Truth be told, Newtbelly felt he was out of practice when it came to battle. Time had passed swiftly since his apprentice days, and he was finding himself totally lacking in practical experience. He'd fought rats, a fox, and a total of zero cats. Perhaps the fright of the recent enforcer challenge had brought that to light. He stalked round the clearing, eyes searching for something to do - or perhaps, someone to spar with? If he could just refresh his memory with one, his skills could stay up to scratch. His eyes landed on Smokefern, who he admittedly didn't know well at all. She looked like a seasoned warrior - scarred. He could probably learn a thing or two from her. "Smokefern," he approached, politely. "I was wondering if you'd like to spar?"
As Newtbelly approached, the one earred warrior looked up from her meal. Well, what was left of the little mouse, anyways. She had been considering whether or not to salvage some of the fur for a nest. Smokefern dipped her head in greeting as the enforcer approached. There was a beat of silence as she considered his offer. Dawnstar's words at the last meeting rung in her mind. It would be good to get more practice in.
"If you think I'm a worthy opponent." She replied. With a grunt, she pushed herself to her feet. Her fail flicked as she wryly asked. "Usual rules? Or will we be dueling while having leaves covering our eyes?"
As Newtbelly approached, the one earred warrior looked up from her meal. Well, what was left of the little mouse, anyways. She had been considering whether or not to salvage some of the fur for a nest. Smokefern dipped her head in greeting as the enforcer approached. There was a beat of silence as she considered his offer. Dawnstar's words at the last meeting rung in her mind. It would be good to get more practice in.
"If you think I'm a worthy opponent." She replied. With a grunt, she pushed herself to her feet. Her fail flicked as she wryly asked. "Usual rules? Or will we be dueling while having leaves covering our eyes?"
He was briefly surprised by her initial response - did she not think herself one? She appeared experienced enough. Perhaps it was just a throwaway comment, and he was thinking too deeply into it, but he did wonder why she wouldn't consider herself one. Ah, he supposed he knew nothing about her, did he? Her last comment made him chuckle - "I was thinking standard rules, unless you have any ideas?" He added, leading the way to a small clearing outside of camp.
Smokefern considered the question before she shook her head. "Standard rules is fine with me."
She followed Newtbelly out of camp, keeping pace behind the enforcer. Not being the type to start many conversations, she remained quiet until they arrived. The walk was good for warming her up, but she still stretched low after they arrived. Pale blue eyes scanned the clearing as she stood back up, taking note of its size. A quiet 'hm' was let out as she turned towards Newtbelly and settled into a proper crouch. "May the best fighter win."
Smokefern considered the question before she shook her head. "Standard rules is fine with me."
She followed Newtbelly out of camp, keeping pace behind the enforcer. Not being the type to start many conversations, she remained quiet until they arrived. The walk was good for warming her up, but she still stretched low after they arrived. Pale blue eyes scanned the clearing as she stood back up, taking note of its size. A quiet 'hm' was let out as she turned towards Newtbelly and settled into a proper crouch. "May the best fighter win."
Alright. here goes. He readied himself into a low starting position. He always preferred countering to starting, but it looked like luck wasn't on his side with that today. He held position for a few seconds, trying to gauge what he could based on her stance alone. The clearing he'd chosen was sparse with undergorewth, leaving him with no easy way to hide and exeercise his stealth as he usually would. He could try to be fast - dart around her and try to figure her out from her reactions? He wasn't the fastest, but he had more speed than brute strength. So, he drtred foreward and left - attempting to give her a wack to the side with an outstretched forepaw, before bouncing backward.
Alright. here goes. He readied himself into a low starting position. He always preferred countering to starting, but it looked like luck wasn't on his side with that today. He held position for a few seconds, trying to gauge what he could based on her stance alone. The clearing he'd chosen was sparse with undergorewth, leaving him with no easy way to hide and exeercise his stealth as he usually would. He could try to be fast - dart around her and try to figure her out from her reactions? He wasn't the fastest, but he had more speed than brute strength. So, he drtred foreward and left - attempting to give her a wack to the side with an outstretched forepaw, before bouncing backward.
Smokefern
|| She/her || 34 Moons ||
Smokefern's eyes narrowed as she waited for Newtbelly to make the first move. The expectation made it feel like an eternity, though it was only a few heartbeats. As the blow came, she shifted, having the strike hit her flank at an angle to try and soften the blow. The gray and white she-cat wasn't the fastest or strongest cat in the clan by a long shot, but she tried to fight smart. As Newtbelly jumped backwards, she followed. A paw swiftly came towards his front leg, in an attempt to keep the enforcer off balanced.
