Sunsetpaw Training

[Pitou]

**Sunsetpaw & Elmshadow**

The new apprentice bounced toward the freshkill pile as her stomach grumbled. She was stopped by a familiar voice though the name on the tongue felt uneasy and forced. She smiled anyways and turned, "Papa Elmshadow!"

"Sunsetpaw," the dark medicine cat repeated, though the effort seemed to less the second time around. "You're an apprentice now. You don't simply get free access to the freshkill pile. You must bring something back for the clan before taking your own share."

The young apprentice cocked her head and glanced back longingly at the pile of freshkill where it had always been. Nonetheless, she obeyed the large tom and rose back to her full height and bounced after him. "Mkay! Then are we going out to hunt?!"

Elmshadow didn't hesitate as he turned smoothly, flicking the nub of his tail in a silent order to follow as he moved silently out of the camp entrance. Sunsetpaw was still too young to traditionally be an apprentice but Dawnstar had deemed her worthy in the face of the clan's needs and so she'd need to start acting like one. She would be expected to train and fight like an apprentice so there was no room to be treating her as a kit, regardless her age. She was large enough to pass as a new six-moon-old apprentice, however, so the rest of it would undoubtedly come easy enough as well.

The dark tom slowed to allow Sunsetpaw to prance up beside him. "Being out in the territory is not the same as in camp. It belongs to us but that does not mean there will be no danger. While you are out you must stay alert, and quiet. Prancing around like a badger will get you killed before you even knew there was danger." He crouched down and flexed his claws into the pine needles and dirt. "Feel the ground beneath you, listen, be aware of your body and its movements, its reactions."

The grey and white she-cat copied Papa Elmshadow's crouch and looked at him with wide blue eyes as he spoke about feeling and listening and being. Then she moved her eyes forward and swiveled her ears. Suddenly there was another world opening up before her, there was a new world of small, muffled sounds, little twitching movements all around her, and she felt her pelt twinge and prickle with a sensation she hadn't noticed before, a sensation to go. Her face broke into a smile and she whispered loudly, "I feel it, Papa Elmshadow, I feel it!" Her eyes dilated and she locked onto a flickering leaf.

Elmshadow's dark green eyes traced the young Sunsetpaw's eyesight and his brow cocked curiously. She truly did feel it, it seemed. He crouched lower, to put his face besides hers and whispered quiet instruction, "Move slowly, try to move only while it is distracted. When you're ready, pounce. The more balanced you are when you leap, the more accurate your aim will be." Luckily the plentiful greenleaf was still in swing so the dark tom was less concerned about a failed attempt leading to an escaped prey and would prefer the paws-on experience, even a failed one.

Sunsetpaw took one step forward but the crunch of the dry needles under her paw made her pelt tingle uncomfortably so she bunched her muscles together and went for the pounce. She landed a mouse-length short and the shrew was disappearing into a nearby burrow before she could correct. She sat down, her tail flicking behind her as her eyes remained locked on the dark burrow. She felt Elmshadow walk up beside her but she didn't look up.

"You cannot compensate a lack of stealth with an unprepared pounce. The pounce looked good but it will never be enough. Move slow and deliberate, let your paws guide you to a silent step. Come on, we need to move on."

The apprentice smiled and bounced to her paws, following after her grandfather as he moved back into the path they'd been walking. She nearly bumped into the back of his leg as he stopped. There was a new scent drifting toward her though it mingled strongly with the pine scent she was so used to. She cocked her head, it was vaguely familiar. "What's that?"

Elmshadow kept his green eyes vigilantly out toward the source of the scent but he meowed deeply, "That is Thunderclan. We will travel no closer to the border itself. I am sure you are aware to some extent of the unrest between our two clans so there is no sense provoking anything with just the two of us." He'd approached the Thunderclan border once before with two untrained apprentices and the Thunderclan patrol had shown no hold backs to attacking despite that fact. It would be a battle that'd have no benefit in the long term so there was no need to move closer with the young apprentice; she'd surely grow familiar with the border soon enough. "This will be important in the coming moons, I suspect. What have you heard of Thunderclan?"

