Is That Apprentice Supposed to Be Here? [Closed]

Ravenclaw didn't tend to be in a good mood. She wasn't snappy or rude, but it was obvious that her attitudes ran foul ever since Wrenspring died. To most, that would be understandable, but it didn't seem like the mourning she-cat would ever get over his death. Little did they know of the vengeance that ran through her mind. She had to try and shake it off, though. There was some training to do. Luckily her expression was hidden in the darkness of the apprentice den, where she prodded Hollypaw. "Come on, Hollypaw," she murmured, loud enough for her to hear through her sleep-induced haze. "We're battle training today." Then she left to wait at the edge of camp, scraping the ground with her claws.

Hollypaw slept well that night, in spite of the cold;  finally reunited with her littermate, the dark-furred molly curled up close to her sister. Closer, perhaps, than Wasp might’ve liked... but it made Hollypaw feel better, not to have a nest by herself or near basically strangers. Not that she was afraid of strangers! They were just apprentices, nothing Hollypaw couldn’t handle. But, you know... they weren’t her family, and they didn’t smell familiar and comforting, like their milk-nest. Or like mother.

(And they didn’t sound like Wasp, whose sharpness was actually reassuring, in its own way!)

Snoring, Hollypaw kicked in her sleep — hitting the wall of the den and jolting her a little into wakefulness. Shaking her head (Hollypaw was always a little active in her sleep), the little molly was about to resettle when she heard a voice. Not mother, but — also female, and kinda sterner? But still softly... saying her name...?

Oh! And instantly, Hollypaw’s mind snapped into life with recognition. Ravenclaw! Training!

The young apprentice scrambled out of her nest, bits of leaf and moss clinging to her. Hastily she combed them out, stretching and calling out, in the same volume, “I’m coming, Ravenclaw! Don’t worry!”

And battle training, oh my goodness! She almost shivered in excitement! Real fighting? So she could be a real warrior? It was almost better than what she’d hoped for, in the beginning. And while she hadn’t been completely certain about her mentor, the announcement cemented it in Hollypaw’s hyper-focused mind: Ravenclaw knew what she was doing. The sleek, all black molly already seemed imposing, with a sense of regality; Hollypaw could hope to imitate that. She puffed with pride.

The molly was about to shoot out the den — eager as a newborn for food — when she nearly tripped over Wasppaw’s tail. Wasp! she nearly hissed: that would’ve been so embarrassing, if she had tripped and Ravenclaw saw her with dust on her face! But then it hit her...

Wasp wouldn’t have battle training. Probably not, anyway, if the look on the cream tabby’s mentor was any indication. He’d probably... she didn’t know, maybe have Wasppaw pull elder’s ticks, or... practice jumping over rocks. (It looked like something he might have trouble with.) And then Wasp would be stuck, and fall behind, and... that was unacceptable! And Hollypaw knew Wasp wouldn’t say anything, either! The molly would just roll her eyes and let it happen.

Unacceptable! As her leader she wouldn’t allow it!

Plan forming in her mind, Hollypaw’s tail lashed, mind determined. And so she jammed a paw in her sister’s side, hard. “Wake up, Wasp! I need you up. Come on! Before he comes around, and ruins everything.”

Newtspring might not be able to train Wasppaw properly... Well. No big deal. Hollypaw would take care of it.

"Hhrnnn wh- ow!" Wasppaw yelped as she was pretty stabbed bluntly by her sister. "What in the name of StarClan!?" It definitely jolted her up as she stared at Hollypaw accusingly. "Who what? What's going on..." She was still half groggy, looking around as though they were under attack, but by the scenery well... no there is no fight that broke out.

She eventually groans. It was meant to be my sleep in...

“Up, up, up!” Hollypaw mewed, tone cheerful as she ignored her sister’s protests. Taking advantage of Wasp’s surprise, the dark-furred molly slipped under her sister’s side, lifting and tilting her onto stumbling feet. The cream tabby looked dazed — that was fine, all the easier this would be. “It’s time for training!”

Briskly, the dark-furred apprentice used all of her littermate-acquired skills to herd Wasp to the entrance of the apprentice’s den. Twining and nudging, guiding with her shoulder. Being altogether very pushy. The air was chillier, now, in the open air.

