Going postal (LoonxElm)

[Cloudbat]

[bg=22334a][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,500,true] And round one goes to - ...Elmpaw. Screw it aaaaaall, he groaned to himself as the apprentice's powerful blows thudded into his underbelly and forced the wind out of him. His focus and precision weren't the best, but he made up for it by sheer force. In a long-term battle, Loonstep would ignore this and move forward, but heck with it. This was training. He wasn't going to kill himself in the name of progress. Hmmm, options, options. Continue to have tail handed to self by own apprentice? Or stop the lesson and work on something else? Yeah no, I'm going with option one, he thought, as he hacked up dust. Again. "Kay there buddy, think you've proved you're the winner of this bout. You can stop creating the world's largest dust storm annnnny time you feel like it." Wincing slightly, he stepped backward to escape the cursed cloud, black tail lashing in frustration and pink nose scrunching with irritating grit as he sneezed. First the fog when I visit Cranetail, now this stuff. I swear nature is out to get me. With a sigh, the muscular PineClanner sat on the soft ground of the hollow, taking some small comfort from its relative warmth, as the sun had come out from behind a cloud. His mind was tired, but even the somewhat lazy warrior knew that was no excuse for stopping the lesson. He had to think of what to next. I promised Elmpaw I'd be a better mentor, and I'm going to do it. I haven't been able to keep many promises, and for pity's sake I should at least try for this one.

[RiiRii]

Elmpaw licked his chest fur several times and spat out bits of saliva when he realized there was sand mixed with it.
Lashing his tail over the sand once more, he looked towards his member and felt triumphant.

He had beaten a warrior.
"Did I do good?" he mrrowed happily, watching his mentor with wide eyes. He could show off to the other apprentices for beating his mentor in a training battle. He was getting into it, but mainly because he was winning.

As he waited for his mentor to reply, he looked around and then down at his fur. He hadn't realized until now how much sand he had gotten into his fur. Now he looked like he had just walked into water without getting wet and then walked across sand. He was a mess himself, but he could this as an excuse.

[Cloudbat]

[bg=22334a][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,500,true] Yes, you ridiculously smug-looking little dork, you did. "No, I said you won because I'm feeling generous." He snorted. Then again,after Elmpaw's accuracy troubles at the beginning, he'd turned out surprisingly well. Maybe he just needed to get back in the swing of things. The warrior's expression softened. "Yes, you did well. Don't get too cocky - there's still plenty to learn. But you've made definite progress. Now that you've shown you can overpower me in a basic fight, it's time to use tactics. Being a warrior's about more than just brute strength." Shaking the last of the sand out of his (luckily) short fur, Loonstep pondered a moment. Tactics, yes. Elmpaw's strong, but how fast can he think? I'd bet he knows the play-dead trick...but how good is he in different terrain, where he can't make dust storms? Different terrain...as the PineClanner's yellow eyes gazed up and around the hollow, he had an idea, and his broad white face broke into an evil grin. Yes. This would be perfect. "You can clearly fight on sand. But what if you were fighting StreamClan? They might decide to threaten our borders again. What if you had to follow them, and they tried to get away by hiding near the river and swimming away? What if you had to follow? Well, I'll tell you what you'd do - you'd go after them and fight in the stream. We're going to the river." So saying, he began to pad out of the hollow and toward the river. StreamClan. It hurt to think of that, even if made it fun to twist the lesson around with. He was absolutely sure Goosefur hadn't been part of the raid. But what if someone she knew had been? Loonstep would have fought them. Wouldn't he? Fff, why am I even thinking of this. Stupid brain. Water. That's what I really love. This is my life now. It had to be.

[RiiRii]

The tom listened to his mentor as he dragged on until the praise came, causing the apprentice to brighten up. Shortly after it was ruined by the stern speech his mentor had given him.

You can clearly fight on sand. But what if you were fighting StreamClan? They might decide to threaten our borders again. What if you had to follow them, and they tried to get away by hiding near the river and swimming away? What if you had to follow? Well, I'll tell you what you'd do - you'd go after them and fight in the stream. We're going to the river.

The river? They were going to the river to train? The idea of cold water touching his pelt made him shiver, but it would be nice to get rid of the sand a lot easier.
As he stood up and proceeded after his mentor, he looked back at the sandpit and sighed.

