T.W.- violence, implied cursing, bad parenting First - https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1152701994 Next - Coming in the near or distant future Previous- https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1268101221 Training was by now fully underway for all of them. Nothing too exciting had happened, unless of course you count Arrowpaw accidentally wandering onto Waveclan territory while on a hunt with Jasminefall, Rosedawn, Fjordpaw, Asterpaw and Leafblade and getting lost. He was eventually brought back by a Waveclan apprentice, that too after several hours and only because he heard everyone frantically screaming his name. Among the other discoveries he made including the fact that his sister could cry, his uncle could scold and that Jasminefall was not really as against clan boundaries as he previously felt, he thought he'd also made another great friend with the Waveclan apprentice, Whisperpaw. Of course, if you can talk to someone for 3 hours straight without even knowing her name, it's pretty safe to say that you're friends. Besides Arrowpaw hadn't found anyone else, apart from his uncle who could quite match his sense of humour. Whisperpaw seemed more than eager to meet at the next possible time even if it was just for the jokes. Starlingpaw was slowly realising why Fjordpaw had been apprehensive about the new arrangement. Getting up at dawn to pick certain herbs and memorise uses, then heading out for patrol, hunting training and fighting, getting back to go for more lessons from Ferndew immediately after eating and, observing while she healed the small cuts and scrapes everyone kept getting every day and then doing other apprentice duties was becoming a lot more than she expected. Her one blessing was that she had Owlwhisk as her mentor. He was at times content with letting her do some of her other work during the time she was supposed to be training and insisted on letting his kids take over Starry's apprentice duties, something Fjordpaw was only too glad to do. “Just for this moon ok? After that you owe me big time”, she told Starry every time Starry showed signs of guilt. Meanwhile, Owlwhisk watched Starry like a hawk, making sure that she ate enough and got enough sleep. He had observed that she didn't seem too bad in hunting or fighting but just didn't seem to be very interested. Moreover she had a genuine talent in healing and held lengthy discussions with whoever was available about whatever herbs or methods she'd learned that day and possible ways to improve them. Jasminefall, Icetail and the elders encouraged her as and how they could. In all of this, he was also watching Vinestar. Vinestar hovered about like a volcano ready to explode. And explode it did. They were nearly two weeks through training when Vinestar attacked Starry in the middle of the clan. “I have been watching you Starlingpaw and I've noticed that you haven't contributed to the hunting pile once since the last week.” Starry stared at him wide-eyed. “But I have! At least once daily. Well no maybe not - I didn't get any for the last three days but I did manage to find a huge stock of herbs that we thought were fully depleted. And you know Dad, I found some inside the hollow of a tree -” “Herbs? Do you expect our clan to feed on herbs?” “Well no but these herbs are important. You see they're used for -” Vinestar signed irritably. “See, it's because you're distracted by all the unimportant things that you're not managing to do your duty.” Owlwhisk stepped in. “Vinestar, it's not unimportant for her. As a medicine apprentice she needs to know this. And more importantly it's something that she's passionate about. Do you not care about that?” Cats were starting to gather around. Jasminefall, Rosedawn and Brighteye walked in with their apprentices. “What happened?” Jasminefall asked, looking between the two heated adults and a crestfallen Starry. Vinestar ignored her. “If passion was enough to nurture a clan then wouldn't we all be happier?”, he scoffed. “ So your alternative is to crush everything that is not going according to your plan?” Owlwhisk challenged. “If my ancestors had not trimmed those errant sprouts our clan would not have survived. I have been much more lenient with you and see this is where we have got. Any cat in this clan comes and speaks up with nonsensical arguments. Not a shred of respect for my efforts” “Maybe if you showed as much care for your present family as you're showing to your ancestors you might give the clan a real reason to respect you!” Fjordpaw yelled. A deathly silence settled over the clan. Every cat held its breath wondering what would happen next. Never before had an apprentice spoken to a leader like that
