Friendly Sparring [OPEN TO ALL TC/SkC APPRENTICES]

A gentle breeze swirled through the air, carrying the scent of both SkyClan and ThunderClan. The towering oak that was once a mighty giant now rested upon the forest floor, an easy marking for the separation between the two Clans. However, as StarClan had blessed them, an alliance now held them at peace. As such, it would give a great benefit to the apprentices of both clans in learning how to fight. SkyClan would have to bless them with the advantage of the branches, however, the deputy herself of ThunderClan would be taking charge and allowing them all to learn the even terrain - the earth that they shared beneath their paws.

No matter which clan they would be fighting beside or against, the ground would be their great equalizer. Cloudbreeze wanted to ensure that their allies and themselves knew how to use it. Even though she very well understood in a few moons they could be the enemy, the peace they currently shared would be one that she would use for the advantage of both the clans. Swiftly leaping upon the large oak, the mighty she-cat sat with the proud stance that could only be attributed to her father. Her nose stayed on the high alert for the presence of any rogue foes, but for the meantime, she would keep her mind honed on the young cats below.

"Skyclan and Thunderclan apprentices, as Deputy of Thunderclan I have been given the permission from both Silverstar and Lightningstar to teach you one of the most important skills an apprentice can learn aside from hunting." Her speech began, the prideful voice carrying her message to all of them. "While we currently stand in alliance, it's very possible that in the next few moons we could once more be enemies. Or, we could have to go to battle with a shared enemy. For that, all of us will need to know how to fight." She continued. "With Starclan's blessing guiding us as well, we will all get to learn that skill together. However, we will be doing it in friendliness. Keep your claws sheathed and any blows you make, don't hit too hard. This is to prepare us, but not to wound our allies." With the mighty she-cat rising from her spot, she had walked the length of the Fallen Oak, her tail and head held high with pride. Emphasis had fallen upon her warnings, as she wanted no cat to get hurt today.

"Other than that, I think we'll be having some fun today. Find a sparring partner, and as any other apprentices join, I'll help them join in."

Flashpaw was perhaps not the first apprentice one would expect to be present for sparring, at least not to actively participate. The medicine cat wanted to be sure that she not only could heal, but could also protect her Clan if the moment came when she had to. With the rogue threat looming over them, it seemed likely that the large she-cat might have to use her claws. Part of her dreaded that, memories of her kithood nightmares swirling through her head.

Even more reason to practice, so she could get control of her strength. The fluffy apprentice settled herself near the Fallen Oak, listening carefully to her sister's speech, then glancing about to see who she could partner up with.

---

Following both of his sisters, the brown tabby tom padded up to take a seat by the Fallen Oak. Peregrinepaw felt relatively confident, as Lightningstar was his mentor, but some practice never hurt.

Sunpaw hadn't been exactly thrilled when he was told SkyClan and ThunderClan apprentices would be given a chance to put aside their differences for the sake of battle training. He had yet to go to his first Gathering and the unfamiliar scent of ThunderClan make his pelt prickle with an instinctive distrust. But since the rogue cats had declared themselves a threat to all Clans, he knew he would have to train harder than ever before to defend himself and his clanmates. A good warrior would do whatever it took to hone his skills-- he had to take this opportunity seriously.
The ginger tabby tom sat with his paws firmly planted on the SkyClan side of the old tree trunk, his ears perked to listen to the ThunderClan deputy's words. He hopped to his paws when she finished and began eagerly searching for some cat to spar with.

Stormpaw stood firmly beside his sibling, eagerly scanning other apprentices. He just could not wait to start the sparring. He had to admit that he actually liked fighting to some extent. It had been a while since he and his father fought off the dangerous fox. He had not been engaged in any kind of fights ever since, but he missed the feeling of tensing muscles and boiling blood.

There was a gentle tension billowing between the soft slope of Acornpaw's delicate chest, an unintentional anxiety that seemed perfectly content to make home within her most vital organs.

It wasn't as though she found the prospect of spending the afternoon with ThunderClan cats to be unbearable - quite the contrary in fact, under totally normal circumstances she would be delighted to skip out on menial tasks to spend the afternoon flaunt the company of unfamiliar companions - but anything pertaining to fighting made her... uneasy. It was a skill she sorely lacked competence in, and just the mere prospect of ever having to wield her claws and teeth sent a sour taste building upon her tongue. Pressing against Sunpaw in a bid for the reassurance of familiarity, the small tortoiseshell couldn't help but cast an undeniably anxious gaze in the direction of her potential partners for the entire ordeal. Mottled fur rising atop the delicate curve of her spine, the young SkyClanner likely looked comical- a puffy mess of bristling fur, overwrought nerves, and wide eyes.

"I'm about as useless as a tom who went to the cutter when it comes to fighting!" Acornpaw confessed, unafraid of the possibility of her fellow Apprentices overhearing such a statement, "So hopefully I don't get my teeth kicked in too bad." Remaining in close proximity to her denmate, the young molly couldn't help but idly long for Robinpaw's appearance in the brewing fray- although they hadn't had time to train together for the most part, the red-blotched molly's appearance would've done wonders to soothe the ache blossoming in her belly.