Ask to Join Claws in Formation

"You're a star in my sky!"

⚝──⭒─𖣂.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･𖣂.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･─⭒──⚝

Despite trying to allow herself to enjoy the warmth of the sun on her pelt, it was evident that Cedarpaw was anxious. She always had mixed feelings about combat training after all. While she absolutely loved the adrenaline and thrill that came with sparring, the anxious part of her feared hurting others. She trusted herself to only ever use her skills in self-defence. But despite it, the molly couldn’t seem to shake the feeling. Even if they were completely safe.

When her mentor started to speak, the apprentice looked up at her, her own golden eyes looking into Basilflame’s green ones for the most part as her mentor spoke, eyes occasionally darting away before she would look back at her mentor. The molly mimicked her mentor’s stance, ears taking in the sounds around them as she felt a slight, cool breeze against her pelt, nose not picking up any other scents.

When Basilflame’s muscles relaxed, so did Cedarpaw’s. She nodded slowly as her mentor spoke, trying to relax herself. She wasn’t sure why she was so uptight today. “Blocks… Okay.” she responded blanky, nodding her head slowly. “Um upward block…” She was silent for several heartbeats, trying to figure out what it could look like. But she struggled to have anything coherent come to mind. “Is it like when you’re defending yourself against something from above you?”

I’d rather bear the weight of others than let others carry pain alone.

━✺━🌿━✺━

Basilflame gave a nod to her apprentice, a small nod to keep her encouraged, at least she hoped. "To protect against strikes aimed at your head. That's good." She responded as she kept a steady core before giving her a nod to approach closer. "I will show you how to perform the block, then you can try it yourself." She offer with a soft smile. She'd hate for her apprentice to be ill-prepared, so physical examples and appropriate criticism would be the best course of action, and as much as it made her discouraged, feelings come after survival.

Cedarpaw was easily gaining height on her, but she was still smaller than her mentor. She would have the advantage if she used to high paw block, but she wanted to make Cedarpaw remember that. "You're still growing and you've nearly caught up with me, a block like this will do well for you in a real battle." she emphasized 'real battle' to remind her apprentice lightly about 'soft paws' after all, she didn't want either of them to get injured for something she had suggested.

"Whenever you are ready," Basilflame prompted, giving her form a bit of rigidity, "You may aim a paw strike at my head, any you think would work to stun or disorient me in a real battle." she finished, steadying herself once more, more deliberately to show her apprentice that she was ready whenever she was. Giving a sturdy nod. "Give it your all."

"You're a star in my sky!"

⚝──⭒─𖣂.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･𖣂.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･─⭒──⚝

Cedarpaw nodded back without much thought, it was almost like an instinct for her to copy the movements of whoever she was speaking to sometimes. Although sometimes it led to embarrassing moments like the one time somebody had greeted her and she had said ‘Hi Cedarpaw’ back… The memory made her want to dig a hole and bury herself in it. The molly snapped herself back into her present reality, focusing closely on Basilflame to make sure she took in every detail. 

“Good to know!” The she-cat responded with a smile. She still remembered back to when she had been a kitten that was hesitant about Basilflame. But after meeting more cats and spending time getting to know her mentor.. Well, she definitely wasn’t the worst. In fact, she was quite nice. Especially gentle too. Cedarpaw stood in front of her mentor, getting ready to strike her head (with her claws sheathed of course) but she had to remember that the point of this was learning. 

She was doing this to learn the block. She couldn’t forget that. Give it her all? That felt like a lot of pressure. But regardless she would try. Without a second thought, Cedarpaw pounced, aiming a blow towards her mentor’s head. No distractions now. She had to put everything she had into training. That way she could make Bayflower, Beewhisker and Berrypaw all super duper proud of her! The molly brought her paw down, aiming more specifically for Basilflame’s face now.

I’d rather bear the weight of others than let others carry pain alone.

━✺━🌿━✺━

When Cedarpaw's paw began to come down on her head, Basilflame used her paw to swipe up, grabbing Cedarpaw's paw from the side and moving it away from her head before placing it onto the ground with an unexpected precision from the warrior. "It's preferred that you land your attackers paws onto the ground to stop them from pulling the same move again." She replied before stepping off of Cedarpaw's front paw and dipping her head. "That was good form Cedarpaw! You're getting along great." She chirped, she wanted to go over and nuzzle her in response, but she stopped herself, it wouldn't be appropriate for the middle of practice.

"Now I'd like you to try." Basilflame instructed, flicking her tail like a tiny wildfire contrasting against the creamy white coat of the majority of her body. Basilflame kept her muscles uniform, preparing to rush at her apprentice, but before she moved, she let herself pause to speak. "You will need to reach up and swipe my paw away before I am able to land a hit. Just as I did for you." she explained before coiling her muscles and doing a short leap towards Cedarpaw.

Basilflame, in almost a flash of ginger and cream, rose her paws and aimed it to land directly on the space between Cedarpaw's ears. Her hazel eyes bright with passion, she still seemed to have a gentle disposition but battle brought out something much more passionate in her, something a little more raw. Her paw aimed to hit Cedarpaw, claws sheathed within the paw they were attached to.