Teaching Border Tactics

[Birdsong]

Birdpaw nodded again, "Okay, Batflight." She glanced at her paws for a moment, then a look of sudden inspiration crossed her face. "Maybe if you showed me how best to attack a rogue? I'll pretend to be the rogue, and you show me what I should do!" With that she leapt lithely to the other side of the false border-line and looked at her mentor expectantly to begin.

[Jet$tar]

Batflight smiled at her apprentice's enthusiasm, '' Okay, Birdpaw. '' the two-she cats switched places on either side of the fake border, '' Did you just trick me into making this fighting practice? '' she asked jokingly, '' Now since you're smaller than me, I would try and get on top of you. It's all about playing to your strengths and your opponent's weakness. '' Batflight meowed, '' Ready? '' Without using all her strength Batflight made it look like she was aiming a blow at Birdpaw's head but as she swung she brought her paw down and hit the she-cat's paws.

[Birdsong]

Birdpaw saw Batflight's paw move downaward to aim at her own paws just in time and sprang up into the air, spinning so that she'd land on her mentor's shoulders.

[Jet$tar]

Batflight watched as Birdpaw leaped into the air in one switch movement, She's going for my shoulder's... The black she-cat thought to herself a quickly rolled to the left and got back on her paws so Birdpaw would miss her.

[Birdsong]

Birdpaw released a startled hiss as her mentor rolled away at the last second. She tried to twist around to follow her, but that only made her land awkwardly and she fell heavily onto her side, winded. She lay there dazedly for a moment, and vaguely heard Batflight asking her is she was all right. "Yeah, I'm fine," she mewed, pushing herself to her paws. In all honesty, her shoulder ached from slamming it into the ground. Nothing that wouldn't get better with a little rest, though. Or at least that's what she hoped.

[Jet$tar]

Batflight's heart fell to her stomach as she watched Birdpaw fall and land awkwardly on her shoulder. She ran over to her apprentice and stood over her. '' Are you okay? '' Birdpaw didn't reply. '' Are you okay? '' Batflight asked again more urgently and sighed with relief as the small tawny cat replied. The deputy sniffed curiously at Birdpaw's shoulder, '' I'm so sorry Birdpaw! I shouldn't have let this go so far! Lets go back to camp, is it to sore to walk with? ''

[Birdsong]

"No, it's not--" but when she took a step her shoulder wouldn't support her weight and she fell forward and faceplanted in the sand. "Sorry, I slipped," she lied, "But I'm fine, really."

[Jet$tar]

Batflight's face was strained with worry, '' Good thing you're still small, '' she grunted then picked up Birdpaw by the scruff and started caring her toward camp. '' Now don't move or you will hurt it even more. '' she grunted through the tawny fur.

[Birdsong]

Birdpaw squeaked when her mentor hoisted her into the air. "Batflight!" she complained trying to pull free from the firm grip her mentor's teeth had on her scruff. "I'm fine, honest! I can walk back for myself! Put me down! I'm not that tiny! Carry me back and you'll probably throw your neck out! That's the last thing the Clan needs!" She wasn't sure why she was telling her deputy that it would be better for the Clan if she walked back, but she couldn't think of what else to say.

[Jet$tar]

Batflight rolled her eyes and then set Birdpaw down, '' Ok, you try to walk now. '' she told her apprentice.

[Birdsong]

Birdpaw lifted her head high and took a few valiant steps forward, keeping most of her weight on her other three paws. However, when she accidentally leaned forward, her shoulder made a noise, somewhere between a crunch and a crack, and she whimpered, immediately falling into a sitting position to get her leg off the ground. It was throbbing now, and very painfully. She glanced at Batflight before turning to try and walk again. She wasn't going to let her shoulder get the better of her.

[Wolfy//June]

Wolfstar strolled into the clearing to find Batflight training her apprentice. He had to admit, her leg had healed relatively well since the accident and she was back on her duties sooner than Doveheart expected. "Hello," he rumbled," May Goldenpaw and I train here?" Goldenpaw pushed his way through the bracken behind Wolfstar.

[Jet$tar]

Batflight nodded respectfully to Wolfstar, '' I'm sorry Wolfstar but we were just leaving. Birdpaw injured her shoulder pretty badly and we're heading back to camp. '' The black Egyptian mau meowed and then walked toward Birdpaw, '' Nice try, but you are not walking on that. '' She picked up her apprentice by the scruff again and started walking out of the clearing.

[Wolfy//June]

Wolfstar and his apprentice stepped out of the way. "Ok, be careful not to bang her bad shoulder against anything. We don't want it to get any worse. And if she'll be out of training for awhile, help out with other apprentices."

[Goldenblaze]

Goldenpaw nodded respectfully to the deputy, as she started away with her apprentice, careful to keep out of the way. When they were out of sight, he turned to his mentor.

"What will we be going over today, sir?" he asked, tilting his head to the side a bit.