Can we train now? ((Tagged))

[Respronics]

Lionhearted

Raggedpaw sat outside the camp and looked back at the entrance. Where was this Tom? He was early, sure, but he expected his mentor to be here. Maybe he had a mentor that was laid back and goofed off? He shivered. He wanted to be a warrior not a kit. Tail tip twitching nervously, the Tom sighed softly. Maybe he should sneak off and try to hunt alone or something.

[Lionhearted]

The sunlight filtered through the den as Chiveheart blinked open his eyes, squinting in annoyance as the sunrays passed into his eyes. Groggily, he blinked, wiping his face with his paws.

Wait.

Sunlight? Oh no! Chiveheart let out a silent gasp and scrambled out of his nest, kicking up moss as he pushed off from the den and sprang into the clearing, shaking his fur. He had never woken up this late! Usually, it was still dark when he opened his eyes. This wasn't good. What to do today...? Oh right, I have an apprentice to train. Striding around the camp, his eyes roved around, looking for Raggedpaw. He saw the younger tom sitting outside the entrance, and twitched his ears. Seems like he's eager to get started.

"Hello, Raggedpaw," Chiveheart said briskly, walking up from behind. "Sorry I was late. I don't normally do this. but let's get started, shall we? We'll be working on hunting first. Watch and listen carefully.

"Hunting requires a basic position, called the 'hunting crouch.' This crouch will be important through all of training, not just this portion. It looks like this-" Chiveheart crouched down to demonstrate. "Notice how my belly is flat, and my legs bent and low to the ground. Notice how everything is in line, and I'm not raising my haunches up in the air, or anything. See my tail? It's also quite flat. Can you tell me why that is? Why don't we want our tails dragging on the ground, or high in the air?"

[Respronics]

The male turned to face his mentor and dipped his head in greeting. "Hunting? Okay." He studied the crouch and blinked . Could he do that? Wait. What about what? Tail? Oh! "To low, and it rustled the dead leaves and brushes the ground. Thus, giving you away. To high and you won't have balance as well as you normally would. Right?" He asked nervously as he stood and crouched. His rump to high up and tail a bit to low. He was trying his best though.

[Lionhearted]

"Yes, that's correct," said Chiveheart, blinking in approval. "Your back is a bit high- you'll want to make your whole body in one straight line. And also, adjust the tail. Now," he continued, pushing on, "the next step is to attack and strike. Now, you'll want to jump and aim forward, not upwards. Like this-" Chiveheart crouched down, crept forward slightly, and leapt forward, landing deftly on a flower. "Can you tell me why we don't want to aim upwards?"

[Respronics]

Adjusting his back, he shifted his tail until he was straight in a line. Watching his mentor, he blinked and then felt weird. After a a long pause, he decided to try an answer. "Unless it's a bird, you would give it time to escape. Right?" He hoped he was right. He was sure he was t. He decided to try the lunge. Leaping, he was to high and flew over the flower he was after. Landing on the ground awkwardly and toppling forward. A shocked yowl escaping his maw as he landed in a heap.

((Lion, Would Chive be able to teach a second apprentice? A friend has one that has never got a mentor.))