A Brawl for Kinship [P]

[Alchemist Kitsune]

| Dapplebreeze |
Agatha Kitty - Active | Silver Tongue - Active | Beefed Up [Tier 1] - Inactive

---

Fur gleaming in the newleaf light as the sun started breaking out through the horizon, the senior warrior found herself taking a deep breath, a calm, serene face displayed carefully despite the concerns brewing beneath. Her apprentice had gotten injured from that dreadful scouting mission that went awry. This had of course meant that she had to wait for her darling charge to get better before she could begin lessons proper. But then, even more horrendously... Twilight Falls had seemingly fallen to the very minks that had ambushed her clanmates. Batglare, the warrior she had previously approached for a training date soon after the first attack had been injured in this second attack, and it had only served to strengthen the former queen's resolve. Brightpaw needed to learn how to fight. Now. She would not lose her to those dreadful creatures due to yet another unsuspecting attack. If she was to encounter them again, she would do so much more prepared.

Dapplebreeze had been planning to speak to the tan and white she-cat prior to this. Prepare her for the fighting session. Maybe even get her excited for it. Bonding time with her sister was bound to be fun! Who said one could not mix a little enjoyment with one's learning? However, times were dire, and as such, she wasted no time bounding towards the apprentices' den, hoping to find the she-cat there. Perhaps alongside young Twistedpaw. She had discussed how long Lightningstorm had informed her she wanted Brightpaw resting with her warrior companion, and she had proceeded along with their plans despite his injuries. Considering how swiftly the tom had been following up on his tasks after the fact, she doubted he would object to training the lasses. Knowing the tom, he wouldn't shy away from declining joining in if he couldn't. Blunt as Batglare might be, she couldn't help but admit that she appreciated his straight to the point honesty, even if it could stand to hold a little more diplomacy in it. Of course... the idea of the tom in question being diplomatic in any event was comical enough for her to push the notion straight out of her mind while hiding a smile. No time for straying thoughts, now was the time for action.

"Brightpaw? Twistedpaw? Are you in here, darlings?" the patched warrior called out demurely into the paws' den, blue hues slowly adapting to the low light as she looked around. Uncertain as she was if Batglare had gotten the lasses or not - it was rather early, after all - she preferred to err in the side of caution. Best make sure to gather up the young ones and be pleasantly surprised to find them already up than to show up before the brooding tom empty pawed, after all.

---

@Moonraven [Batglare] | @MockingRabbit [Brightpaw] | @TheNyanCatMinecart [Twistedpaw]
| Sorry Bright and Twisted. Your mentors had conspired against you for some joint battle training. And now that there are minks out and about, there has never been a better time! No posting order yet. We can go with whatever the posting order here is and run with that in the future. |

[TheNyanCatMinecart]

~ TWISTEDPAW OF WINDCLAN - AFAB SHE/HER ~

Small, skinny black she-cat with a light gray belly and tail-tip, a crooked jaw, a mangled tail, and one blind eye.

Twistedpaw lay in her nest in the apprentices' den, tucked into a far, shadowy corner. She felt a little less scared of her denmates after her conversation with Batglare and certainly less guilty about herself. It felt huge, the weight that had been lifted off of her shoulders when she'd realized that she needed to stop believing what Willowsky and Flutteringkit had said all those moons ago. Fireflame, Brightpaw, Twilightstar, Batglare... they all believe in me. So I need to believe in them. And... and in myself. Twistedpaw knew she had to become a warrior no matter what. Even if it was scary, even if her deformities would slow her down or bring trouble. Already, she was nearly twelve moons old. Her demons and deformities alike had slowed her down. But, despite the fear that churned in her stomach as she imagined her Clanmates' judgment... she knew she could do it.

Still, though, she preferred it here. The shadows were soothing and made her feel safe from prying eyes. Her black pelt blended into them nicely. Her nest was also farther away from the den's entrance, protecting her from drafts and poor weather that could blow in from the front. Twistedpaw poked at the soft moss, nestling into it. It was comforting. Warm. She liked soft things.

