Warrior Cat Clans 2 (WCC2 aka Classic) is a roleplay site inspired by the Warrior series by Erin Hunter. Whether you are a fan of the books or new to the Warrior cats world, WCC2 offers a diverse environment with over a decade’s worth of lore for you - and your characters - to explore. Join us today and become a part of our ongoing story!
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Just to rub salt in the wound, he'd been giving the kit of his greatest enemies to train. Was Ratstar trying to show how incompetent he was? Was this some twisted plan to make the pair change their mind about Sootstep? He didn't want an apprentice, they took too much time and energy and patience that was best focused elsewhere. He had a feeling he was going to be busy soon doing Dawnmemories' job for her, so he didn't have the time for this little cat.
Now he had to juggle both. He really was an incredibly skilled warrior.
"Grasspaw," Sootstep called impatiently into the apprentice's den for the first time that morning, "if you don't get out in the next few minutes I swear I'll put you on elder duty for three moons."
"Hrghh, just a couple more minutes mom..." The dark-brown tom, barely out of his kitten fur, let out a wide yawn before rolling over in his nest. He had spent nearly the entire day yesterday putting it together with feathers, moss, squirrel and bunny fur, and whatever other soft things he could find and set it right near the entrance of the Apprentices' den beside the beds of his friends Alabasterpaw and Twisterpaw. It was unsurprisingly comfortable, not to mention Grasspaw had stayed up far past his bedtime in his excitement of being an apprentice at last; what would he learn first? Hunting? Fighting? Maybe swimming? His paws twitched slightly in his sleep, as if chasing after prey in his dreams.
"I'm not your mother, Grasspaw," he huffed. Sootestep walked further into the den and tapped him a few times, not too hard. "Get up, it's time for training. Did you forget where you are?"
"...H-huh? Wazzit?" Grasspaw groaned in discomfort at being prodded at, slowly blinking open a tired eye at whoever was disrupting his sleep. It took a few seconds for the tom to recognize the mildly-annoyed face staring down at him, and a few more for his brain to catch up to where he was and what he was supposed to be doing. Almost immediately the apprentice sat up straight in his nest, looking so alert it was nearly impossible to tell he had been fast asleep moments prior. "Oh! S-Sootstep! Did I oversleep again? I'm so, so sorry!"
His ears flattened and he leaned back a little as the cat suddenly shot upward. The sudden movement even caused his tail to bush slightly, though it was calm a second later as if the fur had never been disturbed. "Yes, you did," he answered curtly. "Take a moment to get yourself ready. I'll meet you outside."
Sootstep backed out of the den and into the camp. He found a spot near the entrance to wait. Though the idea of training Grasspaw ruffled his fur, he had to keep in mind to treat him like any other apprentice. It would just be a challenge to do so.
"R-right! Sorry again!" Grasspaw called after his mentor as he jumped out of his nest, nearly flinging the entire bed of moss across the den behind him as he set about to frantically washing himself. Just as he was finishing washing behind his ears, the apprentice heard the soft rumble of his stomach growling, and he glanced woefully over towards the fresh-kill pile as his ears fell back against his head. He was already late enough as it is, so it didn't look like he'd be getting any breakfast today. Instead, he bounded out of the den and across the field to where his mentor was waiting, slowing down his pace to a trot as he reached Sootstep. "Okay, okay, I'm ready now, I swear."
"Good. Let's get going." Glancing once at the sky to gauge the time, Sootstep turned and led them briskly from the camp. His tail swished behind him as he took the apprentice out into the territory. "How far out of camp have you been before?" he asked, unsure if Mudthistle had taken her kits out to explore a bit.
"Not very far," Grasspaw admitted somewhat sheepishly as he followed close behind his mentor. While in the nursery he had entertained the idea of sneaking out of camp to prove how cool and brave he was - only to always back out at the last moment. Not because he was scared or anything! But because if he had been caught, Ratstar totally would've held back his apprentice ceremony! "Redpaw, Alabasterpaw, and I sometimes used to play on the outskirts of the forest, right outside the gorse tunnel, but we didn't go much farther than that." As they went further and further away from camp, Grasspaw could feel butterflies fluttering inside his chest - he was really an apprentice now! He could go wherever he wanted! "Are we going to see the Northern or Southern Sea today?" He asked after a moment, glancing up at Sootstep with curiosity and excitement in his eyes. "Are they really as big as cats say they are?"
He thought it would be difficult to ignore who the apprentice's parents were. They were his greatest enemy, this was some sort of test designed to ruin him, and he couldn't lose sight of that.
Grasspaw was so earnest and excited, though. It touched Sootstep, and he was reminded of his own joy just a few moons ago when he was newly apprenticed. A few short moons ago - hah. Grasspaw hadn't even been alive back then. Was he getting old? He still felt so young, but it had been such a long time since he was this young and eager. He couldn't remember a time when he didn't know every step of his territory. Had he ever been so excited to race along Frostcloud's side? Surely he had more sense than that; surely he had sensed from the start that she wouldn't like him.
Sootstep shook his head and looked back down at the small 'paw. "I'm not going to tell you that. Best you find out for yourself," he suggested, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "Which do you want to see first?"
If it was even possible, Grasspaw's eyes grew even wider at the suggestion of a choice, before his brow furrowed in a serious way while he seriously pondered the question. "Um..." he mused, so absorbed in his thoughts that the apprentice nearly tripped over a tree root, though he quickly regained his balance with a couple bunny hops, glancing up at Sootstep sheepishly. "S-Sorry!" He squeaked, chuckling nervously at his mistake, before finally making his decision. "I'd...like to go to the Northern Sea, I think. I remember hearing some warriors say that the Southern Sea is a lot more dangerous, and that Ratstar doesn't like cats getting too close for some reason. I-I'm not scared though! It's just better to stay safe, right?"
"Of course." His whiskers twitched. "I'll still take you there someday, but you're right, it is dangerous. I don't want you going down there without a warrior until I've taught you how to be safe, okay?" Though he was tempted to take Grasspaw there right now just to spite the leader and his parents, he swallowed his irritation for now.
"The Northern Sea is this way. Watch your paws, and keep up. If you see any big birds around there, don't run up to them. They might be prey but they'll give you a good pecking and you won't take one down alone."
