Mentors & Their Apprentices

[Slug]

ooc: S'kay. :3
--x

Smokestripe grinned; flashing his fangs in a devilish manner-- something unlike the usually serious tom. He then promptly sprang; claws sheathed and muzzle opened in a wild yowl-- fangs gleaming in the sun like ivory thorns as he leaped at Sorrelpaw; humor sparkling in his golden eyes.

It was a faulty leap, though; landing besides Sorrelpaw with grace-- or like fluid water, he then wrapped his tail around his paws and purred, eyes curving into upside-down smiles. "Do not get a big-head, now! What would happen if you got cocky?" He didn't wait for an answer.

"You would get killed, that's what." The mirth was long-gone from Smokestripe, a stern look about his face and posture. "Where would I be then, Sorrelpaw-- apprenticeless and, not only that, the guilt would eat at me because I did not train you good enough. So, remember-- do not get cocky, do not get a big-head, nor underestimate your enemy: it would prove quite fatal indeed." Smokestripe cuffed Sorrelpaw affectionately across her ear, whiskers quivering with the now reacquired amusement.

"But for now, we train!" He stated, moving back a few paces from Sorrelpaw. "This time we shall practice our skills with eachother, little one..." Smokestripe's ears flattened and his lip curled up, but it wasn't in a threatening manner.

"Fight me and do not stop fighting, Sorrelpaw! Use your knowledge of energy and battle!" He crouched low to the ground, tail swishing behind him. "Let us see how good a brawler you really are."

/long, lame, and babbling.

[Kiddo [le pwnsome]]

Sorrelpaw nodded solemnly, sobered by Smokestipe's words.

She nodded again, and tried to focuse her energies once more. But most of her frustration had flooded away, or had been "burnt" as her mentor put it. All she could summon was a small spark, and though it did not fade quickly, was not very powerful.

But she had no choice, so she launched herself forward, feigning towards his right shoulder, but planning to roll sideways and around to his flanks. She hoped he wouldn't see her half-formed plan as it blazed in her eyes.

[Slug]

Smokestripe twitched his right shoulder away automatically; though was caught off guard as Sorrelpaw rolled sideways and hit his flank-- nearly sending the tom face-first to the ground. Again.

Twisting about on his hind legs like a drunk dancer, he twirled and gave Sorrelpaw a light cuff on her ear, then promptly lashing out at her head; claws sheathed. Then he suddenly pulled back-- a faulty hit-- and his left leg shot out and went straight for Sorrelpaw's legs; hoping to kick her off balance.

[Kiddo [le pwnsome]]

Sorrelpaw stumbled as a grey blur swiped at her legs, kicking her forelegs. She slipped on the sandy group, one leg going right, two left, and one not moving at all. She was splayed on the ground. The small spark flared a bit, and she rolled back to her feet, staggering as she did so. Her fur was fluffed up now, sand stuck between her claws and in her pelt. She was decidedly uncomfortable, and would have gladly sat down and groomed herself, but she had training to do, so she lashed out with a paw, high to low, claws sheathed.

[Slug]

Smokestripe smacked the paw away; or tried to, at least-- he missed, and it ended up getting sucker-swiped in the gut; he let a oof out, but ignored the throbing smart on his abdomen and lounged at Sorrelpaw-- only to land beside her and once again kick out his leg at Sorrelpaw's stance.

Promptly, he pulled back again-- another feinged hit as he, with all his weight-- to crush Sorrelpaw with his larger size; looking to pin the apprentice with his heavier build-- tried falling to the side against Sorrelpaw.

A risky move, but Smokestripe could handle whatever consquences would come.

Or so he hoped, anyways....

[Kiddo [le pwnsome]]

Sorrelpaw shifted sideways as he struck down at her legs again, blinked, and the fell again, suprised when his great grey bulk suddenly appeared on top of her. She landed in the sand, nose down, sand filling her mouth, sticking to her tounge, and prickling around her nose. She wriggled, trying to free herself, but he was too heavy, she couldn't find a decent pawhold in the sand, expecially with him sitting on her. She tensed all her muscles, straining them, and managed to lift him maybe a mousetail's thickness, then subsided again with a guph as sand cascaded out of her mouth.

[Slug]

Smokestripe, with a purr of amusement, got off of Sorrelpaw; nudging her side a little. "I apologise, Sorrelpaw; I did not mean for you to "eat the sand", just to pin you." Another nudge, and more purring. "You could have used your small size, though, to dart out of the way; even if I feigned an attack. Focus on my moves, little one, and learn from them-- prepare for them." He tilted his head, crouching down to Sorrelpaw's height.

"It would work well just to dodge your enemy's attacks at first while annaylize the situation and him/her. Do you understand what I mean? You must observe me, Sorrelpaw; tehn strike with energy!" With a rumble his patted Sorrelpaw's flank soothingly with his tail. "Now rise, little one-- we have much more training to do."

[Kiddo [le pwnsome]]

Sorrelpaw nodded as she stood again, spitting as much sand out as she could, she was covered in the stuff now. Her fur was sticking out at odd angles, encrusted with the clumped sand, she could have changed her name to Sandpaw, there was more of it than her.

She shook herself a little, and some of the tan powder fell away. Not much, but enough for her to move easily. She was ready now.

[Slug]

Narrowing his eyes in concentration, Smokestripe striked; paw a blurr of gray, black, and silver as he lashed out at Sorrelpaw; claws sheathed. It was a fault, though, and Smokestripe pulled back, took a few steps back, then lunged at her-- another fault, though, so he pulled back and went at her again-- but missed purposely and once again pulled back.

"Understand? Find my rythm, Sorrelpaw!"

With a small, starting leap, Smokestripe ran at Sorrelpaw full speed, ears back and nostrals flarring-- until promptly he skidded to a hault, spraying sand everywhere-- the air, the trees, Sorrelpaw-- and he started to purr, loudly then ever before as he saw not only did he cover every inch of Sorrelpaw with sand, but created a dustcloud as well.

He used that to his advantage and leaped into the drifting cloud; purring that of a monster of the paths, it was so loud. Sorrelpaw was now not the only one blinded, but Smokestripe as well as he lingered in the brown darkness of the Dust cloud.

"You must also expect the unexpected, little one." Smokestripe's voice rang out. "Now focus and feel for my energy." The purring had stopped, and all was quiet-- save for a soft whisper.

"Can you find me?"

/lame, lame, lame, la-- *shot'd*

[Kiddo [le pwnsome]]

Sorrelpaw coughed in the cloud of dust, then closed her mouth to keep as much out as she could. She couldn't pick his scent out, all reeked of dust and sand. There were traces of him, recent, but she couldn't tell where he was, not by smell anyway.

Her ears strained, all was silent. She could only hear her own breathing, and in the back of her ears, way down inside her, she could hear, or feel really, her heart.

Hesitantly, she took a step forward, paws sinking into the sand.

Nothing.

She took another step, trying to stretch her senses farther. Something tingled on her spine. She couldn't see him, hear him, or smell him. But she felt something, maybe it was him, maybe it was just her immagination, but she turned her head sharply to the left.

The sensation disappeared.

She turned to the right, something tickled inside her head. It was like sleeping in the apprentices den with only one other cat. You couldn't feel them, but you could almost feel them next to you. She stepped forward again, even if she came up right next to her mentor, she could easily pass him. So she went slowly, carefully, straining for any sound, any scent, any sign of her mentor's presence.