.-::Bearpaw's Test::-.

[rex.]

Kashclaw ran swiftly through the snow and inbetween stalks of dead meadow grass. he camp to a halt and scraped some of the snow with his paw anxiously, waiting for bearpaw to arrive

[coddle the infectionxxx]

The apprentice trotted up silently. His white paws were light on the snowy ground, making nary a sound. His pawsteps were light, and he was carrying a robin and a large crow. He set them down gently, and nodded to his mentor in a respectful greeting.
The smallish white and brown apprentice rarely said anthing, and his smiles were even rarer. But he tried to follow everyhting Kashclaw said, and trained diligently to be the best. That was what set Bearpaw apart. Where other apprentices whined, complained or lazed Bearpaw just kept going. He hunted all the time, catching almost always eitehr rabbtis or birds, as speed was his storng point. He sslept minmally, and did not waste his days lazing in the sun, or moaning about pain.
Perhaps it was hid dark past, but Bearpaw wasn't bothered by petty pains. A thorn in his paw barley even bothered him. Perhaps it was being torn apart countless time by dogs in his past, but his energy was endless as was his curiousity. Bearpaw was not all that strong, so he tried to make up for it. He had learned the weak points on a cats body so that when he was dodgin enemy claws, and clawing he would only hit the necesray places to make and enemy retreat of die quikker.
The snow didn't bother him at all, and neither did silence. In fact the only thing that bothered Bearpaw visibly was whne someone openly insulted him. He would get a sneer that could curdel milk on his face and spit out insuilts and obscenities so quickly that his bright mind was not to be doubted. He had learned to keep a cool head during crisis and had trianed religiously.
It was probably the fact that he wasn't clanborn. He felt other cats sneers of disapproving stares. He fought back by ignoring them and trying to be the best, giving his attention and vast determination to just siceeding.

[rex.]

Kashclaw noted bearpaws catches with a smile, though half hearted. deep down, the black tom felt almost insulted by the apprentices preknown skill, and kashclaw's inablity to enhance it much. he cleared his throat and meowed "i can see you dont need much more training on hunting...and i'm sure that you are perfectly capable of fighting, but i wanted to talk to you about surrounding...which im sure youi probebly know about as well...." he took a breath to steady his thoughts before proceeding. "so, bearpaw, what do you notice about your surroundings? there isnt much protection or places to retreat to, but thats not what im talking about." the warrior nodded to the snow covered ground and waited for his apprentice to reply

[coddle the infectionxxx]

Well I guess its helps my pelt is light, but not much. I suppose, if I were to move slowly and stay downwind, it might be easier to creep up ontsomthing, the appretice paused, almost uncertainly, yet his steady voice was as always colorless. The half sure flicker in his eyes told any cat tha knew him he was hestiating.

[rex.]

"good. but that wasnt what i was thinking...look at the snow. feel it." the black tom shoveled some snow around with a forepaw, and it made a small pile ((its packable)) "can you think of any advantages of the snow being like this? or...disadvantages?"

[coddle the infectionxxx]

It's more slippery. And you leave tracks, but so does the prey, suggested Bearpaw still lsightly wary, as if he was unsure he was saying the right hting.

[rex.]

kashclaw decided to finish "correct, it would be slippery! also, its wetter than powder snow, so your paws are more likely to go numb-a neutral fact-you'd be less likely to feel pain in your paws. with powder snow, it could be used to fling it into the opponants eyes-like sand, so be careful." he grinned, happy that he was able to teach something to his apprentice and meowed "would you like to practice fighting?"

[coddle the infectionxxx]

The white apprentice nodded, and crouched watching his mentor steadily. He left his lithe mucles relaxed, as they might give an enemy indication of where he was going to attck next. He kept completely still, making sure his chest was not angled in any direction.

[rex.]

kashclaw hardly gave a hint he was ready, without crouching down, he darted forward, paws thundering the white ground. the tom lept up to the side, and landed about a tail length away from bearpaw on his right.

[coddle the infectionxxx]

Bearpaw pounced a moment after his mentor had landed. That way, he would be unblalance,d and might have tentative footing. His claws were sheated as he soared through the air with pinpoint direction.

[rex.]

the tom sunk low as his apprentice hurtled down toward him, and then a heartbeat before impact, sprang up at him
<3

[coddle the infectionxxx]

Bearpaw tucked his paws into his body as his mentor hit him, and rolled, standing up easily and quickly. He reared up and sprang again, this time not so much up inot the air, more straight at Kashclaw.

[rex.]

kashclaw landed heavily, bearpaw had rolled out of the way and lept again, before the tom could round on him again. he felt bearpaw hit....land....? on him and he fell over looking quite embarrased. he got up quickly to save face and meowed "good speed! you got me confused"

[coddle the infectionxxx]

Thanks, panted the muscular tom. He siddled away, crouching, muscles tensed. His amber eyes burned holes into the deputy, watching and waititng. But there was a visible fight in his eyes, like he was fighting somthing inside...

[rex.]

one more go, eh? he panted readying himself "you start this time?"