Time to Train [OPEN]

[VineStar12]

Type: Battle Training
Who: Any Westclan cat who wishes to join
Required: VIPERPAW, WILLOWLEAF

Westclan Warrior

The silver-shaded she-cat pads into camp, her intimidating gray eyes looking for her apprentice, Viperpaw. It was recently declared by Scarletstar that this was to be Willowleaf's first apprentice. She was a bit unhappy about this, Viperpaw was a wild one. But, unlike most of the other cats, she clearly respected the apprentice, even though she was a halfblood cat. At least she wasn't a pure rogue, like their new leader, Scarletstar. The warrior picks up a mouse and delivers it to the elders.

Willowleaf makes her way to the apprentices den, stepping in quietly, the soft fur on her paws silencing her steps. She prods her apprentice impatiently. "Wake up, Viperpaw! We're battle training today!" she growls quietly, so the other apprentices wouldn't wake up. The she-cat didn't feel like handling more than one apprentice at the moment, unless another warrior came along.

(Just woke up.)

[Durango]

[bg=2B2821][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellpadding,0,true][atrb=width,400,true] viperpaw Viperpaw was sound asleep when she heard her new mentor growl at her. She snarled to herself, displeased that she had to go training. I'm almost a warrior, she thought. I shouldn't have to train anymore. She opened her amber eyes slightly and looked over at Willowleaf. She grumbled. She supposed she'd just have to train, even if all it meant was that she would get to show her new mentor just how good she was at everything. This was one cat she was going to make sure didn't tease her for her halfClan heritage. She slowly started to get up. "Fine, fine," she mumbled. Battle training, easy, she thought to herself. Standing in front of Willowleaf with her paws planted firmly on the ground now, she tilted her head. "Are we going to train here in camp, or are we going to go out into the swamp?" she asked. She would rather be sleeping in. She'd been spending a lot of time having adventures recently, and it was making her tired.

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[VineStar12]

Westclan Warrior

The warrior stifles a hiss of annoyance. This apprentice obviously seemed to think she was good enough at battle training, but Willowleaf would definitely show her how wrong she actually is. She had watched the rowdy she-cat during some trainings, she was even an apprentice with her a few moons ago! But, one thing Viperpaw did not yet master was ambushing. Extreme mastery of stealth, ambushes, and brutal attack was this warrior's specialty, and the half-blood cat would make a great student for Willowleaf to teach to her tactics, if Viperpaw even cooperated at all.

"We'll be just right outside of camp, but we might eventually move to the swamp. Today, the subject is stealth, ambushing, and close-up combat. I will teach you my basic tactics, and, if I think you're ready, the more advanced ones." the silver-shaded she-cats purrs, a mischievous glint in her gray eyes. Her tail flicks as she strides gracefully out of camp, a signal for the apprentice to follow her. The extra fur between her paw pads silenced Willowleaf's pawsteps, her ears pricked, listening to the sweet sounds of the swamp that was apart of Westclan territory. Seeing that her apprentice was still far behind, the warrior quickly climbs up a tree, using her tail to sweep away her prints. She waited completely still on a branch, muscles tensed. When Viperpaw would walk underneath the branch, the she-cat would drop, claws sheathed, and attempt at bowling over the apprentice.

[Durango]

[bg=2B2821][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellpadding,0,true][atrb=width,400,true] viperpaw Viperpaw gazed through unwavering amber eyes. She stretched her body, extending one limp and then another until she felt satisfied with the way she felt. She had been a little stiff from her exploring and adventures. She wasn't thrilled about training, but nonetheless she followed Willowleaf. She was barely listening when Willowleaf explained what they were going to be doing. She had it in her head that she would already know exactly what to do. She walked outside the camp, and was puzzled when she didn't see her mentor anymore. "Well, great, I can just go back to sleep now," she muttered. Still, she took a few steps forward, wondering what had happened to Willowleaf.

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[VineStar12]

Westclan Warrior

The warrior holds her tongue to keep from purring with amusement. She leaned forward on her branch, and dropped. If she calculated correctly, she would land squarely on the apprentice's shoulder and then use the force to jump off. If all went to plan, Viperpaw should be at least stumbling to regain balance, or if she overdid it, bowled over the younger she-cat. Willowleaf would then purr and sit off to the side, her eyes still holding that mischievous glint.

