Bitternpaw Training [p]

[silver.]

bitternpaw
he/him // 7 moons // shc apprentice
purrks: agatha kitty, the collector

---

Today was the day. It was the day that he was going to start training, whether his mentor wanted to or not. No more waiting around, no more staring into the eyes of every warrior that passed through the center of camp. Stalking out of the apprentice's den he scans for his target, not blinking until his gaze rests upon him. Hillstrider. The cat that was named his mentor. He knew nothing of the warrior aside from the fact that he was young. Not even a full 12 moons older than he was. Could a warrior that young really be worth enough to train an apprentice? Despite his own inhibitions concerning the cat he has yet to learn much of anything about, he approaches, golden eyes serious with an underlying hint of curiosity.

"Mentor."

The guy hasn't earned his respect enough to be called by his name just yet. Maybe one day, but for now 'Mentor' will be his title. Tail tip twitching irritably behind him, he continues to stare, waiting for a response. He didn't have to say it, right? He should understand why he was approaching him.

hillstrider | @Mica

[Mica]

Hillstrider
ShadowClan
he/him | 19 moons
[Big fluffy orange tabby with yellow eyes]
· · ────────────── · ·
[Bitternpaw - @silver. ]
· · ────────────── · ·
Oop! Here comes an apprentice. His apprentice, if his goldfish memory served him right. He had been very surprised when Bitternpaw had been assigned as his apprentice, especially since he had just been assigned Quietpaw. Maybe Quietpaw was so pleased with his training that she raved about him to Dawnstar or someone! How sweet of her!

Hillstrider grinned at Bitternpaw, unbothered by his curt word. Seems like he got the quiet, angsty ones. Had Hillstrider been any more conscious of his own feelings and internal monologue, he would have wished for an apprentice that matched his energy. But! Of all the two thoughts running in his head right now, that was not one of them.

"Yo! Little dude! Nice to meet you." He blinked happily. "Y'know, you can call me Hillstrider. You're Bitternpaw, yeah? Sick name." A pause. "Was there uh, something you wanted?" Just walking up to him and saying "Mentor" felt more like an introduction than a question.

[silver.]

bitternpaw
he/him // 7 moons // shc apprentice
purrks: agatha kitty, the collector, rapid recovery

---

So he was too stupid to understand. How annoying. It seemed as though he got one of the mindless Shadowclan warriors. Curse Dawnstar for this pairing. He should have been paired with someone capable, strong, and smart, like herself. But unfortunately for him the big, bad Queen of Mean was full up on apprentices. Tail twitching irritably behind him, he completely ignores the words said to him, opting to move this interaction along so it could be over with faster and his training skills will have increased.

"Let's begin training."

Short and sweet. No need to say anything more. It was a waste of breath to filter in colorful words when he could just get straight to the point and get started. To him, Hillstrider could do with a lesson or two on interaction from himself, because the way he communicated was definitely not efficient.

hillstrider | @Mica

[Mica]

Hillstrider
ShadowClan
he/him | 19 moons
[Big fluffy orange tabby with yellow eyes]
· · ────────────── · ·
[Bitternpaw - @silver. ]
· · ────────────── · ·
Hillstrider's confused look cleared away as Bitternpaw muttered about training, his awkward smile turning genuine. "Oh yeah! Righteous idea, my dude. Let's rock and roll then!" How he hadn't realized that was what the apprentice meant, he'd never know! Guess he was so caught up in introductions.

Hillstrider lead Bitternpaw out into the territory, giving the apprentice a glance over his shoulder. "Alright broski. What are you thinking? Battle? Hunting? Stealth?"

[Sorry for short post ]

[silver.]

bitternpaw
he/him // 7 moons // shc apprentice
purrks: agatha kitty, the collector, rapid recovery

---

At least he was quick to remedy his mistake. Ears perking up as he begins to leave camp, he's quick on his heels, not letting the older tom get too far away from him. The first thing should be a territory tour. He had left camp very few, precious times. But he wanted to be part of the action. Wanted to be able to help Shadowclan hunt and fight. So when he's asked where he wanted to start he's made up his mind.

"Battle training."

