Growth Spurts | [Open Mass-Training]

Mottlestar stood at the entrance to the camp, looking out at her clanmates as they slowly came to life. It was an early morning, that was for sure. But that didn't mean that they had to stay in their nests sleeping. It was going to be a big day for many of the apprentices and mentors, and Mottlestar wanted to get a start on things sooner rather than later. She had already gone to wake her own apprentices, Goldenpaw and Stormypaw, so they could help set an example. That was perhaps one of the downsides to being mentored by the leader herself: you'd be held to just a slightly higher standard than the others. Mottlestar did her best not to make it impact their training too harshly, but it was undeniable. Something special came from being mentored by the leader herself.

"Let all mentors and apprentices gather near the entrance of camp for a meeting!" It was different than her usual summons. She didn't need the elders or queens to rise, and certainly didn't need to be herding any kits back to their nests. As much as Mottlestar adored each fuzzy little clanmate, this wasn't something for them. They would find their time soon enough. Tail dancing with anticipation as her clan assembled, Mottlestar didn't waste too much time. "We're going to all go on one mass training spree. Apprentices, you'll work on your hunting, and we'll be testing how we've been training in battle against any predators that we come across. If you don't know yet how to fight or hunt, seek out your mentor, and they will teach you. You also can ask your fellow apprentices! But the goal of today is simple: Catch as much prey as we can, and get rid of as many predators as possible." Mottlestar allowed some time for the cats around her to take in what she had said, before ensuring to emphasize one last point. "I cannot stress this enough, Do. Not. Fight. A. Predator. Alone. You all are under strict orders to call out to your clanmates if you find one. The same goes for any two-leg traps. Avoid them at all costs. If you get stuck, have us help you. There is no glory in hurting yourself more than necessary, and making more work for Fawnshine. Any cat who does will be facing discipline from me." Her voice was much more stern than usually came from the otherwise jovial molly, but it was necessary. Once she seemed to have scared enough apprentices with the idea of getting in trouble, the small tortoiseshell dropped her motherly death-glare and returned to her usual posture. "Now let's go!"

Turning to take the charge and lead out the clan, Mottlestar would wait until mentors had begun to disperse with their apprentices in their masses before she turned to her own apprentices. "Alright. Goldenpaw, what do you want to learn first? Fighting comes fairly naturally, but hunting requires a bit more work."

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Murkyripple couldn't shake the anxiety that came from being a mentor. She had hardly been a warrior for two sunrises, and now she had not only one... but two apprentices she was responsible for! Clouddream had passed not too long before, so her own sister was now her apprentice as well. It perhaps made it much easier, because she didn't have to put nearly as much effort into bonding with Turtlepaw. But in a way it almost felt... cruel. Still, Murkyripple ultimately had to swallow down her anxiety, and turn it into pride. Each bit of responsibility was trusted to her because she was doing well. So why did it matter how she felt? Shaking out her calico-speckled fur, the feline finally got out of her nest at the call of her mother. Wanting her apprentices to set good examples, Murkyripple headed straight for the apprentice's den.

Easily poking her head in, the young warrior instantly found Salamanderpaw and her sister. "Salamanderpaw! Turtlepaw!" Her voice was quick and direct, mimicking the way that Thistlemask had called to her as an apprentice. "Mottlestar called a meeting. Let's go." Once her mentees had been successfully roused from whatever slumber they had been enjoying, Murkyripple gave pause for just a moment. Her tail twitched with a small idea, and just as she had gotten about halfway to her mother's summons, the she-cat spun right back around and shoved herself back into the apprentice's den. "Mottlestar called all apprentices for this meeting!" Her voice was much louder, sure to scare any slumbering apprentice that thought they were exempt from her mother's call. Not this time around.

