Alone in the darkness...

[wolfwarrior4jesus]

Windgale sighed. Things were going badly for Earthclan, with one of thier own, Windgale's own mentor being slain by the traitorous Fireclan.. Windgale's blue eyes glimmered with anger, and her claws rapidly sheathed and unsheathed, scoring claw marks into the loamy earth. She looked up at the sky, a bright azure blue- the sky seemed to exclude a cheerfulness that she never felt. Ever.

[Melodyecho]

h o w l__________
Howlpaw moved soundlessly through Earthclan territory, his tail swishing from left to right, brain working, thousands of ideas coming to his head. Hm. There wasn't really anything to do here in Earthclan. Of course he was an apprentice and was limited on the things he could do, but still, there was nothing he could do. There was interacting with other apprentices, but who would want to do that? He smirked. A friendly cat, he thought mockingly and kept on padding to nowhere. And do I look like a friendly cat? Huh, no. A scowl spread across his face. Other cats looked a him funny just because he kept to himself and refused to converse with other cats his age...or any cats at all really. But I'm not that type of cat...why should I even try? There's really no point.

Another Earthclan cat's scent filled his nostrils and he froze. beepit. I didn't want to run into anybody. With an unwillingly attitude he pushed forward until he came face to face with Windgale. Hm. She doesn't seem too happy. Was she ever? Howlpaw didn't know; he didn't pay attention to his clan-mates. Clearing his throat, but keeping his gaze on on his paws, he spoke. "Hello, Windgale."

[/blockquote][/size]

[wolfwarrior4jesus]

Windgale didn't even move. "Howlpaw." She said curtly. "What are you doing out here?" She didn't turn to look at him or anything, just sat where she was, looking up in to the sapphire vaults of the sky, an unreadable expression on her face.

(um, please excuse her coldness!)

[Melodyecho]

h o w l_______
Howlpaw recoiled and then shrugged. What did he care if Windgale chose not to even look at him? He even spared a glance. Howlpaw didn't want to look at her--he didn't even want to run into anybody. Something about the way she spoke and held herself told him that she didn't want to talk--or didn't want to even have another cat in her presence. Windgale seemed to be thinking about something. Was he interested in what she was thinking about? This cat, this female, seemed to push herself away from the clan. How do I know that? For all I know she could just be having a bad day. Besides, I don't listen to problems and I don't give advice, nor do I try to comfort others. Howlpaw stared at her, sizing her up. Hm. I'll bug her for the heck of it and try to make conversation. He smirked. If she didn't want him there with her, she'd be agitated and tell him to leave--or maybe do something else. Who knows, and frankly the male apprentice didn't care. He was just looking for something to do. I might as well interact with my fellow clan-mate and do some good.

What good may that be?
He didn't know.

"I dunno. I'm just bored, so I decided to wander around, look for something to do, you know." Howlpaw's yellow eyes flashed. "And may I be so bold to ask what you are doing out here?"

[wolfwarrior4jesus]

"Not that it's any of your business," The grey she cat retorted softly, "But I'm just sitting out here and observing the sky. Wasn't that obvious?" she said dryly, finally turning to look at Howlpaw. She didn't want to be around any cat, but.....she couldn't bring herself to totally ignore an apprentice. He'd never done anything wrong to her, so why take out her frustration, lonliness and anger out on him? She struggled to be 'friendly.' "Don't you have a mentor?" she asked, in clipped tones..

[Melodyecho]

howl_____&&
"None of my business, is it? Oh, alright then." Howlpaw turned his head away when she snapped at him. My, my. She does have an attitude on her. Well, I can match it, but I'm not going to...I'm going to have some fun for a bit. Besides, I need to enjoy something other than just mope around. Hah, what makes me laugh makes other cats irritated. Funny. He shrugged. "I guess it was obvious, but I wasn't really paying attention you see. I was wandering when I ran into you. To be honest, I was praying that I wouldn't run into anybody, but I guess I have twisted luck." Howlpaw's tail swished left to right and then curled.

The question caught him off guard. "A mentor?... No. I don't have one." He answered gruffly, recoiling back. That's because of my attitude. No one wants to deal with a bad tempered cat... Anyways, he didn't really mind. But, why was she asking him? Cautiously, he inquired her. "Why?"

[/blockquote]

[wolfwarrior4jesus]

Windgale's fur stood on end at Howlpaw's words, "Well," she growled." I was going to offer to help you train, but seeing as you obviously don't want to be around anycat, I'll leave you to your silence." She meowed getting to her paws....

[Melodyecho]

howl______&&
A evil smile pulled at his lips and he kept his gaze on Windgale. Hah, she seemed to be agitated. I'm such a jerk...oh, well. His yellow eyes darkened and when the she-cat rose to her paws so did the tom. "Oh ho ho. Don't snap at me about not liking to be around other cats when you clearly don't want to be around another living being either." Howlpaw's ear flicked and for the first time in his life he hesitated, unsure of how to react on Windgale's offer. His eyes bulged slightly. Is she serious? She wants to help train me? Taking a step away from her, his gaze was drawn down to his paws, and his bones chilled. "Are you yanking my tail or something? Because I don't like being messed with like that." He lifted his head to look into her eyes, his eyebrows knitting together in utter confusion.

