Battle training Round 2

[dionysus]

[ @RedHead @Arie @Undertaker @Exis @Willowfern ]

Immediately following her chat with Dawnstar, Dogsnarl walked to the center of the clearing and yowled for the new battle patrol members whom she’d be overseeing. This promised to be an entertaining batch and the Somali mix looked forward to seeing how each cat handled the claws out rule. Even more interesting would be her search for potential traitors amongst the group. While sniffing them out would likely prove to be a difficult endeavor while she was engaged in battle with Doetuft, Dogsnarl was confident that one of them would give something away.

“Beastspark, Flintspirit, Blackhaze, Bearsound, Doetuft, after me- we’ve got some battling to do.”

A flick of the tail and a few heavy steps later and the large feline was out the entrance, tromping through the territory and delighting in each small plant and flower she managed to smoosh beneath her large paws. She reached the training area quickly thanks to her long stride and took a place in the center, staring at the entrance to the clearing with her naturally intimidating glare. They’d best not be expecting her to go easy on them.

“Listen up,”she thundered as soon as their scents began to fill the arena, “you’ve all been chosen for a battle training exercise. Beastspark and Flintspirit- you’ll be pairing up. Bearsound, you’ll be fighting Blackhaze. And Doetuft... you’ll be with me. Claws out- this isn’t play time and you’d better not stop until one of you is on the ground.”

[Arie]

-- @Beau --

One patrol after another... or at least that was what it seemed to her at least. This one, she wasn't entirely set on but it wasn't like she could just refuse it and not go... so she trudged on slowly following the rest of the patrol. It was interesting the concept of being on a patrol with both Beastspark and Flintspirit not exactly something she was used to experiencing but well... this wasn't an usual patrol, and this reign of power wasn't usual either. So, arriving she sat down, ears perked but a neutral expression on her face nonetheless. Would this speech by this warrior before them be a replica of the classical Dawnstar speech she'd already grown immune to? The, 'oh we're so strong you're going to beat each up to become stronger no matter the injuries' Probably. And as soon as the lackey begun speaking, it was confirmed that yes it was that kind of speech and it was the hardest for Doetuft to reign in an eyeroll. So she was with this cat who nearly had as bad an attitude as Irisflame... she wasn't surprised. Rising up to her paws slowly but calculated she narrowed her eyes, stretching her shoulders, that despite the long time since the battle with windclan were still causing her minor problems. "Let's... get started... then." SHe didn't expect Dawnstar's lackey to steep so low to claw out her eyes but also... she didn't think that wouldn't happen.

[dionysus]

[ @Arie @Undertaker @RedHead @Willowfern @Exis ]

So the blind Thunderclanner managed to follow her scent to the training area but the supposedly full Shadowclan cats (and Flintspirit) were nowhere to be found. Dogsnarl mentally noted the lack of attendance- for so it would be called until they showed- and silently added it to the top of the list of things to report to Dawnstar.

For now, she intended to start. The molly didn’t bother to offer a response to Doetuft and instead scraped her claws over the ground and lunged with a snarl. The Somali mix lashed out with her claws at Doetuft’s shoulder and chest before scooping under and attempting to thrust her off balance.

[RedHead]

Flintspirit had been confused as he was assigned to a battle patrol.... That was odd. Why would Dawnstar want him being trained to battle? Why would she even think he needed battle training? The tom usually didn't like to gloat, but when it came to battling and fighting, while he didn't like to do it, he had to admit he was quite good at it. He'd had a mentor who pushed him hard at battle, a father figure who had done the same, and had had many seasons of experience in battling and training young cats to battle.

As Dogsnarl and Doetuft exited the clearing, Flintspirit held back a moment, glancing around to see if Beastspark was following. He'd prefer to walk alongside the other tomcat on the way there, but it looks like he wasn't quite around yet. And knowing he was still on the edge when it came to his place within Shadowclan, Flintspirit knew he should get to the training area, even if the others weren't coming right away either.

Padding off through the forest, Flintspirit followed the scent of the two other cats, easily finding the training area. As he entered he just caught wind of what Dogsnarl had been saying about partners and the rules, clearly the claws out rule was going to be applied, it seemed. The tomcat then stood to the side as Dogsnarl began her attack on Doetuft. Narrowing his eyes, Flintspirit glanced behind him to see if there was anyone else coming, he felt somewhat awkward not doing anything while his adoptive daughter and some pawn of Dawnstar's were fighting in front of him.

@Undertaker @Beau

[Exis]

Blackhaze quickly sprinted away, oh how late he was. “I’m here! I’m here! I’m here I’m sorry I’m here!” he called ahead to the others. Why him? Was he in trouble or something?
@Beau

[Undertaker]

@RedHead
This could be problematic. The big-boned tom trailed further behind mostly out of uncertainty. He had heard Dawnstar's little announcement, it was nice to know that she was as obsessed with strength as Icestar. She was clearly more extreme considering the changes she's made. Beastspark paws felt like they were being weighed down by rocks, strange considering how much he did enjoy a good fight. It was different when he was stuck fighting against clanmates.

Even though he enjoyed a good tussle, the thought of deliberate hurting another cat without a plausible reason made his stomach turn. He wasn't wouldn't fighting, hurting someone, because he was defending anything, and he doubted he'd be gaining something out of it. He'd happily mindlessly throw himself into the fray without asking too many questions if whatever he was getting claws dirty for was for his clan sake. Gathering and gaining wounds here would mean nothing.

The tom raised his ears without raising his head when he reached the training grounds. Dogsnarl, he wasn't really familiar with, but she had caught Dawnstar's attention, it was clear she was gunning for the deputy position. She sounded similar to Icestar and Dawnstar, not to be rude, but he was praying to StarClan that ShadowClan didn't have to deal with her as a future leader. One Dawnstar was more than enough for him.

