ThunderClan Territory

[dino.]

[ @Beau - sorry for the delay with this, it's been a weird last couple of days ]

Buckbranch lead Cormorantpaw to the Training Cave with a hopeful feeling in his chest. Today was going to go well, he could already tell.
"Okay, Cormorantpaw, today we're going to be starting off with some basic defense moves. Nothing too intense, but enough that you should be able to defend yourself if you're attacked."

[dionysus]

@Slushie
(all good!)
Cormorantpaw followed Buckbranch a little tentatively but interestedly nonetheless. He needed to know how to defend himself and how to fight after all. The young tom nodded to his mentor’s words and replied, “I’m ready, Buckbranch.”

[chaton]

Originally Posted by Arie

Ploverspot watched with amusement glinting in his green eyes as he watched Myrtlepaw struggle with the crouch. Walking up to him he poked a bit on his haunches and the back and then free'd Myrtlepaw's tail from his legs. "Don't keep your tail so tucked in, you'll need to use it to keep your balance. You can stretch it out, but keep it from touching the ground and be aware of its position in regards to what you're doing." His own long furred grey tail flicked up and down lazily. "Some prey will be able to see you, and often by your tail. So either you stick to areas in which your tail will be camouflaged by the colours or you just don't give them a chance to see it and keep it out of sight as best as possible." He then righted himself to his full height and then began moving, "you've learned the basis and well. Now it's time to see if you can execute it with a real target. For this first hunt, if you catch something you'll get to pick your own prey off the food pile.. Instead of having Shaded or I force you to eat something... Which could maybe be some starling of some sort which is preferably tasty but not the easiest to get used to." With that he stalked away, his tail low but not touching the leaf floor.

{ Myrtletraining }

Myrtlepaw waited as Ploverspot had come over to make small adjustements. After which, he felt his balance become much steadier, though now he had to focus on making sure his tail wouldn't revert back to being tucked in if he wanted to stay balanced. He crept forward in search of some prey upon Plover's request. It would be nice to catch something for himself... maybe it would be easier to eat it that way if he was able to feel the pride of hunting for it himself, too. All those exciting thoughts had to be pushed back though. It was time to hunt, not time to fantasise. Eventually, he spotted something that looked like it would be quite nice: a squirrel. After that day where he'd tried a squirrel and actually was able to tolerate it, he'd felt more open to eating another one, it wasn't so bad after all. Turning back to Plover as he got himself in position, his meow was no more than a whisper. "What... do I... do now? How... do I... get it... while... I.. am in... position?"

[RedHead]

Originally Posted by Arie

-- @RedHead --

Doepaw sighed. It all seemed very confusing to her but he'd tried and she really appreciated it. She tried to do what he'd explained, and she moved a bit, pressing her paws softly into the ground as she tried to correct her own position without too much noise. The sound of them moving their paws on the rough sand and cave floor frustrated her ears and she willed her best to try not to aggravate her own ears further. However, feeling a tad bit of bravery she replied, "Maybe... you... should... move... more... quietly... Your...pawsteps...go... boom..boom..boom.. You'll..be...heard...by...Shadowclan." It amused her a bit. But she had to concentrate on the task he'd given her and so she slowly tried to tuck her tail in between her hindlegs but her coordination not being the best her tail somehow managed to hook a leg and the apprentice, who'd begun to sit up on her haunches fell forward as she tried to keep her balance but with her tail intertwined with her hindleg she just fell directly into the sand and rolled over. She was tired of not being able to manage her paws but she knew... the only way to become a warrior was to try again. And again. And this time Doepaw was determined not to make a fool of herself. She was just recently starting to discover her competitive mindset and she knew that if she wanted to become a warrior she had to do this again, and again and again until she got it right. And so she just tucked her tail in close to her body, not between her legs and sat down on her haunches, this time managing to keep her balance. Slowly she lifted her front paws out in front of her and making sure she didn't make as much sound she instead of thumping down on the ground landed on her paws, absorbing the sound and the small cracking sound was much nicer for her. "Was..that... alright?"

Flintspirit's ears flicked and he glanced down at his paws, letting out a small chuckle at his apprentice's words. "Would you like me to be more quiet? I can if that's what you prefer." He meowed, tilting his head in question.
The tom then watched as Doepaw did her best to follow his verbally described movements, wincing a little when she tumbled the first time. He opened his mouth to encourage here to try again, but snapped it shut as she was already doing it, completing the move, a little wobbly but otherwise pretty well done. 'Yeah, that was great! You need to be able to balance without using your tail a little more, but that will just come with practice." The tomcat flicked his own tail for emphasis, before padding a bit closer to his apprentice, back to his previous spot he had shown her the first move. "Ready for the next one?"

[RedHead]

Foxbound padded off as she scented a mouse, instantly tracking the small creature down. She padded quietly through the forest until she spotted the small creature, scuffling at the bottom of a stump. Pouncing on it skillfully, she delivered a quick killing bite. Foxbound then turned, ears flicking as she heard more scuffling nearby. She crouched down and slowly stalked around a bush, only to find a squirrel, struggling to get up the tree. It's leg looked pretty mangled and broken. Foxbound leaped towards it, putting it out of it's misery quickly. That was fast enough... this should be good for now.
The ginger she-cat padded back towards the others, her mouth full of her catches. "I'm gonna head back and give the report, you two can stay out here and train." She meowed around her mouthful to Bouncesnarl and Ivypaw, before turning and heading for camp.

