We are born with a DNA blueprint into a world of scenario and circumstance we don't control |
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Co-Captain
INVENTORY
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Post by Phoenix on Jun 28, 2018 22:52:39 GMT -5
Gorsetail Deputy of TreeClan i wish everyone was loved tonight and somehow stop this endless fight It was on days like these, Gorsetail mused as the little group stepped into the clearing, that he found himself extra grateful for the cover that the forest provided. Without the leaves casting dappled shadows across the ground, the sunlight would be something closer to unbearable; as it was, the breeze provided a pleasant respite from the stagnant greenleaf heat. Perhaps it wasn't the best day for battle practice, but as the season progressed, the temperature only seemed to rise. Still, at least they weren't in LightningClan or StoneClan, for the sun was relentless. Green eyes found Feathercloud, and for a moment, he could almost fool himself into thinking that it was a season long past and Lionstar stood just out of sight. But much had changed since they had stepped into the hidden thicket as apprentices rather than mentors, and his gaze continued on to acknowledge Brackenpaw standing close by and finally his own apprentice, Ivypaw. There was something poetic about two of Lionstar's former apprentices training two of his kits, though his own apprentice in particular had done a very good job at distinguishing herself outside of simply being the leader's daughter. She was bold and headstrong in a way that Gorsetail had never been, especially at her age, and one couldn't help but to see her as her own entity rather than an apprentice in her father's shadow; Ivypaw wouldn't allow it. While the deputy and his apprentice were two very different types of cats, the former could appreciate the latter's spirit. It did not take much to catch everyone's attention, and with several moons of training already behind them, sparring sessions in this clearing were nothing new. Gorsetail had spent many afternoons working with Ivypaw on her tactics and attacks. Now, however, he wanted to take a step back again and see how she incorporated what she had learned in a fight against someone other than himself. Both apprentices were familiar with the idea as well as the rules, especially about keeping claws sheathed, so the deputy covered those quickly before glancing over to his fellow mentor in case she had anything she wanted to add. And then they were off, with Gorsetail stepping to the side to give Ivypaw and Brackenpaw space. Though perhaps, he thought, eyeing the siblings critically, pitting the highly competitive she-cat against her more laid-back brother might not have been the best idea. Sidling over to Feathercloud while the two apprentices squared off, he voiced his slight concerns before adding as though he was trying to reassure himself of the truth of his words, "Still, it can't go worse than it did with us, right? And we turned out fine in the end."
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2018 0:28:16 GMT -5
Today was going to be great. Today she was going kick Brackenpaw's tail from here to the Moon Tree and it was going to be fun. Ivypaw's pelt itched with impatience as she followed Gorsetail, continuously casting self assured grins toward her brother as they padded along behind their mentors toward the hidden thicket, “Don't worry, Brackenpaw. I'll make sure mom and dad know you fought well even when you lose.” After all, how could he hope to compare with her? Her mentor was a deputy while his just was just a regular warrior. Of course her training was better. Sure, she loved her brother, but she wasn't going to let him stand in her way when it came to being the best warrior the valley had ever seen. Someone had to come in second place, and it wasn't going to be her. And something just felt right about Ivystar.
Her fluffy tail curled over her back in satisfaction at the very thought of her eventual rise to leadership, though that was one thing she could be patient for... because that would mean Lionstar was gone. She put up a tough front, had even taken to teasing her father about how she would be the best leader TreeClan ever had, but she'd make sure he was remembered as the great Ivystar's father. She didn't let it show how it unsettled her to think about a time when he would no longer be in her life. That was so many moons away, there was no reason to worry about it now. And she sure had a good start on her plans for leadership. If Gorsetail was going to be leader next, he would already know her really well from training her, and if she was the best apprentice ever then surely he'd make her his deputy.
When they reached the thicket, Gorsetail explained the rules, no claw, blah blah blah, Ivypaw was used to hearing them. She still gave her mentor her attention, shifting impatiently, and he was thankfully brief, giving more of a summary than a full on lecture. When he was done and had given them both permission to start, Ivypaw took a few paces away from her brother, turning back and eyeing him critically. Without Lilypaw around, keeping the peace merely by bringing the both of them together to look out for their sister and being on their best behavior to avoid upsetting their more sensitive sibling, Ivypaw was eager to let loose and give her brother a sound thrashing.
