Written in the Stars

Of course, that was the reigning theory within the clan, wasn't it; that the ghosts of their ancestors walked among them and could be seen as easily as summoning one of your clanmates. If only that were the truth; Shadowfall would have given anything to see Fallowvine again. Believed that if there was a way for her to come down and visit cats who were still alive, then she would have been there, with him, immediately. But his nights had been empty since her passing; neither her nor their kits had come to visit him. So his belief in ghosts was nonexistent. Maybe they visited Leaders and Medicine Cats out of Necessity, but - if Starclan was such a heaven then why indeed would they want to come back to such a place of pain and trial.

Still, he wasn't about to dissuade the little she-cat's curiosity; just temper her enthusiasm and any worry she might have of angry ghosts. "I don't believe the spirits would be bothering anyone today, do you?" He told her, helping her to gain her footing. "It's why I brought you here; to show you there's nothing to be afraid of in the silly superstitions. And also to help recognize some useful things."

The boat could be a shelter in heavy storms; as it remained mostly on top of the water, with only some areas sunken down in the murk. But it was even better as sometimes it's half-drowned state meant that fish could get caught and unable to find their way out, making it all the more easy to be caught, and a good place to practice safe hunting. No large water lizards could make their way in here, and snakes seemed to be similarly drawn away from the place.

"You aren't worried about spirits, are you?" He asked her, not scolding by any means - almost curious. "I assure you there's nothing that the other side could do to hurt you. Not regular living cats such as ourselves. And so long as you live to the code of your clan, there's no need to worry about meeting them in the Dark Forest afterlife."

My she was an excitable one; Shadowfall found himself reminded of many young cats he'd known in his time; they always seemed to be sources of inexhaustible energy. Or was it just that he was feeling a bit more his age recently; he was hardly ready to retire, but stiffness was beginning to find him from time to time. Especially when the cold weather set in. Or maybe it was just an effect of the general malaise that seemed to have overtaken him over the years - of so much loss and not nearly enough gain. 

"In any case - the spirits would hardly dare bring themselves out during the daytime, so I suppose we'll be save even if they did try to make an appearance." There was a bit of humor there in the comment, wry and rung out of his bones as if heavily squeezed. He hadn't exactly gone out looking to be assigned an apprentice; but maybe it would indeed end up doing him some good. 

"You don't need to worry yourself about Nightstar - their disappearance was rare and strange, but that means it's hardly a common occurrence." He assured her. "Nobody goes missing for no reason whatsoever - and if they did, or do, we will most often see them again. It's something we hold onto - that hope. Separates us from the loners."

He watched with mild amusement her antics, running up and down the smooth shell of the water monster. "I believe it - but speed isn't always everything. I suppose that's why I brought you here in the first place; to show you a few other strengths you could practice." A little bit of that humor entered his voice as he added. "And so we don't have any incidents such as chasing fireflies. Which...is excusable for now. But just in case it ever happens again we better show you a few tricks to help you defend yourself, shouldn't we. Before someone in Dawnclan or Oakclan mistakes you for a defenseless kit and tries to take you down."