Lets Get Down to Business (Panda)

[Icestorm]

Tags: @kuroku

OOC: started them off in the clearing and thought they could work their way out in the territory

Maplepaw exited the apprentice den. It was a warm morning which meant it was perfect to work on his training. He searched the clearing looking for his mentor, Mudfoot. He didn't seem to be in sight. He wondered where his mentor was. Usually finding a mentor and an apprentice was easy this early in the morning. With Mudfoot now where in sight Maplepaw decided it was best to try for the fresh-kill pile. After all if he didn't take this chance to eat now it would be a while for the next meal. Just as Maplepaw was getting ready to grab something he saw Mudfoot. He grabbed some for Mudfoot too. Maybe he could get on his good side today with breakfast?

He placed a vole in front of him, "Hi Mudfoot. Thought you would like some breakfast." He said as he sat down beside him. "So I was wondering what the plan was today? Are we hunting? Or fighting?" He could feel his own excitement. He hoped they were fighting. It was something he was good at, but he knew he needed to work on his hunting. He took a bite waiting for his answer.

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Mudfoot, who had been deep in though, blinked open his blue eyes. He was not pleased to have been disturbed, but the fresh-kill took the edge off of him a little and he simply flicked his tail in slight agitation instead of lashing out at the young cat. The massive tom took the vole and bit into it, taking his time to think about what he and his apprentice ought to do today. Maplepaw was decent with battle already, hunting practice would do him well. but even the thrill of a mock battle made all of Mudfoots fur stand on end. "We'll head out to do battle practice, but you're to practice hunting on the way, I want enough brought back to at least feed a few mouths. Do you understand?" His meow was harsh, as always, but Maplepaw was shaping up to be a fine warrior, and he had no qualms with strong, battle ready cats. Besides he was grateful to have an apprentice. He understood from his mother that most cats wouldn't accept a cat who's father was a kittypet, he was lucky TalonClan was so welcoming, and they wouldn't regret it. He tore out the last mouthful of vole and stood up starting for the mouth of the cave, flicking his tail for his apprentice to follow.

[Icestorm]

Maplepaw could tell Mudfoot was a little irritated, but there was nothing he could do about it now. Mudfoot seemed to irritated about something just about all the time. He is learning to fear it, and ignore it. It was a weird balance that he sometimes messed up.  He continued to eat his mouse that he had grabbed earlier.

He felt his tail twitch with excitement when Mudfoot mentioned the fighting. Fighting he was good at, and Mudfoot seemed to enjoy that practice the most too. Maplepaw didn't want to hear that he had to do so much hunting. He could do it, he knew he was far from the best hunter, barely a good hunter. He knew how to survive, but that was different. Thinking for the clan was his priority now, not just himself. He quickly finished his mouse, and looked to Mudfoot, "I'm ready when you are."

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Huge dark paws padded on the ground, "come on then do you plan to stay in camp all day?" He hissed walking out of the cave and onto the rocky mountain. Not as easy hunting as his old home near the twoleg farm. Harder than many of the clans would have to deal with as well he imagined. "There's a nice area for fighting a little ways off. Catch something on the way, I'm watching you." He'd taken the edge off his voice, not because he was happier. Mudfoot simply knew that the key to getting what he wanted was having good allies, and Maplepaw could be a powerful warrior one day, and a good friend to have. His careful blue eyes kept on the orange tom, he still easily kept his footing on the rocks.  He opened his powerful jaws and drank, there was a slight taste of rabbit in the air. The poor things were usually scrawny up here, but prey was prey.

[Icestorm]

Maplepaw followed Mudfoot out of the clearing. If he wanted to practice his fighting he would have to catch something. It sounded simple enough for him. Just Mudfoot tasted the air, so did he. There was a rabbit near. Maplepaw left his mentor. He knew Mudfoot would find him. There wasn't much of a breeze, if there was Maplepaw guessed it was in his favor. He made his way slowly to the scent of the rabbit.

Right in front of him was a small rabbit. Maplepaw crouched down lower to the ground. He tried to calm his tail. He took a step toward the rabbit. He knew as soon as it happened. He had stepped wrong. The rabbit looked up. Maplepaw didn't move. Silently he stared at the rabbit. The rabbit started to run. He ran after it. The rabbit was fast. Maplepaw knew he couldn't outrun it. So tried to out smart it, trying to think one move ahead of it. The rabbit made a wrong turn in its panic. Maplepaw took the opportunity then to grab for the rabbit.

He knew he would get chewed out for this hunt. Yes he caught something, but by luck. He had given himself away and the rabbit had made a mistake. It was not good. It was a stupid silly mistake that even his mother had taught about when he was younger.

