WC ocs bouncing in my head. Fogthroat doesn't take on an apprentice for a long time. Being trained in the Dark Forest, grappling with that and what it means in his death he refused. And I don't think he told anyone. It was a silent thing. His mentor noticed the little scars, the messed up fur, the sudden change in his style but Fogthroat wouldn't talk about it.
And he still doesn't. Even now, as a well-respected (senior) warrior. He's just sharp. Sharp edges that won't be roughed down.
It doesn't help that Lionleap, even now, moons after they last trained together, still visits. Sometimes it's in his dreams but other times... Other times she's there. In the land of the living. And it bothers him. The way she taunts, the way she looks at him, the way she treats him like an apprentice who doesn't know anything. And she still acts like she cares. Sees her dead son in him and it makes his stomach churn because he's told her again and again he's not her son. He's not a replacement for her kit.
And when his leader finally does give him an apprentice, for months it's not great. He's a harsh trainer. They get to hear him loudly (and obviously) telling his leader that "I don't respect your decision. It wasn't the right one. Give them to another warrior. We have others."
Of course that doesn't happen. And there's a lot to be said of how Fogthroat could change, could grow, could see himself in this young warrior but he doesn't. He sees an arrogant little kit who doesn't know what's what. And they try hard to get his approval but no matter how good they hunt, how well they fight, anything, it's a cold shoulder and barely a good job.
Until one day Lionleap comments on his apprentice and Fogthroat breaks. Confronts her with teeth and claws, snarling and spitting for her to not lay a single paw on them. Not to touch a whisker or he'll come to the Dark Forest and kill her himself. He tells her as he has her pinned that she's not going to influence any more cats. She's done. Ends it with "I always wanted you to be good. I wanted to know... To prove you were. So when I died, I could get Starclan to somehow bring you back. Reunite mother and kit. But that's never going to happen Lionleap. You sealed your fate long ago. To stay here and die forgotten."
And as quick as the two were squabbling, she's gone. Very few words spoken. Leaving Fogthroat huffing, fur puffed out, the air heavy and electric.
The next time he trains his apprentice, outwardly, nothing changes. No one knows. No one will.
But finally, his apprentice hears him mutter out that he did good enough at hunting alone.
And that's a start, isn't it?
