[Abyss]

W A T E R S T E P

Greenleaf 16 - More clouds roll in as most of the day is spent overcast, the growing heat has been suspended for some time as a cool breeze is believed to bring more rain.

Becoming an Apprentice. It was a joyous and proud day for all young cats. They were finally getting the opportunity to begin serving their clan. They were assigned a capable Warrior to teach them and spent six or more moons learning the ways of a clan cat. It was up to that Warrior to teach them all of the most basic, need-to-know information, as well as give them any tips and helpful tricks that they had learned during their time as a full-fledged Warrior.

But there were also times when the words and help of another Warrior could be useful for the young cat to learn. Every Warrior was given their own unique skills and ways to use those skills. Learning from one Warrior was a great way to learn, but also learning from others at the same time was even better.

That morning, a fellow Warrior, Gullswoop, had approached Waterstep when she emerged from the Warriors den. He had told her that he had some things he had to take care of, but he had told Owlpaw that he would do some fighting with her. Water agreed to give her assistance and sought out the young she-cat.

When she did find the silver tabby Apprentice, she approached with a gentle smile. “Owlpaw, Gullswoop is a little busy today, so I am going to be doing some training with you. We are going to go to the Sand Bar, if that is alright with you.”

WORDS: 245 | Hellion | NOTES: -

By Cotton of Template HQ

[Hellion]

Owlpaw hadn't worried herself with becoming a warrior for quite some time. Blaming her fear of taking the next step on her uncle's death. He had been fully trained and still died at the claws of a fox. His warrior name meant nothing, but slowly that notion faded away.

She found faith again, her ambition that had been longed pushed down started to crawl back. All since hearing the news of her aunt's coming litter. Kits always brought renewed vigor to the Clan, Owlpaw had also been touched by the infectious hope.

Now more dedicated than ever, Owlpaw had been the one to approach her father. Asked his help to finish up the last of her training and hope he'd report it back to Lilygleam who would then talk to Silverstar.

However, she hadn't expected to see Waterstep head her way. A curious tilt to her head was correct when she stated that something came up. A brief moment of concern appeared in her eyes, but she dismissed it. Willowbreeze had grown increasingly large and it was likely he had offered to help her out. Agreeing to where training would be, Owlpaw followed after the warrior.

They were close in age, not that it bothered her too much. Their arrival to the sandbar was lackluster and she paced forward, turning to look at Waterstep.


"I'm a decent fighter, I know the basics I really just need you to test me. I want to prove to that I can hold my own," She talked to Waterstep plainly, deciding that she didn't want to waste their time and hoped that Waterstep felt the same way.

Owlpaw of RainClan

"Beauty may be dangerous but intelligence is lethal"

Words - Abyss Justice for Lilygleam & Silverstar mention - Notes

[Abyss]

W A T E R S T E P

As they walked, the uniquely colored she-cat glanced over at Owlpaw walking next to her. She didn’t know what it was about this she-cat that she found so...odd. She was nearly as old as Waterstep was, yet she was still an Apprentice. As far as she knew, the she-cat hadn’t actually trained in many moons. She basically did what a Warrior did without actually being one. She was still called an Apprentice, despite being the age of a somewhat experienced Warrior. What was it that made Owlpaw do this? What had chased away her desire to be a Warrior?

When she thought about it further, she may have heard something related to it. There was a cat who was close to Owlpaw that had passed away, a Warrior. She didn’t remember who the cat was or how they were close to the Apprentice, but their passing may have been the cause. She wasn’t going to pry, though. That wasn’t the reason she came out here with her.

When they reached the Sand Bar, her ear flicked when the other cat began to speak, saying that this was really meant to be a test more than any sort of lesson. She was fine with this, in truth. It would be different to just do a quick practice rather than have to teach her companion how to battle like she had done with her previous Apprentice. She almost hoped that her Warrior-aged company would be strong enough to defeat her.

“If you say so, ” she stated, continuing to walk forward until her paws were in the water. A chill ran down her spine as the cool water ran over her paws. Her tail twitched a few times, but she let out a silent growl to herself. Not now.

