Softpaw's Final Assessment [P]

[Fits]

Heroneye
| she/her | RiverClan | Lionheart |

Heroneye watched as Softpaw swam to the stone. She was doing well, until the very last moment; a twig fell from a nearby tree and hit her squarely on the head, causing the apprentice to briefly dip below the water. Heroneye lurched forward, prepared to intervene if needed, but Softpaw was fortunately able to recover soon after. She relaxed again, but still felt uneasy. It was clear that Softpaw was taking this quite hard, but Heroneye had no intention of failing her over something like that. Being caught off-guard from being hit in the head with something was a very natural reaction, especially considering how cold the water was, and just how difficult it was to simply swim this time of year.

Softpaw could swim; she had good form and was able to recover from mistakes quickly. That was what a warrior needed.

"Let's take a small break," Heroneye said, approaching the apprentice. She felt a bit bad about pausing things right as they neared the end, but Softpaw was still soaked, and she probably needed to clear her mind after all that. "We'll begin the final segment when you're ready." In any case, she wanted Softpaw to be at her best for sparring.

( @RomanticMangoBear - Softpaw )

[RomanticMangoBear]

Originally Posted by Fits

Heroneye
| she/her | RiverClan | Lionheart |

Heroneye watched as Softpaw swam to the stone. She was doing well, until the very last moment; a twig fell from a nearby tree and hit her squarely on the head, causing the apprentice to briefly dip below the water. Heroneye lurched forward, prepared to intervene if needed, but Softpaw was fortunately able to recover soon after. She relaxed again, but still felt uneasy. It was clear that Softpaw was taking this quite hard, but Heroneye had no intention of failing her over something like that. Being caught off-guard from being hit in the head with something was a very natural reaction, especially considering how cold the water was, and just how difficult it was to simply swim this time of year.

Softpaw could swim; she had good form and was able to recover from mistakes quickly. That was what a warrior needed.

"Let's take a small break," Heroneye said, approaching the apprentice. She felt a bit bad about pausing things right as they neared the end, but Softpaw was still soaked, and she probably needed to clear her mind after all that. "We'll begin the final segment when you're ready." In any case, she wanted Softpaw to be at her best for sparring.

( @RomanticMangoBear - Softpaw )

Softpaw shook off her fur once more. Shivering slightly. "Alright" she murmured. Her green hues dark in thought. "How come the twig fell only as I swam. That twigs been hanging sense the dawn of time. Every apprentice I know swats at a hanging stick like a kit to a butterfly. But somehow that's the only one to hit me" Softpaw sighed, her tone wasn't mad as I nearly ever was. But it was very disappointed. How could the stickiness messed her up like that? Ugh. Dumb stick. While sitting in a sunny spot near her mentor. Softpaw licked her fur the wrong way them set it back, an efficient way to dry herself. Softpaw sighed as she looked at the water. Sweetsap.... had she seen her daughters Foolish mess up? Softpaws thoughts made her ears go down self consciously in real time. White tail flicking anxiously as she thought. Deciding to shake away her thoughts, she licked her pelt down and sighed. Letting all bound up feelings of the twig go. Sweetsap would be proud of her for just being there. She shouldn't lt a dumb...twig... get in her way! Softpaw stood and stretched. Her eyes alight with new determination as she looked at her mentor. "I think I'm ready" Softaw meowed. The white furred apprentice being a bit nervous yet ready for anything, was probably the only reason she hadn't broke down crying yet.

[Fits]

Heroneye
| she/her | RiverClan | Lionheart |

Seeing Softpaw, it was clear that she couldn't simply let go of her past mistake. She was like her mentor in that way--unfortunately. Heroneye supposed this was the part where she was supposed to give a kind of pep talk. If Heroneye were told "don't give up" or "you'll be fine, so just move on", she probably wouldn't really listen--especially when Heroneye was an apprentice. But surely she still had something to offer. She couldn't let Softpaw proceed in this state of mind; it would only slow her down.

Softpaw had just said that she was ready to move on (Heroneye had wasted a bit of time considering what to do, apparently), so she would have to say something now or not at all. "Alright. But Softpaw," she began, a bit suddenly. "I know you're upset about earlier. I know that feeling well, but there's nothing you can do about it, right? So try to clear your mind. I know you'll be okay. You've been training all this time, after all."

In any case, it was time to move on to the final leg of the assessment. "For this last section, we'll be doing combat. We'll spar, just as you did during your training." Heroneye slipped into a crouch, preparing for Softpaw's first move. "You may begin whenever you're ready."