She glanced around camp: still quite quiet. And then she spotted her mentor: a dark form, stark in the early light. The molly warrior wasn’t far. Padding ahead, she bounded toward her mentor.

Ravenclaw was a beautiful molly, if a bit imposing, more sharpness than softness. If Hollypaw were a different cat, perhaps a tad more perceptive, she would’ve noticed something more — something sadder, clouding the black-furred molly’s eyes. But Hollypaw only beamed at her, sweetly oblivious, and full of her own helpful schemes.

“Morning, Ravenclaw!” she greeted, almost overenthusiastic. Snapping her head back, Hollypaw gave Wasp a look, telling her to join them with a deliberate lash of her tail. Then she turned back, “We’re here and ready for training! Where will you be taking us?”

The apprentice mewed quickly, maybe a tad too quickly. And graced Ravenclaw with her most innocent, but also bright and determined smile. And hoped Wasp wouldn’t fall over or collapsed in sleep in front of the older warrior.

That... would be embarrassing. And not bode well for first impressions. Wasp needed this to work out — whether she knew it or not.

Ravenclaw quirked an eye as she watched another apprentice - Wasppaw - follow Hollypaw out of the apprentice den. Well, 'follow' was a loaded word. It was more like she was being corralled by Hollypaw towards the edge of camp, where Ravenclaw was waiting.

"Hmm..." She glanced around camp, wondering where Wasppaw's mentor was. It was brisk that morning, though, and she didn't want to stand around waiting when there was training to do. "Alright, well if you both are going to come, then you will be battling each other." It wasn't terrible. After all, it was better for the two of them to learn how to battle each other at the same skill level than against a seasoned warrior. There would be no quarter in a real battle, but this was just training. It would be fine.

Ravenclaw took them a bit out of camp, where the trees still remained open and distanced from each other. That was where she stopped, turning towards the two apprentices. "Alright, I don't want any claws out this time. I don't need Bloodstar wondering why his apprentices are getting scars early." She looked out towards the forest, as if someone might appear, but eventually she turned her attention back to Hollypaw and Wasppaw. "Alright, separate from each other and take your battle stances." She showed off her own battle stance, crouching low with her tail hovering above the ground. It was difficult to keep her claws in, but she managed.

"Now, I want you both to attack each other with a front paw blow to the head. Nothing too hard, though. We still have more to learn after this."

"Time for training? Don't you mean time for your training?" The apprentice looked definitely a little annoyed that her sister woke her up so early in the morning. Though she knew how her sister gets with the constant glare she's giving. So Wasppaw sighed and reluctantly followed Hollypaw, she herself didn't bother hiding a yawn while approaching Ravenclaw. "Morning, yeah, I suppose I'm coming too." Though hearing that it was battle training she let out a soft groan. She thought she would humour Holly in a hunting training, but she felt like it was too early for her to be battling it out...

She listened to Ravenclaw almost a little halfheartedly, staring at her stance as she copied, though her tail swept at the ground a little clumsily.

She giggles.

"Well if you needed someone to fight why didn't you say so?" She teases.

Oh, good, she didn’t ask any questions, Hollypaw thought. She must have been very convincing and natural! Hah! Ravenclaw had seemed a little surprised, at Wasppaw’s presence — she definitely raised an eyebrow — but then she seemed to shake her head and accept it, rising to guide them into the territory. Hollypaw liked that about her mentor: she was practical! Still at her sister’s side, making sure she was coming, the dark-furred molly strutted proudly behind her mentor, excited for the day. When Ravenclaw said they were to battle each other, Hollypaw mewed, “That’s definitely a good idea, Ravenclaw. I’m sure we’ll learn a lot!”

It would mean training and getting to wrestle Wasp into the dirt, so obviously, yeah.

Once they arrived, Hollypaw side-eyed her sister: the cream tabby was around the same size as Holly, and as sisters, they of course were familiar with each other. It was hard to say; but of course, Hollypaw was bouncing on her paws, eager to begin regardless. Obediently and easily, she matched Wasppaw, settling into a bit of a lopsided stance, tail lashing in anticipation.