The young apprentice cocked her head thoughtfully. Thunderclan. "They brought the flat cat, the, uh...pelt? to the Gathering! And they re like squirrels. And...oh! And their leader once helped us when Shadowclan was in shambles."

Elmshadow's eyes flicked to the young grey and white she-cat momentarily, but he looked back to the Thunderclan border and answered evenly, "The apprentice who brought the pelt to the Gathering was of Thunderclan. They are called squirrels by some as that is their main prey source, though don't allow the name to cloud your judgement on their abilities. They are as much warriors as the rest of us and are not to be underestimated. Shadowclanners are rarely beat but they do lose, often as a result of their own mistakes, such as underestimating opponents." He paused, considering the leader claim. "The leader that had once helped Shadowclan in a time of great need is long since passed. No clan should continue to live in your mind by the deeds of leaders long passed. Their leader now allows the atrocities we've seen from them and thus they will be treated for their present discretions." He allowed the words of warning a moment to sink in before he continued with his usual points. "Thunderclan is adept at tree climbing and their main prey source, squirrels, are quick and nimble so Thunderclan has had to adapt as well. Their greatest weakness, however, is their pride and blind superiority. Many crumble in the face of Starclan and overestimate their own abilities. They often believe they are above the other clans and that haughtiness makes them easy enough to bend."

He turned away from the border to put distance between themselves and the smell of oak and rotting leaves. He kept his pace even, making sure Sunsetpaw would not fall behind as they moved away from the hostile territory. He slowed as the sound of rushing water echoed through the trees, stopping in sight of the river and the border between their own territory and Riverclan's. "What can you tell me of Riverclan?"

Sunsetpaw's face scrunched thoughtfully. "They like swimming and one of their leaders didn't like Miss Star?"

She knew plenty of the leaders and history though she was ignorant of most of the clan as a whole. He figured he had mostly himself to blame. Though he'd noticed Mousepaw spending more time with his younger sister, he couldn't expect the apprentice to have taught the young she-cat much. These things were so much easier when there was a responsible queen keeping track of her own kits. It was a detail that he missed dearly in both Sunsetthorn and her mother, Dappledleaf as well. Cougarivy was a formidable she-cat but motherly she was not. He nodded, "Riverclan cats are adept in the water. Their greatest strengths are their prowess in the water and their ability to maintain condition and strength through all seasons as their main prey source is fish which do not hibernate like much of our prey. Can you tell me what their weakness might be?"

Sunsetpaw wiggled happily, her eyes dancing up the glittering water. "They're slow!"

"Don't underestimate. But typically, yes. Their greater size will make them less quick on land. In the water, however, you will not generally find a Riverclan cat you can outpace." He flicked his chin and moved on, returning to his usual quicker pace. They would have to get through this quickly before the sun began to set.

Sunsetpaw's legs moved faster until they were running to keep up with Papa Elmshadow as he strode easily through the littered forest. She stopped first as another vaguely familiar scent had reached her. She hadn't recognized the fishy Riverclan scent at all but Thunderclan and Windclan had been at the gathering with Shadowclan. "Windclan!" she chirped.

Elmshadow slowed and nodded, beckoning her the rest of the way to the moorland border. "Windclan and Shadowclan have some fairly recent tumultuous history but, for the time being, we are comfortable. Keep in mind, though, there is and likely always will be to some degree, hostile opinons and bad blood. What do you know of Windclan?"

Sunsetpaw perked up. She knew about Windclan too, she did she did! "They drove us out of our camp!"

Elmshadow nodded, though hearing more about the clans' history was not exactly what he'd had in mind. "That was part of our tumultuous history, yes. They live on the open moorlands and their main prey source is rabbits. What would you believe their strengths and weaknesses to be?"

She sat down, looking at Papa Elmshadow brightly. "They're fast! But...weak?"