Yet burdens nibbled at the back of her mind. Not just about her appearance, but about recent events in the Clan. Some strange creatures called minks had attacked and injured her mentor and foster sister. Both Batglare and Brightpaw were recovering - Brightpaw had recovered - but the thought made Twistedpaw's stomach turn. What if they'd been killed? She wouldn't have been able to bear a world without them. They had helped her, tethered her to WindClan and provided a warm and comforting space. And Fireflame... I haven't seen her in a while. A pang shook the apprentice as she imagined losing her foster mother again. She'd gotten used to the feeling, and she hadn't spotted Fireflame in a while, but... it hurt. StarClan had sent her back from the dead. Why did she have to leave again?

A voice distracted Twistedpaw from the thoughts swirling around in her mind. Brightpaw's new mentor, Dapplebreeze, was calling both of them. Her white fur and blue eyes glowed in the gloom while the newleaf light streaming in from outside surrounded her like a halo. Twistedpaw eyed her uncertainly. Dapplebreeze seemed nice, and she was a great warrior, but what would she think of Twistedpaw's deformities? Will she judge me? Or is she nice?

Cautiously, the small black she-cat rose to her paws. She shook off scraps of moss and grass that clung to her pelt.

"I-I'm here, D-dappleb-breeze," she stammered. Thankfully, her voice wasn't nearly as distorted as it had been for most of leaf-bare - in the warm, dry apprentices' den, it hadn't gotten the chance to turn dreadful. Will Dapplebreeze be mad at me when it does? she wondered, anxiety swirling in her stomach like a leaf in a puddle.

Twistedpaw glanced around for her foster sister, Brightpaw, quickly spotting her tan-and-white pelt. She debated waiting for her, then figured she wouldn't be going very far. She gave Brightpaw a friendly purr and wished she could ask her something that Dapplebreeze wouldn't overhear. Is your mentor friendly? Will she judge me?

Well, it was time to find out. Taking a deep breath, steeling herself, and trying to ignore the butterflies that seemed to have magically appeared in her stomach, Twistedpaw carefully navigated the nests and stepped out into the sunshine beside Dapplebreeze. The scents of newleaf washed over her like rain - fresh, growing grass and flowers - and the sunlight felt deliciously warm. Twistedpaw wanted to savor it.

But she was also acutely aware of how much the sunlight revealed. Her broken, crooked, twisted tail stuck out like a wrenched claw, swooping and dipping in a macabre pattern before the hideous, dented, light gray tail-tip bulged behind and between her too-small ears. Her black pelt was a matted mess. Her crooked jaw hung at an awkward angle with one big, white tooth sticking out at the edge. She could feel the sunlight glinting off of her blind, colorless eye. At least she wasn't as underfed as before - skinny, yes, but not malnourished.

Twistedpaw found it hard to meet Dapplebreeze's gaze. What would she find there? Shock? Disgust? Anger? Revulsion? In a small voice, she managed, "Wh-what is i-it?" As in, what were they doing today? And will Batglare be there? Oh, how she hoped he was alright...

@Alchemist Kitsune @Moonraven @MockingRabbit

[MockingRabbit]

Brightpaw
She/her - 9 Moons

Twinkling sunlight slipped into the den, flitting over Brightpaw's pelt. Time seemed to be moving slowly. Her nest was warm, and it was just one of those mornings when she woke up in a really comfy position. She could snooze for a little more, right?
A shadow blocked the light, the silhouette of a cat filling the den. She lifted her head and blinked sleepily, recognising her mentor, and accepting the fact that she would have to get up now. C'mon, lazy butt, she thought, pushing to her paws. "Coming!"

She shook the ferns from her pelt and ran a tongue over her ruffled tan-and-white fur, then scrambled after her sister.

"Good morning!" She mewed to the two.

@Alchemist Kitsune

[Moonraven]

He honestly felt like it was way too early for this. The huge brown and white tom has never been the greatest morning tom. However, with the sunlight peeking into the den, shining right into his eyes, the day was forcing him to awake. He yawned silently and slowly rose from his nest. He shook vigorously after finishing his stretches. An ache in leg was acting up today, however, Batglare figured with some moving the ache would dull to nothingness as it often did.

