First Flight {TaggggxBurningpaw}

[♫.Starredmyst]

Not for the first time -- although for a different reason than ever before -- Starredmyst was truly glad that Moonwhisker ran day-to-day camp business.

The young she-cat delicately nibbled on the last bones of her fish, trying to get every last taste out of her meal without lingering over it too much. Today began her hardest-ever test as a warrior; the attempt to train an apprentice.

Starr found herself absurdly excited about it.

Normally, the grey she-cat was grateful for Patchstar's fatherlyness; she hated hunting, and while she loved the bounty, she was a terrible fisher. Nor did she envy the other cats on patrol in rain or heat or cold -- although, as Moonwhisker and Starredmyst herself took on more of Patchstar's duties, she had found herself doing these things.

However -- Starr had helped in the training of her nephew, Nightpaw, and had found herself wishing she had a full-time apprentice to teach these things to. So, when Moonwhisker had mentioned that there were a few apprentices without mentors, she had jumped at the chance and gotten one before her father could find out about it.

So -- now, to begin Burningpaw's formal training.

The she-cat finished her meal at top speed and buried the bones; hesitating, she glanced around, looking for her new apprentice. Burningpaw wasn't a cat she knew well, but Starredmyst was fairly well she could recognize the apprentice on sight.

[kushikito]

Burningpaw licked her chest self-conciously, not really knowing which cat was her mentor, Starredmyst. Looking around, she tried to find Starr, but since she didn't know what the cat looked like, she wasn't sure if she could find her.

"Burningpaw, hey, Burningpaw!" Burningpaw looked around to see her brother, Deathpaw, dashing at her.
"What's up?" she asked warily, "Paintedpaw's not coming, is he?"

Burningpaw almost hissed aloud at the name.

"No, It's just, Starr's you mentor, right? If you're looking for her, try over by the fresh-kill pile."

"Thanks, Deathpaw!" Burningpaw mewed, and trotted over to the fresh-kill pile. She saw a gray she-cat, and thought it was Starr. Burningpaw padded over to the cat, and meowed tentativly, "Are you Starredmyst? She's my mentor, and I'm looking for her. I'm not sure that I know who she is, though."

[♫.Starredmyst]

Starr realized as she looked around that she didn't know any of the apprentices apart from Nightpaw. To make it worse, she had just recalled that there were not one but two ginger apprentices in the Clan; Burningpaw herself, and the practically-named Gingerpaw. She was studying one of them from a distance, squinting as though it would help her figure out who was who, when someone spoke from behind her.

"Are you Starredmyst? She's my mentor, and I'm looking for her. I'm not sure that I know who she is, though."

Starr jumped, then, processing the words, turned around in relief. Right; Burningpaw was a brighter color than Gingerpaw, without any white patches. She'd remember that.

"Yes, that's me -- you must be Burningpaw." It was easy to hear the relief in her voice. "Don't worry, it's mutual; I was just trying to figure out which cat you were."

There was a faint hint of amusement in the she-cat's voice, minus its usual superiority and sarcasm; Starr was really looking forward to this. She cleared her throat, feeling awkward, and hoping she was doing this right.

"So -- uh -- it's nice to meet you. Uh -- I know you're past six moons; were you apprenticed late, or have you been getting training off-and-on from different warriors? How much do you know already?"

[kushikito]

"Er- Um, I've been joining in a little with other apprentices, so I know the hunter's crouch and a few basic fighting moves..." Burn stuttered. She wasn't used to really talking to warriors; only Deathpaw, and yelling at Paintedpaw. "So I know a bit. Not too much."

While she waited for Starr to reply, Burn licked her chest awkwardly as she noticed a splotch of mud.

[♫.Starredmyst]

So she knows some basics... Starr frowned to herself, thinking, and didn't answer right away; that knowledge would be good for Burningpaw, so the apprentice wouldn't be so far behind, but wasn't so good for her mentor. I wonder who I can bribe into showing me some hunting stuff I can teach? Moonwhisker, maybe...

She shook her head, and stored that thought away. "All right, then," the grey she-cat said aloud. "If you've got some grounding -- I don't see why we can't just jump into it. And for today I think I'm going to cater to my talents till I know yours -- we can start with a sparring match, and if you're not too tired afterwards we'll head up into the forest for some hunting."

And if I'm not frantically trying to come up with something to teach her...

But no; while Starr was only a decent hunter and an absolutely terrible fisher, she did have more than a little talent in the sparring department. A little more confident, the she-cat nodded her head to indicate a fairly empty corner of camp they could practice in.

She led the way over, crossing the frozen stream; the spot she had picked was enclosed on two sides by the cliffside and driftwood wall, but otherwise flat with a faint frosting of snow underfoot. Not much room for creativity terrain-wise -- but Starr wasn't expecting Burningpaw to use any, yet.

"Now," she meowed, half-sitting in the center of the clear space, "I want you to go ahead and attack me. Use some of the moves you've learned; for now I'm just going to get a feel for your strengths and style, but later on I can show you how to build on what you've already learned."

[kushikito]

Burningpaw's eyes gleamed as she looked at Starr. She knew exactly how to surprise her mentor, as she didn't just follow the paths of teaching; she blazed her own. That's why she only knew some of the basics. She'd skipped over the rest, because, well, they were just too darn easy! Squaring up to her mentor, Burn decided to use one of the moves she had seen the older warriors use, but modify it a little...

Burn flung herself at her mentor, assuming that she was going to whip around to one side. Flipping so that she was flying sideways, she was longer, and able to possibly hit her mentor as she flew by. While waiting to feel paws connect, Burn looked around to see where Starr was, and if it was possible that her mentor would get hit.

[♫.Starredmyst]

Starr relaxed into a deceptively casual stance, standing up straight but with all muscles tensed to move. Her eyes flickered across Burningpaw's pelt, studying the young she-cat's build and muscles, waiting for her first move; how the apprentice attacked would tell a lot about her personality and fighting style.

She's a bit like me...lean, but she'll grow up smaller than I am, I think. So let's see if she uses that --

Burningpaw bounded at her in a perfectly straightforward attack, leaping into the air at her; a little disappointed and telling herself not to be, Starr sidestepped so that the she-cat would land next to her. In doing so she missed the slight shift of muscles that would have told her of the apprentice's sideways turn -- the older she-cat had spun to face her apprentice once more by the time Burningpaw reached her, and jerked back just barely in time to avoid a paw to the nose. As it was, one paw pushed off of her flank, though in a claws-sheathed sparring match it wasn't enough to do any damage.

Oh, so she's one of those ones...creative for her age, if a little unpolished yet. I think I'm going to like this cat!

Now...how're her reflexes?

Starr recovered quickly from her surprise, darting forward to counter Burningpaw before the apprentice could regain her balance. She rushed in, attempting to slam shoulders with the she-cat and knock her offbalance, then spun to lightly bite at her nearest shoulder.

Wonder how she'll take that...I know there's cats that don't use teeth for the risk of real injury, but I'm not going soft on her.