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Post by Fawn on Sept 23, 2012 12:49:24 GMT -5
Lionstep
The coolness of a brisk morning breeze was unable to penetrate the dense golden fur of the TreeClan deputy. Lionstep's overly large paws flattened some of the soft grass in the hidden thicket, his tail swaying a gentle rhythm above the ground, plume catching the light filtering in through the tall, ever present trees.
The plan today was to brush up on young Dawnpaw's fighting techniques - well, 'brush up' wasn't the right word, it was more like teach her a few moves that would be well suited for the docile young she-cat. He was well aware of her peaceable nature, but that didn't mean he could let her carry on through this apprenticeship without at least learning how to defend herself. Lionstep wasn't going to fight her himself, of course, he didn't want to accidentally hurt her (a slight downside of those big paws of his, they were heavy and packed quite a punch), but he could also borrow an apprentice or two later on for a brief bit of sparring. The TreeClan deputy would bring it up with their respective mentors once he returned to camp.
But for now, it was time for a bit of training before he excused himself for a border patrol.
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Post by eli on Sept 23, 2012 13:04:19 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 340px; background-image:url(http://i56.tinypic.com/20gfl1v.jpg); padding: 30px; border: #2D2729 solid 30px; ]just keep following But in order to get to the heart, I think sometimes you'll have to cut through.
Dawnpaw's heart was pounding in her chest as she crouched over her mouse, taking weak, half-hearted bites. It'd been seven sunrises since she'd received her apprentice name and her mentor - the largest cat in the Clan, for one, and the deputy, for another - and though she was no longer so blindly terrified that she could barely mew, it felt like the fluttering nervousness in her heart would never cease. Whenever she saw the big-pawed tom, a series of frightening images rolled through her mind: her doing something wrong or failing at something, him staring down at her with narrowed eyes, saying she's unfit to be an apprentice - or even be in the Clan at all. Would he banish her to live as a kittypet forever? The thought terrified her to the point where she couldn't eat any longer and had to shove the half-eaten mouse away with one tiny white paw.
Lionstep was a nice cat. She was fretting too much, overworrying. Dawnpaw told herself this over and over as she padded through the trees in the direction of the thicket where the deputy had specified they meet. Her paws were trembling, and she tried her hardest to calm herself before stepping through the barrier of undergrowth and seeing her mentor sitting there, waiting. The tip of her plumy orange tail flicked back and forth anxiously, and her baby-blue eyes were wide with apprehension, but also a bit of excitement. Training! They were training today. If she listened carefully, maybe she'd learn. Maybe she'd become an apprentice he'd be proud of. Squaring her shoulders and taking a deep breath to soothe herself, she padded over to him and winced a little at how he towered over her, massive paws nearly three times the size of her own delicate, tiny white ones. It would never cease to startle her how much bigger Lionstep was than she.
"Hi, Lionstep," she mewed weakly, and had to clear her throat to make her next words come out more strongly. "What sort of training are we doing today...?" She mentally applauded herself on the small feat: for the first couple of days of her apprenticeship, she'd barely been able to muster a tiny squeak whenever he spoke to her. It was embarrassing, but she'd always been the docile, timid one. Her personality was more like a medicine cat's than a warrior's. She knew it well, and she also knew it would take some time yet before she would shake her nervous, shy nature. She may never be fully rid of it.
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Post by Fawn on Sept 23, 2012 13:25:25 GMT -5
Lionstep
The large golden tom couldn't help but let out a small, pleased purr at the sight of his second apprentice making her way towards him. He could easily pick up on the she-cat's nervousness, what with that slight quaver in her voice and the wideness of her eyes - she looked almost ready to run back to camp, as though he were a frightening monster bent on turning her into a mid-morning snack. Lionstep gave a polite, friendly dip of his head. "Good morning, Dawnpaw," he meowed, sliding into a standing position now. "Today's training is going to be learning a few basic fighting techniques, but don't worry"-- his whiskers twitched as he hid a smile -- "you won't be fighting me just yet." Well, not on the first day of training! He didn't want to tell her and have her dread it's arrival, but about halfway through her apprenticeship he did intend for Dawnpaw to sparr with him, and before she left his tutelage and went on to become a fully fledged warrior, he expected her to at least try to win.