( @RomanticMangoBear - Softpaw )

[RomanticMangoBear]

Originally Posted by Fits

Heroneye
| she/her | RiverClan | Lionheart |

Seeing Softpaw, it was clear that she couldn't simply let go of her past mistake. She was like her mentor in that way--unfortunately. Heroneye supposed this was the part where she was supposed to give a kind of pep talk. If Heroneye were told "don't give up" or "you'll be fine, so just move on", she probably wouldn't really listen--especially when Heroneye was an apprentice. But surely she still had something to offer. She couldn't let Softpaw proceed in this state of mind; it would only slow her down.

Softpaw had just said that she was ready to move on (Heroneye had wasted a bit of time considering what to do, apparently), so she would have to say something now or not at all. "Alright. But Softpaw," she began, a bit suddenly. "I know you're upset about earlier. I know that feeling well, but there's nothing you can do about it, right? So try to clear your mind. I know you'll be okay. You've been training all this time, after all."

In any case, it was time to move on to the final leg of the assessment. "For this last section, we'll be doing combat. We'll spar, just as you did during your training." Heroneye slipped into a crouch, preparing for Softpaw's first move. "You may begin whenever you're ready."

( @RomanticMangoBear - Softpaw )

Softpaw obediently listened to her mentor. Nodding gently she murmured. "Ok....I'm just upset that it was a twig " Softpaw admitted. Flicking her ears in interest as she heard she was to spar. Softpaw was very sneaky and liked fighting.
Crouching, the white furred shecat sized up her mentor, stalking to one side as she flicked her tail wildly behind her, she'd done it wih Daisypaw and it had distracted the other shecat. Perhaps it would work on her mentor. As Softpaw circled her mentor she got closer slowly. Gradually letting the circle close in until she made a sudden move. Darting directly forward then launching herself to the right. Stretching her forepaws in hopes on touching her mentors side and or tripping her. If she succed and tripped her mentor. She would place a paw on her stomach and a hindpaw on her tail. If not. She would attempt to leap out of the way

[Fits]

Heroneye
| she/her | RiverClan | Lionheart |

[ Heroneye rolled a three out of ten. ]

Heroneye watched as Softpaw circled around her, her tail moving erratically. Just what was she trying to do? Catch Heroneye off-guard, of course. That was why any cat did anything other than fighting during a battle.

Even knowing that, it worked. Softpaw's forepaws struck Heroneye's side, causing her to fall to the side with a grunt. Heroneye grimaced, but she couldn't linger on that for very long (in any case, she supposed she should be more happy than anything that Softpaw had made such progress); the apprentice was approaching again, no doubt preparing to land another blow, or pin her down. Heroneye rolled out of the way, narrowly avoid Softpaw's next move.

Heroneye rolled back onto her paws, moving slightly into a crouch before leaping back up at the apprentice, hoping to retaliate with a front paw blow.

( @RomanticMangoBear - Softpaw )

[RomanticMangoBear]

Originally Posted by Fits

Heroneye
| she/her | RiverClan | Lionheart |

[ Heroneye rolled a three out of ten. ]

Heroneye watched as Softpaw circled around her, her tail moving erratically. Just what was she trying to do? Catch Heroneye off-guard, of course. That was why any cat did anything other than fighting during a battle.

Even knowing that, it worked. Softpaw's forepaws struck Heroneye's side, causing her to fall to the side with a grunt. Heroneye grimaced, but she couldn't linger on that for very long (in any case, she supposed she should be more happy than anything that Softpaw had made such progress); the apprentice was approaching again, no doubt preparing to land another blow, or pin her down. Heroneye rolled out of the way, narrowly avoid Softpaw's next move.

Heroneye rolled back onto her paws, moving slightly into a crouch before leaping back up at the apprentice, hoping to retaliate with a front paw blow.

( @RomanticMangoBear - Softpaw )

Softpaw growled lightly as she couldn't pin her mentor. Leaping backwards she was hit with a front blow from her mentor. Stumbling backwards the white apprentice tried to regain her stance quickly. Lashing her white tail the apprentice green hues narrowed to slits. She had to get serious. Screw not hurting her mentor, Softpaw felt an urge to yank her down but didn't know how she'd go about it. Softpaw growled deep in her throat as she crouched, a narrowed gaze on her mentors movements.

[Fits]

Heroneye
| she/her | RiverClan | Lionheart |

Softpaw had paused, crouching in place as she evidently considered her next move. Heroneye would be the one to strike next, though that would naturally put her in a more vulnerable position than Softpaw. She would just have to deal with that later; maybe it would teach the apprentice something about taking advantage of her enemies' weaknesses.

