camp fighting words ;; combat training

[Fireflyglow]

@CHRYSALISPAW

"A-Are you sure.. This is a good idea? What if my opponent can move quicker than me? I can't see!" Fireflypaw audibly complains as Chrys takes him to the training grounds, anxiously holding onto the last dredge of his sanity. The anxiety that courses through his veins is intoxicating, leaving him a shaky mess as he follows his friend. Chrys was a bit rough around the edges, but he was still kindhearted in his own way. You just.. Had to get to know him, you know?

He turns then, facing the apprentice. Battle stance, battle stance.. Fireflypaw crouches as low as he can with his long limbs, big paws parted firmly on the ground. It's a wobbly stance he makes, but nonetheless he makes a stance similar to the ones he saw before his vision had gotten worse all those moons ago. If someone pushed, just a little bit.. He'd fall right over. "What's the point of this, anyways? I'm a healer, not a warrior-"

// you can post before chrys does!​

 

[FIGFEATHER]

Unsurprisingly Figpaw is practicing up some of her own moves around the territory, @TALLULAHWING likely never far behind. It was inevitable the training duos would bump heads eventually, Figpaw arrives just in time to hear the medicine cat apprentice groan about being brought out here.

Before Chyrsalispaw even gets a chance to reply Figpaw smartly responds, ”Maybe in case the medicine cats den gets raided again. Shouldn’t Dawnglare and you know how to protect your herbs and patients?” Figpaw recalls doing their best to help them, still fairly injured that the time, it had been a pathetic attempt. The apprentice she had briefly fought, Icepaw, had gotten away with some catmint.

”Isn’t it nice to be out of Dawnglare’s fur anyways?” I’d become bird-brained if he was my only social outlet! She wants to say, but refrains. ​

---

Spoiler: TAGS ★ 01/05

( primary character / "speech" / ic opinions )​

╰ ★ ჻ 001 GENERAL INFORMATION ,
· FIGPAW, AMAB — she / her
╰ ‣ 11 moons .
╰ ‣ skyclan apprentice . believes in starclan, doesn't fully understand

╰ ★ ჻ 002 VISUALS & AESTHETICS ,
· DOMESTIC FELINE, smells like pine nettles & sap, status — 100%
╰ ‣ A red tabby she-cat with orange eyes. Mangled right hind leg.

╰ ★ ჻ 003 MENTALITY & MANNERISMS ,
· ENFP-A ❝ CAMPAIGNER❞ , Gryfindor, Lawful Good
╰ ‣ Excitable, generous, caring, quick-to-act, daft, naive
╰ ‣ finds relative ease relating to others . kind-hearted, will show mercy

╰ ★ ჻ 004 INTERACTIONS & RELATIONSHIPS ,
· NPC X DAISYFLIGHT, sister to Greenpaw, Violetpaw, Snowpaw & Butterflypaw
╰ ‣ Pansexual . mistakes admiration for romantic feelings
╰ ‣ Apprentice to Tallulahwing
╰ ‣ poor fighter . okay hunter .
╰ ‣ unlikely to start fights . will flee .
╰ ‣ attack in underline . penned by user @ava.

 

[Howlfire]

"You never know when you might need to defend yourself!" Howlpaw yelled in lieu of answering her brother's response. "Figpaw is right you know. It wouldn't go amiss for you and Dawnglare to protect yourself should the worst happen and WindClan come barging into camp again," She added, giving a nod in Figpaw's direction. The older apprentice had a valid point. If the worst were to happen and they were raided again it wouldn't go amiss for the two medicine cats to know how to fight, or at the very least know some basic defensive moves. "And you weren't always training to be a healer," Howlpaw said in a slightly more glum tone. ​

 

[CHRYSALISWING]

"No matter if you can or can't see, you need to learn self-defense." Chrysalispaw declared in stark contrast to how he had treated Figpaw weeks ago, though it was no herald that he had learned any sort of lesson, except for the fact that he shouldn't badmouth others in front of Silversmoke. Truthfully, he only abhorred those that floundered in their failure rather than rising above it, as though they were mere fish stranded out of the oasis of their homes. What he would ask, then, was why would they come to the surface if they could not handle it. The life of a warrior, born on the winds of the wild, was an arduous one. It displayed no clemency to those left behind (or so a nihilistic and gauche-tongued father had planted in him, of which he unwittingly parrotted like a mockingbird with a sole song). He had seen so many of the former outsiders lament their shortcomings as though it was all that they were - and to him, it was all that they were. They could not shed their skin like an adder. It was a shame that many of the wild-born felines shared the sentiment of those they should brandish their tongues to.

