squirrelpaw's training [p]

[furrensic]

SQUIRRELPAW
she/her. 10 moons. small russet molly with brown markings and yellow eyes.

squirrelpaw watches mistlewhisker whack the tree, face twisted in twisted in worry. she looks soggy, a wet rag of a cat. "ah," she mumbles, slowly nodding once her mentor instructed her to try. she really, really thought she couldn't do this – well, maybe just hitting a tree.. definitely not anything more, though. but!! she couldn't disappoint mistlewhisker!! so with a deep breath, she shuffles closer to the tree. she raises her right paw, hesitating for a moment before she whacks the tree; tiny scratch marks are left behind. she visibly deflates.

[ @Mica ]

[Mica]

Mistlewhisker
ShadowClan Enforcer
she/her | 38 moons
[Large black cat with a half white muzzle and a pale green eye (left gouged out)]
Purrks: Beefed Up T3, Shadow Fiend
· · ────────────── · ·
[Squirrelpaw - @furrensic ]
· · ────────────── · ·
Well, it was a start. Mistlewhisker nodded to her apprentice. "Next time, hit it with more force." The large feline gestured with her head to her own tree. She began demonstrating a series of swipes--left, right, from above, making sure each hit was strong and gouged into the wood. When she was done, she set her sights on Squirrelpaw. Perhaps.... perhaps going with the easier route wasn't the right way. Perhaps she hadn't given her apprentice enough credit. Maybe sparring, like she did with other apprentices, was the right thing to do. "Give me three good swipes at that tree, and then we will move on."

[Sorry this is so slow lmao I am going to have them move to sparring, god help Squirrelpaw...]

[furrensic]

SQUIRRELPAW
she/her. 10 moons. small russet molly with brown markings and yellow eyes.

oh yes, squirrelpaw was going to fail at this. she was certain. goodbye warriorhood. "yes..sorry.." she murmurs.

she watches mistlewhisker with wide eyes as the enforcer rains blows on the tree, leaving deep claw marks in their wake. she glances to her own paws, inspecting her claws. could they do that much damage to a tree?? her lips draw into a straight line and she's rigid with nerves. she's half tempted to apologize to the older molly in advance. just..three..good hits..not hard, right?...AAAAA–

she figures that if she puts most of her weight in her front paws, then that should make her hits more effective. hopefully?? she aims three whacks at the tree. while they didn't leave claw marks like mistlewhisker's, they were definitely better than the first time she tried.

[ @Mica no worries!! and she's definitely going to shed some tears LOL ]

[Mica]

Mistlewhisker
ShadowClan Enforcer
she/her | 38 moons
[Large black cat with a half white muzzle and a pale green eye (left gouged out)]
Purrks: Beefed Up T3, Shadow Fiend
· · ────────────── · ·
[Squirrelpaw - @furrensic ]
· · ────────────── · ·
Improvement, good. Mistlewhisker didn't expect Squirrelpaw to leave clawmarks like she did, since the enforcer was much larger and more experienced. She gave Squirrelpaw a nod, a small smile gracing her face. Over the past few moons of training, Mistlewhisker had slowly become softer around Squirrelpaw, being more affectionate--even if she was far from the average cat. "Well done." She mewed. "Now, we're going to spar. We will go slow, and I will demonstrate moves before you do them."

Mistlewhisker backed away from the trees, towards the soft, mossy clearing. She knew this was going to be difficult for Squirrelpaw, but she wouldn't accept anything less than competency. "I want you to come at me and try that swipe you just did. No claws." She stood expectantly, gaze a little softer than usual. "You can do it."

[furrensic]

SQUIRRELPAW
she/her. 10 moons. small russet molly with brown markings and yellow eyes.

okay, squirrelpaw will admit that whacking a tree wasn't the hardest thing to do. nor the most stressful thing. she's pretty sure she might fall victim to cardiac arrest at any moment, now, though once she hears mistlewhisker's proposal. "ss-spar..?" she croaks, looking absolutely hopeless. it's less of a panicky feeling that overwhelms her, and much more of a dreadful feeling.

the idea seems outlandish. the logical part of the apprentice knows that this is necessary, while the emotional part is freaking out. mistlewhisker's wanted her to test the swipe out. on her. her front paws waver slightly, eyes watering slightly. for a second, she seriously considers shedding some tears and protesting about how she was very afraid to spar. what if she whapped mistle too hard and hurt her? or, even worse, disappointed her mentor?

"...ok-kay.." she says, voice barely above a whisper. her mentor's words do little to reassure her, or bring any confidence. claws sheathed and tears threatening to fall (bless her heart), she shuffles her paws before taking in a deep breath. this was just a spar, it's a fake fight! fake! friendly, even! she breaks out into a sprint, strong at first. but her pace slows as she nears mistlewhisker, reluctantly raising a paw and aiming a swipe (though it was really more of a gap than anything) at her.

[ @Mica ]

[Mica]

Mistlewhisker
ShadowClan Enforcer
she/her | 38 moons
[Large black cat with a half white muzzle and a pale green eye (left gouged out)]
Purrks: Beefed Up T3, Shadow Fiend
· · ────────────── · ·
[Squirrelpaw - @furrensic ]
· · ────────────── · ·
As pathetic as Squirrelpaw looked, and as much as Mistlewhisker internally sighed at her apprentice's endless anxiety, at least she attempted a move. She started off strong, but hesitation got the better of her and made her movements slow and jerky, allowing Mistlewhisker to slowly step out of the way to avoid the hit. Mistlewhisker gave Squirrelpaw a long look. "Do not hesitate. You're not going to hurt me." She swiped at the air with her paw in demonstration, swift and sure with her movement. "Again. Do not let your fear control you." Squirrelpaw would have to learn confidence and self-reliance sooner or later, otherwise she would never be able to handle being a warrior. "I have confidence in you." She added.

