Training Isn't Only for New Recruits
***
Captain Swiftpaw Starear was a dangerous and intimidating hare. He towered a full head (not counting the ears, of course) above everybody else at Camp Rivermoon, and made a point of using his deep voice to its full extent. The Captain carried a walking stick, although he was not lame, for the sole purpose of whacking lazy troops on the head, footpaws, or behind. Or so he said, for, in reality, nobody had ever seen him use it in that way.
Swiftpaw had an amazing capacity for training new recruits. Nobody quite knew how he did it, but he could have even the most uncoordinated creature fighting fit within, at worst, a month. That was why he took over te newest batch of recruits, which included Trillium, a young mouse, and Ash, a red squirrel a season or so her junior.
Trillium did not understand why she had to go through basic training, when she had been using her Claymore since she could hardly walk. She felt ashamed to be placed with such unexperienced would-be soldiers, until Ash explained some of Rivermoon's rules.
"Calm down, Trill," the squirrel said on their first day with Swiftpaw. "It's nothing against you; each beast at Rivermoon has been, or will go, through this, regardless of skill level. Training is more of a way for the Captain to find out what you're best at."
"I guess you're right, Ash. I shouldn't take things so seriously." Trillium smiled apologetically, and then exclaimed, "Hey, there he is!"
She was pointing to Swiftpaw, who looked like something directly out of a nightmare. His fur was stained red so that it appeared that he was splattered in fresh blood. A bit of wax from a dark candle blacked out one of his teeth, and his ears were bent at grotesque angles. Soft roots draped around his shoulders were meant for a beast's innards. He growled and moaned ina frightening manner. The youngest recruits shrieked in terror when they saw him, but the older ones grinned knowingly as Swiftpaw began barking out the same speach he gave each time new trainees were brought before him.
"All right, me lucky buckoes, your educatin' starts here an' now. When you maggots speak to me, you will address me by my proper title, or 'sir.' But first things first." His manner became a bit more business like, but he still gestured wildly as he gave instructions. "Pair y'selves up for practice work; I want t'see whatcha little toads can do. Don't just stand there! Hop to your bally tasks!"
Trillium and Ash worked together, sword versus satff, which was the squirrel's favorite weapon. It was bound in thick leather, so it could not be cut. Ash was proficient in the use of the staff, but somewhat out of shape. Trillium, on the other hand, easily parried all of his thrusts, and returned them, without breaking a sweat. Luckily for the younger one, the Captain stepped in just as he collapsed.
"Hold on a blinkin' second, missie! You're about to give this here squirrel a heart attack! Quick now, what's you're name?"
"Trillium, sir." She threw a sharp salute as Ash watched from a few paces away.
"Trillium, eh. Must be new here. Where'd ya learn to handle steel like that?" He waved towards the Claymore held in her paw.
"My father taught me, Captain."
"How long have you been at it?"
"Since I was two seasons old, sir."
This rapidfire question and answer session went on for a few more minutes, until the Captain shocked all in hearing range, except for the warriormaid, by saying, "Well, you seem experienced enough, Trillium. C'mon, have at me! Let's see what you're really made of." That taunt was meant to anger her, but she was too calm to let it get to her.
A small dormouse leaned over to Ash and said, "My bet is for the Captain. He'll make mince-meat out of your friend."
"We'll see," was the only reply.
It wasn't long before everybeast had stopped sparring to watch new arrival and seasoned veteran engaged in swordplay. Much to the surprise of the officers nearby, Swiftpaw and Trillium seemed evenly matched. The hare aimed thrusts at her legs, stomach, head, and torso, but, no matter how he tried, he could not find an opening. Trillium was too fast. The Captain realized that this was a perilous beast, and definately one to be reckoned with.
Now Swiftpaw threw the full force of his skill, experience, and size into the fight. To the watchers, it seemed as though the mousemaid was giving ground, but then something happened that would be remembered forever.
Afterwards, they said that she had not moved her paw the tiniest fraction of an inch, but she had. With a small flick of her wrist, the young mousemaid disarmed the grat Captain Swiftpaw. She then put him flat on his back and stood with he bladepoint hovering over his throat.The crowd was silent as the huge hare's own longsword stuck quivering in the ground behind him.
"Good show! Absoballylutely top hole," Swiftpaw gasped out between breaths. And as Trillium was hoisted onto the shoulders of a brawny otter, Ash could be heard shouting:
"Three cheers for Trillium!" So they gave three of the loudest cheers ever heard on the training grounds of Camp Rivermoon, all for a mousemaid who taught a great trainer soem things about his own game.
***
OK, there's Part Two. Tell me if you loved it, hated it, or whatever. Thanks!
