MY NAME IS BRUTUS AND MY NAME MEANS HEAVY ✧
silence befalls the clearing, buck with her back turned and eyes forward. scanning the horizons for a cat who simply won't be there. the world is calm and still. the birds do not speak or take to the skies, resting in their trees and shivering away the cold. the fish dwell before the ice, slow and meager as they wait for the season to change and have the waters grow warmer. it seems that every creature is waiting. a crunch in the snow sounds, and an ear flicks to signal she has heard him. a light breath escapes her. "you huried." comes the deputy's voice, still and flat. she tries not to show her disappointment in these training sessions. instead, buck focuses on encouraging storm to learn for his family. it is clear as day that he is from another land, one he wishes to return to. they both have not truly adjusted to clan-life. had she been younger, she thinks she would act similarly to him. but buck is far older, and cursed with a heavy load. to prove her skills through this young tom and teach him how to survive the river territory. to survive another night against another cat. to show his superiority in strength and agility to his fellow apprentices. he does well enough, but she has been strict and harsh with her training. "the snow will give you away faster. your prey would have ran. had i been an enemy, your advantage would have been given away." her head turns slightly, a singular eye pinning @STORMPAW ! in his place. she lets him stew upon it before she arises, turning to fully face the tom.
"because of that, now you've entered a fight before you were ready. prove you are either stronger than me or run." it's a challenge, her body still as her voice is low. attention centered on the tom. it's clear he has been given the grace of a first move. he can either run, and they can work on stamina, or he can attack her. at the very least, buck always gives him a choice.