She plunged into the water and swam across to the small island of sand, emerging and slightly flexing her shoulders, moving herself so that the excess water would drip off. She waited for Owlpaw to arrive next to her before she moved from this spot or stopped doing what she was. Her pupils thinned within her bright blue eyes and her gaze side-glanced to where the other she-cat stood. “A test it is, then.”

As soon as the final word left her maw, the calico-like she-cat leaped towards the silver tabby, claws not unsheathed but her legs tense and ready for whatever moves the Apprentice intended to use.

WORDS: 405 | Hellion | NOTES: -

By Cotton of Template HQ

[Hellion]

Pleased that Waterstep agreed to test her, Owlpaw took the spare seconds to ready herself. Adderstrike had trained her and his style was more violate compared to most. Owlpaw relied heavily on treating fighting like a puzzle. When to strike and to dodge were equally important to her success. Unlike her father, Owlpaw viewed fighting as a nessicary evil. A skill meant to be practiced and used to keep everyone safe.

When Waterstep leaped for her, Owlpaw barely skirted around her. Using this time to study how the she-cat across from her fought. She prepared for a counterstrike. Staying low to the ground, the silver tabby went upward to try and shove Waterstep off balance. Water droplets from their fur splattered against the sandbar. Creating the illusion of blood, it unsettled Owlpaw for a moment but she pushed past it. Not the right time to worry about that sort of thing.

Owlpaw of RainClan

"Beauty may be dangerous but intelligence is lethal"

Words - Tags Abyss - Notes

[Abyss]

As Waterstep leaped, she watched as her target just barely managed to jump out of the way. Right as she landed, she felt a jolt against her side, nearly causing her to lose her footing. She did stumble, but she caught her feet against the ground and regained her balance. Her gaze fell on the older Apprentice, eyes narrowing. She had never sparred against this she-cat before, so she didn’t know what to expect in terms of technique. Though, from what she could tell, Owlpaw was much like herself: observant. She had enough mind to go in for a charge right as she dodged and catch her attacker off-guard. A good sign.

The calico took a few steps to the side, her eyes never leaving Owlpaw’s form. How to go about this...she didn’t take long to consider this. She continued to walk, basically circling around the technical Apprentice. She made a sudden, quick movement, one which looked as though she were going to leap again. But no. She slammed one paw against the ground, lifting the other front paw and slapping it across the ground, sending sand flying towards the face of her enemy.

Hoping that the sand trick did its job and was effective, she truly leaped forward, legs outstretched and aimed at the silver cat’s side.

---

Words: 219
Hellion
Owlpaw's battle thread can now be crossed off as finished
Sorry for the short post!

[Hellion]

Grateful for the challenge, Owlpaw forced to think ahead and on the fly. She relied more on her observation skills, anything to give herself the upper hand. Fluid like water, Owlpaw moved around Waterstep to the best of her ability.
Panting slightly as the sparring went on, the drumming of her heart made her feel alive. Something she had been missing. Waterstep put space between them allowing each of them some time to mentally re-group.

While a typical battle wouldn't allow for much reprieve from the conflict, Owlpaw took what time she had been given. It suited her style, allowed her to think a few steps ahead. Waterstep moved again, Owlpaw with her.

However, Waterstep's trick came as a total surprise. Forcing the she-cat to snarl in protest, the sand an annoyance to her face. Swiping a forepaw across her maw she barely had time to prepare for Waterstep's attack. Allowing Waterstep to tackle her Owlpaw rolled onto her back moving her hind legs to be under Waterstep's belly. She gave a hard kick in an attempt to send the she-cat over her.

Owlpaw of RainClan

"Beauty may be dangerous but intelligence is lethal"

Words - Tags - Notes

[Abyss]

Waterstep

28 moons | She-Cat | Rainclan

[smear:#deeeff]Just as she had wanted, the sand did what it was meant to. Owlpaw had been momentarily blinded and took on Waterstep’s leap. No, it wasn’t entirely fair to use sand, but not every cat fought fair. Usually Water prefered to fight fairly, but this was meant to serve as a test. If Owlpaw thought that every enemy she would ever face would choose to fight one on one or fight using only themselves, she would be wrong. Not all cats wished for things to be equal or fair, unfortunately.

