warriors 🏮 feather-soft

two | training

"Come on Softpaw! A few more fox-lengths and you'll be finished for the day!"

The feline's lungs cried in agony, her legs pumping out what little energy remained within their overworked muscles. Softpaw wheezed, hungrily gulping in as much oxygen as she possibly could in-between each stretch of terrain covered by her small white feet. The open, peaty moorlands traversed all around each and every direction with highs and lows, the now-familiar glistening of the wide lake located in the heart of the Clans' territories recognizable past a gently-sloping hilltop to Softpaw's left. Approximately seven fox-lengths ahead stood Heatherleaf, the warrior watchfully keeping an eye on their apprentice with upmost interest.

The afternoon sun shone onto WindClan's territory, brilliant golds and bronzes showering the moorlands and allowing Softpaw's pelt to glow a pale amber. It had been a couple of days since the apprentice's ceremony, and Heatherleaf wasted no time in training up Softpaw as soon as possible. The striped warrior as diligent in ensuring that not a day of Softpaw's apprenticeship would go to waste, and whether she would be hunting, patrolling, exercising, or even tending to in-camp duties for the day, the apprentice was always woken up at the break of dawn.

Jaypaw thought Brighthiss was going to be strict!? Softpaw wheezed whilst thinking to herself, sinking her claws into the soft earth underfoot to propel herself forward. Hare-dung! He should try spending a day with Heatherleaf!

As strict as Heatherleaf was, Softpaw couldn't bring herself to hate them. The warrior's time being poured into her training was appreciated, and the brown and white feline knew that she would learn to truly treasure all of her hard work down the line when it was time to become a warrior herself. But dear StarClan, it had only been about seven dawns and Softpaw felt as if she'd been training for moons!

The apprentice's least favorite exercise, as fun as it could be when other activities were involved, was running. Ironic it was, for a WindClan cat to feel such a way, however Heatherleaf would have Softpaw racing across the entire territory, it felt like. Softpaw always woke up the following morning feeling like a deadweight- that exhaustion eventually being abandoned when she would be summoned by Heatherleaf to go out again. Of all her training thus far, Softpaw had yet to participate in any battle-training. She was unsure as to when that would change, but given that Brindlepaw and Jaypaw recently got their own sessions, Softpaw hoped it would be soon.

"And that's it!" Heatherleaf announced, watching as Softpaw flopped down into a hunched-over sitting position beside them. The apprentice was gasping for air, panting like some sort of dogpet, as her mentor meowed, "Excellent work Softpaw. You were quicker than a flash."

"Thank.. you.. Heath- Heatherleaf.." Softpaw panted, her legs trembling as she slowly rose to her paws once again. The brown and white tabby's mentor watched her sluggish movements, a smile growing on their face.

"You deserve a good meal and some rest," Heatherleaf decided, nodding firmly. "You can have rest of the day off, and tomorrow we can get in some beginner's battle-training. Come along." With a swish of their tail, Heatherleaf started moving, padding toward the direction of WindClan camp with twitching whiskers. Softpaw mustered up her remaining energy to follow the feline ahead of her, paws almost dragging with each step.

Surrounding Softpaw, the breezes of the moorlands fluttered against her whiskers, whipping up her pelt and providing hints of relief underneath the warm rays of the sun. Softpaw heaved a sigh, the gentle wind slightly rejuvenating her. Heather shrubs waltzed with the breezes curling around them, and soft grass underfoot rustled. Peering out into the distance, the hills themselves looked alive as the wheat and grasses covering them gave them a wavering effect.

WindClan territory was a beautiful sight to see; Softpaw could never imagining not living on the wide open fields with open skies and unlimited freedoms. The feline felt sentimental for a moment, despite how young she truly was, and a soft purr rumbled in her throat as she sped up to pad beside Heatherleaf. Softpaw's muscles still ached from the run, though not as much as they did moments ago. It was as if the she-cat's body was slowly but surely getting used to the runs, and Softpaw's chest glowed with pride at the thought of her endurance building up.