Fight Time {Flaring&Heart}

[Deleted]

Flaringmist sat on the ground quietly, bushy tail wrapped over his paws as he thought. The warm newleaf sun was shining down on him, warming his lean muscles. He had gotten his apprentice to take advantage of all the prey moving, and, as a result of it, hadn't done anymore training with her. He flicked his ear. The time would come, who knew how soon, when she would need to fight. The tom stood up, the sun striking the blaze on his forehead. "Heartpaw!" he called, balancing on his toes.

[Deleted]

Heartpaw bounded from the bushes, "Hello Flaringmist! What are we going to do today?" She mewed, her eyes full of happiness and life.

[Deleted]

Flaringmist purred at her enthusiasm. "Fighting training." He stalked around her, keeping his weight light on his toes. "You need to be able to defend yourself in a battle." He sat back and and licked down a patch of fur on his chest quickly. "Attack me," he ordered. "Anyway you can."

[Deleted]

She crouched, looking for a good spot to aim. She ran, trying to dart under him and before she was clear she stood up, trying to put him off balance.

[Deleted]

Flaringmist saw her eyes flicker to his belly, and he dropped down as she ran. "Try going a bit faster next time, and your eyes betrayed where you were going." He stood up, releasing his apprentice. "Don't forget, I'm bigger than you, so ducking under my belly isn't probably the best thing because I'll squish you."

[Deleted]

She nodded, breathing in deeply. She closed her eyes, picturing him. Then she leaped, aiming for the flank, butting him in the flank.

[Deleted]

Flaringmist whipped to the side, flashing out his claw to part Heartpaw's fur and avoiding her headbutt. "That was good," he meowed, landing again. "Try moving faster though." The tom remained carefully balanced, wondering what her next move would be.

[Deleted]

Heartpaw was silent for a moment, then she jumped for his shoulders, cuffing his ears and wrapping her paws around his neck. If it were a real fight she would have had her claws out.

[Deleted]

Flaringmist bared his teeth in a snarl and shook his body, jarring the apprentice. "Good one!" he meowed, still feeling her clinging to him. "Mind letting go now?"

[Deleted]

She purred and let go, dropping to the ground with a bump. "How did I do?" she purred.

[Deleted]

"Very good," the mentor meowed. "You managed to get yourself out of claw reach, and hung on." He crouched in front of her. "Try this one." He leaped high, twisting slightly and clawing at the air. When he landed he landed on his hind paws, balanced and snarling, with claws aimed. "It's a pretty advanced move, but I think you could try it. It doesn't matter if you don't get it right the first time. You want to leap high enough to pass their back."

[Deleted]

She nodded, taking a deep breath and leaping, only to crash into her mentor for not leaping high enough, pushing him enough to knock him on his side if he was unprepared.

[Deleted]

Flaringmist let himself get pushed to the side, landing on a patch of moss and cushioning his apprentice as she fell. "Almost," he meowed, nudging her to her feet. "If you want, I can duck for you."

[Deleted]

She shook her head, "Maybe I should practice in the air before I hurt anyone first." She mewed, smiling to herself.

[Deleted]

Flaringmist gave a brief purr. "Good idea," he agreed, stepping back to watch Heartpaw. He had a good feeling about the apprentice. She was quick to learn and eager, just the sort of apprentice he would want.