She waited until he seemed ready, because charging him before he was would likely only have Gorsetail scolding her. Real fights aren't fair, she thought, but kept it to herself, even as everything in her wanted to take advantage while his back was turned. 'Fair fights' were nothing but stories for kits. The only thing that mattered in a fight was that you won, not how you managed it. Winning meant protecting those you cared about, defending your territory, proving the strength of your Clan. That was what was important. Ivypaw was used to making the first move, but something in her had her hoping Brackenpaw would make it this time. This was the first time they had had a serious sparring match with a few moons of training to improve their skills. So she tried to instigate it, giving a wide yawn as though bored with this already, “Are you ready yet or are you just hiding over there because you know you're gonna lose?” Fawn Phoenix BlooRey DVD
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Conquer the monster in your head, and then you'll fly |
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GaleClan Medicine Cat
INVENTORY
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Post by BlooRey DVD on Jul 10, 2018 9:38:22 GMT -5
Feathercloud The dark-striped silver she-cat flicked her feathery tail to and fro as Gorsetail spoke to the younger cats before them. Icy blue eyes drifted to the deputy as he looked to her, and she understood that as an invitation to add her own piece. With a thoughtful lilt of her head, she grinned. "Training is important, to learn the skills you need as a warrior, but don't take it all too seriously. Remember to have a little fun too." Her eyes shifted to Brackenpaw, her own apprentice, and her self-assured grin loosened into a more reassuring smile.
Padding over to him, she crouched before him to whisper a few of the tricks they'd been working on for some time now. "Remember to watch your weight balance. Shift it whenever you need to get out of her way or reach, but don't let yourself get too comfortable in one spot. And watch her paws. They'll often tell you exactly what she's planning to do. Chin up, okay? Win or lose, I'm proud of you." Poking his forehead with her nose, she smiled again before stepping back and announcing more loudly. "Now let's get these shenanigans rolling, shall we? Focus up, 'paws!"
Taking her seat next to Gorsetail, the pretty warrioress wrapped her tail over her paws comfortably. At his words, she laughed lightly. "They're already starting off better than we ever did, Gorsetail. They're brother and sister, and they definitely don't hate each other." Recalling the bitterness she'd felt toward the deputy all the moons ago, the silver warrioress' maw twisted in a brief and sad smile. She'd been young, stupid, and reckless. She'd jumped to a conclusion that, had it not been for Lionstar's intervention, might have destroyed the possibility of a friendship she now considered very dear.
Although recklessness was still in her blood, she liked to think she'd grown. She was still headstrong and stubborn as a tree trunk, but she did her best to listen now. Plus, she had cats like Gorsetail and Sprucefur in her life, to provide another viewpoint whenever her judgment was clouded. Shifting her weight to butt her shoulder against his, she smiled at her friend. "We did turn out just fine, didn't we." As her icy gaze flickered back to their apprentices, the warrioress found herself sitting up a little straighter. "Whatever happens, we'll figure it out together. All of us." She murmured. Although the words were spoken primarily to herself, they were loud enough for Gorsetail to hear from where he sat by her side. If by my life or death I can protect you, I will. background image | j.r.r. tolkein | table by phoenix Note: 60 moons old
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Post by Fawn on Jul 17, 2018 9:27:37 GMT -5
Brackenpaw 9 Moons, TreeClan, Tom They can't break me They made an impressive group; Gorsetail leading the way to the hidden thicket, with Feathercloud at his side, and two of Lionstar's three kits keeping pace behind them. Brackenpaw, grinning eagerly, gave his sister a playful swat on the ear with his tail, exhibiting a little healthy competition between them by getting just a few pawsteps ahead.
He could still picture the other apprentices watching them as they walked away.
'Don't worry, Brackenpaw. I'll make sure mom and dad know you fought well even when you lose.'
