just one step at a time {Snowy Owl}

Pain stabbed in his tail, waking the large tom. Bearclaw growled and opened his eyes. The warrior that stepped on his tail immediately lifted the paw. The warrior mouthed in apology and padded out. Bearclaw grumbled in irritation and moved his tail thick furred tail closer to his body, back in the nest. He closed his eyes to rest a little more, but sleep wouldn't come. His mind kept going to today's duties. He thought about going on border patrol at sunhigh. He should ask Hazelclaw if he could join one and another in the evening. He had joined a few yesterday as well as going in one hunting patrol and training his apprentice.

Thinking of Mosspaw he remembered he had decided to start battle training today. Though the apprentice was eight moons old he didn't become an apprentice till a moon ago. The reason for that was because Mosspaw was often sick throughout his kithood and wasn't able to become an apprentice till his immune system got stronger. Bearclaw had hoped he would be chosen to mentor the kit. He liked being a mentor again. Though Mosspaw seems to be the opposite of his first apprentice. Most saw a runt and a weak cat but Bearclaw knew better. A truly weak cat wouldn't have survived through the relentless illnesses he went through. He sees a resilient cat with promise to become a real warrior. Through the first moon Bearclaw had to think outside the box for Mosspaw and teach him the basics of Clan life. Mosspaw certainly is a challenge in a different light.

Finally Bearclaw got to his paws and stepped out of the den. He shook his thick tabby pelt and stretched each of his stiff muscles. As he did this Bearclaw looked around camp. It was dawn and the dawn patrol had already left. Close to the freshkill pile there were cats sitting around eating and talking. Normally Bearclaw would have picked something from the pile and joined them but he decided not to today. He will eat at sunhigh before he goes on patrol. Thinking of a patrol he couldn't see Hazelclaw. The deputy must be in one of the patrols or something. No matter. That means he has more time to spend to train Mosspaw. Being eight moons old now, the apprentice has a lot to catch up on. Most apprentices his age would be hunting and passed the basics of fighting techniques. Mosspaw hasn't even begun this. Not really.

Bearclaw padded over to the apprentice den and peaked in. Some of the apprentices weren't in their nests. Probably out in the dawn patrol or out training early with their mentors. He spotted Mosspaw and mewed gruffly. "Mosspaw, training. Meet me at the Sandy Hollow," he ordered, stepping out. Without looking back Bearclaw padded to and through the gorse tunnel into the sandy ravine. He padded to the Sandy Hollow that was quite close to the camp entrance and sat down. He wrapped his thick plum tail around his paws, patiently waiting for his apprentice.

tag(s): alpine
notes: training thread!