Going postal (LoonxElm)

[Cloudbat]

[bg=22334a][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,500,true] I have absolutely no idea what I am doing. Okay, a bit. But apprentices…his apprentice in particular…were not his forte. Impertinent little imps that did whatever they could to catch you off guard. I take pride in being one of the few to have not been as such. The black and white tom didn’t hate apprentices – he just didn’t know how to deal with them. Especially since Gingerstar might ask for an assessment soon, earth forbid. So, battle training. At least the journey there hadn’t been bad – it was fairly chilly, but not horribly cold, and partially cloudy. Now what in the name of Elkstar was he going to do with Elmpaw. “Uh, so…” Brilliant. He’ll totally listen to you with THAT tone of voice. “Ahem. Today we are doing battle training, partially to see how you’re coming along, and partially to teach you more advanced techniques if I deem it fit.” Good earth he sounded like HIS old mentor. Barf. “Yeah. So…come at me.” Despite his uncertainty, he automatically fell into a defensive stance. His odd step had never been a help with this; his legs were spread more widely than a normal cat’s would be. It made him easier to knock over; however, it also enabled him to dodge a leap more quickly by dropping to the ground. Despite his size, he was a flexible fighter, if not the most skilled one. His breath misted in the cold air as his yellow eyes were trained ceaselessly on the light brown tabby tom, waiting for him to make his move. OOC: Hurray for late derp training post! 8P

[RiiRii]

The young apprentice stared hopelessly at his mentor, his ears twitching slightly before getting into a defensive crouch and circling her mentor. What was he going to do? he barely knew many fighting moves.
Taking a slow breath, he tried to remember some good evasive moves and nodded.

Pushing his body back, wiggling his rump like he was going to attack prey he nodded instantly and dived towards his mentor with his front paws out stretched as he imagined his mentor a mouse not expecting it's fate. SMACK! He hit a tree, having taken the wrong aim at his mentor he fell and shook his head.

Irritated, he batted the ground and sighed in frustration. "I don't know what to do" he then closed his eyes and took a slow deep breath before moving in close to his mentor and hissing, puffing his chest out to seem intimidating and then with one fast swipe he batted his paw against his mentors cheek as hard as he could. "How's that?" he mewed questionably. Sure it seemed weak, but he knew barely anything. He tried pouncing, but the tree seemed to be the target so maybe some close counter could give him a praise.

[Cloudbat]

[bg=22334a][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,500,true] Wow. Six moons and my apprentice barely knows squat. His blow felt like a flea trying to bite my cheek. Where had Loonstep been? Oh, right. Off visiting my siblings in other Clans. Like the disloyal mouse-brain I am. "Well um, that's all right, we'll just..." Argh, who was he kidding? He owed Elmpaw an apology. "Look, Elmpaw, I...I'm sorry. I haven't been a good mentor to you, and I don't really have a valid excuse. But that's going to change. Let's get back to the basics. First off, while your effort is commendable, your accuracy needs work. For now, let's hold off on actual attacking and focus on hitting targets." Er...now what to practice with? Casting his gaze around, his eyes alighted on the pebbles scattered about the sandy floor of the hollow. Perhaps he could bat them into the air for Elmpaw to jump at? No, too advanced. Though it might work as a technique to teach him for hunting birds. Despite his guilt and uncertainty, the heavyset tom began to enjoy himself as he explored something he'd never really done before. So rocks were out. He sniffed the still air, hoping his nose might find the answer, taking note of even the most common scents that he usually ignored. Grass, earth, Elmpaw, pine trees...pine trees! Branches! If he could break one off, or find one, it might work with a bit of improvisation. Excited, he spoke to his apprentice. "Look, I think I found an answer. Wait here." Padding over to the tree his apprentice had hit, he spotted a stick that was fairly thick, about a tail-length long. Perfect. Carefully bending down to grasp it in his jaws, the black and white tom walked back over the soft ground to drop it in front of the younger tom, satisfied. "For now, this will be your target. I think the problem with your first attempt was that you just used too much force; the problem with the second was too little. You have to work on finding a strength that you can easily use for blows, but that won't exhaust you. At the same time, you also need to be able to inflict damage. So here's your first challenge: Leap at the stick, and give it a good rake with your claws, but don't break it. At the same time, don't be too gentle. I want to see gouges." Had his own mentor ever had to teach him this? Nah. My training was mostly boring and formulaic. 'Front paw strike, claws sheathed, back kick left, claws out, blah blah blah'. He couldn't even remember his mentor's name. Fortune grant I won't make Elmpaw's training as dull.

