Don't turn into dust [Maple]

[Windflurry]

@maplefrost

Windflurry lifted her head from her nest. How many moons had it been now? Maybe a year? Two? It felt like an eternity since she'd been retired. Youth was a thing you often took for granted. But she'd lived an eventful life to the least. Looking back she'd seen IceClan through its worst and trained many apprentices.

At least she hadn't retired alone. "Maplefrost?"

[Deleted]

The blind calico grunted when he heard his mate's voice. "Morning," he mumbled sleepily. It took him a few moments to heave himself into a sitting position; after raising a paw to lick at it and draw it over his face several times, Maplefrost spoke again.

"I don't suppose you're hungry? I could go for a snack…"

[Windflurry]

"Morning." She greeted back with a smile forming. It was nice to hear his voice again. Once in a while she needed that sound to remind her this den was not always as empty as it seemed. Especially after the death of her close friend Redstorm had the den felt quiet and lonely.

"I was just about to get something to eat actually. I'm famished and if the warriors have done some hunting there should be some decent picks in the prey pile today." She rose to her paws, flicking her tail.

[Deleted]

Sometimes it seemed like Maplefrost was completely alone. With Redstorm dead, Shadefrost murdered, and Hawkstar gone… well, he'd actually never cared about his father, but still. It was good to at least have Windflurry around. Though he had to wonder what had become of their children. Only Dustpetal was still around.

"Sounds good to me. Do you think there will be fish?" he mused as he stood up stiffly. The Maine Coon carefully padded toward what he assumed was the den entrance and waited for his mate to lead the way.

[Windflurry]

"If the river isn't too bad, I'd assume." She preferred fish over other prey as well. Maybe it was because she had grown so accustom to IceClan over the years or maybe she just liked how it tasted.

"Alright, let's go." She watched him move towards the entrance. As they got older she worried more and more about him. Windflurry padded over to the fresh kill pile and grabbed a fish for Maplefrost. "You're in luck." She smiled.

[Deleted]

Maplefrost purred happily at this. "Good. The other types of prey are okay, but fish is definitely my favorite. We're lucky to have the river." He trailed close behind Windflurry when she left the den, half following the sounds of her movement and half heading in the direction of the prey-scent.

"It smells wonderful. Trout?" the elder guessed once they'd stopped at the heap of dead creatures.

[Windflurry]

"I figured. I've always known you seemed to prefer fish. I share that same like." There was a smaller fish in the pile that she picked up. It wasn't much of a meal but she hadn't been eating as much. "Yep, that is trout indeed. All for you, I want you to eat every last single bite. An aging warrior needs his strength." She teased.

Yet in all reality she wanted him to be plump and healthy. She wanted him to live. She didn't want to be alone. Her greatest fear was to end up all alone in that den. She had lost a friend recently and in her life so much family and other friends. She couldn't imagine losing him.

[Deleted]

"IceClan heritage strikes again," the calico chuckled, accepting the trout and flopping down nearby to munch on it. Sometimes he found it funny that his blood was so mixed, yet the only thing that showed through was his mountain blood. He could probably have inherited the lithe strength of a FireClanner just as easily… yet here he was. And that wasn't even going into his RockClan, rogue, and other miscellaneous ancestors. His family tree was a mess.

Swallowing a few scales, he raised his muzzle in Windflurry's general direction. "We should hang out by the river more often. I met a kind apprentice there just a few days ago - her name is Lilypaw; maybe you know her?"

[Windflurry]

Gonna hit the hay. Niiight!

Windflurry too had family all over these terrains but you would think she were pure blood IceClan with her way of living. Most cats had probably forgotten of her loner origins and how she had settled here as a young apprentice so many years ago. Only those of her generation knew anymore.

"Yes! Of course. I adore the river it is refreshing to visit it. The sounds and smells are so familiar and bring back fond memories." She reminiscent happily in the past and old times.

