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Tallstar @
CloudlessEve @
Marycat006
With the raptors about and no interest in trying to deal with them again after her and Honeypaw’s territory tour, Deadmoon was loath to take either one of her apprentices out on her own. She might have to at some point, Duckpaw had already caught her first rabbit and Honeypaw had no hunting training yet, but at the minute they would both be learning woodland hunting before anything else. That could be done together without holding either back, and under cover of trees as well.
But alas, hunting was not the only education she was required to provide, and in light of the vulture infestation and impending fight with Riverclan, both Honeypaw and Duckpaw needed to learn how to fight. Duckpaw had done some specialized move practice with Spottedpaw, back leap and play dead, but lacked the basic dodges and darts and swipes. Honeypaw knew nothing at all. And Vinepaw? Safety in numbers baby! Even if they wouldn’t be any help fighting a vulture if it attacked, four cats looked a lot less edible than one.
Coming to a stop and pleased to discover that her poor shoulder could finally handle a short trip, Deadmoon turned to address the trio.
Alright! We’re going to work on basic fighting today! Don’t volunteer for a fight just yet, but if you end up in trouble you’ll have a chance to get out safely. Ideally they wouldn’t be taken along on any battle patrols, with Shadowclan and Thunderclan accompanying them she doubted there would be a grave need for bodies, but some apprentices were stupid enough to volunteer.
The first thing we’re going to practice is swiping. Claws sheathed they weren’t Shadowclan after all
and first get a feel for aiming it in the air. Then, feel free to practice smacking various parts of me, as long as it’s not my left shoulder it won’t hurt. If they tried to poke her eye out she might have to revise that statement, but if they tried that she would also be within her rights to (gently) deck them. In case they needed an idea of what she expected, Deadmoon swung her good right paw through the air a few times, first slowly and then with greater force down and diagonally. This done she stood there as a training dummy of sorts, awaiting the barrage of likely very soft blows.
(For practice purposes, all apprentices can powerplay hitting Deadmoon within reason for the duration of the rp)