private before the storm | hollypaw

[Hollow Tree]

// before the blizzard @hollypaw

Her paws tingled with excitement as she approached the edge of camp. Training an apprentice was challenging but rewarding. Stagstrike had been near his warrior-name when she was assigned as his mentor. So Hollypaw would be her first apprentice that had nearly zero experience. Hollow Tree remembered her first days of training with Howling Wind and Gray Wolf. It was much different back then. A time before clans.

The brown feline got lost in thought. Snapping out of it when she noticed Hollypaw was right before her. The warrior wondered if they were excited to start their training. Hollow Tree didn’t know them very well but expected to get closer with them over the moons. She wasn’t a harsh mentor but she admits to being a bit strict. Holding expectations that they be timely and try their best.

“Hollypaw. I want to show you around the territory first. Leaf-bare is dangerous because of the cold. But we also aren’t the only hungry creatures out there.” she isn’t trying to scare them but simply let them know to be on guard when out of camp. If anything were to happen, Hollow Tree would put Hollypaw’s safety before her own. “Let’s go.” she moved towards the exit of the camp.​

[ you fall through the trees . tags ]​

 

[hollypaw]

Everything is so nerve-wracking lately, being away from all her siblings. Shes never been away from them for very long and she had inwardly panicked when she realized this meant less time with them, would they forget about her like their mother did? Holly shivers as she walks besides Hollow Tree, tail flicking back and forth in a nervous manner. She'd hope they wouldn't! All they have left is each other, but also maybe they have Roepaw and Sunnyday, but Holly still feels so alienated from the rest of the clan.

"W-What?" Hollow is talking to her and Holly blinks once, twice, has to digest what shes saying. Oh! "Okay. I'll beat them all up." Holly says this as if it were a fact, fully believing herself to be strong enough to beat up the hungry creatures and save Hollow Tree. "Have you ever beat up a fox? I heard they're scary. Not that i'm afraid of them." surely, being a warrior, Hollow had seen her fair share of scary things! Hollys totally bluffing, she'd run away at the sight of one. She just wants to think of herself as brave.

// SO sorry for the late response!​

"speech"​

 

[Hollow Tree]

She could tell the apprentice was nervous. Only hoping that they were also excited to start their training. Hollow Tree remembered when her parents started teaching her things. But that was much different to how apprentices were trained. Hollypaw would have more structure in their training. With Hollow watching over them, they would also be able to learn from the other cats in the clan.

The warrior stopped for a moment to look at her apprentice. “You should be afraid, I am.” The brown she-cat made her way out of camp and deeper into the woods that surrounded them. “Fear is a good thing to recognize. It can make you sharp. But you have to be careful that it doesn’t consume you or make you lash out.” This was a hard skill to master, even for the fully grown warriors.

Hollow Tree continued her way towards the Sandy Hollows, “I’ve encountered a fox and gave it a few marks. But it took more than one warrior to drive it away. If you see a fox Hollypaw, it’s best you regroup with more cats.” She hopes her apprentice never has to face such a beast alone. Hollow wasn’t sure if she, herself, could take on a fox alone. The warrior continues forward, getting lost in thought till they arrive at the destination in mind. “Here we are at the Sandy Hollows. This is where apprentices practice their skills. Anything from hunting to how to fight.”​

[ you fall through the trees . tags ]​