Training Session

[Darke]

Darkpaw was curious about what exactly Coilsnake was thinking, but he didn't want to make his mentor mad by asking too many personal questions. Darkpaw couldn't help but smile. Coilsnake seemed to like him and he like Coilsnake, too. Maybe I don't have to be in so much of a rush to become a warrior. Maybe being an apprentice is good too! "So what now? Do I get to hunt? Or learn the borders? Or fight? Or learn more hunting techniques! Or, we could also... Oh, sorry, um, what would you like to do next?" Darkpaw blushed and tried to regain the little amount of poise he had to begin with, and focused on calming down. Being an apprentice is almost too exciting!

[Brambleclaw]

Coilsnake chuckled softly.
"How about a border and territory tour? You could try out hunting too, if you like. If we see anything while we tour that is." Coilsnake said with a smile, suddenly feeling a sort of fatherly pride about him at how fast his apprentice was learning. Maybe Arcticstar had given him an apprentice to teach him to be more gentle and open, less a mystery like he was to his fellow Clanmates. It was his mask, however, that concealed his dark past. And partial present, too. With a smile, he stood and stretched, waiting for Darkpaw to agree or disagree.

[Darke]

"Ya!" Darkpaw exclaimed. Excitement made his tail twitch and his eyes gleam. Darkpaw was finally realizing what it was like to be part of a Clan. He had felt out of place since he had come to ShadowClan, which made him feel like he had to prove himself, but Coilsnake was making him feel like he belonged here. Making him feel like ShadowClan territory was home. He felt a swell of warmth toward Coilsnake, and felt a twinge of jealousy toward Coilsnake's kits. They have a great dad! But, I have a great mentor and that's good enough for me!

[Brambleclaw]

Coilsnake smiled and twitched his tail. He sure had an eager apprentice. It made his head spin I'm confusion.
"We can start at the ThunderClan border and he Thunderpath." He said, setting off somewhat sadly. This place held dear memories. It was where Kinkfur had had her kits, and where Coilsnake had learned about the first of his.

[Darke]

"Ok." Darkpaw didn't want to admit it, but he was slightly scared of the Thunderpath. All he had heard of it was horror stories of giant monsters that zoomed along and sometimes killed cats. He was distracted from his fear at Coilsnake's reaction. Why was his mentor sad? Did he lose someone to the Thunderpath? Darkpaw shook off his fear and distractions, with renewed excitement. We're exploring the territory! "Ok!" He repeated more enthusiastically.

[Brambleclaw]

When the two reached the Thunderpath, it was strangely quiet. Coilsnake swallowed and watched the black path with wary eyes.
"Many cats are taken to StarClan here. Watch." He flicked his tail at an approaching monster. It was tall, shiny green, with big wheels and twolegs riding in its belly. He remembered many meetings here, and sighed softly.

[Darke]

Darkpaw crawled near the Thunderpath. It was nothing like he expected. It looked like a long, black, shiny river, except it didn't move. He was about to ask where the monsters were, when he began to hear a great roaring. Monster! Panic gripped him as the green monster sped forward. What? So twolegs really do ride inside them!
The monster sped forward until the ground seemed to rumble and if it weren't for Coilsnake's calm experience, Darkpaw would have feared that the monster would come right off the Thunderpath and crush him. It soon passed and the only evidence of it ever being there was the dust, wind, and stench it left behind.
"Whoa." Darkpaw didn't know if he should be frightened or in awe of the monster. "ThunderClan cats don't smell that bad, do they?"

[Brambleclaw]

"They say, the other Clans, that we smell the worst. We smell swampy. ThumderClan smell foresty." Coilsnake said with a nod. He had been here many times before, and the place brought back painful memories of better days. Days when he was truly happy. That perfect joy was gone now, and it made him sad to remember. But he was a new cat now, he had to forget the past now.

[Darke]

"But I like how we smell! They must be pretty weird..." Darkpaw's curiosity was growing. Is Coilsnake okay? Darkpaw couldn't figure out what could be bothering him. "Coilsnake, um," Darkpaw struggled with the decision. I want to ask him, but what if he gets mad at me? I guess I'll have to take a chance. "Is something wrong?" Please StarClan, help him to solve his problems, and if you can, could you make sure he doesn't get mad at me?

[Brambleclaw]

"Yes, but not for apprenice ears." Coilsnake said sadly.

-Two Days Later-

"What do we want to work on today?" He asked sadly. After the Clan meeting, everyone knew his secret. With a sigh, he wondered what his apprentice thought of him now.

