Hurricane {Spiritpaw}

HAZELSTAR
I've been broken more than once.

Hazelstar led her apprentice promptly from the bustling camp into the endless moorland. Her senses were alive, she could hear the wind rustling the tall grasses. Her nose could smell the abundant prey, she could feel the rough, springy ground beneath her paws. She could taste the wind on her tongue. Hazelstar could see her apprentice staring intently back at her. "First we'll run through the basic hunting moves." The leader could already hear her apprentice's complaints on the horizon. No one enjoyed relearning the basics; but she needed to test what he knew. "If your skills are impressive enough we can finish with battle training." This would hopefully drive him to move quickly through the hunting maneuvers.

But there was another reason Hazelstar had brought her apprentice out to train this morning. Not only to test his skills but there was a deeper; more meaningful task on hand. There was something peculiar about this tom; he had this dark aura surrounding him. He was seeming with secrets, her duty was to discover these secrets. She had her suspicions. This tom was no ordinary apprentice; since he was a kit he always seemed much more focused. Spiritpaw had more skill, more talent than any apprentice in her past experience.

This worried her.

Spiritpaw had brought to the clans mere days after his birth. He had been given to them by a much too strange she-cat. This she-cat had been so mysterious; but familiar. These thoughts often kept Hazelstar pacing back and forth in her den from dusk to dawn. This tom could be a threat to her clan. She needed to observe him closely.

Narrowing her honey-colored gaze she flicked her tail, gesturing him forward. "Show me the correct hunting crouch." she demanded sharply.

Spiritpaw had been training with Nightstalker practically every night. Since Hazelstar had been very busy Spiritpaw was able to sleep it. But this morning was a different story. The young tom was aroused by his leader and mentor, and dragged out of camp. This would be a true test on his strength. Hazelstar would now begin training him, and he had to make sure she did not know of his training with his father.

Although Spiritpaw wished he could find the one cat he would tell. But if he ever did, Nightstalker would kill him. Many a day Spiritpaw had to make an excuse to Heatherflower about a scratch he had gotten in the middle of the night. He had to hide from his den mates how tired he was. He had to keep himself from thinking about Duskpaw, his sister. How he wished he could change everything. How he wished he had gone with her. The more he experienced Nightstalker's training, the more Spiritpaw felt like he was dangling from the edge of a knife. It was only so long until some cat found out, or began to suspect that something was going on.

Spiritpaw had to use all of his strength to keep awake and look intent at Hazelstar. He was tired, he wanted to rest, but he couldn't. Hazelstar could know. No cat could know. It was times like this he wished Duskpaw was here. She would know what to do. Maybe she would be able to explain it better to Hazelstar if she could. The black tom mentally shook his head. That was impossible. Once the clan found out he was the son of Nightstalker and Darkspirit, it wouldn't take long for them to piece together that Spiritpaw was receiving training from his father, and then the clans would banish him. Or worse. Kill him.

At Hazelstar's words Spiritpaw's wandering mind was jerked back to the present. She wanted to test him on the basics? Ha! He would pass that with flying colors. And learning battle moves would be a review on what Nightstalker had most likely taught him. The black apprentice only nodded to the older she-cat before wearily taking the stance with ease. Crouched low to the ground, belly centimeters from touching it. His tail raised so it wouldn't drag. His weight spread even across his four paws.

Spiritpaw froze, then cringed. His left shoulder gave out. No! The training from last night came rushing back at him. But more importantly, the battering he had received from Nightstalker. It had banged up his shoulder really bad. He had to think up an excuse quickly before Hazelstar got suspicious. Thornpaw! that was it. When Hazelstar asked Spiritpaw would just say he and Thornpaw were play fighting when he fell onto a rock. Hopefully the wise leader would buy it.

HAZELSTAR
I've been broken more than once.

