Don't fear, my dear [private] for I am here. G

[Cloud of Diamonds]

The long-furred tabby smiled despite the uncomfortable warmth. She was training her apprentice today. Her little gift from StarClan. Just like her kits. They were doing so well, too! Falconpaw was getting stronger (when he was grown, she was sure he would look just like his father in build) and Cinderpaw was being mentored by Miststar herself! It was all quite wonderful.

As she padded to the middle of the stony walls, she turned and sat down, her fluffy tail in front of her brown-furred paws.

"All right, dear, are you settled down? Good. Before I teach you any specific moves, we're going to do some warm-up exercises. These might seem boring, but they're vitally important. And I want to teach you everything so you can pass your faith test, because I know you can, on your first try." She smiled. It was true. Small and quiet though the ginger she-cat was, Birchtail was certain of StarClan's blessing in her. She would make her an excellent warrior, one of the best FogClan would ever see.

"Just copy me, dear."

Slowly getting up, Birchtail arched her back and stretched. Then she flexed her front legs, practicing a swipe or two like an apprentice herself. The truth was, she kind of felt like one. After being in the nursery for so long, (well, only three moons) she had felt rather out of shape. She'd gotten better since then, but she still needed practice. However, she could still teach her apprentice.

Then she practiced getting into a jumping position.

"Incidentally, dear, in a battle you should always look around before you jump, otherwise you never know what you'll land on. I know that seems obvious, but you'd be surprised how many warriors forget it. It helps to have a target, but things move so fast in battles that chances are the cat you're aiming for will have moved before you can get to them, so it's best to aim for one who's already fighting one of your Clanmates - they're distracted, and you can aid your Clanmate by finishing them off. Especially with your petite size - it helps put them off their guard - and they'll regret it!"

She smiled, hoping Foxpaw wouldn't take that the wrong way, because she meant it. Big, strong warriors were very good, sure, but fast, small ones were just as useful. And she could train Foxpaw to take full advantage of her size.

[Pyro]

Foxpaw listened intently as Birchtail talked. She found the exercises somewhat silly, but copied the more experienced she-cat all the same...If only because she was glad they were finally training together. She could hardly keep from bouncing, she was so excited. Training with Firepaw was one thing, but training with her actual mentor was a whole other thing entirely. Foxpaw arched her back, enjoying the pleasant feeling that came from stretching. She copied Birchtail's swipes with little trouble, but she couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed.

After all, it wasn't like she'd be able to do any real damage to somecat. Foxpaw copied her mentor once more, getting into the jumping position. She was only half-paying attention though, lost in her thoughts, and her footing was off.

How much use would she ever be in a fight? Any warrior-even apprentice-she met usually mistook her for a kit. To her knowledge, she'd be about as intimidating as a leaf in a fight and just as useless. So why was she bothering to learn fighting skills? Surely it'd be better to focus on something she might actually be able to do with success, like hunting.

"I'm not so sure I'll ever be used in a fight..."

[Cloud of Diamonds]

Genuinely shocked, the long-furred tabby stopped in the middle of the jumping position and fell the the ground with a thump, sending up clouds of dust that were interrupted by her anxiously swinging tail. Surely the little ginger she-cat didn't think such a thing, not here? Oh, StarClan! Had she being teased because of her petite and adorable stature? How cruel! If so, she must put a stop to it at once.

But maybe she just had low confidence. Well, she had to fix that too. But gently, like a mother. Poor thing, perhaps she had never had a loving mother. She would just have to do.

"Dear, of course you're going to be needed in battle! Everyone fights in the big battles. I mean, with luck we won't have any for a while...not that I'm supposed to say such a thing, as a warrior, but I don't want anyone to get hurt, especially my kits, you know, and you." She added, smiling gently.

"Besides, every warrior has advantages and strengths, and different ones are needed for different scenarios. If every warrior were huge and tough but not very fast, why, we would never be able to chase anyone out or stop them from infiltrating the territory. Look at me, for example; I'm not particularly fast or strong, but I'm an excellent climber, I could spy on an enemy patrol from above and they'd never know I'm there. And then I could climb down and track them easily."

She thought for a while, then spoke. "Well, I'd love to show you some of my favorite moves, but is there anything in particular you'd like to learn, Foxpaw?"

[Pyro]

"Yeah...that would be bad..."

Why were there even battles in the first place? What was the point? Why did cats have to get hurt over the petty disputes of leaders and matters as trivial as differing beliefs. She thought to PineClan, the clan FogClan would be most likely to get in a fight with. It was sad that they couldn't see how wonderful StarClan was...but was that really reason enough to hate them? If anything, they should...well...maybe not be pitied. after all, they seemed to be doing just fine. But at the very least they should be treated like every other clan.

The only thing violence was good for was killing prey, and at least what was killed was killed for a greater purpose. The continuation of life.

Foxpaw blinked. She'd never really given such thought to those matters...But something about Birchtail's motherly nature made her want to keep her safe. And to keep Birchtail safe, to keep another mother figure from going away...to keep the mother and fathers of others from going away...violence had to stop. And perhaps the only way it would stop would be if their was a battle and everyone saw just how pointless everything was. She had to prepare for that day and be strong.

"I think I understand now Birchtail." She shook her head. "Let's just continue practicing fighting. I may need it someday..."

[Cloud of Diamonds]

The tabby nodded fondly. Although, she realized, this was only the second or third time she'd been out with Foxpaw. StarClan must be displeased with her - not only because of that, but because she was not doing well with Beaverstripe. She gulped, then calmed herself. She must be a role model for her apprentice.

"Of course, dear. Let's start with a few basic moves: the frontal strike, the frontal blow, the back paw rake, and the basic bite. I'll do them myself and you copy me as best you can."

Taking a deep breath and bending her body from side to side to get warmed up, the black-striped warrior hunched, head pointing up, and quickly swiped, claws out, at an imaginary enemy's head. "Now the frontal blow." She said, already doing the same swipe, but with claws sheathed."

"The back paw rake; this one is tricky to do without something under me..."

As she said this, the amber-eyed she-cat jumped to a standing position, and pretending to swiftly look behind to aim, she lashed out with her back paw, claws sheathed. "Although, dear, it doesn't really matter if your claws are sheathed or not for that one; since you'll mostly be focusing on aim anyway."

"And now the basic bite; this one has countless variations, I'm just going to do my favorite, aiming for an opponent's lower back leg."

Bending into a leaping position, she darted forward, still low to the ground and propelled herself into the imaginary rear end of a cat, fangs closing on the lower half of a nonexistant foe's leg.

"See? I bet you'll learn these in no time."