Heroneye attempted the leap-and-hold, dashing around the apprentice to leap on her back and overwhelm her (not too roughly, if she could help it). If that failed, she would try to jump back and avoid any retaliatory moves.

( @RomanticMangoBear - Softpaw )

[RomanticMangoBear]

Originally Posted by Fits

Heroneye
| she/her | RiverClan | Lionheart |

Softpaw had paused, crouching in place as she evidently considered her next move. Heroneye would be the one to strike next, though that would naturally put her in a more vulnerable position than Softpaw. She would just have to deal with that later; maybe it would teach the apprentice something about taking advantage of her enemies' weaknesses.

Heroneye attempted the leap-and-hold, dashing around the apprentice to leap on her back and overwhelm her (not too roughly, if she could help it). If that failed, she would try to jump back and avoid any retaliatory moves.

( @RomanticMangoBear - Softpaw )

Softpaw gave a gentle growl. It was a dangerous move, but as her mentor moved above her. Softpaw shot forward. Yelping as her mentors front body landed on her hind quarters. Yanking her down as she bumped her jaw on a rock. Softpaws eyes lit uo in anger. Green slits dark as she growled. Kicking her hind legs to try and knock her mentor off. A small scrape on her chin caused some blood to stain her fur pink. Softpaw lashed her tail. Attempting to spin around and place her teeth gently on her mentors neck as she tried to hold her with two hind paws on her belly and her frepaw on Heroneyes neck and Achilles heel. It was an awkward yet dangerous positions. Her fluffy tail covering her stomach

[Fits]

Heroneye
| she/her | RiverClan | Lionheart |

[ Heroneye rolled a five out of ten. ]

Heroneye flinched as she noticed the blood on Softpaw's chin. She hadn't meant for that to happen. It wasn't terrible, but one simply supposed to draw blood during sparring.

Softpaw was showing no signs of slowing down, though. The apprentice turned under Heroneye's paws, and she lost her grip, and the Lionheart suddenly found the apprentice coming towards her, her teeth and paws coming to her neck as though to deal a final blow.

"That's good," Heroneye said suddenly. There was no doubt about it now. The Lionheart had nothing more to teach the apprentice. Her stomach twisted with a mixture of pride, excitement, and regret. She ducked away from the apprentice's grip, coming to stand in front of her.

"With that, you've officially passed your assessment. I'm sure you know what that means." Heroneye smiled in her firm way, nodding slightly at Softpaw. "You've been an excellent apprentice. I know you'll make an excellent warrior, too." It wasn't like Heroneye to be so open, but she felt she'd be remiss if she didn't say anything. A lot would be changing in Softpaw's life, and she wanted the apprentice to be able to walk towards that change with her head held high, and knowing that she deserves it.

( @RomanticMangoBear - Softpaw )

[RomanticMangoBear]

Originally Posted by Fits

Heroneye
| she/her | RiverClan | Lionheart |

[ Heroneye rolled a five out of ten. ]

Heroneye flinched as she noticed the blood on Softpaw's chin. She hadn't meant for that to happen. It wasn't terrible, but one simply supposed to draw blood during sparring.

Softpaw was showing no signs of slowing down, though. The apprentice turned under Heroneye's paws, and she lost her grip, and the Lionheart suddenly found the apprentice coming towards her, her teeth and paws coming to her neck as though to deal a final blow.

"That's good," Heroneye said suddenly. There was no doubt about it now. The Lionheart had nothing more to teach the apprentice. Her stomach twisted with a mixture of pride, excitement, and regret. She ducked away from the apprentice's grip, coming to stand in front of her.

"With that, you've officially passed your assessment. I'm sure you know what that means." Heroneye smiled in her firm way, nodding slightly at Softpaw. "You've been an excellent apprentice. I know you'll make an excellent warrior, too." It wasn't like Heroneye to be so open, but she felt she'd be remiss if she didn't say anything. A lot would be changing in Softpaw's life, and she wanted the apprentice to be able to walk towards that change with her head held high, and knowing that she deserves it.

( @RomanticMangoBear - Softpaw )

Softpaw's eyes immdietly rounded and softened. Her claws going back as she stood uo. Licking her mentors cheek softly. "Even though I'll have a different name. I'll always learn new things from you, and you'll always be my teacher and friend" Softpaw murmured affectionately. "I'm grateful for this, truly. I honestly didn't think I'd be here after Sweetsap....but you helped me. You did the hard part I just followed" Softpaw meowed her tone genuine and a little bit playful as she put her muzzle against Heroneyes shoulder