He spun around on his heels to face the fluffy-furred Fireflypaw - his opponent towered before him, though he was of little threat to the lithe tom. Firefly bumbled around more than anything. A feathery tail swishing in the anticipation that crackled in the training area, gracile and swanlike in motion, though almost bristling with the electricity of an incoming fight. Chrys' claws unsheathed from velvet paws, like steel blades poking from the furls of down-soft petals. "Now, I want you to come at me with all your strength. I'm going to strike back, so be prepared to dodge." And I won't go easy on you just because you're the medicine cat apprentice.
​

 

[TALLULAHWING]

Tallulahwing had been watching Figpaw practice some of her moves, many of which have had to be modified from their original movements. She's quiet, for once, intent on observing any faltering movements her golden-pelted apprentice might make as she thrusts her paws and bounces about. She would be sure to use any perceived mistakes against Figpaw when they sparred -- she firmly believes Figpaw is capable of doing anything the apprentices with four good paws can do, but she will have to work twice as hard to do so.

They're interrupted by Blazestar's son bumbling around after Chrysalispaw, complaining about being roped into combat training. Figpaw's comment is quick, and Tallulahwing nods in approval. "Every cat should know how to defend themselves, darlin'," she says to Fireflypaw. "Your cloud-brained mentor would do good to learn, himself."

She gives Chrysalispaw an angry stare, narrowed yellow eyes flicking over him. She purses her lips. She hasn't forgotten the cruelty he'd displayed towards her apprentice, though Figpaw seems to take his presence in stride.

Tallulahwing brushes her tail tip against Figpaw's flank. "Try that move on Howlpaw," she says, coy. She nods to the torbie who has been practicing herself. Redstorm isn't here, but she's sure he won't mind if she encourages some friendly sparring between their apprentices.​

[ PENNED BY MARQUETTE ]​

​

 

[Fireflyglow]

Everyone echoed the same response- that just because he had bad vision, he still needed to learn how to fight. Laziness, he took it as; he was comfortable enough to remain in the medicine cat's den all day, unaware of the dangers of the world. When WindClan had attacked, the apprentice was sick and delirious with whitecough. Oblivious to the fighting, to the bloodshed; his sister fighting for her life in a camp torn down by WindClan apprentices and warriors alike.

Howlpaw reminds him that he was once training to be a Warrior, too, and Fireflypaw pauses for a moment to realize: she's right. Huckleberry might have only had a pawful of training sessions with him, but he had trained nonetheless. It was so long ago that he'd completely forgotten. "You're right, Howie. I'm sorry." He smiles then, accepting his fate for now- if they wanted him to train to fight, he would do it. If this could help him protect Howie, protect Dad when they needed it most.. He'd do it.

Chrys prepares himself to fight, and Fireflypaw bumbles with his paws for a moment to get them into the clumsy stance Huckleberry had taught him. Paws spread, body low- his shoulders slouched and paws trembles. Your mouse-brained mentor would do good to learn, himself. Distracted, Fireflypaw's eyes shut tighter before he dashed forward, paws pounding the grass. He attempts to barrel his body into Chrysalispaw's own, aiming to bowl him over. ​

 

[GREENEYES]

He can't help but share his friend's nerves at the prospect of all of this.

Sure, battle training was important. Sure, it would be helpful for Firefly to know how to fight - or at least, know enough to defend himself - in the case that WindClan tries to strike SkyClan's medicine den again. The medicine apprentice's safety is important, of course.

But, it's Chrysalispaw who aims to train him, who says he'll strike back. Chrysalispaw, who already leaves a sour taste in the green boy's mouth over what he'd said about Figpaw, now going head to head with Greenpaw's friend.