Water. Why did it have to be water? Who was he to complain? Water was a necessity to survive, so why not train there so it has more than two uses.
One being to mark the borders and the other being to drink.
Why not make it a third too? Walking silently beside his mentor, his paws hitting the grass and the sound of sand turning to grass he twitched his ears and instantly he could smell the water. There it was, in front of him.

He never even bothered to consider why his mentor was so eager to get to the river.
"First can I clean the sand off my paws? It's beginning to trouble me. I hate the feeling of sand digging into my pads.." Backing up his "excuse" he shook his paws repeatedly, licked them quickly and then sighed. "They need a good grooming"

Of course, he was just nervous about the water.

[Cloudbat]

[bg=22334a][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,500,true] Hmmm...what's the best way to teach him? He toyed with the idea of tossing the apprentice into the river by surprise, but had a feeling that would do more harm than good. Even I wouldn't like getting wet if I didn't know it was coming. But...I don't want to be too easy on him, either. Decisions, decisions. Even as they walked briefly through the shade of the trees and occasional patches of sunlight on the pine-needle covered ground, they reached the small, swift-flowing stream. Loonstep breathed deeply. The dull, barely imperceptible scent of water hung in the air, mixing with the tart smell that almost a taste of the coniferous trees. Okay, enough admiring nature. Now- ...oh, Elmpaw was asking him something. "Hmm? Oh, sure. Dip them into the water if you like; that gets them clean even faster." answered the bi-colored tom, but his attention was on the flowing gray-blue liquid in front of him. Aha! I know the first thing I need to teach him; how to not get swept away in the current. It's so obvious. I guess water stuff just comes so naturally to me I had to think of it. He chuckled at himself, thinking of when he and his siblings had splashed each other in greenleaf, when the vernal pools collected. Hunting salamanders, tossing mud at each other...oh, memories. Even better, he could turn them into lessons for Elmpaw. When I'm through with him, there'll be no finer water fighter in all the Clans, Loonstep thought with satisfaction.

[RiiRii]

(I apologise for the late reply, had a huge case of writers block and just did not know how to reply. So if this post is short I sincerely and utmost truly do apologise. )
-

The apprentice was cautious as he watched his mentor for several seconds, casually making his way to the water bed and dipping his paws in.
Massaging the pads together and brushing one paw over the other, making sure ever bit of sand had left his tabby paws and was now in the water or at least on the lake's bed.

Turning around quickly to face his mentor, was his mentor getting ready to pounce? He looked everywhere, before seeing his mentor in the same place he was when the apprentice had gone to wash his paws.

He was too cautious, he really was. He took a slow deep breath and stretched out. I'm being too cautious, too panicky. Just relax, you silly furball..
Watching his mentor, he pricked his ears and waited for several heartbeats before blinking his eyes with a clueless expression.

"Well? We beginning?"

[Cloudbat]

[bg=22334a][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,500,true] OOC: It's fine, Rii, really. I've waited on FAR later replies. XD worry not. BIC: "We're beginning by learning how to stand in the river." He said as he waded in with a splash, blinking slightly as his impact scattered droplets everywhere. The water's expected newleaf chill sunk into his bones and he shivered, yet the tom still wore a wide grin. He turned his yellow gaze to his apprentice and called "Come in. It's cold, but not deathly so, and we won't be in long. This is just the first lesson." Loonstep automatically padded forward, bracing himself by extending his claws into the mud, feeling small pebbles shifting underfoot as he gauged the leg-high water. Hmm, it shouldn't be much higher for Elmpaw. He's twelve moons and decently sized for an apprentice. The current wasn't too swift - most of the snow-melt from last season was well dispersed - but then, he was used to it as well as being larger and more experienced than the light brown tabby. He had to put himself in the young PineClanner's mindset to teach him. "When you first come in, it will feel alien. Expect that. The ground isn't as stable so you have to cling to it. Sink your paws in a bit if you need to - don't worry about getting stuck, I can help you if it happens. And whatever you do, never lift up more than one paw at a time. I can't stress that enough. The current here isn't too strong and we're not in very deep, but that's the most important thing I can teach you. If you lift up two paws at a time, you could easily get knocked over by a foe, or fall and hit your head on a rock. Or...well, you get the point. I'll let you try it yourself." He was aware that he'd probably talked too much and Elmpaw would learn better by doing than by watching, but he wanted him to be prepared. A little preparation could save lives, after all.

[RiiRii]

Was listening to his mentor until the sight of the water made his fur tingle with fear and his eyes widened. Pinning his ears back and taking a slow deep breath, he then moved.

