pafp why we LOSE | training

[Juniperfrost]

"On your paws, Windpaw. You disgrace your name. Move with more urgency."
He wondered if he'd ever have the arrogance to name his next litter so boldly, after himself and after his clan and it occurred to him he had not had a say in the names of his last one; not that he was particularly bothered by that but the more he thought of it the more he felt annoyed. Coyotes were known to gnaw their own legs off to escape a trap, the tenacity to survive to such a degree was well-suited to WindClan but squirrels were simple prey animals. Perhaps it had been a sign of which of his offspring was worth the investment, in the end he got the one more worthy to survive and succeed while SkyClan got the meek little rodent. Life was funny like that.
Sootstar's temporary training would hopefully remove whatever residual stupidity the kittypet king's clan had forced into the boy's skull-he'd make a proper WindClanner in due time with training.
The blue tom shook his head, glancing down to his own apprentice who he felt was lacking but was not to abrasive as to say as much when their mother was always within a few tail-lengths away.
One solid shoulder shove had easily toppled the apprentice, he remembered training with his own father back in the marshes and was grateful when he got to keep most his fur on him by the end for how vicious Copper Bite was; he was showing a mercy here by not taking up his father's mantle and training as he was with tooth and claw and weakness ground into the earth.
"Let us try again, watch your footing."

Pafp - @WINDPAW
​

 

[WINDSTRIDER]

Those words were fuel to a bonfire, a renewed fever in their eyes. The parts of them that pushes for one-hundred, for perfect, beams. Windpaw knows the chance of cats watching them train is high. Anger cracks. They take his declarations as a taunt, mockery. Out in the open, there is always something watching.

A scowl marks their face, but they harbour no ill feelings towards Juni. All this feeling of failure has been redirected inwards, scalding, shaking their conscience. They nod, picking their shoulder up off the frozen dirt. "Yes, sir!" It has a bite to it, a challenge. They hadn't yet mastered this and yet they wanted to be pushed farther. To show their worth.

The apprentice attempts it again, lunging hard at Juniperfrost, legs bunching to kick them forwards. They were becoming immersed once more, focusing in, the mental notes of the shove that'd knocked them down coming into play. They weren't embarassed by the energized snarl that ripped from them as they aimed to topple their mentor, fully imagining the breeze combing their sweat-laced pelt in a real dangerous circumstance.​

 

[Spiderbloom]

Spiderbloom was watching. She didn't know the apprentice well, but training was fun to watch and she had this.... Urge. To bother Juniperfrost. Just wanted bap him in the face. Pull his tail. Nibble his ear.

Oh, she just wanted to bat him around like a kit playing mossball!

So she decided to cheer for Windpaw.

"Get him, Windpaw! Beat him up!" She cheered.

She looked at Juniperfrost and stuck her tongue out playfully. She was here to have fun. Her usual frown was curved into an uncommon smile. Most people would say her smiles meant nothing good.

She begged to differ!
​

 

[WEASELCLAW]

Weaselclaw sits a few foxlengths from Spiderbloom, observing the sparring session with a passive expression. There are few cats in the Clan who will dare to train their apprentices with the ferocity Juniperfrost shows Windpaw, and the tabby can't help the glint of approval that shines in his pale eyes. He watches the spark of excitement in Windpaw's gaze, the way they shift on their paws and let the freezing wind ruffle their sweat-laden fur. They are excited, not intimidated, and Weaselclaw wishes the rest of the Clan would understand -- this is what their youth need. Not to be coddled and babied and kept from border patrols.

He observes quietly, giving little nods of approval to Windpaw's technique or little hms at their misses. One day, his own kits will be old enough to train like this. He'd trust Juniperfrost with one of them in a heartbeat. The world is too cruel for soft-bellied, soft-hearted cats.​

 

[Badgermoon]

It wasn't that Badgermoon disapproved of teaching their young cats with firmness, nor of trying to inoculate them against the harshness of a warrior's life. Rather, it was his opinion that a gentler touch could be more effective, at least with regard to the emotional side of it all. He thought the most appropriate approach was to build apprentices up, to bolster their sense of self and their internal well-being; a warrior's strength was not just in tooth and claw, after all, and the bicolor tom was not convinced that harshness was the way to encourage the development of courageous, healthy cats. These thoughts came to the forefront of Badgermoon's mind as he approached on large, quiet paws, surveying Sootstar's child and Juniperfrost as their training session proceeded.

He had to admit, though he wasn't a huge fan of the frosty tabby's technique, it seemed to be working for Windpaw - the younger cat looked to be redoubling their effort, pouncing forward as if determined to flatten their mentor. Besides - though the training of WindClan's apprentices was now under his purview, he was not Windpaw's mentor; unless there was a clear problem with someone's training, he wasn't about to stick his nose in. Just because it wasn't how he would do something didn't mean it was the wrong way to do it. He stifled a soft laugh at Spiderbloom's exhortations to Windpaw to beat Juniperfrost up before seating himself at Weaselclaw's side, nodding in friendly greeting to the recently-reappointed lead warrior.​