Training: Lionpaw/Mudpaw/RRR

[Yoko]

Mudpaw stuttered a lot, but Rabbitheart didn't mind. He was a calm, patient tom, never asking any cat to rush on his behalf. He breezed into the Sandy Hollow with a delighted smile. Ahhh, here were some good times. He remembered he and his father chatting excitedly whenever they were preparing to learn new moves. But now his father moved silently towards the clearing's center. He had not lost any of his air of pride or honor yet something still seemed amiss.

"Lionpaw, I want to practice some older moves with you before a practice battle. Rabbitheart, if you can refresh Mudpaw at the same time so we can have a fair fight?"

Rabbitheart nodded and knealt over so that Ravenkit could climb off of him. The golden tom winked at his younger brother. "Watch us carefully now." He turned to Mudpaw. "I know the last thing you worked on was group fighting, but show me some individual moves first? You know how to battle on hind-legs, right? Try against me?"

The golden tom rose upon his own muscular hind-legs and achieved balance with ease.

Ravenkit, though always fascinated with his brother's movements and techniques and tricks, turned his head in Rainstorm's direction. The older tom was asking Lionpaw to demonstrate a proper lead-and-hold. Ravenkit remembered something about landing on the opponents back for that one, but he was too small to practice it himself. He watched Lionpaw with glaring eyes as Rainstorm set himself up to be the target.

"Alright," the older tom mewed, "Now!"

Rainstorm looked fierce suddenly, not just an old bragging tom, but bristling like a large enemy cat. So he has claws and teeth afterall? Ravenkit thought irritably.

[:c a i:]

((I have no idea what a lead-and-hold is supposed to be, but... Lionpaw can... Jump on his back... ))

Lionpaw smirked confidently, backing into a crouch and bunching his muscles beneath him, ready to spring. He kept eye contact with his mentor, lest he give any signals over where he would attack from, and within a few moments, the bulky golden apprentice was moving with surprising agility, dashing forth and springing. For a few seconds, Lionpaw was airborne and appeared as a flying, orange blur. His sheathed paws stretched out and his eyes gleamed with concentration as he sailed onto Rainstorm's back.

[Yoko]

((OOC: Cai...that is a leap-and-hold XD. Just teasing, I wouldn't know either if i hadn't visited sites listing and describing battle moves. ;D

Here<===))

Rainstorm shuddered under his apprentice's weight. His muscles weren't what they used to be, but he certainly was not going to show it now. His apprentice would not be an apprentice for long, and he did not want to be remembered as the old tom warrior who couldn't finish the few moons of training.

In response to his apprentice's attack, Rainstorm rolled onto his side and momentarily onto his back. He was certain it wouldn't injure his apprentice, and he rolled off immediately.

"Excellent form, Lionpaw. Were you prepared for that countermove? Remember, always think to two moves ahead. Now I'm going to come at you with a move. Show me it's counter!"

Rainstorm reared up on his hindlegs and prepared to come down with his full weight at the apprentice. He braced himself for the counter, they had gone over this one just a moon ago."

[. s p o r e l e t t ♪]

OoC// Oh, Yoko. XD You make it sound like Rainstorm is this ancient bonebag. He's not even three and a half! He's still a young cat.

[Yoko]

OOC: Oh right. I forgot to edit his age! XD Cause at the time I wanted him to be next to elderish I didn't know anything about when exactly cats were old. Don't look at me like that, I was so young and ignorant when I wrote his bio! (<==*cough*Wasn't so long ago *cough*

[:c a i:]

((In that case, YOU misspelled it the first time. *Pokes Yoko's post* How is poor little Cai supposed to know what you're talking about, eh?))

Lionpaw grinned, neatly springing away as his mentor tried to roll over him. "Of course I was ready, old tom." He teased, getting just a little bit cheeky, but knowing his mentor wouldn't be annoyed. Banter in battle was something Lionpaw often did. In fact, just banter in general made up a lot of his conversation, since he was full of youthful bravado and an eagerness to demonstrate his strength.

