[ti]Private[/ti]Cherry Blossoms

[Miss Tactical]

The black tom still walked with a gait of course it was nothing Batstrike had done wrong, he had been perfect, but his bite wounds had turned into infection which of course caused him to lose muscle mass. A few dawns prior, Batstrike had come to him asking if he would be willing to do a small training session with him and Cherrypaw. He felt a sense of pride well up in his chest that his previous apprentice would still come to him with questions. Shadowstorm was proud and would continue to look after him as if he were his own. Of course he agreed. He didn’t think he would be training another apprentice any time soon. He couldn’t move as fast as he once did, instead he hobbled to get around and that was the way it would be permanently.

Cedarleap explained to him what had happened. With his leg getting so infected he was honestly lucky to be alive. Alive…if that is what you called it. He was a hindrance on patrols, both border and hunting, and too stubborn to admit his spirit had been defeated. So he was glad that Batstrike wanted him to help, perhaps he had been a bit sour lately, eitherway he was going to be getting out of camp. He was curious what he and Cherrypaw had gone over. He mumbled a few words to himself as he headed towards the training grounds. He decided now was a wonderful time for some combat training. Afterall danger was around every corner.

He narrowed his eyes slightly moving stones out of the way that were haphazardly just tossed around. He guessed Eveningblaze had been playing his game of dodge rock recently. Which he found rather amusing, but he was an odd one anyways, Shadowstorm hadn’t really agreed to his method, but there was always a method for madness he supposed. The black tom stomped his paws down making sure no more rocks were hidden. He didn’t need his apprentice’s apprentice getting hurt. Once Batstrike and Cherrypaw arrived, the day would begin and it would certainly be a long one.

[Storm]

Batstrike
MothClan | Warrior | Tom | 16 Moons | Heterosexual

White paws trotted past each other as the lean figure known as Batstrike pranced in a hustled fashion through the territory.  The toms face held a content look as he approached his destination.  He had been concerned for his former mentor, whom he looked up to with such respect, for some time now.  Shadowstorm was by no means an old warrior, but his injury had obviously taken a major toll on the cat.  The ever-observant Batstrike had kept his yellow gaze on his former mentor since then and he saw the things Shadowstorm didn't want anyone to see.  Sure, everyone knew the fierce warrior had slowed down, Batstrike had even heard some of the other warriors gossiping over how the injured cat should just retire.  The things Batstrike saw were much deeper though, it wasn't his awkward step or slower speed that concerned him but his old mentors expressions he tried to cover with grouchiness.  He looked as though his soul ached from burdening the clan he served and it hurt the young tom to see the cat he knew to be so hard on everyone to be their best at his worst.  What had hurt even more was that it was all his fault, he wore a shameful scar across his pelt to prove it too.  No one could tell Batstrike otherwise, he'd picked up that habit from Shadowstorm's perfectionistic training when he was an apprentice and he blamed himself everyday for what happened.  Today was lighter though, the black and white tom was visibly excited that Shadowstorm had agreed to help with a training session. Batstrike was glad to share time with both his mentor and his apprentice, Cherrypaw, who was in tow behind him.  

The young mentor hoped Cherrypaw was keeping up with him, they weren't late but Shadowstorm still wouldn't be pleased that they weren't particularly early either.  This hurried feeling to make it to training was something Batstrike wished he could hold on to forever.  It brought him back to his time as an apprentice hurrying along to meet his mentors expectations, struggling to do more just to impress Shadowstorm, but it was a good time for both of the toms.  It had worked well for Batstrike, he was tough, thriving under difficult tasks... but it wasn't how he was teaching Cherrypaw.  No, the tom did everything in his power to ensure she felt like she was enough in his eyes.  Just as he looked up to his mentor as a father figure, Batstrike had adopted his apprentice as his unofficial child and he was proud already.  The tom slowed his pace before stepping into the open field with his square head held high.  

