Ask to Join Training the Brain

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
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The forest was alive with the quiet drip of melting snow, and though she usually found such mornings serene her thoughts were preoccupied. Greypebble’s company was welcome though, and she found herself smiling faintly as he glanced back at her every so often, his short tail flicking in that nervous way she’d come to find endearing.

When he finally settled beneath an overhanging tree, she followed, her spotted pelt brushing against a low hanging branch as she moved to sit beside him. His question about Coyotepaw made her pause for a heartbeat, her tail curling around her paws as she considered her response.

“Oh, Coyotepaw’s training?” she began, her tone light and playful as she flicked him with her tail. “She’s... quiet, but willing to learn and does well when she applies herself...” She grinned, though the humor didn’t quite reach her eyes. Truthfully, there were moments when she doubted herself, wondering if she was truly shaping Coyotepaw into the warrior she deserved to be. But that wasn’t something she’d admit now.

“You know...” Leopardrose gave a purr, tilting her head toward him. “I think you’d make a fine mentor. Moosestar just hasn’t seen it yet. I’ll put in a good word for you!” Her voice was teasing, but the warmth in her gaze was genuine. “And once you become a mentor it'll be fun to compare our 'Starclan, what are our apprentices doing!' stories with."

Her expression softened as he confessed his lack of confidence, and for a moment, she felt the familiar pang of her own insecurities. Wasn’t she only ever acting the part of a confident mentor, hiding her fears beneath a polished exterior? “Confidence doesn’t always roar, you know. Sometimes it’s just... showing up, taking that next step."

Even the smallest pebble can make ripples that change the course of the stream.

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🪨•∙∙ ──── ⋙

Greyprebbles shifted slightly, letting Leopardrose's words sink in, though, his blue-grey eyes stayed fixed on the ground. He toyed with a fallen leaf between his paws, his stubbed tail flicking absently behind him. "Coyotepaw's lucky to have you as her mentor" he murmured, his voice soft but sincere, he enjoyed Leopardrose's company, and even talking about things that didn't even concern him brought him a strange sense of joy. "She'll learn more than just hunting and fighting from you... she'll learn what it means to be strong, even when thing's aren't easy" he hesitated his hears flicking back for a moment as he gathered his thoughts "You've certainly taught me that"

As Leopardrose's teasing reached him, his whiskers twitched with a small smile, and he lifted his gaze to meet hers "You think I'd make a good mentor? Putting in a good word would be too kind of you" he asked, the faintest trace of surprise coloring his tone. "I don't really know...  I'm not sure I'd know what to say half the time. What if I said something wrong, or worse... what if my apprentice doesn't trust me?" his voice faltered, and he let out a quiet sigh, his gaze dropping again. "I suppose it's just... hard to imagine anyone looking up to me in that way. I know I'd try my hardest, but what if it's not enough?"

He gave a small shrug, his fur brushing against the tree bark behind him. The idea of spending more time with Leopardrose kept his eyes bright, Leopardrose seemed to light up the camp whenever she walked into it, and Greypebbles admired her more than he could say because of that. "Still... it would be nice to share those stories with you" he admitted with a shy smile. "Though I have a feeling yours would be way more exciting"

Her words about confidence lingered in his mind, and he turned them over carefully before replying. "Maybe you're right about that" He said quietly, but with a hint of thoughtfulness "Maybe it's not about having all the answers right away. Maybe it's just... being there, like you said. Taking that next step and hoping it leads to something good" He glanced at her again, the warmth in her gaze helping him to steady yet softening his own "I'll think about it"

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

Leopardrose tilted her head, watching Greypebbles as he toyed with the leaf beneath his paws, his uncertainty written plainly in the way his tail flicked and his gaze drifted to the ground. She felt a pang of affection for the quiet tom, his soft-spoken sincerity striking a chord in her chest. When he murmured his belief in her as a mentor, she blinked, caught off guard by the weight of his words. Strong... even when things aren’t easy. Was that how he saw her? It was almost too much to bear, but she hid her emotions behind a light laugh.

"Hmph. If I can muddle my way through mentoring, I’m sure you’d be brilliant at it.” His concerns about being trusted or saying the wrong thing earned a purr from her, warm and reassuring. "If you say the wrong thing... well, that's what humor is for. And who's to say which stories would be more exciting -?"

She let her paw brush idly at the damp earth, her gaze turning thoughtful as she mulled over his final words. “You’re right, though. It’s not about knowing everything or always getting it right..." With a small, determined shake of her spotted rump, she trotted towards the nearest tree, launching herself against the bark where her paws stretched, claws out to scale it.

Once she was on a stiff enough branch her whiskers twitched, smile returning to her face. “I could try embellishing my stories...I suppose, but I'm a little young to be an Elder.” She winked down at him.