"You know, it would've been easier to just scent me. Although, unaware cats, like you, are easy to fall for even the easiet of my tricks." Willowleaf purrs, a happy tint in her eyes showing her amusement. "Even if you took the time to follow my scent trail, I would've gotten ya anyways. We may live in the swamp, but always look up the trees. There might be a little surprise waiting there." The silver-shaded she-cat's voice was full of pleasure, happy for herself that she still had it. She had been sitting around and doing nothing at all lately! This was probably the only upper side to training Viperpaw.

[Durango]

[bg=2B2821][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellpadding,0,true][atrb=width,400,true] viperpaw Unexpectedly, Viperpaw found herself squished beneath Willowleaf. She let out a hiss, looking around with her fur bristling. Her shoulder ached, and her amber eyes were narrowed with fury. She scrambled to her paws, whirling around to see her mentor sitting there with a certain glint in her eyes. "You could have squished me!" she hissed, implying that Willowleaf was heavier than she was. Viperpaw certainly didn't appreciate being teased afterwards, and her claws dug into the ground in irritation. "Stupid new mentor," she grumbled under her breath. "Ha, you just wait until we get into battle training, and I'll show you what for." Her eyes glinted. She sat down, her ruffled fur still standing on end. If she wasn't as chunky as she was, she might have been a little more sore, but as it was she had only been mildly bruised by Willowleaf's landing. "What kind of cats jump out of trees, anyway?" she growled. "We're not squirrels." Viperpaw huffily looked away, her ears hot with the shame of not being able to see Willowleaf's ambush coming.

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[VineStar12]

Westclan Warrior

It took all her willpower to not laugh even more at Viperpaw's reaction. This was priceless! Willowleaf smiles, her opaque grey eyes quickly turning unreadable. Her past suddenly came back and hit her in the face, her expression turning blank. Why in Starclan did this need to be brought up? Viperpaw was an apprentice at the time, she knows what happened! When Whisperclaw revealed his whole, evil scheme to the clan, and practically the silver-shaded she-cat's life crumbled. She hissed menacingly and lashed her tail, a scowl on her face as she got up and walked away, an obvious sign of irritation, but that the other cat needed to follow.

"Listen here, Viperpaw, she begins, completely ignoring the younger she-cat's question, "You may almost be a warrior, but you still have a lot to learn. We may not be Southclan cats, but we need to be able to fight well on other terrain. I may be the only cat in our entire clan to have such an extended knowledge of ambushing attacks and special tactics, and you need to be cooperative to learn them. If you do well, our clanmates will praise you for your help in spying, if you do best at stealth, battle, if you do best at close combat, or for raids of the other Clans, ambushing trespassers, and other things, if you do best at that. If you're like me, then, well, you'll be a fighting machine." Willowleaf meows calmly, although her gaze still held some kind of fury in them. Viperpaw may have forgotten about her past, but it always unsettled her when it was brought up. The secret she's been hiding made her feel... Horrible.

(I'm PMing Durango about her history so feel free to look it up in her application after I replace the WIP history with her real one. Seeing as Viperpaw is only, about, 7 moons younger, she should remember.)

[Durango]

[bg=2B2821][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellpadding,0,true][atrb=width,400,true] viperpaw Viperpaw gave herself a few quick licks as she half-listened to what Willowleaf had to say to her. She couldn't stand still having to train. She wanted to be a warrior, she was old enough. Her blood was practically boiling from the humiliation of defeat, still. She could see irritation slowly creeping up on Willowleaf. She wondered why. Her lecture was drawn-out, and it bored Viperpaw. "I don't want to be a machine," she muttered. "I just want to be a warrior." Her words held a bitter tinge to them, unknowingly spitting on what Willowleaf had been raised to be. Her amber eyes flashed. "But fine, if you really care about jumping out of trees so much, teach me how to do it." Respect was, more often than not, a foreign word to Viperpaw. Sometimes, because of her past, she didn't feel as though she owed anything to cats in her Clan. There were those who had mistrusted her mother, Damage, and even now distrusted her and her siblings, though they'd never been unfaithful to their Clan.

