Birds of a Feather [Open]

Treestorm had watched as his apprentice left the camp to go hunting. She was coming along nicely and Treestorm was really proud to have trained her. Carefully following the she-cat, Treestorm watched every move she made. The tomcat didn't like some of the prey choices that leafbare offered, but it was at least better than nothing. Then movement caught his eye and he saw a crane. What was young Ternpaw going to do? He watched as his apprentice crouched awkwardly. Not even he had ever caught a crane before. Green eyes watched in amusement as the crane tried to shake Ternpaw off... then it was over.

Wait... did Ternpaw REALLY just kill the crane? With a purr he stepped out from his hiding place. "Well done Ternpaw. You're hunting skills are coming along nicely."

In a sense this had been a slight assessment without actually making it an official assessment. Ternpaw might have been a little awkward when it came to the crane, but it was not something that RiverClan normally ate. Sitting down next to his apprentice he asked, "How did it feel to bring down something that big?"

And it definitely was big. Bigger than a cat anyway. The biggest thing that Treestorm had ever caught was one of the fish in the river and they were basically smaller than he was. When Treestorm had been given his apprentice he was really proud. He had done his best to train her and this little hunt proved that she was coming along rather nicely.

"Before you know it you will be a warrior. Are you excited?"

It wouldn't be long now. A couple of more moons at least and the she-cat would become a warrior. One thing that Treestorm had a problem was that he rarely showed emotions. After Gentlepaw's death the tomcat had been a little distant... except with his sister. He looked down at his apprentice and waited for her response. His thoughts drifted to the future where Ternpaw was a warrior and fighting alongside the Clan as a full member. It was definitely something Treestorm wanted to see. Apprentices becoming warriors was always a good thing no matter what Clan the cat belonged to.

All Treestorm could do was purr. He had startled his apprentice. It was plain from the way she was acting. In fact he was a bit pleased by it. Even though she had been distracted she was still willing to defend her kill. That was a good sign. And what she said next made his purring grow even louder.

"You are coming along well, Ternpaw. You are right. There is some meat there for a Queen or Elder, or two or three, to have while the feathers can be used to make them warmer at night."

The tom flicked his tail tip over the apprentice's ear and then noticed how... quiet she seemed. She seemed reserved even when he mentioned her being a Warrior. Settling down so he could look at her the tom went on.

"Do not worry, Ternpaw. I, too, have been in your paws. We all have. You are so close to being a warrior you are afraid you might mess up. You could get hurt... or worse. All you can do is do your best and that day will come when you will be a full warrior."

The tom chuckled. "I remember when I was about to get my warrior name. I was scared out of my mind. What if I got a really horrible name like Treestone or some such as that? No. Instead I got Treestorm. Tree because my mother was sheltered amongst a tree when my sister and I were born and storm for my strength."

Sitting up the tom went on. "Soon you will receive your warrior name and it will match who YOU are."

Then the tom gently prodded Ternpaw. "Catch me if you can!"

It was training time. He was going to test her reflexes today. Her hunting was good, but Treestorm was going to be running around all over the place seeing if his apprentice could keep up and try to catch him. It would help for enemies and prey who were faster. While it might look that the two were playing they were in fact, not. Treestorm laughed as he raced away from his apprentice, letting his eyes look back to see if she was following.

Treestorm purred when his apprentice started to follow. Sunningrocks, yes a good place to head to. Since the tomcat had a head start he yowled back at his apprentice, "Let's make this challenging! First one to get to Sunningrocks gets to choose the next three outings; from hunting to battle training to nothing at all. On the way, we will try to ensure the other loses by tripping them, tricking them, whatever. Everything is fair here EXCEPT using your claws! This is training, so no hurting the other cat severely."

With that said, Treestorm flicked out his tail towards his apprentice to try and trip her up. The enemy was not going to play fair so he had to ensure his apprentice knew every trick, and more, in order to survive. A cackle escaped the tom as he glanced to see if Ternpaw was alright. He wasn't out to hurt her seriously, but this game would involve some kind of injury. An accidental twisted paw or maybe even a slight scrape but by StarClan he was not going to make his apprentice, or himself, be stuck in the Medicine Cat den for several moons over a deep scratch from a claw. So to ensure that from happening, the tom just kept claws out of it altogether.

Careful eyes watched the apprentice. What would she do? Would she win? Would she lose? Suddenly, Treestorm lost his footing. Looking down he realized that he had somehow managed to find a hole in the ground and stepped in it. The tom went flying, his leg still somewhat trapped in the hole. A painful jerk in his left front leg joint and then Treestorm was still. The breath had been knocked out of him and Treestorm wondered if he was somehow dying. A groan escaped him as he tried to get to his paws, but couldn't. He sank back down on the ground. He couldn't see what his leg looked like, but the pain was immense and the heat from it couldn't be very good.

Treestorm watched as Ternpaw returned and started digging his leg from the hole. A purr escaped him.

"And this is what happens when your attention is elsewhere. Let this be a lesson Ternpaw. NEVER lose focus on whatever it is you're doing. You don't know what will happen."

Soon his leg was better and he shook himself. Gently placing his paw on the ground there was pain, but he could put his weight on it.

"Well it looks like I can walk a bit, but I'm sure Ravenpaw will say something like staying off of it for a couple of days."

He looked at Ternpaw with an amused gleam in his eye.

"I guess this means you win by default. That can sometimes happen. Count your blessings."

He purred again and began limping back towards camp, flicking his tail to his apprentice. His brown and black fur looked even dirtier than it was and his green eyes showed no sadness or anything at having lost by default.

"So Ternpaw. Do you want to claim victory and choose the next three days of doing something or postpone this little exercise until Ravenpaw gives me the all clear and we can try again without me being a mousebrain?"

A grin lit up his face as his tail flicked his apprentice's ears. She was a good apprentice and Treestorm enjoyed training her. His sore leg just meant he had to be more careful. And of course, Ternpaw's worry was good. She had come back for a Clanmate who had been injured. However, had it been a fox, Treestorm would have told his apprentice to run and not look back unless she had a patrol with her. Luckily a hole wasn't a fox and they were both safe for now. Since he had been given Ternpaw to train, the tom had been really pleased and happy. He wanted to do his best and it definitely showed.

Whatever Ternpaw decided now, Treestorm would do. It would also give him an idea of how Ternpaw would be like, for her final assessment which would be in a few moons. Either way, however, Treestorm knew he would be proud of Ternpaw and he would do everything in his power to ensure she made it to her warrior ceremony. Great StarClan he wanted to see the young she-cat find a mate and settle down once in awhile. Ternpaw was strong and her skills would definitely benefit the Clan. He smiled at her as they continued back toward camp.

"Go tell Ravenpaw of my little escapade. I'll be right behind you."

The sooner the better in his opinion.