To Battle Beasts [Predetor Combat Training]

[Rani]

Bleedingpaw
Shadowclan Apprentice | He/Him | 10 Moons

Just a Scratch | Shadow Fiend | Hulk SMASH!

At this point Bleedingpaw was pretty sure the entire clan knew about how fervently the bengal had been looking for advanced training, not content to let the basics be enough and lingering in the apprentice role. In his defense it wasnt fear or laziness that motivated his avoidance, but necessity considering his situation. So he did his best to not be embarrassed by this all and instead enjoyed the benefits. Everyone knowing he was looking for advanced training meant that now he was approached with offers.


Today he was a little starstruck given it was Mistlewhisker offering predator combat training. He accepted immediately of course, thanking her profusely and stumbling over his manners as he did and now the two were wandering out of camp to get some space and he still wasnt over the shock.


Miss Mistlewhisker, the deputy herself thought he was worth personally training??? Maybe it was because......
"Miss Mistlewhisker? Am I going to learn about fighting owls first? Miss Dawnstar seemed upset the owls were still around last meeting."
If the deputy was training apprentices to kill the owls prior to a mission things made a lot of sense.


@Mica

[Mica]

Mistlewhisker
ShadowClan Deputy
she/her | 48 moons
[Large black cat with a half white muzzle and a pale green eye]
Purrks: Killer Aptitude T3, Shadow Fiend, Mind Reader
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽ The Chariot ☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
· · ────────────── · ·
[Bleedingpaw - @Rani ]
· · ────────────── · ·
Bleedingpaw had managed to far surpass most of the clan's expectations in his time as an apprentice. His steps were still uneven, but he was just as skilled as some full-grown warriors--even more so, it sometimes seemed. Mistlewhisker knew that he would be approaching his assessment soon, and with the owls still on the loose, she figured teaching him how to handle himself against a predator would be wise.

The Deputy led Bleedingpaw into the territory, towards her favored training spot. "Very astute, Bleedingpaw." She praised, tone professional and cool. "I assumed you would like to participate, as your assessment must be soon. We will cover how to fight any large animal, as I have more experience with foxes, but I do know a few techniques for birds of prey." Birds of prey weren't incredibly common in ShadowClan territory, save for owls. What they really had to worry about were foxes and fisher cats.

Reaching her preferred training spot, Mistlewhisker began to stretch. "Fighting any predator will often be more dangerous than fighting a cat. They are bigger, stronger, and more unpredictable." The Deputy studied Bleedingpaw for several heartbeats, judging his size and possible abilities. "Tell me, what do you think are your best strength while fighting?" With Bleedingpaw, Mistlewhisker figured it would be best to work with his strengths rather than hammering out his weaknesses. She had never taught a cat with his condition before, and she was looking forward to the challenge.

[Rani]

Bleedingpaw
Shadowclan Apprentice | He/Him | 10 Moons

Just a Scratch | Shadow Fiend | Hulk SMASH!

Ooooh Mistlewhisker praise! Bleedingpaw had been very lucky to collect the praise and regard of several rather strict cats who usually didnt pass it out and he couldnt help but waggle his entire body, eyes bright, at that.


No time to bask in it (though he really wanted to) there was knowledge to be had. And, as always the tom absorbed it like a sponge, eagerly leaning forward. "Oh yes Miss Mistlewhisker, I very much would like to help with the owls! I think Im at least a moon off of my assessment (Id like to learn some extra skills first) but ever since things settled with riverclan theres been very few chances to prove oneself...." And if the youth of shadowclan was anything, it was forged in blood. To any self respecting young adult battle was less of a duty and more of an honor to prove themselves in.

Thinking his head did tilt a bit, curious. "So if youre best with foxes does that mean theyre the most common threat in shadowclan? I remember.... Back when we had to move camps there were dogs, right? What else might be encountered? If its not too much to ask please." An unknown danger was twice as deadly as a known one after all.



Taking all the advice in the toms tail lashed, straightening as much as possible to attention (the image kind of ruined by how it made him sway) and he nodded, explaining quickly. "Honestly my biggest strength is my own unpredictability. No one can tell what move Im going to make next, not even me sometimes until I see the opportunity. Besides that though Ive got great reach and flexibility and..."

-HULK SMASH! ACTIVE-

Well there was no really explaining this next skill so he just showed, lifting a paw and slamming it down on a rock the size of his own head, splitting it with a crack.
"I cant do that a ton, it hurts my paw but I can do that if Im desperate."
He needed to reserve it though, as a last ditch bid for freedom or victory.

"Im not very fast, precise or strong otherwise though. Fighting will never be my strength I think so I more rely on tactics."


@Mica

[Mica]

Mistlewhisker
ShadowClan Deputy
she/her | 48 moons
[Large black cat with a half white muzzle and a pale green eye]
Purrks: Killer Aptitude T3, Shadow Fiend, Mind Reader
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽ The Chariot ☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
· · ────────────── · ·
[Bleedingpaw - @Rani ]
· · ────────────── · ·
Bleedingpaw's eagerness earned a small smile from the Deputy. She answered his questions to the best of her ability. "Foxes are common, yes. Rats and snakes, as you are also aware. Dogs usually only appear alongside Twolegs, but a dog can rip your spine from your body without a second thought." At least the big ones. "I have not encountered a dog before, so I have little else to offer." It was the closest he'd get to an apology for her lack of knowledge.

