Training [Leafpaw]

((OOC: Before we get into training, please read over these topics as they go over the mechanics we'll be using in this thread. You can pm me with questions as well as ask in the help thread or on the discord. ^^ Hunting System and Hunting Tutorial. Battle System, Battle Tutorial and Predator Encounters.))

The recent rains had left the ground wet, but at least it wasn't as blistering hot as it had been recently. After a quick groom, Brackenwing approached her new apprentice, gently rousing Leafpaw. "Come on, We'll be going hunting today, and it'll be a good chance for you to see the territory." She mewed. Once the tom had shown he was awake, Brackenwing turned, beckoning him with a wave of her dark-tipped tail as she led the way out of camp onto the rolling moors. Sunhigh wasn't for a while yet, though the sky was cloudy and the air was warm and humid. Still, Brackenwing knew that prey would be out looking for food just as the Windclanners were. The tunnels that sprawled beneath the territory could protect against the rain just as much as be plagued by it.

Coming to a stop, Brackenwing turned toward Leafpaw, and after a moment's thought, spoke. "Prey can smell and see you just as quickly as you can find it, unlike the other clans there's no real cover for us to hide behind when hunting, so we rely on speed more than anything." Brackenwing herself didn't share the typical build of a Windclan cat and wasn't built for speed. Staying hidden in the grass could be challenging, but she managed. "Look around, smell the breeze. Rabbits and hare will smell a bit different than what you're used to on the fresh-kill pile, but they should be recognizable, and there's fresh scent on the wind. Do you want me to catch something first, or do you want to try?"

leafpaw yawned as he looked at his mentor he got up and stretched, he followed brackenwing, the young tom" ok!" he said as he was excited as brackenwing began speaking leafpaw listed* i hope i'll make my mentor proud" he thought as he came to asking if leafpaw wanted to try or him" can you and show me how to do it?" he replied softly

"Alright," Brackenwing responded softly. Tamping down on her anxiety and not letting it show was a struggle. Brackenwing had never trained an apprentice before, and while Smallbean had seemed to think she would do well, now was the time to put what he'd taught her to the test. She hoped her former mentor's faith in her wasn't misplaced.

Turning, the marbled tabby's jaws parted slightly as she picked up the fresh scent trail of a rabbit. In the distance, the grass parted where the fuzzy, brown-furred creature moved, and Brackenwing was careful to keep her tail still as she stalked forward. An outright chase starting at a distance worked well for many Windclanners, but she was stockier and more muscular. Getting closer to her prey before giving chase offered more success for the half-clan she-cat. She was careful to stay downwind, so that the wind blew towards her rather than the rabbit she hoped would remain unaware of her presence. Luck was on her side, and she was able to get within several foxlengths of the rabbit before she surged forward in a burst of speed that took the rabbit by surprise. Brackenwing quickly cut off her prey's attempt to escape, a sharp nip to the neck and she was turning, padding back towards Leafpaw with the rabbit in her jaws.

"Think you can give it a try?" She asked, setting the rabbit down and carefully covering it with some grass. It would help cover the scent of blood and keep the catch from being discovered, and she would collect it on the way back to camp later.

Brackenwing attempted to catch a rabbit for -3 sp. Catch was successful.
137 / 140 sp

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 4

the young silvery apprentice watched his mentor*he makes it look so easy" he thought as the nervousness was pushed down his throat when the mentor returned he gulped" i-i think so" he stuttered, he's never hunted and here now he's gonna try to hunt, oh boy...., the apprentice got up and sniffed around, as his scenting carried him he smelled something when he looked up it was another brownish-gray rabbit, bigger than expected the young apprentice crouched trying to remember brackenwings moves, his stalking was as quiet as a mouse and his tail holded as still as possible, as the rabbit saw him leafpaw gasped and chased after then coming up to the rabbit he leapt on it but tumbled into a ball and hit a tree" ow" he said as he got up he rubbed his face then picked the rabbit up and padded to brackenwing" how did i do?" he asked worried that brackenwing wouldn't be pleased


leafpaw attempted to catch a rabbit for -3 sp. Catch was successful.
137 / 140 sp

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 6

((A note, stats are based on character rank. Apprentices have 20 hp / 60 sp in total. Leafpaw's sp would be at 57 currently. We can continue hunting until a predator is summoned [I can roleplay the predator; an eagle or hawk will be easy to defeat] or we can have Bracken and Leaf spar, if you'd like. Both would count towards your battle requirement.))

Brackenwing watched asthe apprentice went after a rabbit, nodding in approval. Good instincts, though she realized belatedly that she probably should have mentioned being a little more careful, too. Rabbits and hares could be much stronger than cats gave them credit for. She winced as Leafpaw managed to find one of the exceedingly few trees in Windclan's territory.

"Good catch." She mewed, "Guess I should've mentioned their strength, huh? It'll become easier as you practice and gain muscle. There's not much cover out here, and sometimes prey will spot a warrior despite their best efforts to remain behind and downwind. All you can do is try to be fast enough to cut them off." That was easier said than done sometimes, but Leafpaw had managed the catch anyways.

