#willowchest

[wreckclan]

Moon 2 - Willowchest and Rimepaw

Rimepaw has been apprenticed to Willowchest.

Willowchest knows that Stormstar and Puddledawn had wanted to mentor Rimepaw at first, and Stormstar was especially insistent that he get his first apprentice (yet another reason why Stormstar’s leadership is so unusual). And to prevent any further argument between her leader and deputy, Willowchest had swooped in at the last second and, being the big hero she is, dramatically declared that she will be Rimepaw’s mentor!

And then left without giving either of them the chance to argue.

Well, it’s nice to know that at least someone can appreciate her theatrics.

Now Willowchest is asking herself what she was thinking as she takes Rimepaw out to gather moss, and the younger molly’s paws are stamping against the ground as she reluctantly follows her. “But can’t we do something more…I don’t know, exciting?” Rimepaw asks, her tail drooping low. “Like practicing hunting and seeing who can catch the most amount of prey before the sun sets! Or beating each other up–without claws, of course. Or putting a thorn in Baysplash’s nest. Or collecting bugs! Why gathering moss?”

“First of all, I already thorned Baysplash’s nest a few days ago,” Willowchest says. “Second of all, I think you’ve already got enough dead bugs in your nest. Third of all, this will really help if you do it consistently. I mean, I get it, I get it, gathering moss isn’t the most exhilarating thing to do in the world but does everything have to be? This is only moss-tly harmless, after all.”

Rimepaw flicks some dirt onto Willowchest’s snout.

“Okay,” Willowchest coughs. “Not my best, I’ll admit. But I promise that gathering moss is going to help build up some strong muscles and make you the best warrior that you can–hey, where��re you going? You know, if you fail to gather all the moss all of it is just going to clump together and create the Mossster! You don’t want any Mosssters lurking around in our beaches, do you?”

Huh. Did the Mossster only ever work on me?

No matter what Willowchest does, however, she can’t quite get Rimepaw to take it seriously. And by the next morning after Rimepaw’s received a thorough scolding from Puddledawn, Willowchest finds her waiting by the fresh-kill pile. Willowchest approaches Rimepaw again, raising her chin slightly. “Alright, well, I hope that you’re ready to learn again today, otherwise Stormstar might just put both of us on moss duty for the next moon. And trust me, you don’t want to hear what either Puddledawn or Baysplash would have to say about that–stuff of nightmares, you hear me?”

“It’s not that bad, is it?” Rimepaw asks, tilting her head.

“That depends, do you consider smug looks and condescending mews ‘that bad?’” Willowchest retorts, lashing her tail. “Nobody likes a stuffynose, alright? They fill your ears with dust and make you sneeze on it.”

“What?”

“Now come on,” Willowchest says. She sighs, and lowers her voice this time. “Look, we can do something more exciting this time, okay? I’ll even let you catch the biggest, fattest fish in the ocean…so long as you don’t challenge me. Then I’d catch something even bigger, but when has a little competition ever hurt anyone? But–no, I should focus on teaching you. So…can we at least try to work together today? So we can both learn things from each other.”

Plus, she’d look ridiculous if that whole dramatic mini speech she made to Stormstar about being ‘the best possible mentor for Rimepaw’ would go to waste.

Still, what she said is enough to make Rimepaw nod her head tentatively, her blue eyes deepening with contemplation. “Alright,” Rimepaw finally says. “I’ll try harder this time. Sorry, about, uh…yesterday. I just thought I’d do something more–”

“–Dramatic?” Willowchest purrs. “Totally representative of all your future potential at once? Yeah, I get it. But let’s just start with small bites at that fish for now, okay? I’ll teach you how to hunt and use your claws and teeth for things other than nagging at other cats–which is also a very useful skill!–and then we can hold all the hunting competitions we want. I can’t promise that you’ll win many of them, though.”

“Okay, I get it,” Rimepaw says, her voice hardening–not out of hostility, but out of eagerness. “Fine! Show me how to fish then and I’ll catch anything better than you can!”

Well, that’s done it.

As Willowchest and Rimepaw playfully bicker with each other on their way out of camp, Willowchest starts feeling a little better about her impulsive decision to mentor Rimepaw. She can see all the potential in her now.