[Darke]

"Coilsnake, I know I should be telling you I want to learn more fighting moves-and I do-but I think right now I'd rather talk." Darkpaw didn't know how to handle the situation. On one paw, Coilsnake had broken the warrior code, but on the other paw, he was Darkpaw's mentor. And even though he had only been with Coilsnake for a short time, Darkpaw had grown to respect and like him. "I respect you, Coilsnake. Sure, you made some mistakes... some pretty big mistakes, but everyone makes mistakes. That's how we learn! And I'm sorry that it had to turn out like this. Some of the cats are acting like it was them you hurt, but I think you mainly hurt yourself." Darkpaw struggled to find the right words to say. "I don't know how hard it must be to have your Clanmates and some of your kits lose their faith in you, but I want you to know, that... well, I still trust you! You're a great mentor and a great cat." He has to know that I really mean what I'm saying! "And even though you lost many things, you got your kits! And I'm sure they'll grow up to be great warriors someday! Ok. Now, I'm ready to fight." Darkpaw smiled, hoping to lighten the mood.

OOC: Sorry if I included any information that Darkpaw wasn't supposed to know. If I did, just tell me and I'll edit it out.

[Brambleclaw]

[[No, that's all that everyone knows.]]

Coilsnake nodded, feeling his heart ache once more.
"You're right." He said with a smile. "About fighting, I mean. We should work on that. And you are one of the best cats I've ever met, Darkpaw." He said sincerely, sniffing a little. He got down onto four paws, swishing his tail back and forth, all trace of emotion gone. Fighting was his favorite subject, and he hoped it would be Darkpaw's as well.
"Basic pounce sound good?" He asked with a smile.

[Darke]

Darkpaw felt as though his pelt were about to burst in pride. That's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me! He was glad that Coilsnake like him as much as he liked Coilsnake.
"Ya!" He was glad that he had gotten his emotions out in the open, because now it would be much easier to focus on training. Darkpaw's tail twitched with excitement. Fighting! He imagined himself in a glorious battle, protecting ShadowClan, biting and clawing the enemy cats, until they began to retreat away from ShadowClan territory. Darkpaw refocused his mind. First I have to learn how to fight!

[Brambleclaw]

"Basic leap. Show me what you've got." Coilsnake beckoned his apprentice to demonstrate a proper leap. Best to start with what Darkpaw knew and work up from there, Coilsnake believed. It would make his work as a mentor much easier.

[Darke]

Darkpaw didn't exactly know what a basic leap was, but it sounded pretty simple, so he decided to give it a go. Darkpaw bunched up his hind legs and spread out his paws. He balanced himself out and was ready to leap when he realized that he was confused about what he was supposed to be doing. "What am I am I supposed to leap at?" Coilsnake probably thinks I'm dumber than a toad for asking that question!

[Brambleclaw]

"Air." Coilsnake said with an amused purr. So his apprentice didn't fully grasp what jumping at something was? He rolled his eyes and batted playfully at Darkpaw's ears.
"Want me to show you first?" He asked, turning to see what he had expected. Nothing. Just a soft breeze through the marsh. What was he expecting to see out there? He shook is head, focusing again on his apprentice.

[Darke]

Darkpaw felt embarrassed, but he was glad that Coilsnake wasn't ashamed or disappointed in him."OK!" Darkpaw was determined to remember exactly what Coilsnake did, so that he could rebuild his confidence. Darkpaw stared intently at Coilsnake, eyes focused and ears perked.

[Brambleclaw]

"Crouch like the hunting crouch. Two ways to do this; fast or slow. Fast for fighting in battle, slow for surprise attack." He said with a wide grin. Coilsnake, without warning, shot forward with a mighty thrust of his back legs and landed gently and neatly on the rough ground below.

[Darke]

Darkpaw's eyes widened. Whoa! I sure am glad that I'll never have to fight against him! Darkpaw lowered himself closer to the ground and balanced his weight on his hind legs. He laid his ears flat and kept his tail low to the ground. Darkpaw unsheathed his claws to get a better grip in the soft ground. He focused on pushing out with his back legs and shot forward, trying to imitate Coilsnake. As soon as Darkpaw left the ground, he knew that this pounce was going to be off. His unsheathed claws had gotten caught to some leaves and he was off balance in the air. Darkpaw refocused and managed to balance himself so that he landed evenly, but was still not satisfied with himself. "That's harder than it looks!" How does Coilsnake make it look so easy?

[Brambleclaw]

"Practice practice practice." Coilsnake said with a smile. He had always been better at fighting than anything, making him an ideal hunting teacher.