Yellow gaze falling on the dark tom already here he saw Shadowstorm stamping down the soft grass at his paws.  What is he doing? He wondered with a flick of his long tail before striding over to greet the cat with a smile and brush of his ruffled fur against the cat.  Batstrike then turned to face Cherrypaw.  He was hopeful this little session would go well.  He had told Cherrypaw how much he respected Shadowstorm and how he expected her to behave the same, but he had no worries her behavior would be an issue.  Despite how he heard she was bit of a trouble making kit she'd done well with her mentor and he liked to reward her by giving her as many freedoms as he could, it seemed to be working so far.  She'd done nothing but impress him as they developed her skills, picking up skills like tracking easily and working through difficulties in other things as they went.  He felt she would become quite the well rounded warrior at this rate and he praised her as such, but he wondered what his mentor would think and say as to how well Batstrike had done this far into her training.  His head tilted slightly to the side at ease, it may have been his first time teaching an apprentice but he was confident so far had gone smoothly enough.  Surely everything would go fine.  

[noctemq]

The apprentice felt like she was learning so much, so fast. Everyday seemed to be a new adventure, even if the adventure was picking out thorns from bedding. The kit side of herself was still very much alive and thriving, somehow managing to make daily chores less chore-like and more entertaining. Cherrypaw still tried to maintain some level of respect when needed, though. It would be rude to turn everything into a game, even if that was more fun. On days like those, she'd keep the fire in her eyes and do what needed to be done. Sure, there was a lot of complaining that would come out from that loud mouth of hers, but it didn't mean that the job was any less done.

Cherrypaw had no idea why her mentor seemed to be in such a hurry. Her frame was much smaller than his and struggles to keep a hastened pace. Every so often, she'd trip on something small and have to double her pace in order to catch up; she tried to maintain a tail's length away... but that was more on an ideal than actually applied. Her paw pads, worn with training, were finally getting used to the amount of work she'd have to finish in a day. They were still a soft pink, but definitely hardened with small cuts from jagged rocks and toughened by patrols. Since her improvement was slow and steady, she'd never consider to notice it. The cocky part of her would brag about it a lot, but otherwise, everything felt the same.

With a little hop in her step, she finally managed to catch up to Batstrike. She knew if she asked questions now, she'd get a little winded, so Cherrypaw just gave him a lopsided look. He seemed much more intuitive than her and most likely be able to understand. She was not one to sense the real emotions in the air and just continued along, as carefree as usual. To her, this felt like a normal training session. Based on Batstrike's expression, she gathered that it held some higher level of importance, but she couldn't quite distinguish what.

She decided to break the silence. "Soooooooooooooooooo........" Cherrypaw started, dragging out her meow as long as her lungs allowed her to. "Are we doing something cool today? I hope it doesn't have to do with rats or anything." She scanned the area. Her tracking skills were the most honed compared to the rest of them and she could tell that they were far away from that smelly area she so despised. It seemed unlikely that rats would be involved, but one never knows!

[Miss Tactical]

Shadowstorm finished flattening the ground into what appeared to be a nice circle. He smirked slightly looking at Batstrike with a gleam of amusement in his eyes when he looked at his apprentice. She was a spunky one and would certainly keep his previous apprentice rather occupied and on his toes. He waved his tail for both of them to come into the little arena he had created. He saw Batstrike give him an odd look before shaking his head slightly. "I was clearing the rocks that Eveningblaze likes to throw at his apprentices." He mewed with a slight tone of amusement. He really enjoyed harassing his apprentices but then again they turned out alright.

He I guess had a strict regime as well, up before the sun rose in your bed right at sunset. There wasn't a lot of room for fratenizing but those days of his were over so it seemed. He stood up slightly walking with a very noticeable limp and crooked step before sitting on the edge of his dirt circle. It was when Cherrypaw spoke that he turned around to face the young apprentice. His whiskers twitched with amusement with the comment about rats. Rats were a pesky thing, a nuisance but not hard to deal with. You just had to avoid their teeth, rat bites were incredibly painful, he had gotten one or two when he was an apprentice himself.