[blacktithe7]

@roseblue373 responded to your post:

I didn’t know I did either until someone asked me to write it. LOL

Willowchester Drabbles Masterlist

[wreckclan]

Clan Founders - Warriors + Apprentices

Grouseshadow - Warrior Male - 55 moons Charismatic - Lore Keeper - Very Clever

Grouseshadow is an enigma. According to Stormstar, anyway–but he does seem to have a knack for saying the right words and making the right expressions just to keep other cats at a distance from himself. Grouseshadow is a hardworking warrior anyway, so most cats either don’t notice or don’t care enough to bring it up. He likes to hang around the nursery sometimes though and tell stories. Says it’s preparation for when he becomes a grandpa.

Willowchest - Warrior Female - 43 moons Childish - Natural Intuition Everyone had it rough during the war with PeatClan last season, alright? So perhaps it was a good thing that Willowchest was there to keep everyone’s spirits high. Although her antics could get on some cats’ nerves, it’s always meant with good intentions…unless she thinks that making another cat angry would be funny. But hey, she usually means well, unless you’ve done something to get on her real bad side.

Baysplash - Warrior Male - 38 moons Insecure - Steady Paws

If he could sink below ground and end up in the Dark Forest to scream and cry forever, he would. Baysplash is constantly very self-conscious, though that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a certain bite to him when he’s making pointed sarcastic remarks. And then immediately take it back and say that he totally didn’t say that, what are you talking about? Whatever he’ll do, he’ll do it scared. Oriolepaw’s former mentor before Oriolepaw figured that he liked herbs more than warrior stuff, which didn’t help with Baysplash’s insecurities despite Oriolepaw’s attempts to reassure him that it had nothing to do with Baysplash as a mentor.

Oriolepaw - Herbalist Apprentice Trans Male - 9 moons Faithful - Interested in Herbs - Splashes in Puddles

Initially lost without much direction in life, Oriolepaw turned to the stars for guidance, but can come across as a little strange in his fixation on StarClan as well. A little anxious but ultimately well-meaning, Oriolepaw lets fate take his life where it may with very little complaints from him. Still, he seems a little desperate to prove himself, and for what?

[wreckclan]

Moon 1 - Stormstar and Fireshimmer

Stormstar calls a clan meeting to give an important announcement.

“Picture a mouse that’s died,” Stormstar says. He looks out over the Clan, from the weariness of Baysplash and Puddledawn to the more relaxed contentment of Fireshimmer. And wherever Willowchest is, anyway. “Picture, if you will, a mouse that has attempted to survive at all costs but just couldn’t bear the weight of the stars upon itself.” “Now!” Stormstar continues. “Imagine what it’s like not being the mouse–I mean, being the mouse who survived, or not being a mouse at all–no, right, the mouse. In a world that’s all against you, a world that has tried its hardest to keep you down, you have triumphed!” A smirk twitches at the corners of Stormstar’s mouth, and he purrs as he gently nudges a few shells toward Rimekit’s direction.

“So with that being said, I’m celebrating one moon with me as leader by handing out storm shells for everybody!” Stormstar reveals the rest of the shells that he’s been sitting on. “Come on forward, everyone! And be sure to thank your leader, but remember that our survival as a Clan wouldn’t be possible without you.”

Fireshimmer comes forward, a little sparkle in her eye as she leans down to pick out a ‘storm shell’ for herself. “It’s a nice effort, you know,” she says. She moves out of the way slightly as Rimekit and Lilackit begin to poke around the pile, bickering with each other over it.

“You really think so?” Stormstar asks quietly. “Puddledawn tried to shut the idea down the whole time.” She hums, picks out a shell, and then beckons him to come follow her, which he does. “I just think it’s a decent way of trying to keep the Clan together, gathering all these shells yourself,” Fireshimmer says. “But then again, I am a newcomer here, so what do I know about it?” Her eyes twinkle again. “Besides, it’s much easier getting you to gather all my ‘shells of power’ so I don’t have to.” “Are you saying you’re only using me for shell collection?” Stormstar asks, half-amused and half-offended.

“Well, I’m not saying it’s the only thing you’re good for,” Fireshimmer says. “And I’m sure Puddledawn will come around to you soon–and you to him. We kind of need that for a functioning group, don’t we?”

“Yeah, that’s why I want to spend more time with him,” Stormstar huffs. His ears raise as he nods slowly to himself. “Though, I do have one idea…”