Bouncing's Training
Bouncing padded after her teacher. They were in a hunting patrol. Then her teacher turned and pounced on a hiding rabbit. "Good catch Sunclaw," called the she-cat leading the patrol.
"Thanks Silverwind," Sunclaw responded. Turning to Bouncing he said, "Maybe you should learn how to hunt properly. Then you might actually be good for something."
Bouncing had heard this statement before, from previous teachers. All of her teachers had requested she be given another cat. Sunclaw was the fifth teacher she had been given to this moon.
"Heh, maybe I'd be more useful if I had a mentor who could teach me worth a mouse-tail," retorted Bouncing.
"Disrespectful apprentice," said Sunclaw. "Is there a reason you have no respect for your clan?"
"Actually there is, and it's a very good reason." "It's because this really isn't my clan and never was," Bouncing sighed. "I was taken from my own clan. You know that as well as any of yours."
Sunclaw however looked surprised, as though the tom cat didn't know.
"Bouncing why have I never heard this before?" inquired Sunclaw.
"You mean you really didn't know?" replied Bouncing.
"No I didn't. I truthfully thought you were Sprinting paw's litter-mate."
"Paw and I are NOT related. We act like litter-mates, but we aren't."
"I'll keep that in mind."
They continued the patrol. Each of the warriors caught at least one piece of prey. Bouncing however caught none.
"Say Bouncing, how did your previous teachers treat you?" Sunclaw asked suddenly.
"Well they acted as though I was worse than fox-dung, even before we started lessons," Bouncing replied.
Sunclaw must have realized how mistreated his student was.
"Well they obviously weren't fit to teach young cats like yourself," Sunclaw said. "A teacher must not mistreat an apprentice; not his own not another's."
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