Challenging the Hawk (Jinx and I)

[Breezy]

The broad shoulder Bengal bronze tom let his tail lash through air. He was clearly annoyed but why what one would not know unless of course you were his apprentice. He had told her to be here at Sunrise and the sun was now making its way higher into the sky letting everything know it was a new day. The suns rays made his pelt glow and the dodger blue eyes seem like endless waves. He shook his head where could the little she-cat be? He wasn't use to cats being so late. He had seen Thunderpaw up earlier and told her to awake Juniperpaw but Thunderpaw always had her own agenda so she wasn't the one to follow orders directly.

He closed his eyes letting his other two main senses take over he needed to calm himself and the longer he thought on things the more aggravated he became. His ears twitched at the sound of a running mouse, the flap of a birds wings as it landed and the cry of a squrriel to another. Nature pleased him even if he did eat the animals he enjoyed listening to. He wondered what little Silverstream was up to. He hadn't seen the beautiful she-cat in a few days and it made his nerves on edge. He long to see her like a newborn kit longed for its mother's warmth and milk. He questioned himself on why this she-cat had made such a big impact on him in such little time. It was a first for him as was the tugging feeling in his belly at the thought of her.

[jinx]

Juniperpaw was late for class. Thunderpaw was assigned to wake her, but of course the she-cat had had other ideas in mind. The little ThunderClan apprentice let her fur sook in the rays of the rising sun. It was great to wake up to the sun and not the moon after all the moon had always seemed eerie to her. Juniperpaw shook her head. This wasn't what she was suposse to be doing, she had to get to class. This really isn't my day is it...Juniperpaw sighed. The white-brown feline raced her way toward the Sandy Hollow, but took her time to see the sights. When she first explored the forest all the sights had made her feel dizzy, but now, they all seemed to blend in together in harmony. When she arrived a few heeartbeats later the sight made her stomatch feel bad. Her mentor, Hawkstar was deep in thought and looked like something was troubling him. What could have happened that made a Clan leader so depressed?

Maybe a prank would cheer him up! Juniperpaw grinned as her eyes narrowed on the begal bronze leader's tail. Juniperpaw had always found Hawkstar's tail a bit cute, but not attractive. The apprentice had never liked hiding, but this was an exception for her. The ThunderClan apprentice stuffd herself in a soft, but itchy bush. It wasn't the best, but it would have to do. Here goes! 1 2 3 Jump! Juniperpaw timed it perfectly. She could almost taste victory, but at the last second Hawkstar's tail moved and Juniperpaw found herself landing on sand. Mouse-dung! the apprentice cussed as she looked up at Hawkstar. "Umm... Hi," Juniperpaw attempted a smile, but couldn't. This would certainly be epic Juniperpaw though If I don't get it first... "I was worried about you, you seemed sort of... depressed about something. And I wanted to cheer you up... I sorry," Juniperpaw go to her paws and smiled. "Now, can that all be water under a bridge?" Juniperpaw asked as she shook her pelt out. The white-brown apprentice looke up at her mentor, waiting for his reply.

[Breezy]

Hawkstar shook his head at his late apprentice he hadn't heard her till she shifted into the leap that had gave her away but he was proud she had such excellent stalking. He listen to her ramble for a moment then stop speaking her little eyes boring into him. He glared back for a moment think how she pulled such a move on him. But it was possibly because he had been thinking more than being alert. Whatever the case may be he couldn't let her get to much glory from him. It would just go to her head so none the less he was going to fuss at her. She was trying to snoop into his personal business and he didn't necessarily like that. His dodger blue eyes flicked to her brown and white face. He gave an annoyed sigh before speaking to her. His voice even and a bit aggravated.

"If only life were are easy as that. Today you will learn how to hunt birds."

Her pouncing skills need to be better and he would make that happen by making her hunt. He looked of for a moment hearing a squirrel run through the undergrowth and a mouse nibble of something nearby. His eyes turned back to her his eye brows furrowed. His tone was even ago as the dodger blue eyes just stoney.

"Go of hunting now. I'll be watching you once you kill each prey I will give you tips to improve. Be gone from my site."

[jinx]

Juniperpaw almost laughed. How can he see me hunt if he wants me gone from his sight The thought was very amusing. Still she had a task to do. Juniperpaw simply nooded as she was given her assignment from Hawkstar. It was simple : catch a bird. Of course it was harder than catching mice or your occasional disabled rabbit, but it as quite easy once you know how. The apprentice's ears perked listening to the sounds of nature. A chirp from a balckbird alerted Juniperpaw and she went into action. She smirked as she let her claws slide out and unsheated. Perfect the apprentice thought. The white-brown feline leaped onto the tree the blackbird perched. Juniperpaw identified it as a cedar tree a tree of exqusite beauty, but not as pretty as a juniper bush Juniperpaw smiled at the thought, after all she was named after that bush. The she-cat landed nimbly on the branch, but then she noticed another shape in the cedar tree. A few fox-lengths of branches away from the blackbird it perched unaware of Juniperpaw. Juniperpaw knew from experince that a piegon would feed more felines, but a blackbird would taste more exqisute compared to a piegon. The apprentice turned to Hawkstar for help, but thought better of it. I can do this without his help! Juniperpaw thought. She just wouldn't admit defeat, not yet. If she hunted the blackbird, the piegon would notice due to its death cry and the same would go wrong if she tried her luck with the piegon. The benefits of a piegon are more than a blackbird... Juniperpaw finalnized at last. The apprentice launched herself up and away onto the perch of the piegon. Juniperpaw slowly stalked her way up to the piegon. Then she lept at her prey, claws extended and ready to sag its wing if it took off. Luckily it was a slow one. The piegon only had a moment to live. Juniperpaw put it out of its misery as she bit down on its throat ending its bird life. She looked back at the blackbird. It was about to take off, but Juniperpaw could still get it. It was a risky move, if she failed, she would drop like a rock and hit the ground... hard. It's a risk worth taking Juniperpaw thought as she laid her piegon down and lept at the blackbird. She manged to claw its wing, but it wouldn't give up its life that easily. Unfortunatly it couldn't fly and when Juniperpaw repeled in suprise it fell into the ground meeting its drop of death. Juniperpaw felt satisfied with the prey she caught. Now she kinda understood the meaning of killing 2 birds with 1 stone. "Thank you for being lunch," Juniperpaw mewed as she patted both bird on the head. She imangined if they could talk they would have said "It's not like we wanted it!" Juniperpaw laughed at that thought. Then, she turned to Hawkstar "Well, how was that?

[Breezy]

Hawkstar had change positions when she leapt for the blackbird so when she spoke to the spot he use to be hiding in he merely chuckled his way down to the lower branch. He had to admit it was impressive but she still needed a better launch. The dive for the pigeon was amazing indeed but her haunches still did the odd wiggle he always saw and that had shook the leaves a bit. Luckily for her the birds had been to busy with themselves to notice. He sat neatly with his head slightly raised and his tail wrapping around his paws. He watched her a moment before he spoke his tone still even but it held an edge of pride.

"Excellent kills you'll make a fine hunter. But if you don't control your wiggling haunches..... that drains half your energy when you prepare to jump. To be honest you have speed similar to Fallenfeather which means you leap faster through the air than others. But you also have something else he doesn't. You have the leaping power of one myself. You just hold yourself back by the wiggling of your haunches. Your not aware of it as it is a natural habit."

He let her soak his note in before unsettling again and starting down the tree to retrieve the blackbird. He beckoned her down with his tail before disappearing heading back to Sandy Hallows. He had great belief that Juniperpaw, although unaware of it, she could may one day be greater than Lighteningstrike. He had been born when Lightenstrike was the deputy and also became his mentor. Before Frostbite had appeared Lightenstrike was most feared but he had mercy unlike the white warrior he had met in battle many times. She was a beautiful cat but as cold as ice.