Batglare carefully stepped over stray tails and slumbering bodies of his clanmates while exiting the warriors' den. Batglare stopped and stretched again once he was out of the stuffy den, barely glancing at Dapplebreeze as she collected their apprentices in front of the apprentices' den. He took a moment to groom some stray moss out of his flank and test his body. He had been recovering from the mink assault with no issues thanks to Firestorm's and Lightningstorm's work.

The warrior had a new scar etched into his head, right above his eye that he couldn't see, another on the back of his neck that, once again, he couldn't observe no matter how he turned his head. The ones on his thigh and chest were a light shade of pink and tender when he licked them. He assumed the others he couldn't see were in a similar state along with the scratches. He knew the scratches would fade with time; he wasn't sure about the bites.

He saw Whisperingpaw not too long ago, the tom seemed to be healing as well as his mentor was. Batglare had been glad that Whisperingpaw had replaced Twistedpaw for that patrol. The senior wasn't as confident in Twistedpaw's ability to hold her own in a fight as Whisperingpaw. He supposed he owed some gratitude to StarClan or whoever for getting them out of the situation alive. His concern with Twistedpaw's battle skills would hopefully be alleviated somewhat today.

Batglare gradually padded over to the other three she-cats and worked on waking himself up with another yawn. He left the talking to Dapplebreeze, more comfortable settling imposingly behind her. It was her idea, she could run this, Batglare was here more to ensure Twistedpaw's comfort in Dapplebreeze's presence.

@Alchemist Kitsune [Dapplebreeze] | @MockingRabbit [Brightpaw] | @TheNyanCatMinecart [Twistedpaw]

[Alchemist Kitsune]

| Dapplebreeze |
Agatha Kitty - Active | Silver Tongue - Active | Beefed Up [Tier 1] - Inactive

---

"Well good morning to the two of you, my dearests," Dapplebreeze was quick to purr, a warm smile tugging at her lips as the apprentices approached. "Come along with me, please."

Despite her words being more order than suggestion, the former queen kept a maternal, soft demeanor around the two sisters, pleased already with their swift response. The difference in personality between the two was instantly obvious, with Brightpaw being more confident than Twistedpaw even with sleep still clinging to her fur. Oh, how she hoped her exercise proved to be beneficial not just for her own darling apprentice, but Batglare's as well! As much as the tan and cream molly tended to show favor towards her own apprentices, she believed it was a joint task to ensure that the paws growing today found themselves strong, capable warriors able to weather any storm they faced. Even as she began heading towards the clearing, the large form of the brown and white tom approached. A silent, imposing shadow behind her. The senior warrior turned to gaze at him, to offer a morning greeting, paused only as she caught sight of the new scars littering his features.

The marks of battles had never bothered Dapplebreeze. They were merely a history of a cat's war history. Of terrible fights that they had participated in but survived. Her own body no doubt had a few scars underneath the plush coat of fur she sported, hidden away from memory. No, it was not the scars themselves that brought her pause, but the creatures that had caused them. The very same vermin that had caught her darling daughter and apprentice unawares. It merely raised her conviction. The apprentices would begin their battle training today! Or at least... perhaps gain the confidence required to face an opponent head on. Over confidence was a killer, of course, but a falter in the heat of battle, a moment of hesitance? It was all that was needed to meet a quick, merciless demise. She would not have those in her care fall victims to doubt.

"Good morning to you as well, darling," the patched warrior purred amicably, gathering the tom's silence as a greeting of its own as she led the way away from the camp's walls.

She was hesitant leaving the safety of the camp for training with the minks about, but she figured that with how close to the wall's safety they were, they should be able to return swiftly if the worse happened. Odds were, after all, that if the minks reached here, they would be upon the camp in the blink of an eye in any case, and the apprentices would be in peril one way or another. At least this way she could keep Twistedpaw away from prying eyes. She hoped that the privacy offered here in the company of only their mentors and each other would allow not just her but Brightpaw become comfortable as they were ready to learn the basics of combat. But first things first. An explanation. The sleepy dears could potentially be confused over the whole ordeal.

"Very well... this should be far enough. We shan't be in anyone's way, and can practice to our hearts content. Now, my sweetest of apprentices, we are here today for one very important matter. Combat. It is of the utmost importance with the minks upon us to ensure that you are at your best for survival. Now, Brightpaw, my dear. We haven't been paired up for too long, and I am afraid that you have already encountered the creatures before I could properly train you to defend yourself. If I had only known..."