[furrensic]

SQUIRRELPAW
she/her. 10 moons. small russet molly with brown markings and yellow eyes.

oh. squirrelpaw blinks, large frown etched on her maw as mistlewhisker simply steps to the side. she wavers under the long look she's given, paws shuffling and eyes wide as saucers. a tear threatens to fall and she quickly looks down. "ii- ii'mm...eeehhm.." she murmurs incoherently. she silently prays that starclan will simply let her melt into the ground. she stays a solid, sadly. her heart thuds painfully against her chest and she forces a nod.

she shuffles back a few pawsteps, looking up at mistlewhisker with a 'how could you make me do this' type of expression. she rushes towards the enforcer, managing to keep a steady pace this time. once she nears, the apprentice raises a paw and aims a swipe at mistlewhisker's shoulder. it's not sturdy by any means, if it lands. still, it's a step up from her first attempt.

[ @Mica ]

[Mica]

Mistlewhisker
ShadowClan Enforcer
she/her | 38 moons
[Large black cat with a half white muzzle and a pale green eye (left gouged out)]
Purrks: Beefed Up T3, Shadow Fiend
· · ────────────── · ·
[Squirrelpaw - @furrensic ]
· · ────────────── · ·
Oh this hurt her heart. Her cold, stone heart. Every pained squeak that found its way out of her apprentice's mouth had her eye twitching and her heart breaking. How had this meager apprentice broken through all of Mistlewhisker's walls????

Squirrelpaw rushed forward, more stable this time, and managed to bap her on the shoulder. It wasn't strong, but it did hit. Mistlewhisker nodded. "Good job." She meowed, a little softer than she meant to, and then cleared her throat. "I'm going to demonstrate a move, so be prepared." Mistlewhisker let Squirrelpaw settle herself before the enforcer rushed forward, aiming a swipe for Squirrelpaw's head only to duck quickly to the side and land a hard--but not painful--blow to the apprentice's spine. Mistlewhisker glanced at the russet molly. "If this had been a real fight, that would have hopefully sent you onto your stomach, where I could have easily taken control of the fight." She padded over to her apprentice's head so she could look at her. "Do you think you can try that? Or should I demonstrate again."

[furrensic]

SQUIRRELPAW
she/her. 11 moons. small russet molly with brown markings and yellow eyes.

squirrelpaw visibly lightens up at the praise, frown lessening and lips tugged up into what could be the beginning of a smile. perhaps there was even just a sliver of confidence somewhere within her. and when mistlewhisker says she's going to demonstrate another move, the russet molly gives a firm nod. she reasons that mistlewhisker must be demonstrating on a tree like earlier, right??

they say when someone's in a scary situation, there are three possible reactions – fight, flight, or freeze. and squirrels? the apprentice freezes, muscles tensing as she merely watches mistlewhisker rush towards her. ducking to the side right before she connects a bap to her head, and instead, whacking her spine which results in a squeak from squirrelpaw. the apprentice drops into a half-crouched stance momentarily before straightening her posture again. not because it hurt - it didn't - she's just surprised by the impact and scared for anyone who fights mistlewhisker in the future. she looks like a deer in headlights as mistlewhisker circles back to the front.

I have to try that..? oh stars, she thinks, swallowing dryly. "I..." she's half tempted to protest, simply give up and melt into the ground. but that sliver of confidence earlier argues that, hey!! if she just goes along with it, it'll be over soon!! yippee! "I- I can..try.." she decides. she waits a few heartbeats so the warrior csn take a few steps back if she chooses to do so. and with that, she's rushing towards mistlewhisker again, paw raised in a feigned swipe before she ducks to the side. the movement is jerky and not nearly as smooth as the warrior's was, as expected of someone that didn't have the moons of experience that mistlewhisker had. she brings her paw down, aiming to connect it to the black molly's back.

[ @Mica ]

[Mica]

Mistlewhisker
ShadowClan Enforcer
she/her | 38 moons
[Large black cat with a half white muzzle and a pale green eye (left gouged out)]
Purrks: Beefed Up T3, Shadow Fiend
· · ────────────── · ·
[Squirrelpaw - @furrensic ]
· · ────────────── · ·
Mistlewhisker watched Squirrelpaw as she ran, noting her jerky movements. Her hit was firm, though her size had her at a disadvantage. Overall, it was better. "Good." She meowed. "Let's try that a few more times, slower."

Mistlewhisker then ran Squirrelpaw through the move, each part of it drawn out and explained. She gave Squirrelpaw tips on how to keep her balance even as she raised a paw to strike, often commenting on her form or giving her approving nods.

Once Mistlewhisker was pleased enough with her progress, she directed Squirrelpaw to face her again. "I have been watching you as you train, and I think your size can be utilized." She eyed the apprentice. "Because you are small, you have a speed advantage over larger, lumbering targets."

Mistlewhisker began to explain a move that was common for smaller cats who could work up the speed to do it, and be harder to catch. She modeled it slowly, jogging forward and suddenly throwing her hind legs in front of her, sliding on her back with her front claws raking the air above her. Then suddenly she flipped onto her stomach, springing away. "This move is used for flaying the underbelly of your opponent. Right now, I want you to focus on running at me, diving under me, and popping out on the other side. Do not worry about your claws right now. Just focus on diving and sliding all the way under me. Understood?"

[Sorry if this makes like literally no sense let me know if I need to have her clear it up]