First day, within the trees (Brackenpaw)

Fear, strong and dominant, gripped the tom and caused the hackles to line up upon his spine. Little showers of dirt trouble his whiskers, but he paid no heed. Brackenpaw’s ascent was his only concern. Despite Foxfang’s worries the golden patched apprentice made it to the top, and the large warrior felt himself releasing his held breath. It was as if the little to-be warrior was the son he never had, the son he’d always wanted. Or do I have a son? Either way, he certainly was already beginning to feel fatherly for the younger cat.

Without trouble the large feline leapt up the ravine’s slope and in a few easy bounds landed besides his apprentice. His paw’s aching was effortlessly pushed aside so that it would not hinder his travel. The wound of a thorn often healed quickly to only leave behind a fading dull ache, and Foxfang found himself feeling grateful that StarClan hadn’t deemed right to give him a larger wound.

“Stay behind or besides me now.” The warrior meowed in his usual cold tone, his green gaze checking the other to make sure they were okay to go on. “Many warriors have been injured or killed where we are heading first.” He left their exact destination unsaid, but partly wondered if the other had already guessed. Some kits seemed quicker to pick up what lay in the forest from the elders’ tales, while others spent too much time play fighting or trying to escape to be bothered with the wise cats’ lessons. Which was his apprentice?

Without waiting for a response, the warrior padded forward into the dense undergrowth with his ginger tail held high. A small path wove past the junipers and through the ferns. Countless border patrols heading to check on ShadowClan had gone this very same way, and the recent scent of one lingered now on the air.

Tendrils of acid stench began to weave themselves around the depths of the forest’s floor, settling into the pits like some sort of poisonous liquid. It could not be seen, but it wasn’t long until Foxfang reached close enough to their destination to scent it. They would come to the edge of the forest soon, and then ShadowClan’s smell would add to the overbearing odor.

The warrior paused and cast his green gaze back towards the panting apprentice. Guilt crept into his paws as he realize he’d overestimated how fast the young cat could go. He had failed his clan the day before when chatting to the kittypet, and now was he already failing again in training Brackenpaw. No, he’d make up for his mistakes and split loyalty. He’d make Brackenpaw the warrior he deserved to be, and nothing would get in the way of that. 

“Come stands beside me now, but keep close and do not run off. “ If the apprentice bolted in the wrong direction then everything would be lost. Foxfang had the sudden urge to pick the smaller cat up by his scruff and carry him there. It would be easy, and it would keep him safe. But, it wouldn’t give the younger cat a chance to prove himself and grow.

As he waited for the other to catch up to him the ginger tabby’s eyes were wide with worry. “Remember, stay by my side no matter what” meowed the tom cooly. The feline then stepped through the last of the clinging foliage and arrived upon the edge of the Thunderpath.  

As the dull thrum quickly changed into a growing ferocious roar filled with untold power and vehemence Foxfang’s eyes flashed instinctively towards the golden cat besides him. His right foreleg shot out as if to block the cat from possibly darting into the monster’s path, and the fur upon his tail fluffed up. All it took was one mistake. One wrong move and a cat could easily be crushed beneath the black paws.

Brackenpaw’s reaction, though, was not the mistake the ginger warrior had feared, and relief flooded his form. Bolting would have been the wrong choice, so putting on a strong front was anything but bad. While it showed the cat was afraid, only a mousebrain would not be. Indeed, the little fierce show of spitting and bristling fueled a crooked smile to cross the warrior’s maw.

Giving a conspiring look at his apprentice, Foxfang lowered his voice as if telling an imperative secret. “I was so afraid when my mentor first brought me here that I ran halfway back to camp before she caught up with me.”

The warrior then straightened up and padded slowly towards the dark, smelly stone the monsters ran on. Cautiously, he cast a glance both ways as listened intensely. When he was certain it was momentarily safe, the tabby placed one pad upon the warm surface of the Thunderpath. “This marks our boarder with ShadowClan. Breathe in now and you’ll be able to scent their stench. Remember it well for it is likely you will meet them in battle.”

A surge of pride flowed through the tom’s ginger limbs as he watched his golden apprentice bat at the Thunderpath with one brave paw. He was trusting and obedient, both qualities that made for a great warrior. Perhaps, even a deputy. Foxfang let a smile play upon his maw as he contemplated the future of the brave little apprentice before angling his head towards their left.

“Now, let’s go see if the four great trunks are still standing at Fourtrees.” While he was confident enough to saunter up to the path of the monsters, he was still eager to escape to the safety of the forest once more. It took more effort than he would have guessed to keep from bounding into the open arms of the leafy bushes. Yet, he was still hurried as he padded away from the strange smelling stone. As he went his ears remain fixated upon his apprentice’s location, just in case. He would not let a monster ruin the growing cat’s life.

As cool shade replaced the sun’s angry glare and Foxfang felt his shoulders relax. The proximity of the clustered tree trunks and assorted plants was comforting to the ThunderClan cat. He took his time to enjoy the scenery as his paws slowly carried him through the territory, allowing Brackenclaw to, hopefully, keep pace. They had a long path ahead of them yet, and Fourtrees was only their second stop. If everything went smoothly they’d be able to hook back around to Sunningrocks before the apprentice would be too utterly worn out.