"Have you picked anything up from the other apprentices, or...?" Meowing an open-ended question, Lionstep was simply trying to get a feel for what she did and did not know. It was likely that if she had picked up something from her Clanmates, it wasn't yet polished enough to be used outside of playfighting. But that was alright. If anything, he was a better fighter than a hunter, and the big TreeClan deputy relished the idea of passing on his knowledge, once again, to an apprentice of his own.
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Post by eli on Sept 24, 2012 19:58:51 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 340px; background-image:url(http://i56.tinypic.com/20gfl1v.jpg); padding: 30px; border: #2D2729 solid 30px; ]just keep following But in order to get to the heart, I think sometimes you'll have to cut through.
The tiny ginger-and-white apprentice couldn't help feeling relieved at Lionstep's good-natured mew of greeting. Dawnpaw was always so afraid that she'd disappoint her mentor with her tremulous ways. She really couldn't help it and she desperately hoped he understood that. Curling her orange tabby tail over her paws, she blinked shyly at him, long white whiskers twitching. "Battle training?" Her heart thumped nervously in her chest, and though she was comforted by the reassurance that she wouldn't have to spar with him - one of those massive paws could probably snap her neck! - she was a bit unnerved at the concept. Fighting. She hadn't thought much of battle, but now that he mentioned the training, she realized that someday she may be fighting ruthlessly against a rival cat.
A shudder ran down Dawnpaw's spine, but she tried to square her shoulders and pretend that she wasn't afraid. Closing her wide blue eyes in thought, she tried to recall any moves that she and Duskpaw used on each other - at least, ones that weren't entirely useless outside of harmless kits' play. She called to mind a method she'd use to grapple her sister to the ground, and rising to her hindpaws, she pretended to wrap her paws around the neck of an invisible enemy. It was harder than she'd initially thought, to pretend she was grappling an imaginary warrior, but she was good enough at it that she didn't completely overbalance herself. Heaving forward, she feigned the act of shoving the imaginary cat to the ground, crouching over them with her hindpaws still braced on the ground and her forepaws pinning the 'cat' by its neck.
She tipped her head up, blinking hopefully at her mentor. "That's all I can remember," she admitted shyly, flicking her golden ears forward. Dawnpaw liked to think she was pretty good at the move - she could pin Duskpaw almost every time - but she wasn't a warrior, and she could only hope it was up to the deputy's expectations. Once again she despaired at the thought of disappointing him, but the longer she was around him the less nervous she became, and she could recognize that she was being overdramatic. He's a nice cat, she told herself insistently, chanting it over and over like a mantra in her head. I'm a brand-new apprentice. He wouldn't expect me to know every battle move from the beginning.
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Post by Fawn on Sept 24, 2012 20:48:46 GMT -5
Lionstep "Did you make that move up yourself, Dawnpaw? That was a nice one." Mewed Lionstep, the regal looking tom obviously impressed by the tone of his voice. He truly hadn't been expecting her to produce such an effective move without having any formal training. Dawnpaw's tremulous personality hadn't exactly lent her an image of calculated fighting ability or of being a clever tactitian. Though Dawnpaw was far from a strategist, she wasn't as clean of slate as he'd previously thought. That was good.
