Leaf's first lesson

[Goose]

Leafpaw took a deep breath and grinned shakily, his first lesson was today. Buckleap had told him to meet at the meadow for training. The young tom was excited and a little nervous if he was honest. Leafpaw stood up and forced himself to not take off in a sprint out of camp, however when he was down the path and out of the falls he let out a big Whoop and raced off towards the niyike meadow.  The young tom was panting by the time he made it to the large open meadow and spotted a familiar figure at the edge of the field. Leafpaw trotted over to the cat and stood before them, his tail raised and eyes bright. 

[Fireflake]

Buckleap of MistClan

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Buckleap turned as he heard the pattering of his new apprentice's rapidly approaching pawsteps. "Leafpaw," he greeted, mildly amused by the young cat's excitement. "Welcome to the first part of your tour of the territory. This is Niyike Meadow. That over there is the border. Don't cross it and don't talk to cats across it."

He considered the smaller cat for a few moments before flicking the rounded tip of his tail toward himself. "Walk along it with me so I can say it's not my fault when you break that rule," he teased lightly. Strolling along the side of MistClan's territory, the tabby warrior didn't wait for his apprentice, trusting that he'd catch up.

"We can do this two ways. I spend the next half-moon trying to figure out what you can do, or you tell me what you already know from the last six moons."
His yellow-green gaze reached out over the border briefly before returning to Leafpaw. "You know about the tribe or the rogues, or the other clans? About the warrior code? Ever won a play-fight? Ever explored outside of camp before?"
The hint of a smirk appeared in his expression. "I wouldn't tell."

---

[Goose]

Leafpaw let out a small "hey!" and leapt to catch up with Buckleap. The tabby tom glanced at the edge of the territory and said thoughtfully, " i know some things about the other clans and the tribe, but i don't know where they are." Leafpaw frowned as he thought about the other question his mentor asked him. The young tom trotted up closer to his mentor "I have won a couple play fights but i think i'm better at hunting" He replied. Leafpaw looked back at his new mentor and lashed his tail, turning to face him. " so , what now ?' he asked Buckleap curiously. 

[Fireflake]

Buckleap of MistClan

---

"Now you take a deep breath," Buckleap replied simply. "That's the smell of MothClan." He flicked an ear. "Delightful, right? They're very fighty and not exactly the nicest bunch. Probably a good thing, since they're the closest to the rogues."
He paused to rubs his paws on the border and add his scent to the last day's marking. "And when cats say rogues now they usually mean the nasty ones. Most of them are just nuisances but one particular group's been a big thorn in our side."

The tom stretched out and waved his tail in the other direction. "Over that way's the forest, my absolute favourite place in MistClan territory."
The tom held in a groan at the thought of it. His last visit had yielded a total of three stubbed toes, several scratches, and zero pieces of fresh-kill. "That's our border with IvyClan. You'll smell them at the Gathering."

Buckleap swallowed hard at the memory of the last Gathering and glanced briefly into the sky as if looking out for the same blood-stained moon. He quickly flicked a dismissive ear and turned his attention back to Leafpaw. "As for the Tribe, they're not our favorites either. They attacked us at a Gathering recently. Well, you've got good ears and eyes as far as I know. You've probably heard of that already."

The tabby was quiet for a moment. "I think that's just about it as far as groups go. If you're lucky you won't run into any of them except the other clans before I've taught you to fight better."
He padded back into the field, pulling away from the border, and once again beckoned for Leafpaw to follow with no warning. "It's a lot like hunting but with fancier names. Hitting cats? That's the frontal paw blow. We'll get to all of it, so what would really make your first day?"

---

Sorry about the late reply. xP

[Goose]

The young tom took a deep whiff of the Mothclan scent , and then he sneezed.  Wiping a paw across his face the tom looked at his mentor as he started to speak. Leafpaw listened quietly as Buckleap described Mothclan and then Ivyclan. The young tom held in a snort at the sarcastic remark about the forest close to the Ivyclan border. Now the tabby tom watched silently as his mentor continued to list recent events. Then as Leafpaw started to notice what was becoming an already familiar occurrence, Buckleap started off without warning.  Luckily Leafpaw was watching and followed just a few short steps behind. " so what would really make your first day?"
Buckleap had asked, in truth Leafpaw was already feeling good but he had one thing he would like to do first. " C-can we do battle training ?" the tabby tom said with a light stutter, feeling a little nervous as he asked Buckleap.

[Fireflake]

Buckleap of MistClan

---

A look of mild surprise dashed across Buckleap's face at Leafpaw's stuttering. It vanished as quickly as it came. He remembered that the young tom had seemed overwhelmed with nerves at his apprentice ceremony as well. If it turned into a problem, he'd deal with it then. For now he shrugged. "Sure. Crouch down a bit."

The warrior did the same, crouching diagonally across from Leafpaw as if ready to run or fight at any moment. From this position, the light scars of a slash-mark could be seen along his side. "Attack me. If it helps, I'm a rabbit or a-" He flicked the rounded tip of his ringed tail from side to side. "A twitching tail."
Buckleap's ears pricked. "And keep your claws to yourself."

---

[Goose]

Leafpaw blinked in surprise and slowly lowered himself into a crouch. It was a little awkward as his paws were too spaced out and the tom didn't know what to do with his tail. Leafpaw slid his claws back into their sheathes at his mentors command and rolled his shoulders, swallowing the tom prepared to leap. Swaying on on his back legs the young tabby tom pushed himself off the ground in a small leap. The tom aimed his front paws at Buckleap's chest as he lunged at his mentor. 

[Fireflake]

Buckleap of MistClan

---

Buckleap nodded slightly as Leafpaw prepared to pounce, keeping his own position neutral. His front paws pushed into the soft grass beneath the two while most of his weight stayed off of his hind legs. A smirk touched the corner of his lip as his apprentice took off. The other tom hurtling toward him would have little opportunity to stop or change his course now. Even if he had special skill with such things, adrenaline and nerves would get in the way.

The warrior hopped quickly to the side before his faux-attacker could reach him, stepping back into position only a second or so later to shove Leafpaw with his shoulder. There was no real power behind the blow, of course. It was more like he was trying to push the apprentice out of the way. Focus on the landing, he warned internally without making another move, a weak leap unbalanced in mid-air can fall lopsided.

---

[Goose]

As Leafpaw lunged at his mentor the older tom side stepped him and gave the young cat a light nudge with his shoulder. Leafpaw was a little shocked as he was pushed to the side, but he landed smoothly, albeit a little hard on his paws. The young tabby whirled around his tail whipping through the air as he narrowed his eyes and glared at Buckleap. Leafpaw stopped and stood still as his mind raced , he knew he couldn't attack head on so he needed a plan. Leafpaw crouched again and crept closer to buckleap, suddenly he lashed out with a paw aiming for the lager tom's head , as he lashed out leafpaw dropped back into a crouch.

[Fireflake]

Buckleap of MistClan

---

Buckleap watched his apprentice's mind race while the younger tom stood still. A smile curved at the corner of the warrior's mouth. Okay, maybe more of a smirk. It quickly flattened again as he narrowed his eyes at Leafpaw creeping forward. Suddenly, there was a paw landing on his head. He pulled back from the attack slightly, but again only briefly before he countered with his own, jumping toward Leafpaw.

His white front paw reached out to strike the other's face before suddenly dropping lower and aiming to hook out his opponent's front legs. Buckleap jumped back again before he could see the result of his attack. He once again crouched in his starting position, looking ready to battle or run, but it was less tight this time. Less secure. He shifted. This small action served to expose his lack of balance in this stance more so than to correct it.

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