Lighting The Way [Closed]

Flintshard poke his head into the apprentice's den, scanning the sleeping bodies for the pelt of his apprentice. The sun was setting and the night was about to be upon them - which meant that if they left now to start their training, they would have plenty of moonlight to hunt by. While he had perhaps been a bit uncertain about getting an apprentice, there was no denying that he had perhaps a...Good approach to view it by - he didn't really see him and Lightpaw forming a special bond. He was going to teach her what was required and nothing more, doubting he would find the opportunity to truly bond with her - he didn't have many 'friends' outside of his family and even then...He found he preferred the silence. He would be logical and fair with Lightpaw, he would make sure she would grow to be a fine warrior. Once he finally spotted Lightpaw, he pulled himself into the den and carefully, silent despite his hulking form, approached her and gently prodded her awake. "Lightpaw, come on. Its time to start your training," he meowed before turning and leaving the den without another word, taking a seat near the entrance of the camp as he was left waiting for her to fully awaken and join him.

Lightpaw stretched as the light slowly disappeared, finding the feel of waking early something she didn't mind. She padded out to where her mentor waited. "So what are we doing today?"

"Hunting," he responded sharply as his apprentice came padding out, quickly pulling himself to his paws as he led the young she-cat out into the marsh. There wasn't much else for him to say - he had given her the answer and he didn't find anything else was truly needed yet. He had taken some time to think about what he ought to do, but hunting seemed easy enough. Every cat knew how to fight by instincts - enough to defend themselves if need be, but learning how to hunt properly, that was far more challenging.

Once he felt they were a good distance from the camp, he stopped to face her, expression blank as he tried to find the words to properly explain the lesson. "When it comes to hunting - and fighting, I suppose - we rely on the shadows. To not be noticed by our prey until it is too late. You want to hold yourself low to the ground and stick to the shadows, keep your weight balanced on your paws - don't favor one over the other," he said, lowering himself into an example crouch, slinking forward on large but silent paws. "Move carefully, know where you are going to step before you put your weight there and keep your ears perked - shadows may be our allies, but we aren't the only ones that lurk in the night," he said, before pulling himself to his full height as he looked down at her. "Now, see if you can find something and try to catch it."

Lightpaw followed Flintfang in silence. At his tip to keep low to the ground, she laid down completely, though only for a moment. At his final comments, she replied, "Well now, that isn't ominous at all." She attempted to scent out a frog. She leapt at it, but it smelled her coming and hopped away in time. "Oh foxdung..."

The member 'Kade' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 6

Flintshard didn't have a response for her comment, not yet at least, instead watching as she made a leap and missed. Hm. He was sure she would get the hang of it, padding over with a shrug. "The world is not a kind place, Lightpaw. Death happens to all of us in the end, there is no point in hiding the truth," he responded, feeling it wasn't worth to make mention of her missed catch as he leaned down to look at her. "Every cat falls to the world at some point, and those who are brash and careless are the ones who will die the earliest. I'll do my best to train you, to prepare you for the worst, but I see no point in not telling you this straight up. It is simply how the world works, death will come for us all. Its the way of nature," he said, before standing up.

Perhaps some would call it a heavy topic to bring up with a new apprentice but he didn't see any point - he was raised on stories of brave cat dying, had seen the corpse of Redwing. The world was cold. Unfair. There was no point mourning or fighting it, it wouldn't change anything. Poppyheart had cried at Redwing's death but all those tears were for nothing, she was still dead and their life still went on. There was however a bit of him that still was angry at the fact that her life had been taken by another cat - that part was unforgivable. The world perhaps didn't have a choice, the beasts that stalked the lands were mindless...But a cat, they had made their choice. They had fled instead of face justice for their actions. Cowards.

He shook his head, flickering his tail. "Give it another try, Lightpaw. Lets see how much prey we can get," he said as he dropped into a crouch, stalking into the shadows for something. He tasted the air, quickly locking in on a lone mouse. Eyes flickering in the moonlight, he stalked forward without a sound before he made his leap. He landed on it, killing it with a swift blow before he froze. Something was off, his fur prickling. His fur ruffled, barely pulling back in time as an owl suddenly swooped past him, talons raking his shoulder. "Lightpaw!" he called out, glancing to where he had last seen his apprentice. "This is why you be careful." With that, he turned his attention back on the owl. It had landed, wings flared out as it stalked, beak clacking in a threat. The warrior's expression didn't change as he suddenly lunged at it, claws digging into its wings as he threw it to the ground. He got off a quick swipe of his claws before he leapt away to avoid its talons once more, watching as it struggled to get back to its feet, its gaze fixed only on him.

