[Brilliance]

Originally Posted by The Little Robin

“I should get more sleep and stop making Noirepaw get up this early..” Sproutwhisker murmured, giving a slight yawn and stretching out his paws in front of him. He still had hints of tiredness deep within his expression and if that apprentice of his didn’t awake soon, then he would fall asleep right where he now laid. The last thing he wanted to do, however, was go against his word and still be asleep when she awakes for her next lesson. The black-furred male supposed that he kept himself up too much with his own thought of the past and his beloved father that he missed so dearly. If he was here, the muscular male would be chuckling at his tiredness and tell him to go dunk his head in the river. “That’ll wake you right up!” Sproutwhisker said, mimicking the grey-furred maine coon, “Or would you rather I threw you in the river myself?” The warrior huffed and shook his head ever so lightly, looking up at the trees as a morning breeze swept through them.

The dark-furred warrior’s ears perked up at the sound of rustling that came from within the apprentice’s den that was not that far away from where he was, making him immediately wonder if Noirepaw was finally awake and eager to start the day. Of course, he was never the harsh mentor to storm into the den and snap at their apprentice to get their haunches up and ready to go. No, Sproutwhisker knows to be caring and gentle with the youth of the clans, they were training, learning to become a strong, proud warrior. Harshness such as explained before was for selfish, disrespectful cats, but not cats like Noirepaw, who were happy to learn and know more about the forest that they were born in. It was certainly fascinating when he first learned the clan ways and all that followed with it.

His icy blue-hued eyes flickered shut more a moment as he uttered a content sigh that quietly escaped him as he laid there on the edge of the clearing. The partially eaten prey still resting between his paws, but he had means for it later, so the male didn’t bother with it for the moment. Then, without warning, the sound of pawsteps bounding towards him made the tom-cat awaken from his dazing off to meet eyes with the energetic apprentice that he cared for so dearly. A tired-sounding chuckle sounded from him as she exclaimed how she awake all on her own. “Of course, I’m proud. Although, I’m not surprised.” Sproutwhisker murmured, lazily heaving himself into a sitting position with his eyes sliding shut for a few seconds as he spoke, “You are mature, Noirepaw, responsible too. I knew that I didn’t need to be a strict mentor with you and wake you like some mentors do with their apprentices.” His tone was gentle and warming to the ears as he smiled down at the black-furred female as she bounded around him like a mischievous kitten. “I wish Starclan would grant me the energy of the youth once more..” He chuckled and shook his head, “But what am I saying - I’m only thirty moons.”

Her abrupt question made the mentor open his eyes to see Noirepaw park her haunches right before him, looking at the tom-cat with curious, energetic expression in her gaze and it made him smile with delight at her, knowing that she enjoyed this time with him. “Today, I have something special planned for us.” He said, heaving himself to his paws and turning away from her with a satisfied smile, “Come along before we waste anymore of the relaxing morning hours.” The male certainly didn’t give any details or hints to what they were doing, but after all, he wanted each experience with them together to be an adventure in itself. Sproutwhisker shook his fur, a bit of dust shifting from the tom’s fur as he strode across the clearing, waving his tail in the air to signal her to follow him.

The black pelted she cat gav a quizzical look toward her mentor as he bounded off. She sat there for a couple moments, wondering what exactly did he have planned. Her gaze locked upon him, and she was not satisfied with what he had said. The young apprentice hopped to her paws deciding to follow him after a while of pondering. After all, she did like surprises. Well, sometimes. She was more of the type that aggravated others until they told her what it was, but with her mentor, she decided to stay quiet. Maybe it was special of what he had planned. Maybe it was battle training. Oh, yes! The feline felt that she was ready to practice and learn some moves. Even though she wasn’t a fighter, she was definitely a dreamer. More of the type of be creative and prepared. She preferred the benevolent type, but knowing how to fight also had its benefits. Hopefully, those benefits she wouldn’t have to use.

‘’Are you sure you don’t want to tell me?’’ Noirepaw fell behind her mentor, and gradually started trotting to pad alongside him. She turned her gaze to stare at him with her large yellow hues. ‘’I can keep a secret, you know.’’ It may sound like she was pouting, making her voice extra sweet just to get what she wanted, but that was far from the case. Her curiosity was taking over her, and she wondered exactly--what was this place. The river? That was about the only thing that made Riverclan special. Especially since they were literally the only cats that could swim--and stand water. And, fish. Fish was tasty to the young apprentice, and she didn’t understand how come the other clans found it disgusting. Now, she was veering off track. Her mind was getting cluttered up, and she tried to focus on the case in front of her.

‘’Do I know of this special place?’’ She pressured on, hoping to get little clues. Noirepaw enjoyed a good mystery, and since she didn’t know where they were going, or what they were going to do, she figured she would prompt it out of Sproutwhisker. It was like a game to her. A game she loved to play when it came to solving problems. Only, this wasn’t a problem. It was more so a surprise that Sproutwhisker was keeping hidden. Why hide anything from her? Noirepaw jumped around, trotting much faster as she took a couple steps ahead of Sproutwhisker. She thought she could figure this place out on her own, but she was lost--clueless of where it could be, so she stopped in her steps and awaited for her mentor to come back at her side again before she stayed trotting along him. ‘’Why does it have to be a surprise?’’ She asked, the suspension killing her. Yet, she liked the suspension. She didn’t want to come off as whiny or aggravating.

Yet, she figured that Sproutwhisker was actually enjoying her company. Almost like a little kit to keep him company. That’s exactly how she acted. Her inquisitive nature taking over her as she looked around at her surroundings. She was proud to be a riverclan cat, despite the fact that she didn’t know how to swim, but never minded that as she stayed near her mentor. Whatever he had planned for them, Noirepaw knew she would enjoy it. She loved the last lesson, figuring that whenever she had a break from training, she would practice her land hunting to get better, but for now, she stayed near Sproutwhisker, her tail twitching with anticipation of what was to come. Many things swirled into her mind, a mystery making her shiver with excitement. If it was an adventure--oh, how she hoped it was an adventure, Noirepaw would never forget it. She adored going on adventures. It meant exploring the land around her, and getting to know the lively forest that she called home.