[RiiRii]

Elmpaw's ears flattened when he saw Loonstep stare at him with a expression... Was it a surprised or an appalled...
He did not know. Then came the moment of truth.
Look, Elmpaw, I...I'm sorry. I haven't been a good mentor to you, and I don't really have a valid excuse. But that's going to change. Let's get back to the basics. First off, while your effort is commendable, your accuracy needs work. For now, let's hold off on actual attacking and focus on hitting targets."
Elmpaw felt anger bubble in his chest, but he bit back his tongue and glare at his mentor instead.

Relief flooded him when his mentor then left him for several moments, he was able to take slow deep breaths and then when the black and white tom came back, he was carrying a stick.
What was the stick for? Was he going to circle and mark out things, make it seem really complicated? No... Loonstep wasn't that kind of cat, was he?
His ears pricked as he listened.
"For now, this will be your target. I think the problem with your first attempt was that you just used too much force; the problem with the second was too little. You have to work on finding a strength that you can easily use for blows, but that won't exhaust you. At the same time, you also need to be able to inflict damage. So here's your first challenge: Leap at the stick, and give it a good rake with your claws, but don't break it. At the same time, don't be too gentle. I want to see gouges."
He gazed down at the branch again before nodding. If he focused on the stick, he could work and progress a lot better surely.

Taking a slow deep breath to wipe his mind of questions, he took several steps back and then crouched down against the ground. Waving his rump, his tail swaying side to side and curving as an S before leaping and catching the branch with his paws. He had hit it squarely and unlatched his claws, moving it down deeply and gashing the branch thoroughly. Several rakes over it and then turned with his hind legs, kicking the branch and landing face first onto the ground; pushing himself up he glanced at the hole his paw had made when he went too quickly. Sitting, he shuffled awkwardly and licked his chest shyly. He tricked to buck the branch away after, but missed.

On the bright side, he gouged the branch and could see the claw marks raking down the sides. "Is that good?" he asked, swaying his tail.

[Cloudbat]

[bg=22334a][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,500,true] "Yes." Loonstep tried to keep the surprise out of his tone. After all, it was his own fault that they were doing this. Elmpaw had actually managed it pretty well, though. "Your movements were awkward, but your technique was down pat. Then again, you had a low, small target. Now that you know how much force to use, try attacking me again. Aim for one of my legs so you have a clear target. I won't try to stop you, I just want you to practice moving smoothly. Claws sheathed, of course." Welp, pushing the shame and guilt away was nice. Then again, being an angst pot isn't going to move Elmpaw's training any faster, so. Why bother? Loonstep's Rationing Powers have been activated! What had most puzzled him about Elmpaw's attempt was that after his initial rakes, he'd tried to scrape it with his back paws as well. Kind of overkill, also time wasting. I mean, it wasn't necessary. Is he trying to impress me? Huh, maybe. That was a weird thought. I'm not exactly the kind of charismatic cat others try to impress. Not like Duckstripe or even Cranetail. Heh, Duckstripe. She could always get some poor sucker to do stuff for her by batting her eyelashes - or unsheathing her claws. He smiled at the thought, completely off guard as he was lost in his memories.

[RiiRii]

His mentor was staring off into space after a strong lecture, he crouched and aimed towards his mentor, shifting his weight into his paws and taking a slow deep breath.
Three...
Two..
ONE!
As he leaped into the air, amazed at how swift he was - he landed squarely on his mentors back, hooking his paws into his mentors hind legs and twisting his body to the left, using his hind legs to push himself onto his side and unbalance his mentor. Scrambling out the way, he felt proud and triumph fill him.

He had watched many cats do that and had been wanting to give it a go himself, it seemed difficult when watching but he was surprised at how easy it was.
As he waited for his mentors response, he licked his paws and pried bits of pine from his pads.

"How was that?" He meowed, beginning to slowly enjoy his training. He believed he was getting progress done, even if his mentor was daydreaming.

[Cloudbat]

[bg=22334a][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,500,true] Ah, memories, sweet - HOLYCRAP Somehow the black and white tom had been twisted, flipped, and almost literally rolled into a ball and thrown into a - what were those Twoleg things? - trash cans. Where rubbish went. And quite obviously where I belong. That was freaking embarrassing. This is why I don't like battles. Throw as many practice fights at me as you like - but a whole freaking battlefield? How am I even supposed to prepare Elmpaw for that? Oh sure, the water-loving PineClanner had been in a few scuffles in his life, but rarely - in fact, never - against another Clan. He and his siblings had left ForestClan too young to have ever been in a Clan war or even border fight, and on the journey the only things he'd fought had been foxes, badgers, and whatever the frick else had decided to take a chomp at them. Lynxes, wolves, the whole deal. Fun. "That was uh...great." He panted, pink tongue hanging out, the tip touching the dust. Ick. Flailing in an unflattering way, his large white paws churned the air as he struggled to get upright. Granted, Elmpaw had had two advantages - his distraction, which was his own choice - and his step, which was not. "But, most of your opponents won't be as easy as I will, since I was both distracted and...well, I walk funny. Still, your sheer force and technique were excellent, I'll give you that." He nodded respectfully to the light brown tabby tom, coughing slightly as the clouds of sand settled. "Let's try that again, this time with me countering when you hit. I want to see your talent for improvisation."