"No rats today, but if you don't behave there may be rats tomorrow." He winked at Batstrike before standing up giving his muscles a nice flex before standing nose to nose with his old apprentice. "Today I thought it would be a good idea to start battle training. It's never too early for that. He mewed. He looked at Batstrike curious to see if he had started any of that with her, and what she may already know. "So give it a whirl, attack me, remember sheathed paws, I'm not an IvyClan cat. He mewed with a slightly chuckle to follow.

[Storm]

Batstrike
MothClan | Warrior | Tom | 16 Moons | Heterosexual

"Oh I'm sure Shadowstorm has something 'cool' planned for both of us," the lean tom coed with amusement.  Ah, he had forgotten he told his apprentice they'd do some training in carrion hill.  He would save that for later when he was more confident in her ability to swat big rats away.  A grin pulled across his maw at his former mentors threat, yellow gaze on Cherrypaw as he gave her a little nod. 

Batstrike cocked his head as he imagined the other black warrior, whom gave off all-business vibes, throwing rocks at his apprentices.  He didn't know that was one of his training tactic but the tom couldn't help but stiffen a chuckle, it seemed like even Eveningblaze found a way to have a little fun for himself, cruel towards his apprentices or not.  The tom shook his head a little before listening to Shadowstorms plan for the session.  The feline nodded in confirmation to his former mentor, Cherrypaw had been given a little instruction in the area, but Batstrike had struggled to figure out how she would best succeed.  The long-legged tom was light on his feet, an agile and quick striker, but Cherrypaw was of a much smaller frame.  He doubted she'd be able to throw her weight around like stockier cats and worried her shorter legs didn't provide enough range to lash out from a safe distance like he did.  The tom was at a stand still on how to help her improve and so he'd rely on Shadowstorms experience.  Surely the older tom had fought against smaller opponents and could give advice to his grand apprentice on how to best her enemies.  

The tom arched his back and stretched out his forepaws before leaning back on his haunches to sit.  Long tail laying out behind him Batstrike raised a kitty eyebrow to his apprentice, "Do your best." He hoped Cherrypaw would hold her complaints on the unfairness of the fight until the end and do her best leaning on the little training she had received so far.  She was feisty, he was certain she'd at least have the advantage in spunk.  Yellow gaze shifting to focus on Shadowstorms flattened grass arena, Batstrike watched.  As a third party he could hopefully pick up some feedback to give his apprentice after the sparring ended.  

[noctemq]

Cherrypaw looked between her mentor and his own mentor. She was always up for a fight, so this would be no problem for her at all. Her eyes showed little hesitation as she quickly jumped into what looked to be a fighting stance. It was definitely not the best position-wise, but the confidence oozing out of her pelt said otherwise. Cherrypaw felt her claws pop out due to sheer excitement, and she had to use some brainpower to remember to keep them sheathed. She looked a little too intense for her size, which might've seemed comical.

"Okay, I hope you're ready!" She meowed out, a sense of playfulness in her tone despite the seriousness of training. Cherrypaw flinched her paw and the front part of her body forward, as if she was faking him out, and dashed off to the side to try to get in a hit of opportunity. This was a move she used a lot as a kit during wrestle-play, though it always ended up with her rolling halfway across the nursery as her balance failed her. Her paws were more stable under her feet after a few moons of training on them and held her firmly against the cleared dirt. It was highly likely that Shadowstorm had seen a move like this before, especially with his level of experience, but Cherrypaw would try her chances. As fast as she could, the apprentice lunged with her paws stretched out forward, maybe a bit too recklessly. Cherrypaw had no plan on landing securely; her only thought at the time was to land a solid hit. Because one hit would lead to another, and then to another, right? Her only experience of fights so far has been batting at her den-mates until they gave up, so her mentality naturally shifted to this idea. 