He doesn't think he likes this.

Greenpaw would rather defend Fi himself, if it meant Chrysalispaw wouldn't be the one taking part in the training session. But, this is important. This is necessary.

"Good luck, Fi!" the boy encourages his friend, despite the nerves burning in his chest. "You've got this!" A statement he's left unsure of while he watches with bated breath as the High Priest's student barrels toward the patchworked apprentice.
​

 

[FIGFEATHER]

Appreciative of Howlpaw’s agreement with her views a mild purr rumbles in her throat. In the conversation she’s not amused much further than that, something she was use to when giving advice, she rolls it off her shoulders like rain on a leaf. Luckily Tallulahwing is quick to task her with something to do; try that move on Howlpaw. ”The one he wants Fireflypaw to do?” She inquires, looking to Howlpaw to gauge a reaction before grinning playfully. ”Sure.”

Figpaw would not begin until Howlpaw was aware and attentive, she’d go nowhere in learning if her sparring partner was not prepared. Once Howlpaw gives sign that it was okay to go ahead she races forward aiming to strike at the torbie’s legs. If they were executing the exact practice Chrys and the medicine cat were doing, Howlpaw would be striking back any moment now. Figpaw watches carefully, doing her best to predict when and how her fellow trainee would respond​

---

Spoiler: TAGS ★ 01/05

( primary character / "speech" / ic opinions )​

╰ ★ ჻ 001 GENERAL INFORMATION ,
· FIGPAW, AMAB — she / her
╰ ‣ 11 moons .
╰ ‣ skyclan apprentice . believes in starclan, doesn't fully understand

╰ ★ ჻ 002 VISUALS & AESTHETICS ,
· DOMESTIC FELINE, smells like pine nettles & sap, status — 100%
╰ ‣ A red tabby she-cat with orange eyes. Mangled right hind leg.

╰ ★ ჻ 003 MENTALITY & MANNERISMS ,
· ENFP-A ❝ CAMPAIGNER❞ , Gryfindor, Lawful Good
╰ ‣ Excitable, generous, caring, quick-to-act, daft, naive
╰ ‣ finds relative ease relating to others . kind-hearted, will show mercy

╰ ★ ჻ 004 INTERACTIONS & RELATIONSHIPS ,
· NPC X DAISYFLIGHT, sister to Greenpaw, Violetpaw, Snowpaw & Butterflypaw
╰ ‣ Pansexual . mistakes admiration for romantic feelings
╰ ‣ Apprentice to Tallulahwing
╰ ‣ poor fighter . okay hunter .
╰ ‣ unlikely to start fights . will flee .
╰ ‣ attack in underline . penned by user @ava.

 

[CHRYSALISWING]

Whiskers trembled as Chrysalispaw watched Fireflypaw's somewhat uncoordinated movements, reminding the apprentice of a boorish bear rather than the feather-footed feline. In some cases, Chrys could see the strategic need for such a slow-moving oaf, if only to be used as a meat-shield. Still, such cretinous motions sent searing waves of annoyance through him, as though the russet flashes upon a blackened pelt were not simply colors but manifestations of the rage that peeled through a nightly exterior. Then, a torpedo of downy fluff barrelled towards him, closing his eyes shut as if he aimed to trample the chimaera rather than do anything with more tact, and a sneer etched itself upon his face like the light filtering through fleeced cloud. Chrysalispaw's own feet danced nimbly around the clumsier tom, swerving just out of the blind gambit's reach, as if he bore wings to twirl about the earthbound spirit. In his own movements, Chrys embodied the gracile bird whose feet rarely brushed against the sullen sod and petulant peat.

He lunged with claws unsheathed at Fireflypaw's flank, wasting no time in even allowing the medicine cat apprentice to catch his breath. Needle-sharp teeth caught on Firefly's woolen nape - not deep enough to penetrate through butterfly-thin skin, but enough to latch onto the floccose coat of his opponent. "Defend against this! Come on! Your opponent's not going to wait for you to stop twiddling your paws around!" He screeched through his grip, paying no mind to the bystanders that would come to watch this circus of a training sesson.

He had, unsurprisingly, lost the mission of instruction.​