So Very Much to Learn...

[Heathclaw]

Lightheart padded on silent paws through the misty fog that covered ShadowClan's pine forest. Such a fog was a welcome change from the rain, although it was no less wet. Of course, there really wasn't anything that could be done about that situation- cats couldn't control the weather, even those in StarClan.

"Hey, Pebblepaw! Make sure to keep up!" Lightheart called over his shoulder as he padded onwards. It had only been a little while ago since he'd been attached to this apprentice, and the young cat's training was going to start for real on this day. Earlier training sessions had dealt with patrols, duties, and other such mundane things, but today would be different. As such, the normally cheerful Lightheart had adopted a semblance of seriousness today.

Of course, that was not to say that he'd completely abandoned his mischievious spark. As soon as they reached the pine clearing that Lightheart had picked out for their lesson, Lightheart bounded ahead, taking advantage of his pelt's coloration to melt into the fog and virtually disappear.

"Alright buddy, here's the first lesson. I'm hiding somewhere in this clearing, and your job is to catch me, if you can," Lightheart called from the fog, before slipping silently to the center of the clearing, and waiting. Let's just see how smart my young apprentice is...

[whitepaw]

Pebblepaw bounded through the woods after his mentor, Lightheart. Wetness sucked at his paws and the fogs burned at his eyes. He stuggled to keep up with Lightheart, but still tried at his smell. The fog washed away his mentors scent and finally Pebblepaw was more excited than ever. Finally we were there! But, wait. Where was Lightheart? Pebblepaw stopped in his tracks and listened for Lightheart's voice.
"Game of hide and seek eh?" He murmured. Pebblepaw was excited, so he went to sniffing right away. He would find Lightheart's scent, then lose it, then find it again. Twice Pebblepaw went in circles, obviously going around his mentor. He couldn't track his scent completely. Finally, as Pebblepaw wanted to quit. He tracked Lighthearts scent, then heard light breathing. Pebblepaw pounced on Lightheart.

"Gotcha!" Pebblepaw exclaimed. "How good was that?"

[Heathclaw]

As his apprentice began the exercise that he'd been assigned, Lightheart began a warrior exercise of his own. Shutting his eyes against the fog, he slowed his breathing, and pricked up his ears, trying to pick up the sound of his apprentice's pawsteps.

Hm... close. Almost... nope! Missed me! C'mon, keep trying, Pebblepaw...

His apprentice circled him twice, the second time coming frustratingly close, before veering off in the wrong direction. Lightheart was tempted to give the young apprentice a hint, but he restrained himself.

That'd be cheating. And cheating's no fun. Well, at least most of the ti-Whoa!

Lightheart buckled as he felt a heavy weight push off his shoulders- Pebblepaw had pounced on him, and was now looking at him with an apparently pleased expression on his face.

"Gotcha! How good was that?"

"Er, hum... Not bad, Pebblepaw!" said Lightheart, getting back onto his paws. "Didn't even hear you coming." He bent down to give his chest a few licks, and then padded over to sit next to his apprentice.

"Not bad. You found me with your instincts... although there was a quicker way... Anyway, we'll get into that later. Today is going to be a very important day in your training with me, bud, 'cause today is gonna be all you telling me about you. So, first question: What does being a warrior mean to you? What's most important for you right now?"

[whitepaw]

Pebblepaw looked hopefully at his mentor. He was looking for a good answer. Perhaps his skills had been no good and perhaps his mentor was just trying to make him feel good. Whatever the case, Pebblepaw still wore the proud expression of taking his mentor by surprise.

Pebblepaw listened proudly to his mentor. Dang! He thought. I had to answer questions. Although, Pebblepaw was happy to give honest answers to a trustworthy mentor.
"Being a warrior means. . . I guess being brave and fighting for my clan! Like. . .you! It means to be trustworthy and stuff. For me I guess doing my best and being the best warrior in the whole forest!"
Pebblepaw's expression brightened and he fought the urge to run around aimlessly, chasing toads and flies. Instead, Pebblepaw just quivered, sitting back-straight with his tail curled neatly on his paws.
"I want to fight. Learn to fight." Pebblepaw half-yowled, and struck a paw out at Lightheart.
Pebblepaw sheathed his claws and dug them into the ground, a playful, wanting to learn gleam in his eyes. Pebblepaw gave a short, crooked smile.

[Heathclaw]

"Just the best warrior of the forest, huh?" said Lightheart with a flicker of a grin. "Does that mean you only want to beat Thunderclan's cats then? Because besides us, they're the only forest ca- whoops!"

Lightheart suddenly kicked his paws out in front of him and slid down in the mud, just ducking under Pebblepaw's errant paw. He gave his apprentice a testy look, noticing the way he was trembling with excitement, and shrugged. "Alright. I can tell you're not in the mood to sit still and chat a bit. That's okay though. We can train your body and mind at the same time. After all, compromising is another important warrior skill."

With that, Lightheart leapt deftly a few foxlengths away from Pebblepaw, and began to circle him, just on the edge of the fog. His eyes glowed, fixed on his apprentice. "Let's see how much you already know. Your challenge is to land a hit on me. Suceed, and I'll start formally training you. In the meantime, let's continue our little chat, hmm? So, what are you going to do when you first make Warrior?"[/size]