"Apprentice? No I am not familiar with most of the new generation of the Clan. So she seems quite nice? That's good to hear that the Clan has some fine warriors in the making."

[Deleted]

| Night! I'll probably be around sometime tomorrow so we can continue this. |

"I remember when I first saw the river. You took me there and taught me to fish, all those seasons ago. We even went for a swim. Not many cats hunt water prey using that technique anymore - but it does work." Grinning, Maplefrost took another bite out of his trout. He could still remember his training lessons as if they had happened yesterday.

The Maine Coon nodded and continued. "Lilypaw is one of the most considerate apprentices I've seen in a long time. She came and cleaned the nests without even being asked to. If only she would teach her own apprentices to do the same when she's a warrior… why, we might see things in this Clan return to the way they used to be. Wouldn't that be something?"

[Windflurry]

"I remember. I don't know why cats don't learn that these days. We'll all soon be seeing less fish on the prey pile or something. I've seen cats just dive into the water and catch fish that way. What are we, fish ourselves? I don't know, seems a lot less efficient. I remember the good times when we trained. That was a lot of fun. I bet apprentices really don't get those experiences these days. I think most of them don't really get any training done at all, to be honest" She sighed. She remembered her training as well with Crowtalon. She had learned a lot and it had been fun.

"She sounds like a great apprentice. I really wish there were more apprentices like that. If things could go back to the way they were the Clan would be a lot more in shape. Apprentices would be trained and have some more decency, warriors would.. still be a bit lazy but hopefully not as bad. Things would just be a lot better. Unfortunately those things are stuck in the past." She wished things could go back. She would love to have that.

[Deleted]

He nodded as he finished his breakfast. "True. A lot of these apprentices just don't seem like they know what they're doing at all. That's no good; when they start training others, it'll only make things worse." Not an appealing thought. What would happen if all of the skills passed down through generations started getting lost in time?

"If I was a few seasons younger, I'd go around teaching those cats. But I can't say I'd be any good at it now…"

[Windflurry]

"They charge into battle without nothing the first thing about it. Soon we'll be having lessons on how to unsheathe claws because everything that's supposed to be learned while training will just be completely forgotten." If that were true the Clan's very existance would be at stake. How would they even defend themselves against the other Clans? Would they all just die off like some kind of extinct species? It was disgusting to think about.

"As would I but I think I've trained enough apprentices when I was a warrior. I wish most of them would of stuck around to teach a thing or two to the new kits but.. Only you seemed to make it out, and well Mossfeather but even I haven't seen her around much at all." She shrugged. She hardly saw any of her apprentices anymore.

[Deleted]

The calico snorted loudly in amusement, whiskers twitching. "True. It really is pathetic. You'd think, for their own sakes, that they'd wait until they'd learned combat before jumping into a fight, but alas." Maplefrost was honestly amazed that the younger cats didn't get killed during every battle. Well - there had been Wingedpaw, but still.

"I lost track of all the apprentices I've had; many of them never finished their training. I think the only ones still around are Cloudspirit and Orah. All the same, if I could see, I'd love to teach some more. It'd at least give me something to pass the time."

[Windflurry]

"Nope, instead they go in claws first and attempt to do something they aren't ready for. Truly it is actually quite sad. We could lose so many lives that way because they get too cocky and try to be the warriors they aren't yet ready to be." A sigh was audible as one of her ears flicked when the cool wind ruffled her creamish tabby fur. "If I could still train I'd show them the responsibility and the knowledge they lack, but alas my time for those duties have passed since many seasons." She looked back at Maplefrost with a smile.

You were one of the best mentor IceClan has had in decades. You will be remembered well for that. I bet if Dustpetal ever becomes leader and we have passed on, you will give her some sort of life such as that." The thought of passing.. she knew one day it would happen but she also had hope in the fact that it would not be soon.

Since Wildstar is always absent I'm surprised she isn't leader."