Teaching an Echo [Birdpaw Training Thread]

[Mica]

Birdpaw Training
Mentor: Fogwatcher [ @SuspiciousMindz ]

Required Trainings [0/5]:
- Hunting [0/1]
- Battle Training [0/1]
- Stealth Training [0/1]

Territory Tours:
- WindClan
- ThunderClan
- RiverClan

Other:
- Battles
- Plot events
- Patrols

Clan meetings [1/2]:
- April 2024

[Mica]

Birdpaw
ShadowClan
she/her | 6 moons | 7/100
[Blue-grey tabby with dark blue overcoat, white underside and amber eyes]
Purrks: Lyrebird's Lullaby [PERMANENTLY ACTIVE]
· · ────────────── · ·
[Fogwatcher - @SuspiciousMindz ]
· · ────────────── · ·
Training. It was training time. Birdpaw was going to be the coolest most successful warrior in the clan and that meant no more waffling around, worried about her mother and her father and Heronpaw and Sleepypaw and NOPE everything was fine it was great she wasn't having nightmares of hurting them no she wasn't because that would mean she wasn't the light-hearted go-lucky kit she was supposed to be and that would be CRAZY, RIGHT.

Ahem. Training time. Yes yes. Birdpaw trusted what Freckle told her, that this Fogwatcher guy was super cool and would be nice to her. She spotted him--wowie he was pretty like a cool looking leaf!--near the warrior's den, and bumbled over to him. "Hiya!" She chirped in Mossfreckle's voice. "Can we go out to train? Oh! Sorry I forgot I didn't see you at the clan meeting I'm Birdpaw, I'm your apprentice!" She beamed up at him, a veritable ball of sunlight and good will.

[SuspiciousMindz]

​
[Fogwatcher]
ShadowClan Warrior
Flock Together [T1] | Bilingual [T1] | The Collector

Fogwatcher happened to be minding his own business for once. Enjoying the warmth from the new-leaf sun. He couldn't wait to feel the heat on his pelt again. He honestly wasn't a fan of the snow and cold, even if his pelt was advantageous of that season. It was all fine and dandy until he was shocked to hear Pretty Kitty's voice, but his eyes shot open to see no Mossy.

What the hell?

His heart was racing in his chest, wishing he'd actually been greeted by the medicine cat. Finally, his blue gaze would settle on the apprentice he nearly forgot he had. Pretty kitty had kept him distracted; his brain was foggy. This already made him a bad mentor. Birdpaw sat before him, and he had to cock his head a little to try and register was what happening.

"Di- did you just speak?" Surely Birdpaw wasn't the voice he'd just heard. "What're you wanting to start with anyway?" his flustered voice would finish.

@Mica

[Mica]

Birdpaw
ShadowClan
she/her | 6 moons | 7/100
[Blue-grey tabby with dark blue overcoat, white underside and amber eyes]
Purrks: Lyrebird's Lullaby [PERMANENTLY ACTIVE]
· · ────────────── · ·
[Fogwatcher - @SuspiciousMindz ]
· · ────────────── · ·
Birdpaw grinned up at Fogwatcher, completely oblivious to his discomfort. Oh! He was asking her what she wanted to start with? Well.... She bounced on her white-tipped paws a few times. "Couldja teach me sommmeeeee hunting?" She chirped, big amber eyes shining with excitement. "I want ta impress Papa when he takes me out hunting!" She had heard her father agree to her request during the meeting, before she had run off to Muma--only to be ignored--and she still wanted to have him teach her. But she needed to have a little background before she could go out! She had to be able to wow him!

[SuspiciousMindz]

​
[Fogwatcher]
ShadowClan Warrior
Flock Together [T1] | Bilingual [T1] | The Collector

The voice continued and Fogwatcher was absolutely appalled to hear Mossfreckle talk through Birdpaw. He blinked a couple of times and finally just decided he ended up with an apprentice with some sort of super power. That had to be pretty cool, right? He should be proud of this! He was still a little creeped out though, that probably wouldn't go away.

The splotched tom let his tail run across the ground with a moment of thought. Then he'd nod. "Yeah, alright. Let's go practice some hunting!" Fogwatcher chirped in return, bouncing to his paws.

"Alright, alright, alright," Fogwatcher chimed, heading towards an open area of the clearing and turning on his toes to face Birdpaw. "So, so, do you know anything off the top of your head? Any crouch practice yet?" the warrior inquired, trying to come off as cheerful. "Show me."