A pause lingered in the air here and Dapplebreeze closed her eyes, shaking her head in disappointment. It had been a truly foul turn of events. To think that the day she had been granted apprenticeship of this young paw she would have sent her to such a horrid patrol. No one could have foreseen it, of course... but she couldn't help feel guilt. Her presence would have changed nothing, she was certain. The patrol had already been privy of many a wonderful warrior. But it was her job to be there for her apprentice, and she had failed that task spectacularly on their first day together. There would be no more slip ups in the future.

"Past is past, however. We can try and wallow in misery over what has happened, or rise above it. Learn from it and become stronger for the next adversity. Now, my dears. I do know there are times when apprentices talk. Exchange training information. Or perhaps another warrior has taken one of you two darlings out for some battle experience? Before we begin, I believe it is best if we are all on the same paw here. What do you know about battling? No need to be shy now. No knowledge is more than acceptable here today. We are here to learn," the round face warrior spoke, her voice crisp as her gaze shifted from one apprentice to the next, careful to give both equal attention as she explained.

---

@Moonraven [Batglare] | @MockingRabbit [Brightpaw] | @TheNyanCatMinecart [Twistedpaw]

[TheNyanCatMinecart]

(TW: Mentions of abuse)

~ TWISTEDPAW OF WINDCLAN - AFAB SHE/HER ~

Small, skinny, black she-cat with a light gray belly and tail-tip, a crooked jaw, a mangled tail, and one blind eye.

Twistedpaw's nerves were slowly mounting. She could feel them swelling with each passing second, Dapplebreeze's gaze hot on her matted black pelt, searing her like the sun. She imagined invisible paws and tried to push the familiar feelings down. Not everyone hates you. Some might, but... you can't let it distract you from being a warrior, she asserted. Her bulging tail-tip twitched. She took a deep breath to calm her speeding heart and nearly winced at the whistling sound it made as it escaped her crooked jaw. She felt so... exposed.

The sound of pawsteps and a familiar scent immediately made the nervous apprentice relax. Turning her head, she found Brightpaw emerging from the apprentices' den, pelt slightly ruffled and a cheery greeting on her lips. Twistedpaw purred in response and leaned forward to give her foster sister a friendly nuzzle. "It's been a while!" she meowed. "I'm sorry we haven't talked much lately. How are you?" Twistedpaw's mind flashed back to what she'd heard about the mink attack, and her stomach gave a nervous flip. "Are you okay? Have your wounds healed?" Surely she was well enough for Dapplebreeze to train her, but still. She couldn't help her concern.

Batglare had been a part of that attack, too. She couldn't help feeling another twinge of anxiety - unrelated to Dapplebreeze's presence this time. I should make sure he's doing okay. No sooner had that thought occurred than his familiar scent reached her distorted nose. Twistedpaw turned quickly, crooked jaw swinging, and spotted his impressive figure and signature scowl making its way toward the group. "Batglare!" she exclaimed, hurrying forward. She almost crashed into him and moved to press into his pelt. He was so fluffy! "Are you okay? Do your wounds hurt?" She looked at his new scars with concern. They looked painful. More painful than when Willowsky nipped me, she thought with an inward shudder. One day, I'll have to face something like that... The thought made her nervous, but Twistedpaw knew she had to power through it for the sake of her Clan. Being a warrior was so important to her.

Dapplebreeze's warm voice made Twistedpaw turn. For a heartbeat, she felt a little embarrassed. Did she look silly? But the warrior's blue eyes were so soft, her tone so friendly. And there was no judgment. Only comfort. Like a heavy rain washing away the ashes from a fire, Twistedpaw felt her anxiety melt. A lopsided, albeit genuine, smile graced her face. She liked Dapplebreeze already.

As the white-and-cream she-cat began to walk away, Twistedpaw followed. She didn't feel like she needed an explanation. She trusted Dapplebreeze, and besides, Batglare and Brightpaw were here. She stayed close to her mentor and foster sister. Dapplebreeze was nice, yes, but she was more comfortable around them. "I'm so happy we're training together!" she purred to Brightpaw. "It's a nice day, too. My jaw and tail won't get all achy." Normally, Twistedpaw wouldn't outright mention this stuff around cats she wasn't very familiar with, but something about Dapplebreeze made her feel relaxed.

