Post by silverfang218 on Feb 20, 2018 5:43:42 GMT
“Again.” The voice that usually sounded so kindly had a cold, almost vicious bite to it. “I’ve been fighting before your grandparents were born, kit. I know all those old moves; you have to be more creative. Show me something I have never seen before.” The friendly, docile expression still graced Spottedheart’s face, but it was twisted into something that seemed truly malicious. It was a side of him that very few cats ever saw, and usually only before their untimely deaths.
“I’ve never been taught to be creative.” The ginger apprentice mumbles, earning him a clawed swipe across his ear. Lionpaw jerks backwards, away from his mentor. He had been training with the small warrior, honestly not much larger than Lionpaw himself, for a couple moons now, ever since he was warned about the cat who originally brought him here. Searching for a different, possibly less evil cat to train him; at first, Spottedheart seemed to perfectly fit that description. The small warrior never claimed to be good at straight up fighting, particularly against the more vicious cats that inhabited the Dark Forest; what Spotted did claim to know was how to manipulate situations to his advantage. That was good enough for Lionpaw.
As time went by, however, Spottedheart had slowly let down the facade of kindness. At first, the deceased tom had seemed so friendly, so welcoming. He had taken in this lost kit with honeyed words and soft smiles. At first, the warrior had been strict but fair, teaching Lion the basics while adding different twists for different situations. It had started with unsheathed claws, then with more strict training sequences. And then, Spottedheart slowly started to show his true demeanor; feeling no need to hide the darkness, Spottedheart slowly seemed less and less friendly, and more and more demonic. Oh he still seemed almost motherly to Lion whenever Lion earned approval (which was rare) and whenever anyone else was watching. It just never lasted for long anymore.
Even so, Lionpaw kept coming back. He had not met any other cats here, and he didn’t want to crawl back to Sweetoak. He felt like he had no choice, so here he was.
Lion ignores the cut on his ear even as the blood started to slowly mat in the fur on his ear and head. The resourceful young cat takes a step back, casting his gaze around to find a way to throw Spotted off guard. His gaze found something promising, though it would be a risk; Lion never worried about hurting himself, but he did have to worry about hiding said injuries once he woke up. Even so, Spottedheart likely posed a greater risk than Lionpaw’s idea.
“Again.” This time Spotted’s tone is becoming impatient, sounding as if the mentor was about ready to spring without waiting for Lion to act. Lionpaw nods as he finalizes his idea. The ginger kit runs up the nearest tree, causing Spottedheart to growl in anger, “What are you doing, Lionpaw? Running from me?” Spotted turns on a dime, leaping up to climb after, but Lion is younger and faster than the dark spirit.
Lionpaw climbs to the first branch that is above Spottedheart; rather than climbing atop the branch to swipe at the foe below him, Lionpaw kicks at the branch, using his sharp hindclaws coupled with all the power he can muster to cause the thin, reed-like pine branch to snap off. It tumbles onto Spottedheart, who was not given enough time to react; the spotted tom is knocked off the tree by the branch and lands heavily on his paws. Lionpaw does not stop there, however; he leaps from his perch to land squarely on Spottedheart’s shoulders, forcing the larger cat to the ground. The landing was painful, causing Lionpaw to hiss as jabs of pain are sent up his legs. He does, however, stand triumphant, pinning his mentor down.
Spottedheart’s face becomes a big, proud grin, while any coldness or hatred fades away completely. “You did very good, Lionpaw!” He purrs, his voice sounding warm and kind once more. The small ginger cat puffs out his chest in pride; he managed to take down a Dark Forest warrior, even if it was only little old Spottedheart. Lion starts to crawl off his mentor, allowing Spotted to stand again, only to be rewarded with another swift swipe to his ear. “Never assume your enemy is defeated, Lionpaw. That can be a fatal mistake.” The cold, harsh voice reaches the ginger apprentice’s stinging ears. Lion lets out an exasperated sigh.
Tonight is going to be a very long night.
“I’ve never been taught to be creative.” The ginger apprentice mumbles, earning him a clawed swipe across his ear. Lionpaw jerks backwards, away from his mentor. He had been training with the small warrior, honestly not much larger than Lionpaw himself, for a couple moons now, ever since he was warned about the cat who originally brought him here. Searching for a different, possibly less evil cat to train him; at first, Spottedheart seemed to perfectly fit that description. The small warrior never claimed to be good at straight up fighting, particularly against the more vicious cats that inhabited the Dark Forest; what Spotted did claim to know was how to manipulate situations to his advantage. That was good enough for Lionpaw.
As time went by, however, Spottedheart had slowly let down the facade of kindness. At first, the deceased tom had seemed so friendly, so welcoming. He had taken in this lost kit with honeyed words and soft smiles. At first, the warrior had been strict but fair, teaching Lion the basics while adding different twists for different situations. It had started with unsheathed claws, then with more strict training sequences. And then, Spottedheart slowly started to show his true demeanor; feeling no need to hide the darkness, Spottedheart slowly seemed less and less friendly, and more and more demonic. Oh he still seemed almost motherly to Lion whenever Lion earned approval (which was rare) and whenever anyone else was watching. It just never lasted for long anymore.
Even so, Lionpaw kept coming back. He had not met any other cats here, and he didn’t want to crawl back to Sweetoak. He felt like he had no choice, so here he was.
Lion ignores the cut on his ear even as the blood started to slowly mat in the fur on his ear and head. The resourceful young cat takes a step back, casting his gaze around to find a way to throw Spotted off guard. His gaze found something promising, though it would be a risk; Lion never worried about hurting himself, but he did have to worry about hiding said injuries once he woke up. Even so, Spottedheart likely posed a greater risk than Lionpaw’s idea.
“Again.” This time Spotted’s tone is becoming impatient, sounding as if the mentor was about ready to spring without waiting for Lion to act. Lionpaw nods as he finalizes his idea. The ginger kit runs up the nearest tree, causing Spottedheart to growl in anger, “What are you doing, Lionpaw? Running from me?” Spotted turns on a dime, leaping up to climb after, but Lion is younger and faster than the dark spirit.
Lionpaw climbs to the first branch that is above Spottedheart; rather than climbing atop the branch to swipe at the foe below him, Lionpaw kicks at the branch, using his sharp hindclaws coupled with all the power he can muster to cause the thin, reed-like pine branch to snap off. It tumbles onto Spottedheart, who was not given enough time to react; the spotted tom is knocked off the tree by the branch and lands heavily on his paws. Lionpaw does not stop there, however; he leaps from his perch to land squarely on Spottedheart’s shoulders, forcing the larger cat to the ground. The landing was painful, causing Lionpaw to hiss as jabs of pain are sent up his legs. He does, however, stand triumphant, pinning his mentor down.
Spottedheart’s face becomes a big, proud grin, while any coldness or hatred fades away completely. “You did very good, Lionpaw!” He purrs, his voice sounding warm and kind once more. The small ginger cat puffs out his chest in pride; he managed to take down a Dark Forest warrior, even if it was only little old Spottedheart. Lion starts to crawl off his mentor, allowing Spotted to stand again, only to be rewarded with another swift swipe to his ear. “Never assume your enemy is defeated, Lionpaw. That can be a fatal mistake.” The cold, harsh voice reaches the ginger apprentice’s stinging ears. Lion lets out an exasperated sigh.
Tonight is going to be a very long night.
