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Post by gingerluna on Apr 6, 2019 16:08:24 GMT -6
Training was one of Amberhaze's favorite ways to spend a day. Even before she'd gotten her first apprentice, she'd found herself making an effort to help out, especially when her kits were in training. But now they were promoted, and her only tie to the den was Fenpaw. And now the she-cat was out on patrol, Shadowheart was sleeping in, Redflame was recovering from his fight with Raggedstar in the medicine cat's den (she'd visited him twice today already, and she was quite sure he was napping), and Peatblossom was out hunting with Rubyspark. She was bored. And so when she saw Lizardpaw lurking around camp, seeming aimless, she approached him.
"Hello!" she said warmly. "What're you up to, young man?"
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Post by niftyshark on Apr 13, 2019 18:05:30 GMT -6
Lizardpaw was restless, and this time it was for a reason. A reason more than his self-doubt, at least--he couldn't find his mentor anywhere. He knew well enough by now that Ryethorn was an extremely free spirit, taken to whims or ideas easily. He wouldn't be surprised if she found something to do, especially now that he was an old apprentice that knew everything that could be taught. He knew he was on the verge of becoming a warrior, and it was more important than ever that he made sure he was ready. He was a little crestfallen, but when Amberhaze approached him, he put on a smile. "I'm trying to figure out what to do," he said, putting his dilemma as neutrally as possible. "Everyone around camp seems busy, and this day is too nice to spend alone."
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Post by gingerluna on Apr 14, 2019 11:56:16 GMT -6
"I think Ryethorn went out," Amberhaze said, recalling watching the she-cat step out of camp earlier that morning. "I'm not sure why, but if you'd like to go out for some training, I'd be happy to take you! I'm a bit bored myself, and I've been kicked out of the medicine cat's den until after sunhigh." She chuffed in amusement, a rising sense of pride growing in her as she looked at the apprentice. "How about I help you practice for your assessment?" she suggested. "I remember mine well enough, and I helped Redflame and Peatblossom prepare for theirs." She'd have to help Fenpaw with it soon, so Lizardpaw would be good practice.
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Post by niftyshark on Apr 20, 2019 20:07:20 GMT -6
Lizardpaw stared at Amberhaze, disbelieving for a moment. “You will?” he asked after a moment, filling with hope. He was at the point where he was expecting to have to go out alone, so the prospect of being with someone excited else excited him. It was even better if it was someone who was familiar with warrior assessments, someone willing to give him a few pointers. “Let’s go then!” He wanted to get out before there was any possibility of her changing her mind. He bee-lined for the camp entrance and squeezed through it, only waiting for her once he was on the other side.
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Post by gingerluna on Apr 23, 2019 21:27:43 GMT -6
Amberhaze's gaze fell warmly upon the apprentice as he chirped a bright reply, and she trotted after him, tail flicking with amusement. She remembered a day when she'd been exactly this enthusiastic towards Marshflower. It was a golden memory, preserved safely away from the violence of her apprenticeship. "Anything you think you need to practice?" she asked, falling instep beside the apprentice as they walked towards the training clearing.
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Post by niftyshark on May 9, 2019 19:59:51 GMT -6
Her question gave him mental pause, and it took him a moment to start thinking. And it took him only half a moment to start overthinking. There were things he knew, but how much did he need work on? How did he decide what he needed practice with? What if he didn't even know what topics he was rusty on? He swallowed thickly, growing aware with every passing moment that he was probably putting too much thought into it. But he couldn't help himself. "Maybe..." Lizardpaw trailed off as he looked at the trees around them. They drew closer to one of the training clearings, and one thing he always needed work on came to mind... his climbing. The thought of it made his heart race and his stomach churn, and in that moment it was the last thing he wanted to do.. "Maybe the jump-and-pin," he said quickly, rushing the words out. It was the first thing that came to his mind that wasn't climbing, and he nodded after he said it. It was suitable since it was an advanced technique, so he would work with what his spontaneity gave him.
