please the feline. Quick to shoot down she made sure she was attentive to her surroundings. Maw just slightly open as she tried her best to scent anything that didn't smell like wet dirt.
After some time the molly was starting to wonder why she was sent down not yet finding anything but dirt, more dirt, and even more dirt. "Gahhhh whyyyy" she whined softly to herself starting to grow slightly frustrated with the fact that she was getting no where with her task. That was before she heard something. Pausing in her pawsteps her ears strained to hear, was someone down here? Frowning slightly she slowly crept forward turning into a large area, a little stream running through the middle of the small cave a cluster of cats close by it. "what the...." she mumbled her frown growing more.
Brows pinching together she continued to creep forward curious as to why they were down there. She noticed a few of her peers having battle trained with some she was able to finally hear what they were saying she gasped something her eyes widening. To her it sounded like they were bullying someone who she could finally make out in the middle of this group of cats. Springing out she pushed her way to the middle before turning in the middle. "Excuse me! What do you guys think you're doing? This isn't okay!" She hissed softly her tail twitching.
Reedlingpaw
shadowclan apprentice
(he/him)
A weak smile tugged at the small tom's lips at Asterpaw's comment about his dad. "He's not all bad," he defended his father, "He just... has high expectations for me." He had found that when speaking about his dad, he needed to pick his words carefully. Daffodilpool would be furious if he ever found out that Reedlingpaw had said anything bad about him. He'd have a fit over his son 'making him look bad,' he knew it. "He wants me to be the best I can be; he just gets mad when I don't do as well as I'm capable of."
Nodding in response to the she-cat's explanation on her training, Reedlingpaw turned his gaze to the trees around them. He wondered how long the warrior had been so close by; had he seen what had happened? He'd be so embarrassed if he had. Posture relaxing as Asterpaw offered to cover for him, the apprentice turned relieved, grateful eyes to her. "That would be so amazing," he breathed, feeling like he might actually get away with what he'd done. He couldn't help the guilt gnawing at him at the thought of lying to his dad, though.
He was caught off guard as she challenged him to a race, and stood frozen as she slipped away. After a moment, he finally processed what was happening, and he took off after her. "Hey, wait!" he called, little legs struggling to keep up with his new friend. Each time she paused to look back, he started to catch up to her, but as soon as she started running again he'd fall behind once more. Soon enough, he was giggling at the whole situation. He didn't remember the last time he'd had this much fun with some-cat.
The molly couldn't help but frown a little, why the toms father would do such a thing confused her. Letting what he said rattle in the back of her head she gently pawed at the brown feline. "Your dad sounds like a total bully... The point of being an apprentice is learning how to be a warrior! I feel like making fun of or being upset at someone who's learning to be a waste of energy... I'm so sorry he's like that. And if I hear another cat be mean to you I'll go after them! Bullying isn't okay!" She huffed her ears standing up slightly as she puffed out her chest.
Ears flickering slightly she shook her head, "Nightstorms close by with some other mentors it was this big thing to see how many we could catch in the snowy season I guess? Seeing as most of us have been apprentices during only new leaf when prey isn'tso scarse you know?" she softly added. Knowing the tom could get in trouble didn't sit right with the two toned molly. Ears flattening agaisnt her skull she sighed softly as her pale blue hues shifted to the side.
"I'll make sure you won't get in trouble I'm sure I can convince Nightstorm to say you came with us and I have like some prey I did manage to catch earlier you can bring back too so it's believable okay? But I'd love to chat with you more on the way back! I already like you a lot!" She purred out softly as she wiggled her bum, "Last one out of here is a rotten egg!" She giggled softly before she bolted off towards the entrance. She paused here and there to make sure the other was following after her.
Reedlingpaw
shadowclan apprentice
(he/him)
Reedlingpaw flushed bright red as Asterpaw complimented him on his name. It was probably the first time some-cat so pretty had complimented him at all, and he found himself a little flustered. He didn't have long to live in the fluster, however, before she was mentioning his bullies again and he quickly sobered, giving a groan. "It's my dad," he complained, rolling his eyes. "Daffodilpool," he clarified, "He yells at me sometimes when I mess up in my training, right in front of other apprentices. I'm sure you've seen." With a grimace, the little tom shook his head. "Some cats just pick on me because of it; a lot of them just ignore it, though, so it's not all bad," he soothed, hoping to ease some of his new friend's worry.