As the calico collided with the silver tabby, she did at first believe that she had done it. But that immediately went away as soon as she thought it. Owlpaw was an Apprentice, but she wasn’t a newly appointed kit. She was stronger than a normal Apprentice and smarter, no doubt. A simple moment of blindness wasn’t going to stop her from fighting back.

Just as Waterstep tackled her sparring partner to their back, she felt paws shoot upwards at her stomach, throwing her forward and somewhat to the side. For a split second she found herself going through the air, only to end as half of her hit the sand and the other half hit the water, a somewhat loud splash sounding at her fall. There was that little bit of surprise at the counter-attack in her mind, but this wasn’t over.

She, as swiftly as she could, got back to her feet, facing forward towards Owlpaw. What to do next… She narrowed her eyes at the silver Apprentice, not allowing any of her focus to go elsewhere. She did take a minute to think, but her next choice hadn’t taken much time to pick. She had made her move and Owlpaw had made her own action in retaliation. It was now Owlpaw’s turn. She would at least allow a little bit of fairness to play a part in this test.
[/smear:#7abaff]

Justice || 322 || Notes

[Hellion]

Satisfied that she had managed to uproot Waterstep and sending her up and over, Owlpaw wasted little time in moving. Rolling onto her paws, she stood with her shoulders squared. Bracing for a moment, half expecting Waterstep to rush her.

When the assault didn't come, Owlpaw let go a breath but eyes never leaving Waterstep's frame. It would be foolish to rush the older warrior, a trait Owlpaw refused to be assigned to herself. Tail twitching, she took careful side steps. She'd never be able to flank the she-cat but it was worth a shot.

Between each step, she fought to catch her breath. Fighting wasn't like swimming. It required more effort and focus. She had the stamina to keep up but it was starting to wane. But even if it wasn't life or death, she treated this sparring session as such. Never give up.

Comfortable in where she had moved, Owlpaw darted forward, skirting at the last moment to aim for Waterstep. In attempt to push her further into the water. The water around the sandbar wasn't terribly deep and risk of drowning was slim, but she wanted Waterstep to tire first. Call the battle a draw or name Owlpaw the victor. Either would please the older apprentice.

Owlpaw of RainClan

"Beauty may be dangerous but intelligence is lethal"

Words - Abyss - Notes

[Abyss]

The uniquely-colored calico allowed a few silent breaths to escape her maw as she watched the silver she-cat. She wasn’t sure what to expect next. But she did have one thought in her mind, which was that Owlpaw certainly was a good fighter. Waterstep wasn’t completely out of breath or exhausted, but battling against the Warrior-aged Apprentice had taken the wind out of her. This was definitely a good thing.

She did begin to consider what had happened up until this point. The very first attack that she had aimed towards the Apprentice had been unexpected, but she had managed to handle it quickly with a nicely timed counterattack. Also, when Waterstep used her environment and the sand that covered the Sandbar to her advantage, Owlpaw was able to recover quickly and even threw the older Warrioress across the little island with her legs when she was tackled to the ground. Even now, the silver tabby stalked in a half-circle around Waterstep, looking for an opportunity to strike rather than just rushing forward. She wasn’t wrong when she had said that she was a decent fighter.

As Owlpaw darted forward, there was an obvious disadvantage with the battle for them both. Owlpaw was watching her, and she was watching Owlpaw. If the other made an attack, they would see it. Waterstep did see Owlpaw come forward at her, yet she didn’t move at first. She seemed to brace for impact, and just as Owlpaw reached her, she just barely moved forward, Owlpaw hit into the back portion of Waterstep’s body, her front turning sideways towards her attacker. Wasting no time, Waterstep used the turn of the front half of her and lifted herself, throwing herself against Owlpaw. With the way she angled the maneuver, it sent both of them tumbling into the water.

Rather than continue her attack or push Owlpaw any further, the calico came to a stop, sitting up in the water and looking to the Apprentice with a smile, water dripping from her ears. “You are indeed a good fighter, ” she purred, flicking her ears. She let out a large breath before standing, looking off towards the direction of camp. “I intend to head back and let Silverstar know of what I have seen from you. It is up to you if you follow or stay out a bit longer, ” she stated, looking to Owlpaw still with a smile.

402
Hellion