And, indeed, it was a very pleasant day. Even as they left camp and the breeze became stiffer, the warmth of the sun countered it, and the scents of heather and fresh grass made Twistedpaw inhale deeply. Heather was her favorite smell.

Twistedpaw glanced around, then lowered her voice as best she could. Two questions were eating away at her mind. One was borne of curiosity; the other held a twinge of pain. "Brightpaw..." she whispered. "Have... have you seen Fireflame lately? And... Dapplebreeze seems really nice... what's she like?"

They stopped somewhere on the moor. Dapplebreeze began to speak, and Twistedpaw fixed her gaze on the warrior, pricking her tiny ears intently. Practice? What are we practicing? she wondered, suddenly realizing that she didn't know why they were here. Her question was soon answered, however. I need to learn how to fight the minks. A shiver ran through her, but Twistedpaw suppressed it, nodding in response to Dapplebreeze's words. She was right. Twistedpaw did need to learn these things.

The mention of Brightpaw's encounter sent a thrill of concern through the black-and-light-gray apprentice. She'd heard about it, but... the thought that her mentor and foster sister might've been killed made her feel sick. I don't know what I'd do without them. Especially without Fireflame... She swallowed hard. A trickle of drool squeezed out from the corner of her mouth.

Past is past, however. We can try and wallow in misery over what has happened, or rise above it. Learn from it and become stronger for the next adversity.

Dapplebreeze's words were like a stone. They settled in Twistedpaw's brain and sank through the gray matter as if it were river water. Something deep within her stirred. She couldn't help staring at Dapplebreeze.

Hadn't that been her entire life leading up to this point? Overcoming adversity? From her mother's abuse to Flutteringkit's bullying to her own insecurities... her whole life had been a battle. But Twistedpaw knew what really mattered now. And she could work through it.

She'd gotten over a mental battle. Now she needed to learn how to overcome a physical one.

Questions. Twistedpaw took a deep breath. Yes, there were some things she wanted to say. And she knew she shouldn't be afraid to say them. Glancing at Batglare, she stepped forward and looked at Dapplebreeze. Surprisingly, she didn't stutter as much as usual.

"W-well... I have a few if you don't mind..." It was an effort to hold the warrior's gaze. Twistedpaw shifted on her paws. Focus. "I don't have much b-battle training... I know how to jump on an opponent's back and cling on and j-jump off before they roll... th-that's it." A flood of embarrassment washed over her, but she tried to remain focused.

"That move works, b-but... there are some that w-won't work for me. It's harder f-for me to bite things... w-well, I can do it from a certain angle, but it's tough, and this tooth-" she indicated to the big one hanging out from the side "-can get t-tangled easily. And m-my tail... B-batglare's been great. He's taught me how to work with it. But it's still a b-bit unbalancing and hurts a lot if it's c-crushed. But it also p-protects my back. D-do you have any adv-vice for... for s-someone like me?"

Laying out all her... issues made Twistedpaw's stomach roil. It felt like she was admitting how messed up she was. However, everyone had told her she could become a warrior. There were ways for her to fight. And she was going to learn them.

One other thing popped into her mind. "S-sorry if I'm b-being disruptive... but... how bad do wounds feel? In battle? I mean, I kn-know what it's like to get hurt. My mom - Willowsky -" It almost felt wrong calling her "mom." Willowsky had never wanted to be Twistedpaw's mother. Fireflame had. "W-well, when I was a kit, very young, she nipped me in the scruff when I did something she d-didn't like." Twistedpaw quickly ducked her head to show the faded bite mark scars on the back of her neck. Her jaw dangled. She felt her cheeks burn slightly.

Lifting her head back up, she continued, "W-willowsky also clawed my sides and broke a bit of my tail before sh-she was e-exiled... s-so I know pain, but... is it..." She tried to find the right words. All the while, the burn in her cheeks spread to the rest of her pelt. She felt like a fool. "It r-really hurt... b-but you can't stop on a b-battlefield, can you? Then you'd get even more hurt. H-how do you deal with it? And... what's it like? Does pain feel any different? Like, on a battlefield?"

