Crumbling Without The Stars

Chapter I

He crouched, eyeing his target. He breathed in the crisp, cool air as it flowed towards him, bathing him with a chill. The wind whistled as it weaved among the trees and bushes, the cloudy gray skies leaving no trace of sunlight to be found. Honorificpaw readied himself for a pounce, bunching his legs and wrinkling his nose as he snarled silently. He was about to leap-

"Practicing hunting, are you?" Honorificpaw yelped, turning around abruptly and seeing his mentor, Catcherlift, standing a few feet away from him. He smoothed his fur, noticing that he had fluffed it out at the surprise.

"I was just trying something..." he meowed in reply, taking a seat. Catcherlift nodded and curled his tail in amusement.

"This is only your second day, Honorificpaw. We won't be learning hunting until tomorrow," he explained.

"Why tomorrow?"

"Because someone goofed off yesterday and we didn't finish the territory exploration. Plus it'll be a good time to review a few things while we walk and talk," Catcherlift stood up, flicking his tail as a signal for Honorificpaw to follow him. He turned around and continued, "Come, I should show you the cliff." Honorificpaw perked up at these words, knowing where that was. He had spent the day earlier exploring part of the territory, which in his mind, was far too large. He lived with the Refugees, a clan that had abandoned the stars. Because they had turned away from the ancestors who had guided them, many of their clanmates had left, leaving only a few left. He was one of them, but a part of him longed to find his other clanmates that had left. When the clan had split, he had only been a small kit, barely a day old. His mother had left him, for what reason, he couldn't remember.

"...Are you coming?" a voice snapped Honorificpaw back to attention, and he realized that he'd been standing still. He looked up apologetically at Catcherlift, who stood a few yards away now.

"Yes, uh, I am. Sorry," Honorificpaw ducked his head guiltily and trotted over to Catcherlift, who didn't say anything, instead, he walked onwards, flicking his tail as a sign for Honorificpaw to follow. This time, he trailed after his mentor, staring ahead of him and at the ground. They walked through the thin forest, sporadic trees sprouting out from the leaf-covered ground. The farther they went, the less trees there were, and the dirt changed to stone. Eventually, they had traveled up to the hill that flanked the forest in which the Refugees patrolled. Honorificpaw leapt up to a rock a few feet taller than him, meeting his mentor at the top.

Catcherlift nodded and walked onwards disappearing behind a large, sharp stone that jutted out from the side of the mountain. Honorificpaw followed, seeing his mentor stand on the edge. Here, the rock jutted out from the hill, revealing trees that swarmed beneath. It was breathtaking, though Honorificpaw knew that there were far grander views than this, it was the best that he would see. "It never fails to amaze me," Catcherlift commented, flicking his tail over his paws as he sat down.

"It truly is fascinating..." Honorificpaw trailed off. He was about to take a seat before Catcherlift's words stopped him.

"We should head back to camp."

"I thought we were supposed to see the rest of the territory?"

"Yes, but I figured that we could do that tomorrow while we begin to practice hunting. Besides, not everything you have to learn is out here, there's some things I want to show you at camp," Catcherlift had stood up and was already walking away, pausing to look behind him. Honorificpaw paused for a moment before following. His mentor didn't move until his apprentice had reached his side. Then, the two of them headed down the hillside, small stones skidding off the edge as they made their way downwards.

They reached camp within a few minutes, though if he was being honest, he didn't know how long it had taken. Honorificpaw was too busy looking around the forest and the stones, awestruck. He had never stepped foot outside of camp since yesterday, and even then, he'd barely paid attention. He felt a stab of regret, wishing that he had made more inward notes about the territory. After all, if he was going to train and hunt here one day, how would he be able to do anything if he didn't know where he was going. The trees grew denser, the shadows darkening as more leaves blocked out the cloudy gray sky.

The two of them reached a circle of trees, two of them with branches that created an arch, signifying the entrance to camp. Catcherlift glanced at Honorificpaw and nodded before padding inside. He followed after his mentor, watching as the dark forest changed to a terrain with dirt and rocks. Large stones casted more shadows, with shallow holes dug beneath them and nests lining them. He walked on the soft dirt floor that was speckled with a few grass leaves and fallen foliage. Catcherlift flicked his tail and meowed, "I should show you to your den. I apologize for forgetting yesterday. It's been awhile since anyone here has had an apprentice."
Honorificpaw didn't reply vocally and instead nodded. He understood what his mentor meant. Catcherlift seemed to take that for an answer and raised his tail, walking over to one side of the camp. Honorificpaw followed him, his tail flicking as he watched his clanmates move around camp. Theftsneak was speaking to Gazeglance, who nodded slowly, but didn't say anything. Fredpounce, the deputy, was picking at the fresh-kill pile, and he raised his head as Dyedsight padded over. "Honorificpaw?" Catcherlift's words snapped him back to reality and he quickened his pace.

His mentor stopped at a small hollow with a handful of nests lined, a large stone jutting out and casting some shade. Vines draped down, providing some cover. "This is your den. I'm sorry you'll have to sleep alone," Catcherlift meowed, ducking his head. "I can't do anything about it, but you can always visit me in the warriors' den."

"It's fine. I've been sleeping alone in the nursery anyway, right?" Honorificpaw offered a weak smile. He had been fed for a few months by a passing queen who had a few kits of her own, in return for shelter from the Refugees. However, she moved on after he was weaned, forcing him to sleep alone in the nursery afterwards. Catcherlift nodded and turned away, but before he left, he turned back and meowed, "We can talk about some history and rules this evening, okay?" Honorificpaw nodded, and with that his mentor walked away.

Honorificpaw looked at the nests and chose the one at the far back. He settled in, flinching at the cold moss but ignored it. He lowered his head and closed his eyes, sighing. He wasn't exhausted, but a nap would pass the time, as he had nothing to do, being the only apprentice. He slowed his breathing and focused on the sounds of camp, and he soon drifted off after a few minutes.