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Careful to keep his huge body silent Mudfoot turned to follow his apprentice carefully in a hunter's crouch. Blue eyes intent, he saw the mistake his apprentice made as quickly as the rabbit did. he watched the chase, stupid to chase a rabbit. He was, care he say, surprised when things turned out in the young cats favour though. "Bury it for later then." He meowed with a hard stare, "learn to control your paws and you won't have to chase things, you're lucky that rabbit was a mousebrain." He hissed. Prey was prey though, no matter how luckily it had been caught, so Mudfoot couldn't fault him for that much. He stalked into a rocky outcropping and stood at his full height. "You'll catch something else on the way back." He ordered. This would be a nice place for battle though, the massive cat tried to remember to keep his claws sheathed. This was only for practice. "Attack me." He hissed, narrowing his deep blue eyes, ready for the orange apprentice to leap at him.

[Icestorm]

Maplepaw had expected to be yelled at more, maybe he was in good mood today. Doing as he was told Maplepaw found a brush and buried the small rabbit underneath it.

He turned to face his mentor. He larger than him, and he would use that against Maplepaw. He needed to get past the size and use his speed and agility to his advantage. Maplepaw attacked. He aimed for Mudfoot's head and neck, nothing dangerous, but enough strength and force to prove his worth. He tried to get Mudfoot to turn over on his back. If he could get him off balance and turned over than his advantage of size would be out of the way. His mother had taught him to fight dirty, but this was just practice. He would try to keep it clean. After all Mudfoot was someone who was helping him train to be better. No use in making him mad.

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Watching the younger cat carefully, Mudfoot tried to predict his moves. His apprentice was shaping up to be a good fighter, just as Mudfoot was, and he almost had a glimmer of pride in what he had helped shape. No doubt about it he wanted Maplepaw on his side in the future. The younger cat managed to surprise him, landing blows on head and neck but Mudfoot quickly dropped to the ground of his own accord, rolling towards Maplepaw and kicking up at him with powerful hind legs hoping to connect with the apprentice's belly and knock him away.

[Icestorm]

Mudfoot was on his back. Maplepaw tried to keep him there. Knew Mudfoot would try and turn this around. His mentor's skill in fitting were nothing to joke about. Maplepaw knew they would both take this seriously. Mudfoot aimed to kick him. Maplepaw saw the motion, but didn't react in time. He felt the pressure against his stomach. He took a couple steps back, regaining his footing. He felt a smile creep across his face. Of all things to do with others, this was always the one to make him smile. He prepared to quickly try and land another blow before Mudfoot could get back on his feet.

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Mudfoot was pleased when he struck his mark, so pleased in fact that it took him a few moments longer than it should of to leap to his feet. He leaped up too late, and his apprentice cuffed him on the throat, with claws out it could have been a grievous wound. A glint of pleasure shone in in the large cats eyes as he flung his whole body at the apprentice, hoping to use his weight to bowl him over.

[Icestorm]

Maplepaw felt the blow hit his mark. He knew he would have wounded the enemy severely if this were real. His own pride began to rise in him. Hitting his mentor like that was not easy. Before he could celebrate his hit anymore he felt the heavy weight of Mudfoot slam into him. The fight had shifted and now he was on the defense. Mudfoot had knocked him over. Maplepaw prepared his back feet to defend himself if Mudfoot continued to attack.

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The large dark legged cat attacked, a gleam of joy in his eyes. He felt Maplepaw's hind legs battering his tummy and flopped onto his side, as though he were defeated. He closed his large blue eyes and left his legs a little splayed, staying perfectly still. Perhaps the apprentice would think he has killed him. He would deeply enjoy giving the orange tom a good scare, though he has to admit Maplepaw had fought very well. He would be ready to be made a warrior soon, no doubt.

[Icestorm]

Maplepaw felt his paws hit Mudfoot. The large tom fell to his side. Maplepaw jumped up from his back. He wasn't going to let Mudfoot take advantage of their size difference anymore. He prepared for another attack, but Mudfoot had not gotten up. It was strange. He stared at his mentor. What was he doing? Maplepaw took a step closer to him. He still didn't move. Confused Maplepaw stepped closer still. Something was wrong, it didn't feel right. Mudfoot's eyes were closed and legs were splayed out. "Mudfoot?" he asked.

[Deleted]

The tom stayed still. Until the apprentice was close, and then sprang up with a fearsome yowl into the apprentice's face before sitting down and licking his pale chest calmly, "you may not be as large as I am, but surprise will always work in your favour. In the heat of battle cats won't think critically." He meowed, "remember that Maplepaw."

[Icestorm]

Maplepaw stared at his Mudfoot. He was in shock for the actions of his mentor. "You couldn't have just told me that? You had to scare me like that." As he said he felt a smile creep across his face.  He tried to hide it from Mudfoot. It was actually kinda funny the more he thought about it. He sat down across his mentor. "I'll be sure to remember that for next time." He said with a smile finally showing.

OOC: sorry for it being shorter. I had more but lost it and cant remember what I had