He watched, completely unworried as Rainstorm sailed up onto his hindpaws. They had covered this scenario just a moon ago, so the selection of counter-moves were fresh in his mind and he knew just what to do. Seeing that the older tom was nearly upon him, Lionpaw acted naturally, quick as a flash. He raked up with his paws - sheathed, of course - and raked at his mentor's belly, hopefully before Rainstorm was able to strike him back. Now nearly full-sized, Lionpaw struck with some force these days. He was fast approaching his full strength and almost stood as broad as his mentor.

((Sorry, I suck at fighting scenes. XD))

[spike]

Mudpaw waggled his rear in an odd fashion but managed to shove his front paws to the ground which propelled his body upward and into the air. You can do this, he told himself. Dull yellow eyes lit up with determination as the fire of battle took hold. This was Rabbitheart and Mudpaw had to think about the best way to fall an enemy like him.

Feeling slightly secure about his fighting, Mudpaw raised his paws upward in a swift motion and brought them down firmly on Rabbitheart’s head. Then he threw the force of it, rather than downward, outward to help the warrior lose his balance. Once Mudpaw had the power of balance, he’d get a hold of it.

((urf, short post))

[Yoko]

Rainstorm was knocked back by the force of his apprentice's sheathed blow. He quickly manuevered his hind-legs to avoid toppling over and he stood in a rather curious position to keep his forepaws in the air.

"Not bad, Lonpaw, but you've not got me yet! Let's see you stop this one!"

He dropped to his forepaws with his back arched, then charged directly forward, aiming to swipe his apprentice's muzzle, claws sheathed of course.

Rabbitheart felt a strong force crash upon his head. He stumbled back a few paces and was threatening to roll backwards. He wavered on his hindpaws, knowing what Mudpaw's next move would be best, but purposely leaving himself open for it. He wanted to know what the apprentice had learned afterall.

Ravenkit watched with mild suprise. Surely his brother knew plenty of countermoves? Why was he giving Mudpaw the advantage of two attacks? And why was Rainstorm charging straight at the large golden apprentice, rather than making some clever move to confuse him? He supposed it was because they were training, or at least he hoped so. In battle, would they be so easily matched? He had assumed that his kin was the best and could easily defeat their opponents. The idea that they could be so even in battle frightened the kit. They could die out there...
((OOC: I find this rather amusing. ;D))

[:c a i:]

The gust caused by Rainstorm's swiping paw caused Lionpaw's fur the fan up slightly as he scrambled back, just in time to dodge the attack. His mentor's paw had just brushed his face very softly because Lionpaw had not moved fully out of the way in time. Amber eyes widened slightly, then narrowed with focus as Lionpaw fought to regain the advantage. His mentor had charged suddenly, unexpectedly. It had left the long-furred apprentice slightly off-balance, ducking away in a manner which was a tad less controlled than what he usually managed. Despite the setback, however, Lionpaw slithered out of Rainstorm's reach and sprang back, crouched defensively, gaze sweeping over Rainstorm to assess the situation and decide upon his next move. "You missed. You must be getting old!" He meowed in a cheeky voice with eyes glittering as he circled slowly.

Moments later, Lionpaw moved fluidly from defensive to offensive as he made his mind up and acted quickly, seizing the opportunity of attacking when Rainstorm was still recovering from his last attack. He slipped around in a blur of gold fur and struck out with his strong hind legs. It was a crude attack, but if it connected with Rainstorm, it would be one of great power. He had judged the distance critically carefully and, by his calculations, if his mentor did not react in time, Lionpaw would strike him squarely on the shoulder. Energy coursed through him as he made his attack and he knew in that moment that he was most definitely born to be a warrior.

[spike]

Feeling a wave of confidence from the falling friend, Mudpaw knew that Rabbitheart was done for. He raked his paws, imagining it to be a warrior of another Clan rather than his fellow warrior, down Rabbitheart's chest and stomach in a swift way. He imagined his claws to be unsheathed and the other warrior yowling out, baying in pain.

Then his body acidentally shifted forward and he managed to push Rabbitheart again but fall on top of him. Taking this moment of shock to move his back paws up and place them on his friend's stomach. He had gained control of the situation and he had conquered his foe... right? He faked a belly rake before bounding off his opponent.