Eyes wide as Asterpaw revealed that her mentor had sent her out into the forest alone, Reedlingpaw gasped quietly. "Your mentor sent you out here alone?" he pressed in disbelief, "Oxhead would never!" As though his sudden outburst had reminded him of the rules, the apprentice tapped his forepaws against the snow beneath him. Anxiety prickled at his belly, and he was suddenly overwhelmed with the knowledge that he'd disobeyed. "Oh, I'm gonna be in trouble; don't speak so soon," he joked awkwardly, tipping his head in direction of the camp. "You wanna head back? We could get to know each other a little on the walk," he offered, flashing a nervous smile.
The molly smiled warmly, "That's such a cute name!" she purred out softly before streching a little bit. "I'm glad those punks didn't hurt you.. Do you know why they bother you so much?" She asked softly tilting her head to the side as she studied the tom. From the sounds of it she could tell that the feline got picked on quite often and it made her a little sad seeing as she saw nothing wrong with the apprentice.
Letting out a soft hum she smiled, "Oh me coming down here was pure coincidence, nightstorm wanted me to see if I can find prey down here but like also be able to find my way back out without help.. I was honestly about to turn back and leave because all I can tell is that theres dirt and snow down here but I heard you say something so I came to see whats going on." She shrugged rather nonchantly, it was true she didn't really see anyone come down before her but was glad to have stumbled across the group.
"I'm just glad youre safe!" She purred softly dipping her head a little.
Reedlingpaw
shadowclan apprentice
(he/him)
The small tom sighed in exasperation as Asterpaw retorted, nudging him to his paws. He stood reluctantly, amber gaze trained on his paws. "Okay..." he agreed hesitantly, hoping that that story would be enough to keep his tail firmly attached. At the she-cat's introduction, however, he seemed to finally relax. "I'm Reedlingpaw," he responded, giving a little dip of his head.
He looked over his flank briefly at her question to see that other than some snow, he was unmarked. "I'm fine," he reassured her, "I don't think they even touched me." He gave a shake of his pelt, cleaning the clumps of snow from it easily enough. "How did you find us out here, anyway?" he questioned, "I thought no-cat saw us sneak out."
Reedlingpaw
shadowclan apprentice
(he/him)
He'd been lured out with the promise of battle training. A group of apprentices were heading out to the territory, sneaking away from their mentors, to try and hone their skills to impress the warriors when they next were taken to train-- or so he'd been told. Reedlingpaw had followed happily, glad that these apprentices were finally willing to be friendly with him. They'd even apologized! It had been some time that the marbled tom was subjected to relentless teasing; he couldn't, for the life of him, figure out why they'd target him like they did.
Standing in the clearing with the other apprentices, the little tom suddenly felt uneasy. Why did it feel like every-cat was looking at him? He looked between the other apprentices, shrinking under their sneers and glittering stares. "You ready?" one of them teased, to which Reedlingpaw flinched. No, no, this wasn't how this was supposed to go! They'd promised they were friends!
"But, you--" the apprentice managed, before one of the larger apprentices swiped at him, almost catching his maw. He just barely dodged the blow, staring back with desperation in his eyes. "You promised you'd be nice!" he argued, jaw agape in disbelief. He watched as they all surrounded him, and he felt his heart rate quicken, his throat swell closed, and his paws became numb from fear. Just when he felt like he had no choice but to fight back, another apprentice showed up, standing beside him and shouting at the others.
He looked back at the she-cat, feeling indignation rise in his chest. His dad would be furious if he knew that Reedlingpaw had needed a she-cat to save him from a couple bullies. He'd get his tail yanked tonight when he saw Daffodilpool... But in the moment, he couldn't help but feel a little relieved to have an out. He watched at the largest of the apprentices, one who had been targeting him since even before his apprenticeship, rolled his eyes. "Whatever," he muttered, "Like you'd get it. Have fun tellin' daddy." With a sneer, the large apprentice turned and made his way off into the forest, followed closely with his snickering and jeering friends.
Reedlingpaw couldn't help the flinch. He knew he was gonna pay for this later. Turning to Asterpaw, the little tom lashed his tail. "Why'd you do that?" he challenged, "They're gonna come after you too!"