Lesson #1 - Calling Twistpaw

[M y s t i c p a w]

Skytide padded towards the small creek, whiskers twitching. Twistpaws training was today, and Skytide had the perfect topic to bring up- Camoflage. He had chosen the creek not because of anything around it, but instead the water itself.

[echo]

Twistpaw

A brown tabby burst out of the undergrowth that surrounded camp. His striped fur was fluffed out with excitement, and his yellow-green eyes shone. This would be his first training session as an apprentice, and he couldn't wait. Twistpaw hurried after his mentor, who was already disappearing behind a thick clump of ferns. His legs were still rather short, and he couldn't help but stumble over particularly large roots. Bird song filled the air, but the apprentice was panting with anticipation, barely aware of anything else.

Before long, he could hear the gentle babbling of water. Although he'd never really explored EarthClan's territory before, Twistpaw could still recognize it as the creek that ran through the forest. Just because I don't follow my littermates out of camp doesn't mean I never come out myself, he thought proudly. "I'm here," the small tabby chirped, skidding to a halt beside the black cat.

[M y s t i c p a w]

Skytide nodded, his cloudy blue eye glimmering. "I knew it wouldn't take long. Today, I was thinking of teaching you how to hide in places that even the smartest cat wouldn't think of looking in. This takes campfiage and stillness, so be careful." he notified. "The creek here is a perfect place to hide, but you have to be careful around the water. Copy me," he mewed, creeping towards the water silently. Quickly, he slipped down into the creek and under the water. The only thing visable tha the silver streaks on his back, which basically looked like two big fish. He poked his head back out a minute later and slipped back up onto land, his pelt soaked with water.

[echo]

Twistpaw

The brown tom nodded in acknowledgment of the older tom's words, unable to keep still. Hiding? Does he mean stalking and sneaking up on other cats? he wondered. But as he continued listening, his mouth fell. In the water? What in StarClan's name would any cat be doing that they need to hide under water!? I can't see or smell or hear anything under water. Exasperated, Twistpaw joined the black warrior at the creek's edge, watching wearily as his mentor slipped into the water. When he emerged, he merely stared at him. "Why would any one need to hide in the water? You can't sense anything in the water so you wouldn't know if whatever you're hiding from is gone. And I can only hold my breath for awhile!" Twistpaw blurted, staring at him with mutinous glowing eyes.

[M y s t i c p a w]

"Yes, but the enemy can't sense you either, and that is a time when you have to use other senses. Use touch instead of hearing, sight, and smell. If you wonder why fish can sense where you are coming from, it isn't because they hear, smell, or see you- it's because they Feel you. Then your paw hits the ground, it sends vibrations through the dirt, causing a small vibration in the water also, alerting the fish." Skytide meowed. What he was talking about may have seemed crazy to Twistpaw, but the trick was useful. "If you can't stay underwater for long, keep the tip of your nose above water, and be sure to have a tight grip on the rocks." he added, trying to make sure Twistpaw understood his plan.

[echo]

Twistpaw

"Yeah, but you still didn't tell me why anyone would need to hide in the water," he muttered, spirits dampened. He'd expected something more useful than learning to do something he would never need to know. None of the other warriors or older apprentices ever said anything about needing to hide in the creek, of all places. Not even the elders. Maybe it's because Skytide was a kittypet before, Twistpaw mused, reluctantly dipping one extended paw into the running water.The tom waded a few tail lengths into the water, digging his claws into the cracks between the smooth stones at the bottom, and crouched down, feeling ridiculous. Twistpaw did his best to flatten himself, and the water helped flatten his bristling fur.Barely a moment later, his head burst out of the water, sending drops of liquid flying everywhere. "There," he puffed, still annoyed.

