Silverpaw's training

***Rani*** · #1 July 6th, 2024, 06:33 AM

Right so the incident in the clearing had kinda.... delayed things and Mudhound had to hear another earful about Silverpaws ex mentor and keeping on top of things (it'd been just like two days!) so it was time to get cracking and make sure the apprentice had a smooth transfer from four legged to tripod life.

Well.... as smooth as you could be kinda hobbling everywhere on account of the missing leg and the trauma that no doubt came with it. Smooth probably wasnt a good word then.

Welp time to gather the apprentice and so, one sunny morning the tripod peaked into the apprentices den and gave a small call, hoping Silverpaw was in a good mood.
"Moooooooorning Silverpaw! Hope youre doing well today kiddo, figured you'd probably had enough resting by now and were aching to get going on training!

Though most of the day might kinda be relearning to a degree, a lotta stuff you used to know like hunting or fighting wont work as it used to so we gotta go over that again and figure out what new way works for you! But you got me now and I know all the tricks so I promise it'll be quick~

What have you learned so far that we should go over and what do you still need to do that I can teach you fresh and new? Oh! And if there's anything you'd like me to know about you to help you better like phobias to avoid or skills or anything at all I'd love to hear it~
I can even share some stuff of my own in return!"
Bumblestar had been harping at her sibling about their worries about Larkswoop and her being a bad example on Silverpaw which was still kinda confusing to the hornet but hopefully if the apprentice got along well with them as their new mentor those worries would be lessened! Or.... Something. Honestly Mudhound was outta the loop on this one and only knew there'd been trouble that'd separated a previously close mentor apprentice duo which sounded sad.

@Desert Rain Frog

**Spooky Rain Frog** · #2 July 6th, 2024, 03:30 PM

SILVERPAW "SILVS"
THE MANGLED TRIPOD - LYEBIRDS LULLABYE (ACTIVE) - 16 MOONS
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His Head Rose To Mudhounds Cheery Voice. Oh. Training, Couldnt Be So Bad Now? Uhmm Alright.. Looks Like I'm Re-Winding A Whole 10 - Almost 11- Moons. Let's Go. He Sighed, Slowly Getting Up With Some Pain. As Mudhound Mentioned Phobias, Nothing Really Came To Mind... Well, Except... Canines. Canines Are Terrifying. Also, Could We Save Jumping For Tomorrow Or Something? I'm Not Very Motivated For That Right Now. His Intact Ear Flicked. One More Thing, If I Say "Hm?" A lot It's Because Im Deaf In My Torn-Up Ear. He Nodded To Mudhound.
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@Rani - Muddy!

***Rani*** · #3 July 7th, 2024, 08:17 PM

The hornet was really appreciative of the fact that Silverpaw was approaching this without reluctance or a bad attitude, especially given that the situation and major upheaval in his life would mean the response would be understandable. It was very mature for Silverpaws age, and Mudhound gave him a soft smile for that.

"Dont stress too much, relearning will take much less time really given youre not learning from stratch, more like modifications." His fear was also understandable, given the damage dogs could do and did to him but Mudhound was also the perfect mentor to help with that too! "Ill be your protector against dogs then! I can speak some dog and so can talk most away and have even helped Bumble-sis kill a dog before so just count on me to keep those beasties away! Ill keep you safe and I can even pass on some of my dog knowledge if you want~" Some found knowledge and ability to combat their fears a comfort and the thing that helped them overcome it though some wished to run forever which was valid to them. Whatever Silverpaw chose was for him.

"Ah! Ok I'll try and speak loud" not an issue Mudhound was already loud naturally and could reach even greater volume "and Ill make sure to face you while talking so you can lip read! Tell me if you need me to repeat anything! Follow me and we'll focus on getting your hunting back up to speed and if youre up for it we can do some fighting!

Alrighty, follow me!"
With that the tripod lead Silverpaw out of camp and to a nice quiet part of the territory, turning to face the tom.

"Ok show me what you got, I dont expect a perfect or even good crouch stalk and pounce given this'll be the first time with your new leg and its totally ok to find yourself unbalanced loud and slow, I just wanna see where Im starting at." If Silverpaw had already figured out balance then that was something they could skip but if not it was a critical lesson that'd help him for the rest of his life.

@Desert Rain Frog

**Spooky Rain Frog** · #4 July 7th, 2024, 09:10 PM

SILVERPAW "SILVS"
THE MANGLED TRIPOD
LYEBIRDS LULLABYE (ACTIVE) - WHEEL OF MISFORTUNE (AMNESIA, FORGET ONE SKILL: BATTLE)
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The Mangled Tripod Followed Mudhound Closely Behind. When They Got To The Area, He Nodded To Mudhound. Alright, Let's Do This. He Lowered Himself Down Into The Best Crouch He Could, And Moved With Small Hops Towards A Worthy Leaf. His Back Legs Tensed, And He Launched Forwards And Landed On The Leaf. He Sighed, Looked Back At Mudhound. Ha! I Did Really Well! I Though I Woulda Fallen Over When I Jumped. He Gave A Small Smile. It Was Kinda Clumsy Though. He Turned And Faced Mudhound.
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@Rani

***Rani*** · #5 August 2nd, 2024, 04:26 AM

It honestly looked pretty good, probably because Silverpaws problem leg was the front one and it wasnt entirely gone, just mangled, so he could kinda put some weight on it or use it to balance if needed. Back legs could be harder, restricting the cats ability to climb and even jump forevermore however with the front one you could, eventually learn that again. It'd be hard though.

