Not a second wasted.

Stormy clouds gathered on the horizon. Sedgestrike sat patiently in the middle of camp, he waited as the first drops of rain hit his pelt. Watched as they hit Honeypaw's pelt as well. Her vigil was to end in mere moments, and he wasn't going to waste a moment of time. The moment it was over, it was going to be time for her first lesson.

Cruel? No. He could see the passion in her eyes. She could handle it. He puffed out his white chest proudly. The black spots seemed darker in the gloomy day that approached. The moment he felt the time had passed, he spoke with a firm tone.
"Congratulations." He meowed curtly, with a firm nod. "From this morning, you're officially my apprentice." He stood, his tail raised proudly as he lifted his head confidently.

"I promised you would be the best apprentice, and I meant it. You will meet me here every dawn, and we will train hard." He paused as more rain hit his pelt. Going out in this storm did mean some issues. Instead, he flicked his tail towards the freshkill pile. "Go eat, you'll need your strength. Then meet me outside the camp. Training will begin immediately." He added as he turned and padded towards the camp entrance. There could be no error. He'd make Rippedsky proud of him and his apprentice. She'd become a confident and proud warrior that could benefit the clan. It was best for him to use the energy and hype he remembered having his first day to their advantage.

He scaled a tree just outside the camp entrance with ease. His silver pelt a dappled flash as he scaled to a low branch and sat patiently in wait once more. A plan formed of his first lesson even as thunder rolled threateningly in the far off distance.

Honeypaw waited beside her mentor proudly -- shoulders straight, ears high, as the rain fell across her glossy golden coat. On the outside, she willed herself to be as steady and confident as her mentor; while inside, Honeypaw trembled in excitement. This was it. This was really it.

The first step on her path to becoming a warrior.

Her amber eyes blazed with determination. Sedgestrike wasted no time with her training, and Honeypaw felt honored to train under such a confident, capable warrior.

I won't let you down, Sedgestrike, she thought at his words, the anticipation building. She would be the best apprentice!

With a flick of his tail, her mentor ordered her to eat, and then meet him outside of camp for her first lesson. The little she-cat nodded immediately, getting straight to her paws. "Yes, Sedgestrike!"

Her silver mentor strode from camp, ducking under the foliage. Honeypaw wasted no time in following Sedgestrike's directions -- eager to begin training, and trusting in the wisdom of the tom's words. She hadn't eaten in a while, and if Sedgestrike said she would need the energy, then Honeypaw would make sure she had it!

As it was early, the freshkill pile was small; making it easy for Honeypaw to pick. She dragged a small mouse to shelter a few pawsteps away, sitting down to eat in a business-like fashion. It was just big enough for her to eat her fill but not be so full she couldn't work hard -- something she learned from watching the warriors.

With every bite, a little anxiety filled her about her training. What were they going to be doing? Was he going to teach her to fight? To hunt?

Was she going to meet her mentor's expectations?

Before Honeypaw realized it, she was done, however -- and Honeypaw got right to her paws. She didn't have time to be nervous! She needed to focus!

With a deep breath, Honeypaw steeled herself and followed Sedgestrike's path -- stepping boldly from camp.

OOC: Sorry for taking so long to post, Cays. (And you got it up right away!) cx I don't usually take this long -- I promise I will be much faster!

Sedgestrike blinked down at Honeypaw as she stepped out of camp. The she-cat seemed bold and strong, not at all put out at being forced into a session immediately. He nodded with approval, then waited patiently until she spotted him. He waited for her to climb up to him, despite that the branches were slippery with rain. She was a Skyclan cat, he believed she could handle it.

"We're going to go on your first patrol." He explained as he waited for her. He stood, then leapt up another branch that was smaller as a small gust of wind made the branch he had been on sway slightly. "We're going to travel by tree. No more will you be forced to stay on the ground like a squirrel... or worse, a kittypet." He bared his teeth at the mention of kittypets. The white of them glinting in the grey storm as thunder rumbled closer. "I want you to keep up, if you can't and find yourself lost, then stay calm and remain in one spot."

(OOC: It's no problem! I don't mind having to wait a couple days or so between posts)

Honeypaw hooked her claws into the bark, digging into the soggy flesh of the tree her mentor waited upon. It was rather sudden -- of all the things, Honeypaw hadn't actually expected climbing -- but at the thought, Honeypaw shook her head, tail flicking. She was a Skyclan cat -- of course being in the trees was one of the first skills she would hone!

