Clash of Claws [Closed Training Topic]

"Today we're going to be doing something a little different than running through the territory." Wrenspring began as he looked back and forth between the pair of apprentices. They had traveled to the Halfstone, not far away from the stale fox dens. The journey had been swift despite both being younger. It appeared that both Ravenpaw and Lichenpaw bore the natural strength of Skyclan cats, particularly bound in their muscular hindlegs. He was interested to see how they would hold up in battle. A smirk crossed his maw and his tail flickered back and forth along with his gaze. After a moment of stretching silence, their mentor finally piped up once again, "You're going to learn how to fight like Skyclan cats, using the trees and leveraging higher ground. If you prove yourselves against each other, then perhaps we'll test your skills on a real enemy."

A flock of geese had settled not far away. Those birds were nasty creatures but far less dangerous than facing a fox. Should anything happen, of course he would be prepared to step in. First, the siblings would spar each other. Wrenspring flicked his tail, signaling for them to pay close attention. First he demonstrated basic claw swipes and followed it up with explaining more complex moves; this included tricks like yanking another cat's tail and pinning an opponent to the ground. At last, the tom delved into the more complex moves, strategies that were only known to Skyclan. As he spoke, his tail flickered with great animation and he leaped into the air when a move called for it. The warrior was essentially a one-cat battle for a few moments. When he stopped, his sides heaved and a smirk crossed his maw, "Alright, your turn. Show me what you got."

Now this was more like it! Ravenpaw hadn’t yet slacked on listening to what her mentor Wrenspring had taught her, but this was what she had been truly excited for. Well, she had been excited for everything, but this was even more exciting. These were the skills she’d use to defend her clan, which made them extremely important. She couldn’t stay still even more than usual, constantly bumping Lichenpaw with her side. Then they were ready: it was time for a battle. A pretend battle, but it was still a battle. She was going to treat it like the real thing.

“Don’t think I’ll go easy on you, Lichenpaw,” she hissed, padding away from him before getting into a battle stance. With Wrenspring’s training, she couldn’t possibly lose! With an unnecessary yowl, she lunged at Lichenpaw, smacking him on the head with a sheathed paw. She knew better than to unsheathe her claws, but with the adrenaline of battle flowing through her veins, it was difficult not to give her over to the natural instincts she had inherited through generations of SkyClan faithful.

Ravenpaw - 20/70
Lichenpaw - 16/80