Taking Flight - Training

Leopardclaw pushed his way into the apprentice's den and began to pick his way carefully towards the nest that contained the cat he was looking for. For a few days now it had been Blazingpaw, who was sleeping a few nests away, that he had been waking up but this morning it was another tom the spotted warrior needed. Nudging Hawkpaw's still shoulder, Leopardclaw bent down and growled in a low tone; "Training" before backing out of the den. Sitting down outside, he began to chomp down on a small leftover mouse while he waited for his newest apprentice.

Hawkpaw lifted his head quickly at the growl, a sense of familiarity with it. Bear would have yowled it with the group if it was him. Or he'd expect him to do his own training. The apprentice got up without protest, slipping past the sleeping apprentices and giving his pelt a good shake to wake himself. He drank from a puddle, stretched and then seated himself next to him mentor. He'd take in all the training he could, he certainly needed more.

Leopardclaw nodded approvingly when his apprentice emerged from the dark den, and while the tom went through his short morning routine the golden tom began to plan the day in his mind. We could either do a tour, or jump right to training......hmm...why not let him decide? Turning to look down at Hawkpaw, Leopardclaw meowed gruffly; "We could either take a look around the territory, or jump right into hunting and battle training; which would you prefer?" Unlike his other apprentice, Hawkpaw seemed to display more independence, and has a much more serious temperament. Thus, Leopardclaw decided that it would probably be best to let him have a say in the training, to give him a bit of freedom. Besides, the young apprentice wasn't an open book like Blazingpaw; he could tell there was more to him that met the eye, much like him when he was younger.

Flicking his tail around for a moment, "I can probably help out more if we just get straight into training. I'll see the territory eventually when I go on patrols." He decided with a nod. Hawkpaw matched Leopardclaw's gruffness with his own but couldn't hide a tinge of excitement to get going. He always wanted to learn new things even if he no longer got the much wanted approval from Bear.

Leopardclaw nodded, his lip curling in a slight approving smile. "Excellent, let's go." Turning, the quick golden tabby dashed out of the camp entrance, going at a fast but manageable pace so that the younger tom could keep up. Taking the lead towards the sandy training hollow, Leopardclaw couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement; this was still only his second apprentice and the thought of bringing up a young cat for service in the clan still held much elation. Skidding to a halt at their destination, his wide paws spraying sand as he slowed, Leopardclaw sat down and waited for Hawkpaw to join him.

Hawkpaw followed, eyes scanning every last leave harshly, intending to burn the memory in his brain. This was where he'd be, he'd live here until he needed to leave. Or, until he died. His paws hit sand and sank just slightly in it. It would be a pain to groom out but, he could simply lay in the shallows of the river for a bit to get most of it out, getting dry was the real problem.. "What's the plan, Leopardclaw?" He asked, looking at the tall ferns that surrounded the sandy patch.

Leopardclaw turned to face his apprentice, long tail flicking calmly. Digging his claws into the soft sand, the large warrior braced himself as he meowed; "Attack me. Claws sheathed, I want to see what you already know and build off of that. I assume Bear showed you and his other recruits some moves already, so I don't want to bore you with the basics." Deep down, Leopardclaw felt as if he was about to hurl as he spoke in.....vaguely positive terms about that rouge scum who had kidnapped his mate, but he felt like it was something he needed to acknowledge. Hawkpaw was an intelligent, mature young cat, and if nurtured and treated with respect he fully believed that he could become a valuable asset to ThunderClan. If any of Bear's toxic influence remained and festered in his mind though, he could easily become a threat instead. He wanted to show the young cat that, once and for all, the Clans were far more powerful and honorable than any rouge could ever be.

The twitch in his face as he held back an eye roll was obvious. Sheathed.. "Why not use claws, I'll listen but, it.. its so strange. I have to warn you, Bear rounded the kits together to fight until the other couldn't fight back, the winner was promoted. Not much technique went into it." he meowed. The tom thought about what he should do. Then, he scowled, Bear did have him fight but.. Not like this. He went through his memories, he didn't know what to do yet. Then he stopped thinking, he ran forward and reared up on his hind legs, bringing his large paws down on the older cat's head. When the momentum dropped him down, he shoved his shoulder sideways into his mentor's throat and chest, a stunning move that would hopefully knock him down. Through Bear's logic, he needed to expose his opponents stomach or throat, easily take them out or, keep that threat in their brain. He knew the way the dead loner thought, not anything in between. His moves were all his, use broad shoulders, large paws, and thick fur. The fur made it hard to see his actual form, it made him bigger too. He had his mother's form,broad face and shoulders as well as a heavy build, his father was tall and very lean with an oriental's face, long muzzle and large ears.

Leopardclaw was prepared for Hawkpaw's onslaught attack, so even though the apprentice's maneuvers connected and succeeded in pushing him to the ground, the golden spotted tom was able to jump right back to his paws and launch a counter attack. Though his apprentice was a strong, bulky tom his fighting skills still left a lot to be desired, undeveloped in precise technique. Sure, brute force could work well alone as could speed and stealth, but a mix of all three would produce the best fighting a clan cat could master. Crouching down, Leopardclaw jumped forward and aimed a few blows with sheathed claws at Hawkpaw's face, before turning and whipping around to the back of the young tom, with unique speed. Grabbing the brown tom's tail between his jaws, he tugged sharply and sent Hawkpaw tumbling to the ground. Placing a paw on his shoulder, the warrior stared sternly down at the young cat as he spoke; "Maybe that's why Bear lost the battle. Power alone without technique is more of a weakness than a strength."