[M y s t i c p a w]

Skytide sighed. "You did well, but I can tell you don't understand why I'm teaching you this. Let me tell you something, Twistpaw." he meowed, sitting down. "When I was a Kittypet, I lived with my sister Yukon. She always bossed me around, so I had to figure out a way to defend myself. I realized I couldn't always fight with tooth and claw. When we fought, it came to me- the sink. I kept my nose above water and hid under it, staying as still as possible. I waited until she was gone and came out. If I hadn't done that, I probably would have died." he said, reciting his memory. "The creek is exactly like the sink- a large hollow filled with water. That is why I'm teaching you this." he added. Hopefully Twistpaw understood that life as a kittypet isn't so 'soft' after all.

[echo]

Twistpaw

He rolled his eyes, seeing it coming. That's not called defending yourself. That's just hiding, the tabby thought, this time keeping his thoughts to himself. I'm not a kittypet. I'm going to learn to hunt and fight, and I'm going to defend EarthClan and my friends properly, instead of hiding in some creek. Hiding isn't defending at all. Twistpaw lashed the air with his tail, the stripes that wrapped around it a blur. "Well I doubt every kittypet had to hide under water. And warriors actually defend their Clan instead of waiting for the intruders to go away.[/i]

[M y s t i c p a w]

"Twistpaw, I envy your loyalty, but in a war your clan needs your life more then anything!" Skytide argued. It felt wrong arguing with his apprentice, but he was trying to make a point. His fur flattened down, and he was calming down. "I understand Twistpaw, I would gaurd Checkerpelt and the clan with my life, but I hoped you would understand also..." he meowed, ears pinned back.

(Im braindead...)

[echo]

Twistpaw

_{"Then why do I need to hide? I'm not going to drop dead right before a war," Twistpaw mewed, staring up at his mentor with wide eyes. Skytide was agreeing with him, but then how come he still had to learn to hide underwater? [i}Maybe we could just do something else and, and forget this whole thing,}[/i] the tom thought somewhat guiltily. It didn't seem right arguing with his mentor, who was older and higher ranked in the Clan. Besides, he was Skytide's first apprentice.[/sub]

[M y s t i c p a w]

Skytide nodded, perking up a bit. Atleast he knows... he thought. "Some battle training then?" he meowed, somewhat proud that his apprentice stopped the quarrel himself.

[echo]

Twistpaw

The brown tabby gave a small jump, perking up. "Sounds great," he crowed, unsheathing his claws and digging them into the ground. Twistpaw fell into a crouch, tail swaying in the air above him, imagining an enemy warrior appearing out of nowhere. "What moves are we doing today? Pouncing on the enemy's back? The belly rake?"

[M y s t i c p a w]

"Something that I made up when I was a Kittypet. It's a great move, and your size will be an advantage. You need a strong tail, so watch before you try." Skytide mewed. Crouching down, he leaped up into the air, wrapping his tail around a large tree branch. He dangled above Twistpaw, a tight grip on the branch. He spun around and unwrapped his tail, landing right next to His apprentice. "Do the same, but try landing on my head or back." he meowed, confident that his apprentice wouldn't mind being taught something most other cats didn't know.

[echo]

(You know that's impossible right?)

Twistpaw

Another kittypet technique? Twistpaw thought, already feeling rather apprehensive. What, is he trying to turn me into a warrior kittypet? I want to learn some real warrior techniques. Dejected, he watched as his mentor demonstrated the technique. It was obvious that there would have to be plenty of low branches around if he was to ever use it in a real battle. Letting out a long sigh, the tabby nodded at Skytide's commands. "Alright." But don't think I'll like it.

He padded past him, and further away from the stream. He was looking upwards, scanning for a branch that seemed low enough for him to be able to reach. At last he found one, and positioned himself a few tail-lengths from it. Taking a breath, the apprentice shot forward, springing into the air. Twistpaw felt his tail hit the branch, and attempted to curl it around, but he was too slow. With a thud, he fell back to the ground.

[M y s t i c p a w]

(Actually, it is possible xP)

Skyride dashed over to his apprentice, startled. "Are you ok!?" he asked quickly, eyes wide.

( And I'm very braindead now 0.0; )