The queen noticed the tom's sluggishness at once. His form was a tad bit off; while his eyes betrayed his concentration. Spiritpaw was tired; completely ill-rested for today's tasks. Hazelstar narrowed her eyes, I'll have to push him to his limits. She snorted indulgently at his failed attempt. This will teach him to get to bed late. Although his form was almost perfect, which would have been perfect if he had been well rested, Spiritpaw had still managed to stumble about. Hazelstar flicked her ears, curious to why he had fallen. Her eyes snatched a glimpse at his shoulder. It was battered, bruised; no wonder the tom hadn't been able to stand correctly. Was he training at night? The leader knew it was a possibility but for some reason that concept just didn't sit right with her. What's the real reason? Hazelstar approached the apprentice, she stared him directly in the eye. She sniffed loudly; show casing her disapproval. The leader than circled him; trying to get a better glance at his shoulder. Trying to be discreet she circled him a few more times; as if she were judging all of him. Not just his wounded muscle.

To her surprise his shoulder had the scars of claw marks. And not just any claw marks; warrior claw marks.

Sitting down before him she wrapped her tail neatly across her paws. Clearing her throat she meowed questioningly, "How did you hurt your shoulder?" Hazelstar couldn't recall any incidents that ended with a wounded apprentice. The last time an apprentice had been injured was when the knucklehead Eclipseclaw tried to kill Spiritpaw. But that had been when he was a kit; and his injuries hadn't took place on his shoulder. So where did this come from?

Standing up she flicked her tail, gesturing him to watch. "Observe." Dropping down onto her haunches she scurried across the moorland, making sure not to make a sound. Her movement's were quick and precise. In an instant she was to her paws; dashing out towards a heather bush. A rabbit shot out of thick leaves, desperately trying to make an escape. Hazelstar was quicker, more experienced and within seconds she had it's limp corpse dangling from her jaws.

Padding back toward Spiritpaw she dropped the body at his paws. "Your crouch would have been perfect if you weren't so tired." Raising her brows she inquired, "Can't sleep?"

Spiritpaw quickly recovered from his tumble only to be faced with another dilemma. Hazelstar. She wasn't pleased, he could tell. She stared at him straight in the eye and the young tom felt his pelt crawl. It felt as if she could see right through him. It was as if she could see every lie he was hiding. No! Don't let her scare you, stupid tom. Spiritpaw had to be strong and try to get through this predicament. He could feel every where her eyes laid, and his shoulder prickled not just with pain; but with nervousness. He wouldn't have minded if Hazelstar had decided not to train him. He was doing just well with Nightstalker. Even if he had to lie even more about training with the apprentices and such to get his warrior name, Spiritpaw didn't exactly need Hazelstar's help.

"How did you hurt your shoulder?" Her words sent chills down Spiritpaw's spine. She had seen it, she had seen through it. Would she conclude that he was training at night? Would she ask with who? How would he respond if she did? Spiritpaw didn't believe she would take tussling with Thornpaw as a good answer. After all, he and Thornpaw rarely got along. Actually, Spiritpaw rarely got along with any of the apprentices. The black apprentice was an outcast. A kit taken in from a cat they knew nothing about. Spiritpaw's heart was racing and sweat tickled at his neck. "W-well, you see...me...me and Thorn-"

Before Spiritpaw could say anything else the old WindClan leader rose. With a flick of her tail and her simple command Spiritpaw felt a whirl wind of panic rush through him. This was not good, not good at all. What was she going to do? The tension and apprehension sent the tom's nerves sky rocketing. Hazelstar took the hunter's crouch and expertly brought down a rabbit. Spiritpaw was in awe, and something he didn't know how to explain tugged at his heart. It was like it was telling him that he should be training with Hazelstar, not Nightstalker. But it was gone in an instant. As much as Spirtpaw wished he could feel it again, Hazelstar once more spoke.

"Your crouch would have been perfect if you weren't so tired. Can't sleep?"

Spiritpaw felt the words leave his mouth before he could think.

"No, not really. I have nightmares."

The young tom suddenly realized, it was true.

HAZELSTAR
I've been broken more than once.

