quiescence ⚜ closed

Poplartooth approached the apprentices' den with wariness in both his step and his eyes. Drizzlepaw was no longer his only apprentice. He had no problems with having more than one apprentice, he could easily handle it. However, he didn't know what to think of Fawnpaw. The newly-appointed apprentice couldn't speak, so he couldn't ask her any complicated questions. How was he supposed to train a cat who could only answer by shaking or nodding her head? The fluffy tom already knew that a lot of patience would be needed to properly and efficiently train Fawnpaw. Honestly, a lot of patience was needed to train Drizzlepaw, so he was set when it came to tolerance. This couldn't be so bad, right? He didn't know much about Fawnpaw, but Poplartooth knew that the young she-cat wasn't a brat or anything close to that. This would be fine. He'd be fine.
"Fawnpaw?" He called into the apprentices' den, "It's time for your first training session. Meet me at the exit."
With that, Poplartooth turned around and headed towards the camp exit to wait for his apprentice. His first impression of her would be how quickly she came out of the den. The deputy could tolerate cats that were timely.

Fawnpaw was up and alert as Poplartooth called her name, jumping over her clan-mates clumsily the she-cat bounded after him, her fur sticking in all sort of directions as she met with her mentor. Fawnpaw was still surprised over how gifted she was to get the deputy of Skyclan as her mentor! Wide green eyes looked up at Poplartooth as if to ask him what they were doing, she knew it was a training session but she wasn't sure what kind of training session it was. Bounding ahead a few steps, she opened her mouth in awe as she looked around the territory, her first glimpse since coming to Skyclan.

Fawnpaw gave a squeak of joy, no terror-plagued her thoughts this time. The young she-cat was growing into a surprisingly bulky form, her paws big and clumsy as she took in her surroundings before returning to her mentor's side. Eager to start learning, ready to be taught how to fight great and finally tear into Pantherblaze like the deserving fox-heart he was!

Poplartooth blinked a couple of times when Fawnpaw decided to go off in front of him. Her sense of wonder reminded him slightly of Drizzlepaw. Perhaps the two of them would get along. Well, they didn't really have a choice. He'd have to train them both at one point or another. Following at a slower pace, the fluffy tom glanced down at Fawnpaw. Her excitement didn't make him smile, not even in the least, but his gaze wasn't as hard as it was before. He had to keep in mind that his new apprentice couldn't talk. Yes or no questions only.
"I'm glad you're excited. It's only going to get better from here. Follow me, we'll be doing some battle training, today."
With that, the deputy padded deeper into SkyClan's territory, looking back to make sure that Fawnpaw was following. Hopefully, the she-cat wouldn't get so lost in her excitement and wonder that she wandered off.

The tall trees that were scattered around the familiar territory was a sight that wasn't that interesting to Poplartooth. He had grown up seeing it, he had gone through it, trained, and hunted in it. He hadn't even been that awestruck about seeing the world outside of camp during his first training session. He had just seen it with a lackluster attitude. He didn't understand why cats go so excited about going outside of camp for the first time. They would end up getting used to it and seeing it as normal soon enough. What was the point of being so amazed?

Better? It was possible for things to be better than what she was currently taking in? Sweet! Fawnpaw tore off after Poplartooth's lumbering shape, her eyes as wide as the moon itself. Battle training sounded so exciting, and it was exactly what she wished too! She loved her mentor, he was the best mentor she could ever get! She must have been the luckiest cat in the forest despite previous circumstances. Fawnpaw kept pace with her mentor once she caught up, though it was a bit of a struggle considering how big he was. She wanted to start right away, she was desperate to learn everything.

"We're going to start out simple, but things will get tougher as we move along." Poplartooth began, looking over his shoulder at Fawnpaw.
He had wanted to stop at a place that didn't have as many trees. Teaching his apprentice to climb trees was on his list, but not for today. He only needed a few trees so that Fawnpaw could practice her moves, and so that he could show her how to do them.
"Since we'll be practicing on trees, you're allowed to use your claws on the bark. However, the bark is strong, so be sure to not break one of your claws off."