Flintshard 'caught' a mouse, costing 3 stamina but...
Wild Owl used Talon Strike on Flintshard, dealing 10 damage and costing 10 stamina.
Flintshard gains Night Finesse (passive bonus), gaining +2 damage for the duration of the fight.
Flintshard used Jumping Strike on wild owl, dealing 12 (10+2) damage and costing 20 stamina.

Flintshard:
35/45 HP (-10)
137/160 SP (-23)

Wild Owl:
38/50 HP (-12)
110/120 SP (-10)

The member 'Honey Badger' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 10

Lightpaw was briefly freaked out by the dark and cold explanation, but shook it off. Instead, she helped attack the owl, unsheathing her claws and leaping out of the shadows to attack.

Lightpaw used Night Finesse and Shadowed Ambush, dealing (6+2) damage and using 15 stamina!

Wild Owl:
30/50 HP
110/120 SP

Lightpaw:
20/20 HP
65/80 SP

With the owl struggling to its feet, Flintshard watched as Lightpaw dove toward it, slashing quickly. The owl's attention turned, its head rotating to stare at the apprentice. With the opportunity open, the warrior lunged and tackled the owl to the ground once more, ignoring the sharp pain of talons raking his side as he dug his paws into it, raising it slightly before slamming it down again - attempting to stun the large predatory bird.

Wild Owl used Talon Strike on Flintshard, dealing 10 damage and costing 10 stamina.
Flintshard used Leap-and-Hold on the owl, dealing 11 (9+2) damage and costing 10 stamina. Lasts for 2 turns.

Flintshard:
25/45 HP (-10)
127/160 SP (-10)

Wild Owl:
19/50 HP (-11)
100/120 SP (-10)

Lightpaw:
20/20 HP
65/80 SP

The member 'Honey Badger' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Effect Dice' : 5

Lightpaw had to say- she admired the almost mechanical style of fighting Flintfang used. He seemed stiff, but still dealt amazing blows to the owl. She ripped her claws through the softer feathers and skin of the owl's belly.

Lightpaw used Belly Rake on Owl, dealing (7+2) damage and using 10 stamina!

Flintshard:
25/45 HP
127/160 SP

Wild Owl:
10/50 HP (-9)
100/120 SP

Lightpaw:
20/20 HP
55/80 SP (-10)

The owl screeched as it attempted to flare its wings, but it was pinned under the weight of Flintshard as the apprentice ripped at its stomach. Its movements were slowing with every blow, the fight failing and the warrior decided it was time to put and end to it. And so, he raised a paw from one of its wings and slashed at the owl's throat. Blood bubbled and rushed from the fresh wound as the owl squawked...Before it slowly fell still and the warrior released it. "Hm," he huffed lightly, staring at the dead owl. "Good work, Lightpaw. I'll teach you how to properly fight later, but you did well. You show promise," he said. "We can store this owl away - add it to the fresh kill pile. We'll head back once you catch something, find out what we need to work on," he ordered as he bent down, teeth sinking into the owl's limp wing as he dragged it to a drier part of land, somewhere where it would be safe until it was time to head back to the camp.

He padded some distance away, not far - he didn't want to be out of ear-shot of his apprentice lest something else showed up, but enough that she wouldn't be running into the same prey he was after. It didn't take long to locate a lone frog, his eyes glimmering as he dropped into a crouch. He had always had a fondness for them, even if his sister Sparkfrost made no attempt to hide her displeasure. It was fine, more for him he supposed. He stalked forward, paws light...Before he made a leap, quickly killing it with a swift blow. He gently picked it up, heading toward where he had left the owl...Before blinking. This...Wasn't right. Not the hunting but...Ah. He slowly put down the frog, glancing around for Lightpaw. "Lightpaw? I...Do suppose that we can actually head back if you aren't up for more hunting," he admitted. He...Supposed there was a good chance that she would be shaken after such an encounter. He hadn't been phased - and he doubt he would have been so even if it was his first time out of camp but...He did suppose that he couldn't expect the same for his apprentice. "It is up for you, I...Suppose I do not want to force you to hunt if you are not up for it at the moment."

Flintshard used Front Paw Strike on the owl, dealing 11 (9+2) damage and costing 10 stamina.
Flintshard caught a frog, costing 3 stamina.

Flintshard:
25/45 HP
114/160 SP (-13)

Wild Owl:
0/50 HP (-10)
100/120 SP

Lightpaw:
20/20 HP
55/80 SP

The member 'Honey Badger' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 3