[Miss Tactical]

Shadowstorm smirked slightly, the she-cat was using moves that were nursery and play fight moves. Her seriousness and energy was rather intense for being so new into training. He raised a brow and with speed rolled and jumping to his paws with quick speed. Fighting was one thing he took seriously and enjoyed. Despite being stocky, he moved with agility due to all the running he did in his free time, and of course mentoring Batstrike. He puffed out his chest in triumph knowing that she would have to be a lot smarter to take him down. He was a seasoned warrior versus a small apprentice. After he was satisfied for a moment he raised a paw and flicked his tail signaling her to stop. Now it was time for the teaching portion of this. He could see Cherrypaw had the ferocity to be a rather good fighter, and he made note of that. She would just need to be taught.

”I am much bigger than you, do not come to me straight on, it’s easy for a seasoned warrior to duck roll, and spring an attack using the momentum to do a lot of damage. Instead if you are smaller than your opponent, you leap for their back. He walked over to batstrike and lifted his paw showing Cherrypaw exactly where she should land. With her forepaws on the shoulder blades and back paws near the tail. ”You just need to feel the vibrations and stay focused, the defense to that is a roll which could easily cause harm. If you feel your opponent starting to tip instead of gaining your balance just jump off. While they are rolling you can get in a belly rake or even a tail pull to throw them off balance. He mewed firmly.

He walked back to this spot flicking his tail for Cherrypaw to get ready to attack again. This training would be rather important. Rogues however tended to fight dirty. It would be important for her to know dirty moves as well. He closed his eyes for just a moment, the death bite was useful knowledge, but with her intensity would she try and use it frequently? It was considered dishonorable but were there even rules with rogues these days? He pondered it for a few moments longer and decided that would be a lesson for another day. ”If you tuck your tail in you give enemies less to grab, and if you are in a dire situation, play dead. Let your body go limp and spring up with as much force as you can. Now.. Lets fight. He mewed firmly. He lashed his tail firmly nodding to Cherrypaw to give her the okay to attack. Once she mastered all of the moves, they would fight at real speed but for now, Shadowstorm would go slow.

[noctemq]

Cherrypaw listened with a slight tilt of her head. She had never thought of fighting in a strategic way, so this was all very new and exciting. Her usual style was to land as many big hits as she could, but Shadowstorm was making a great point. Hopping onto an opponent's back sounded like it required a lot of balance, something Cherrypaw still had to learn, though she was still interested in the idea. She wondered about the best way to recover if she did fall off, and the young apprentice would definitely vocalize her concerns once she got the chance, probably after the sparring. Right now, she just wanted to try what Shadowstorm suggested. The mischievous side of her was very familiar with tail pulls and now that she had been reminded of them once more, a small smile crept onto her muzzle, now trying to find any way to incorporate that into her fighting style. There was something about the satisfaction she felt just seeing another cat fall onto their side unceremoniously with a wump.

She hopped back into a battle stance, her paws out wide for balance and braced for a sudden jolt of energy. Jump, back, roll, rake, jump, back, roll, rake, she repeated in her head for a quick moment before feeling confident in her skills once more. "Yeah!' Cherrypaw responded back unintentionally to his signal of another round. That was supposed to be internal, but she had a hard time containing her passion when it came to both hunting and fighting. Her ears almost went flat for a second out of initial embarrassment, but then she realized she didn't really feel any shame at all. The older toms probably didn't think anything of her outburst, so neither would she.

Cherrypaw's first movements were slowed, she kept her body close to the ground and flanked to the side of Shadowstorm for a moment, her eyes scanning for any movement. With as much speed as she could muster up, she made a dash for his back at an angle, an obvious telegraph of her intentions, but a usual beginner's flaw at best. This time, she had a backup plan; if he was to see her move coming, she'd try to either launch herself away at a sharp angle and hope to not fall over or duck underneath him. This of course was all a plan, and there was no way to tell if it was going to be properly executed or not.