Brackenwing scanned their surroundings once more, catching sight of a hare. They were larger than rabbits, faster, and she'd learned the hard way they could carry a cat on their backs while they ran when she had been an apprentice. Time had made hunting them easier. Time, and far more practice than Brackenwing would admit. With a flick of her tail to Leafpaw, Brackenwing turned and stalked toward it, circling widely to stay behind the creature. If the hare spotted her too soon, there would be no chance of catching it for Brackenwing, though she knew some of her clanmates would be able to. Windclanners, it turned out, were fast. Luck stayed on her side however, and Brackenwing darted forward, paws slamming into the hare and fangs catching its' throat. She earned a sharp kick to the side as the hare thrashed in an attempt to escape, but the struggle was over before it truly began.

Brackenwing attempted to catch a hare for -3 sp. Catch was successful.
134 / 140 sp

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 2

[ooc: ok thanks why don't we do spar]



leafpaw smiled" thanks for mentioning" he huffed then watching brackenwing hunt he watched intently

"Okay," Brackenwing mewed, tail tip twitching back and forth. She... Had no idea if this was the right step to take, really, but she would rather Leafpaw not chance being ambushed by a predator if they continued to hunt. "We've both caught prey, and that'll be enough for now. The moors are an unforgiving place, so I'd like to jump into starting battle training. All warriors need to learn to defend themselves and others, whether it's against cats or something like an eagle or fox."

"Tell me, Leafpaw. Against another cat, what do you think the best strategy of winning a fight would be?" She wouldn't ambush him with a spar just yet... Though depending on his answer, she would have him test that. Against her, with sheathed claws, of course.

leafpaw tilted his head as his tail were swishing back and fourth"umm being cautious and smart when fighting your opponent?" he said not knowing how to answer the question is

((As a reminder, the battle tutorial [linked above, and in the forum help section] shows a full mock fight and outlines many of the non-standard battle moves available to characters. Brackenwing will try not to destroy an apprentice despite the difference in their hp values.))

"Being cautious is important, yes. Picking your battles strategically, knowing what you can use to your advantage and what your opponent's weak spots are, as well as your own weaknesses and how to protect them. A predator like a fox or badger isn't invincible, but they are much stronger than either of us will ever be and take teamwork to bring down." Brackenwing mewed, "Thunderclan warriors are much stronger than Windclan, though most of us have the advantage when it comes to being faster. Shadowclan are good at ambushing from the shadows, while Skyclan can use the trees to their advantage. knowing the opponent you're up against is important, as is knowing when to attack and when to go on the defensive. Pull an opponent off-balance by the tail, and they'll be too busy trying to regain their footing to attack. Head wounds bleed a lot and can disorient someone. Blood in the eyes will affect your vision. Claws to the belly can be debilitating, too. Of course, the same tricks you use against an opponent in battle can be turned back on you, as well." Brackenwing had the displeasure of receiving a concussion when a piece of hail had struck her in the face.  She still hadn't forgiven the elders for causing that hailstorm in late newleaf bordering on greenleaf, but she'd recovered. She dismissed the thought, however, green eyes remaining steady on the form of her apprentice. "We'll spar, claws sheathed. The first move is yours." She wanted to see what Leafpaw would do given the information she'd explain. No explanation could compare to actual practice, of course.

Brackenwing has not attacked, but is waiting for Leafpaw to make the first move.
Windclan's Passive, Moor Runner is active. Damage taken reduced by 1 for both of us.

Brackenwing
60 / 60 hp
134 / 140 sp

Leafpaw
20 / 20 hp
57 / 60 sp

[apology for not responding i am slow to reply] [ is hp leafpaws health? and what does sp mean?]

leafpaw listened his tail flicked and his eyes focused as brackenwing finished talking leafpaw began to make his first move, he moved his paws  swiftly, as he was coming upon his mentor he leapt up hoping to land on his mentor,

leafpaw did a jumping strike damage was 6 and lost 7 stamina

50/60  sp

20/20 hp

Leafpaw made his move, and Brackenwing let out a muffled grunt as he slammed into her. "Very good." Regaining her balance, she reached out with a sheathed forepaw, aiming to lightly tap the apprentice's shoulder. Nothing that would do real harm as this was a spar, of course, but still enough to grab his attention. With that, Brackenwing began to circle Leafpaw, watching him with green eyes. "And? What do you think you should do next? Show me, don't tell me."

Brackenwing used Front Paw Blow for -5 sp, dealing -6 (Moor Runner) damage.
Moor Runner active, -1 damage taken for both of us.

Brackenwing
52 / 60 hp (hp adjusted for the the bonus damage of jumping strike)
129 / 140 sp (134 - 5)

Leafpaw
14 / 20 hp (20 - 6)
50 / 60 sp

leafpaw watched his mentor circle him leafpaw lifted his sheathed paw trying the front paw blow he aimed for the mentors body

45/60 Sp

14/20 Hp