"You have the general idea of quickly pinning an opponent, though it's a good idea to watch your footwork," [/color] Lionstep mewed, the scene already unfolding in his mind. It wouldn't exactly be ideal for the young she-cat to have her own moves turned against her; if the cat she had gotten a hold of somehow figured out a way to knock her feet out from under her, the advantage would quickly go to her opponent. It was best to develop a fighting style that would work for the she-cat rather than make her a potential target for cats who would use every opening to their advantage. "Because you have a lighter build, I'd like to help you develop some techniques that will rely more on speed than strength. It'll come in handy against cats like myself."The golden tom stepped forward, stretching his long front legs forwards, claws unsheathing in a quick gesture meant to limber him up. "The best method for fighting toms that are bigger than you, Dawnpaw, is to attack them from behind." His whiskers twitched in amusement. "I know that sounds underhanded, but unless you can be quick enough to get through their defense and past those front claws and teeth of theirs, a surprise attack - dropping from a tree even - would be ideal."[/blockquote]
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Post by Phoenix on Sept 24, 2012 21:13:10 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true] | sincerely, noblepaw
the road i walk is paved in gold to glorify my platinum soul | [CS=2] Thistledown had given him the day to do as he pleased, and Noblepaw decided to spend at least part of it in the training hollow. He could brush up on his fighting skills, and he always enjoyed doing so. It was a win-win. Finishing up the mouse in one gulp, the gray and white apprentice rose to his paws, immaculate fur so clean that it was practically glowing in the sunlight. Head high, he strode from the camp, looking down his nose as kits tumbled across his path. And they think that they can fight...
Paws retraced the familiar path to the hollow, and images of fighting imaginary opponents started to fill Noblepaw's brain as he focused completely on tactics and fighting. If his opponent lunged that way, then he could always dodge and attack from this angle... But what if he was fighting two cats? His mind wandered far from the present, picturing different situations and how he might worm his way out of them. Fighting was his skill. He had to perfect it.
And so, he was surprised when a voice snapped him out of his musings. Looking around, he realized with a jolt that he had arrived at the hollow. There were two cats already in there, one of whom he noted with disdain. Dawnpaw, another weak TreeClan apprentice. Much like the other apprentice, the new one, the she-cat seemed devoid of any fighting ability, or any desire to fight at all. Did she not realize how valuable a skill it was? It gave a cat power: the power to conquer others and the power to defend oneself. Everything any feline needed to succeed in life. The other cat, Lionstep, held his respect purely due to his position as deputy.
Knowing that his appearance would not go unnoticed for long, Noblepaw stepped forward while there was a lull in the instruction. "Hello, Lionstep," He greeted the deputy first, dipping his head out of politeness. "Dawnpaw." He had turned to the she-cat, and his voice had a slight strain of disdain in it. He turned back to Lionstep. "Are you practicing fighting? Could I join in?" | [CS=2] Words: 372 Notes: an ok post | [CS=2] i am the closest thing to god so worship me and never stop [style=font-family: palatino linotype; text-transform: lowercase; text-align: center; font-size; 5px; margin-top: -20px;]credits: don't stop by innerpartysystem cat: here |
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Post by eli on Sept 25, 2012 6:58:12 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 340px; background-image:url(http://i56.tinypic.com/20gfl1v.jpg); padding: 30px; border: #2D2729 solid 30px; ]just keep following But in order to get to the heart, I think sometimes you'll have to cut through.
A tiny blossom of pleasure welled in Dawnpaw's heart at her mentor's praise. Blinking gratefully at the big golden tom, she nearly forgot her fear - she wasn't disappointing him! In fact, he was pleased with her! Letting out a little self-indulgent purr, she dipped her head to swipe her tongue over her tufty white chest, trying to hide how excited she was at his praise. Even though he went on to critique her footwork - which might have usually made her shrink with disappointment - she remained cheerful, ears perked as she listened to what he was telling her with interest. "Because a larger opponent could unbalance me," she responded thoughtfully, flicking an ear. Dawnpaw was not a strategist by heart, but her self-deprecating nature often led her to critique over and over what she'd done until she'd found all the subtle cracks and nuances that made it ineffective. She'd figured as much that the move would be foolish at best against a cat larger or stronger than her - it'd worked against Duskpaw, who was the same size as she, but anyone else could swiftly knock her legs out from under her or leap up and throw her off with ease.
