a touch of rage makes for the best motivation [p]

[Omari]

✼ •• ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ •• ✼
Smolderpaw
Riverclan
He/him
Post Count: 10/100

It had been moons, and Smolderpaw still only vaguely knew how to hunt. Barely, though. He hadn’t caught a single thing yet, he only knew to crouch and stalk. Frustrated, oh, he was frustrated. Heavy pawsteps lead him out of the apprentice’s den, head tucked low as he prowled, initially not quite certain of where he was headed until he paused outside of the warrior’s den.

Suppose his frustration from lack of training and outright fury from the clan’s recent events fueled him to his post–where he stood, rigid and staring into the mouth of the den until some unfortunate soul came wandering out to begin their day…

“Brokenstream.” The first warrior to exit within Smolderpaw’s field of vision. “Hello. I came looking for training this morning, and… You are the first to walk out of the warrior’s den. Will you help me with some battle training? I would really, really… Ah, erm–appreciate it.”

✼ •• ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ •• ✼

[ @korok ]

✼ •• ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ •• ✼

[korok]

☾ Brokenstream | 26 MOONS | HE/HIM ☽
header & divider by @/Marigoldwhisper



Yawning as he exited the warrior's den, the lionheart didn't even get a chance to breathe in the fresh air before his name was called. 'Geez, is this what it's like to be a high rank? I don't envy them.' He thought to himself as he stifled a sigh. However, when the cat speaking came into focus, he realized it was an apprentice. "Ah, Smolderpaw, yes? How can I help you?" The bengal's whiskers twitched as he tilted his head curiously.

"Battle training?" He echoed somewhat absent-mindedly. Brokenstream shook his head and stretched trying to wake himself up more. Well...battle training should help. "Sure. How much do you know already?" He asked before beginning to pad further into the clearing, beckoning with his tail for Smolderpaw to follow. "Let's get somewhere a little more out of the way. I don't think the other warriors will appreciate a tussle outside the den- sparring or not." He purred.

( @Omari )

[Omari]

✼ •• ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ •• ✼
Smolderpaw
Riverclan
He/him
Post Count: 11/100

The young tom gave a brief nod when the warrior had echoed his words. A slight elation bubbled in his chest at the warrior’s easy agreement, but it was quickly dampened by the kid’s unpleasant feelings that he held far too tightly onto. “Thanks. Don’t know much right now.. I’ve never really touched on it, so, I need the basics, I guess.”

That’s all it took, a simple flick of Brokenstream’s tail for Smolderpaw to follow him to… Well, wherever he was leading him. Blue eyes scanned over the older warrior as they walked, and he couldn’t help but squint at the tom. He wasn’t being judgey, just committing his pelt to memory. He wasn’t very close with many cats in the clan, so he couldn’t help it.

✼ •• ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ •• ✼

[ @korok ]

✼ •• ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ •• ✼

[korok]

☾ Brokenstream | 26 MOONS | HE/HIM ☽
header & divider by @/Marigoldwhisper



"Your first instinct should be to get out of your own head."

Brokenstream stared at Smolderpaw with an unreadable expression. It wasn't hard to tell the apprentice was upset about his lack of training. "It's not your fault you have yet to learn. You took initiative coming to find a warrior- you should take pride in yourself." Though his expression didn't much change, his tone was friendly. "Come now, we'll go a bit further into the territory so we have plenty of space and won't cause others to trip over our paws." He mewed as he exited the camp.



As they reached a small, sandy clearing, the lionheart turned to face Smolderpaw again. "The first thing you're going to want to learn is the crouch. It's very similar to the hunter's crouch- do you know how to do that yet?" He asked. "It's okay if you don't- that'll be a quick lesson." He added quickly, trying not to dampen the apprentice's spirits anymore.

( @Omari )

[Omari]

✼ •• ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ •• ✼
Smolderpaw
Riverclan
He/him
Post Count: 12/100

Smolderpaw's gaze shifted from the ground somewhere to look up at the warrior–into his eyes. For a moment, almost defiant, he stared back with a certain hardness before he exhaled slowly. His harsh stare faded into an almost sheepish one, and his blue eyes flicked down to his paws. “Yeah, I… Thanks.”

-

When Brokenstream came to a pause, as did the apprentice following closely behind him. He lifted his head to glance around the small clearing, feeling a slight shiver run down his spine–excitement, of course.

