Re: ShadowClan Training Cliffs
 

(oof I meant rock not walk)
Foxpaw leaped sideways at the last second. She had not seen that coming, maybe her plan of action would still work. Foxpaw then tried to ram into Doeflame, maybe knocking her over. @gs29513

Re: ShadowClan Training Cliffs
 

@Phoenix Fire

Tallfern exhaled shakily, her pelt still bristling and ornamented with fox saliva. Some of the blood around her ruff was her own, and she winced as she padded after the apprentice, looking somewhat haggard, her usual laissez-faire expression evaporated, “Larkpaw,” she called, picking her way down the ledge to the gully, “Please...I’m literally begging you to listen to me—I don’t doubt you can fight. I know you’re going to be a fine warrior—probably better than me one day. But you have to trust me to help you get there...and get there alive. I didn’t order you to climb that tree because I think I’m better than you, or because I don’t think you can handle yourself...I’m just trying to make sure you make it to your warrior’s ceremony.” She paused, Blood welling from the white fur of her ruff, her speech growing a bit weary, her emerald eyes half lidded in exhaustion, “Please,” She iterated again, “I want to help you. I know you can do this, you don’t have to prove yourself to me...but if your going to become a warrior, you have to let me train you.” She begged.

Re: ShadowClan Training Cliffs
 

Green eyes met green eyes as Larkpaw stopped and turned. He stayed silent for a moment, then said, “Fine.” His eyes narrowed and he turned back around and continued down the ledge. He wanted to learn to fight, wanted to learn how to show a fox that this was ShadowClan, the Clan that was not to be messed with. @Larkstripe

Re: ShadowClan Training Cliffs
 

@Phoenix Fire

Tallfern sighed in relief, “Since it’s relevant...whenever you fight an opponent that isn’t a cat—a fox, a badger, or a dog—you don’t stand a chance trying to put muscle them. Not even a cat as large as I am. So, you have to go for their weak points; their eyes, nose, and ears. As you saw...a well aimed slice to any of these areas can make them think twice about messing with you.” She explained, “But you have to be quick. Jump in, attack the weak point, then get out of the way as fast as you can. Of course, you would never go for the eyes of another warrior, but, the quick defensive style can help you land more blows than you receive.” She crouched low, still a bit weary but determined to satisfy the apprentice’s desire to learn, “When you prepare to leap at an enemy, keep your center of gravity low. Use your tail as a balance, and shift your weight to your hind legs. The less weight you have on your forepaws, the farther and quicker you can leap. Let me see your attack crouch.” She asked.

Re: ShadowClan Training Cliffs
 

Webpaw felt her mentor roll over on to her. She tried to roll over and get out, but she was stuck. "If you did that, then your opponent would most likely be stuck and pinned down, unless they were strong enough to get out", she said.

Re: ShadowClan Training Cliffs
 

Larkpaw nodded. This was what he actually wanted to hear. He knew he would remember that bit about how to defeat an enemy that wasn't a warrior. "Why don't we go for the eyes of an enemy warrior?" he asked. It seemed like a good way to get your enemy begging at your paws for mercy.

He listened to her while Tallfern told him about the attack crouch, dropping into the best one he could before she actually told him to. He shifted his weight to his hind paws and he was a little unbalanced at first, but his tail kept him steady. @Larkstripe

Re: ShadowClan Training Cliffs
 

”Yes, but again with speed,” she explained. “If you’re fast enough, you can jump out before it happens.” This small she-cat was determined and pretty smart. She had potential. “Now, let’s practice the Belly Rake.” Surprising the apprentice, she got up quickly and pinned her down. “This is for getting back up again. If you’re pinned down, use your claws to make scratches on their belly. In this case, make sure your claws are sheathed, though!”

Re: ShadowClan Training Cliffs
 

@Phoenix Fire

Tallfern paused, "Well," she began, "We want to fight honorably. Even though other warriors are from other clans...they're still clan cats. Unless another cat is trying to take your life, you can defeat them easily without blinding or killing them. Besides, the Code strongly discourages murder." She answered, "And maybe...maybe there is a circumstance in which a clan cat is trying to kill you and you need to resort to those techniques but..." she looked troubled for a moment, "I certainly hope not."
She assessed his crouch and nodded in approval, "Well done." she used one claw to mark a line in the sand about three feet ahead of the apprentice, "See if you can leap to this mark, then immediately fall back to where you are now--like you saw me do with the fox."

Re: ShadowClan Training Cliffs
 

Well, if the warrior code discouraged it, then Larkpaw wasn't going to do it. And if fighting honorably is what it took to become a worthy warrior of ShadowClan, then that's what he would do. Even if he did hate all cats from other Clans with everything he had. However, if he ever was in a situation where he needed to blind an opponent, he certainly would without hesitation. But until then, he would stick to normal moves.

Larkpaw leapt forward to the mark Tallfern made, then sprang back as quickly as possible. His feet didn't exactly land how or where he intended them to, though. He was about a tail-length away from the mark, not having jumped far enough. His back paws landed clumsy behind him, threatening to drop and toss him in the dirt at the first sign of movement. @Larkstripe

Re: ShadowClan Training Cliffs
 

@Phoenix Fire

“Well done,” Tallfern mewed, “But be sure to use your tail to help yourself counterbalance when you land. If you feel yourself wobbling, point your tail in the direction opposite of where you feel like you might fall.” She padded over to the apprentice, and crouched low next to him, her emerald eyes bright with enthusiasm, “Give it another try. When you leap, keep your eyes locked on your target and push off hard with your hind legs. Like this—“ Tallfern crouched, shifted her weight and sprang forward, landing squarely on all four paws on her mark, and sprang back on her hind legs, “If you land with all four paws hitting the ground at once, you can leap back quicker.” She explained, then stood out of the way for Larkpaw to try.