[RiiRii]

Nodding to himself, the words seeped through his mind; again.
What? Again? Do it again???
he barely knew how to do it, it was just a fluke first time round...
However... If that is what his mentor wanted...
-
Crouching down, he eyed Loonstep's hind legs and lashed his tail.
Leaping into the air with his paws stretched out, he grimaced as he almost missed Loonstep's haunches.
Knowing his mentor was paying full attention to him, he had this gut feeling he would mess up once more.
Swallowing down the sickening fear that lunged up into his throat, he wrapped his front paws around Loonstep's front paws and blinked.
It didn't feel right, was this how he did it before?

Shrugging, he pushed all his weight into his side, making the attempt to topple his mentor over but failing. He had messed it up, but hearing his mentor say about improving, he took several steps backwards and crouched up.

This time, he lunged again.

[Cloudbat]

OOC: "he hooked his hind paws into Loonstep's and his front paws around Loonstep's front paws." Your posts have been quite good and logical, but this sentence confuses me. He would have to be lying down and facing to the side to do that. The rest of your post is fine, but if you could change that I would be very happy. :3 Sorry, I'm a nitpicker, I just like things to make sense. XD I'm really enjoying this thread so far.

[RiiRii]

((there, changed. That seem better?))

[Cloudbat]

Much better! Thank you. A reply shall be forthcoming.

[Cloudbat]

[bg=22334a][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,500,true] Loonstep was at first quizzical, his brows narrowing as Elmpaw's body language changed from smooth fluidity to awkward uncertainty, short black tail twitching. Then he was just amused. It feels like Elmpaw's measuring me for something. The heavyset tom knew he was just trying to find the stance again, but it was funny. Or maybe I just have a very base sense of humor. He was pushed, but even with his sense of balance he used an old trick he'd learned: go with the force of the blow, not against it. Twisting his torso slightly to accommodate the pressure, his legs stood firm from the light brown tabby's push. Still, he smelled a whiff of frustration and saw it in the cyan eyes of the smaller tom as he attempted to push him into the sand of the hollow, and felt a twinge of sympathy. Yet something seemed to change in Elmpaw now - he was backing up, his shoulders hunched and his ears flicking slightly, clearly trying a new tactic. Loonstep barely had time to note in what direction the tom's mouth was pointing before he leaped - and the bi-colored warrior dropped, rolling forward - it was a risky move, but if timed properly he'd not only avoid the tabby's lunge, he'd have time to turn and counter with blows (not real ones, of course) while the young PineClanner was disoriented by the dust in his lungs, flailing in the sand. Keep note of the terrain, his old mentor had said. Make use of it. Well, Loonstep was doing exactly that. If it worked.

[RiiRii]

He stood up and shook the sand off his fur , watching his mentor once over and then he slowly and stretched out before he got ready to pounce again..

"No way am I going to give up yet..." He hissed, unearthing teh ground with his claws before leaping once more, seeing an opening. As he sprung, he stretched out his paws and landed in front of him. Curving his body and hitting the sand with his tail to kick sand in the air and swipe at the side of his mounter with his paw.

[Cloudbat]

[bg=22334a][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,500,true] And it did. Almost surprised, Loonstep leapt back up - if a bit clumsily - as Elmpaw soared over his head and crashed into the dust. Wow, he thought to himself in awe. I guess I'm remembering why I do like fighting, if not battles. Unfortunately, being pleased with himself gave the light brown tabby just the opening he needed. Though he wasn't in position, his muscles were still battle-tensed and he at least managed to fling out a paw to defend himself reflexively - before a short apprentice tail stirred up dust, that is. Coughing, Loonstep was simultaneously annoyed and impressed as he flicked his ears to dislodge the grit and lashed his short brown tail - just as the stocky apprentice's blow smacked into his side. Nice technique, kid, but you're not going to beat a warrior so easily, the bi-colored tom thought to himself as he grunted, trying to get his bearings. The sand was beginning to settle - and, sniffing around to pinpoint his Clanmate's scent - he coiled his body and sprung his bulk forward, both front legs splayed in the hope of knocking the smaller cat over.

[RiiRii]

His eyes widened as his mentor lunged towards him and was winded as he was hit by his mentor and landed onto the ground with his back hitting the sand.

Pushing his paws into his mentors stomach quickly and pushing against his belly and kneading into his stomach and his front paws placed against the Tom's chest, tossing himself around and onto his back just to push his spine and shoulders into the toms to get him off and kicked the sand up beneath him to be able to flee away from his mentor and hoped it worked.