Worth it.

[Scarecrow]

ravenpaw.

Head down low, close to the soft ground, tail still and stiff trailing behind a blue figure, blue-striped legs were close and spread out above the dirt. With soft and silent paws, a blue feline made her way cautiously through the thorn patch. The feline had tracked the fresh scent of a rabbit, and was nearing her prey every second. Her ears twitched as soft vibrations reached her paws and whiskers, the scent was becoming stronger and was surely fresh. A slight rumble of excitment vibrated through the feline's body.

Blue eyes finally set themselves on a brown large rabbit. It's pelt was stuck to the thorns. As the eyes scanned their surroundings, brown tufts on the thorns became evident, showing the rabbits constant struggle to escape. Returning their attention to the rabbit, the blue feline made her way through the thorn patch nearing it with every step. Her body was casted into the shadow, the only thing that would reveal her prescene was her scent, however what mainly covered her was the smell of pines, and living in the pines since birth, her fur had adopted a rather piny scent. Nevertheless, the rabbit was to focused on escaping, that it didn't notice the nearing predator.

As she was a few lengths away, the blue feline, Ravenpaw dropped her body to the ground. It was her time to strike, making sure her body was loose and not stuck onto any thorns, she pushed herself off the ground wrapping her claws around the rabbit. Biting quickly into its neck, the frantic movement died down.

Turning her body around, Ravenpaw eyed her blue fur on the thorns. Her back was somewhat aching from the thorns scraping her back, either way she got her prize. Making her way out of the thorn bush, Ravenpaw sat her newly caught prey onto the ground outside the patch. Her aching back, was worth it. The rabbit was large, and would make her fourth catch of the day.

[Ezra]

Shadowstar padded through the dense pine forest as she followed her apprentice's scent. She had come out of her den earlier that day to take her apprentice out for a training session only to discover her out of camp. After sniffing around the camp entrance, she had picked up on her apprentice's trail and quickly set off after it. She was surprised at how far in to the forest she had gone. She had better be hunting.

Shadowstar slowed her brisk pace as Ravenpaw's scent suddenly became stronger and was mixed with the fear scent of rabbit. She quickly used her wings to cover her flaming tail and crouched down. The last thing she wanted to do was to scare away potential prey. Shadowstar crept forward until a thorn path came in to view. She spotted Ravenpaw's dark blue pelt and followed her focus to a brown rabbit caught in the thorns. That's what it gets for wandering in to unfamiliar territory.

There was a moment when Shadowstar thought "now" and willed Ravenpaw to make her move. And she did. It was a clean kill and one that made Shadowstar proud. As she rose up, she uncovered the flame on her tail which suddenly illuminated the surrounding area.
"A nice catch, Ravenpaw. Is that your first catch of the day?"

[Scarecrow]

ravenpaw.

Looking up Ravenpaw saw how the surroundings were suddenly illuminated, looking for the source, it took moments for Ravenpaw to realize that it was her mentor. Backtracking a few moments, Ravenpaw recalled words just being spoken. 'Is that your first catch of the day?' Before responding, Ravenpaw made sure to cover her catch before starting out again. It was still early in the day, and she most likely had time to continue hunting or other duties that her mentor might have laid out for her.

"Actually Shadowstar, it might be my fourth. I've been out since pretty early." Glancing back at her kill making sure that it was covered, Ravenpaw made her way toward her mentor and ShadowClan leader. Her eyes glittering in the light that her mentor's tail offered, Ravenpaw returned her gaze back toward her mentor. "What were your plans for today?"

Her paws were itching for some action and movement. The adrenaline from her latest hunt starting to wear off. She wanted to either continue hunting, or possibly getting some sparring in. She hated when she needed to do the smaller duties, cleaning out the dens in camp or fetching things for some of the members, that’s why she often got up early to begin hunting or practicing her movements, in hopes that her mentor won't put her to do any of the boring cleaning duties.

[Ezra]

Shadowstar watched her apprentice as Ravenpaw carefully buried the brown rabbit. When Ravenpaw answered, Shadowstar was a bit surprised that she had managed to catch to so much already. Of course, as she stated, she did head out pretty early. Shadowstar smiled as she thought about the great warrior Ravenpaw would make one day.

Ravenpaw questioned her about the plans for today which make Shadowstar realize that she really hadn't thought about it. Examining her apprentice quickly, she could tell she was anxious to do something beside hunt. And it was cleaning out the elder's den. Shadowstar knew the apprentice loathed such duties which made her angry sometimes because Ravenpaw needed to learn how to respect every aspect of the Clan. Even the most boring tasks. But she was feeling merciful this morning, so she decided that they 'ought to practice some battle moves.

"How about we practice some battle moves? This area by the thorn patch should work just fine. And when we're done, we won't have to backtrack to pick up your catches."
Shadowstar padded to the center of the clearing and looked back at Ravenpaw. She took a second to assess which move and decided on the belly rake.
"Let's practice the belly rake. It's a fairly common move used to knock over pokes who have you pinned down. It won't be much help to you on serpent pokes. Or those with hard shells protecting them. Here, watch."
Shadowstar crouched down and leaped at an invisible foe which she pretended to be pinned down by. She was careful to keep her wings pinned close to her body. Once she was pinned down, she gathered her back legs together and raked it across the foe's belly. She then leaped up on to her feet again.
"It's a simple move, as I said."
She faced Ravenpaw and crouched down.
"Now show me the same way. Pretend there is a ThunderClan warrior trying to steal our kits."

[Scarecrow]

ravenpaw.