@Alchemist Kitsune @Moonraven @MockingRabbit (Have fun with Twistedpaw's trauma)

[MockingRabbit]

Brightpaw
She/her - 9 Moons

"I am well, thank you," Brightpaw answered her sister affectionately. It had been a hot-minute since they had last spoken, she had to admit, and felt a tingle of gratitude that their mentors had decided to train them together. "Oh, no, those- it was just a few scratches," she blustered, then licked her chest to hid her embarrassment. She hated how much attention they seemed to get, when they were so small in comparison to the other cat's in the patrol. Like Bravebird's.

Brightpaw felt almost relieved when Batglare approached and took up Twistedpaw's focus. She watched the warrior curiously. She didn't know him very well, but from what she had seen, he was a brusque and imposing cat -especially in the face of Dapplebreeze's open lovingness.
Her mentor was the first to move, leading the way out of camp. Brightpaw gave Twistedpaws words a purr, and followed the warrior. She was content to pad along in silence, enjoying the morning scents, but Twistedpaw sidled up to her and whispered in her ear.
The first question puzzled her. "Fireflame?" she asked, matching Twistedpaw's volume. Fireflame was her foster mother, the cat who took her in when she was found on the territory as a kit. But she was dead now, killed by rogues several moons ago. Brightpaw gazed into her sister's eyes in concern. Twistedpaw knew that, right? Could grief have made her forget? Brightpaw remembered telling her in the Medicine Den, while she had been healing from Willowsky's violent parting. There had been a lot going on then, but surely she couldn't have forgotten! "Um..." She bit her lip and had to stop walking briefly, to think. What could she mean then? In a dream, like from StarClan? I don't know...

"No, I haven't..." She replied cautiously. Maybe she could look back on this, and find a way to deal with it later...
The second question was easier on the mind. "She's great!" Brightpaw had to push her troubled thoughts aside to put enthusiasm into her voice. "I don't know her that well yet," she admitted. "I went on patrol right after the ceremony, but she seems really nice!"

Brightpaw gazed around while Dapplebreeze spoke. "The best I've got is to waive my claws around and hope for the best," she purred.
Her paws kneaded the ground in agitation when Twistedpaw brought up Willowsky. She knew what the former queen had done, and it pained her that her sister had been hurt like that. How could someone be so cruel to their own daughter? Especially to someone as nice as Twistedpaw.

"I can answer that," she piped up. "When you are fighting, the adrenaline kicks in and it dulls the pain until later." At least she had gotten something out of the mink attack.

@Alchemist Kitsune - @TheNyanCatMinecart - @Moonraven

[Moonraven]

The large warrior dropped his gaze as Twistepaw sped over to him like a bee to honey and began nuzzling into his fur. Batglare gave a low grunt of greeting accepting the nuzzling with his usual scowl, and lowered his head to press his nose against one of Twistedpaw's small ears. The paw began showering him with questions and concern, which he answered with a frown.

"Fine and no." He answered, tone gruff and clipped as usual. He's gotten into the habit of speaking more since Twistedpaw often demanded it, but if he could get away with short answers, he'd do it. His attention turned to Dapplebreeze as the she-cat greeted him. He twitched his ear in acknowledgment but offered no words in reply. He turns to follow Dapplebreeze as she leads the way out of the camp, allowing the two sisters to chat as they follow behind her while Batglare brings up the rear of their group.

Twistedpaw appeared genuinely happy with being able to talk with her sister. The sight warmed his seemingly cold heart. Dapplebreeze didn't take them far from the camp, he assumed that it had something to do with the minks. Since they were just battle training, Batglare didn't see the need to go too far anyway. He sat on the grass and returned to grooming the scar on his chest as Dapplebreeze talked.

He kept his ears perked as Twistedpaw raised her questions, and dwelled into her more troubling past. His intense glare focused on his apprentice, checking to ensure her mood was stable. Since their talk during training with Whisperingpaw, Twistedpaw has grown in bounds and leaps when overcoming her trauma and past. She was better at leaving the past where it belonged, in the past, and focusing on what was in front of her. Still, at that point, Batglare had been conditioned to keep an eye on any telltale signs that she'd crumble again, ready to pick her back up at the first sign of a fall.

