Private Thread A Beginners Guide on How to Not Get Hurt

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧

Aspenberry watched as he strayed from her ever so slightly, clearing wanting a taste of freedom. 'If you want, we can go out for an explore tomorrow, you lead the way and I'll stray behind just in case you go somewhere you shouldn't. Well, as long as the weather is good that is.' While Fallpaw could go out on his own now, her fur still prickled with anxiety at the thought. Independence was a key part of growing up, but she still wanted to keep an eye on him for a little longer before she sent him out on his own. She noticed the way his ears pricked and gave him a little smile, signaling with her tail that they would stop here. 

Choosing not to answer his question, Aspenberry turned to face Fallpaw, a small smile on her face. 'What do you think the most sensitive parts of your body are? Or the bits that would hurt the most if someone scratched them?' Her soft green eyes looked towards Fallpaw as she wondered what his instinct would be like. 

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧

Aspenberry watched as he thought, curiously gazing at her apprentice, wondering what was going through his mind. 'Mhm, your belly and throat are parts that you want to protect very well, but there are other places too. Think about your eyes, if someone manages to get a scratch over them you won't be able to see anymore, leaving you open for another attack. Your spine is a very dangerous spot too, like how me hunt our prey, if something bites your spine close to your head, you might not be able to walk anymore.' She hoped she hadn't said too much, not wanting to overload the young tom with information and new fears, but it was important to be aware of such spots.

Considering whether she should do what she had planned next, Aspenberry decided that it was worth showing him just how quickly someone could move and deal a lethal blow, teaching him just how important defense was. With a swift, flawless movement Aspenberry darted to the side before aiming a swipe at Fallpaw's face with sheathed claws. Like she had planned, her swipe just missed his face, just brushing his whiskers softly. 'Someday you might come across a cat who can move faster than that, with double the power. I want to teach you how to protect yourself from those sorts of blows. Strikes towards the face are a little higher than areas such as the throat and chest, so instead of just trying to push them away, you want to keep yourself grounded, just lifting up a single paw to strike your opponent's paw away. Sometimes they might be much stronger, and they will still hit you, but if you get your block in time, it should only hit your chest. A scratch to the face could leave you injured forever, where as a scratch to the chest will hopefully only sting a little.'

Aspenberry indicated for him to aim a swipe at her face so she could show him exactly what the block looked like, before telling him the she was going to swipe again so he could try block her. 

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧

Aspenberry hoped that her abrupt move hadn't startled Fallpaw too much, so she gave him a reassuring look, hoping to tell him that his reaction was exactly what she had expected, and it was likely how she might have reacted too.

Despite Fallpaw's best efforts Aspenberry could see the kit-like instincts try take over, stifling an amused purr. Training like this was the perfect way to nurture those kit like tendencies while still teaching him ways to defend himself if in need. As her apprentice raised his paw like she had asked, Aspenberry lifted her own, matching his strike. Her other three paws were firmly planted on the ground. Instead of just batting his paw away instantly, she slower he move down, showing Fallpaw exactly how she would move his paw away. With a firm, slow motion swipe she pushed Fallpaw's arm towards the ground, his paw not even brushing the tips of Aspenberry's face. 'Does that make sense? Intead of just pushing you away in a panic, I directly push your swiping paw to the ground. If you are quick enough, after blocking like that you can use your other paw to do your own strike, but that's for another day. I can either demonstrate again, or you can have a try. What would you prefer?'

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧

At this stage, Aspenberry wasn't striking with a large amount of power, wanting Fallpaw to first get used to the motion of blocking. He performed the motion well, doing as she had told, guiding her paw towards the floor. 'I think you have got the basic motion down. This time, I am going to strike much harder, at your face too. If your block misses, it will just feel like a hard whack, I promise I won't hurt you. Your aim is to redirect my move to the floor.'

Lifting up her paw, Aspenberry let it hover for a moment before randomly striking down at Fallpaw's face. She had faith in Fallpaw. It was a simple block, one that Aspenberry knew the apprentice was completely capable of. 

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧

Aspenberry's eyes gleamed as she saw that Fallpaw seemed to be enjoying himself. It was like a game of sorts, a silly slapping game that was educational nonetheless. At her strike, Fallpaw seemed to snap into action, moving her paw away from his face with ease. 'Perfect! Would you want to start getting into a little more action? I'm going to start circling you, pretend I'm an enemy of sorts. I'll strike out at a random time, if I aim high, whack my paw away, if I am for the throat and chest area, that's when you push me away with both your front paws, keeping your back ones steady in the ground.'

She began to circle around the seal point apprentice, a mischievous smile forming at the corners of her mouth. Her tail flicked from side to side as she made her rounds, keeping steady eye contact with Fallpaw before she darted forward, aiming a blow at his chest. 

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧

She felt Fallpaw's arm's reach out and push her away as she tried to strike forward. It was strong, but she knew he could be stronger. She noticed the way his whole body lurched forward, almost sending his back paws into the air too. 'Perfect, just watch those back paws, although I think you already noticed that.' He landed a little clumsily, but that was to be expected. His block had been exactly what she had wanted, so she gave him an encouraging smile.

His enthusiasm was something Aspenberry was grateful for. He clearly wanted to learn and improve. She began her circling again, this time striking very soon again. She zig zagged forward, her paw reaching out towards Fallpaw's nose. Realistically it would be a terrible spot to aim for in battle as her paw could land in the jaws of another, but for now she just needed to aim for broader areas over specific ones.