At the words that it was a day for practicing, Ravenpaw was careful to restrain her excitement. The only sign that showed that she was happy about the current plans was the constant flicking of her yellow tipped tail, and the glitter of happiness in her eyes. Showing that she had heard Shadowstar, she dipped her tail in a nod, and followed her mentor, heading toward a clearing that was nearby the thorn patch.

Trotting after the black leader, she watched as her mentor was in thought, when Shadowstar did decide to speak, 'Let's practice the belly rake', Ravenpaw tilted her head; she was familiar with the move. Having watched some of the other older apprentices, and even warriors practice it, she had even tried to practice it a few times, however she never really managed to get the move right overall. Gluing her eyes to her mentor, she watched as her mentor went through the proper use of the move and then the steps. Glancing back at her mentor as she finished her display, she mentioned the idea of picturing an image of ThunderClan warriors harming their kits, with a sudden firefliesy voice, Ravenpaw responded with, "I doubt any ThunderClan warrior would even think about stealing a kit. They are just a clan of soft pokes.

Returning her attention back to performing the belly rake, and after reviewing the steps in her head a few times, she sought to repeat the 'belly rake' in the same manner that her mentor had. Crouching low to her ground, she leaped and managed to force her body into a pinned-down position. Bringing her legs close to one another, she made a rake like motion across what she thought would have been her opponent’s belly. Throughout the entire process her tail had been lashing behind her, as she kept her mind focus on instructing her body to react in the proper way.

[Ezra]

Shadowstar smiled as Ravenpaw growled at the mere mention of ThunderClan warriors. ShadowClan had always been a proud Clan, and Shadowstar was glad to see that was still true. She then carefully trained her eyes on her apprentice as she calculated her moves and then went through the motions of the move. Ravenpaw preformed it well, but her tail had grown its own head and was lashing all over the place. Shadowstar supposed it was a move that required little use, if any, of the tail, but it still made the whole thing seem sloppy.

"That was a brilliant try. Perfect almost. Your tail however, could be said less of. Fighting is about keeping every part of your body in control whether you're using it at that moment or not. Try the move again, and this time try to be more aware of what your tail is doing."

Shadowstar flicked her ears and lowered herself in to a sitting position. She thought this was an opportune moment to teach Ravenpaw the control of her body. Why not knock out two birds with one flame?

[Scarecrow]

ravenpaw.

"Fox dung", Ravenpaw hissed. She was so sure that she had complete control of her entire movements, but of course she had forgotten about her tail. Even now she noticed it was lashing out behind her.

Pawing back at her tail, Ravenpaw let loose another growl, and then she pushed herself back into a crouching position and repeated her previous movements. She once again, focused her attention into performing the move, however she made sure to relay some of her attention into keeping her tail, and many of her other movements in complete control.

Once again, leaping for an invisible foe, allowing her body to fall onto her back, Ravenpaw performed the movements required of the belly rake. After scratching of the would-be enemy, Ravenpaw raised her blue body off the ground and shook the dirt excess dirt off, turning toward her mentor her blue eyes along with her body language asked the question, "How did I do?"

This time around, she was sure that she had performed the move to perfection. And believed that she could now easily replicate the move over and over, and apply the same technique in battle. It wouldn't be the first time that she picked up a technique in only a few moments.

[Ezra]

Shadowstar ruffled her wings as she watched Ravenpaw perform the move a second time. This time, her tail was in much better control and the move was perfect. She knew she had made the right decision in taking Ravenpaw as her own apprentice. As she finished the move and looked at Shadowstar, a sly smile spread across Shadowstar's face.
"That was perfect that time. Now let's see how you do for real."

Crouching down, Shadowstar leaped at the apprentice, wings tucked tightly against her body. Of course she wasn't putting her full force in to the move, Ravenpaw was only 14 moons after all, but there were no apprentices close by to practice with. She aimed to knock the blue apprentice off on to her back so that she may practice the move. Shadowstar was careful to keep her paws light. Unlike Ravenpaw, she was unable to sheathe her claws.

[Scarecrow]

ravenpaw.

The only problem she had when sparring, was having to split her mind if only partly. One part performing the movements and techniques, while the other remembering to keep her claws sheathed. Even then, it only took a few moments for Ravenpaw to comprehend her mentor's words, when she felt weight on her shoulders.

Shooting a glare at her mentor, Ravenpaw let her mind run through the required movements quickly, as each step was recalled she tucked her legs close and tight together, remembering to keep her claws sheathed, she moved her paws in a claw-like motion. Once the movement was completed she continued to push off her mentor, knowing that even though she was still young and small compared to her, Shadowstar would comply.

Once again shaking her pelt, with her tail flicking on the ground Ravenpaw turned toward Shadowstar, "So how was that?"

[Ezra]

Shadowstar bounced off of her apprentice as she thoughtfully aimed a few blows at her. She smiled and swished her tail behind her. Her apprentice had reacted quickly and thoughtfully to Shadowstar's sudden attack. However, she had been caught off guard and had hesitated for a moment. This is something an opponent with an intention would take advantage of.
"Very good. Your moves were well placed and would have fought off any attacker. However, I saw your hesitation which is to be expected. With practice, you won't have to think about it as much. It'll come naturally."

Shadowstar stretched out and gave out a yawn. She then turned her gaze towards the sky and noticed it was fairly bright out. She turned her gaze towards her apprentice.
"I think we've practiced long enough. Why don't we hunt a bit and then head back to camp? We can eat when we get back."

Shadowstar lifted her nose in to the air and caught the scent of lizard in the air. Her mouth watered slightly at the thought. However, she thought she'd let Ravenpaw have a go. She crouched down and flicked her tail in the direction of the lizard. From where she was, she could spot it's green body on a log. She was surprised they hadn't scared it off. She looked expectantly at Ravenpaw.