"Again, be careful with underestimating. Speed can make up for strength where it's lacking in size and brute. But yes, that is correct. In an open setting, Windclan will have the advantage. They will often be able to get quick strikes in before you can land one. However, in close combat and confined spaces, you have the advantage." He turned from the border and began walking deeper in Shadowclan territory, not slowing as he instructed, "We'll be heading back now, but I want you to see the shadows, become a part of them." Sunsetpaw looked so very much like her mother but she had an advantage over the late Sunsetthorn, she'd inherited Elmshadow's grey-scale pelt rather than Goldenstep's bright coloration. It'd serve her well. Elmshadow had grown to adore his former mate's beautiful golden pelt but it had posed a disadvantage for the daughters who'd inherited the brightness in a clan of shadows and stealth.

Sunsetpaw looked out over the forest, her eyes instinctively moved over the empty dark spaces among the bushes and beneath the trees. She remembered Elmshadow's earlier lesson, letting her paws guide her to the quietest steps. She focused on her body and crouched down, stalking off into the nearest shadow she saw. Her ear swiveled to keep track of Papa Elmshadow as he moved seemingly carelessly straight back towards camp as she followed more deliberately, watching the shadows and skirting from one to the next, keeping her focus on her body movements and letting her paws drift slowly, lightly over the loud litter.

By the time the territory began to look familiar just outside the camp, her eye lids felt heavy and her muscles were aching. Her stomach felt hollow and she was suddenly starkly aware that she never caught any prey. She trudged out of the shadow she was crouched in as Elmshadow stopped at the camp entrance and turned to look straight at her. Her back end plopped heavily down in front of him. "You're nearly there, don't sit now." He shifted slightly to give her a path through the entrance. She lifted back to her paws with a great effort and dragged herself forward. Elmshadow followed, "You did well today. The stealth could still use work but you've got all the right ideas. Now it will just be practice, so you can perfect doing things without thinking about them. It will make it easier to pay attention to everything at once." As she slowed in the clearing, her eyes flickering between the apprentice den and the freshkill pile, Elmshadow out himself beside her. "Go get some freshkill and sleep."

Sunetpaw's pale eyes moved up to Papa Elmshadow, wide, "But I didn't catch anything!"

Elmshadow looked down at his granddaughter, "That is the benefit of being apart of a clan. As long as you are putting in your share of the work in some places, there are others in the clan who are putting in their share in other places. You worked hard today to become a productive clanmate, you earned your meal. Just remember, that is why we never slack on our duties. We cannot be the force we are together if we all had to focus on everything at once. Go."

Elmshadow turned back to his den but, just inside, he turned and watched the young apprentice as she walked past the freshkill pile and moved straight into the apprentice den. He blinked, unsure whether to be annoyed or impressed. It was difficult to see where she was related to him beyond the grey pelt but maybe he'd just witnessed the first of it. She hadn't caught anything but she wouldn't be worth anything to anybody if she grew too weak or sick. He decided to let it go. He'd make sure she got something in the morning before she started training but would leave it for now.

[Pitou]

**Sunsetpaw**

@Rose

She stretched then padded her way through the other apprentice nests, moving slowly as she examined what cats still remained, whether in their nests or linger within the den. She hadn't gotten all of their names down yet but she couldn't help the growing encouragement. She really wasn't all that small in comparison. Sure, she was young but probably most wouldn't know it by her size. What was the point of that silly age rule anyway, then? Of course, Miss Star was onto something. Satisfied with her conclusion, she hurried out and looked around the clearing. She hadn't seen Goody since Papa Elmshadow called for patrols on the day she'd gotten Goody as a mentor. Papa Elmshadow had taken her out into the territory and Roo's mentor had gone with her and Roo for the patrol, though even roo's mentor seemed to ditch them out there. Some might say her apprenticeship was starting off rocky but she knew no better and would vehemently disagree. She'd gotten to go to the most eventful gathering she was sure that had ever been, at least she hadn't heard of anything like that happening before, and she had gotten to be in the forest basically all by herself, how many apprentices could say that? Especially at only four and a half moons old!