He wasn't usually scared of the water, but when it came to swimming, the problem turns into a fear. His mentor seemed perfectly fine in the water, as he stared wide-eyed towards his mentor and dared to mouth "You're crazy" he then decided to swiftly take a few steps forward and then stood directly at the bank edge yet again. This time he stood where the water had eroded it and the earth was mostly clay, suddenly it gave away and he yowled in surprise. Clinging to the solid ground with his forepaws and his hind legs in the water with his paws touching the bank bottom. Feeling the water lap at his waist, he blinked at the cold feeling that seeped through his fur and caused him to shiver before realizing the water wasn't going to take him away. Noticing that there was no need to fear, his fur instantly began to sting with a blush.

Lowering down completely into the water and wading through it in a sort of mere doggy paddle, he laughed at the feeling of the water bubble around his paws as they brushed down and up under the surface and his tail wading the water as it kept his body balanced, snaking away behind him.
Slowly, he relaxed and looked towards his mentor.
"You were right, it's not that bad at all. It does feel strange at first, but then it changes to a sort of relaxing feeling. We're not going to battle in here though, right?" he put his paws into the water, standing still and feeling it gently push his body as it lapped from the force of his paddling.

Fighting in this seemed hard since it was difficult to move and the ground was so soft and squishy. He could smell the small tinge of fish in the water, so he guessed that fish swam in this water often and went hiding somewhere due to it being disturbed so much.

[Cloudbat]

Loonstep smirked to himself as he watched his apprentice take careful steps into the water. It was important that Elmpaw be careful, but hopefully he would learn to enjoy himself too. He ignored his apprentice's fearful words and simply studied the way the brown tabby was handling the situation.

Mmm, not bad. He acts like the water will eat him, but I suppose that's natural if he's never been in before. His ears flattened as the young tom yowled for no - oh, clay. Eh, I guess I should have mentioned that. Oh well. The black-and-white tom did not waste much time dwelling on it; his apprentice would live.

But the older cat truly smiled as the 12-moon-old PineClanner found his stance and discovered the delight of the bubbles. His mind was instantly transported back to when a cream-colored tabby she-cat had splashed him, and he'd blown bubbles in her face in return in the greenleaf heat, the sunbeams filtering through the trees so wonderfully there to dry off in when they got tired of playing.

Stupid, he chided himself. You're here and now, not kithood.

He shook his head, having missed almost everything the green-eyed cat had said. "It's possible." Loonstep replied casually to the question on battle. "It's unlikely, but it could happen. It's good to know you've begun to adjust, however. Good posture, and reacting quickly and not panicking to unexpected elements is important." There was a glint in his yellow eyes as he said it, thinking of the clay.

"Now, attack me." He readied himself, short tail swishing in the water and making ripples as his gaze focused and he prepared himself for the possibilities of the fight to come.

[RiiRii]

As the young tom waded through the water, his paws being careful as they hit the cold, sticky goo that was at the bottom of the lake bed until eventually the bed sloped down into a ditch and he was once again paddling towards his mentor. How he would attack, he did not know; however his mentor had something planned and he was ready to train.

As the young apprentice dived underwater, he couldn't see or ear anything. His senses were blinded and all he could feel was the pressure of the water try and force him up. Hitting the water with his paws, he felt his breath begin to sting and tighten and he lifted his head quickly. His pink nose touched his mentors fur and he blinked his green eyes open.

"I can't" he finally meowed. "I don't know how I can fight a streamclan cat in this terrain, they'll know how to fight and I'll be as good as..." he looked around, seeing a cricket floating on its back with its legs crunched in to its chest and stomach. "As good as that cricket."

[Cloudbat]

Loonstep watched, pleased, as his apprentice dared to submerge himself for the first time. Perhaps a bit soon, but his willingness to try at least was to be admired. The cool water that rippled at his every tiny movement also added to his sense of happiness.

He felt a slight bump on his right front leg and recoiled before looking and down and realizing it was only Elmpaw resurfacing. The bi-colored tom opened his mouth to give a measure of praise when -

Oh for crying out loud....

"Oh for goodness' sake, Elmpaw, it's only your first time. You're really doing fine, you just need to have more confidence. I was about to tell you that you did a good job by taking the initiative, but I take it back." meowed the warrior crossly.

