Warriors: Beyond the Stars

"Okay, so for this move, you're gonna face away from your opponent and kick both of your hind legs back. In practice we keep out claws sheathed, but in battle we use our claws. Watch closely." Lionblaze demonstrated the back kick for the apprentices.

"So ya want us to buck?" Applepaw asked.

"Buck?" Lionblaze asked quizzically.

"Y'know, like this," Applepaw bucked a tree.

The tree shivered slightly.

"Okay, partner up and practice." Dovewing told them.

Applepaw jumped over Twilightpaw and tried the back kick. Twilightpaw was sent flying, landing a fox-length away.

All eyes turned to Applepaw as she blushed.

"Guess Ah bucked a little too hard." she walked over and helped Twilightpaw up.

"Let me try," Twiligthpaw swiftly moved behind Applepaw and did some quick calculations. If I use fulcrum and shark pull, the result will be of... Twilightpaw did the back kick and Applepaw stumbled a bit.

"You two keep trying. I'll partner up with Rainpaw." Lionblaze sauntered up to Rainpaw.

Rainpaw leaped over Lionblaze and turned in midair to catch his rear end with her paws. Rainpaw turned again and back kicked, sending him flailing.

An unsettling feeling took up residence in Ivypool's stomach. That almost looked like a Dark Forest move. she thought as a chill ran down her spine.

Ivypool shared a look with Dovewing.

Lionblaze got up and shook his head. "That was complex for somebody who's never trained before. Have you done that before?"

Rainpaw yawned. "I've done some pretty tough maneuvers before. That was easy compared to a Sonic Rainboom."

"Sonic Rainboom?"

Twilightpaw stepped forward. "She got flying so fast that she broke the sound barrier and created a Sonic Rainboom. Her mane and tail made the colors."

"Flying? Mane and tail? Whatever." Lionblaze shrugged it off.

"Can we do something harder?" Rainpaw rolled her eyes.

"Wh-where are we going?" Flutterpaw asked timidly.

"To the Old Twoleg nest. That's where my herbs grow." Jayfeather replied.

The uneven ground beneath their paws led to a black strip.

"What's this?" Flutterpaw tentatively put a paw on the road.

"That's a Thunderpath. Monsters usually run on them, but they don't use this one." Jayfeather warned.

"Oh," Flutterpaw took her paw off the Thunderpath.

"Come on. This way." Jayfeather prodded her toward the Old Twoleg nest.

There's the Old Twoleg nest where my herbs grow. I have catmint, borage, daisy,..." Jayfeather listed.

Flutterpaw sniffed the air. "What's that amazing scent? It smells like candy, but better!"

"That's catmint. We generally collect it when the morning dew gets burned off. That way it doesn't spoil during the winter. Catmint is for cats with greencough or whitecough." Jayfeather informed her.

"Wh-what're we collecting today?" Flutterpaw asked.

"Poppy seeds. Poppy seeds help a cat get to sleep if they're sick or injured." Jayfeather tasted the air.

"They should be over here. They're small." Jayfeather said helpfully, pointing with his tail toward the poppy seeds.

Flutterpaw tasted the air like Jayfeather did. There was a faint difference in the air where her mentor pointed. She followed it until there she saw several black dots. She scooped several into her mouth, careful not to break any, lest she get drowsy.

Flutterpaw's belly grumbled.

Jayfeather laughed. "I guess you're hungry. Let's get back to camp and get some fresh-kill.