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Post by tor on Apr 13, 2024 17:17:30 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/W6DTX4p/elkpaw~png More than anything, Elkpaw wanted to hurry down to the RidgeClan border and find Leopardpaw so he could brag about the bird he managed to catch the day before. The cardinal wasn't as impressive as one of RidgeClan's hawks, but he caught it mid-flight, and was confident Leopardpaw would think that was cool. Instead, he was hanging with his claws in the Lightning Tree, trying desperately to teach himself how to climb to the next bough. It was his own fault he was behind on climbing, he knew. This was one of the things Hailstar thought Elkpaw could manage by himself. He trusted Elkpaw to practice climbing on his own terms, and for the first three moons of his apprenticeship, Elkpaw... hadn't done that. He was far behind most of the other apprentices, who seemed to have tree climbing in their veins, and he knew it. It hadn't been a problem before. Now, Hailstar wanted to test him on it, and Elkpaw only had until the next day to be much better than he was. So, despite how much he wanted to see Leopardpaw, he was stuck here, climbing the Lightning Tree over and over again. It was so boring. Weren't other apprentices supposed to be here? Why wasn't there anyone for him to talk to? Maybe that was okay - no one being here meant no one seeing how bad he was at climbing. "Ugh." He spoke to no one but the trees, arms shaking as he tried to pull himself higher. This wasn't going to work. He would fall. And tomorrow, when Hailstar tested him, he would fall in front of his mentor, too. |
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Post by shy on Apr 15, 2024 17:08:24 GMT -6
#s://i~pinimg~com/564x/20/47/f6/2047f68163bdded29c2852e07df23c08~jpg birchpaw, After so many moons of training, Birchpaw's assessment was drawing near. At least, that was what she heard. Weavers spent more time training than warriors, she'd gotten used to being an apprentice. As much as she wanted to celebrate the chance to earn her name, guilt tugged at her heart. Lichenflight had been the one who lead her through most her training, but she'd never let herself forget Pinestripe or his sacrifice. Her first mentor wouldn't get to see her named. Nor would he get to see his own son named. Nervousness and guilt lead to a sense of unease she couldn't shake. So Birchpaw found herself at the Lightning Tree, ready to polish up her climbing skills to perfection for the assessment. After everything that had happened to get her here alive, she couldn't fail. But the tree was in use. Elkpaw. Out of all the apprentices, why him? Why couldn't it be one of Hailstar's kits or Lilypaw or nobody at all? Even worse, it was clear Elkpaw was struggling. Hard. For what might have been a few minutes, but felt like hours, Birchpaw silently stared at the apprentice. Part of her wanted to help, but did she deserve to? It was her fault he didn't have his father to teach him to climb. But why hadn't Hailstar helped him learn more by this point? A nervous energy built in Birchpaw until she couldn't take it any more. She had to do something. So she approached the tree, and called out in a soft voice. " Do... do you need help?" |
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Post by tor on Apr 20, 2024 16:12:51 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/W6DTX4p/elkpaw~png Elkpaw was trying to visualize how to get himself out of this situation when the soft voice startled him. He didn't fall, but his grip on the bark loosened, and an undignified yelp escaped his throat as he slipped half a tail-length down. Instinct kicked in, and he managed to regain his hold before disaster had him crumpled in a heap of bones and fur at the base of the three. "Scared me!" He called out, unable to twist his body to see who it was that startled him. Maybe if they spoke a little louder, he'd be able to recognize their voice. But right now he wasn't sure he'd recognize them anyway, with how loud the blood rushing in his ears was. "I, um... I dunno. Maybe?"It wasn't a maybe. Elkpaw knew he needed help, but he didn't know what the other cat could do, shy of climbing the tree themself and dragging him down by the scruff. That would be so embarrassing. "Give me a pep talk?" |
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Post by shy on Apr 24, 2024 17:39:14 GMT -6
#s://i~pinimg~com/564x/20/47/f6/2047f68163bdded29c2852e07df23c08~jpg birchpaw, A pep talk? Birchpaw shifted from paw to paw nervously. Nerves were eating at her too much to feel comfortable speaking enough to give a pep talk, but if that was what Elkpaw needed, how could she deny him? It was her fault his father wasn't here to give him one. " You got this!" She tried to cheer, though her voice was croaky. She cleared her throat and tried again. " You can do it, just put one paw after the other over and over and then you'll be up on branch before you know." Even she knew it was a sad attempt to rally the other apprentice. " Your claws will do a lot of the work, grip with your front paws and kick off with your back legs." Climbing was instinct to some, including herself, but there were times when even instinct failed and advice was needed. Was that what Elkpaw needed? |
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Post by tor on Apr 27, 2024 19:06:25 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/W6DTX4p/elkpaw~png Elkpaw felt like he was straining to listen for his clanmate's small voice, desperate for whatever pep talk they might give him, but also terribly curious to know who stumbled upon him in this predicament. It was sort of embarrassing, wasn't it? He hoped it wasn't another apprentice. That would make gossip spread too fast, and last thing he needed was one of Hailstar's kits mocking him. Cloudpaw and Swanpaw were mean. Finally, the other cat spoke. Their confidence in him was nice, but felt a little flat. One paw after another - duh! His problem was he couldn't even move one. "Grip with your front paws and kick off with your back legs."Hm. Could he do that? His arms shook as he tried, but after a moment, he was able to kick as his clanmate said. And then he did it again, and again, until his front paws were able to pull the rest of him up onto the branch. He did it! "You're a life saver," he said, turning to finally see who it was. "Thanks, Birchpaw!" Dang. It was an apprentice. He hoped she wouldn't gossip - Birchpaw was quiet, right? "Please don't tell anyone I suck at climbing?" |
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