skip to the good bit [C]

With Blackpaw having had enough time to settle in with the other apprentices, Birdchaser decided it was time for her training to properly begin. As promised, she arrived the morning after the apprentice's ceremony, just as the early light of dawn started to filter into the den. She lingered just outside the den for a moment, thinking fondly on her first training session– on being bitter with Briarthorn because she was insistent on dragging her out of her nest at dawn. Funny, how she got to torment her own apprentice in the same way now. Eventually, Birdchaser ducked into the den, finding Blackpaw's pelt easily and crouching down to give the apprentice a brisk nudge with her muzzle. "Up'n'attem time, Blackpaw. Unless you don't want to learn anything and never see warriorhood," she teased, snickering softly to herself as she backed out of the den.

Blackpaw shimmied in her sleep, disturbed. A nudge to her side had abruptly interrupted her dream and made her whole body twitch as she awoke. She blinked, bleary eyed, looking uncharacteristically harmless as she processed what was happening. Her well-worn scowl soon appeared, however. Birdchaser was forcing her to wake up at StarClan knows what hour. She had agreed to training, but how was she supposed to know that it'd be this early?? She sat up and scratched at her shaggy head fur with a hind leg, yawning as she did so. She was half tempted to just hiss at her mentor and go back to sleep... But she did want to train, so she settled for just the hiss and got to her feet. "It's basically night." She groaned.

Despite her annoyance, she followed the she-cat out of the den. What would they even be doing? Was prey even awake this early? Running around in the dark trying to find sleeping prey sounded like the opposite of fun. "What're we doin'?" She grumbled, curious.

The apprentice didn't rouse without a bit of a spit, which earned a snort from Birdchaser as she waited for the fluffy she-cat to exit the den. "I'd tell you not to look so miserable, but I can't say I was excited my first time training. Or that I like waking up so early now." For emphasis, she forced out a yawn as she rose to her paws. "Follow me." With that and a sweep of her tail, she padded away to exit camp without waiting to see if Blackpaw followed.

She took the walk through the territory slowly, using the time to point out interesting landmarks, good hunting spots they passed, and to let the sun rise a little higher in the sky. It was properly daylight now, but admittedly, too early for her liking. Eventually, the Halfstone came in to view, looming large over both of them. Clear of the trees, the deputy turned towards her apprentice, looking down on her unblinkingly. "This is the Halfstone. It's a great place to hunt, as long as you don't become prey yourself. You can probably see more foxes and badgers here than cats." A smirk suddenly lit up her stoic features as Birdchaser lowered her body, muscle tense and stiff. "That's not what we're here for, though. Let's open your training with something exciting: sparring. I hear you already got some practice as a kit, so–" she tilted her head, looking as mischevious as a young apprentice herself, "–I won't give you any instruction, but to keep your claws sheathed. Draw blood at your own risk. Now go ahead, attack. Show me how tough you really are."

Blackpaw grunted with annoyance when Birdchaser didn't answer her question. She hated surprises. Birdchaser's yawn brought on a yawn of her own and she grumpily padded after her mentor, ears back.

She looked around balefully at each landmark, as if every copse, stream and outcropping Birdchaser pointed out had personally insulted her. First she had to wake up before dawn and now she was wasting her time looking at trees?? Her steps grew heavier and her tail swished angrier the longer they walked. When were they actually going to do something? The sun was up now and Blackpaw was thoroughly bored, irritated and angry at Birdchaser for dragging her out here for no reason.

"Why are we even- Her mentor interrupted as they emerged from the trees, telling her about the Halfstone. Her ears pricked up and her face showed clear interest at the mention of foxes and badgers, some of her anger dissipating. Was that why they were here? To fight predators?! Birdchaser immediately dashed her hopes, though. She inhaled to let out a growl, but before she could make any noise her mentor hit her with yet another curveball: they were here to spar!!! Her claws unsheathed with excitement. "Yes!! Finally!" She grinned. She'd only ever sparred with other kits when she was younger, she'd never fought an actual warrior before! Birdchaser's only instruction was to sheath her claws and she did so reluctantly. She would've preferred to fight properly... But maybe after this Birdchaser would let her go fight a real enemy. Blackpaw let out an excited growl and charged at her mentor recklessly. She sprang once she was a tail-length away, paws outstretched as she barreled into Birdchaser and knocked her onto her back. "Ha! she meowed triumphantly.


Blackpaw used Jumping Strike on Birdchaser, dealing 9HP and costing 7SP.

Blackpaw
HP:20
SP:53

Birdchaser
HP:31 (-9)
SP:100

Blackpaw was quick to turn alert at the mention of sparring, and Birdchaser's grin grew wider knowing she'd made a good choice for their first training session. She didn't have to wait long for the apprentice to attack, either; there was no dancing around each other, no moment of thought on how to proceed, only uncoordinated weight rocketing against her. With an overdramatic huff, the deputy let Blackpaw's weight carry her down, rolling about on her back. "Don't look so smug now, Blackpaw. You've got me on the ground, but I'm surprised you made it to me the way you went tumbling forward. And," Birdchaser bent her hind legs, muscles tightening as she readied herself to strike– but before she could kick out, heavy, clumsy paws pressed against her shoulders and her face, and she dropped her legs in favor of simply trying to wriggle the apprentice off. "It's hard to give you an informative kick in the ribs when you step on my nose, Blackpaw."

Birdchaser attempted to use Belly Rake and failed, dealing 5 recoil damage to herself and costing 25 SP.

Birdchaser
26/40 HP
75/100 SP

Blackpaw
20/20 HP
53/60 SP

The member 'downfive' has done the following action : Dice roll

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'Effect Dice' : 3

Blackpaw, in her excitement, didn't particularly notice or care where she placed her wooly paws. She'd tackled Birdchaser, and had her on the ground... So what now? Usually she'd go for a rake to the face, but even despite her excitement she vaguely remembered Birdchaser's command not to use claws. She stood there awkwardly for a split second, paws shuffling to keep her balance and stepping all over her mentor in the process. Birdchaser spoke then, probably noticing Blackpaw's hesitation and critiquing her attack. Blackpaw frowned. The attack had landed! What did she mean, tumbling? If it worked it worked. But Birdchaser did have more fighting experience... Blackpaw wondered if she'd ever killed anyone. Her brother had, lots of times, maybe it ran in the family? Her moment of wondering gave Birdchaser an easy out and she wriggled enough that Blackpaw lost her footing and tumbled off her mentor with a surprised hiss.

She quickly rolled back onto her feet, blinking, before baring her teeth show-offishly and charging again with no more care than the first time. Her first instinct was to bite and her jaws flew open, but at the last second she remembered she wasn't allowed to draw blood and snapped her mouth closed before her teeth couod make contact. Unfortunately she was too close to stop now, so she unceremoniously bashed into Birdchaser's side with her head. It probably did more damage to Blackpaw's big head than to Birdchaser and the apprentice staggered, dazed. "Ow!" she yowled, shaking her head to try and get rid of the pain. After a moment, she felt okay enough to speak. "I wanted to bite. Why'm I not allowed? I bite Fogpaw all the time."


Blackpaw used Headbutt on Birdchaser, dealing 4HP and costing 5SP.

Birdchaser
HP:22/40 (-4)
SP:75/100

Blackpaw
HP:20/20
SP:48/60 (-5)