[ i knew i wouldn't forget you ] otterclaw ~

[Crowzerplorodon]

[avatar]http://i48.tinypic.com/2r5c50m.jpg[/avatar]

I must be dreaming... And if he was, let the dreams play, because this was just too good to let go. For the first time in a long time, Blackpaw was actually going out to train, one on one, with a mentor! Oh sure, hanging around other apprentices and their own mentors was fine and dandy. But with warriorhood coming so close, Blackpaw really felt the need for some one on one training, just so he'd be prepared for any assessment that came his way. Thank StarClan Otterclaw had taken up the mentor position. If he had to wait any longer, Blackpaw probably would have run off to another clan, just to get some actual training.

… Ok, that was a lie.

FogClan meant everything to the apprentice, and he wouldn't give it up for some training. Honestly he'd rather be stuck as an apprentice for the rest of his life, rather than leave the clan for some other life. FogClan had pulled him from a life of wandering after his family disappeared in the blink of an eye. Well, not really a blink, but they all left his life extremely quickly, and he was so young that it had felt like a blink. But that was the past. FogClan was his family now, with the members his friends that he couldn't do without.

Well, he could do without some of them. But for the most part, Blackpaw enjoyed the company of all of his clanmates. Especially the ones that didn't act all prim and proper their whole lives, like Mistpelt or Rowanheart.

Paws kneading at the ground, the young tom waited for Otterclaw to show up, resisting the urge to chase his tail in anticipation. This was just too exciting, and Blackpaw wasn't ashamed of admitting that, regardless of how kitlike it was. He was fifteen moons, after all! Something like going hunting with a mentor really shouldn't have been this enthralling – but it was. The apprentice actually had to hiss a few times, just to calm himself without looking like too much of an idiot.

This was his first real session with Otterclaw, after all. Blackpaw didn't want to come off as an idiot. While he didn't believe in judging by appearances, he knew the importance of looking good on first meetings, and how that could affect a relationship in the future. Otterclaw would report to Owlstar about his growth as an apprentice, and, through that, it would change how Owlstar viewed him, which was extremely important, and not just because she could make him a warrior or not.

With a sigh, Blackpaw looked around again, waiting for Otterclaw to show up so they could get moving. A tom could only stay still for so long!

[Pyro]

Finally.

Finally he had something over Reedfoot, his goody-goody sister. All her life she had played by the rules and for half of it she had stared at silly stars in the sky. And what good had it done her? Otterclaw had gotten an apprentice first. Yes, he had been asked to take the position a bit, late, but he had been asked. Above all other cats, Owlstar had seen fit to allow him to mentor Blackpaw.

Well...Technically he had asked to...But it was the principle that counted, right?

To be honest, he had done it more out of curiosity then anything. Out of all the apprentices, Blackpaw seemed the one he could relate to the most. Blackpaw had opinions. Smart opinions. And he didn't seem like the typical, 'oh my StarClan, I'm da bestest' apprentice. But neither was he the quiet, reserved sort like Reedfoot was.

Perhaps the point that caught him the most was that Blackpaw broke rules. Constantly. This was something that would definitely get in the way of his warrior's ceremony. Otterclaw would be happy to vouch for him...But Owlstar would never believe him, not unless Blackpaw at least appeared to shape up. One of the most important things Otterclaw would teach him would be how to bend the rules to his will. How to skate on the edge of 'right' and 'wrong'.

Hoho, this is gonna e fun. He thought to himself, smiling. At last he reached Blackpaw, who seemed to be giddy with excitement. Well, at least I'm not alone. His smile grew bigger, but only for a few seconds for he forced himself to look...remotely serious.

"Hm. Well, not sure how to start this off. I've never really been given authority before...Perhaps because everyone knows I'd twist it like a vine. What to do what to do...ah yes, I'm Otterclaw, your new mentor, but I think you've already guessed that. I can be a bit chatty, but I promise we'll get work done." Of course, Otterclaw of all toms, could only stay serious for so long. and seeing as the situation didn't absolutely demand it, he couldn't help smiling again.

"So, where would you like to begin? We can take a quick patrol, though I doubt anyone's going to try anything. Everyone seems to be equally unfortunate this winter as far as hunting goes...speaking of hunting we could do that and try and get some prey on the pile...Or if you'd rather we polish your fighting skills, we could do that first."

[Crowzerplorodon]

[avatar]http://i48.tinypic.com/2r5c50m.jpg[/avatar]

Yes! Otterclaw had showed up! And made a mighty fine impression, though Blackpaw was one to talk. He listened to his new mentor speak eagerly, ears pricked at attention and green eyes wide as he took in each and every syllable that floated out of Otterclaw's mouth. It was odd for him to be so focused on something, let alone a figure of authority. But right now nothing mattered to Blackpaw accept for the fact that he was going to get some real training done. This was probably the eight time he had thanked StarClan today, but he couldn't help but be extremely pious right now. He had a mentor!

