Training's In Session || RP

Bramblesnap ||

An ever-looming tension hung about the camp, one that was hard to miss. Whether it be that created by those mourning their losses or those bidding farewells to their loved ones who had chosen to take their leave, there was a certain feeling in the air that made the dusty tabby's attitude sour with each passing moment. In order to feel some sense relief from the stress of the past couple of days, Bramblesnap had ventured out into the camp often as per usual, yet found himself lying in his nest for longer hours when the warriors' den found itself most empty. The evening air caused his fur to prickle, each step away from camp reminding him of the freedom he just about had thanks to his ascent in the ranks.

On occasion the tom would turn to check if the apprentice was still present, and that he was, trailing along not too far away. The duo had called one another allies since the younger was merely a kit, and Bramblesnap could only go through with the little agreement they had made way back when. He'd help this one become something better, no matter how useless as he may have become under the control of some she-cat who had a habit of snooping about in Bramblesnap's business more than he'd have liked her to. What better way to do so than exiting the camp, where there was more chance of something eventful happening.

He raised a brow as his companion's recent peculiar behaviour seemed to continue throughout their late wander, but digressed and returned to observing his surroundings. Same old - he remembered when his father had explained these "chickens" and other random crap to him when he was just a kitten. The time had flown by since, and he'd found his own loss in his father's absence. He'd probably never see beyond the mountains, unless all came to and he'd found himself restricted and stripped of any opinions at all, and he chose to continue life elsewhere, like that hoard of idiots who were just begging to get killed out in the open like that. Perhaps he was best off here despite the famine. Dovespring was here, she'd get slaughtered out there if she stepped a foot away from his side. She truly was but a fragile little bird.

As Talonpaw continued to saunter about, the prickly tom rolled his eyes beneath his long fur, grunting out a deep, heavy sigh out of frustration. He'd grown boring since gaining a mentor - but his usefulness was nothing to scoff at.

Talonpaw ||

Talonpaw was usually a bit ill-tempered, grumpy, or prickly, but today he was the latter. Between the tension in camp from so many members deciding to leave and Bramblepa—er, Bramblesnap being publicly disowned by his mother, everyone seemed to be on edge. Of course, it didn’t help that he had now received a new mentor to train him for his final moon of apprenticeship. Tanglebranch, his previous mentor, had become kitbound, but his mentor before that…

Talonpaw shook the thought from his head. It wasn’t her fault. She just…decided to have kits. Ill timing, perhaps, but not malicious in intent. She had been good to him, a bit coddling at times, but always kindhearted. Talonpaw worked his hardest to become the best warrior he could be, and it wasn’t that he doubted his capabilities, but the young tom couldn’t help but wonder why. Why had she chosen to have a litter when she knew he had to have more training? Was he not good enough? He thought that their training was going quite well, but perhaps this wasn’t the case. If she had just been his first mentor, maybe he wouldn’t be thinking all of this. But two? Two mentors that had decided to just…give up? 

The slight frown that was plastered across Talonpaw’s face grew into a scowl, tail lashing angrily as he towed behind his friend. Suddenly, though, his thoughts were interrupted by a loud and quite dramatic sigh. It dawned on him that he hadn’t even asked his ally where they were going, nor did he pay attention to what direction they were going in. After glancing around at their surroundings for a moment, Talonpaw’s bicolored eyes flicked up towards Bramblesnap, meeting his hidden gaze. He figured that he must be waiting on him to pick up the pace, but honestly he didn’t care. Despite it all, though, he still asked—albeit a smidge exasperated— 

”Something wrong?”

Bramblesnap ||

The large tom pursed his lips, staring back at the apprentice. Talonpaw and he seemed to resonate on some kind of level, but since the meeting that had announced both of their changes in their lives, they had developed their own responses to their unique situations. Since then, Talon had seemed...Well... Punchable, Bramblesnap supposed would be the right word. He'd have smacked the expression right off of his friend's face if he could. He grumbled, flicking his ear and landing a paw almost a little too heavily at the dirt irately at the question that came from the other, the red tom's attitude obviously not to the tabby's liking. "Nothin's wrong with me; it's yew. If yew pout anymore than yew are then yew'll find yer head in the dirt soon 'nough." His words were sharp - an intended dig at his ally and his lower than usual spirits. He didn't expect a happy-go-lucky Talonpaw, no, that would be even worse, but he'd just about had enough of his sombreness.

