- Jul 22, 2022
- 24
- 11
- 3
how the moons have passed. harpyfall remembers when basilpaw was a little leanbh, kitten down still framing his skinny figure. the same scrap of fur stands before him now, scrawny still yet he's grown. no longer a child, basilpaw has learned all that harpyfall has to offer... although the daylight warrior still couldn't exactly pinpoint any exceptional skills of the young tom, the time has come for basilpaw's warrior assessment. (truthfully, he'd almost forgotten that basilpaw was twelve moons now. the older he gets, the less he keeps track of time. it's fortunate that blazestar had reminded him with the discussion of warrior assessments.)
with a fluttering twitch of his tail tip, harpyfall glances towards the leaf-speckled sky; it's midday, the sun reaching its highest peak with its light gleaming through cracks in the canopy of pines. "well... isn't the day finally here? didn't know you'd make it." the cream cameo lets a small smile grace his lips as if he hadn't said anything callous. basilpaw's always been nervous and a bit thick... and as far as harpyfall could see, his apprentice didn't excel at much of anything other than crying. still, it's hard not to feel an inkling of pride swell in his chest when he thinks of basilpaw finally earning his name; he might not be the best apprentice, but he's come a long way.
without asking if basilpaw is prepared, the daylight warrior lifts his nose to the treetops. "your final assessment will determine whether you graduate or not. if you pass... well, congratulations. but if you fail, you'll have no choice but to retire to the elders' den." it's a lie, of course- no apprentice who fails their assessment is forced to retire. but harpyfall thinks, if the stakes are higher, maybe it'll give basilpaw more of an incentive to try his hardest.
or maybe he'll just burst into tears. it's fifty-fifty. a warrior shouldn't crumble in the face of adversity, though.
"catch a mouse and return t' this spot before the sun sets; and climbin' trees isn't required, since mice don't climb." harpyfall knows that basilpaw is not a gifted climber like most of skyclan. but he isn't going easy on him just because he isn't forcing basilpaw to climb—mice are tricky creatures to catch, given their keen sense of hearing and alertness to their surroundings. it would still be enough of a challenge for the patchwork apprentice.
with the assessment's instructions delivered, harpyfall tilts his head and lets his eyes fall closed in a faux cheerful smile. "good luck—and try not t' be late. my housefolk worry when i'm out past dark."
@BASILPAW
with a fluttering twitch of his tail tip, harpyfall glances towards the leaf-speckled sky; it's midday, the sun reaching its highest peak with its light gleaming through cracks in the canopy of pines. "well... isn't the day finally here? didn't know you'd make it." the cream cameo lets a small smile grace his lips as if he hadn't said anything callous. basilpaw's always been nervous and a bit thick... and as far as harpyfall could see, his apprentice didn't excel at much of anything other than crying. still, it's hard not to feel an inkling of pride swell in his chest when he thinks of basilpaw finally earning his name; he might not be the best apprentice, but he's come a long way.
without asking if basilpaw is prepared, the daylight warrior lifts his nose to the treetops. "your final assessment will determine whether you graduate or not. if you pass... well, congratulations. but if you fail, you'll have no choice but to retire to the elders' den." it's a lie, of course- no apprentice who fails their assessment is forced to retire. but harpyfall thinks, if the stakes are higher, maybe it'll give basilpaw more of an incentive to try his hardest.
or maybe he'll just burst into tears. it's fifty-fifty. a warrior shouldn't crumble in the face of adversity, though.
"catch a mouse and return t' this spot before the sun sets; and climbin' trees isn't required, since mice don't climb." harpyfall knows that basilpaw is not a gifted climber like most of skyclan. but he isn't going easy on him just because he isn't forcing basilpaw to climb—mice are tricky creatures to catch, given their keen sense of hearing and alertness to their surroundings. it would still be enough of a challenge for the patchwork apprentice.
with the assessment's instructions delivered, harpyfall tilts his head and lets his eyes fall closed in a faux cheerful smile. "good luck—and try not t' be late. my housefolk worry when i'm out past dark."
@BASILPAW