The little she-cat had climbed trees before, but only briefly -- and not nearly so high, with the trees slippery from the rain. But Sedgestrike stared down at her -- waiting -- and Honeypaw just grit her teeth and hoisted herself from the ground. She was going to show her mentor that she could do it!

Her claws felt sore, her pads chafing against the bark as she climbed -- paw by paw. She slipped a little, her hackles spiking but only to steady herself as she finally bit into a branch at Sedgestrike's level. Panting a little, she swung herself onto the thick base, steadying herself with her claws.

"That wasn't so hard..." she reassured herself, her legs burning a little from the exertion. The camp seemed so far below -- a beautiful expanse of shimmering leaves and the furry forms of her clanmates.

Honeypaw nodded, ears perked as she took in Sedgestrike's instructions. They were going to patrol from the trees; something that filled Honeypaw with determination. The skies were Skyclan's advantage -- their home -- and Honeypaw's eyes blazed alongside her mentor's. She was going to make the trees her home as well -- not like some filthy kittypet! "Right!"

Sedgestrike leaped onto the next branch with grace, his silver spotted pelt gleaming as lightning streaked across the sky. It was an ominous morning.

Honeypaw pushed past the thoughts, not letting the rumble of thunder bother her. (Ignoring the way her fur -- still shedding its kitten fluff -- stood on end with every roar.) She crouched, focusing -- aiming for a branch a few mouse-lengths in front of her...

The apprentice hadn't done this before -- leaped from branch to branch, never missing, as comfortable fox-lengths and fox-lengths in the air as on the ground. It felt a bit intimidating, once Honeypaw tried it -- trying to force herself to relax as she prepared to leap.

Missing wasn't a possibility. It wasn't an option!

"You've got this!" she said to herself, right before she sprung -- paws outstretched as they hit the branch a tail's length away. "Yes!"

She basked only a moment in her victory, as her claws steadied her on the branch, not allowing the slippery wood to get the best of her. That branch had only been a short distance away... But Honeypaw shook her head.

The first attempt gave her confidence -- Honeypaw was born to be in the skies, after all! And so she pushed off again, aiming for the next branch in the towering oak. And then the next, and the next.

She tried to keep her mentor in view, but Honeypaw focused on her jumps first -- hoping that Sedgestrike was somewhere in front of her.

(OOC: Ah, okay! ^-^ Most people I've rp'd with so far seem to reply within 24h, so I didn't want to be falling behind or anything. cx Take your time as well!

...And something tells me Sedgestrike's teaching methods are quite unconventional-- do mentors usually take their fresh apprentices out in thunderstorms to teach them to jump from slippery trees? cx It sounds dangerous, lol. It's perfect for Honey. c:)

The silver tom leapt from branch to branch several times before he looked back. Honeypaw seemed to be doing okay, the small golden she-cat was obviously trying her best. He huffed, then smirked. He had worried that he'd get an apprentice that was too scared to do this. Too timid to climb trees and leap through them, but this young apprentice was a natural at it.

He leapt up a branch, let her pass him from below before he landed firmly on the branch behind her as she passed him by. Skyclan blood or not, he did have a vague worry that the storm might knock her off the trees. The wind was slowly picking up, making balancing a little more difficult as he jumped behind her. His intention was to stay behind her so that he wouldn't be noticed as he leapt along.

Until she finally stopped. He huffed and leapt forward onto the same branch as her with a powerful leap, his claws sank deep into the bark as he stood beside her. Ignoring the buffeting wind that made the branch rock as thunder clapped very close by.
"Don't let the storm get to you. Keep your claws deep in the bark when the wind hits."


(OOC: Sedgestrike is very 'Do first, think later'. XD Which is both good and bad.)

Honeypaw jumped, nearly losing her grip on the branch as her mentor appeared suddenly beside her -- his weight causing her branch to sway in a way that had her heart lodged in her throat. She muffled her squeal and desperately hooked her claws in tighter -- the wind cold and biting at her whiskers.

Don't let it get to you, he'd said.

"I -- I got it," she said, cursing herself for the way her voice shook. She flushed beneath her fur at how weak she sounded -- she wasn't scared, or anything! Honeypaw had just been a bit off-balance, that's all! "It's just a bit slippery!"