"What's the fuckin' mopin' 'bout anyway" As if the ever-prickly tom hadn't been living with a short fuse his whole life, he seemed more standoffish than usual. He hadn't snapped at the younger before, but this was just about on the cusp of a scolding. His tail lashed, but just the once. His ear flicked again as if there were a gnat flying about it - but nothing was there. The only presence as far as the eye could see was the duo of toms and the breeze that ran throughout the valley. The only thing lurking was the sun just about to shield itself behind the mountains  - those which kept the clan concealed from the outside world. The tabby was sure that if they just crumbled to dust on the spot, there may be more worth seeing. But for now, simply silence beside new-leaf's whistling wind that tumbled down the mountainside and the sharp echo of his own voice as he expressed his irritation.

Talonpaw ||

Talonpaw let out a sigh, rolling his eyes at the older tom. His fur prickled and stood on end, and his already extended claws poked out a bit more. Without missing a beat, he replied,

”I’m not moping. I’m frustrated. About my whole…situation, with my mentors. I know I’m capable of more…and, well, I haven’t gotten a chance to really hone my skills because I’ve been passed off so many times.” He started, tail lashing a bit agitatedly as he spoke, 

”I suppose I’m beginning to feel as though I’m doing something wrong.” He blurted out, stopping dead in his tracks as he finished the sentence. Talonpaw held his head low with his shoulders high on his head, fur swaying in the breeze. Normally, he wouldn’t be so earnest with how he felt, but perhaps knowing that Bramblesnap was usually confidential with their outings put him more at ease. Or, perhaps, it was that the fire-pelted tom had finally had enough, and now his emotions poured out like a beaver dam that had been bashed in. 

Either way, he has been honest, and all he could hope for was that his friend wouldn’t judge him for feeling so. Maybe he could even do something to help him, in a way. Bramblesnap never worried about what others thought, he always took every word that was thrown at him and spit more harsh ones out. Talonpaw might share a sharp tongue with the tabby, but they differed in the sense that certain things just…irked him. Things did get to him. He needed to get his anger out somehow, anything to show he could actually be capable of defending their clan…and like a clap of lightning, it hit him. 

”Would you care to spar with me? You said before that you were more worthy of showing me what I was capable of, so…”

Bramblesnap ||

The tom didn't quite expect... That. Sure, may have been more social than himself, goodness, Bramblesnap had found himself always caught in what he believed to be the mess caused by others, riling his temper up to beyond his boiling point. However, he hadn't quite taken the red tom to be the type to rant, vent it all out in one go. The warrior didn't speak and continued down his self-assigned path.

He was observant, he could tell well enough when the other had stopped walking, but he ensured that he remained in the lead, padding a couple of steps ahead, only to turn his head back, then his forepaws. In a long huff, he let out another long exhale. "Yew ain't done nothin' wrong; not that I know of. Just gotta be trained properly." Oh course, he wouldn't hand out a compliment so easy, nor some standard consolation to one of the only friends he could keep to this day. It wasn't that Talonpaw was fully incompetent despite the weaknesses Bramblesnap saw within him, but that the apprentice hadn't been trained in the right manner. On top of that, he'd been messed around and thrown between three mentors. "Keep sayin' it 'n' I'll say it again; she's like the rest of 'em. Ain't nothin' different 'bout 'er - expects the work to be done for 'er by someone else, ain't even surprised myself." Bramblesnap huffed as he grumbled out his words, taking another step toward Talonpaw. Sure, he hadn't stated which mentor he was talking about, but assumed that the other would be able to figure that one out all on his own.

As the younger displayed nothing but a pitiful look, the tabby turned his head to watch the grass flow in the wind, and the clouds continue their journey past the moon. Comfort wasn't his thing, and Talonpaw wasn't his kit. He wasn't going to discipline him like one, he needed to learn how to take care of himself. He didn't need Tanglebranch, nor the other she-cat who Bramblesnap couldn't quite recall the name of (nor had he ever bothered to learn it.)

Spar...?

"Now? Grew yerself a spine, eh?" He turned to face Talonpaw fully, though a few paces ahead. Pondering on the request for a moment, he knew he couldn't turn it down, nor did he want to. Sparring wasn't something he got to do much anymore, and his own mentor has only taught him in a manner he labelled as poor. A smirk crept up his face, "Alrigh' then." The fields seemed empty save for the nighttime wind weaving its way between the grass and foliage, and although their trip wasn't turning out as planned, a little sparring would only help Talonpaw.