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Post by gingerluna on May 10, 2019 11:29:56 GMT -6
Amberhaze sensed his nervousness, slowing as they entered the clearing. "Whatever you think you need," she assured, hoping that once they got into it, she'd be able to settle his nerves. The move in question was tricky, she was surprised he had trouble with it. "Would you like to try the move on me? And then I can give you some pointers?" she asked.
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Post by niftyshark on May 20, 2019 18:34:20 GMT -6
Lizardpaw didn’t speak right away, hoping that it looked like he was thinking. Instead of that, he was just staring slightly to Amberhaze’s right, trying to remind himself how to exactly preform the move. Slowly he nodded in response to her as he placed himself in the right mindset. He wandered over to a nearby tree and looked at the warrior. “I’ll try jumping from here.” He tried to imagine himself completing the move with success. He would bounce off the tree and try to land on her. The brown tom waited until Amberhaze was ready, then he ran at the tree and jumped, twisting so he could push off of it and angle himself towards her, paws outstretched.
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Post by gingerluna on May 21, 2019 8:58:31 GMT -6
Amberhaze knew the point of the exercise wasn't to show him ways to avoid the move being countered. He needed to get it perfect before that. So she didn't react as the apprentice jumped on her, allowing herself to essentially be a crash dummy. She skidded across the ground as Lizardpaw landed, falling beneath his paws. "Good," she said, looking up at him with a smile. "Now want to try it with me fighting back?"
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Post by niftyshark on May 30, 2019 7:55:03 GMT -6
He leaped off immediately and gave her an apologetic look, though he supposed it was part of the training session. At the question he nodded. “Yes, please. Since I assume enemy warriors will be fighting back.” Lizardpaw looked over Amberhaze once more before he meandered back towards his original position. He waited once again until she looked ready, then he ran at the tree again. He jumped, twisting sideways as he did before so he could launch off of it. He once again flew at her, paws extended, ready to knock her off her paws.
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Post by gingerluna on May 31, 2019 20:28:06 GMT -6
"Yes, I'd imagine so," Amberhaze said with a sly smile, getting up and shaking the leaves off her pelt. She stepped up to her position again, watching Lizardpaw prepare and launch himself at her. This time she shot backwards, scrambling to get out of the way.
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Post by niftyshark on Jun 1, 2019 16:41:04 GMT -6
Just as he landed, Amberhaze leaped out of the way. His paws hit the leaves and scattered them, and he pivoted towards her. In the next moment he was aiming for her again, intending to knock her off her paws. Instead, his back paws hooked around a tree root and he tumbled to the ground. Lizardpaw lay there in shock for a long moment—not because he was hurt, but because he wasn’t expecting to still make mistakes like that. He groaned. “Really? Did I really just do that?” His voice dripped with disappointment as he stood up.
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Post by gingerluna on Jun 1, 2019 16:48:36 GMT -6
Amberhaze watched as he fell, rushing over to see if he was alright. "Don't fret," she mewed, glancing over at his paw. "Is it sore? Are you alright?" Accidents happened, and she didn't want Lizardpaw to get upset. "I can't tell you how many times I fell in this same clearing. Just ask Smokefrost." She let out a huff of amusement, hoping a friendly tone would lift his spirits. "It's alright. That's why we practice. Are you up to try again?"
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Post by niftyshark on Jun 1, 2019 17:14:05 GMT -6
He tested his weight on his paws for a moment. Everything felt fine, so he relaxed an iota. He was a little embarrassed that he made such a novice mistake though. What if he was battling an enemy warrior? They wouldn’t see if he was okay, they wouldn’t try to console him. They would capitalize on his mistake and he would suffer for it. Lizardpaw sent Amberhaze a shaky smile, completely unconvinced. “Yes, I suppose I should try it again, huh?” He inched his way back towards his original position, less enthusiastic this time. He ran towards the tree, then sprang off it and towards Amberhaze for the third time.
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Post by gingerluna on Jun 1, 2019 17:16:58 GMT -6
Amberhaze stepped back to her prior position, watching the apprentice as he lunged towards her again. She moved exactly the same, darting out of the way, but this time Lizardpaw adjusted in midflight and pinned her. She was still for a moment before letting out a rumbling purr. "Good," she praised, getting up as he climbed off her. "How about one more time?"
(fin)
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