Of course, none of this excitement shown through to his exterior. All one code possibly tell was that Blackpaw was paying attention a lot more than usual. And they could always make assumptions as to why, if they wanted. Even if assuming made an ass out of you and me, Blackpaw mused with a poorly restrained grin. Eh, he assumed things all the time. Like he assumed that Mistpelt was insane, Willowpaw was a Cindy, and Brightnose was too deep in her hat for her own good.

Not like he'd tell any of them this. Oh no, his thoughts were better left nestled in his mind, floating amongst each other as they gossiped even more and formed more assumptions and inferences.

But back to Otterclaw. A chatty mentor, he could chill with that. He was rather talkative himself, and rarely knew when to shut up. At least what he said held merit. Or, in Blackpaw's eyes, it held merit. Maybe not to everyone – or anyone – else. But yes, he did know who Otterclaw was and he was grateful for the tom taking over as his mentor and he was extremely glad that the tom seemed to be easy going and loose and generally good natured, and not uptight like a lot of cats. Owlstar definitely made a good decision sticking them together. Definitely.

“I dunno,” he said with a shrug. Really, he did know. Right now he wouldn't mind some battle training, as he felt really rusty when it came to that. But, the clan needed food more than he needed to train... Perhaps they could do both? Blackpaw doubted it. And he needed to put the clan first. “Guess we should hunt. Clan has like, no prey.” Coming back with some, no matter how little, would be an excellent thing for both of the toms.

[Pyro]

Otterclaw thought for a moment. Blackpaw didn't really seem thrilled about hunting. He probably wanted to do something else, probably work on his fighting skills if he knew apprentices. well, not that Blackpaw was the run-of-the-mill apprentice...But of course, he had to share something in common with them. He admired the younger cat for putting duty first. He just hoped it wasn't a sign that Blackpaw was starting to forsake all fun for the sake of it. There was really no reason why they couldn't do both. Maybe not at the same time...But both activities could definitely take place in the same day. And if it snowed anymore, they probably wouldn't be able to get in much combat training for lack of any suitable ground to practice on. The clan would come first, obviously. But duty was no reason not to let Blackpaw have a bit of fun.

Hunting first, combat later. The hunting would give Otterclaw the opportunity to see what Blackpaw's strength were anyway. Whether he was a cat geared more for power, or a more swift and agile one. And as Blackpaw neared the age in which his warrior ceremony would start to be considered, he couldn't be without at least a little serious training in fighting.

"We'll provide for the clan first. The pile's uncomfortably low...And from what I've seen so far of Mistpelt, she'd like as not claw our ears off if we didn't return with something." Ugh. Mistpelt. What a pompous, StarClan-obsessed loon.

"And if you feel up to it after, I can continue...or start...your combat training."

[Crowzerplorodon]

Blackpaw beamed, liking Otterclaw's idea very much. They could both hunt and practice in battle, which sounded perfectly dandy to Blackpaw. His tail flicked in excitement, swishing in the powdery snow eagerly. He was ready to go now. “Sounds awesome! Anything to keep my ears and Mistpelt away.” He added the last bit rather venomously. It wasn't a secret that he disliked Mistpelt, or at least he thought it wasn't a secret. The deputy ticked him off to a strange degree. Something about her just... Didn't fit right. Maybe it was because she wasn't deserving to be standing next to Owlstar. Blackpaw never saw the goodness in her, or why his leader picked her. A cat like... Like Otterclaw would be better suited! Maybe even Rowanheart, because even if Blackpaw didn't like him as much, he knew that the ginger tom had done some pretty good things.

“Should we go then?” Better to get started right away, so they could get on with the hunting and go straight to battle practice. “I know there's a pretty good place to hunt, 'cause the snow wasn't as harsh there. It's near the PineClan border, not too far... We can get there quickly if we hurry.” Or maybe he should let Otterclaw take command. After all, he was still just an apprentice. Putting on a smile, Blackpaw faced his mentor directly. “Or whatever, y'know. If you've got like a better idea, we can go there instead. Mine was just a suggestion... Yeah.”

[/blockquote]

[Pyro]

So somewhere along the way someone had thought to take Blackpaw around the territory. That was good. It was one less thing he had to teach Blackpaw in the short amount of time he'd be mentoring him, which meant more time to spend on other things. His ears flicked at the venom in Blackpaw's voice as he spoke Mistpelt's name. So..his apprentice shared his less that good-natured feelings toward the new deputy. She was a little too zealous about StarClan for Otterclaw's tastes. But, seeing as he wasn't inclined to believe in them, it was probably only natural for him to think that. 'Bah. enough of that badger for now. We need to focus on hunting and training.

His smile returned. "Then it's settled. We'll go there and you can show me what you know so far." The lazy tom was actually looking forward to work for once. He was going to teach a young cat important things...He had...respect for once.