"How'd I, um, do?" he immediately asked nervously.

[Yoko]

Ravenkit watched in sheer awe at Lionpaw's strength, the swiftness of his moves. He understood suddenly why Rabbitheart had always pressed him to take interest in such things. Lionpaw would be a tough act to follow.

Rainstorm fell backwards and rolled onto hia belly, rather than yowling in fury, he was laughing heartily. DOes he like being beaten?

Meanwhile, Rabbitheart finally toppled over after Mudpaw's belly rake. But the brown apprentice had also fallen ontop of him, lacking the grace of Lionpaw's move, but still good enough to defeat his brother...in training at least.

Rabbitheart was laughing too. "Hey Father," he mewed, "DO you think they're ready for practice?"

Rainstorm, still on his belly replied, "Why, yes, son. I believe that they are! But since the four of us are here...Why don't we have them practice partner fighting? Two apprentices against two warriors."

Rabbitheart leapt to his feet, his sky blue eyes wide wide excitement. "That sounds great!"

Ravenkit pouted. More watching.

[spike]

Mudpaw tightened his jaw to stop it from dropping. Fighting Rainstorm? It was one thing with Rabbitheart. The younger was fun and often practice fighting was just like it used to be when he was a kit wrestling. The brown cat had gotten a look at the battle between Lionpaw and Rainstorm. It was different from his and Rabbitheart's fight.

"Alright then," Mudpaw spoke up. "I'm, uh, ready to fight." His stance, he then realized, was a bit wide. His paws were spread out and his tail lashed in the air behind him. Mudpaw tried to straighten himself quickly before they noticed his actual readiness to fight. That wasn't like him often.

[:c a i:]

Lionpaw laughed indulgently, eyes sparkling with determination and the thrill of a battle. Of course, it was inevitable that he and Mudpaw would lose to the two older, more experienced warriors - even Lionpaw accepted that - but that wouldn't stop him from pulling out all his best moves and showing just how ready to be a warrior he really was. He grinned at Rainstorm, casually circling the battle ring with a rather confident stride. This was going to be a very fun morning.

"Are you sure you can handle us?" He meowed cheekily. "Not too tired?" He glanced at Mudpaw, feeling slightly amused at the other apprentice's antics. Mudpaw was already crouched as if they were in the thick of battle. Lionpaw's style was a lot more relaxed. He tended to rely on natural instinct when making his moves to avoid over-thinking and forcing the battle. One thing Lionpaw was very good at was judging the best move in battle.

A battle with Rainstorm and Rabbitheart? The father-son duo would no doubt work well together as a unit, so Mudpaw and he would have their work cut out to make sure the warriors did not wipe the floor with them. Lionpaw was at least determined to put on a good show with some of his most skilful moves. He didn't know why, but today felt like a great day for him. He was young and fit and he was getting bigger and stronger every day.

[Yoko]

Rabbitheart and Rainstorm wasted no time getting into position. As Rabbitheart crouched and glanced at his father, Rainstorm suddenly looked fiercer, more awake then he had only moments ago. Rabbtheart grinned. These apprentices were in for a real head-spin. His father gave him a brief nod, and Rabbitheart dashed to the opposite side of the apprentices. Lesson one, fighting two completely separate battles, watching each other's backs.

Over Lionpaw's head, Rabbitheart could see his father jolting forward and smoothly swiping downward to swat the Mudpaw's forehead. In quick succesion, Rabbitheart charged forward and darted a claw to knock Lionpaw's hind-leg.

[spike]

Prepared was the opposite of what Mudpaw felt like. Sure, he knew this was going to be better than any real fight but that didn't mean he was exactly the best at it. Rainstorm had successfully targeted his forehead which caused his mind to stutter in planning. Mudpaw just backed up quickly after being struck then hissed at his personal frustration. He darted towards Rainstorm and managed to have enough balance in him to leap to the side at the last moment. He swung a paw under Rainstorm to trip his paws and to hopefully gain a quick attack on Lionpaw's mentor.

He had almost forgotten that he was Ashstar's apprentice. Working with Rabbitheart and Rainstorm was definitely entertaining.