His words brought chills down her spine. Nightmares. There had been a time when her dreams were tainted with the howls of dieing cats, bloodshed. But the look he had in eyes told her they were much worse. Much, much worse. She blinked, "Want to talk about it?" it was a simple question. Perhaps something driven out of her maternal instincts. Her son was dead, but she still knew how to act as a mother. He needed a mother. Or at least someone to express his feelings to; to vent. He was an outcast amongst his den-mates. Spiritpaw must have so much pain and hurt locked away; and he's just waiting for someone to find the key.

The old queen laid a tail on his shoulder, "I know how the others treat you." She blinked kindly, "But I think they're just jealous." She leisurely stretched her forearms, flexed her claws. "Your very talented at such a young age." Spiritpaw was vastly different from herself when she were an apprentice. She was reckless, sloppy, a troublemaker. It was ironic she somehow managed to become leader. Perhaps mad, insane. But the best ideas are.

"Back when I was an apprentice, I wasn't everyone's favorite either." She chuckled at her foolish memories, "Most cats avoided me because I was a trouble-maker." Hazelstar smirked, "I once stole Hailstar's nest and stashed it in Frostbite's bedding." The leader tried her best to resist the bought of laughter bubbling in her throat, "Hailstar ended up giving Frostbite one moon of taking care of the elders by himself and no gatherings for three moons." She brought her raging laughter to a gradual halt, a few rusty giggles still made it through.

"I'm sorry for boring you, I just can't stand seeing you so down." The she-cat's eyes sparkled, "You look like you needed a laugh." The sudden realization that she had been wasting time finally took hold. Clearing her throat she motioned towards the rabbit,

"Let's try that hunting crouch again shall we?"
The she-cat dropped down into her perfected hunting crouch. It was natural for her to easily slide into the formation. Great Starclan she's been practicing it for nearly 40 some moons now. "The trick is go balance for weight evenly, and try to walk on your toes." Hazelstar slithered up and down the moor, when she finished her demonstration she added,

"Why don't you give it a try?"

If only they knew. If they knew what pain Spiritpaw was going through. The fear he was experiencing, maybe they would be kinder towards him. But then maybe they would throw him out of the Clan. He would be dangerous in their eyes if they found out about his past. If they found out his father was Nightstalker not only would they throw him out; Nightstalker would kill him. Hazelstar's attempt at encouraging him made him realize how weak he really was. He was to weak to fight his father, to scared to run into his siblings during a patrol. Sometimes the black apprentice wished life had been the way before he had discovered his past.

But that, Spiritpaw knew, was impossible.

Now that he thought about it, he didn't hate WindClan. He didn't hate Eclipseclaw for almost killing him, he wasn't mad at Hazelstar for not training him as much as the other apprentices, he wasn't frustrated at the rest of the Clan treating him as an outcast. As he thought about it, Spiritpaw realized that was what made him glad to be apart of WindClan. WindClan was his family, along with Duskpaw. Nightstalker was a menace he had to stop. But then his father's image entered his mind. That one inkling of courage he had vanished in an instant. He couldn't do that. Not against that tom.

The moment with Hazelstar was over. It was back to training. Spiritpaw watched his leader blankly. He was to busy thinking. He wanted to talk to her about his nightmares, but he didn't know how. Either way Nightstalker was going to be angry at him for revealing as much as he had already. It wouldn't, well it would, hurt to do more. But Spiritpaw would be as discreet as possible. First, he'd try to find out about Nightstalker.

Just then Spiritpaw realized that Hazelstar was looking at him expectantly. Mouse-brain! he thought as he scrabbled to his paws. "S-sorry, Hazelstar..." The words were like fire coming off his tongue. Never before had he said sorry and really meant it. Hazelstar, he realized, in this short amount of time had become more than his leader; his mentor. Hazelstar had become a sort of mother to him. Swallowing hard the apprentice asked his first question he had come up with. "Hazelstar, what do you know about Nightstalker?

HAZELSTAR
I've been broken more than once.

