"... and, Stonepool and Toadpaw, you'll join the hunting patrol today."
His day had been going just fine, until those words had reached those ears. Usually, Toadpaw was fine with joining hunting patrols - it was a way to practice what he'd learned, a means to get out of camp. But, usually, when the brown tabby's on a patrol, one of his siblings is there too. A familiar face beside him, comfort he liked to have in his ever-shifting world.
Nerves already rising, Toadpaw had asked Stonepool if he had to go on this patrol - perhaps he could do extra training later, instead? But, no, his mentor had been adamant, had told him it was necessary. Warriors don't try to get out of their patrols.
And now, the brown tabby trudges along beside his mentor, alone in this patrol. Away from his siblings - from Roepaw and Ragwortpaw. Stars, what if something happens? What if... What if dogs come to camp again, and they're separated when it happens? What if... What if the dogs come to the patrol instead? How would his siblings get to him without truly knowing where he's hunting? He shouldn't be here, he should be back at camp, just in case.
Anxiety keeps rising with each step, heart pounding, his focus on practicing his hunting crouch waning. The boy stops, looking up to his mentor.
"Uhm..." he finally speaks up, voice trembling, "I... I don't feel good, maybe I should --" Maybe I should go see Berryheart, he starts to say, only to be cut off by Stonepool's voice.
"What did I tell you?" the blue warrior says, his own stride slowing to a stop. Stonepool means well, Toadpaw thinks, but this doesn't feel well. "If you want to be a warrior, Toadpaw, you're going to have to go on patrols. What has gotten into you?" Going on patrols, did his mentor think that was his problem? Dejected, Toadpaw shakes his head, cerulean gaze lowering to his paws.
"Nothing," the apprentice finally mumbles, tail flicking behind him as he follows beside his mentor once more. "Sorry. I'll... I'll do better."
His day had been going just fine, until those words had reached those ears. Usually, Toadpaw was fine with joining hunting patrols - it was a way to practice what he'd learned, a means to get out of camp. But, usually, when the brown tabby's on a patrol, one of his siblings is there too. A familiar face beside him, comfort he liked to have in his ever-shifting world.
Nerves already rising, Toadpaw had asked Stonepool if he had to go on this patrol - perhaps he could do extra training later, instead? But, no, his mentor had been adamant, had told him it was necessary. Warriors don't try to get out of their patrols.
And now, the brown tabby trudges along beside his mentor, alone in this patrol. Away from his siblings - from Roepaw and Ragwortpaw. Stars, what if something happens? What if... What if dogs come to camp again, and they're separated when it happens? What if... What if the dogs come to the patrol instead? How would his siblings get to him without truly knowing where he's hunting? He shouldn't be here, he should be back at camp, just in case.
Anxiety keeps rising with each step, heart pounding, his focus on practicing his hunting crouch waning. The boy stops, looking up to his mentor.
"Uhm..." he finally speaks up, voice trembling, "I... I don't feel good, maybe I should --" Maybe I should go see Berryheart, he starts to say, only to be cut off by Stonepool's voice.
"What did I tell you?" the blue warrior says, his own stride slowing to a stop. Stonepool means well, Toadpaw thinks, but this doesn't feel well. "If you want to be a warrior, Toadpaw, you're going to have to go on patrols. What has gotten into you?" Going on patrols, did his mentor think that was his problem? Dejected, Toadpaw shakes his head, cerulean gaze lowering to his paws.
"Nothing," the apprentice finally mumbles, tail flicking behind him as he follows beside his mentor once more. "Sorry. I'll... I'll do better."
// PROMPT: toadpaw and his mentor are placed on a patrol without any of his other siblings. he likes to stay around them, and tries to do so as much as possible. do these types of patrols make him nervous, when none of his littermates are around?