"Only if yew don't mind losin'."

Talonpaw ||

Talonpaw gave a short nod towards the large tom, rolling his shoulders a bit to help him stretch them out. He pointedly ignored the bit about Tanglebranch and how she was “just like the rest of them,” and instead focused his attention on the fact Bramblesnap was actually willing to spar with him. He knew that the tom had a leg up due to his..,mass, but perhaps he could work with the fur inhibiting his visual senses. After a moment of stretching out his other limbs, Talonpaw replied,

”I’ve had a spine, more than most of the cats in our clan, surely if I’m willing to hang around you that should be evident,” He started, standing up straight after his little stretch-session, 

”I just haven’t exactly sparred with someone my level. I wouldn’t think that even the most cruel hearted cats would attack a pregnant molly, so Tanglebranch was off limits.” He continued, long fur swaying in the cool dusk breeze. ”Not that they made an effort to give me someone else to train with, either.”

Talonpaw readied himself for the mock-fight, testing the balance of the earth beneath him by dragging his front paw in a semi-circle. He flicked his tail side to side to test the direction of the wind, and widened his stance so he could adapt to taking a hard hit. Bramblesnap might hit like a boulder, he thought to himself, watching the dusty tom prepare himself for a fight. Talonpaw thought for a moment that perhaps he could somehow use this to his advantage, if he could manage it. The problem was, could he really get the upper hand? Bramble was more experienced, ruthless, and bulkier than him. It wouldn’t be an easy feat, but maybe a challenge was just what he needed. Maybe it would help him feel accomplished. 

Or, it would make his ass feel like it got slapped with a tree branch. Only one way to find out, though. 

The ruddy colored tom positioned himself in his battle stance, nodding to his opponent. 

”Ready.”

Bramblesnap ||

Bramblesnap observed as the other stretched himself out and simply rolled his own shoulders a couple of times. His smirk hadn't faded just yet, displaying the thrill he felt knowing he may actually have a decent fight to take part in. There were no signs of lack of confidence on the larger tom's end, his muscle, mass and height likely giving him the upper hand in their little spar.

He breathed out a laugh as the other made some statement regarding his so-called "spine" that he claimed to have, and Bramblesnap wasn't going to let his opponent have a moment of glory to build his confidence. "'N' what's that s'pose ta' mean? Think yer brave jus' cus' nobody else wants ta' be 'round me?" Sure, he knew that others may be wary of his presence, and the conflict he had often caused around camp with his rapidly rising temper had only repelled others away from him, but he never saw himself in the wrong. They were just a bunch of wimps, and Talonpaw likely just had some kind of sense in knowing he and Bramblesnap could benefit from one another's skills. "Dunno what it is with all y'all apprentices 'n' thinkin' yer some kinda hero or sum'n. Almost poetic." Long fur swayed as he shook his head, almost in some kind of disbelief.

The tabby shrugged, waiting for his companion to finish his warm-up, the fire-pelted tom's seriousness about it causing him to chuckle from the back of his throat. His mind trailed back to what Burntflight had told him - about his father's actions. "Depends on the reason, s'pose. Probably couldn't be assed cus' they don't give a damn 'bout yew. Got their favourites, let 'em off the hook too easy, leave 'em ta' loiter 'round 'n' do shit all."

There was no way in hell that Bramblesnap would go easy on Talonpaw - he'd never liked being one-upped. It had happened a couple times too many already, and despite the younger's status as an apprentice marking him as less experienced, matched with his smaller size and build, the dusty tom was far from merciful. Friend or enemy, he wouldn't give him an easy fight. The kid needed a challenge anyway. "Yew done fuckin' 'bout?"

"Ready."

About time.

He positioned himself. Despite the messy training he'd had from Tulipshine, the warrior had become quite the skilled hunter and fighter. Hunting was more his forte, but he wouldn't back down from something like this. It was stress relief, and a way to prove himself (though his desire to do so was something he failed to admit, even to himself...) With a roll of his neck, Bramblesnap took it to himself to make the first move, seeing as though the red tom hadn't taken the chance.

He recalled what he knew, keep your distance, keep on your paws, keep moving. And that he did, taking the first steps to the side to move around rather than forwards. Someone had to kick this off, or they'd find themselves circling forever, and so with a few large strides to the side, he edged forwards and served the first swing. He kept his claws sheathed for now, and attempted to land a hard cuff to Talonpaw's head in effort to throw him off.