Trotting out after practically shouting her clanmates awake, Murkyripple then found her spot near her mother. As she sat, she made sure to sit tall, her head held high. It was somewhat amusing. With how much of her mother's pelt she seemed to have inherited, there was irony in how she practically dwarfed the leader. So Murkyripple sat as a beacon for her clanmates to see, but also their apprentices. She remained stoic for most of the announcements, only flicking an ear as her mother punctuated the orders to not fight any predators alone. It made sense enough. A few scratches that probably didn't even require seeing Fawnshine would be much easier than a full-blown predator fight.

Once they had their orders to roll out, Murkyripple gave no hesitation to rise to her paws. "Salamanderpaw, Turtlepaw, let's go. What do you guys know already? I know I haven't spent much time with you yet Salamanderpaw, but I wonder if you've picked up anything from your peers?" She wanted a baseline of where to start. They wouldn't get into any insane expectations without knowing where to begin.

Sunpaw bounced up and down, way too eager to start to just stay still. Turning to his mentor, the ginger tabby waited for Starlingflare to tell him what to do. Please, please let them be doing battle practice!

Crimsonpaw woke up as Mottlestar called for all the mentors and apprentices to gather. He streched as he stood up, then came and stood by Comfreyheart. These past few days had been better, and the trauma from the shaking earth and twoleg attacks was fading. ThunderClan was finally feeling like home. Crimsonpaw listened to the instructions that his leader gave, nodding after each rule was given. They made sense, of course he would ask for help with a predator! Who wouldn't? Crimsonpaw turned to face his mentor as she began talking to him and her other apprentices. "Yeah, it's alright if you hunt with me," he said. "I bet we'll catch the most prey out of everyone!"

Goldenpaw shifted her paws self consciously as cats all around her swiftly decided on what they would do for the day. Was it normal to be so sure of themselves? Thinking back on her conversation with Blazefang, her answer came out before she even realized what she said.

"I want to learn how to fight... to protect someone"

Mottlestar purred as Goldenpaw followed. "We can start off with some hunting. It'll be easier to start off with, before we cause too much comotion and really start scaring away the prey." She dipped her head, beckoning her apprentices to follow. Stormypaw had already learned a great deal, and would be a fantastic help if Goldenpaw needed any assistance. Once they were far enough away, the molly dropped to a crouch, her body straightening. "It's easiest for hunt if we drop low to the ground, watching our paws and where we place them. Keep an eye at the base of trees, or in little dips in the ground. It's the easiest to find prey there." The molly mimicked how she would pounce after a piece of prey, landing in the snow gracefully with minimal sound.

"Go ahead and try, Goldenpaw. I believe in you."

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Murkyripple had opted to not hear her apprentice's complaints, even as she heard them rather easily. Instead, she led Salamanderpaw and Turtlepaw away from the main crowd, her head held high. "Sparring will be the easiest for us to start with. I know a lot of apprentices will be going for prey, but this will let us get the best catches once they're done." She nodded. Her tail flicked to ensure they followed, even if they were all of similar age. Murkyripple had just managed to get her name sooner, and part of her was eternally amused at how Turtlepaw had become her apprentice as well. Nothing like teaching family, right?

"You can never know when a cat may come out of nowhere to defend their territory, so it's good to learn how to not be surprised." As she would explain, the molly would abruptly stop before spinning around. Her agile frame made it easy to leap directly atop of Salamanderpaw, bringing the apprentice to the ground beneath her. "Now, how would you try to get out of this? Or would you rather still be in your nest sleeping?" The calico chuckled softly.

Murkyripple "used" Leap and Hold on Salamanderpaw! It "dealt" 7 (fake) damage and used 15 (real) stamina.
Salamander is pinned for one turn due to Stormy Strength!
Murkyripple
30 / 30 HP
65 / 80 SP -15

Salamanderpaw
20 / 20 HP
60 / 60 SP

Goldenpaw dropped into her best crouch, trying to mimic what Mottlestar has just done. Keeping her tail still, she glanced over at her mentor to check that she was doing fine.

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

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'Effect Dice' : 2