Her pale eyes stopped on a figure she recognized and her thoughts zeroed in. She hadn't talked to Anty Larkie yet but MooMoo had said so many great and amazing things. Now she could find out just for herself, she could! She lurched forward and ran over the open ground until she nearly bowled into Anty Larkie's legs. Righting herself, she cocked her head and mewed hurriedly, "You're Anty Larkie! MooMoo said you're the bestest fighter, he did he did! I want to learn how to fight, yes yes! I'm Sunsetpaw!" There was something strange and disconnected about saying her name and it occurred to her that she likely didn't have to tell Anty Larkie what her name was, she probably already knew if she was as amazing as MooMoo said, but she felt the need to put her name on her very own tongue, something she had never done before. And then it hit her all in that moment that it didn't feel right, and it was nearly as strange as hearing Papa Elmshadow say it for the first time. She shook away the thoughts and brightened herself again to focus on Anty Larkie. She would get to learn to fight today, she would! She hoped. "Won't you teach me how to fight like you, like the bestest fighter in Shadowclan?! Please!"

[Rose]

 

Originally Posted by Pitou

**Sunsetpaw**

@Rose

She stretched then padded her way through the other apprentice nests, moving slowly as she examined what cats still remained, whether in their nests or linger within the den. She hadn't gotten all of their names down yet but she couldn't help the growing encouragement. She really wasn't all that small in comparison. Sure, she was young but probably most wouldn't know it by her size. What was the point of that silly age rule anyway, then? Of course, Miss Star was onto something. Satisfied with her conclusion, she hurried out and looked around the clearing. She hadn't seen Goody since Papa Elmshadow called for patrols on the day she'd gotten Goody as a mentor. Papa Elmshadow had taken her out into the territory and Roo's mentor had gone with her and Roo for the patrol, though even roo's mentor seemed to ditch them out there. Some might say her apprenticeship was starting off rocky but she knew no better and would vehemently disagree. She'd gotten to go to the most eventful gathering she was sure that had ever been, at least she hadn't heard of anything like that happening before, and she had gotten to be in the forest basically all by herself, how many apprentices could say that? Especially at only four and a half moons old!

Her pale eyes stopped on a figure she recognized and her thoughts zeroed in. She hadn't talked to Anty Larkie yet but MooMoo had said so many great and amazing things. Now she could find out just for herself, she could! She lurched forward and ran over the open ground until she nearly bowled into Anty Larkie's legs. Righting herself, she cocked her head and mewed hurriedly, "You're Anty Larkie! MooMoo said you're the bestest fighter, he did he did! I want to learn how to fight, yes yes! I'm Sunsetpaw!" There was something strange and disconnected about saying her name and it occurred to her that she likely didn't have to tell Anty Larkie what her name was, she probably already knew if she was as amazing as MooMoo said, but she felt the need to put her name on her very own tongue, something she had never done before. And then it hit her all in that moment that it didn't feel right, and it was nearly as strange as hearing Papa Elmshadow say it for the first time. She shook away the thoughts and brightened herself again to focus on Anty Larkie. She would get to learn to fight today, she would! She hoped. "Won't you teach me how to fight like you, like the bestest fighter in Shadowclan?! Please!"

Larkfire
She/Her | Shadow Fiend & Beefed Up (T1) Purrk

Now that, had been an excellent surprise. Sunsetpaw, who had seemingly popped up out of nowhere and started sprouting random words that Lark barely kept up with, because she'd been too distracted trying not to fall asleep. Well, in her defense, who ever expected to be approached randomly by an upbeat apprentice while half-asleep and supposedly on guard duty. Again, in her defense, she wasn't actually on guard-duty, she'd just sidled up to whichever warrior today was assigned to watch camp and had plopped down beside them, trying not to fall asleep.