@Mica

[Mica]

Birdpaw
ShadowClan
she/her | 6 moons | 17/100
[Blue-grey tabby with dark blue overcoat, white underside and amber eyes]
Purrks: Lyrebird's Lullaby [PERMANENTLY ACTIVE]
· · ────────────── · ·
[Fogwatcher - @SuspiciousMindz ]
· · ────────────── · ·
Birdpaw eagerly wiggled her haunches, glad that Fogwatcher seemed to share her energy. Everyone was so sad and angry all the time, and it had really started the rub off on the impressionable molly. "Oh yes yes yes I played with my siblings all the time and did all sortsa crouchin'!!" It was a lie, as none of her siblings wanted to play with her for most of her childhood. But Fogwatcher didn't need to know that, and as far as she was concerned the two times she played with Moonpaw was enough to satisfy her for the rest of her life. She nodded in concentration, quickly dropping into a low, steady crouch. Her tail swished unconsciously behind her. It was a little messy, but easy to fix.

[SuspiciousMindz]

​
[Fogwatcher]
ShadowClan Warrior
Flock Together [T1] | Bilingual [T1] | The Collector

Tsk. Tsk.

The clicking of his tongue echoed around them as he studied her messy crouch. That was okay! This was simple! "Good try! You have some great starts there, but lemme show you how you can improve," Fogwatcher chimed, trying to keep her spirits high.

The warrior got down in his own hunting crouch. The muscle memory making it seem effortless as he crouched, barely off the ground with his tail still behind him. He'd toss a glance toward Birdpaw, his eyes light with encouragement. "See, see. You want to be barely off the ground, your weight evenly spread on your paws. Tail must be still! Yours was waving, asking a kitten to pounce on it," he chuckled a little.

When he stood back up, he gestured for Birdpaw to try again. "Now, your lil muscles might struggle but practicing over and over will make it easier! Holding yourself up can be straining on the muscles, so just build em up!"

@Mica - Birdpaw

[Mica]

Birdpaw
ShadowClan
she/her | 6 moons | 17/100
[Blue-grey tabby with dark blue overcoat, white underside and amber eyes]
Purrks: Lyrebird's Lullaby [PERMANENTLY ACTIVE]
· · ────────────── · ·
[Fogwatcher - @SuspiciousMindz ]
· · ────────────── · ·
Despite not getting it right on her first try, Birdpaw was not deterred. She nodded eagerly as Fogwatcher gave her tips, listening with big eyes and open ears. Her amber gaze flicked to her fluffy tail, forcing it to still with the power of her gaze alone. No kittens on her tail, no siree! And keeping her body low to the ground? No sweat! Birdpaw lowered herself further, her little legs shaking with the effort. Okay, maybe a little sweat.

Without looking to Fogwatcher for help, Birdpaw began to shuffle, stretching her paws out and placing them differently so her weight was more balanced. It was still a little straining, but it felt much better now. Tail? Check! Belly? Check! Mentor's approval...?

[SuspiciousMindz]

​
[Fogwatcher]
ShadowClan Warrior
Flock Together [T1] | Bilingual [T1] | The Collector

Fogwatcher grinned widely at Birdpaw, waving his tail with approval and offering a nod. Much better! Much, much better indeed! The splotched warrior then started to creep forward, keeping his paws high enough off the ground to not knock into anything. Then, when they lowered back down, he did so softly so no noise was made.

"You gotta be gentle when you move forward! Soft, small strides. Be mindful of where you place your paws. Making noise is the first indicator to prey so you don't want that," Fogwatcher explained, ready to watch her attempt her prowling. He'd get into more advance stuff like the way the wind blows when she got the stalking down some.

@Mica - Birdpaw

[Mica]

Birdpaw
ShadowClan
she/her | 6 moons | 41/100
[Blue-grey tabby with dark blue overcoat, white underside and amber eyes]
Purrks: Lyrebird's Lullaby [PERMANENTLY ACTIVE]
· · ────────────── · ·
[Fogwatcher - @SuspiciousMindz ]
· · ────────────── · ·
Birdpaw watched Fogwatcher with big eyes, nodding along as he deomonstrated moving while crouched. She mimicked his steps, a little wobbly at first but as she kept going, she felt into a rhythm that felt natural. She slunk around, careful to avoid any obstacles in her way. This was good! This felt right! Birdpaw made a little cheeping noise out of excitement, bouncing to her paws again and trotting over to Fogwatcher. "Didja see me? Did it look right? I think it did!!"