She was okay, though. Aside from the stuttering, she wasn't dwelling or beating herself up. It seemed she had drawn a line between right and wrong and understood that the fault didn't lie with her. It was a vast improvement to what he had to deal with in the past.

"Adrenaline can dull pain in the battle, but it's not something you should blindly rely on." Batglare rasped with a stoic expression. "Cats have different pain thresholds, a bite to your tail could have you going stiff with pain whereas a bite to mine, I could fight through it. Your body can only produce so much adrenaline, and you can only ignore so much pain. Know your limits and weaknesses, and when to back down or call for help." Batglare reminded, not wanting either apprentice to become too bold or reliant on the sensation adrenaline left.

"Once the adrenaline leaves, all that pain comes crash back through your body and often leaves you in intense pain, and exhausted. Learning to anticipate your opponent's moves and dodge or counterattack your enemies in a battle will aid you far more than adrenaline in combat." Get cut too deeply or break a bone and adrenaline becomes a double edge blade, bleed out, or heal wrong and that could be the end of your warrior career. Batglare turned his green-yellow glare over to Dapplebreeze to hear what she had to say.
@Alchemist Kitsune [Dapplebreeze] | @MockingRabbit [Brightpaw] | @TheNyanCatMinecart [Twistedpaw]

[Alchemist Kitsune]

| Dapplebreeze |
Agatha Kitty - Active | Silver Tongue - Active | Beefed Up [Tier 2] - Inactive

---

A small purr of affectionate amusement escaped Dapplebreeze as her apprentice spoke, allowing herself a fond smile at her admittance. She was, of course, disappointed that the mentor before her had not instilled any level of battle training on darling Brightpaw, but of course, none of the fault lay with the apprentice here. And today would be the first step into correcting that horrid slight. A good foundation today, and who knew what advanced techniques the dear would be asking for next? She had high hopes for the younger she-cat. Her can do attitude and obviously sharp attention would no doubt get her far in the clan.

"Well my dearest, we shall change that from waiving your claws and hoping for the best to waiving your claws while doing your best. All in good time, of course, but practice makes perfect, and we shall accomplish the best we can. Battle is, after all, no laughing matter. One does not aim to kill in battle. It is against the code. Unfortunately... not every clan or their leaders adhere to what our ancestors decreed before us as Twilightstar does. We do not sink to dishonor, of course, but sharp vigilance is a must."

Despite the gravity of her words, Dapplebreeze's voice remained soft and gentle, no different than a queen's at the nursery. There was no need, in her mind, for force to be used in her words to let her darling understand the severity of them. She had already encountered a horrid opponent that lacked any honor in the minks. Experience had taught her plenty already despite her young age. Surprisingly, the senior warrior found her attention being grabbed soon enough by the eldest sister, and she turned her focus to her, a pleased, encouraging smile upon her lips.

She didn't speak as Twistedpaw began, not even to acknowledge that she was more than happy with questions. She wasn't overly familiar with the molly, but she kept a close enough eye on the youth of the clan to know that she was shy. Kept to herself. Spooked easily. The last thing she wanted was to accidentally interrupt the sweet apprentice and make her believe she was overly speaking! In some ways, the dark paw reminded her of her estranged grandson. He had always had problems speaking his mind as well, seemingly terrified of offending by his mere presence. Hopefully this could be the first step towards helping Batglare get his apprentice out of her shell before she became too terrified to feel any sense of belonging as well.

Before she could respond to her first question, the dark furred feline began apologizing, earning a sympathetic glance from the patched she-cat. She had expected this. This small venture into unrequired apologies. What she had not expected, however, was what had followed. The casual way that Twistedpaw spoke of... of her. Of Willowsky. Dapplebreeze had been a member of the clan back then, of course, but true to form, she kept to what was important. To the tasks at paw. She had to, to not drown in a pit of misery after her daughter had died. She had focused all of her attention on her now long gone second litter. Her singular, precious Ryepaw. The fire had taken him, but it did not make him any less dear to her. A mother's love was endless for her kittens. Or so had always been her belief.