He sniffed the air. Yes, unfortunately the tabby's scent was now laced with the bitter tang of uncertainty. Loonstep sighed, his short black tail flicking over the stream as he pondered how to solve the problem, then he straightened, face hardening.

"You're not going to get anywhere by feeling sorry for yourself, and you're not a cricket. Just try a basic swipe, I won't block you. Just remember the rule about lifting up your paws."

Dear earth, hasn't he grown any guts at all? He's twelve moons old, for goodness' sake. I'm hardly the most masculine tom myself, but geez.

[RiiRii]

Ears flattened as he was scolded, the young apprentice looked up at his mentor and then listened to what he said. Taking some steps back awkwardly, being careful not to lose his balance and then as he was at a decent length he looked down into the water.

An ideal seeped through his mind and then he smirked, turning away from his mentor. "I know I got a long way to go,"As he did so, he used his tail to create a small wall of water and then smashed against the base of it with his paw, twisting his body around and sending the wave towards his mentor, pushing through the current shortly after and swiping his mentor across the maw with his claws sheathed.

Pushing himself backwards shortly after and rising up to feel the waves push against his hind legs and pushing his paws down in the water and creating a miniature wave after. Of course he was wet, but he didn't care. He was admittedly having fun in the water.

[Cloudbat]

[bg=22334a][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,500,true] Really now? You think that's going to do more than make me blink? It took effort to restrain a derisive grin from spreading across his broad muzzle as Elmpaw's pathetic attempt at a wave slapped over him like a gentle pat. Elmpaw's blow was decent however, and he winced slightly as it jarred his mouth, causing him to bite his tongue. Once he had gotten his voice back, he spoke to his cocky apprentice. "I'm sure you think you're very clever, so let me disillusion you. Your technique worked purely because I was standing still on purpose; any warrior with a half a brain would ducked and kept going. Also, never turn your back on your opponent in the water, or in any battle unless you have a very good reason. I could have easily pinned you and drowned you before you could say 'mouse.'" Loonstep was blunt now, with no praise to soften his words. This was his domain and he was sure of himself in it. And if Elmpaw wasn't up to it, well, he'd better grow a pair and learn. On land, perhaps, the warrior did not deserve to be so prideful. Land carried the weight of mistakes and memories. But the water washed it all away, leaving only the toughest core of himself behind. Water was where his step did not matter and his experience reigned over any other PineClanner's with the possible exception of Hawkstorm.

[RiiRii]

Indeed, Elmpaw's water waves might of been small and only splash his mentor, but they exhausted the young apprentice just by forcing his paw through the water.

Lifting his head up, panting slightly and feeling a quick cold win brush his pelt he narrowed his eyes. "But give me a break, Loonstep! This is harder than it seems" he snarled a little, gritting his teeth. I'm not a water cat, I'm a land cat. I can't fight on water like a warrior can and I don't think I will ever be able to he bit this back and swallowed.

"Teach me" he finally meowed impatiently. "I can't exactly fight if my mentor does't teach" there was a challenging edge to his tone, but his eyes were narrowed and his paws were digging into the clay baked mud beneath the water surface.

[Cloudbat]

Loonstep merely raised a white eyebrow and smiled slightly at the young tom. Not a friendly smile. A smile that said 'you have many kinds of hell to go through before I give you a break'.

"Mmhm, and I'm not sure when you last turned into a whiner but it wasn't on my watch, and it isn't going to be. I'm not giving you a break until you've dang well earned it."

However, it's true that I need to give him more instructions, admitted the warrior to himself.

"Fair point. First off, don't use water as an attack. It both wastes your strength and won't do much to a trained fighter. You can utilize it as a defense, however. You can spit water into your enemy's eyes, dive beneath it for a surprise attack, hide your scent with it...there are myriad uses for it that don't even involve combat.

The problem with fighting in water, however, is that there are differing depths and current strengths and strategy alters in each scenario. I certainly don't expect you to be able to deal with those right away; no cat could. I do expect you to work your way up, however. From now on this is as much of a part of your training as your land skills are."

He paused to give Elmpaw time to take in what he'd said.

"So in a basic setting like this, what do you think is the best way to attack your opponent? It doesn't have to be fancy or complicated, just give me an approach you would use and we can work with it." meowed the PineClan tom calmly.

To pass the time while his apprentice thought, he counted the bubbles on the surface of the rushing water as they passed by. He'd become accustomed to the cold and barely noticed it except when his paws shifted slightly in the gritty mud and bits of twig that made up the riverbank.