So when a happy bundle of grey fur came barreling (almost) straight into her legs. . . well, Larkfire was very startled. She almost fell over, too, had it not been for her stubborn ego, refusing to let her pride be bested that way. Considering Sunsetpaw now, Larkfire eyed the kit-aged apprentice with mild interest. "Aren't you a little too.. well, little to be fighting?" The enforcer asked hesitantly, and then could have slapped herself at the irony. Well, technically, she herself had been taught at least basic fighting and swimming at that age, and she was literally named the baby enforcer. Who was she to deny the fluffball?

"Nevermind," She murmured finally, rising to her paws and shaking her head. "I can teach you, yeah. Keep close, though. Has anyone taught you anything on fighting until now?" Letting that question stew, the lithe grey feline led her companion out of camp and into the forest.

[Pitou]

**Sunsetpaw**

@Rose

She tried to will her front paws to remain still on the ground but it was futile as she awaited Anty Larkie's answer. She picked up nothing but a similar general sleepiness that seemed to hang over most of the clan cats, other than Moomoo of course. Her head cocked at the initial response. Sunsetpaw hadn't considered that being too small would mean anything. Miss Star had made her an apprentice, she couldn't be wrong, but Anty Larkie couldn't either, right? She was Moomoo's favorite! At least as far as she was the family member Moomoo had talked about that was currently in front of her at that moment. But then she agreed and the smile straightened Sunsetpaw's head, she rose bouncing. "Yay! Yes yes! I will do only as you say, yes ye...Oh," she paused a moment, her head cocking again. Had she been taught anything about fighting yet? "Well, Papa Elmshadow told me a little and Greatmo...uh," she cut her words off but continued to move her paws as she followed Anty Larkie. She wasn't supposed to say anything about Greatmo, it was going to be a surprise. She'd almost let it slip out! No no no, she couldn't ruin the surprise! She resolved to be more mindful moving forward and continued more carefully, "I learned about stalking and pouncing and then biting but that was only with a mouse." She didn't know if any of that counted as what Anty Larkie called fighting but she was happy to talk about it anyway. She'd been learning, yep yep! "Oh!" Her realization nearly left her to forget to continue moving her paws forward but she quickly recovered and skipped forward to catch back up to Anty Larkie. "And Miss Ivy taught us how to fight against bad-jers and foxes," she screwed up her face as she tried pronouncing the first of the predators from the not-too-distant memory of Miss Star's game. "She taught us to swipe at their nose and then run under to bite their leg," she made a teeth-bared snapping gesture. Then searched her memories for the other part. Miss Ivy had taught the apprentices something too and, while she hadn't practiced what the apprentices were going to be doing, she had nothing else to pay attention to besides their instructions. "And being under you can also turn and use your claws to swipe at their belly too!" Her pale blue eyes looked up at Anty Larkie expectantly, hoping she'd given her current trainer the best answer she was looking for.

[Rose]

 

Originally Posted by Pitou

**Sunsetpaw**

@Rose

She tried to will her front paws to remain still on the ground but it was futile as she awaited Anty Larkie's answer. She picked up nothing but a similar general sleepiness that seemed to hang over most of the clan cats, other than Moomoo of course. Her head cocked at the initial response. Sunsetpaw hadn't considered that being too small would mean anything. Miss Star had made her an apprentice, she couldn't be wrong, but Anty Larkie couldn't either, right? She was Moomoo's favorite! At least as far as she was the family member Moomoo had talked about that was currently in front of her at that moment. But then she agreed and the smile straightened Sunsetpaw's head, she rose bouncing. "Yay! Yes yes! I will do only as you say, yes ye...Oh," she paused a moment, her head cocking again. Had she been taught anything about fighting yet? "Well, Papa Elmshadow told me a little and Greatmo...uh," she cut her words off but continued to move her paws as she followed Anty Larkie. She wasn't supposed to say anything about Greatmo, it was going to be a surprise. She'd almost let it slip out! No no no, she couldn't ruin the surprise! She resolved to be more mindful moving forward and continued more carefully, "I learned about stalking and pouncing and then biting but that was only with a mouse." She didn't know if any of that counted as what Anty Larkie called fighting but she was happy to talk about it anyway. She'd been learning, yep yep! "Oh!" Her realization nearly left her to forget to continue moving her paws forward but she quickly recovered and skipped forward to catch back up to Anty Larkie. "And Miss Ivy taught us how to fight against bad-jers and foxes," she screwed up her face as she tried pronouncing the first of the predators from the not-too-distant memory of Miss Star's game. "She taught us to swipe at their nose and then run under to bite their leg," she made a teeth-bared snapping gesture. Then searched her memories for the other part. Miss Ivy had taught the apprentices something too and, while she hadn't practiced what the apprentices were going to be doing, she had nothing else to pay attention to besides their instructions. "And being under you can also turn and use your claws to swipe at their belly too!" Her pale blue eyes looked up at Anty Larkie expectantly, hoping she'd given her current trainer the best answer she was looking for.

