step by step [c]

Nightdancer had another apprentice to train; one who it seemed was destined to haunt her. Her paws felt heavy, weighed down by the leaf-bare cold and her own thoughts. She had roused Rosepaw and led the way to the sandy hollow that was often used for training.

Had she been too gentle with Sunstrike? She didn't want to be cruel, but- she had hesitated to criticize him too much. She wasn't sure if Rosepaw would present the same dilemma, but there was only one way to find out.

She sat at one edge of the hollow, observing the apprentice before her with a serious air. "We'll begin with battle training. If you spent much time play-fighting, you'll already have a basic foundation- show me your best stance."

"Not quite," Nightdancer shook her head. "You want to do it like this."

She demonstrated her own battle stance to showcase what the apprentice should be doing. The warrior turned and took a few steps forward and back, before spinning back around to face Rosepaw again. "If I came at you while you were in that stance, I would knock you down in a heartbeat. You need to balance, and keep your balance while you're moving- otherwise you open yourself up to easy attacks. Power and grace should be your priority- power to take down your opponent, grace for balance."

Those three words had always proven simple but effective for herself, and she wondered if Rosepaw might get some use out of them as well.

Power and grace.