His next words reaffirmed her belief: speed, not strength, was the key to her fighting style. When he stepped forward and unsheathed his claws - to stretch, she figured - a ghost of her previous terror closed over her for a moment, but she had enough confidence to shake it off, this time. With the help of Lionstep's suggestions she closed her eyes, trying to imagine sparring with him. ...Or not. She still wasn't quite confident enough to imagine fighting with the massive, heavy-pawed tom. Shaking her head a bit she envisioned another cat instead - her father. Though he was gone now, she could remember his tall, powerful stature, which would tower over her own even now when she was no longer a kit in the nursery. Strike from behind, Lionstep had said...
She began to move, almost as though she were in a dream, accessing information she hadn't even realized she'd stored from her fights with Duskpaw. Once, while sparring with each other, Duskpaw had struck at her hind leg. Her paw hit home just above the joint of her foot-bone, and Dawnpaw's leg had crumpled under her like it'd just given out. It'd taken a moment before she could resume standing...Duskpaw had been horrified, of course, but managed to point out the tendon running down the back of Dawnpaw's leg like a sapling's branch pulled taut. If she could hit the same spot that Duskpaw had, perhaps on both legs at once... Opening her eyes, the blue depths focused with a new purpose, she instinctively leapt forward in a flash of white fur and, moving around Lionstep's front end - while pretending he would attack her, and trying her best to stay out of striking distance - she brought her paw down against those tendons. She was too small to hit them both neatly, but she managed to put the brunt of the strike against his left hind leg.
Just as she delivered the blow, another voice spoke from the rim of the training hollow. Dawnpaw spun about to look and instinctively flicked her ears back at the sight of Noblepaw, disdain glittering in her sky-blue gaze. She didn't know him very well, but what she did know of him was reaffirmed in his smug, uptight demeanor as he addressed them both - he was the elitist sort. The condescending strain he put on her name made her instinctively unsheathe her claws, still strong and confident with Lionstep's praise and the thrill of the training, but she caught herself and stepped back, forcing herself to nod tightly at the tom and shoot back an equally disdainful "Noblepaw" in response. Smug furball, she thought, wrinkling her nose, but refrained from saying it, choosing instead to stick close to Lionstep's side.
She couldn't help but shudder at his request. Train with him? He'd probably shred her just to prove to himself what a weak apprentice she was. Which was a useless endeavor anyway, she figured, considering he'd been training longer than she and he was inevitably stronger than an apprentice fresh from the nursery. Then again, Dawnpaw figured he'd fight a kit just to be able to win and inflate his ego even further. Dawnpaw was a docile she-cat, but if there was one thing she despised, it was overconfident, smug furballs. She turned her gaze on her mentor, wishing she could plead with him to send the smug tom away, but she could already sense his answer; sighing to herself, Dawnpaw stretched out her claws, arching her back to loosen it, and prepared for the inevitable spar.
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Post by Fawn on Sept 25, 2012 16:54:54 GMT -5
Lionstep There was a certain amount of bias that came with watching two apprentices fight, particularly if one of them was yours to train and shape into a wonderful, contributing member of Clan-society. And then there was a need to remain unbiased based on position; Lionstep had been about to praise the she-cat's efforts on her leg-striking (which had been instantly effective, the muscular golden tom's leg having weakened, unable to support his weight while a tingly, weird sensation jolted throughout the afflicted limb), when Noblepaw had come swaggering in, the eagerness - and the disdain - in his voice apparent.