Larkfire
She/Her | Shadow Fiend & Beefed Up (T1) Purrk

Stalking, pouncing, biting. With a mouse, to be precise. It was a good start, and they could build from there. "Alright. Miss Ivy... Cougarivy, I'm assuming, taught you about fighting predators. Larger cats are similar, but I'll teach you more specific moves that work against other warriors and apprentices." Her tail flicked as Larkfire drew to a halt, casting a brief glance around the small empty clearing they'd entered to make sure it was really unoccupied.

Finally, she turned back to her pupil with a slight smile. "I hope you're prepared to learn a lot today." She warned softly, and then moved on without any further hindrance.

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[ Because I've delayed this so long, I figured I'd just throw all / most of the moves into one post, so we can pretend the pair are going through them one by one ?
Additionally, I just went scrounging around for training sessions and have taken stuff from here and here lol. A lot of stuff will probably also be vague they/them/apprentice/youngster terms so I can just reuse this outline if I need to later. ]
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[ Cranial Blow ]

"Cranial blow." She began simply, amber hues fixed on the apprentice. Lifting her paw, Larkfire swung it sharply towards the youngster's head, but she softened the impact at the last moment and instead aimed to tap her paw against the side of Sunsetpaw's (dunno which name to use yet, whoops, but I'll stay with Sunset for now) head. "A cranial blow is a great way to disorient your opponent. It gives you a moment to plan your next move or get away. You can hit the side or hit the top and swipe down. Both ways are effective, but you have to hit hard."

[ Front Paw Strike ]

"I'll show you the front paw strike next. It's similar in fashion to the cranial blow, but for this one it makes more sense to keep your claws out." Lifting her paw, Larkfire gestured with one tap each to the apprentice's shoulder, side, and hip. After a beat, the young enforcer moved her paw to skim the apprentice's chest and throat. "All these places are targets for your claws. You can cause damage, make your opponent bleed. But be wary of moving any higher than their chest unless you want a death on your paws. Try it on me, come on."

[ Biting ]

"While this next part may sound funny, it's another great way to defend yourself; Biting." She inclined her head and tapped her paw against the ground before pointing to her own tail, ear, leg, and scruff. "Your fangs -- your canines, they are a weapon. Really, work hard enough, and every part of you can become a weapon in it's own right. Biting any of the areas I motioned to tends to distract your opponent long enough to get you an advantage. Biting hard enough on the ankle or paw will disable your opponent long enough to plan your next move, or simply win the battle."

[ Belly Rake ]

"Belly Rake." She began, scrutinizing the apprentice a moment before continuing. "Since I can't exactly show you this one, I'll just explain it. It's usually a fight-stopper. If your trapped or pinned down under someone, rake your claws across their underbelly as hard as you can." Miming raking her claws against thin air, Larkfire inclined her head. "It'll likely put you back in control of the situation."

[ Leap-and-hold ]

"Next, we can practice leap-and-hold. I'll let you try it on me." Offering her companions a small smile, Larkfire dropped into a defensive crouch. "When faced with a bigger warrior - or opponent - you can use this move."

