[Fawn]

49 Moons, Warrior of TreeClan

Winter was probably one of the worst seasons for battle-training in the branches. The accumulated snow on the boughs would weaken them over time; it wouldn't be safe for the mentor standing below or the apprentice edging their way out onto the branch as carefully as he could.

That was why Zephyrfang had taught Stonepaw how to attack from the trees yesterday, when the rain had washed off the snow and it was not yet cold enough to freeze into ice. Now, their options for battle training were limited, the weather having taken a turn for the worse despite that brief thaw. He didn't like the hidden thicket. It was a great place - if you were a fox. The close-together brambles and skinny trees made him feel closed in, and Zephyrfang took personal offense to how hard it was to push through the snow-dusted thorn bushes just to get in.

So they didn't train there, either.

Instead, Zephyrfang's powerful stride carried him to the open woods - a common source of conflict for TreeClan, or so he was told. Two cats had trespassed a few seasons ago, and Lionstar had gotten stricter about border patrols. This was a good place to learn how to fight. This was the place they were most likely to be attacked, and Zephyrfang wouldn't say no to a LightningClan cat choosing now to cross over into TreeClan's territory.

"My father and I would train in all kinds of territory. In all kinds of weather. Claws sheathed and unsheathed." There was a seldom-heard note of fondness in Zephyrfang's voice. He rarely spoke of his father. The tawny warrior turned to his apprentice. "He wanted me to be prepared for anything. That's life when you're a loner, you have to fight to stay alive. Clan battles have..." Zephyrfang swallowed a snort. "Rules, but not every cat you meet is going to adhere to that. So, Stonepaw. I'm going to prepare you the way my father prepared me - without any rules. Can you handle that?"

Zephyrfang had followed the standard mentoring process (mostly), so he wouldn't lose his first apprentice, but while Zephyrfang was capable of doing what was asked of him, his fierce independence was not so easily stamped down. This was his apprentice, and they were going to do things his way. He'd already taught Stonepaw the basics, but it was time to push past that.

To reach that 'fight or flight' drive that was going to keep Stonepaw alive.

Word Count: 412 Words Tags: Amber Notes:

[Deleted]

STONEPAW

-------------------------------------------------------Stonepaw followed his mentor in silence through the snow-touched forest. As they traveled, Stonepaw recognized the paths they were taking, heading toward the edge of their territory closest to LightningClan. When they reached the open woods, he turned his attentions to his mentor.

He spoke of his father first, and Stonepaw smiled softly at the slight softness in his mentor's voice. It was obvious his mentor's father meant a lot to the older tom. As Zephyrfang continued, Stonepaw's smile faded into a neutral expression as the words sank in.

"So, Stonepaw. I'm going to prepare you the way my father prepared me - without any rules. Can you handle that?"

A battle without rules? What did that mean? Of course, he was no stranger to battle training, but just what exactly did Zephyrfang have up his sleeve? He pushed down his uncertainty and tried to keep his voice strong as he spoke.

"I think so. What are we going to do, exactly?"
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161 words | Fawn

[Fawn]

49 Moons, Warrior of TreeClan

Zephyrfang sprang for Stonepaw, delivering no warning save the aggressive gleam in his eyes and the well-placed swipe of his paw. Aiming for the tom's shoulders, he battered at him to knock him off balance, and then lunged - whether it had been effective or not - with the intent to bowl Stonepaw over. They weren't going to ease into this like they were recovering from past injuries. Battles were sudden. Battles were intense. Sometimes all you had to go off of was your own instinct and quick reflexes.

Stonepaw was nearly full grown. Even if he hadn't been, Zephyrfang would have treated him the same. A kitten stopped being a kitten as soon as they were apprentice-aged; the forest didn't care how many moons of training you had or hadn't had. The predators and rogues and other flea-bitten problems of the valley didn't operate within the Clan's rules.

Yeah yeah yeah, he understood the importance of structure, but experience told him that structure wasn't worth squirrel-dung in a fight for your life.

Word Count: 170 Words Tags: Amber Notes:

[Deleted]

STONEPAW

-------------------------------------------------------Stonepaw's eyes widened as Zephyrfang's paw shot out. He felt the large paw on his shoulder and instead of fighting against it, he moved with it, focusing on scrambling his paws to his footing even as he allowed his mentor to knock him aside. When Zephyrfang sprang forward, he was still steady on his paws with a split-second decision to make. Should he leap aside and avoid a collision, or stand his ground and face the warrior head on?

With little time to mull over his choices, Stonepaw made a decision to use his large build. He planted his hindpaws firmly and reared up. He wasn't larger than the warrior, but he was the largest of his littermates and bigger than the other apprentices, and he had trained to capitalize on that strength. As Zephyrfang came within range, Stonepaw threw his weight forward, locking his forelegs and aiming his large paws downward. Intending to bring his full weight down onto Zephyrfang even as the warrior charged him, Stonepaw gritted his teeth, narrowed his eyes, and let his body fall.
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179 words | Fawn | i'm not certain what happened at the end there but it sucks please forgive me

[Fawn]

49 Moons, Warrior of TreeClan

Zephyrfang was the best cat to mentor Stonepaw. Not only because he wouldn't treat him like a kit, but because they had a similar build. Stonepaw was larger than his siblings and well-muscled; Zephyrfang, with his life as a loner and the moons of training from both his mother and father, had toughened him up to the warrior he was today.

Zephyrfang altered his course at the last moment, shooting past his apprentice even as he felt the impact of Stonepaw's heavy front paws crashing down to the earth. He grinned. That kind of attack would've slowed him down, if it had connected - and winded a smaller cat. "Good. Be faster." And don't be afraid to duck! Offering only a little bit of advice and correction, Zephyrfang's paw shot forward again, this time aiming for the apprentice's muzzle.

Stonepaw needed to know what a good solid hit actually felt like. His claws were sheathed - he wasn't going to claw him up like a tree - but he did not withhold his strength. Stonepaw would be crawling back to his nest sore and weary, but a stronger cat for it. It was satisfying, in a way. To find out and understand one's limits. Following up with this attack, Zephyrfang moved to Stonepaw's right, trying to take a swipe at the side of the tabby tom's belly as he went by.

Word Count: 227 Words Tags: Amber Notes: