A GROUP SPAR [SC Apprentices!]

[WHITESHADE]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,10,true][atrb=style, width:400px; background-color:#f5f5f5; border: solid 4px #ebebeb;bTable][classy=homo][style=-webkit-border-radius: 100px; -moz-border-radius: 100px; border-radius: 100px; height: 100px; width: 100px; background: url(http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4098/4891468838_bd586a4937_q.jpg); float:left; margin-left:25px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 20px][/style][style=height: 100px; width: 300px; font-family:tahoma; font-size:10px; text-align: justify; letter-spacing:1px; padding:30px] words: 348 tags: shadowclan apprentices <3 notes: apologizes for lackluster title and tiny post. [/style][/classy]

[classy=gay]
[style=width:350px; color:#414141; font-family:tahoma; font-size:11px; text-align: justify; letter-spacing:1px; float:center; padding:2px; margin: 2px; overflow: auto; height: 450px]Whiteshade made his way through the great pines of ShadowClan, gait light as he trod over the abundant numbers of nettles that had fallen over leaf-bare, the season that had brought a cool chill to the air, but, as of yet, no snow to ShadowClan woods or swamp. This morning, the deputy had decided to diverge from the usual schedule and take out a handful of apprentices for some sparring practice over at the fallen log. They had their mid-assessments coming up, and The Warriors Games right behind, meaning the roughest challenges in their time as apprentices was approaching...at least, for two of them. The Fight was to be the most difficult (and to Whiteshade, the most amusing) part of the game, where all eight apprentices of the clans would be pitted against each other in a series of one-on-one fights. He wanted to make sure the little furballs had a decent chance of coming out of that exhausting challenge still standing. Besides, no victors this year mean't another long stretch of moons without an apprentice to train, a delight he had not taken part in for many seasons. In fact, this would be the first time Whiteshade would be interacting with this set of young 'uns, as the only real times he could communicate with apprentices was if they were having an assessment or in The Warrior Games, so this was something a little different from the norm. It would be amusing to think that now they would have a full impression of him, instead of just rumours or passing glances from before.

Whiteshade's trot began to pick up pace as the thick pines began to branch out into a medium-sized clearing, where a fallen trunk lay at the center. The lithe tom leaped onto the coarse bark and pulled himself up, turning to face the approaching apprentices. He then sat, tail curling around his white figure, and gazed down with his amber eyes, a small smirk appearing at the side of his maw as he waited for the them to catch up and pay attention.[/style][/classy][style=width:350px; font-family:georgia; font-style:italic; font-weight:bold; font-size:18px; text-align: right; letter-spacing:1px; float:center; padding:2px; margin: 2px; color:#616161; letter-spacing:-1px;][/style][newclass=gay ::-webkit-scrollbar]height: 10px; width: 4px; background: transparent;[/newclass][newclass=gay ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background: #dddddd;[/newclass][newclass=gay ::-webkit-scrollbar-corner]background: transparent;[/newclass][newclass=homo]background-color: #f5f5f5; color: #f5f5f5; width: 100px; height: 100px; text-align: center; -webkit-transition:all 0.7s ease; -moz-transition:all 0.7s ease; -o-transition:all 0.7s ease; float: [/newclass][newclass=homo:hover]background-color: #f5f5f5; color: #333333; -webkit-transition:all 0.7s ease; -moz-transition:all 0.7s ease; -o-transition:all 0.7s ease;[/newclass]

[/td][/tr][/table][style= font-size:9px; font-family:tahoma]LAIKA of BTN and OTE[/style][/center]

[CHERRYPAW]

[style=width:350px; height:20px; background-color:#333333; color:#ffffff; font-family:georgia; font-size:9px; letter-spacing:1px;line-height:40px; text-align:center;] [/style] [style=width:330px; background-color:#cccccc; overflow:auto; color:#000000; padding:10px; text-align:justify;][style=width:330px; text-align: justify;][style=font-family: georgia; font-size: 10px; line-height: 130%; text-align: justify;]Cherrypaw felt the sting of a cold snowflake on her otherwise warm nose. Wearily, she cracked one eye open. There were a few trailing down from the sky. It was rather overcast out. With a groan, Cherrypaw closed her eyes and snuggled tighter into a ball. It must’ve been at least dawn with the sky like that. After a few moments of peaceful rest, she realized something with a gasp. It was sunrise: the sky just looked odd because of the weather. Quivering with nerves and anxiety, the little apprentice sprung from her nest. Her tongue made quick work of her messy pelt. “Hey! Get up you lazy slugs! Training with Whiteshade today!” She crowed, bouncing on her paws. To make sure her denmates got up, she gave them each a quick shake. “Getupgetupgetupppp~” She sang, tearing from the den with her tail streaming behind her. She nearly crashed into a passing warrior. The stern-faced tom looked down at her with a scowl.

Grinning, Cherrypaw slunk around him. “Sorry, but we’re running late!” She called hastily, watching as the deputy’s form slipped from camp. Cursing to herself, she snuck a look at the apprentices’ den. Her friends were stirring she hoped. Sighing, she ran after the deputy. Her tall legs made her rather fast, but not near as fast as he was. She dodged logs and puddles of mud as she streaked across the wet forest. The scent drew closer and Cherrypaw increased her speed. She spied the deputy’s white coat through the ferns and skidded to a stop in front of him. As soon as her paws started to slide, she knew it had been a mistake. “Fox-” she began, watching as the mud slung from underneath her paws and showering both her and the warrior in front of her. “-dung.” She finished meekly, flattening her ears to her head. “Um… S-Sorry Whiteshade. W-What are we learning today? Camouflage? Heh.” She joked, twiddling her paws nervously.[/style][/style]

[/style]

[ATRB=CELLSPACING,0,TRUE][ATRB=CELLPADDING,0,TRUE][ATRB=BORDER,0,TRUE]

[style=width: 130px; height: 125px; text-align: center; line-height:40px; font-family: georgia; font-size: 9px; color: #fff; text-transform: uppercase; padding: 10px; background-color: #333333;]white/adder/sparrow! 327 words 55323D · speech[/style]

[ADDERPAW]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,5,true][atrb=style, background-color:#d7d8c5; padding:10px; height:400px] [STYLE=padding-top:10px; background-color:#d7d8c5; width:350px; border-bottom:8px solid #54524e; font-size:18px; font-family:georgia; letter-spacing:-2px; text-align:center; line-height:14px; color:54524e;]ATTACK WITH DEADLY PRECISION[/style] [STYLE=background-color:#e4e6d1; width:338px; height:300px; font-size:10px; border:1px dotted #54524e; text-align:justify; padding:5px; overflow:auto; font-family:arial; color:#54524e]Walking through the swamp lands that were owned by ShadowClan, a young apprentice lifted his nose into the air, opened his jaw, and breathed in all the scents around him. His claws dug into the soft, mucky ground and he let out a deep breath. There had been nothing unusual in the air, and it made him grin. His tail flicked and he looked around him because even though he had smelt nothing unusual, he still wanted to find something. He wanted to find some foolish feline trespassing to fight away, or even something as simple as a mouse. Something...something to give him something fun to do. He was getting to the portion of his apprenticeship where in only a couple moons he'd be able to be a warrior. He was growing up and he wanted nothing more than to prove himself.... He wanted to do it in the Warriors Games, the ones that were coming up and would probably be the last ones while he was an apprentice. He wanted that small piece of glory.... “Getupgetupgetupppp~” The urgent - and slightly annoying voice - entered the world around the apprentice and caused his eyes to flicker open. As they flickered, he was shown another world - the apprentice's den. The tom twitched as he started coming to and let out a large yawn. "Cherrypaw," he muttered annoyed. "I as having such a peaceful-", he stopped mid-sentence as he remembered tat he was training with the other apprentices under the deputy's watchful gaze. He wanted to prove himself, didn't he? Wasn't that what he was feeling in the dream that was already starting to fade from his mind? Well, this was his chance. He shot to his paws, shook his head, attempting to get rid of the lingering feeling of drowsiness and padded out of the den, following Cherrypaw's scent, though he didn't leave in such a frenzy rush as she had. He was already late, what good would it be to run and loose some extra strength that he'd need in the training session? So instead, he followed at a simple and normal pace until he finally caught up and saw Cherrypaw and Whiteshade. He bowed his head slightly in respect to the deputy and mewed, "Pardon me that I'm a bit late, Whiteshade." He looked back up at the deputy, excited to get on with the training.[/style] template made by oxymoron! of back to neverland

[STYLE=width:100px; height:100px; background-color:#d7d8c5; border-right:8px solid #54524e; padding:5px; float:left][/style] [STYLE=width:100px; background-color:#d7d8c5; border-right:8px solid #54524e; float:left; font-size:15px; font-family:georgia; color:#54524e; line-height:15px; letter-spacing:-2px; padding:5px]400 words with whiteshade, cherrypaw [/style]

[RAINPAW]

Darkness engulfed everything. The delicate patter of paws echoed through the tunnels. Rainpaw panted as she sprinted, there was no way out of the tunnels used for The Great Race. She started to panic, a thousand thoughts raced through her head, but none of them were optimistic. The apprentice slowed and came to a halt. She accepted the fact that she would never make it out of there, alive at least. Rainpaw laid down, and imagined every and any bad thing that could happen to her in that moment, like the earth collapsing on top of her and even having to face starvation.

“Getupgetupgetupppp!"

Rainpaw jolted awake at the sound of Cherrypaw yelling in her ears. It was all just a bad dream. Although she was nervous about the games, she was also excited about them. Cherrypaw dashed out of the apprentice den. Rainpaw shook her head, stretched quickly then followed after her Clanmate. She emerged from the den just in time to see the flash of Whiteshade's pelt as he exited the camp. Due to the fact that Rainpaw was the eldest apprentice, she didn't race after the deputy like Cherrypaw had, but instead trotted after them. Today was a good day to get some training done and practice for The Fight portion of The Warrior Games, if she was even chosen as a Shadowclan candidate. The Warrior Games always happened at the same time, no matter the weather, so they needed to practice in every weather condition they possibly could. It happened to be cloudy and gray today.

Rainpaw soon reached her Clanmates and ducked her head in apology to Whiteshade, "Sorry for being late." Adderpaw was close behind her. She then whispered to Cherrypaw, "Thanks for waking me up, Whiteshade would've had a fit if I were any later than this!" The apprentice was ready to practice and perfect her fighting skills.

[SPARROWPAW]

It was cold, and actually rather loud. With a flick of her ear, the orange tabby opened her eyes just enough to see the other apprentices rousing. Slowly, as if she didn't have somewhere to be, the she-cat got to her paws. Then, she made her way out of the den and looked around for a moment before heading into the forest. She wasn't exactly lazy. But she figured giving the others a head start would do just fine. Then, as if something had gained her attention, she dashed through the snow. She took a shortcut and ended up at the fallen log at about the same time as Cherrypaw, who was the first to leave. Behind her came Rainpaw and Adderpaw. She was panting quietly, but didn't seem to mind. Running was one of her favorite things to do aside from sleeping.

She didn't bother to apologize, since everyone else was doing it. Instead, she stood ready for anything. The white deputy clearly had plans for the day and if the she-cat had an ounce of an idea, it had to do with the upcoming Games. Games that she was hoping she wouldn't have to participate in. Sparrowpaw would still practice, however, in case. Her paws found a comfortable stance, though she was ready to take action were something to happen. The young she-cat wasn't extremely worried about being attacked without a chance to think, but it never hurt. Her mentor had taught her that and it was something she would keep with her for the time being. When everyone else had finished groveling, she finally said, "Can we start?"

Sparrowpaw was quite impatient to begin, mostly because the cold was creeping back after her short run and she wasn't looking forward to getting cold. Shifting from paw to paw, she looked up at the tom with anxious eyes.

[WHITESHADE]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,10,true][atrb=style, width:400px; background-color:#f5f5f5; border: solid 4px #ebebeb;bTable][classy=homo][style=-webkit-border-radius: 100px; -moz-border-radius: 100px; border-radius: 100px; height: 100px; width: 100px; background: url(http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4098/4891468838_bd586a4937_q.jpg); float:left; margin-left:25px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 20px][/style][style=height: 100px; width: 300px; font-family:tahoma; font-size:10px; text-align: justify; letter-spacing:1px; padding:30px] tags: shadowclan apprentices notes: hope this is fair. posting order will change to just the two apprentices when they spar, so that this can get done faster. [/style][/classy]

[classy=gay]
[style=width:350px; color:#414141; font-family:tahoma; font-size:11px; text-align: justify; letter-spacing:1px; float:center; padding:2px; margin: 2px; overflow: auto; height: 450px]He saw it coming. By the darkforest, he could hear her coming from two tree-lengths away. And yet, as he saw the little she-cat come charging forward, he didn't think to move an inch. He just stood, slightly dazed, eyes only springing wide when she yowled out-

"FOX-"

A noticeable cringe befell the toms features as her skidding bodice brought a pile of wet mud, nettles, and StarClan knows what else onto his pelt.

"Dung. Um… S-Sorry Whiteshade. W-What are we learning today? Camouflage? Heh.”

[/color]

His eyes were wide for a moment, looking down at his white fur in horror, his inner she-cat wailing in sorrow. All that meticulous grooming just to be…

He slowly rose his amber gaze up from his pelt onto the she-cat and blinked. Twice. His shocked expression unchanging for many moments before

his maw cracked an amused smile, and he shot out a paw to playfully bat Cherrypaw over the head, his stern demeanour cracking for just a moment “Camouflage? Well, dear, you’re better suited for that then me. I’d have to roll myself in this to even relatively blend in here.” he mused, lifting up his paw to have a quick groo- …better not, this mud was still rather wet. He hoped there wouldn't be too many RiverClan patrols today by the water. “And I’d rather not. You never know what’s in this mud.”

As Adderpaw approached, he returned to his strict self and expression. Whiteshade sat in silence as Rainpaw, and finally Sparrowpaw, came and sat before him as well. With the light ginger she-cat's call to start, he cleared his throat and stood, addressing the four apprentices.

"In light of your approaching mid-assessments and the games, I've decided to see how decently your mentors have been preparing you. Today is going to be simple; we have two rounds of sparring, the winner of each having their own little round against each other. Between each fight, I will critique any mistakes I see, and give advice for future endeavours. After we've finished, I'll see if we have enough time to show you something new before we call it in. Sound good? Good."

His gaze fell upon those he could pick out as the oldest, a dark gray-blue tabby, Rainpaw, and the black and white Adderpaw.

"Adder, Rain, being the two eldest here, you're up first. Start when I tell you to." the deputy ordered, before addressing the other two, "Cherry and Sparrow, you sit beside me and watch closely."

Whiteshade waited a moment for them to move before continuing, now calling to Adderpaw and Rainpaw once more, "Alright, I don't want to have to drag either of you to Tigerleaf, so keep your claws sheathed and stop when one of you pins the other." Every year he said this to a different group of apprentices and yet still every year it seemed one of them would break his only two rules. He had a small hope another training session wouldn't have to be cut short again.

"Ready?...Go!" he yowled, and began to watch every move the two practising apprentices made.





[/style][/classy][style=width:350px; font-family:georgia; font-style:italic; font-weight:bold; font-size:18px; text-align: right; letter-spacing:1px; float:center; padding:2px; margin: 2px; color:#616161; letter-spacing:-1px;][/style][newclass=gay ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background: #dddddd;[/newclass][newclass=gay ::-webkit-scrollbar-corner]background: transparent;[/newclass][newclass=homo]background-color: #f5f5f5; color: #f5f5f5; width: 100px; height: 100px; text-align: center; -webkit-transition:all 0.7s ease; -moz-transition:all 0.7s ease; -o-transition:all 0.7s ease; float: [/newclass][newclass=homo:hover]background-color: #f5f5f5; color: #333333; -webkit-transition:all 0.7s ease; -moz-transition:all 0.7s ease; -o-transition:all 0.7s ease;[/newclass][/td][/tr][/table][style= font-size:9px; font-family:tahoma]LAIKA of BTN and OTE[/style][/center]