That name; that name sent chills up her spine. Startled at his question she slowly slid to her paws, escaping the hunter's crouch. Blinking a few times she tried to register what exactly he had said. Where would he have heard that name? The clan cat's knew it was outlawed to even whisper his name. That tom caused so much destruction, so many deaths. And those who spoke of it regretted it. Some even said they could still see him reeking havoc in their dreams. So how did Spiritpaw know about him? By the time Spiritpaw had joined them Nightstalker was dead, gone. He was a horrible memory suppressed back in everyone's minds. How was this possible.

Gulping she decided to pretend he found out through an apprentice; instead of worrying over that tiny detail she meowed quietly, "I know enough." The moment the words left her tongue she knew that wouldn't be enough to satisfy him. But could she tell him about it? Would it affect him in any way, give him ideas? Hazelstar's eyes hardened, she was going to tell him.

"He was a Shadowclan warrior. I saw him at Gatherings a few times. But he was a loner, an outcast. He was always that gloomy tom hovering in the back." Clearing her throat she continued, "It would have been just too easy to have suspected something. But no one did." It was going to be a long, dreadful story. One she wouldn't enjoy repeating. "It started with a few ruthless murders. But he staid within Shadowclan." Her eyes glazed over, "It was sick, disgusting. Among his first victims were helpless little kits." she spat the words angrily.

"He had an accomplice, Darkspirit." That moment her mind flashed, something tugged down at her heart. The words drained out in a whisper, "It still isn't known if she's dead or alive." A gasp escaped her throat, why hasn't this been addressed? Had everyone else just like her, forgotten about that she-cat? Was Nightstalker's slaughtered body just enough to make them forget? Darkspirit had escaped, was she still lurking the shadows? Waiting to attack. She blinked. Hazelstars urged herself to remain focused, keep her composure.

"The pair traveled far beyond our territory. They found a wolf pack that lived off of cat blood. And had them come back to the clans." She was close to shaking, the memory was too painful. Too horrifying. "At a gathering they attacked. Many cats were murdered. Owltalon and Rainflight of Thunderclan were able to bring down the alphas. Out of anger the remaining wolves killed Nightstalker." Her breathing calmed as she finished her story, "He was nothing but a nightmare."

Everything clicked. Her eyes flashed, Spiritpaw looked far too familiar. A small gasp escaped her mouth, "Your his son. Aren't you?"

He saw how she reacted. This wasn't a subject she wanted to discuss, but he had to know. Why did the Clans hate his father? What had he done?

Hazelstar's story chilled Spiritpaw to the very marrow in his bones. It told the young tom so much. His father and mother were of ShadowClan, their blood ran through his veins linking him to that clan. Why was it that all of the evil cats came from that one clan? Spiritpaw shuddered. But now, now there was an evil cat in every Clan. His siblings. Him. The black tom felt like a helpless kit waiting for someone to make the decision for him. Was he good, or was he evil? Could he be some where in the middle?

Closing his eyes, Spiritpaw couldn't help the images that flooded his mind. His father killed kits, his mother helped him. They had killed many, and had brought wolves the destroy the Clans. Spiritpaw didn't want that. All he wanted was to be respected and acknowledge for the strength he had. He just didn't know how to go about doing it. "He was nothing but a nightmare."

He still was.

And then the words that came next from Hazelstar froze Spiritpaw to his very core. She knew! His eyes flashed open, wide with fear. What was Nightstalker going to do now? Was he going to kill Spiritpaw. The tom stood and began to back away from Hazelstar. The words left his lips before he could think. He would no longer be welcomed in WindClan. "H-he's watching. Always watching. He told me himself." the black apprentice's throat was dry. "Y-you aren't going to tell anyone, are you?"

HAZELSTAR
I've been broken more than once.

Hazelstar's eyes widened. Her accusation had been a mere gander at something that seemed far too surreal. It was true. Real. Those five kits from the mountains were the children of Starclan's greatest foe. Her voice cracked from disbelief, "Yo-you talk with him?" Her spine tingled. This was bad. Her eyes wildly flickered around trying to catch any unfamiliar movements. Hazelstar backed nervously away from the apprentice. She knew he was only a kit; too young. But they were easily persuaded, how could she trust him if he was talking to him? Nightstalker, a cat everyone feared, hated.