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[VineStar12]

Westclan Warrior

This bratty kit was getting on her nerves! Her gaze hardened and her fur still bristled, who said she had to get along with her apprentice? "Listen up, ya snotty little kit!" Willowleaf snarls, her eyes beyond fury, "I hate this as much as you do, but it is my job. So far, you have proved yourself to be a self-centered, bratty kit who would be completely worthless to Westclan! All you do is get into trouble! I don't even care if you're half rogue, but I will if you don't prove your wroth and loyalty to this clan soon. Everyone knows that I hate rogues and kittypets. But what I hate worse is disrespectful, bratty kits like yourself." the silver-sahded she-cat barked at Viperpaw, taking menacing steps forward slowly. Her stance was threatening, her white teeth bared. Right now, she felt triumph in the fact that she had humiliated the tabby cat. She desevred it! "And I have full authority into recommending the delay to your warrior ceremony to Scarletstar. She wants worthy, loyal cats who will listen to her orders. There is no reason for her to disagree." the warrior's words came out in a growl as she stopped her advances, sharply turning her back to the apprentice. Her tail flicked for her to follow as she stalked off, silver paws landing silently onto the swampy ground. She had to find a tree that was ideal for a beginner.

[Durango]

[bg=2B2821][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellpadding,0,true][atrb=width,400,true] viperpaw The brown tabby she-cat's eyes grew wide, and her fur began to bristle. Her claws unsheathed instinctively, and she could feel anger welling up inside of her. "I don't care if you are my mentor," she growled. "I'll claw your ears off!" It was well known that Viperpaw had a temper. Her name suited her quite well. "Oh, yeah, I know that you hate rogues and kittypets." Her mind had been completely blurred by anger and those feelings of hatred welling up inside of her again. Worthless, worthless, worthless. That's all I ever hear! she thought. "I'm not a stranger to having my worth questioned, Willowleaf," she spat angrily. "Why should I respect you if you don't respect me? It's cats like you that I hate." Whether her anger was properly placed or not, she didn't know. She just knew that she was sick to death of being called worthless. "I may be the daughter of a rogue, but I'm also the daughter of a deputy!" yowled Viperpaw. She looked down, chuckling a little to herself when Scarletstar was mentioned. With another glint in her amber eyes, she looked up. "Oh, Scarletstar," she murmured. "I wonder if she knows how much you hate rogues, too?" Viperpaw smirked, referring to Scarletstar's non-Clan background. Viperpaw might be the daughter of a rogue and a NorthClan cat, living in WestClan since birth, but Scarletstar hadn't even set paw in Clan grounds until maybe just a moon earlier. She watched Willowleaf walk out towards the trees, and Viperpaw was beginning to contemplate something she hadn't dare contemplate before: murder. She shook her head. No, no, Viperpaw, you want to be a loyal Clan cat, not a killer, she argued with herself. But that doesn't mean you can't show Willowleaf who's boss! Viperpaw often times didn't know when she was taking things too far. With her body in crouch, she stalked up behind Willowleaf. She was only vaguely aware that she was outmatched, but she was too blinded by anger to consider the fact that Willowleaf was a far more experienced fighter than she as. Viperpaw smirked again. You want a fighting machine? she thought. I'll be your fighting machine. With a yowl that was unmistakably a battle cry, Viperpaw launched herself into the air with the intention of sinking her claws into Willowleaf while her back was turned.

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[VineStar12]