"Very good Dawnpaw - and I don't see any reason why you shouldn't, feel free to jump in, Noblepaw," Mewed the tom jovially; This will give me a good idea as to where Noblepaw is in his training, without Thistledown's input. Lionstep had nothing against hearing a training-report from Noblepaw's mentor, he was simply more of a 'observe for myself' kind of tom. Fully aware of the evident tension between the two apprentices, Lionstep made to shift out of the way, stretching again near Dawnpaw, only this time he murmured low enough that only she could hear; "Use that same move on Noblepaw that you used on me. Don't worry, have confidence and you'll do well." Winking at the apprentice, he stood out of the way, licking down a tuft of fur on his chest, then raising his voice;
"Let's keep the fight fair you two, you can be serious - but no blood and no neck-biting." Lionstep put extra emphasis on the last part of his instructions, the deputy not wanting the overzealous Noblepaw to hurt his own apprentice - whether it was her body or her confidence. Though he didn't expect her to win, logically speaking, considering Noblepaw had been training longer than she had, and this was literally only her first day of battle-training, Lionstep still wanted her to have a little taste of one-versus-one fighting that wasn't with Duskpaw.
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Post by Phoenix on Sept 27, 2012 15:44:00 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true] | sincerely, noblepaw
the road i walk is paved in gold to glorify my platinum soul | [CS=2] Noblepaw's green eyes brightened slightly as the deputy gave him permission to join them. "Thank you," He replied almost immediately after Lionstep's voice stopped. If there was one thing he cared about in this world, it was fighting. He knew that he had skill, and he planned on honing and perfecting it until he became the strongest warrior in the forest. He would lead TreeClan to power. But this was only the beginning, and he did not have to worry about that now. Right now, he had to worry about beating Dawnpaw - and even then, perhaps worry was too strong of a word.
While Lionstep gave his apprentice some last minute advice, Noblepaw took this time to assess her. She was, by far, smaller than him; he could use his size to his advantage. He also had several moons of training over her as well, since she had just left the nursery. Her fighting experience was probably limited to sparring with the other kits, and really, that could barely be called a fight. Shaking out his legs, Noblepaw stretched and loosened his muscles. Yes, his fight against Dawnpaw would be short and easy, but he did not want to pull anything. A smirk touched the corner of his mouth.
Eyes glanced around the clearing for a moment, taking a look and reorienting himself. Having trained here for a while now, Noblepaw felt comfortable with the area. He knew where that root was, off to the side, and how to avoid stumbling over it when so many other apprentices did so. Various pebbles were scattered around the clearing, and they could be used as a weapon if one was desperate and skilled enough. If he needed to, the apprentice could also move the fight out to the border of the clearing, using the trees as obstacles. But he doubted the fight would get that far.
Bouncing lightly from paw to paw, keeping his muscles loose and ready to spring, his eyes found Dawnpaw again. He did not try to read her expression, instead trying to make himself appear larger. Lips parted in a half grin to display sharp teeth, and eyes narrowed. Intimidate your opponent so that they doubt their abilities and half the battle was already done, Noblepaw told himself, tail lashing through the air. "Ready, Dawnpaw?" He asked out of courtesy, unable to hide his confidence. In his mind, Noblepaw had every right to that confidence; the odds were all in his favor. A moment later, without waiting for an answer, he attacked, lunging forward aiming to overwhelm her with brute strength. | [CS=2] Words: lazy Notes: he's fighting to win | [CS=2] i am the closest thing to god so worship me and never stop [style=font-family: palatino linotype; text-transform: lowercase; text-align: center; font-size; 5px; margin-top: -20px;]credits: don't stop by innerpartysystem cat: here |
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Post by eli on Sept 27, 2012 20:15:05 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 340px; background-image:url(http://i56.tinypic.com/20gfl1v.jpg); padding: 30px; border: #2D2729 solid 30px; ]just keep following But in order to get to the heart, I think sometimes you'll have to cut through.
Dawnpaw nodded quietly as Lionstep murmured the last bit of advice in her ear. Already, her eyes were on her opponent, assessing, considering. What she lacked in training she made up for with her quick mind, and she could tell that Noblepaw would likely try to attack her using brute strength, relying on his size and muscle mass to defeat her. Dawnpaw was small by breeding and even smaller by age, and she knew if she wasn't careful he could easily bowl her over and the battle would be over.