He were making a good start relearning hunting though.
"Youre looking good! The clumsy is understandable and can be fixed: here.

First, use your tail more its your best friend now. If you feel yourself leaning over or tipping your tail can be flicked hard in the other direction and when you get good you can even right yourself mid fall! For now though it'll help when you feel wobbly. Also hold it more to your side with the bad leg, currently youre holding your tail like most cats do at your center but your balance is not off center so hold it to the side.

Next, youre still walking like youve got four legs, you step-hop when now youre gonna wanna walk like circley. Lemme explain, usually when cats walk (because I know for a fact dogs do different) left paws move forward while right paws stay planted and vice versa. We do it naturally its what makes us so quiet. With your leg youre instead gonna move one leg at a time which is gonna feel really unnatural at first.

Eventually though youre gonna find it stops the hopping thing you described!"
Because that hopping was loud and would lead to missed prey. Mudhound had ways around that, like disguises and laying bait but that was time consuming and not as effective. They'd teach Silverpaw regardless but still, if the stalk could be sorted that'd be better for him in the long run.

"Your pounce is still great so nothing to worry about that! Your back legs are the thing that spring though so that makes sense! Try to stalk again and I just wanna check that you do know the rest of hunting stuff so we can move on to battle. Like rabbits hear best but can see and smell and birds cant smell but can see really well ect ect."

@Desert Rain Frog (sorry this took so long WCO ate the mention!)

**Spooky Rain Frog** · #6 August 14th, 2024, 06:15 PM

SILVERPAW "SILVS"

The Older Apperentice Nodded As He Expained How His -Suprisingly Unscarred And Intact - Tail Was His Best Friend Now. Then Onto His Small Hops. Okay, Move With All Paws. How? Not Right Now, Muddy Was Still Talkin'. Alright. Sounds... Easy -Is That The Right Word?- Enough. He Crouched Down, Tail On His Left -Useless Leg - Side. He Slowly Used All Fo- Three Of His Paws To Stalk Forward, And Jumped Onto A Stick. Not Easy. But It Helps. He Mewed Simply.
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. @Rani

***Rani*** · #7 August 31st, 2024, 08:25 PM

Honestly with this clear up it looked like Silverpaw would hunt just fine now that he had the information to do so in his new state! He already had the knowledge on how really, so one final check and they'd be able to move on to fighting training.

"Youre looking good! Now Im gonna be hidden nearby but I hear some birds and rodents in the area. Give using these new skills a try to catch on of them and well do fighting next!"
It'd give Mudhound an idea of if more needed to be taught or if Silverpaw was good to go and move on.

@Desert Rain Frog

**Spooky Rain Frog** · #8 October 1st, 2024, 06:22 PM

SILVERPAW "SILVS"
THE MANGLED TRIPOD

He Nodded, Tail Giving A Single Last As He Waited For The Brown Tripod To Hide. Once He Did, Silvs Listened For The Closest One, And Turned Towards It. He Crouched, And Crawled Forward With His Three Paws. He Came Across A Good, Plump Vole. His Heart Quietly Thudded In His Ear, As He Leapt Forwards.
SILVERPAW ROLLED A 9

He Landed Directly In front Of The Vole, Causing It To Leap In Fright, And Barely Escape Is Law, Scoping It In For The Killing Bite. How's This? He Chirped, Looking Around For The Other Tripod.

@Rani - Mudhound

***Rani*** · #9 October 2nd, 2024, 07:44 PM

Yeeeeeeep! Looks like Silverpaw wouldnt be held back by his disability for sure in hunting! That was good, most apprentices might harp on about the importance of fighting like a warrior for your clan and defending your home but the elders would talk about the heroics of the best hunters in the dead of winter.

Fighting was useful in times of war, hunting was always in use.
Still! If one could fight one would inevitably need to so time to teach that!

"Thats good Silverpaw! Bury that and we can move on to fighting!

Ok so first is stance and as with your hunting stance your fighting stance is always gonna be different then most cats. Partially because your balance and movement is different but also because of how other cats are gonna fight you. When cats see you theyre gonna see your weaknesses. Theyre gonna see your blind spot, theyre gonna see your weak leg, theyre gonna see weaknesses they can target so you got two choices to counter that.

Make your disabilities your strength in battle, or cover for them."
At this point Mudhound showed off their battle stance, showed how instead of dodging like most cats they planted themselves firm, countering their lack of mobility and movement-balance by being a literal wall of cat. It was a higher, broader stance them most but promised that if you got close you were getting dragged in, and then dodging wouldnt be important at all.

In that grapple range Mudhound would have the advantage with their strength and weight and practice in tanking blows, while a more mobile enemy who could move would suddenly be on the off foot.
"So what are you thinking you want your fighting to be like? Movement, trickery, strength? It can be anything you like."

@Desert Rain Frog

**Spooky Rain Frog** · #10 October 6th, 2024, 10:14 AM

SILVERPAW
THE MANGLED TRIPOD

He Lifted His Head Up, Listening To Mudhound. He Buried His Prey And Thought For A Moment. Maybe A Mix Of Trickery And Strength? More So Strenth. He Hopped Over To His Mentor, Tail Bouncing Behind Him. Muddy's Stance Was Cool, How He Acted Like A Wall And Sorta Tricked The Attacker, In A Way. He Shifted On The Ground, Paws Starting To Hurt A Bit.

@Rani ~ Mudhound