He wasn't going to be easy on Fawnpaw, but he certainly wasn't going to be as rough as Sedgestrike was with Honeypaw. Rolling his eyes just thinking about the headstrong tom, Poplartooth headed over to stand beside the nearest tree.
"SkyClan cats are known for using trees to their advantage. We hunt in the trees, we use the trees to help us fight, and we live in the midst of trees. I'll be teaching you how to climb one to the very top, later. For now, I want you to watch what I do and try to copy it."

The fluffy tom sprang directly at the tall tree that he stood beside. He sank his claws into the bark and let himself stay there for about a heartbeat before he leaped off of the tree, twisted himself midair, and landed on the ground so that his back was facing the trunk.

It was a fairly simple move.

"Remember to not twist yourself too late in the air, or you could land on anything but your paws. Don't hold on to the bark for too long. The enemy will have the opportunity to claw at your back and your tail while you're hanging from the tree, so spring at them as soon as possible. Try it."

Even though his gaze was hardened, as usual, he stayed by the tree so that he could catch his apprentice if she were to stumble.

Fawnpaw audibly gasped as she watched her mentor leap and grasp the tree before twisting off, her green eyes sparkling with amazement as he landed. She could totally do it! She just had to twist her body and kink her tail weirdly to pull it off, though she was unsure of how to do just that. Furrowing her brow Fawnpaw padded up to the tree, a bit daunted by how tall it was. Unsheathing her claws the she-cat crouched and wiggled her rump before leaping, the bark chipping and falling away before she managed to grip it properly.

It was one thing to leap onto a tree and hold herself there, but it was another to figure out how to push off. Fawnpaw hung there on the tree trunk as she tried to mentally sort through scenario's in which she perfected the leap and landed perfectly, impressing Poplartooth greatly. Fawnpaw glanced back at Poplartooth before pressing her maw together before pressing her back legs under her belly and pushing off backward, not at all like Poplartooth had demonstrated. Fawnpaw twisted the best she could but landed with a stumble and fell onto her side with a huff looking up at her mentor in hopes of approval, did she get it right? Was she totally amazing and the best new Skyclan cat to ever live?

ooc; agh, sorry for the wait.

Poplartooth watched Fawnpaw as she leapt onto the tree with approval glowing in his green eyes. At least she had gotten the first step right. His muscles tensed as some of the bark fell to the ground, but he mentally calmed himself once the she-cat had gained a hold on the tree trunk. It was usually rare for a new apprentice to get a fighting move down on their very first try, so the fluffy tom didn't expect Fawnpaw to do everything he had shown her perfectly. When his apprentice glanced back at him, Poplartooth gave her a reassuring nod, and he watched as the apprentice leapt off of the tree. Judging by the way she twisted in the air, the deputy could already tell that she was going to land awkwardly.

Poplartooth took a small step forward as Fawnpaw landed, and he gently lifted her back up so that she could stand on her paws. Hope was shining in the young she-cat's eyes, and the tom could tell that she was desperately wanting his approval.
"You did very well for your first try, Fawnpaw," The deputy said, the smallest ghost of a smile appearing on his muzzle, "The only thing that you really need to work on is your timing and your twisting. You hung on to the tree for too long. When you're fighting, a cat can easily pull you down from the tree if you don't leap off of it quick enough. When you leap off, start twisting immediately, or else you won't have enough time to turn around and land correctly. Try again, I'll try to catch you this time if you slip up."

Fawnpaw's eyes sparkled with the reassurance of her mentor, turning on her paws she launched towards the tree, knowing exactly what she needed to do now. Claws unsheathing she launched herself up the trunk, got her paws under her and twisted off the tree, splaying out her legs to land solidly yet a bit unsteadily. Giving a shrill chirp she turned to look back at Poplartooth with excitement in her eyes, she did it! She did it! Bounding back the she-cat looked back up at her mentor, what next?