As the two apprentices squared off, she was unsurprised though still quite unnerved when he fluffed his fur up and bared his teeth, ensuring she could see how much larger and stronger she was. Intimidation. It worked, of course: she felt a steady nervousness make its way through her until it felt like ants were crawling through her fur and she was sure it showed in her eyes, but she wouldn't dare let herself back down. She closed her eyes for enough time to take a deep, calming breath before meeting gazes with her opponent yet again, muscles tensing in her limber young legs.
She barely caught Noblepaw's question. In that moment, she'd entered a mindset of eerie, deep peace, where everything unrelated to their fight was nothing but blackness and everything she knew from her spars with Duskpaw were pulled to the front of her mind. She forgot her fear and her nervousness - right then, she was Dawnpaw, apprentice of TreeClan, and therefore no lesser than her opponent. Even if she lost, she would still put in her best effort, and show that the odds stacked against her would not discourage her from proving herself.
The grey-and-white tom launched towards her, his muscles flexing beneath his sleek pelt. She knew in that moment, the span of time of a hummingbird's wingbeat, that she could not let him strike her like this: if he did, he'd bowl her over and it'd be over before it began. Dawnpaw leapt aside as though chasing a falling leaf, using the speed she might use if she were trying to catch it before it hit the ground. She spun on her heels - not perfectly, of course, but enough to turn her around without her falling on her side - and aimed her paw the same way she'd aimed for Lionstep. It was much easier on Noblepaw, since he was closer to her size, and she managed to strike both of his hind legs right where the tendon pulled taut over the back of the ankle joint.
Once the blow had been delivered with the intention of his hind end giving out under him, she moved to pounce. He was so much bigger than her, though, and her leaping abilities were not honed. Dawnpaw could not clear the distance needed to leap upon his back, but she instead aimed to grapple for his neck, a kittish move but still hopefully effective. She'd completely forgotten Lionstep was watching at this point. She might as well be in the nursery, sparring with Duskpaw, though she'd never entered this strange state of focus while fighting her sister.
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Post by Phoenix on Sept 28, 2012 21:10:11 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true] | sincerely, noblepaw
the road i walk is paved in gold to glorify my platinum soul | [CS=2] Cursing his luck as he flew past her, Noblepaw's momentum carried him forward for a few strides. Or it would have, had something not collided with his hind legs. The blow had not hit solidly, but it did something to him. And the ground suddenly seemed a lot closer. Changing his fall into something less damaging and perhaps more productive, the apprentice turned to the side, letting his shoulder hit and rolling with the fall. The impact of hitting the ground stunned him for a moment, knocking the breath from his lungs, but that did not stop him from righting himself, trying to fill his lungs once more.
He would have to remember that a small size meant speed and agility, qualities that could cause her to run circles around him. Noblepaw mentally kicked himself for having forgotten that. And now he had an example of her speed. He knew how fast she could move and was now conscious of what could quite possibly be her best and only weapon.
Something - or someone - latched herself onto the side of his neck, and all thought of a rational battle plan fled his mind as instinct took over. Noblepaw did not like things clinging anywhere near his head, and he braced himself, starting to shake his whole body, hoping to loosen her grip. Her style reminded him of a kit's, also providing a confidence booster. She was practically a kit in the area of fighting, fresh out of the nursery. Dawnpaw's attacks would mostlikely resemble those of a kit's. And he had had plenty of practice with that, even if Bravepaw had been a less than satisfactory... prey. With this in mind, he quickly beat back his instinct and rolled to the side, letting his body go limp as he tried to fall onto her. His mind, however, remained alert, ready to spring away once he felt her grip loosen. | [CS=2] Words: 326 Notes: -- | [CS=2] i am the closest thing to god so worship me and never stop [style=font-family: palatino linotype; text-transform: lowercase; text-align: center; font-size; 5px; margin-top: -20px;]credits: don't stop by innerpartysystem cat: here |
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Post by Fawn on Sept 28, 2012 22:06:01 GMT -5
Lionstep What surprised him more than anything, was that he actually wasn't on pins and needles during this fight between apprentices, instead he had become an analyst, absorbing their every move, falling out of 'spectator' mode and into learned observer. It was a welcome change for Lionstep, who wasn't quite used to being someone's 'mentor' just yet, but he was taking this new role in strides, watching as Dawnpaw executed her signature move to the backs of Noblepaw's legs, the confident tom's back half giving out on him, and thus he performed a tuck-and-roll to minimize the impact. That's more than likely what Lionstep would've done in that situation, had he been Noblepaw's size.
