Private Thread Live and Learn

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
──●◎●──

Leopardrose cast a quick glance back at Coyotepaw as they padded closer to the Thunderpath, the acrid tang of two-leg scents growing sharper with each step. Her apprentice followed without question, her paws sure despite the treacherous ground left behind by the freezing rain. That quiet trust was something Leopardrose had come to appreciate about Coyotepaw. She wasn’t the type to fill the air with chatter.

“Careful here...” Leopardrose mumbled distinctly as they approached a patch of ice clinging stubbornly to the shaded earth. She slowed her pace, allowing Coyotepaw to navigate around it before continuing. The sharp, distant hum of monsters rumbled faintly across the horizon, a sound that made the fur along her spine prickle. Even after all this time, the Thunderpath never failed to unsettle her.

As they neared the edge of the border, Leopardrose came to a halt beneath a cluster of frost-dusted brambles, the jagged branches arching protectively overhead. The ground was damp and slick, but the spot provided a decent vantage point of the Thunderpath without getting too close. She settled onto her haunches and flicked her tail, signaling Coyotepaw to sit beside her.

“I don't like being so close to Twolegplace, but for a lesson, it'll have to do..." She gestured with her nose toward the distant stretch of gray that marked the Thunderpath. "This is the edge of our world, Coyotepaw. Beyond it lies theirs. It’s not our place, and it’s not safe. But here...Here is ours. Every blade of grass, every tree, every bit of prey - it belongs to ThunderClan. And it’s our duty to protect it, together...." Leopardrose let out a forlorn sort of sigh, brows furrowing. "That's what Moosestar told me - but it's not so simple, not for cats like us. I'm ashamed of what I was, of where I came from. It hasn't been easy adapting to life in ThunderClan, but I owe every effort to do the same for you, Coyotepaw."

Leopardrose turned to her apprentice, aqua eyes searching Coyotepaw’s face wondering what the Code might mean to her. “Do you know why that’s important?"

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
──●◎●──

Leopardrose flinched as the apprentice shouted, her heart twisting at the raw fear and pain in her apprentice’s voice. The screech of terror, the sharp scent of panic - she had seen this before, in herself, long ago. She remained still, her aqua eyes soft as she watched Coyotepaw retreat into the brambles.

“Coyotepaw...” Leopardrose began gently, her voice low and soothing. She didn’t move closer, not wanting to crowd the younger cat. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how much this place would hurt you. I thought… well, I see now that I’ve brought back something you didn’t deserve to face again.”

She took a slow breath, her gaze flickering to the Thunderpath. The sight of it stirred unease in her too, a reminder of the strange unpredictable cruelty of the Twoleg world. “You’re not alone in this. I know what it’s like to carry something too big for your heart to hold. You’re not wrong to feel this way...”

Leopardrose hesitated, weighing her words, before she let herself be vulnerable. She began to retreat. “When I was just a kit, my home wasn’t like ThunderClan. It was…different. My mother was strong, so much stronger than I’ll ever be. She did everything she could to protect me and my littermates, but one day, it wasn’t enough. A fire took my my home... and my siblings. All three of them.”

Her voice wavered as the memories washed over her, vivid even now. “My mother… she carried me through it all. Burned and weak, she dragged me to ThunderClan’s border. She never made it to safety, but she made sure I did. ThunderClan saved me that day, took me in when I had nothing. But it didn’t erase what I’d lost... It never will.”

Leopardrose’s gaze returned to Coyotepaw, filled with understanding. "I know what it’s like to be angry at the world, to feel like you’re carrying too much and it's not fair. I won’t pretend to know your pain exactly, but I’ll never judge you for it. And I’ll never push you to face more than you’re ready for again.”

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
──●◎●──

Leopardrose listened in silence, her gaze steady and filled with a rare softness as Coyotepaw opened up, her voice trembling with the weight of memories. When the young apprentice spoke of her mother and the sacrifices she'd made. Their stories, though different in shape, mirrored one another in loss and love.

"Belladonna sounds like she was an incredible cat." Leopardrose murmured, her voice warm but low, as if speaking louder would break the fragile moment between them. "To give up so much for her kits… that’s strength no cat can ever repay. I think she'd be proud of you, Coyotepaw, for honoring her memory and for trying to carry on despite the pain."

Leopardrose let the silence linger briefly, giving Coyotepaw space to gather her thoughts. She dipped her head slightly when the apprentice apologized, her aqua eyes holding a quiet reassurance. "You don’t have to apologize. You didn’t ruin anything. Some lessons… they take more time to face. And that’s okay."

The warrior rose to her paws slowly, careful not to make any sudden moves. Her pelt brushed against a bramble, sending a faint shiver through the frosted branches, but she ignored the chill. "You’re right. I needed time too. A lot of it." Her gaze flicked back to the Thunderpath, sharp with both fear and resolve. "The first time I was brought here, I felt like my heart was going to claw its way out of my chest. I thought I’d never stop feeling afraid. But… I had cats who believed in me. And now, you have me, and you have Bravesong. When you’re ready, we’ll face this place together."