Smokefern's eyes narrowed as she waited for Newtbelly to make the first move. The expectation made it feel like an eternity, though it was only a few heartbeats. As the blow came, she shifted, having the strike hit her flank at an angle to try and soften the blow. The gray and white she-cat wasn't the fastest or strongest cat in the clan by a long shot, but she tried to fight smart. As Newtbelly jumped backwards, she followed. A paw swiftly came towards his front leg, in an attempt to keep the enforcer off balanced.
Hm, a good move. He stumbled a little, as Smokefern's paw tripped him. Thry'd both done for relatively small opening moves - no huge pin attemps, just swats and blows for now. Still, he could sue this momentum. He landed non-elegantly, struggling to keep any balance, but gaining speed as he went.
Then , he'd fly into her side, with as much force as possible, both forewpaws outstretched. It was a compromising position, if she was fast enough to stop him, however, this didn't look like the kind of fight where he could wait for big moves from his opponent... Unless he'd misjudged her already?
Hm, a good move. He stumbled a little, as Smokefern's paw tripped him. Thry'd both done for relatively small opening moves - no huge pin attemps, just swats and blows for now. Still, he could sue this momentum. He landed non-elegantly, struggling to keep any balance, but gaining speed as he went.
Then , he'd fly into her side, with as much force as possible, both forewpaws outstretched. It was a compromising position, if she was fast enough to stop him, however, this didn't look like the kind of fight where he could wait for big moves from his opponent... Unless he'd misjudged her already?
Smokefern
|| She/her || 34 Moons||
Smokefern crouched low, belly to the ground as the pounce came. Ah, they were already done teasing each other. She rolled with the blow, even if it did cause her flank to smart. At least the wind hadn't been knocked out of her. Ending on her back was a risky move, but as it was a spar and they were pulling out some big moves, it was one she was willing to take. With some gathered strength, she tried sending a pair of hind leg kicks at Newtbelly. With any luck, the blows would land or cause him to back off and allow her to get back on her feet.
Smokefern crouched low, belly to the ground as the pounce came. Ah, they were already done teasing each other. She rolled with the blow, even if it did cause her flank to smart. At least the wind hadn't been knocked out of her. Ending on her back was a risky move, but as it was a spar and they were pulling out some big moves, it was one she was willing to take. With some gathered strength, she tried sending a pair of hind leg kicks at Newtbelly. With any luck, the blows would land or cause him to back off and allow her to get back on her feet.
And she was on her back? Huh, was it that easy? That didn't make any - UFFT - those were some strong kicks. He should've predicated as much. He'd never think to put himself in such a compromising position, he supposed that's why it worked so well - it was unpredictable. The air was kicked from him, sending him whirring backward. He was a cat who was easily thrown - his small stature allowed for it. But, hat gave him opportunity to use it to his advantage. This was a risky one, but he wanted to try it. There was a decent distance between the two of them, but it was short enough to clear in a jump. In the time he'd spent getting himself together, Smokefern had plenty of time to get up and going - so he'd need to act fast. So, he bundled his haunches under him, jumping up and toward her. He was hoping he'd land on her, maybe her could wrestle her to the ground from there. But, landing properly wasn't guaranteed at all. He remembered when he watched Hawkbite and Owlthroat spar, seeing how Hawkbite jumped using a tree - as he cascaded through the air, he began to wish he'd done something like that. Then he'd have some extra height, more of an advantage. Right now, jumping from ground level, his chances we slim.
And she was on her back? Huh, was it that easy? That didn't make any - UFFT - those were some strong kicks. He should've predicated as much. He'd never think to put himself in such a compromising position, he supposed that's why it worked so well - it was unpredictable. The air was kicked from him, sending him whirring backward. He was a cat who was easily thrown - his small stature allowed for it. But, hat gave him opportunity to use it to his advantage. This was a risky one, but he wanted to try it. There was a decent distance between the two of them, but it was short enough to clear in a jump. In the time he'd spent getting himself together, Smokefern had plenty of time to get up and going - so he'd need to act fast. So, he bundled his haunches under him, jumping up and toward her. He was hoping he'd land on her, maybe her could wrestle her to the ground from there. But, landing properly wasn't guaranteed at all. He remembered when he watched Hawkbite and Owlthroat spar, seeing how Hawkbite jumped using a tree - as he cascaded through the air, he began to wish he'd done something like that. Then he'd have some extra height, more of an advantage. Right now, jumping from ground level, his chances we slim.
Smokefern
|| She/her || 34 Moons ||
The few moments to get back on her feet were appreciated ones. She resisted the urge to shake her pelt; one did not look pretty when fighting. There was only a heartbeat or two to catch her breath and get back into a crouch before Newtbelly launched himself at her. It was as risky of a move as her own had been. Smokefern leapt backwards, only a few pawsteps away from where he landed. Not dwelling too long on her success, she tried to swipe a paw across his muzzle. A surprisingly simple counterattack, all things considered.
Battle cats!
