ThunderClan Territory

[dionysus]

Originally Posted by RedHead

Jaggedhawk leaped up onto another branch, not focused at all on scenting the squirrel that the two toms were supposedly looking for to hunt. The silver tom's tail flicked slightly as he hummed in thought, seeming to need to think something over before speaking. "Have you ever felt... like you don't belong in a clan? Not just Thunderclan in particular, but not in any of them. Like you belong somewhere more... freeing. With no restrictions." Jaggedhawk glanced up towards Howlspark, knowing that this could be seen as a sensitive topic, but Jaggedhawk was also genuinely curious. Maybe if he could get other's points of view, it could help calm the battle within himself and all the questions on what he should do.

Howlspark blew a breath out of his nose, thinking about his response. This surely was a sensitive topic for many of the diehard clan loyalists, but Howlspark himself was much more of a free thinker. Maybe it came from being born a rogue. Still, it was an important conversation that he wanted to carefully consider before spouting any opinions. Howlspark hopped up a branch and scented the air for squirrel, not really paying attention to the smells that reached him. Keeping his eyes flickering through the beautiful, calming expanse of forest, Howlspark replied evenly, “yes. Or, rather, the opposite, but I think I know how you feel still. I came to Thunderclan at the age of 19 moons. Before that , my life was an abundance of freedom. The cats I knew didn’t understand my decision to join a clan, but I’d been needing some structure for awhile. I really felt like it was the best option for me. I guess what I’m saying is that I know what it feels like to hear a call leading you away from what you know.” He finally turned his yellow eyes on the other tom, “but only you can know if what your feeling is a call or a curiosity.” Perhaps he’d answered more than Jaggedhawk had wanted, but it was a question that Howlspark felt specifically well qualified on which to offer an opinion.

[MEAT ANGELS]

@RedHead

[ frosttraining ]

Frostpaw could feel fear tighten the edges of her throat. What exactly was this hunting technique? And why was Cheryybubble.. laughing? Had Frostpaw done something to upset her? And Cherrybubble was just getting revenge, by sending her up into a tree to die? Taking a trembling step forward, Frostpaw gazed at the sturdy tree. It seemed to stretch up for ages.

"..."

[RedHead]

Originally Posted by Arie

{ Doetraining }

As she listened to his words Doepaw nodded slowly. This she could do. From his words he was still trying to be light on his paws... But she could still hear him, he was still... heavy. And so she lifted herself up so that she was standing on her pads, with the weight balanced out on her paws. Light on her paws. She can do that. Slowly she began walking making sure to place her paws down carefully and she was extremely happy when she managed to walk a circle without a sound. "Why... confuse... the... opponent... when... you..can...just...make..them.. not... hear... you?" With that the little apprentice slowly approached her mentor again on careful paws. She wanted to try what he had suggested. Strike at him. Would she be able to? Maybe. She had to be fast... and light on her paws like he said.. Could she do it? Could she? She could do it. It took her a moment, she had to time it correctly, she had to attempt something... She'd heard others talk about making sure not to look where you aimed... but she wouldn't see what she was going for anyway. What was it that Myrtle had showed her? He'd... he'd knocked her legs from out under her with a paw.. Could she do this to Flint? Maybe.. She would try, she would try. And that was when she sprung into motion, making sure to stay light on her paws as he'd told her and then aimed, to sweep at least a leg from underneath him..

Flintspirit watched as Doepaw began to follow his movements, giving an approving purr. Though at her statement, he let out a small laugh, shaking his head. "Well Doepaw, some cats, such as myself, are much too heavy to be able to mask our sound completely. So confusing them is the next best thing." Flintspirit then watched as Doepaw slowly began making her way towards him, confused at first before seeing what she was up to. As she swiped a paw out, Flintspirit lifted his leg, avoiding her paw swipe with a chuckle. "Or, they're watching you, and not hearing you does no good at all." The tom advised, flicking Doepaw with a tail. "Be mindful of where you're aiming from. Other cats don't just rely on their ears like you do."

[Arie]

Originally Posted by RedHead

Flintspirit watched as Doepaw began to follow his movements, giving an approving purr. Though at her statement, he let out a small laugh, shaking his head. "Well Doepaw, some cats, such as myself, are much too heavy to be able to mask our sound completely. So confusing them is the next best thing." Flintspirit then watched as Doepaw slowly began making her way towards him, confused at first before seeing what she was up to. As she swiped a paw out, Flintspirit lifted his leg, avoiding her paw swipe with a chuckle. "Or, they're watching you, and not hearing you does no good at all." The tom advised, flicking Doepaw with a tail. "Be mindful of where you're aiming from. Other cats don't just rely on their ears like you do."

{ Doetraining }

Doepaw let out a defeat sigh. She thought she'd gotten him or at least, would be given a chance. Sitting down, she perked her ears at his comment... This would be harder than she thought. Having to try to figure out where to aim while not being aware of whereshe was aiming was proving a tough nut for the young apprentice to crack. She knew where her paws were, she knew were her legs were and her back. But she also knew that she was smaller than the average cat, like when she compared herself to the struggles of play fighting with Myrtlepaw and the giant size of Flintspirit. The little apprentice didn't exactly know how to continue from here, unsure if she should try the move again. Maybe... Her green but blind eyes lit up, and a mischievous smile - something that very rarely grazed Doepaw's muzzle began spreading. He'd said... that they were watching her. What if they couldn't see where she was or at least what she was doing? Slowly standing up, she walked up to Flintspirit and then further along, understanding suddenly apparent and then she tried her best, as he was facing away, to swipe his hindleg from out under him with her front paw.