Even if he didn't know every inch of Shadowclan territory, he could follow Dawnstar into battle if he was trained. And that was more important to him than anything else.

hillstrider | @Mica

[Mica]

Hillstrider
ShadowClan
he/him | 19 moons
[Big fluffy orange tabby with yellow eyes]
· · ────────────── · ·
[Bitternpaw - @silver. ]
· · ────────────── · ·
Hillstrider nodded. "Battle training? Can do! I know apprentices usually start with territory tours, but since patrols are startin' up regularly again, odds are you'll be sent on a bunch. And I can always take you out later for 'em, yknow?" The orange tabby paused at a dry clearing, turning around to face Bitternpaw. "Alrighty, have you learned anything yet? Or are you fresh faced to the wonderful world of battlin'?"

[silver.]

he/him // 7 moons
26/100

---

"No."

Was it not obvious that this was his very first instance of training? Blinking slowly, the young tom stops when the older one does and stares at him with that flat expression of his. What now? Should he jump at him? Wait for instruction? Bitternpaw wasn't sure-- this guy sure liked to talk a lot. Which was... Unfortunate for him.

"I don't know anything. So let's begin."

hillstrider | @Mica

[Mica]

Hillstrider
ShadowClan
he/him | 19 moons
[Big fluffy orange tabby with yellow eyes]
· · ────────────── · ·
[Bitternpaw - @silver. ]
· · ────────────── · ·
Cool, they were starting from scratch! Sure, that meant a little more work for Hillstrider, but he could surely manage. "Sure can do, little dude! Check this out."

Hillstrider started by talking about the best places to hit in order to hurt a cat. Stomach, throat, legs. "One of the main goals in battle is to get your opponent on their back, but make sure you don't get stuck on your back. Yeah?" He stood straight, then leaned from his left pair of paws to his right. "Best way to get someone on their back is to knock 'em over. This can be done by ramming, if you're beefy enough, or slipping under someone and pushing up!"

Bracing himself, Hillstrider beckoned Bitternpaw with a grin. "Go ahead and try to knock me over!"

[silver.]

he/him // 7 moons
44/100

---

Well he definitely wasn't beefy enough to knock much of anyone over, that was for sure. At least he would be small and lithe enough to slip underneath his opponents. When the invitation is given, he settles into a crouch, watching his mentor closely as if that alone would help him decide the best course of action.

[ Bitternpaw rolled an 8 to knock over his opponent. ]

What was to be expected from an apprentice that had no training aside from play fighting as a sickly kit? Trying to take Hillstrider's advice, he lunges forward in an attempt to get beneath him. On his side on the ground he remembers what he said about not being the one on his back so his attempt to push at him isn't very successful. Ugh! What was he doing wrong? Was it because he was sideways? Was it easier to knock an opponent over while on your back? But Hillstrider said not to end up on your back... Ugh!

[Mica]

Hillstrider

ShadowClan
he/him | 19 moons
[Big fluffy orange tabby with yellow eyes]
· · ────────────── · ·
[Bitternpaw - @silver. ]
· · ────────────── · ·
Bitternpaw's attempt wasn't so successful, but the sunny smile never left Hillstrider's face. "Good try, little dude! And no sweat! It was your first try, and I didn't even tell ya how to do it yet." Gesturing for Bitternpaw to straighten himself, Hillstrider moved over to a large tree with sprawling roots. There was one that arched just high enough to be similar to a cat's stance. Hillstrider was too big to go under without getting stuck, but he could try!

"So when you try to flip someone over on their back, you've gotta be fast. For now though, we'll go slow." Hillstrider padded up to the arched root, making sure Bitternpaw was watching before he pressed his shoulder underneath the root. "To flip someone over, you wanna unbalance 'em first. By getting your shoulder under your opponent's side or chest and heaving up--" Hillstrider made to push up, and even the strong root shifted under his pure strength. He didn't seem to notice, however, and glanced back at Bitternpaw. "Obviously cats are easier to knock over than trees, haha!"

Stepping away from the tree, Hillstrider's fluffy tail swished behind him. "But I hear your question--'How do we get up to our opponent without them doing the same?' That's where speed comes in. If you can launch yourself at their underbelly..." Hillstrider trotted forward, at the last second before hitting the root ducking onto his front only to heave upwards. He didn't go into the root, knowing he'd probably get stuck and that was NOT tubular. Hillstrider glanced at Bitternpaw. "You dig? By pushing up with your back against their belly, their paws will lift from the ground and make them totally unstable. Why don't you try with that root I was practicing on?"