[ it's a brand new world ] (rabbitpaw!)

[Crowzerplorodon]

The snow was actually... melting? Well, not melting really. There was still plenty of it from the horrible storm they had early in Leaf-Bare. It was only a moon off, after all. But there was a rather distinct change in the snow level. She couldn't see the ground yet, but Foxflower not longer felt the snow reach her belly for any more. What a blessing, that always made her so cold and prevented any work from being done! Despite the thick, ginger and white coat she bore, Foxflower was quite receptive to getting cold. Odd. Maybe it was just a mental state? After all, just looking at snow made one feel cold.

Regardless, in light of the brighter weather, Foxflower had decided it was a fantastic day for training. From what she could recall, Rabbitpaw's training had been harshly delayed because of the weather. Especially in fighting, she would assume. The young she-cat surely had plenty of training when it came to hunting the amount of times cats had to go out to find prey. Mayhap she wasn't so lucky when it came to actually catching things, but she had definitely be given a shot! So battle training it was, and Foxflower knew just the spot. A patch of frozen grass under a thick tree, just inside their border. The snow hardly touched that area, and the roots would provide a good obstacle for training around. Yes, it was rather brilliant if she thought so herself. And she did. “Oh Rabbitpaw?” She called out in a sing-song voice, hoping her apprentice had made it this far in the snow.

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[katiehorses75]

A tiny figure slowly trotted through the patches of snow, legs lifting higher than normal in order to have her paws clear the drifts. She was a tiny little thing, so the snow uncomfortably scraped against her belly, soaking her thicker winter coat. Ooh, she hated being wet! The salt-and-pepper hued female twitched her tail angrily, pausing to shake herself off before continuing, not that it did much good. She opened her maw, taking in the scents of the land around her, the familiar one of her mentor, Foxpaw prevalent above all, though she could distinguish some prey scents masked by that. She remembered the fresh kill pile back at the Camp, and idly wondered if she had time to hunt. Then her mentor called for her, and Rabbitpaw regretfully left behind the mouse-scent, bounding in the direction Foxflower's voice had come from, not wanting to keep her mentor waiting.

She wondered what kind of training they'd be doing. Rabbitpaw hoped it would be fighting training, she'd already had plenty of time to learn how to hunt. She was rather good at hunting and tracking, if she said so herself! Due to the cold, the apprentices had all mostly been hunting in order to keep the stocks of fresh-kill high enough to feed everyone. It was a tight squeeze, as it always was in leaf-bare, but there was still plenty for all to eat enough. Far better than the horrible journey they'd made here, when both of her siblings had died of hunger. She'd been lucky to survive. Starclan had definitely been watching over her and her mother.

Rabbitpaw arrived in the clearing, close on the heels of her mentor, bounding over a stray root and skidding slightly in the frozen, icy patch of grass. Her claws came out on a reflex, digging into the ground and halting her skid. She retracted them, sitting keenly before her mentor, green eyes watching the other fervently. I'm here, Foxflower. What will you teach me today? She mewed respectfully, eagerness showing in her bright eyes. Rabbitpaw wanted to learn!

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[Crowzerplorodon]

Foxflower watched with absolute delight as Rabbitpaw slid into the clearing. Oh, how she loved young cats. They were so excitable and always so eager! Though, perhaps it would be a little better if Rabbitpaw wasn't slipping and sliding everywhere! Foxflower giggled, wrapping her bushy tail around herself with a smile. Oh yes, today seemed like it would be a very good day indeed. A little bit of battle training, then hunting on the way home sounding like a perfect way to spend time with her apprentice. Surely Rabbitpaw would enjoy it too? After all, Foxflower was positive that apprentices all wanted to learn, regardless of what they were being taught. Even the ones that seemed bored were truly grateful for the learning experience.

Or so she hoped.

“Well, dear Rabbitpaw, today I was thinking we get some battle training in. It's a touchy subject and I hate to think about it, but tensions are rather tight. Especially with this horrid leaf-bare! We can only hope the snow melts soon and takes with it the tension it brought. But until then it would be best to train your battle skills, yes? We can hunt on the way back as well. Two birds, one stone, or so they say.” The bi-colored she-cat smiled, the shifted into a more battle-ready stance. “So, please show me what you know so far? Come at me any way you wish – claws sheathed of course! We don't use claws in practice.” That would be most unfortunate, she though to herself. With a deep breath she shifted once more, holding her ground in the clearing as she waited for Rabbitpaw to come at her.

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[katiehorses75]

Rabbitpaw attempted to muster her dignity as her mentor giggled at her slip-up, sitting up straight and nonchalantly licking at her paws. She'd meant to do that, totally. Yeah. Rabbitpaw was a very dignified cat, she'd have you know! The she-cat continued grooming herself, a little put out by the fact her mentor had laughed at her. Oh, the shame!

I hope not. I'd like to show those other Clans that Meadowclan is superior! Rabbitpaw's head lifted proudly as she thought of her Clan's strength. Surely there was no other Clan greater than Meadowclan! Just let them put one paw over our borderlines... Her tail twitched eagerly now at the thought of fighting. Oh, how she wanted to get in a fight!

Yes, Foxflower. Rabbitpaw composed herself, mewing her assent at her mentor, crouching into a battle position with her claws sheathed, her form a dark shadow slinking along the ground.

It was then she realized she really hadn't had much battle training, aside from the scraps she'd had with her fellow apprentices. She didn't exactly know what to do here! Rabbitpaw went with instinct, flinging herself at the larger and stronger cat with a furious yowl, aiming to tackle her and knock her off her feet, sheathed paws batting at the other's ears.

Not the most effective strategy when your opponent is twice your size. In all liklihood, Rabbitpaw would find herself pinned by her elder faster than two shakes of a shrew's whisker. Oh, she had a lot to learn.

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