Mistlewhisker canted her head to scan the trees above. "Owls are the most common bird of prey that we encounter," she meowed, "and they are very dangerous. Fast, big, and with wicked talons that can shred a pelt easily. But today we will be learning how to outsmart and outmatch them."

Bleedingpaw's self assesment of his abilities produced an answer Mistlewhisker had not been expecting. Unpredictability... interesting. Mistlewhisker contemplated the answer for several heartbeats, silently shifting her lesson plan to account for it. Then he went and did something that had the Deputy blinking in surprise. My, she had not expected the apprentice to harness such strength. Even she couldn't crack a rock with just a swipe of her paw.

Hm. "A good skill to have." Mistlewhisker nodded, tail swishing idly behind her. "Your condition makes battle dangerous, for yourself and those around you." Even though the words were harsh, Mistlewhisker's voice held no malice or insult. "Unpredictability, while useful in certain battles, can also get in the way of your clanmates." Combine that with his wobbly tendencies, and he's a right liability. But that's what Mistlewhisker wanted to shift. "Always remember to work with your allies, and to communicate. Taking out predators is often a multi-cat job."

Mistlewhisker rolled her shoulders. "Now. When fighting owls, or any predator in general, you need to destabilize them. For owls, you need to take out their wings. Watch." Mistlewhisker burst forward, paws slamming onto the hard-packed earth and springing into the air, body arcing in a graceful black swoop, swiping with wicked claws at an imaginary owl. When she landed, she turned back to Bleedingpaw. "If you can snag their wings and bring them to the ground, they are easier to attack."

Mistlewhisker scanned the clearing for something Bleedingpaw could practice on. Her green eye lit upon a large hunk of snow, roughly owl-sized. She nudged it a little to ensure it wouldn't break apart if she moved it, then began rolling it to a particularly tall boulder. "While I do this, practice leaping and swatting."

It was difficult to get the crunchy block of snow up the boulder, but Mistlewhisker was a giant cat with incredible patience. Soon enough, she managed to get to the top. "Get under this boulder. I am going to toss this snow at you, and I want you to swat it out of the air." Mistlewhisker waited for Bleedingpaw's go ahead before shoving the snow ball over the side, sending it flying.

[Mistle is... creative, when it comes to lessons. That's for sure.]

[Rani]

Bleedingpaw
Shadowclan Apprentice | He/Him | 10 Moons

Just a Scratch | Shadow Fiend | Hulk SMASH!

The idea that a dog could come and kill a cat with a single blow where generally you had to be very unlucky to earn such a fate from a coyote.... It wasnt a comforting thought. That they generally only came with twolegs (uncommon in shadowclan of all clans) was more of one.
Owl, no small threat themselves, sounded manageable by comparison.



The tom, ever eager and one to bloom under praise, visibly brightened as Mistlewhisker didnt seem to think he was a lost cause immediately. Hell even the bland and frankly dour, judgement of his capacity to work with others didnt dampen him, and the bengal nodded, explaining. "Im planning to maintain distance and fight from the backline in big battles. It allows me to pull back early when needed too. Im not planning to be a coward and retreat Im just aware I probably dont have the staying power of most of the clan.


But when it comes to co-operation...." The tom hummed, tail flicking uncertainly. "Im not sure how to solve that. I dont have a lotta fine control so onus is on my teammate to know me and how I move. Do you have any suggestions?" Off the top of his head Bleedingpaw could only think of sparring with everyone possible so they had the knowledge or maybe always keeping a distance but that felt unrealistic.




In the meantime he needed to learn about owls. Mistlewhiskers leap was amazing high and strong and with a pang in his heart Bleedingpaw just knew that while he might master a basic one getting to her skill level simply wasnt possible for him. Not that he wouldnt try. Nodding and trying to envision angles of hitting wings the tom tried out his leaps, curious why the deputy was fiddling with the snow, and progressively getting covered in the stuff as he did. See leaping was possible and easy, though his accuracy needed work, landing? Downright impossible. There was no catlike twisting to land on his paws, only dull thuds as the bengal smacked back down to earth at odd angles, seemingly completely used to this.


Honestly it sounded painful, bruising, and he didnt acknowledge it in the slightest, simply getting up quickly and continuing.



Still it was probably a good thing the snow owl ball was done soon, and soon the tom was slipping under the rock with a "Ready." as the snow went flying.





The first attempt was... Poor. The leap went off, and the paw swatted, but the aim was not quite right and the tom collided headfirst with the slow owl instead of clipping it with just a paw, taken out by its weight with a squawk.
Bleedingpaw was a snow cat, slightly buried even as he called out an "Im okay!" squirming out and shaking off.


Scooping some snow out of his ears, tongue sticking out as he narrow eyes assessed the snow the tom voiced the issue, slightly confused. "Its different then pouncing, I didnt get that. Pouncing youre trying to grab the bird before it flies away but this... the 'owl' is too heavy to just grab, I have to hit, not catch, right? Catching comes after, stars thats gonna be a hard instinct to quash...."


@Mica