“Fjord -” Starry whispered, but she had no idea what else to say. “Fjordpaw, remember your place. One more word of this sort from you and you'll be out of the clan”, Vinestar growled. “How dare you threaten to expel a barely-apprenticed cat?”Icetail stepped in front of her daughter. ”Nothing she said was wrong! If even the youngest in this clan can understand this then maybe you need to change things Vinestar waited just a split second for her to stop speaking before launching straight at her throat. The entire clan gasped. Vinestar was tackled mid-leap by Owlwhisk and thrown hard on his back. “Owlwhisk how DARE you? Get off me.” “How dare you, Vinestar? My wife and daughter were merely making a point and you do not hesitate to try and kill them? I may respect you completely as a leader but you dare attack my wife again and I will not care who you are you miserable piece of -” “Stop it! All of you” Jasminefall shoved Owlwhisk off Vinestar. “These are discussions that can be continued in a civilised manner. And no I will not hear another word.” She yelled as both Vinestar and Owlwhisk tried to argue. Vinestar huffed. “ No meals today for either of you, Icetail, Owlwhisk and Fjordpaw. And a silent vigil today so that you can reflect on your wrongdoings. Fjordpaw you will have extra apprentice duties for the whole week. Icetail and Owlwhisk,continuous night vigils. And Owlwhisk you are no longer my daughter's mentor - And if I hear any more arguments, you will all be expelled.” He added as Icetail opened her mouth to argue. “Fjord I'm so sorry -” Starry began but Fjordpaw shook her head and walked away. She thought she might bite someone if she stayed anywhere near that foxheart of a leader any longer. Jasminefall was admonishing Owlwhisk who uncharacteristically ignored her and walked off with Icetail, following their daughter. Starry stood in the middle of camp watching as everyone turned to each other to excitedly discuss the events in hushed whispers and her disappointed mother walked away too, shaking her head. “This is all much more trouble than I am worth.” she said to herself miserably. She felt the familiar waves of anxiety flowing over her again as she watched everyone going about in their groups without sparing her a glance. If only Fjord could talk. Or Owlwhisk at least. That's when the fact sunk into her. Owlwhisk was no longer her mentor. Who would it be now? And would they be as forgiving or would they drive her ruthlessly as her father expected? “Just two more weeks.” she whispered. Those words were flimsy consolation but that seemed all she was likely to get. Starry woke the next morning and walked out, heading to the med-den as always when she bumped straight into Vinestar. “Good morning Starlingpaw. Seeing as Owlwhisk is no longer your mentor, I have decided to mentor you myself. Afterall it will help you catch up on all the stuff you missed with that incapable teacher.” “What!”, Starry exclaimed aghast. “Is there any problem?”, Vinestar said with venom. “No..”, Starry stared at her feet. “No sir, not at all” “Good, now come on, we have to start training.” “But I have to go help Ferndew now.” Vinestar laughed. “I've changed your timings so that you catch up on the stuff you missed. You can work with Ferndew later.” Starry looked between her father and Ferndew standing at the edge of the med-den. “Okay”, she said miserably. Ferndew watched them leave with her heart sinking rapidly. After that Starlingpaw soon forgot what it was like to be not-tired. Vinestar's new timings basically meant spending every breathing minute training ruthlessly. Vinestar woke her before dawn to train to fight, then join a patrol, then learn to hunt and extra exercises for every catch her exhausted legs couldn't catch up with. At times he even dragged her out at night to learn to do all this in the dark. Starry was barely sleeping, often too exhausted to eat. The only time got to spend with Ferndew was a few minutes when Vinestar let her off to eat. She spent this time trying her best to keep her eyes open and not drop off on her feet as Ferndew explained. Every word just bounced off her ears. Ferndew watched helplessly as Starry went from a cheerful and curious cat to one too tired to think. She watched as Vinestar pushed her past her limits. She watched Fjordpaw labouring with the tons of extra apprentice tasks she had and yet still finding time to check on Starry who couldn’t even summon the energy to answer her. Ferndew knew that if this continued, it wasn't anybody's prestige at stake. It was a life. Eventually when Vinestar felt that Starry really should practice fighting with a partner, he arranged a match between Fjordpaw and Starry. Fjord's breath caught in her throat looking into Starry's exhausted eyes. The fight started. Continued in part 2....