"I won't lose," he promised, a flash of steel and determination in his eyes.
Brackenpaw's attention stayed fixed on Gorsetail as the Clan deputy went over the rules of mock sparring. His tail began to flick with impatience, but they were soon getting the chance to square up, Feathercloud appearing beside him for some last minute advice. Brackenpaw cocked his head towards her, feeling her whiskers brush against the soft, ticklish pink skin of his ear.
He nodded, eager to put Feathercloud's words into practice. Taking up position opposite the light-furred apprentice, Brackenpaw stared her down - though he couldn't quite shake what she said earlier.
The excitement Brackenpaw felt over a real fight was tempered by irritation, his sister's taunts getting right under his pelt to raise his hackles.
As if sensing his weakness, Ivypaw verbally dug her claws in a little more, mocking him from the other side of the hidden thicket. Brackenpaw sank into a battle stance, grimacing.
Ivypaw was such a--
Feathercloud told him to have fun -- and he would, beating Ivypaw. But he couldn't defeat her if he let her get to him like this; he had to outsmart her, outsmart his littermate who always seemed to have an edge when it came to everything. Hastily trying to pin down Feathercloud's battle advice, he watched her paws - and checked to see if his own weight was balanced on his paws - before putting on a sudden burst of speed.
Brackenpaw closed the gap between them right away, a flash of exhilaration rippling through his body as he raised a paw to swipe (none too gently) at her face. If she was going to mock him like a fly, then he was going to hit her like a pest.
As long as I know who I am 378 Words // Phoenix @zen BlooRey DVD // Notes
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2018 22:30:33 GMT -5
Ivypaw was surprised her brother seemed to be showing a little restraint, as he didn’t come racing at her immediately with her taunt. But it didn’t take him much longer to react and her tail lashed as Brackenpaw sped toward her, the rush of battle eliciting a natural, instinctual response in her. Her body responded on its own, the shift of weight in her stance as natural as breathing as she ducked away from her brother’s swipe and a lesson that was never taught coming back to her in a rush.
A small black tom stood over a larger opponent he had just knocked onto his side, one dark paw resting on the larger tom’s shoulder, “You see? You may be small, but if you fight smart, your size will never hold you back. There’s a short opening when your opponent strikes where they’re on three legs, and if you can act fast enough to get any one of those legs out from under them before they get all their paws back on the ground you can easily put them on their back, no matter how much bigger they are.”
It was there and gone in a heartbeat, and as she was ducking away, in a smooth motion, she shifted and went instantly for Brackenpaw’s other foreleg in an attempt to unbalance him before he could get all four paws under him again. The not-memory was already forgotten; in the heat of battle it didn’t matter. Fawn (short AF but we got our 5 posts! xD)
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Post by Fawn on Nov 12, 2018 12:21:06 GMT -5
Brackenpaw I missed! Foxdung! Brackenpaw's swipe sailed over empty air, and he cursed her faster reflexes - before he was yowling in surprise as Ivypaw knocked one of his legs out from under him. No way, how is this happeninng? how was she so good at catching him by surprise? Brackenpaw's confidence, normally not so easily loosened and discarded, took a hit at this unexpected miss.
Was he a bad fighter, or was Ivypaw really good? She's cheating, betrayal flashed in Brackenpaw's eyes. She must have been secretly training with someone other than Gorsetail - or was Gorsetail the better teacher? Lionstar had trained both their mentors, so what difference did it make? It shouldn't have made any difference at all. And yet--Ivypaw's retaliatory strike made his leg crumple, the move completely unexpected. Irritation flared white hot.
As Brackenpaw fell sideways, his claws caught in the grass and he managed to replant his feet. Before he could fully gather his strength, he leaped at Ivypaw, aiming to throw his shoulder into hers with enough force to hurt.
Focus. Focus. Focus. She was going to keep getting the better of him if he let himself lose all sense of strategy or patience. But it was hard to reel himself in; Brackenpaw gleefully latched on to the image in his head, of Ivypaw losing for once.
221 Words @zen , Phoenix , BlooRey DVD (Short posts are best posts!)
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