The she-cat tried to calm herself. Spiritpaw couldn't follow in his father's footsteps could he? She threw the tom a scathing glance, "This means your siblings, those four other kits talk to him as well?" she rasped. Her loyalty was to her clan not to her apprentice. How could she not tell? But that scared, terrified look in his eyes reminded her he wasn't all bad. Confused. Her mind was in a raging civil war, warn everyone? Or try to steer his path as far away from Nightstalker's as she could.

Honey-colored eyes flashed hotly, approaching the tom she exerted a few exhausted breaths. "Promise me something kit." she snapped. "You will not speak to that tom, if he comes to your dreams run." The words were running off of her tongue, "Run, and don't look back. You can't become him. That isn't your destiny." Clenching her teeth she let loose a snarl, "Because if you so dare threaten my clan I will kill you myself."

"That tom is a horrid excuse of a cat. You must not follow in his footsteps." she growled, "Whatever he has told you, whatever he has promised you-" Hazelstar huffed angrily, "It's a lie, he's only using you. Using you and your siblings." The queen's tail lashed, "I don't want to see you become like him, your better than him." Her eyes narrowed,

"Promise me that, and I won't tell the clan."

She was exhausted, but her blood was a raging fire flowing through her. Hazelstar couldn't let innocent cats die; not again. She backed a few steps away from the trembling apprentice, "Promise me you'll become a warrior I can be proud of."

She was going to tell everyone. That's all that went through his head. He absently nodded. Yes - he talked to Nightstalker. Yes - so did his siblings. He opened his mouth after he had nodded though and mumbled out "Except Duskpaw, she doesn't." His mind was filled with fear. She was going to run him out of the clan. He would be lost and alone, and haunted by his father. Or worse, Hazelstar would kill him. After all, just because he wasn't in the Clan didn't mean he wasn't a threat. Spiritpaw had no doubt that he would forever live in fear of the Clans. If Hazelstar decided not to tell, there was the chance that one of the others would let slip their secret. And then, then Spiritpaw would have to face the all Clans.

"Promise me something kit." Spiritpaw slowly looked up into Hazelstar's eyes, his throat to dry to speak. His stomach clenching in fear. Spiritpaw didn't know if he could keep that promise. Nightstalker was so much stronger than him. He could kill Spiritpaw. What would Hazelstar say to that? Spiritpaw didn't know how his father would do it; but he knew that he could. Some how, some way. If he could hurt Spiritpaw when they trained, than he could kill.

The atmosphere had changed dramatically by asking that question. The apprentice wished he could take it back, but he couldn't. He had gone from someone with potential to be one of the greatest warriors and Hazelstar didn't have to fear him; to being Nightstalkers son. It didn't matter what she had told him before, now that she knew his ancestry he was a threat. Leaders had to protect their clan, that came first. Not a scared kit. Everything she had said was true. Spiritpaw cast his gaze downward, his emotions caught as a storm in his throat. He held back the tears of fright, tried to hold back the sob as Hazelstar went on to say things that brought the tom the smallest of hopes.

"I don't want to see you become like him, your better than him. Promise me that, and I won't tell the clan. Promise me you'll become a warrior I can be proud of."

That was all he needed to hear. He felt courage rising up in him once more. Maybe, just maybe, she still saw him as she had before this moment. Maybe she had the slightest hope that he could. Choking back his whirl wind of emotions Spiritpaw nodded. "I..." his voice was high pitched. Taking a deep breath he tried once more; this time his voice was even "I promise, Hazelstar." His eyes met hers afraid to ask the question. He did anyways. "What's going to happen next?"

HAZELSTAR
I've been broken more than once.