Westclan Warrior

"Ha! I bet you'll never be able to claw my ears off!"[/color] she scoffs coldly over her shoulder, continuing to stalk forward as she tried to focus on finding a good tree. Her ears flicked backwards as her apprentice had gone silent. Willowleaf heard pawsteps turn into a full sprint and turned just as Viperpaw let out a battle cry. She felt claws connect with her flank and she yowled in anger. The silver-shaded she-cat lunged forward in attempt to sink her teeth into the tabby's shoulder. If she succeeded, she would shake her head back and forth violently to hurt the muscles inside and shake up her apprentice. Afterwards, she'd quickly sprint several tail-lengths away and turn back, fury and disrespect in her opaque eyes. "How dare you attack your own mentor!" she roars, her lips pulled back in a snarl, "You are hopeless! You always act like a kit! GROW UP VIPERPAW! You do not attack your clanmates! If you were to injury me any further the clan would have one less warrior to provide for it, feed the kits and queens, and protect it! This will be told to Scarletstar. Even if she knows whether I like her or not, she's smart enough to know that no apprentice should be made a warrior if they allow their temper to overcome then and attack a clanmate! What if you got angry and attacked a kit?! You could kill it! Your clanmates will never trust you if you're always attacking them in your anger!" the warrior barks, and then comes closer, "You will never earn my respect until you get over this temper and attitude of yours. I don't attack my clanmates. If you keep acting like this, you will be completely worthless to the clan. And, if you don't fix your problem, you'll end up killing someone." she growls in Viperpaw's face, her harsh eyes locked with hers. Willowleaf felt the sharp pain in her flank, and could feel the blood trickling out of her gash. She'd have to see Ravenspirit, but that could wait. This bratty apprentice needed dealt with, and she was determined to fix it.

[Durango]

[bg=2B2821][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellpadding,0,true][atrb=width,400,true] viperpaw Even though Viperpaw had landed a blow on Willowleaf, she was unprepared for Willowleaf's counter-attack. She felt teeth sink into her shoulder, and she was shook back and forth. She hit the ground, blood seeping out of her wound. Fury flashed in her eyes. She could hear Willowleaf's lecture echoing, only serving to anger her even further. Deep down inside she knew that her temper had taken her too far, but she couldn't bring herself to back down. Moons upon moons of cats doubting her because of her lineage, and not ever fully accepting her into the Clan were starting to take their toll on her. She'd tried to turn it around to become the antagonist instead of the oppressed, but it didn't stop a lot of them -- just the older warriors, mostly -- from dragging her down. "Maybe I really don't belong in this Clan," she spat viciously. "Maybe everyone was right the entire time." She winced as her muscles tensed, causing pain in her shoulder where the bite wound was. As much as she regretting to have to say those words, she knew they were true. She would never be accepted as a full member of WestClan, her past was too riddled in confusion and lies. Even now that they had a rogue for a leader, she didn't think that she could even learn to work well with them. Her mother was Damage, a rogue, thought to be the mate of the previous leader: Lonestar. Unknown to the Clan (though suspected by many), and even to Viperpaw, Damage was killed by Lonestar out of jealousy when it was revealed that the father of her kits was not him, but a NorthClan warrior. So Viperpaw had no parents, and she'd never know that NorthClan warrior. She had no WestClan blood in her veins. "What would you know of anything? You've never experienced what I've experienced. You're a strong, loyal WestClan cat with nothing but WestClan blood in your veins; and with WestClan ancestors watching over you," Viperpaw sighed, her voice beginning to waver with weariness. "I've never had that luxury." She was beginning to doubt even wanting to be a warrior of WestClan now. There was no doubt in her mind, however, that her ceremony would be delayed anyway over this altercation. She just couldn't halt her temper sometimes. Maybe I should just leave this place, she thought. Maybe somewhere else I'll find cats who accept me, no matter what.

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[VineStar12]

