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Post by The Everlasting SUNNEH. on Jun 8, 2006 15:52:10 GMT -5
Nightrain looked over the horizon, optics scanning the surface of the terra for any distinct predators. An untrained apprentice and a lone warrior would be an easy kill for a badger, and vunerable prey for a hunting Two-leg. Nightrain sighed. Perhaps he should have waited until Winterpaw was more fully trained to bring him here? They were not here for the badgers, but instead for an interesting place to go for the first training session. "Winterpaw, you have to be VERY careful here. If you make too much noise, we may atract some badgers. " Nightrain warned. "They can smell fear, like us, but they can smell anger and presence of youth and immaturity as well. Right now it may seem like a game, but if you see a badger eye to eye, face to face, nose to nose, you'll never forget it. My mentor, Quickwind, had a terrible incident with a family of badgers. He was renamed Losthope afterwards. He had not only lost his hope of being a warrior again, but he also lost his mind. Joining the elders was too much for him, and he ended up...." Nightrain started, but could not finish. He gulped, and finished. "Drowning himself in the River." Nightrain blurted out very quickly. "So I don't want another apprentice to be lost to an unfortunate cause. Hazelpaw's death was for the greater good, but if your going to die from some badgers, then it is all going to be my fault. I will be the one to blame. And you won't be here anymore. So Winterpaw, please be careful." "Ok Winterpaw. Attack me." Nightrain said plainly, as he looked his apprentice in the eyes, awaiting the attack. (Remember- no one gets it right the first time.  ) |
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Post by Shadepelt on Jun 9, 2006 17:52:57 GMT -5
Drowned himself in the river. Those words hung in Winterpaw's small head, her ice blue eyes wide orbs of fear. She hoped she wouldn't have to deal with a badger until she was more trained, and still then she wouldn't want to see one. Trying to banish those thoughts from her mind, and tryed to figure out how to attack Nightrain. The young apprentice lowered herself into a lop-sided crouch, making it hard to keep her balance. Sensing she was doing it wrong, she tried to fix it while stalking around Nightrain. This caused her to lose all balance completely and fall on her side. Determinded to get it right, she hopped up and tried again. Winterpaw wanted to yowl in fustration as again she was off balance. Ignoring it, she tried to find a spot to leap onto Nightrain.
Stalking around to his side, she leaped into the air, missed by a tail-length, and ended up sprawled out in a pile of leaves.
She hung her head, and started to pad back to Nightrain, At this rate, I'll never become a warrior! Fustrated and feeling rejected, Winterpaw sat down in front of her mentor, and looked up at him.
"I'm sorry, I got it all wrong. I can't seem to find my balance!"
Staring up at Nightrain, she tilted her head, asking for him to teach her more.
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Post by The Everlasting SUNNEH. on Jun 10, 2006 9:37:22 GMT -5
Nightrain laughed. Not a jeering, cackly laugh, but a kind, warm, hearty laugh. "Don't worry Winterpaw. It takes time. Watch, and look at how I balance myself. I am going to attack that rock." He smiled. Attacking a rock is sort of childish, but he needed some sort of subject to attack, or it would be even harder for Winterpaw to learn.
He crouched low, his hauches firmly planted just above his ankles. Muscles tense, bittersweet optics swirving around, as they focused onto the victim. Like lightning, Nightrain bound into the sky, and unsheathed his claws. Landing square on the rock, he entangled himself around it, so if it were alive, it could not slither away, and out of his grasp. The claws screeched against the hard, ancient, earth.
"I think your putting all your weight onto your stomach, a common mistake. Your tummy can easily flop from side to side-" he started, and tickled her a bit. "-but your haunches cannot. Lean back, and then when you pounce, shift your weight to your head, claws unsheathed. You try on the rock, and easier victim." Nightrain said, stepping aside.
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Post by Shadepelt on Jun 10, 2006 14:23:52 GMT -5
Winterpaw had watched in awe as Nightrain had vanquished the rock. She could picture in her mind's eye if that rock was a real enemy warrior, and how he would be trapped beneath Nightrain's mighty limbs.