Juniperpaw had the same natural skills just as Lighteningstrike. He didn't know strength wise but she had three out of the four skills Lighteningstrike possessed. He had three out of the four himself. The strength, speed and intelligence. Which was why he had choose her. He was going to train her to be stronger than a natural she-cat. Nothing major that could match a tom's real strength but just enough to knock a tom over without the surprise attack.It was originally why he had choose to train her when he first saw her as a kit. She was 5 moons when she showed the first skill in attack her other fellow kits. He knew then she would be something amazing to the clan. Once he saw the tuff of brown and white come closer in ear shot he began to speak again.

"I want you to attack me after you bury your prey. Find a way to attack me in a way I won't expect and knock me off balance as much as you can."

It would be a harder task than it seemed. It was hard to knock over Hawkstar even with the help if surprise. He had been taught to hold himself evenly balanced in fight stances which also made him light and fast even though he was usually heavy. If you spread out you weight enough you became balance instead of just leveled on one side as many cats were but unaware of. Lighteningstrike had taught him that and only four other cats knew of it beside himself. Moonstar, Frostbite, and Hallowwisp. Frostbite had learned from Moonstar and he had been told Hallowwisp was born with it but unaware of her unnatural power.

Soon would Juniperpaw, he had told her at the beginning when he choose her that she could not share anything he taught her with any other cat. He would trust she would do so, if she didn't then he would have to stop training her and she would never learn the skillfully. He stood legs spread evenly and began to balance himself, find his center. He closed his eyes letting his sense become alert, even if she did manage to go undetected she wouldn't be able to knock him off on the first try he knew to well as that was what happen with him and Lighteningstrike.

[jinx]

Juniperpaw was delighted. She had caught two birds in such a short time, but still she had to get evaulated by her mentor, Hawkstar. I wonder what he would think... Juniperpaw tensed, but when she heard Hawkstar she was pleased, even if he did critize her a bit about her wiggling hunches. "I really haven't noticed that, it felt fine to me, but of course it's better to see than to feel. Even if it does wiggle, what can I do about it, I guess it just come naturally," Juniperpaw mewed, a bit unasure of the matter. But then she heard Hawkstar's next assesment. Sweet! Juniperpaw thought a tiny smile on her face. She was never sly or cunning nor was she sneaky enough, but instead she would go for a direct attack... always. Juniperpaw loved how a hunting session turning into a fighting session. The apprentice could feel the wind blowing her forward as if saying "Go on get him!" Hawkstar was a tough oppenent, he was well balanced and was very bulky and strong, you won't want to face him in battle unless of course you were out of the right mind. With that thought Juniperpaw charged at Hawkstar, but not in a straight line like most cats would expect, but a zig-zag like a thunderbolt. She had thought of it when she was a kit and heard that she saw thunder, she was amazed at its amazing shape and converted it into a move of her own she called "The Thunder Zig" She had often thought of it as a move that would catch your oppenent off guard and then you went under the chest and then you give them a good old classic belly rake. But this case was different, she would have to change her tactic, instead of using a belly rake she went straight for the tom's chest and ramed against it. It felt hard and strong, but it didn't seem fazed, or was she wrong. Do it work? the tiny apprentice thought as she felt the impact. Well, this was just getting started after all.

[Breezy]

Hawkstar watched her charge at him in a zig zag manner trying to confuse him. She was fast but his eyes could keep up with her short quick movement. When she started he estimated the time of her attack would be six seconds. He counted slowly as she neared in his head. Once he had reached six the little she-cat slammed into his chest he was surprised she had knocked his breathing out of place but had not managed to sway his body. He sat down for a moment inhaling deeply as he regained his normal breathing he spoke to his apprentice.

"Unique technique but failure at task. I didn't say to show be a beautiful style of movement to attack I asked for you to knock me over. Maybe if your haunches weren't wiggling you could of had a bit more power to sway me. Again and this time when you start out do not wiggle your haunches."

He was harsh now of course but he was disappointed to see her still wiggle her haunches a bit before running at him it was valuable time wasted in battle and energy needed. He dropped to a crouch balancing out again, this time he wouldn't be position in full on defense but both offense and defense. His body was twisted at an angle to where she was so to charge would be foolish as his paws would easily knock her away. She needed. New technique and control over her haunches.