Hazelstar dipped her head, a sigh of relief left her throat. "Good." Even though he had promised the threat still lingered. Nightstalker could easily trick him; Hazelstar was sure of it. The queen drifted a few steps away from him. Her mind was racing; how could she be sure he wouldn't meet him? She flashed him another glance, the fear shaking in gaze brought reassurance. He's scared right now, isn't he? She had to get information out of her apprentice. Nightstalker wasn't just walking in their dreams for a family visit. He had a reason; what was he planning?

But Spiritpaw was too shaken up already. She wouldn't want to overload his emotions. Right now she would have to trust him; and somehow she could do that. Blinking she lifted her chin, "Right now? Nothing." she responded to his question, "Now let's finally get some work done." The whole reason they had journeyed out here today was to get some training done. Instead Hazelstar had stumbled upon a dark, dangerous secret. One she regretted hearing.

"Now let's see that hunter's crouch." It took all of her strength to keep her voice steady. She mustn't look bothered by Spiritpaw's true identity. Hazelstar your being unfair, he's just an apprentice. Something calmed within her. He isn't his father, he may look like him, but he's a different cat. He was raised in the paws of Windclan warriors. Doesn't that count for something? Quit looking at him like he's a monster; he's a child. A hurt, confused child. Her eyes softened,

"Spiritpaw, I know your not your father." she murmured, "I truly believe you'll become a great warrior." Her words and actions beforehand were harsh, unlike her. She bowed her head in shame, what kind of leader was she if she lashed out at a mere apprentice.

"And don't ever believe that being his son is a punishment." Her voice picked up confidence, "Your also a Windclan apprentice. A strong, intelligent Windclan tom." Her eyes lightened, "And when you made your promise; I knew Windclan was blessed to have a tom like you."

"Being one of the only good cats out of your siblings, doesn't that count for something?" The queen's voice dropped into an eerie whisper, "Your decision is your destiny; and your destiny will shape the clan's future."

Spiritpaw was quaking in fear. What would happen that night when he closed his eyes? What would Nightstalker do to him? Will his father find out how to kill his son? Will WindClan find out and kill him before his father could? His future looked to clouded and dark Spiritpaw had no hope of going back to how it was before he found out. Before his father found him. The young tom looked up into Hazelstar's eyes once more. She was right, there was nothing more they could do. It would be best to continue on like nothing had never happened. But it had; and that couldn't be changed.

His nerves slowly going back to normal, Spiritpaw lowered himself into the hunter's crouch. On the tips of his paws, his weight equal throughout his body. With a good mentor and a lot of practice, Spiritpaw would soon be able to shift into the crouch as easily as Hazelstar had done minutes ago. These were skills he would be able to use to save lives if it ever came to that. Knowing this crouch like his paw could decide on if an empty stomach would be filled. His eyes darkened. Nightstalker hadn't been teaching him to save lives, he had been teaching him to destroy lives. That wasn't what Spiritpaw wanted; that wasn't what Hazelstar wanted.

After doing the crouch for a few moments, and returning to a sitting position, Hazelstar spoke once more to her apprentice. Her words were low. Spiritpaw flattened his ears back like a kit being chastised. But his leader's words were not words of punishment. They were more like words of praise. Spiritpaw looked up into his mentor's eyes, that little flicker of hope growing into a fire. With Hazelstar, Spiritpaw would be fine. He would do this, he would never need his father again. A small smile tugged at Spiritpaw's lips. "Thank you, Hazelstar, for everything."

HAZELSTAR
I've been broken more than once.

A purr rumbled in her throat, for an instant she felt her eyes water from the sappiness of the moment. For once she felt all that worry wither from Spiritpaw's shoulders; he seemed freed. Hazelstar wanted to respond but no words could describe the feeling fluttering in her stomach. Instead she lifted her chin and smiled; she was proud of him. Her eye-lids slipped down, she watched intently as he performed a mere perfect hunter's crouch. "Much better." she murmured.