“Oh, I know the hunter's crouch!” Suddenly excitable, he dropped into the crouch that he had been taught moons ago–tail level behind him, making sure to shift his weight properly as he had been told to. It was the only thing he really knew, so he'd be damned if he wasn't doing this one right. “How's it look?”

✼ •• ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ •• ✼

[ @korok ]

✼ •• ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ •• ✼

[korok]

☾ Brokenstream | 26 MOONS | HE/HIM ☽
header & divider by @/Marigoldwhisper



"That might be the best hunter's crouch I've ever seen."

The Lionheart mewed earnestly, walking around the apprentice as he checked his stance. He gave an approving nod before stepping back into his original position. "Your tail touching the ground doesn't matter as much in this stance, considering your opponent will most likely be aware of you," He began lecturing. "But you do want to make sure you are aware of it, as you don't want the enemy to grab your tail if you can help." Brokenstream was sure he didn't have to explain why you didn't want an enemy to grab your tail. Now onto the real lesson.

Dropping down into a crouch mirroring Salamanderpaw, Brokenstream began to stalk around the apprentice. "Go ahead. Show me what you've got." The Bengal meowed with narrowed eyes, trying to appear at least somewhat intimidating. After all, those snake-hearted other Clans wouldn't spare him a second glance before slaying him.

( @Omari )

[Omari]

✼ •• ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ •• ✼
Smolderpaw
Riverclan
He/him
Post Count: 13/100

Smolderpaw nodded–yeah, he didn’t want anyone nipping at his tail. He could only imagine how much that would hurt. Then, the pressure was on–wuh-oh. Smolderpaw knew nothing about battle, absolutely nothing! The only thing he knew how to do was… Well, whatever he did when he was a kit and tousled with his sisters.

A feeling of unease settled over his shoulders, but he decided to give it a shot anyway. With the lack of experience that any apprentice his age would have, he darted straight for the Lionheart, basically just aiming to blunder straight for him and maybe… Knock him down? He wasn’t exactly sure.

✼ •• ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ •• ✼

[ @korok ]

✼ •• ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ •• ✼

[korok]

☾ Brokenstream | 26 MOONS | HE/HIM ☽
header & divider by @/Marigoldwhisper



As the apprentice blundered towards him, the Lionheart simply side stepped and thrust his front paws down on Smolderpaw with just enough force to pin him. "Not quite." He purred, stepping back to let him up. "If you wanted to get away with what you just tried, I would suggest training your eyes." And so the real lesson begins.

"An enemy will be watching to see where you plan to attack, and what they'll see is where you're looking." Brokenstream began. "We're going to have you work on your pounce first- it's just like hunting- it'll be easy." The tom rolled a medium sized stone to an open spot in the clearing nearby. "I want you to start from here and pounce on me. I won't move this time, but I want you to try to jump on me. Doesn't matter where but don't let your eyes give you away." With that he padded about two fox-lengths away from the starting point, staring curiously at Smolderpaw.

( @Omari )

[Omari]

✼ •• ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ •• ✼
Smolderpaw
Riverclan
He/him
Post Count: 14/100

And so, Smolderpaw was pinned. To be expected from someone who had zero battle experience outside of tousles with his sisters.

Once he was back on his paws, he toddled on over to where Brokenstream left the stone, standing near it before he watched the tom walk a few paces farther from him. “Hm… okay.”

The young apprentice dropped into a crouch, staring at Brokenstream for a few moments before realizing that his eyes would be giving him away. His gaze shifted elsewhere, and he slinked a few pawsteps away from him. His eyes weren't as focused on the lionheart, and so he pounced as he would on prey–which was a touch harder when his prey was a fully grown cat.

✼ •• ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ •• ✼

[ @korok sorry haven't been super active haha]

✼ •• ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ •• ✼

[korok]

☾ Brokenstream | 26 MOONS | HE/HIM ☽
header & divider by @/Marigoldwhisper



Staggering slightly with a grunt, Brokenstream dropped to his belly, rolling over and smushing Smolderpaw with his weight- not too much, of course. Purring out a laugh, the Lionheart quickly got up and nudged Smolderpaw on the shoulder. "You executed that perfectly!" He mewed earnestly, wiping a bit of dirt off of the apprentice's shoulder. "What I did was a bit unfair- but that's what battles are. You always want to be one step ahead of your enemy. Why don't you tell me something you think you could do in that situation, if I hadn't got up right away?" He questioned, eyes gleaming in interest in what Smolderpaw's answer could be.

( @Omari - no worries!! me too lol )