[jinx]

Juniperpaw sighed. She had made an honest effort to try to sway the mighty Bengal bronze tom. "I honestly tried, and-" Juniperpaw protested. But by now the tiny apprentice know protesting would go nowhere with Hawkstar, only actions spoke. He's to heavy for me to to sway.. but maybe if he got dizzy and made himself fall, that would be perfect Juniperpaw thought with a sly smile planted on her face. She first took a light pace to start around Hawkstar like a mini hurricane. Then, she speed up and moved like a blur, but to say that would be a total exaggeration. Then she went for the tom's paws trying to lift them backwards and make him fall, but it didn't seem to be working. At least I know I made a good effort Juniperpaw thought as she gave one final effort and heave of Hawkstar's paws.

[Breezy]

Hawkstar smirked at her as she started off pacing around him before she could even gain enough speed he knew she was going to make circles around him. Instead of trying to watch her he braced himself and listened for her paw steps. She was pretty silent when it came to her running a skill most cats didn't ever gain even from efforts of learning. He swatted at her lightly when she pushed against his fore paw missing her on purpose but making her flinch backwards. He nipped at her ear before gripping her by the scruff and setting her before him. He lowered himself so he was eye level with her before speaking.

"Smart move any apprentice would of easily been fooled, and you seem to control you haunches a bit more that's good. But you will not learn how to brace yourself on the level I have till you control them completely."

He watched her a moment, she reminded him so much of his fellow litter mate Tanglekit. Sadly she never made apprentice as she died of greencough. His eye brows furrowed at that thought. He shook the random thought from him mind wrinkled his bright pink nose as he figured what her next task would be.

"We will play hide and seek. At the start of this I will try to find you while you hide. If I find you, your dead. Let's pretend I'm a cat from a different clan you need to find me before I find you and when you find me you must knock me over or you lose."

[jinx]

Juniperpaw grimaced as Hawkstar told her her next assignment. Hide-and-Seek was the very game she loathed. She never had a chance at not getting caught or catching everyone, but one person was quite easy. Juniperpaw considered her choices. A bush was too easy to guess and would never cover her fully. Blwnding in with the trees and all was too complicated. but climbing a tree would be good, but the problem was that with trees, there was always a spot where your oppenent could see you unless you keep moving that is... Juniperpaw broke into a sprint and quickly climbed a tree. A pine tree... I must be close to ShadowClan territory... Juniperpaw thought. She could smell the reek of the monsters as they roared by leaving their ugly scent.The apprentice sighed as she stared into the Thunderpath. A monster roared by and when Juniperpaw looked at it, she could vaguely see a few Twoleg like outlines inside the belly of the beast. Did the monster swallow them? Juniperpaw thought amazed. Then she shook her head and focused on the ground beneath her. It wasn't a far ways down, but she was up high enough to be hidden among the leaves of the trees. The apprentice scanned the ground waiting for Hawkstar to wander by and for her to get Hide-and-Seek over with... once and for all this time

[Breezy]

Hawkstar closed his eyes before he heard the paw steps of the young she-cat fade as did her alluring scent. He knew she was heading towards another clans border. It certainly wasn't Riverclan, if she had gone near there he would of panicked mentally of course. He wouldn't show his fear nor panic especially to someone who he wanted respect from. Dismissing those rambling thoughts he finally let the light create the view of his own territory. He inhaled deeply sucking in scents of many the main one being Juniperpaws.

Starting off he padded off towards her scent. Walking indirectly after it, he paused at a fox's den. It was old maybe a moon old, he crawled inside letting the scent cling to his pelt tilt he couldn't smell nothing but fox. After crawling back out with disgust written on his face he took note that she had headed towards Thunder path. It made him slightly worried but also pretty proud. He climbed up a nearby tree observing the area but didn't see anything unusual. He grunted smirking a bit maybe this would be a bit harder than that.

(My muse sucks >.<)