Sedgestrike made it look so effortless, and Honeypaw's tail lashed as she jumped -- she was going to do it, too! But then the thunder clapped behind her -- sudden and roaring -- and Honeypaw felt herself startle mid-leap, losing focus--

Honeypaw snapped back into reality when she felt her paws hit the upper branch awkwardly -- left paw scraping as her right just hooked into the wood. Her heart was racing like the wind in her ears as she scrambled, teeth biting for the branch—

Sedgestrike smiled at her grip on the branch. He knew she had it in her to do this. For a moment he wondered why he was even keeping this close of an eye on her, but as the wind buffeted them, he was reminded that cockiness was not a good thing in this weather. Poor Honeypaw was unused to climbing in this manner but he knew she needed the practice.

His pride soon made a fatal mistake however as Honeypaw began to fall. Fall. He stared in disbelief as she nearly lost her grip on the branch and leapt for the one she was on as lightning flashed overhead. He lunged forward and sank his teeth into her scruff to carefully haul her back onto the safety of the branch. His own limbs strained to hold their combined weight and maintain his grip.

"Be careful." He scolded, his green eyes firmly on hers as he put her down at the most stable part of the branch, the base. "Is this too hard for you?" He questioned. It came out a little harder than he intended as he raised his head proudly. "At some point every Skyclan cat must travel the trees in a storm. Be careful, and only jump when the wind isn't blowing. Ignore the lightning and the thunder."

In the midst of the wind and the rain, Honeypaw felt weightless -- her heart stopping completely in that moment, when she felt the wood give under her claws... when for the first time in her life she felt nothing around her -- not the branch under her paws, not the ground beneath her...

She was falling.

Honeypaw remembered it with such clarity -- just as clearly as she remember the moment after, when strong jaws clamped across the scruff of her neck, burning as they brought her back. It was her mentor -- grabbing her by her scruff, anchoring her as he lifted her to safety.

Honeypaw immediately dug her claws into the damp wood at the base of the tree, her hackles still raised -- relief flooding her body as she funneled the tension into her grip. Sedgestrike's eyes reproached her as the little apprentice let out a heavy breath, trying to get a grip on herself.

She was fine. It was just a slip, that's all--

Honeypaw reminded herself, gritting her teeth, but the lingering fear was only burned away when Sedgestrike's words registered -- anger replacing it with an intensity that startled her. What?! "Too hard for me?"

How dare he! It was not too hard for Honeypaw!

"I'm not some weakling kittypet!" she snapped, all the adrenaline in her forced into her burning glare -- forgetting the fact that Sedgestrike was her mentor. His admonishing about "ignoring" the storm made her blood run hot and scalding in her veins. "I was just warming up -- that's all!"

She'd missed because she was -- just distracted, that was it. By the rain. Not because she was startled, like some whining kit!

"I was born to do this!" Honeypaw hissed -- but Sedgestrike's words did sink into her somehow, because she waited just the fraction of the moment it took for the wind to fade; when the thunder quieted to a rumble.

Her leap to the branch above her was shaky -- her limbs trembling slightly, recovering -- but the anger that burned through her veins pushed her forward; giving her paws strength as she hooked into the branch. She would run through the trees in this storm!

The tom smirked at her resillience. His tail flicked as she snapped and hissed at him, then watched as she made the leap to the next tree with strength and determination. He stood for a moment, watching her carefully as the storm roared around them. He leaped out after her once she had gotten another tree away. His eyes looked for markers and kept track of where they were by landmarks above and below. When they were nearing the Thunderclan border, he scaled up a couple branches and launched himself fearlessly from tree to tree at a rapid pace.

Within mere moments he had overtaken Honeypaw. He leapt down to a branch a couple limbs away from Honeypaw, not wanting to unbalance his young apprentice and waited for her to catch up.
"You're leaping at a good rate." He nodded proudly "We'll make a great warrior out of you yet." He meowed as he gestured towards where the trees seemed to change slightly in height and type.
"That, is Kittypet clan territory. Some cats may call it Thunderclan, but don't be fooled. A clan made of half-clan rogues and kittypets is no warrior clan." He growled. "It's a disgrace."

Sedgestrike looked down at Honeypaw, his green eyes glinted in a flash of lightning.
"Remember; Skyclan is better then the likes of them." He added, before he walked to the edge of the branch and leaped to a new tree that was beside them.

Honeypaw was flushing beneath her fur once again, but this time at her mentor’s praise… and maybe a little from exertion. But she wasn’t done yet! She would show Sedgestrike she could do this! Her mew was confident; inflated by her success. "I won't just be a warrior! I’ll be the best warrior!”

She had promised her mother, after all. Honeypaw was Skyclan, pure and true; her mother would have accepted nothing less than the best.