"Unsheathe your claws, don't worry about inflicting me any hurt." With a nod, Larkfire dropped into a defensive crouch. "Spring onto the opponent's back and grip with unsheathed claws. Now you are beyond the range of your opponent's paws and in the position to inflict severe body wounds. You can try it."

After giving her makeshift apprentice the go-ahead to jump on her back as practice, Larkfire gave a moment before talking again. "Make sure to watch for the counter-move, which is called drop-and-roll. You'll need to hop off before your opponent drops into a roll to crush you under them." Giving herself a gentle shake to let her companion know that they could let go, the youngest enforcer executed a roll to finish the demonstration.

Once that was done with, Larkfire moved on.

[ Play Dead ]

"Playing dead is another way to get out of a tight situation. When you're pinned down, let's say maybe you're too weak to perform a belly rake, or your opponent isn't reacting to the injuries at all. Stop struggling, go limp. It might not work all the time, so don't rely on it too much. If they think they've won, they'll let you go and you can push yourself up explosively to catch them off guard."

Tail flicking, the lithe feline inclined her head, and then dropped in the ground to demonstrate going limp, before she surged upward in a burst of speed and straightened back onto her paws. "It'll put you back in an attacking position."

[ Scruff Shake ]

"This one." She paused a moment to level the apprentice with a look. "Is called Scruff Shake. It's most effective against rats, which are small enough to throw. A strong throw will stun or kill them. Secure a strong teeth grip in the scruff of your opponent's neck; then shake violently until she or he is too rattled to fight back. Don't try it unless you're certain you'd be able to pull it off."

[ Upright Lock ]

"Upright Lock. Final, crushing move on already weakened opponent. Rear up on back legs and bring your full weight down on opponent." Rearing up, Larkfire brought all her weight down to the ground in a loud thud, paws slamming into the ground. "If your opponent does the same, wrestle and flip him or her under you. This move makes you vulnerable to the belly rake, so it requires great strength and speed."

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[ Hyperventilates. So many words aaaaaaa I apologize for the word dump :sweats: ]

[Pitou]

**Sunsetpaw**

@Orchid [Yeah I was going all kinds of back and forth about the name but just figured I'll stick with Sunsetpaw to finish out the RPs I started her as Sunset in >< And this was perfect, thanks]

The young apprentice's big eyes remained locked on Antie Larkie, her head nodding eagerly as the enforcer brought up learning a lot. She felt her body buzzing with the energy she was giving it her all to retain within herself. And then a paw bopped her upside the head. Her ears perked and her back straightened. "Wha...Ohhh! Yes, yes, I like that. Dis-ori-ant. I'll try, I'll try." She balanced herself neatly on three legs and slashed out with one paw, aiming a blow at an imaginary opponent. She repositioned then tried again with her opposite forepaw, putting as much force as she could behind the blow. "No cat will be able to orient after that!" She lashed out again at the imaginary enemy.

She settled down and paid attention as Antie Larkie moved on to the next move. "Claws out," that was the best kind of move. Her eyes tracked Antie Larkie as the enforcer pointed at all the targets on her body. 'Unless you want a death'? It seemed a weird wording to Sunsetpaw. A death was a helpful thing, was it not? That had gotten increasingly less clear since she'd begun her apprenticeship, with so many different stipulations on when. She let the comment move past, deciding to think more on it later and instead focused on copying the move. She balanced herself like she had before and unsheathed her claws, slashing at the imaginary opponent again, but this time aiming for its imaginary throat or chest area. In her mind the enemy turned to flee. She smiled and pounced forward, aiming another strike at the fleeing enemy's haunches. Sunsetpaw flipped around and aimed another strike towards Antie Larkie.

As Antie Larkie spoke about the next move, Sunsetpaw's tongue moved over the teeth in her mouth, lingering over the canines. Oh yes, she could see why those were so dangerous, and why Greatmo had taught her to use them. Tail, ears, legs, or scruff, she nodded, chomping her jaws together a couple of times somewhat subconsciously.