A blank look slowly took over the former queen's face, claws unsheathed at the shy apprentice's words. How dare she? How dare anyone?! A kit was innocent. To be nourished. Loved. To be given the freedom to remain blissfully ignorant of the cruelties of the world for as long as possible. Because time came for all, and apprenticeship was the place to learn how harsh a warrior's life could be. And yet this mother... No. This monster had dared to lay a claw on a kit she had given birth to, that she had brought to this world to unconditionally care for. She had thought that only Dovewing was capable of such brutality, and even then that traitorous feline had never touched her grandson. To learn that one who had been a WindClanner her whole life could turn her back in such an atrocious manner not just to her clanmate, but to her own kin. To her own precious kit. It certainly put into perspective the quiet nature she had.

Taking a deep breath, she remained quiet as Brightpaw responded, allowing herself to calm down before joining in to the conversation. Before chipping in. Batglare's stern yet not unkind voice washing over her, she allowed reason to fill her mind once more. She could not display this anger. It would perhaps not be understood by those who surrounded her. Brightpaw and Twistedpaw were too young. And Batglare... well, she wasn't certain what the tom's views on family were. Not anymore, in any case. But she couldn't guarantee it. That any one of them would understand the need to tear into Willowsky's pelt herself, from one queen to another. Exile had been too soft a punishment. A cat like that deserved nothing less than death.

"Batglare is right, of course," the molly finally mewed, her blue hues turning soft once more as she turned to her two darlings. Because if Willowsky had failed the young lass as a mother, then by StarClan she would provide the love she could now. It was never too late to be appreciated! Never too late to be shown your worth. Because every WindClanners life was precious. A fact Willowsky had obviously failed to learn.

She was certain, of course. That the tom besides her had worked wonders with her already. Had cared for her in his own way. How else had such a soft spoken paw talked so bravely about things that no doubt would have made her crumble in moons past? For a moment, Dapplebreeze allowed her gaze to flutter towards the massive tom appreciatively, realizing his positive influence over Twistedpaw was far greater than she could have ever guessed before now. Twilightstar had no doubt chosen well when pairing the two, no matter how strange they might have seemed as a duo prior to this talk.

"There are dangers in overthinking situations in combat. Sometimes, one must let one's muscles do the work. They know best in key moments during battle. But that does not mean turning off one's mind. Awareness is of utmost importance. Never take more than you can handle. It might feel cowardly sometimes. To step back when feeling overwhelmed in war. But a wounded warrior can spring back. Can still help their clan make a comeback when the time is right. Death leaves nothing but tears and empty hearts."

A sad smile crossing her gaze, the memory of all the deaths she had felt in her life flickered in the back of her mind as she gazed tenderly at the two before her. They were sisters who had lost their own mother. Who stood to lose each other if ever things went south. She was certain they would care for each other in combat, but it was important for them to care for themselves as well. Nothing hurt worse than seeing the body of a loved one being dragged back home after an ambush they refused to run away from, even if it was for the sake of another's well being that they stayed.

"All that said, however, today is not the day for such worries, my darlings! No no no. Today we learn basics. Combat moves that are perhaps silly to practice, but can save you in a pinch. For you, my sweet Twistedpaw, you mentioned that your bites are troubling? Well... between you and me, my bites have never been the strongest either. I am a far better hunter than I am a fighter, but we learn to work with our bodies. To find our ebb and flow. Like the wind, we let the current of the battle guide us. Tell me, my loves, how is your claw strike work?"

No sooner had the words left her mouth Dapplebreeze lifted her paw, claws unsheathed as she struck at the air not once, not twice, but five times, the swift motions ending in a loud, thudding sound and scrape as her paw shredded the soil beneath her. The act itself was fluid, well practiced. She had lived many a moons and been through many a battle, after all. Things such as these were second nature to her, further demonstrated by her casual, composed grooming that followed her strikes, bringing to question if the molly had ever even attacked at all. It was an easy enough display, but it served a purpose. To showcase just how much better time made seemingly basic attack strategies useful while also testing their reflexes. How many strikes had the paws spotted, she wondered, with eyes still untrained to battle?

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@Moonraven [Batglare] | @MockingRabbit [Brightpaw] | @TheNyanCatMinecart [Twistedpaw]