[ADDERPAW]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,5,true][atrb=style, background-color:#d7d8c5; padding:10px; height:400px] [STYLE=padding-top:10px; background-color:#d7d8c5; width:350px; border-bottom:8px solid #54524e; font-size:18px; font-family:georgia; letter-spacing:-2px; text-align:center; line-height:14px; color:54524e;]ATTACK WITH DEADLY PRECISION[/style] [STYLE=background-color:#e4e6d1; width:338px; height:300px; font-size:10px; border:1px dotted #54524e; text-align:justify; padding:5px; overflow:auto; font-family:arial; color:#54524e]Sparring. As Adderpaw listened to the deputy, he started to get excited. In truth, he should have expected something like this, though he had been more under the impression that they'd have a prey-hunting competition or something - see who could bring back the most lizards and scrawny mice. He would have tried hard at the hunting, of course, but fighting was more his forte. He was the type that lied an opponent who could think about things and make things interesting. Hunting prey was all the same. If you missed the first time, the thing just ran away. Felines didn't act the same way. They are trained in the world of the warriors to fight back To dodge and attack, to weave in and out. It was like a dance. And he sure did enjoy that dance. "Adder, Rain, being the two eldest here, you're up first." Adderpaw nodded, his claws sinking into the dirt, before the deputy reminded them to keep their claws sheathed and he sighed and obliged. Of course to him, battling with sheathed claws was harder simply because you couldn't injure a feline in any particular way to truly called the match over; you had no choice but to pin them to call the match to an end. Interesting and fun, but still a little on the unpractical side. He watched as the deputy and other two apprentices moved out of the way of the battle and waited for the deputy's cue to start. He watched Rainpaw closely, keeping his eyes on the she-cat who was only but a moon older than he, and thought about what to start out with, even though he knew. "Ready?...Go!" The apprentice grinned at the deputy's orders, but he did not take a step towards the she-cat, nor did he take a step away from her. he just stood where he was, as still as possible, his eyes locked on her. By watching a feline's eyes, you had a better chance at reading their movements before they made them. By staying still and preparing your muscles to respond rather than attack, you had the upper hand when it came to reflex and movement. The tom grinned and urged the other apprentice on, taunting her silently through the eye contact to attack him, even though he he stayed calm on the inside. Exploit the enemies weaknesses. If you know none from the start, don't make a move till you can identity them. Making the first move was overrated. He much rather enjoyed fighting like the prey he was named after - one of the few preys that will attack a predator. Stealthy, from the shadows, careful, and when finally attacked, with a keep, deadly bite. Even if the deadly portion was only a metaphor in this instance.[/style] template made by oxymoron! of back to neverland

[STYLE=width:100px; height:100px; background-color:#d7d8c5; border-right:8px solid #54524e; padding:5px; float:left][/style] [STYLE=width:100px; background-color:#d7d8c5; border-right:8px solid #54524e; float:left; font-size:15px; font-family:georgia; color:#54524e; line-height:15px; letter-spacing:-2px; padding:5px]468 words with whiteshade & apprentices [/style]

[RAINPAW]

Of course, it was to be expected that her and Adderpaw would fight first, since they were the eldest apprentices of the group. She had sparred with him only a few times before, but she wasn't completely familiar with his fighting style. Every cat fought a little differently, even cats from the same clan. It all depended on the way their bodies were built and the way their brains were wired. Rainpaw caught the other apprentice's sigh, and she too sighed with him. Although she didn't want to bring harm to her Clanmate, she thought that it was impossible to get the full experience of sparring unless claws were unsheathed. But, there was no point in arguing with the deputy. His word was law to an apprentice like her, and she respected it.

Whiteshade and the other two apprentices moved to the side, which cleared a space for Adderpaw and her to spar comfortably. Her eyes quickly darted back to her opponent's. Rainpaw tensed her body, ready for him to spring at her. But, he did not move. The apprentice simply stared at her, calculating her every movement, she presumed. She knew what he was doing, waiting for her to make the first move, that was fine by Rainpaw though. Her icy blue eyes narrowed and focused on his. A grin slowly crept onto her face. Fighting moves raced through her mind as she tried to figure out the right way to approach this situation. Adderpaw may be younger than her, but he was stronger. Rainpaw was smaller, but she was faster. She finally decided on her first move. It wasn't the best move to start off with, she saw many ways to counter it but it was the only thing she could think of. It wasn't something that could easily be expected like launching herself on top of him, so she hoped that she could surprise him and use that element to her advantage.

Rainpaw crouched down and slowly crept around Adderpaw. She kept an even distance from him for the first few strides. Then all of a sudden, she dove at him. She skidded into the other apprentice, and knocked him off his paws, practically bowling him over. She almost went with him, but at the last moment she leaped away from Adderpaw as if he were a snake about to strike her.