Narrowing her ice blue eyes in concentration, Winterpaw crouched low again, this time keeping her weight back on her haunches. Smoother was her stalk this time, and without hesitation, she pouncing into the air. The apprentice then leaned forward, as her mentor had instructed, and unsheathed her claws. So fast she landed on the rock, she wasn't ready for the impact.
With a little bounce, she landed on the rock, then she bounced off to the side. Rolling with the impact, she leaped again as she hit the soft, marshy gound, and she scrambled to the top of the rock. Her quick recover left her a bit breathless, but she soon regained breath. Well, at least I got the crouch right, I think.
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Post by The Everlasting SUNNEH. on Jun 10, 2006 18:17:49 GMT -5
"Bravo! Bravo! A wonderful try! I must say you did better than I on your second roll around." Nightrain said with a wink. The sunny sky above warmed him, as he smiled in awe. The gleaming orb of bittersweet sheer gleamed with beautiful grace. No one could imitate it's glory, as it shone in the sky.
"Now, you have to be more prepared. See how when you did that so well, you were surprised, so you didn't prepare for impact? What you have to do, it look at your subject, and once your front claws hit, swing your back legs around, so that you have the victim cornered from all sides. The last thing that you want is for your subject to slither out, and creep onto your back. It can be the end for any warrior. So, I want to leave you fully trained, and ready for the world ahead. You did the crouch and pounce wonderful, but once you get used to the launch, you'll have to go quickly, when your victim least expects it." Nightrain said with a smile.
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Post by Shadepelt on Jun 11, 2006 11:38:54 GMT -5
Taking in everything that Nightrain had said, like moss to water, Winterpaw nodded determindly. Turning to face the rock, she sunk low into a crouch, making sure her weight stayed on her haunches. Balance correct, the apprentice stalked slowly through the reeds, like water flowing down a stream. Eyes narrowed, they looked like bright, blue chips of cold ice, preparing to attack.
Silent as an owl in flight, the young she-cat sprang into the air, leaned forward, and unsheathed her claws. Wind rustling her fur she focused on the rock, taking care not to miss.
The moment her front claws hit the grey boulder, Winterpaw swung her hips and back legs around in one swift movement. Finally, the rock was trapped, the apprentice could almost feel the enemy warrior trying to snake out of her grip. She wouldnt' let that happen.
Bounding over to her mentor, eyes wide, happy orbs of blue, she purred with satisfaction.
"Did I do it right this time? I think I did!"
After the exhileration of the attack had calmed, Winterpaw couldn't help wonder smugly,
I wonder what Twilightpaw has learned today?
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Post by The Everlasting SUNNEH. on Jun 19, 2006 7:41:51 GMT -5
"You did that beautifully! I think that we should head back. You've learned alot today, and I want you to sleep on it. We can train again tomarrow, somewhere else new that you probably haven't gone yet." Nightrain meowed excitedly. "Hurry! Lets head back before a badger come out of it's burrow." Nightrain exclaimed, a little afraid of the giant monsters of destruction that laid inside the tubs of dirt, jutting far down into the Earth.
"Come on, unless you want to be eaten..." Nightrain joked, and pounced away.
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Post by Shadepelt on Jun 23, 2006 21:13:17 GMT -5
A sudden jolt tightened the young feline's stomach, as she turned tail and loped after her mentor,
"Coming Nightrain!"
Small head held high, Winterpaw smiled widely, she had done well today! Pausing once to look back at where badgers loomed, she shivered, and continued to run after her mentor.
She liked Nightrain, he was fun, yet serious at the same time. He did give her pointers on how to do things right, but he didn't critisize her harshly. Training would have been horrible with a mean mentor! Ice blue orbs glittered as she mewed quietly to herself,
"Training will be great, I can't wait for tomorrow!"
Golden paws lifted up off the earth, and the young apprentice leaped into the air, for pure joy.
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