Sedgestrike continued to show her their border -- not seeming to mind any of her fire. And Honeypaw narrowed her eyes toward the area Sedgestrike gestured, eyes scanning the weave of trees just ahead of her; their territory separated by no boundary but a loose scattering of oaks. The border between Skyclan and their foes.

She took in a deep breath, and though the rain was heavy around them, Honeypaw thought she could taste the kittypet stench in her mouth – although it could have just been Sedgestrike’s words, summoning the foul sense. Her mother had warned her of them, too. Thunderclan.

The golden tabby straightened on her branch, jutting her head proudly just like her mentor. She could feel it in her bones – they were better, she knew. In spite of the rich forest around them, Honeypaw had heard the stories – the Thunderclan kittypets could hardly climb trees as the young, barely six-moon old apprentice had been doing. Even as kits, they could scale trees with far greater agility than any other could ever accomplish.

They were Skyclan.

“What next, Sedgestrike?” Honeypaw said, challenge in her mew. The adrenaline still lingered in her veins, burning away the soreness and apprehension – all she felt was exhilaration of being high in the trees, looming above the world. Someday she would be as fast as Sedgestrike – but until then, she was going to train as hard as she could!

Sedgestrike grinned at the challenge. He leapt to the next branch and proceeded to lead the way around the border of the territory while keeping a firm eye on Honeypaw. He avoided getting too far ahead as he stopped at the border of the twoleg place. By now his pelt was soaking wet, and he knew that Honeypaw's must be too, but if they stopped moving they would simply become colder.

"I want you to memorize the landmarks we pass." He explained, when she caught up to him again. "You must recognise our borders in all weather, but knowing what they look like in a storm is completely different than when it's dry. I don't want you to become one of those code-breaking riff-raffs." He leaped again, but took more time to let her absorb the various sights until they reached the trees that bordered Thunderclan again. Then, he leapt sharply to the side and stopped.

"Alright Honeypaw, I want to see how fast you can go." He encouraged, ready to race behind her as the lightning flashed over head. The rolls of thunder were farther apart now as the storm began to recede during their race around the border.

How fast? Faster than Sedgestrike would think! Honeypaw felt a smile build within her at the challenge, bunching her muscles.

Her next leap was quick -- Honeypaw landing with surprising accuracy on the branch beside Sedgestrike's, hearing it creak slightly under her weight. Her legs still burned from the exertion, but Honeypaw flicked her ear in surprise -- the jumps were much easier with practice.. and with the wind dying from a roar around them, of course. Settling into another crouch, the apprentice broke out into a fanged grin -- springing towards the next large, branching oak!

She landed onto the length of a winding arm with haphazard style -- hitting it with her elbow but hooking in with her other paw to pull herself up. She lashed her tail -- this tree-jumping wasn't so hard, once the storm faded in intensity; reducing its effects on her climbing to a light drizzle.

"Did you see that, Sedgestrike?" she mewed proudly, in between breaths. With a little yowl, Honeypaw leaped onto the base of the branch above her, hooking her claws beside the thick body of the tree. She pulled herself up again. "Too hard for me, my--"

Growl...

The she-cat had been mewing when suddenly, she froze. Something low and rumbling sounded in her ears, and Honeypaw's hackles rose in tension. What--?

That's when the apprentice turned, amber eyes catching beady ones -- glistening amidst the rain. At this height, the body of the tree split into two -- branching off to the sides to leave a tiny, sheltered nook. And as Honeypaw's eyes widened, she saw something stir inside of it -- and it's long, dark fur, ringed and ending in talons that seemed to slice through the bark like flesh.

Growl...!

"Oh, mouse-dung, that's ugly..." is all that came to her mind before the beast's maw lifted in a warning snarl -- and then it lunged!

Gasping, Honeypaw twisted desperately out of the way -- and just so, as the ring-furred beast snapped past her, tail flying across Honeypaw's nose. She felt like she was on air before her claws hit the side of the branch -- scrambling for support -- and it was in desperation that Honeypaw's jaws snapped, closing around a bushy tail!

Honeypaw used Tail Yank on Raccoon, dealing 2 damage and costing 10 SP. Raccoon is stunned.

Honeypaw
20/20 HP
70/80 SP

Raccoon
28/30 HP
300/300 SP

(OOC: Okay, so... cx I'm new to this, but am I allowed to do what I did? (that is, have the raccoon "technically" attack then miss, just so Honey can "technically" go first?) I can change it, but I thought it fit better this way, and allowed for the falling-tail-yank situation. It will be good either way, though. ^-^ )

edit: lol, forgot to put the raccoon's HP

The silver tom smirked at her confidence. He watched with pride as she launched towards the large branches of an oak. The sturdy tree wouldn't move much in the wind and was a wise choice. Still, he cringed a bit at her landing, but she was able to pull herself up this time without any help. At this rate, he knew Honeypaw would be a valuable warrior as long as she continued to learn.