***
Captain Swiftpaw Starear was a dangerous and intimidating hare. He towered a full head (not counting the ears, of course) above everybody else at Camp Rivermoon, and made a point of using his deep voice to its full extent. The Captain carried a walking stick, although he was not lame, for the sole purpose of whacking lazy troops on the head, footpaws, or behind. Or so he said, for, in reality, nobody had ever seen him use it in that way.
Swiftpaw had an amazing capacity for training new recruits. Nobody quite knew how he did it, but he could have even the most uncoordinated creature fighting fit within, at worst, a month. That was why he took over te newest batch of recruits, which included Trillium, a young mouse, and Ash, a red squirrel a season or so her junior.
Trillium did not understand why she had to go through basic training, when she had been using her Claymore since she could hardly walk. She felt ashamed to be placed with such unexperienced would-be soldiers, until Ash explained some of Rivermoon's rules.
"Calm down, Trill," the squirrel said on their first day with Swiftpaw. "It's nothing against you; each beast at Rivermoon has been, or will go, through this, regardless of skill level. Training is more of a way for the Captain to find out what you're best at."
"I guess you're right, Ash. I shouldn't take things so seriously." Trillium smiled apologetically, and then exclaimed, "Hey, there he is!"
She was pointing to Swiftpaw, who looked like something directly out of a nightmare. His fur was stained red so that it appeared that he was splattered in fresh blood. A bit of wax from a dark candle blacked out one of his teeth, and his ears were bent at grotesque angles. Soft roots draped around his shoulders were meant for a beast's innards. He growled and moaned ina frightening manner. The youngest recruits shrieked in terror when they saw him, but the older ones grinned knowingly as Swiftpaw began barking out the same speach he gave each time new trainees were brought before him.
"All right, me lucky buckoes, your educatin' starts here an' now. When you maggots speak to me, you will address me by my proper title, or 'sir.' But first things first." His manner became a bit more business like, but he still gestured wildly as he gave instructions. "Pair y'selves up for practice work; I want t'see whatcha little toads can do. Don't just stand there! Hop to your bally tasks!"
Trillium and Ash worked together, sword versus satff, which was the squirrel's favorite weapon. It was bound in thick leather, so it could not be cut. Ash was proficient in the use of the staff, but somewhat out of shape. Trillium, on the other hand, easily parried all of his thrusts, and returned them, without breaking a sweat. Luckily for the younger one, the Captain stepped in just as he collapsed.
"Hold on a blinkin' second, missie! You're about to give this here squirrel a heart attack! Quick now, what's you're name?"
"Trillium, sir." She threw a sharp salute as Ash watched from a few paces away.
"Trillium, eh. Must be new here. Where'd ya learn to handle steel like that?" He waved towards the Claymore held in her paw.
"My father taught me, Captain."
"How long have you been at it?"
"Since I was two seasons old, sir."
This rapidfire question and answer session went on for a few more minutes, until the Captain shocked all in hearing range, except for the warriormaid, by saying, "Well, you seem experienced enough, Trillium. C'mon, have at me! Let's see what you're really made of." That taunt was meant to anger her, but she was too calm to let it get to her.
A small dormouse leaned over to Ash and said, "My bet is for the Captain. He'll make mince-meat out of your friend."
"We'll see," was the only reply.
It wasn't long before everybeast had stopped sparring to watch new arrival and seasoned veteran engaged in swordplay. Much to the surprise of the officers nearby, Swiftpaw and Trillium seemed evenly matched. The hare aimed thrusts at her legs, stomach, head, and torso, but, no matter how he tried, he could not find an opening. Trillium was too fast. The Captain realized that this was a perilous beast, and definately one to be reckoned with.
Now Swiftpaw threw the full force of his skill, experience, and size into the fight. To the watchers, it seemed as though the mousemaid was giving ground, but then something happened that would be remembered forever.
Afterwards, they said that she had not moved her paw the tiniest fraction of an inch, but she had. With a small flick of her wrist, the young mousemaid disarmed the grat Captain Swiftpaw. She then put him flat on his back and stood with he bladepoint hovering over his throat.The crowd was silent as the huge hare's own longsword stuck quivering in the ground behind him.
"Good show! Absoballylutely top hole," Swiftpaw gasped out between breaths. And as Trillium was hoisted onto the shoulders of a brawny otter, Ash could be heard shouting:
"Three cheers for Trillium!" So they gave three of the loudest cheers ever heard on the training grounds of Camp Rivermoon, all for a mousemaid who taught a great trainer soem things about his own game.
***
OK, there's Part Two. Tell me if you loved it, hated it, or whatever. Thanks!