Friendly Competition [Smokepaw/Stormwatcher]

The snow crunched under her paws as she walked, though the apprentice kept her disgust at the cold wetness off of her face. She was to spar with Smokepaw today, and she had to admit some excitement to that - also kept from her face. She'd nearly beaten Stormwatcher in their last spar, and he was a warrior. She didn't know Smokepaw all that well, but she was the deputy's apprentice, so surely must've been skilled enough in her own right.

"Let's get this started before we freeze?" She glanced between her mentor and the tabby apprentice, widening her stance slightly for balance.

Smokepaw trailed after Wolfblossom, her eyes wide, her ears pricked. This would be her first spar... and she got to do it on true SkyClan territory! The young apprentice still hadn't really oriented herself to the new - old? - home, but her mother was here, and her mentor was here, and honestly, that was good enough for her. Up above them, a squirrel ran across a branch, sending some long-stuck foliage down towards them. The fluffy gray tabby bounced towards a falling leaf, and her paws caught it just before it hit the ground. It was crispy, and practically shattered beneath her paws. Pleased, Smokepaw circled back around and sprinted a few steps to catch up with the others.

She was about to ask how much further they had to go, but they'd made it to a flat area, and everyone else had stopped. Stonepaw was even looking expectantly. Smokepaw looked up to Wolfblossom, and then back to the other apprentice. "What do I do?" she whispered. "How do I start?"

Stormwatcher tried not to yawn too many times in front of wolf. He also had tried and failed to get his fur to lay flat from his nest head . It all sticking out showing his good nights rest at least.

He followed his apprentice over to where they were gonna spar. Alright. Remember what I taught you. This would only happen if you had no other choice and had already tried to settle for peace and talk your way out of it. But if that all failed think of this as a practice of what you would do. he told her quietly. He was all for stonepaw knowing how to defend herself but it was just that… defense not looking for her to start things. Skyclan was currently trying to fix that reputation and wolf had been doing a pretty good job of it so far.

He sat next to wolf who was the other mentor watching apperently. Alright, let’s start em off he gave a nod to the apprentices so they could begin

Wolfblossom's ear twitched at Stormwatcher's words to his own apprentice, nodding at Smokepaw. "As Stormwatcher said, this is only a spar. You should never initiate a fight, unless it's absolutely necessary. Our claws should be used for defense, of yourselves and your clanmates. Only when needed, when diplomacy fails. Not to cause undue conflict." She mewed softly, "Foxes and raccoons, for example, don't exactly listen to reason. Most cats are more reasonable creatures... Most of the time. I hope neither of you will have to actually face a real fight, but in the event that it's necessary, you will learn." She added.

---

Stonepaw nodded quietly as her mentor and Wolfblossom spoke, offering Smokepaw a small smile. She seemed... Nervous, almost. Stonepaw had to admit, having both mentors watching was different than just sparring with her mentor, as she'd done in the past. She backed up a few paces, which would give her and Stonepaw a bit of space to move. "Ready?" She asked, tail twitching back and forth as she sized up her competition.

"I... I guess so," Smokepaw said with just a twinge of doubt. This whole prospect had been exciting before now, but... now that it came to it, she wasn't so sure about it. She met Stonepaw's eyes and nodded, moving away from the warriors and squaring up against her opponent. Stonepaw was bigger than her, but not by too much. Maybe this wouldn't be so hard.

The smoky tabby glanced between the three others... they seemed to be waiting for her, so... "Okay, I- I'm coming!" she told Stonepaw, before charging forward... except, she stopped short of Stonepaw, skidding to a halt a mouse length in front of her... and then raised her paw and thwapped her gently between the ears, before looking over to Wolfblossom for approval/denial.

Smokepaw used Front Paw Blow on Stonepaw, dealing 4 Damage at the cost of 5 Stamina.

Smokepaw
20/20 HP
55/60 SP

Stonepaw
16/20 HP
60/60 SP

Stormwatcher observed as he sat next to Wolfblossom. If his apprentice fought anything like when they had practiced he figured she would have this. He might not be the most outwardly excitable mentor at all but deep down he did care about Stone more than he would ever admit... That was his apprentice gosh darn it.

He watched carefully as the other apprentice made the first move. He gave a supporting head nod mhm not bad.

(hes watching so feel free to just have you two post back and forth, dont feel like you have to wait for my responces. Once they have done their thing I can have him talk with stonepaw and smokepaw about how it went)

Stonepaw blinked as Smokepaw stopped short. The younger apprentice wasn't much smaller than she was, but was clearly much more hesitant as she lifted a sheathed paw to strike at her. Her paw connected, though hardly had much force behind it, Stonepaw noted. Turning, she swept past the younger apprentice, reaching out her own paw to prod her in the side while continuing to move. Smoke couldn't just... expect her to stand still, right?

Stonepaw used Front Paw Strike for -7 sp, dealing -6 damage.

Stonepaw
16 / 20 HP
53 / 60 SP (60 - 7)

Smokepaw
14 / 20 HP (20 - 6)
55 / 60 SP

---

Stonepaw, it seemed, had been training well. Wolfblossom was glad to see it. Her mentor may have needed... encouragement, but Stonepaw would make a fine warrior someday soon. Smokepaw... The she-cat was a gentle, kind soul. Those were good things. She was also hesitant and not one for violence. Those were good things too. In moderation. Sometimes, though...

"Follow through on your movements, Smokepaw." Wolfblossom mewed. Above all, the apprentice needed patience.