He nodded at her question, his ears pricked at a strange sound under the rolling thunder. His eyes caught sight of the raccoon as lightning flashed and revealed it's grizzled grey and black pelt. Sedgestrike hissed, his pelt raising in defiance as the beast edged out onto the branch and lunged for the small apprentice.

Sedgestrike immediately leaped to intercept. His claws raked the hide of the raccoon and pushed it back away from Honeypaw as he dealt it a fierce blow.
"Honeypaw." He meowed, his voice calm now. The creature couldn't do too bad damage while he was here to protect her. " "

Sedgestrike used Rear-up to Slash on Raccoon. The Raccoon is no longer stunned.)

Sedgestrike
45/160 HP
160/160 SP (-20)

Raccoon
17/30 HP (-11)
300/300 SP

(OOC: I'm not sure, I'll have to ask about it. I think it should be okay with predators but I'll let you know when I have a definitive answer. However it's important to remember that in any situation that isn't 1v1 stuns are not allowed. )

The raccoon hissed as she missed the intruder, fangs snapping in the place the golden thing used to be – only to snarl when little points bit down across it’s tail, clamping down like a trap! Fury growing, she turned to displace the foul golden thing when another intruder appeared with a yowl – slicing fire through her shoulder!

The raccoon growled in pain, flinching back as she turned – throwing the nasty little one from her tail. But they were close to her nest still – invading! Furious, she let out a screech as she lashed at the larger one – relishing as her claws dragged through flesh and fur!


Honeypaw’s heart pounded like thunder as the beast’s tail wretched free – her mentor’s powerful strike throwing it backwards, just enough for the young apprentice to see the branch and latch on desperately. Her claws dug swiftly and firmly into the bark, without thinking – muscles tense.

Starclan, she thought; aware of how far up from the ground she was for the second time that training – reminded in shallow, panicked breaths. She felt shaky; barely steadying herself so as not to fly off.

But then she heard that ugly creature snarl again – louder, more viciously – and Honeypaw’s eyes flashed as she saw it lunge for her mentor.

Honeypaw’s limbs were trembling, heart racing – but she didn’t think.

The only thing she knew next was when she leaped – fangs bared to intercept the creature!


Raccoon used Quick Swipe on Sedgestrike, dealing 20 damage and costing 10 SP.
Honeypaw used Front Paw Strike on Raccoon, dealing 6 damage and costing 10 SP.

Sedgestrike
25/45 HP (-20)
140/160 SP

Honeypaw
20/20 HP
60/80 SP (-10)

Raccoon
11/30 HP (-6)
290/300 SP (-10)

(OOC: I'm sorry for posting late again, lol. cx And thank you! ouo So what I did was... technically okay? Stunning the raccoon, I mean? Since... technically at the time it was one on one? cx Or does that not count? I will keep that in mind, though! No more stuns! That really would be OP, so it makes sense.

I love your new signature, btw! Did you draw that? ouo)

The quick strike from the raccoon landed on Sedgestrike's shoulder. When the golden shape of Honeypaw was out of the way he reared up to deal a fierce blow to the raccoon's face, sending the poor creature sliding off the tree branch and down to the stormy ground below. He hissed fiercly at the other raccoons pelt fluffed in warning as he walked over to where Honeypaw had landed and grabbed her roughly by the scruff. He leveled a careful look at the tree next to them and let go with a firm gesture to jump.

There was no sense to this battle. They had won it, and now the rest of the raccoon family could recoup their loss. They weren't prey, they weren't terribly dangerous on a usual day. He looked down at Honeypaw and nosed at her fur carefully. His own wound dripped a bit of blood on the branch.
"Humph. We'll let those haggard creatures live." Sedgestrike told her firmly. "They may be lesser than cats, but the code wouldn't like us killing the whole family when you startled them." He levelled a firm look at her. "Let this be a good lesson to always look before you leap."


Sedgestrike used Upright front paws on Raccoon. The Raccoon is KO'd.)

Sedgestrike
25/160 HP  
120/160 SP (-20)

Raccoon
0/30 HP (-11)
280/300 SP

(OOC: The stun is removed the moment a 3rd party enters the fight, so technically it was fine, you can use those as just basic attacks without stun I believe.)