Careful, Dawnpaw. Lionstep's blazing amber eyes narrowed in calculation, watching wordlessly as he saw his apprentice attack Noblepaw rather kittenishly - he didn't fault her for it, he just wanted her to be aware that Noblepaw fought like a real warrior, and wouldn't hesitate to put her in the dirt if he ever had the opening. Pleased that the tom was taking his words to heart, with no blood, Lionstep's bushy plume of a tail swayed against the training grounds, his massive paws set neatly together as he sat in his usual posture of military readiness, alert and engrossed in the battle before him. Don't wear yourself out, Dawnpaw, and don't get discouraged. She would not be able to defeat Noblepaw the way she was now, but somewhere down the road...Perhaps a rematch would be in order.
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Post by eli on Sept 28, 2012 22:07:50 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 340px; background-image:url(http://i56.tinypic.com/20gfl1v.jpg); padding: 30px; border: #2D2729 solid 30px; ]just keep following But in order to get to the heart, I think sometimes you'll have to cut through.
It hadn't been the best of blows, but it had served its purpose: Noblepaw hit the ground, twisting himself so his shoulder took the brunt of his fall, and Dawnpaw managed to curl her paws around his neck. He was bigger than her usual opponent and it took some straining to keep her grip, but she turned her head and fastened her teeth into his scruff where she could grip him without causing real damage. Like a bulldog she clung, intent and steadfast, refusing to let go.
It wasn't a common tactic for cats to use. Most moves used by Clan cats - or cats in general, really - was to leap in, attack, and spring clear before plotting the next blow. Dawnpaw was different and had always been different since she and Duskpaw first started quarreling as kits. She would use the attack-then-dodge tactic to place her first blows, always waiting for an opening to appear within which she could find a grip. It only took a loss of balance, a tiny misstep, for that opening to be given and she would latch on and refuse to let go for all the prey in the forest. She did this now as the stronger, larger apprentice squirmed and bucked under her, keeping her legs firm around his neck and teeth clenched on his scruff, though still keeping her claws sheathed as per the policy of battle training. She was amazed at how easily this came to her, this strength that flowed through her limbs and her heart. A quivering new apprentice she was no more, that was for sure! It was as though she'd forgotten everything she'd been before.
She felt it rather than predicted it when Noblepaw began to shift his weight, aiming to fall sideways onto her. He knew her fighting style was kitlike and inexperienced, and it seemed as though instead of fighting her with more educated, experienced moves, he was preferring to take the role of a kitlike defense. Dawnpaw closed her eyes, nose full of Noblepaw's thick grey-and-white fur, and held on for dear life as the muscled tom allowed himself to hit the ground, pinning her lower body between himself and the ground - right upon the root which stuck out of the dirt at the edge of the clearing. It likely wasn't intentional of him to press her onto it, but the root jabbed deep under her ribcage; a muffled shriek bubbled up behind the mouthful of fur she was gripping, and for a moment, her claws flashed out in instinctive pain and dug desperately through his pelt. Still, Dawnpaw did not release her grip, and it was almost as though it grew tighter in response to the pain that shot through her side.