At Wasp’s taunting new, Hollypaw smirked — she knew Wasp was excited for this, too!

“Maybe I didn’t want to scare you,” she threw back, grin widening. “But I’ll knock you into the dirt any day you want, Waspbrain. I’ll even let you try first.”

Tilting her head, she flicked her ears, as is inviting Wasp to leap at her — eyes glinting with mischief.

"Aw you are too kind sister~" Wasppaw purled, a grin and a playful lash, before it start to slow, as now she focuses on her target. To be fair, she didn't know any fighting moves, but she knows one thing- she's going to pounce and catch her sister by surprise!

Classic Wasp move

Wasppaw used Front Paw Blow on Hollypaw, dealing 4 damage and costing 5 stamina.


Wasppaw
20/20 | 55/60 (-0/-5)


Hollypaw
16/20 | 60/60 (-4/-0)

Hollypaw tilted her head with a smile, as her sister lashed out with a paw — clearly playfully, and teasingly, though her expression did seem to focus after too. The blow caught her on the side of her cheek, clawless — only a little pain, really — and grin growing, she shook it off. “Is that all you got, sister?”

Eagerly, Holly’s paw lashed out for her sister’s cheek — Ravenclaw had said the head, hadn’t she? — to give Wasp a matching smack. Like her sister’s, it was rough but playful, and had neither claws nor force behind  it.

Hollypaw used Front Paw Blow on Wasppaw, dealing 4 damage and costing 5 stamina.

Hollypaw
16/20 | 55/60 (-0/-5)

Wasppaw
16/20 | 55/60 (-4/-0)

Ravenclaw smiled slightly as she watched the apprentices fight each other. It was good to see such willing warriors in training. It made her nostalgic for her own apprentice days. Then she remembered who her mentor was, and she had to shake off that nostalgia. "Alright you two. Next, I want you to try the belly rake. Dive under each other and rake at the other's belly. Of course, no claws."

Her eyes brighten up and her ears perked, a mischievous grin as she wiggles her hiney and without much of a comment she was already diving underneath her sister. Though Holly was by far muscular and slightly larger than her, they were still, born from the same kindle. A narrow squeeze before she baps her paws on her sister's chest, giggling like a kitten, though she didn't think that far, she just wanted to take her sister off guard, though didn't seem to realize that she puts herself in a poor position to be pounced at. Silly Wasp.

Wasppaw used Belly Rake on Hollypaw, dealing 10 damage and costing 25 stamina.

Wasppaw
16/20 | 30/60 (-0/-25)
Hollypaw
6/20 | 55/60 (-10/-0)

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

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'Effect Dice' : 5

Hollypaw tried to keep her face a bit serious — they were practicing real moves, after all! — but when her sister slipped on her back... under her, she couldn’t help a startled giggle. Paws pushed up at her, striking her off-balance — since, ya know, Wasp wasn’t that small — but instead of rearing back to untangle them, Hollypaw leaned in. Naturally.

She knew they were supposed to be practicing a specific move, and she should let her sister up... But why would I do that when I can do this? “Nice try, Wasp. But mine’s better!”

Grinning and in typical sibling wrestling fashion, Holly let herself drop. She let her whole weight slump dramatically onto Wasp, essentially keeping them pinned and tangled. Her paws even gripped her sister too, so she couldn’t escape!

Hollypaw used Leap-and-Hold on Wasppaw, dealing 6 damage, costing 15 stamina, and pinning Wasppaw for 1 turn.

Wasppaw [pinned]
10/20 | 30/60 (-6/-0)

Hollypaw
6/20 | 40/60 (-0/-15)

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

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'Effect Dice' : 2

Ravenclaw quietly laughed at the battle unfolding before her. While that wasn't the move she had asked them to do, she could appreciate Hollypaw's improvisation. It was the perfect time to use that move, actually. How could she be mad? Her apprentice was already showing a good presence of mind on the battlefield. That would serve Hollypaw well.

"Alright you two, let's not get anyone hurt. You're both doing a great job. Now..." There was a glint in her eye as she smiled. "Finish the battle. Show me the extent of your fighting skills."