Sunsetpaw listened closely, imagining the move as Antie Larkie explained it. She nodded then rolled backward as her imaginary opponent came back for more out of the brush. She lifted her back legs and kicked out at the attacker and imagined her claws raking through soft belly flesh. She popped back up to her paws and looked to Antie Larkie, "Oh yes, they'll think they can trap me but then it'll be me who actually has them where I want 'em!"

A wide smile played over the apprentice's mouth. Leap and hold! She nodded eagerly then crouched down, waiting with shuffling paws for the go-ahead. As soon as it came, Sunsetpaw leaped forward with unsheathed claws and landed on the larger she-cat's back. She used her claws to grip into Antie Larkie as best she could to keep herself steady. An excited jolt coursed through her. She was so high! And it was working! Then Antie Larkie's words reached her again, the drop-and-roll? A little shock got her as the body shook a little beneath her. She scrambled off quickly just before the enforcer dropped into a neat roll. Sunsetpaw watched with fascination as she regained her footing on the forest floor.

Play dead, so another helpful dead. She watched with a playful smile before mimicking the enforcer. She let her limbs got limp and she collapsed to the ground. Then, waiting for her imaginary enemy to let its guard down, she leapt upwards and back up to her paws.

"Fighting rats?! Where can we go to do that?!" She'd heard of eating rat but it hadn't occurred to her that the large rodents would be a fight as well. She shook her head in wide arcs back and forth, pretending to fling the long body of a fat rat by its scruff.

Sunsetpaw lifted herself up off the ground, copying Antie Larkie's movements then came down hard on the ground in front of her. It had a disappointing lack of affect on the ground like Antie Larkie's had had. She didn't know what she was expecting exactly, for the ground to give at least a little she supposed, but the ground was tough and rigid against her force. She reared up again but this time she rolled herself backwards as if being pounced on. She was losing her balance a little and decided to play it off. She lifted her back legs to strike at the opponent but then she let her limbs fall limp. "Oh no! I'm playing dead! He's got me. But no! Not the final blow!" She let out an exaggerated exhale and lulled her head backwards. She giggled and righted herself, "Bested by a rat!" She reared up again and came down hard on the ground in front of her, her paws tingled with the impact. "But that's just what she wanted him to think! She comes back to life and ends it all with the upright lock!" She let out a quiet, airy cheer. Her eyes looked up to Antie Larkie for approval.

[Phew, blew through that kind of quickly ><]

[Rose]

Larkfire
She/Her | Shadow Fiend & Beefed Up (T1) Purrk

Larkfire couldn't help it. Her eyes warmed with affection as she watched Sunsetpaw overcome each of the moves and master them to some extent. This was what Larkfire loved to do, what she loved to see. Teaching apprentices, watching them learn and live and thrive. Watching them grow from the littlest of kits to young warriors. A sense of pride festered in her chest, a sense of contentment that she belonged to ShadowClan.

"You did good. Mousepaw (Silverlark?) will be happy to hear it." She allowed finally when Sunsetpaw looked up. A corner of her mouth tilting up in a minuscule smile, Larkfire cocked her head to the side in a vague gesture in the direction of camp. "Ought to head back now, that's enough training for today." Flicking her tail, Larkfire started off back towards ShadowClan's dwelling.

[ @Pitou - Sunsetpaw | Was unsure if you wanted me to wrap this up or not, but here we are ^^ ]

[Pitou]

**Sunsetpaw**

@Orchid [That's perfect ^^ Thanks]

She slowly caught her breath and a smile spread over her face at Antie Larkie's words of praise. Moomoo would be so proud. Oh! Oh. She'd have to go find him and practice on him, yep yep. He'll be so happy to see she was getting strong, oh yes! Her mind focused again for a moment when Antie Larkie mentioned going back to camp. A tiny wave of disappointment flitted through her, then drained just as quickly. She was hardly even tired! But she shrugged and bounced up, following after Antie Larkie back towards camp. Besides, there was lots more she could do once they got back to camp. But as she started walking, the stiffness in her legs had hit her and she slowed momentarily, stretching out each limb then running again to keep up with the enforcer.