"Oh, come on, come on. Hold up there, Windgale." Then he softened and became vulnerable. No one ever had given him a chance at something and this was strange, but a good strange. "If you are...serious, which I hope you are, then I'll accept your... offer to help train...me." It took a great deal for him to say those words, for he had never took another's help. But she was presenting him the gift of finally being trained? He may be ignorant, but he wasn't stupid and he knew he wasn't going to let this chance pass him up.

[/blockquote]

[wolfwarrior4jesus]

"If I was pulling your tail, I'd have left in a hurry." She said bluntly. "Frankly, you're right. I don't like being around other cats...But..." She hesitated, "I hate seeing younger cats struggling. And it's not your fault you haven't been assigned a mentor yet. You, and any apprentice, deserves attention in that way. Besides. Perhaps you can help give me some excercise?" she meowed, flicking her fluffy tail. She tilted her head. "And you remind me of some cat I once knew." Her voice softened a tiny bit at that confession. "So, you'll take my offer?" She nodded in satisfaction. "Okay then. Battle training it is." she meowed, not giving him a chance to choose...

[Melodyecho]

howl_________&&
He laughed at Windgale. "And if you pulled my tail I'd of bit your's back." He promised. And so he paced back in front in front of the older femme, keeping his eyes on her. Hm. Should he trust her? She may have a sharp tongue but she doesn't seem threatening. I guess I could trust her...even if it means putting myself out there. I have to start somewhere, don't I? And how perfect, I get to start with someone who's witty. "Struggling? Nice choice of word. You make it sound like I'm dying--or trying to save my life. But, in a way you are right; I'm being deprived on learning what the other apprentices are being taught and that makes me...weaker." The word made him flinch. Weak. Uh, that's such a disgusting word...even when not being said out loud. Pressing his lips together in a grim line, the apprentice could only stare at her. "Let's hope you don't regret this now, okay? Because a lot of people have given up on me during the last couple months of my life and right now I don't need you to go and bail on me." I think I just lost my mind. He had told someone he hardly knew his most personal piece of information that he kept guarded.

An eyebrow rose as her voice softened. What? He didn't dare ask who she was talking about because she'd probably claw his ear, so he kept quiet.

"Battle training? Sure. Howlpaw smiled thinly. She didn't even give him an option of what they should do first. Giving his tail a little flick, his eyes shot up to stare at his new mentor. "So what are you going to teach me now, oh high mentor?"

He smirked.
This was going to be interesting.

[/blockquote][/size]

[wolfwarrior4jesus]

Windgale gave Howlpaw a look. "Don't get snotty with me." She said shortly. "And no worries, I won't be bailing out on you. I'm too stubborn and clingy for that." She meowed, a hint of a laugh in her eyes. "Well, I'm not going to teach you anything yet. You show me what you've got, and from there, I'll.....tutor you." It was her turn to smirk. He'd be learning the hard way, in practice, not by being told.

[Melodyecho]

howl________&&
"I'll try not to be snotty, but I can't promise you anything, dear mentor." It was true. Howlpaw may have been agreeing to getting along, or rather, trying to, but his attitude, or mouth was going to end up slipping if something Windgale said didn't mix well with him. Yay for trying to get along with people. He rolled his eyes and stopped pacing so that he was a good couple tail-lengths away from her, but still within reach. She's clingy? "Oh, I think I got the picture of your stubbornness." He noted the change of emotion in her eyes and offered her a small smile. He wouldn't be too rude with her. After all, she was taking on a big responsibility in training him. Most cats looked the other way if he came near them. But for a good reason. It's all going towards a great cause--a cause that involves them leaving me in peace.

Howlpaw was baffled. "Excuse me?" He couldn't believe what she just said. She was going to tutor him? Unbelievable. Here he was, hoping to actually get to know something, or be told what to do and here she said "show me what you know" just so he could make a complete fool of himself. He hissed in annoyance. "You have got to be kidding me, Windgale." Picking his body up he started the pacing once more. What was he supposed to do? He didn't know anything. Fixing his glare upon her, Howlpaw moved so that he was 5 tail-lengths away from her. For all the times he had been out wandering and sometimes watching training sessions going on he couldn't remember a thing. Dangit. Think.
Think! Something came to mind, but he had to push it away. I'm about as tall as her and I can't go beneath her... He cursed himself.

Confused and doubting himself more than ever, he kept up the pacing, but without notice the male raced over to his mentor and aimed at her fore legs, hoping to bring her down. It was the most basic thing he could think of since he had no knowledge whatsoever on how to fight or defend himself.

This. Is. Crap.

[/blockquote]

[wolfwarrior4jesus]

Windgale easily avoided it, a quick step to the side brought her out of his way. "The best way to learn, as I've found, is by doing. So, we shall do." She meowed. "That technique," she clicked her tongue. "You can do better. Look at me Howlpaw. I'm obviously bigger than you, most likely stronger and definitely more experienced. Think. What are your advantages? Use them to your benefit. Physical strength will get you nowhere. Use your brain." She crouched, her blue eyes fixed on him. "A move like that wouldn't affect me much, like I said- I have greater weight, sheer size on my side." Then, like a gale of wind, Windgale faked a move with her left paw, and slashed out with velveted claws to the right, moving her paw downwards as to trap him beneath her paw using his momentum and hers both...