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Post by Phoenix on Sept 28, 2012 22:36:45 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true] | sincerely, noblepaw
the road i walk is paved in gold to glorify my platinum soul | [CS=2] His fur bristled as he felt something dig into the fur on his neck, small, sharp points. Teeth. Irritation started to grow in his gut. However, he did not have long to dwell on the thought before his body collided, though her's, with the ground. Through the blood pounding in his ears, he heard a vague sound like a cry escape her and felt the vibration of her body as it left her mouth. Satisfaction spread through him. But she did not let go. On the contrary, she tightened her grip around his neck, and he felt something else prick him. Multiple somthings. Claws.
Coiled like a snake in his gut, and equally dangerous, Noblepaw's ire lurked. He had kept it under control, keeping it from lashing out and potentially hurting his smaller opponent. Depsite his need to win, the apprentice planned to abide by Lionstep's rules. Keep his claws sheathed and no blood. But Dawnpaw had decided to ignore them. Her claws had come out, he felt them as they dug into his neck. He lost control. If that was the way things were going to be...
Twisting furiously, he made another attempt to escape Dawnpaw, putting more force behind his actions. They were fueled by anger and became fiece and strong. He raised his head and neck off the ground, muscles straining, then let them relax and allowed gravity to do the work for him. The impact might stun him slightly, but it would hurt her far more than himself. Blinking black spots from his vision, Noblepaw shifted his weight, turning to his side, trying to face her and get more leverage. Jaws snapped furiously at her, as he tried to push himself up with a paw, claws barely sheathed.
| [CS=2] Words: 299 Notes: gah I cannot write fights. sorry x.x | [CS=2] i am the closest thing to god so worship me and never stop [style=font-family: palatino linotype; text-transform: lowercase; text-align: center; font-size; 5px; margin-top: -20px;]credits: don't stop by innerpartysystem cat: here |
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Post by eli on Sept 28, 2012 23:10:43 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 340px; background-image:url(http://i56.tinypic.com/20gfl1v.jpg); padding: 30px; border: #2D2729 solid 30px; ]just keep following But in order to get to the heart, I think sometimes you'll have to cut through.
The moment Noblepaw started putting the full force of his weight and strength behind his attacks, Dawnpaw's concentration broke. Just like she'd forgotten her nervousness, she now forgot her confidence: the back of his head slammed into her muzzle and she let go, vision going blurry from the dizziness. In that moment he overthrew her, spinning around and meeting her with flashing fangs. She was stunned and terrified, to be honest, her distinctively ginger tail bushing out and her eyes going wide with horror. She'd never fought a cat who'd really aimed to hurt her, and that was the intention she read in his vicious green eyes. Had she provoked him? She hadn't meant to stick her claws out...it'd just been an instinctive response to the pain that'd struck her. She let out a frightened mew, staggering back in an attempt to dodge the blows he was aiming at her. "N-Noblepaw, w-wait - "
Just as she tried to speak, he lunged for her, jaws wide. His stature over Dawnpaw, coupled with her cowering, made her face an easy target: to her surprise his jaws closed over her muzzle, fangs raking over the bridge of her nose before pulling clear. She let out a pained screech, batting him away desperately with flailing paws. Dawnpaw couldn't concentrate on anything she remembered now; she just wanted to turn tail and race back to camp, hide in a dark corner, and never face her Clanmates again. The very idea that a cat of her own Clan had just struck her, drawn blood...it was a terrifying concept. If her own Clanmates could hurt her, there was no limit to what the warriors of other Clans would do! Oh, StarClan, she should have begged Featherpelt to be a medicine cat apprentice instead. At least then she'd be mostly protected from the brutality of other cats. Dawnpaw finally scrambled out of reach of the tom, sides heaving. Her side still smarted and there was a hot trickle of blood sliding down the snow-white fur of her dainty muzzle. The small apprentice just stood there, eyes wide, white fur turned dusty and standing on end.
the heartlines on your hands |
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