Straightening her posture she meowed tantalizingly, "Now let's see it in action." The queen wasn't going to question his nose, so instead of letting him find the prey she found it for him. Opening her mouth she let the many smells of the moorland waft in. She could taste the fresh grass on her tongue; a taint, sickening stench of fumes played with her nose. Lifting her lips she demonstrated the perfect look of disgust. "Two-legs." she muttered. The stink was distant, but too close for her liking. Probably somewhere within the depths of Thunderclan territory. Starclan be with them.

Turning away from the smell she opened her mouth once more. Almost immediately the soft scent of heather licked the roof of her mouth. She exerted a heavenly breath. It easily healed her once damaged nose. If only everything could smell so gentle. Drawing in another breath she smiled the instant she found it. A rabbit lay just over the next hill, squinting she pin-pointed it's exact location. "Up ahead the next ridge; there's a rabbit crouched in a heather patch." she explained quietly to her apprentice.

"Show me what you can do."

She knew he was still sore from his, 'Nightmares' but hopefully their earlier conversation stirred some energy within him. Hazelstar knew that something had stirred within her. She had a new duty; and that was to guide this tom to warriorhood. To make him a warrior Windclan will be proud of.

Spiritpaw beamed ever so slightly as Hazelstar praised him. He didn't care if it was only a little, it made him feel so much better. All Spiritpaw really needed was someone who actually cared for him; and Hazelstar was that someone. "Now let's see it in action." His ears perked forward and he looked at Hazelstar curiously as she scented the area for prey. He was glad she didn't ask him. The more that Spiritpaw thought about it, the more he realized how very little he really knew.

"Up ahead the next ridge; there's a rabbit crouched in a heather patch." Spiritpaw nodded "Show me what you can do." Spiritpaw hesitated only a moment as he looked ahead. He slowly started forward as he tried his best to remember how Hazelstar had gone about before. He paused once more and shifted into the crouch before continuing over the ridge.

He didn't know how Hazelstar had scented the rabbit. As soon as he had come across the ridge it darted away, Spiritpaw hot on it's tail. He was now beginning to realized how much the warriors and Clans trained and worked. They had a perfect system for surviving. A lot of thought went into this, trail and error. As the rabbit begin to pull ahead determination lighted in his heart. With one last surge of energy he dashed forward and clipped the rabbit's leg. He had it for a second, but the clumsy move cost him the catch. As he tumbled head over heals the rabbit dashed into it's den.

"Fox-dung!"

HAZELSTAR
I've been broken more than once.

Hazelstar was right behind him, her paws thudding carelessly across the earth. Eyes narrowed she watched his each move; silently correcting him on each mistake. Skidding to a halt she watched as he made his final move. It was quick; but uncontrollable. It was only seconds before the apprentice was brought into a reckless tumble. Panting she approached him, gulping back her fatigue she raised a brow. As if to question his actions. But there wasn't much to blame; Spiritpaw hadn't really had an official training session. This was his first time; and he was doing well. Any other inexperienced runt wouldn't have even nicked it's leg; let alone run it down. To gain such agility Windclan cats had to be conditioned. They needed to practice; just because they were born to run didn't mean they could actually perform it in one go. "Although you missed the rabbit," she began, "You showed a lot of potential."

Hazelstar continued with her speech, "We need to grasp hold of that potential and let it blossom." Straightening her posture she flicked her tail, "See that heather bush?" Using her tail she pointed to the flowery patch, and ran it down to a nearby rabbit hole. "And that rabbit hole?" Her eyes flickered with amusement; "Today your going to feel the burn of being a Windclan apprentice." This was where that conditioning came in. "Five times down and back." The queen's eyes flashed, "And give it your best."

With a smile she sat down; her toes were poised to run though. She was alert and cautious for any sort of danger lurking in the shadows. After Spiritpaw was thoroughly exhausted she would either lug him back to camp; or if he were ever so lucky he'd get to try catching a rabbit again. But only if the chance arose; the sun was dancing feverishly in the sun. It's rays scorched her back and she was sure her apprentice was getting hungry. Although they managed to accomplish little she was proud of the outcome. Today she gained her apprentice's trust; and more so, he gained hers.