Lesson #1 - Calling Twistpaw

[echo]

(For a possum. not for a cat)

Getting to his paws, the small tabby gave himself a quick shake. "I'm fine," he declared, looking over himself to check. I didn't fall that far, or that hard. I don't think anything should be wrong, he thought, and, upon deciding he was fine, glanced back up at his mentor. "I'm alright." Twistpaw shot a sideways look at the branch, lime green eyes glittering, reluctant to try it again. His tail still hurt from where he tried to wrap it around only to have it jerked off when he fell. "Can I do that later?" the apprentice mewed, looking hopefully at Skytide. And do something that isn't from being a kittypet.

[M y s t i c p a w]

Skytide nodded. "We can train later on tomorrow, and try that move again. For now, just show me what you know," he meowed, dropping into a defensive crouch a fox-length away from Twistpaw.

(Possums are like cats with bald tails and long noses to me xD)

[echo]

(.....)
Twistpaw

Ugh... The brown tabby crouched down, feeling annoyed. How am I supposed to know anything worth using if the only things he's taught me so far are useless--and from being a kittypet!? Twistpaw narrowed his eyes, but he wasn't concentrating on attacking. Straightening up again, he resolved tell his mentor straight out about what he was thinking. "No.I want to keep training, but I want to learn something that isn't from being a kittypet! I'm not a kittypet, and I'll never be," Twistpaw declared, glaring at Skytide defiantly.

[M y s t i c p a w]

Skytide's neck fur bristled and his back arched. His cloudy blue eye glimmered angrily. "Kittypets aren't always so soft, Twistpaw! Now show me ANYTHING you know!" he hissed. "Your lucky you even HAVE a mentor!" he added, hissing still.

[echo]

Twistpaw

He glowered at the black cat, eyes flashing. "Well, why wouldn't I have a mentor? You're not the only one in the Clan you know!" With that Twistpaw backed a few tail-lengths away, preparing to charge. He would have to try one of the moves he'd seen other apprentices practicing. Secretly, he was beginning to wonder whether or not Skytide knew any of the Clan's attacks. After all, the cat had been made a warrior right away--not even spending at least one moon as an apprentice to learn some stuff. So what if they were old? Now he would never learn anything.

Twistpaw crouched low to the ground, tail flicking with fury. Suddenly, the brown tabby threw himself forward, dashing towards his mentor. As he did, he flattened himself even closer to the ground, his fur skimming the ground. When he saw other cats doing it, they had ran right under the opponent, slipping underneath them and scraping their belly to do some damage. Having never tried it before--or taught properly--Twistpaw was unsure whether he would do it right. At least I'm small. Twistpaw ducked his head as he raced underneath the warrior. As he did so, the tom tried to jab at his belly with one raised paw. He twisted his body slightly to get a better hit. Immediately afterwards, the apprentice darted out behind Skytide.

[M y s t i c p a w]

Skytide felt the hit, but didn't flinch. "Good move," He grunted, his lregs urging him to run and do something useful.

(Mehh, my brain died!)

[echo]

Twistpaw

He turned back to face his mentor, tail waving in the air. "So what do you think?'" he asked, yellow green eyes focused on Skytide.

[M y s t i c p a w]

Skytide gazed into his apprentice's yellow eyes. He could have at least been a little grateful that his apprentice knew some moved. 'snap out of it, skytide..." he thought to himself. "Twistpaw," Skytide began, his blue eyes narrowing slightly. "Attack me. Claws unsheathed. Go all out on me." he said, his eyes narrowed challengingly. He wanted to see how apprentice would do in a REAL fight.

((Flick came back along with my muse xD))

[echo]

Twstpaw

For a moment his eyes widened in surprise at the challenge, but they quickly narrowed again in suspicion. Was this a trip to get him to betray his own Clan? The thought disgusted him. Is Skytide trying to train me into a fighting kittypet and a backstabbing traitor? Twistpaw wondered, instinctively unsheathing his claws. What's he playing at? What kind of mentor tells an apprentice to attack him on the first day? "Why?" the tabby demanded, glaring at the black cat, weary.

[M y s t i c p a w]

"I want to see how well you would do in a REAL fight." Skytide meowed, his eyes still narrowed challengingly. He was telling the truth, but he could tell his apprentice was suspicous. He whipped his tail against the ground challengingly and crouched down, ready to dodge an attack. He had to try and guess what move his apprentice was going to use, but he couldnt be too sure. He guessed Twistpaw would attack his left side due to being blind on that side. He leaned a little to the right, ready to pounce away from an attack that might occur.

[echo]

Twistpaw

Seeing that Skytide was going along with this 'lesson plan' anyways, he, too crouched down, yellow-green eyes narrowed and alert for any movement from the black tom. The warrior seemed to be leaning slightly to the right, as though ready to jump aside. For a moment Twistpaw was puzzled, but promptly realized that his mentor fully expected him to try and take advantage of his blind eye. I'm not going to be that predictable, he thought to himself, debating on his approach. Right now his Clanmate was also his enemy, who he would take down, who he was determined to defeat.

I should jump onto him! Twistpaw tensed as though he was really was about to attack from the left side. His face revealed nothing of his true intentions. That's what he expects, after all. He wouldn't think I'd go for such a direct attack. Claws glinting, the tabby took one step to the left to mislead Skytide, but then sprang into the air, towards the right, where Skytide was sure to dodge, too.

[M y s t i c p a w]

Skytide tried to dodge to the right when Twistpaw stepped to the left. He thought his plan was going perfectly until he realized that his apprentice had changed course. He looked around for a place to dodge and dashed foreward, making a quick u-turn and jumped up at Twistpaw, who was already landing and vulnerable to an attack on the back.

[echo]

Twistpaw

Time seemed to slow as he flew through the air, watching his mentor scramble around the clearing, confused by his maneuver. Through the corner of his eye, he saw that Skytide had finally stopped, poised and ready to strike, behind him. The black cat jumped up, clearly aiming to strike him from behind. There wasn't much he could do, though there was one way that might help him avoid his mentor's claws. The second, Twistpaw felt his paws touch the ground, he immediately flattened himself to the ground. He felt Skytide's attack skim his striped, brown fur, the claws so close he could feel them swiping harmlessly through his fur. Holding his breath, the apprentice darted forward and out of range just as the danger passed. I can't believe it. It actually worked. Pride flashed through his pelt as he whirled around to face the black warrior.

[M y s t i c p a w]

Skytide's eyes glowed impressively as Twistpaw avoided his strike. He spun around and jumped up again, this time straight up. as the wind blew towards Twistpaw, he shifted position, aiming straight for him. The attack he was using was easy to avoid, but complicated to use. He unsheathed his claws at the last moment, gaining speed as he fell towards Twistpaw.

[echo]

Twistpaw

Realizing what Skytide was about to do, the small cat leap backwards, just out of the reach of the warriors' blow. It seemed rather inconvenient, practicing such a hard to use technique when he could so easily evade it. Twistpaw waited, ready to lash out a paw when Skytide landed. When the black tom did hit the ground once more, he didn't give himself time to hesitate. Claws unsheathed, he aimed straight for his mentor's muzzle, though he was ready to leap out of harm's way the moment the warrior retaliated.