Let's See How Far We've Come

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

Brackenpelt paused a few foxlengths from the rim of the training hollow, lifting his tail as an order to the three cats behind him to stop as well. He opened his jaws and let the scents drift over to him until he was sure that the hollow was vacant and free from any cats that may have gotten there before him. He had made sure that the place would be empty- that RiverClan's other apprentices were busy doing chores and other such things, but cats always found ways to sneak around and do things they weren't supposed to. And Brackenpelt had no desire to enter the training hollow only to find it already occupied.

Discovering it was empty, though, the muscular tom grunted his approval and without waiting to signal the to the three she-cats, dove straight in and padded to the center of the grassy space. The soft ground felt odd underneath his pads, which were much more used to the rough terrain of the riverbank and the dryer parts of RiverClan's territory. In his opinion such a soft area for training was not needed, because in real battles the fighting would not take place in such a forgiving area. Snorting a bit, Brackenpelt turned around and waited until the rest of the small group assembled near him, watching Rainpaw and Heatherpaw critically before he found it appropriate to speak.

"This is an important session, so I expect you both to put in your full effort." He began, making his stern gaze drift over the two sisters as he spoke. "Ever since Pigeonheart has been made a warrior, you two have been the oldest apprentices in RiverClan. That means your time will soon arrive as well. However, as long as you're still in training and have not gained all the skills necessary for warriorhood, you will not be made warriors." The tom's pointed stare bored into his own apprentice in particular, the warrior knowing full well that Rainpaw was a capable cat when she wanted to be. They just got along as well as a dog and a cat. "Therefore, to find out just how far you both have come and which skills you're still lacking, you will be sparring against each other. It will not be just a practice fight. I want you two to consider each other enemies and this as a battlefield. Use everything you have been taught, because this match will tell us what more you need to learn."

For being a first time mentor, one would not have been able to guess it watching Brackenpelt now. He stood confidently, almost threateningly (then again when did he not appear threatening?) and he did not falter with any of his words. He was determined to have his apprentice pass her assessment on the first try, because anything else would be a failure of his own skills as a warrior. It would make him look bad to his Clan mates, not to mention hurting RiverClan by denying it more warriors.

"Any questions?"

((For Spore, Zee, and Kitty. ^o^))

[zebra2143]

[/i] her mentor, and judging from her apprenticeship in RiverClan at this point, Snowfoot didn't mind her too much either. They were a more than decent match, even if steady and unchanging wasn't their game.

Heatherpaw was pulled from her train of thought when Brackenpelt signalled them to stop, raising his tail silently. The apprentice turned her head, surveying the hollow her six moons of training had made familiar and regular. This was where they went to practice battle. It was empty aside from their party of four, leaving them the entire depression in the earth to.. to do whatever Brackenpelt and Snowfoot had in store for the sisters. They'd never specified. Her ears flicked when she heard a grunt of approval from Rainpaw's mentor, her crisp blue eyes flicking to her own. She was about to ask why they'd come here when Brackenpelt answered the unspoken question, his hard voice it's usual disapproving tone. Even though the sisters hadn't been as close as they once were, they knew eachother's mentors well enough; Heatherpaw recognised how no nonsense the tom was, and decided to hold her tongue for the remainder of the lesson unless spoken too. Perhaps she could avoid embarrassing herself in front of the sever warrior.

She listened to Brackenpelt's instructions attentively, only surveying Snowfoot's expression a few times during his explanation of their session. She'd have to fight Rainpaw as if she were an enemy. While she showed little sign of discomfort in her features, her mind was buzzing with reluctance; the last thing she wanted to do was pin her sister, or be pinned. She either had to fight to win and risk upsetting Rainpaw, or throw the fight and embarrass herself in front of Snowfoot and Brackenpelt. After only a short moment's thought, she ruled out the second option; she'd have to fight her sister with all her power. Niether of the female apprentices were amazing fighters, Heatherpaw knew this, and she resorted to asking StarClan for help. Please let me defeat Rainpaw... and don't make her get mad at me, she pleaded silently, adding the ending hastily. Of course, if she lost, there was no doubt the long-haired cat would be just a bit upset. Who wanted to be beaten in front of not one, but two warriors?

Heatherpaw did not waste any time in back up, keeping an eye on Rainpaw as she took a widened stance. She pushed any thoughts of being carefuly with her sister and replaced them with focused ones. If she was going to win this, she didn't need any emotional hangups getting in her way. No, she didn't even want to think of Rainpaw as her sister anymore, It was just like Brackenpelt said, think of the opponent as your enemy. In Heatherpaw's eyes, her sparring partner was no partner at all. She was an attacker who had to be defeated. Bright blue eyes narrowed and ears lay flat against her head as she prepared for her opponent to make the first move.[/justify][/ul]