A low growl rumbled in his chest but never reached his maw once he heard he was going against Flintspirt. Of course, he was, any other time he might have enjoyed a brawl with at least a good quarter of his daily irritation. Not today.

"Come on, Squirrel." Beastspark beckoned the large awkward cat as he walked up behind him. He made his way further away from Doetuft and Dogsnarl as they got started. "Ready?" He asked turning around to face the cat. It was very hard for him to relax and loosen his muscles, rougher still to get his claws unsheathed. For once in his life, he wasn't in the mood for a fight.

[Arie]

-- @Beau --
[im sorry I just.. this was the first thing I pictured Doe would do so im rolling with it]

Could she say she expected the attack? Somewhat. She'd not expected Dogsnarl to go for her shoulder but rather somewhere less... predictable. But... she'd heard the movement, the shifting of paws on the ground and the sound of wind that came with the air wooshing. It was minor changes but such changes was what kept Doetuft from living and breathing in life and death scenarios. And that was how instead of allowing the move to hit she slid slightly to the side, using her lighter and smaller form to avoid the bigger cat's move. One important thing she'd learned was when fighting bigger cats - most cats would be bigger than her in all honesty - was to use their size against them and use her speed and smaller form to avoid them. It could be seen as cowardly but being torn up and dying, that was just plain out stupid. So she slid out and avoided the shoulder slice and thereby managed to avoid the second move from Dogsnarl. Deciding that... maybe she could get a rile out of the molly, she voiced, "All.. you can... do?" And as she waited for the next attack she pinned her ears down, they were what allowed her to know things and another place she didn't doubt that 'Sogsnarl' would go for.

[dionysus]

[ @Arie @Exis @Undertaker @RedHead @Willowfern ]

The first move had been predictable, of course. Doetuft would likely let her guard down if she thought that Dogsnarl wasn’t all she was cracked up to be. A few misplaced strikes and shoddy dodges and Dogsnarl would solidly have the upper paw. It hurt her pride just a bit to pretend to be less than she was but Dogsnarl knew that soon her honor would be restored.

The attempt to rile her was fairly obvious yet still managed to annoy the fiery feline. She flicked an ear to relieve irritation and crouched down. The other warrior was blind- she could use that to her advantage. Dogsnarl shifted the sand of the ground heavily with her paws, snaking closer and then backing away a few times. When she finally decided to attack again, she let out a growl to give herself away. Thus, when she started fighting for real, the lack of vocal hints as to her movements would confuse her opponent, at least she hoped.

Not really caring where she aimed, Dogsnarl thrust herself forward and slashed before pulling back again as other cats arrived. The molly weaved around her opponent, just out of reach, and eyed the new arrivals.

“Glad to see you’ve not gotten lost in the territory.”

Bearsound still was nowhere to be found and Dogsnarl grumbled under her breath. Dawnstar had mentioned that she wanted Dog with Doe but what she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her. However, ending the fight before Dog got to show her superior skills would definitely be less than ideal, thus, she chose to ignore Blackhaze for the moment.

[Arie]

-- @Beau --

Seems the pawn was more credible than Doetuft gave her credit for and instead of just letting her enemy have a go at her, she crouched down, fur fluffed up, paws light on the ground and claws out. Soggysnarl wouldn't hold anything back, and despite her dislike of drawing blood on a clanmate, Sogsnarl might even like it... so her morals were bending a bit. Just because it was Sogsnarl. That was the only reason. The shuffling of sounds, of paws, of growling did disorient her a bit but she was not standing in running water where her legs could be swept away from her, was not standing where there were other sounds distracting her and she couldn't help the taunt - more to see how long it would take before Dogsnarl overextended and gave Doetuft herself an opportunity to strike, use their enemy's strength against them after all - "Do... you have to... resort to... silly games, Sogsnarl?" But as soon as she'd said that she felt Dogsnarl's claws across her shoulder and she let out a hiss, it was drawing blood over an old injury but... it only increased her awareness... for now. She knew blood loss would always take its toll, having experienced that first hand at the Windclan raid. So when the molly started to go off from the fight, Doetuft stood up and lifted an eye in unseen curiosity before moving over and attempting to swipe the leg out from underneath before dragging her claws over Dogsnarl's unexpecting lower back.

[dionysus]

[ @Arie @Undertaker @RedHead @Exis @Willowfern ]

Were those toms planning on just standing around all day? This was battle training not social hour! Dogsnarl hissed and took her attention away from Doetuft to snarl in their direction, the scarred pink flesh on her muzzle no longer giving the illusion of the facial expression.

“Hey- you’re not here to stand around all day. Start fighting or I’ll personally shred your hides when Dawnstar calls for your exile. As for you, Blackhaze, it appears Bearsound doesn’t see the need in following his leader’s orders. You can team up with either Doetuft against me or one of the others.”

Her little speech over, Dogsnarl came to the result of her taking her attention away from her opponent. Doetuft’s paw sliced Dogsnarl’s leg out from under her, causing the warrior to falter. Her three other legs kept her on her paws but the stumbling left her wide open for Doetuft’s secondary attack. The lighter molly's weight crashed down on Dogsnarl’s back and she hissed at the feeling of claws.

Normally the lesser weight of her opponent would barely affect her but coupled with the stumble she found herself swaying treacherously and close to losing her balance. Deciding to work with the lack of balance, Dogsnarl pushed herself over and rolled, a useful technique for dislodging someone from one’s back. Just in case Doetuft managed to hang on, Dogsnarl rolled back and twisted to bite at the other feline’s paws, hoping to get ahold of one and crunch down hard- forgetting for the moment in her irritation that this was simply practice.