[lio]

Originally Posted by vermin

"Si" he replied amusingly with a nose twitch. "Oh, that! How did you know?? I guess it was that obvious, hm." Just thinking about the brown warrior made his fur bristle. "There are many things that can get under a cat's pelt like fleas, ticks, burrs, etcetera etcetera. But, the Buckbranch is so pestiferous at every clan meeting," the tabby sighed, quickly giving up on his complaining. " Any-paw, I can't defy your words so...okay, master." Quillpaw stared at Duskstar for a while with yellow eyes wide enough to see every speck in it. He broke the staredown with a blink and hummed loudly. "...How are you? Lately? Today? At sunrise and sunset? I don't mean to be a bugger however it's hard to ignore your tautness. Not like I'm ignoring, no, no, I'm always concerned for the Duskstar."
@hxneysuckle

Duskstar took many, many moments to think of what in the everliving hell her apprentice was saying, but she hopefully managed to comprehend it. Somewhat. Maybe.

He was just extremely hard to understand.

But her tail flicked and she chuckled. "Yeah, he's a pain in the tail," she mewed, shaking her head. "You should have seen him before he was deputy. Flintspirit-- Flintstar at the time-- appointed him straight from being put on watch for traitorous actions! Bucky-boy decided he wanted to try and tell another Clan about a top-secret plan Flintstar had. It was pure idiocy, and all because Buckbranch 'saved' him from a badger! ONCE!" Duskstar sighed quietly and shook her head in disappointment.

At his question, she quirked a brow. Oh, no. Not even her apprentice would get to her true thoughts so easily. So she swallowed down the urge to rant and nodded stiffly. "I've been... fine. Could be better, could be worse. Neutral." She shrugged and tilted her head to him. "What about you? Also, do you think you're ready to try hunting an actually-alive creature?"

[dino.]

[ @Beau ]

The kid was a resilient one, Buckbranch would give him that. His kick hadn't been a hard one, but it had been strong enough to wind a cat. Cormorantpaw had recovered quickly from the blow.
When Cormorantpaw focused on his eyes, Buckbranch returned the notion. He narrowed his gaze and shifted his body, so that his shoulder was angled toward his apprentice as the young tom rushed him. He was expecting Cormorantpaw to try something similar to last time. So he was incredibly unprepared when the exact opposite happened.
When Cormorantpaw ran at his flank, he spun to block him, but Cormorantpaw's head and shoulders slammed into his chest. The top of the young cat's head clocked against Buckbranch's chin, snapping his head back. He tasted blood in his mouth, and knew he'd bitten his tongue. He grit his teeth. Using the momentum of the blow, he reared up on his hind paws, and attempted to wrap his forelegs over Cormorantpaw's exposed shoulders, and shove down to try to once again push his apprentice into the dirt so he could leap away.

[dionysus]

@Slushie

Cormorantpaw couldn’t help but feel a flicker of surprise when his move actually worked. He had been half expecting a counter attack to send him flying. The counter attack did come, though after his head and shoulders connected with his mentor, and Cormorantpaw had mere seconds before the warrior’s arms were wrapped around him and the weight of the older cat’s chest was pushing him to the ground. The large, broad-shouldered apprentice locked his limbs and strained to be as heavy as possible in the hopes that he would be able to withstand the weight. He was still smaller than Buckbranch, though, and untrained, so the crash of his mentor on top of him buckled his legs despite his straining and he slammed into the ground with a hiss of breath forcing out of his lungs. The apprentice was dazed, but he didn’t want to stay under Buckbranch’s weight and the inherent panic of being under another cat tightened his chest despite the relative safety of the situation. Cormorantpaw attempted to get his paws underneath him and push himself up from under Buckbranch, straining under the warrior’s weight.

[dino.]

[ @Beau ]

Buckbranch managed to spring out of the way before Cormorantpaw shoved his weight upwards. He landed on all fours a tail-length away from his apprentice. His chest heaved, breaths coming in short, heavy gasps. A thin trail of blood dribbled from his chin, and he lifted his paw to wipe it away. Great stars, I really HAVE gotten out of shape. He shouldn't be out of breath from a mere training exercise!
He planted his feet again in a battle stance. His tactic was to always wait for his opponent to come to him. That way he could judge his opponent's moves before they had a chance to strike him. But now he was only using it to catch a breather. He let out a frustrated huff. "Come on, Cormorantpaw. S'that all you got?"

[dionysus]

@Slushie
Cormorantpaw didn’t have time to stop his shove upward when the weight of Buckbranch lifted off of him and the apprentice ended up throwing himself backward into the dust. The awkward fall knocked the breath from him and tweaked a muscle in his neck painfully so his return to his paws was slow and tentative as his head slowly stopped spinning. Cormorantpaw managed to catch the trickle of blood before Buckbranch wiped it away and the young cat immediately backed down. “You’re bleeding! Did I accidentally cut you? I thought my claws were sheathed the whole time!” Cormorantpaw looked in surprise down at his sheathed paws and questioningly back at Buckbranch.

[dino.]

[ @Beau ]

Buckbranch straightened up as Cormorantpaw once again hit the dirt. He winced at the sound of the impact. That looked like it hurt. He stepped forward to check if Cormorantpaw was all right, and to possibly call off the training, but it seemed his apprentice beat him to his first goal. He lifted his forepaw to his chin again, where fresh blood had begun to trickle from the corner of his mouth. "I'm fine," he assured Cormorantpaw. "Just bit my tongue, is all. You didn't cut me, I promise."
He padded forward, scrutinizing Cormorantpaw with concerned eyes. "Are you all right? That last fall looked like it hurt. Want to call it a day, and take a break?"