@Sparkling Bliss @Sneakyfox55

[Arie]

Originally Posted by starshooter

Myrtlepaw waited as Ploverspot had come over to make small adjustements. After which, he felt his balance become much steadier, though now he had to focus on making sure his tail wouldn't revert back to being tucked in if he wanted to stay balanced. He crept forward in search of some prey upon Plover's request. It would be nice to catch something for himself... maybe it would be easier to eat it that way if he was able to feel the pride of hunting for it himself, too. All those exciting thoughts had to be pushed back though. It was time to hunt, not time to fantasise. Eventually, he spotted something that looked like it would be quite nice: a squirrel. After that day where he'd tried a squirrel and actually was able to tolerate it, he'd felt more open to eating another one, it wasn't so bad after all. Turning back to Plover as he got himself in position, his meow was no more than a whisper. "What... do I... do now? How... do I... get it... while... I.. am in... position?"

Following Myrtlepaw the Ploverspot spotted the squirrel at the same time. Crouching down next to his apprentice he whispered quietly, eyes still focused on the russet creature. "You take a step, slowly still in this position. A step, then another step, until you're close enough to close the space and catch it." With that he began crouching forward, slowly sliding his paws across the forest floor carefully, making sure not to make any noise as he pulled his hindlegs up after himself and gestured with his tail for Myrtlepaw to follow him. This would be interesting, he hadn't planned on them running into a squirrel already but they were a good source of prey and would likely be a good catch for Myrtlepaw. It would most definitely help his confidence and improve his own hunting skills. Observing it the grey tom crept more towards the left, ready to help the russet apprentice if anything should happen but he assumed what could go wrong? It would either flee, leaving them with no prey or Myrtle would be able to catch it.

[Arie]

Originally Posted by RedHead

Flintspirit's ears flicked and he glanced down at his paws, letting out a small chuckle at his apprentice's words. "Would you like me to be more quiet? I can if that's what you prefer." He meowed, tilting his head in question.
The tom then watched as Doepaw did her best to follow his verbally described movements, wincing a little when she tumbled the first time. He opened his mouth to encourage here to try again, but snapped it shut as she was already doing it, completing the move, a little wobbly but otherwise pretty well done. 'Yeah, that was great! You need to be able to balance without using your tail a little more, but that will just come with practice." The tomcat flicked his own tail for emphasis, before padding a bit closer to his apprentice, back to his previous spot he had shown her the first move. "Ready for the next one?"

{ Doetraining }

Doepaw felt her fur heat a bit at the praise. She wasn't used to getting it but she was getting more and more confident with time. And this just solidified it a bit more and she tried to twitch her tail as she heard the flicker of Flintspirit's. "Its... hard," she admitted. It was a struggle for her to retain her balance without exactly being able to focus at any point due to her lack of sight and therefore her tail was her main use of balance still, like it was for everyone, but it was also what settled her. There was many uses for a tail as a blind cat. Twitching her own tail again she felt like she had to try the move one more time, at least just sitting on her haunches. Again, as she tried to keep her tail close to her body she lost her balance and sighed nervously. She was just not good at this. "I.... It.'s hard.. My...tail....its..like... my... eyes. Somewhat.." And then when he asked if she was ready for the next move... She had to consider it. She wanted to practice this more... but it was slowly starting to discourage her. "Yes... I... I... think...I am... ready."

[dino.]

[ @Beau ]

"Okay, here's what we're going to do." Buckbranch padded to the center of the cave, then turned to face Cormorantpaw. "I'm going to attack you. Using your forepaws or forelegs, try to block my strikes. Don't worry if you get hit - it's your first time, and my claws will be sheathed, as always."
Then he lunged forward, paws outstretched to bat at Cormorantpaw's muzzle and face.

[Sweetie]

Originally Posted by Rainquail

Breezehen let out a few chirps of encouragement to Ivorypaw as they left the clearing. She still wasn't keen on leaving the camp, but she eventually managed to convince her, but only if Ravenspirit came with them.
She came to the conclusion that there really weren't many named places to show to the apprentice. Sunkissed Creek had the possibility of predators; apprentices were already forbidden from going to Cliff Pass and she wasn't keen of Ivory being taken from her- either by death or by Duskstar.
She hated young cats, but she had grown on the grump- like moss on a tree.

Speaking of trees, the Tree of Murmers was about the only place she could think to take a freshly made apprentice aside from borders. Breezehen hoped she didn't spook easily.
"You wanna see the borders first or the Tree of Murmers? I know, it's just a tree, but a lot of stories are made around it- supposedly the moss whispers at night."

@Zesty Mango @Shimm (you still ok with being dragged along?)

(Of course )

Ravenspirit was fine with being dragged along with Ivorypaw and Breezehen's training. He knew how hard this could be for his adopted daughter and he didn't have anything else to do at the moment. Hopefully, later on in her training, Ivorypaw will feel more comfortable with her mentor and won't need him.
Turning to the warrior the tom silently nodded, showing that he was okay with her plans. Silent support, he didn't know what else to do. His daughter wasn't his apprentice and Ravenspirit didn't want to get in between anything.

@Zesty Mango

[dionysus]

@Slushie
Cormorantpaw hadn’t been prepared for Buckbranch’s attack so suddenly. He instinctually threw his paws up to deflect the blows from his face, but a few made it through. Cormorantpaw’s muzzle start to ache lightly with the hits, but the young tom pushed the feeling from his mind, knowing that fighting would hurt a lot worse. Each time Buckbranch threw a paw at him, Cormorantpaw’s legs felt more and more battered and more and more blows got through. The black and grey tom struck out blindly with his raised paws in an effort to push Buckbranch away.