Westclan Warrior

Willowleaf did not drop her hostile stance, she wasn't about to back down from an apprentice! Her fur lay flat as she listened, and her gaze softened a bit, but that was all. She was known for her brutal personality and sharp tongue, not for sympathy and kindness. Then, something inside the warrior snapped. "Luxury?" she shrieked in shock, "What luxury do I have, Viperpaw? My whole life has been a lie! My father never loved me or my mother, you know that! He killed her! He killed my only brother! I was nothing but a pawn in his mouse-brained plan!" she growled, not about to let this go. Maybe the tabby didn't remember as well, but the silver-shaded she-cat didn't care. "I don't have that luxury you speak of. I have to live with the guilt of a horrible thing I've done. Do you remember the day that I came back to camp, with the news of Whisperclaw's death? I admit, I wasn't loyal that day. I harmed a clanmate, my own kin, my own father. I killed Whisperclaw." the words rushed out, her eyes locked with Viperpaw's. ou could almost see the whole scene replaying in her mind. Leading her father out for a moonlit walk - just as he had done to kill her mother, Moonfoot - talked, then the strike. Blood, the dying scream of the tom, the limp corpse she had to drag away from the crime scene. Her own pain when she raked her own reinforced claws across her flank to show "proof' of the so-called "fox attack". The pink scars still stood out on her flank, and she turned to show the younger she-cat. "Nobody would've believed if he died and I was unscathed. So, I raked my own claws across my flank. My ancestors probably think I'm disloyal and a murderer, but that was only revenge. Whisperclaw didn't deserve to be alive any longer. That's how I know what will happen if you keep acting like you did. Because it's what I did, when I didn't fix my own problem. I will no longer be pushed around by anyone else! I'm sick of being a pawn in this game we call life! That's why you've noticed that I never talked to any of the other apprentices when we were still apprentices. He beat me if I showed weakness. You, Viperpaw, have the luxury. You didn't kill the last of your kin. You still have littermates. Me, I'm alone in this world. I will never tolerate being pushed around and betrayed again!" she snarls, a bit angry that the apprentice thought she was unlucky. Willowleaf's gaze softened into sadness, her once unreadable eyes completely vulnerable to the distress and guilt she felt.

[Durango]

[bg=2B2821][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellpadding,0,true][atrb=width,400,true] viperpaw What Willowleaf said sparked hints of memories in Viperpaw's mind. Yes, she could vaguely remember some kind of confrontation. But with Willowleaf's confession came a spark of arrogance to Viperpaw. She realized that she now had the upper paw, or so she assumed. "So I am a far more loyal warrior than you, Willowleaf?" she purred in sardonic delight. "I, a half-rogue cat, am indeed more loyal than a WestClan-born warrior?" Her tone was mocking, and she was haughty for being younger, and an apprentice at that. But Viperpaw was known for her temper, tone, and her bitterness. Mocking was nothing new to her. "I may fight, but at least I've never killed anyone," she sneered. "Perhaps I was wrong, and your ancestors simply shun you instead of watching over you." She rolled her shoulders in a shrug, flicking her tail as well. You think your life is such a drag; I never even knew my parents, she added in her mind, bitterly. What a game: whose life is worse? She stopped for a moment, noticing a sad look in Willowleaf's eyes. She observed the scars. She felt a flash of sympathy, but it faded quickly, dampened by the anger she still felt. "Disregarding sordid pasts, I won't let you get in the way of my becoming a warrior," Viperpaw hissed. She gazed at Willowleaf with intensity. "Now that I know you're a murderer, why should I trust you?" If one thing was certain, it was that she wasn't about to let Willowleaf ruin her upcoming warrior ceremony, and was prepared to stop her one way or another.

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[VineStar12]

Westclan Warrior

Sadness was then replaced by anger. She was stabbed in the back by her own apprentice! Enraged, she pounced onto the tabby, her paws on each shoulder, using all her weight to pin Viperpaw down. "Listen up and listen good, Viperpaw. You will never become a warrior when you still act like a brat. You're still worthless to the clan until you fix your problem. Honestly, I feel bad for your sisters," she hissed into her face, lips pulled back into a snar, "You should trust me because I'm trying to fix your problem! Why are you so blind, Viperpaw?! What's wrong with you?! You will be the murderer one day, and then your pathetic rogue ancestors will shun you! And, to get this clear, I'm only doing this for the Clan. As of now, you're nothing to me. Just a potiental threat to my homeclan. I don't even know why you're here. You don't even have any Westclan blood." Willowleaf growls, jumping back off her apprentice. The look in her eyes were murderous, determined. It was true, she'd let nothing hurt her clan. Even if it meant eliminating her first apprentice. Then, her mind went a little blank.

"With claws as sharp as mine, and skills as mad as mine, you don't stand a chance. Surrender now, or face termination." the threat sounded, her voice low and raspy, as if it weren't hers. She had revealed her most deepest secret to this brat, and she stabbed her in the back. No doubt she'd tell all of Westclan. They probably wouldn't believe her, but it made Willowleaf mad. She'd been betrayed again. And she was going to get revenge. She almost smiled at the thought of it; she'd have Viperpaw held back as an apprentice until she straightened up. Even a rogue like Scarletstar was smart enough to see that this apprentice clearly didn't deserve title of warrior.