A Devil's Finest Trick... [CLOSED]

Mist swirled around two alert green eyes before they sharpened and the fog retreated to the trees. Though the mushroom lit forrest was eerie in itself and attention worthy to be sure, Tigerhawk found herself staring down at a rather pretty creamy shecat. Her eyes narrowed at the cat. She was instantaneously wary though this cat looked as if harming her was as far on her agenda as anything. The young shecat knew she was dreaming, or she at least thought. Was she worried that past cats should only be talking to medicine cats? No, not really. Tigerhawk thought they finally had the smarts to notice a strong young warrior like herself. She also didn't expect this was the dark forrest, as clan cats really didn't know about that evil place until Starclan. No, she was thinking this was Starclan and surly a cat from that place would know her name. Perhaps she should keep her mouth shut and let her finish talking, it was only the polite thing. Tigerhawk almost scoffed out loud at the thought. Her, being polite? There's first time for everything I suppose...

So, the shecat stared on unwaveringly. Though she would never admit it, a twinge of something pricked her gut. Was it fear by chance? No, never. As if to prove it she forgot about being 'polite' and asked rather gruffly. "Is this Starclan? Its rather dull..." The last part faded out and she snuck a glance around. It was rather dull...

The warrior looked around, listening vaguely to the shecat's explanation. Her ears pricked at the sound of training Starclan cats. How strange... Why would cats rewarded with eternal peace or whatever train? Surely there where no threats to their existence? Tigerhawk's full attention was not rewarded until this medicine cat, Honeyleaf, mentioned her destiny. So it was true then? Finally, someone who saw her potential. This might have inflated the young warriors confidence, and she stood with a new aura of pride. With her full gaze resting on Honeyleaf she meowed, "How do you plan to do that?" Her question rang out a few heartbeats. Before she added what she was thinking. "Will you ensure that the new deputy position is mine?" It was true, a new deputy would have to be chosen soon. But would this medicine cat really ensure it was a young warrior like herself? Yes, Tigerhawk thought, why should her doubts of being young get in the way of her destiny.

Her green eyes slitted further at the first statement and she tensed up. However, this medicine cat did seem to have her best interests in mind and Tigerhawk was feeling, rather forgiving. Honeyleaf's reassurances helped too, of course. Soon she was back to a more relaxed stance, which mainly meant her claws had retreated into her paws and her spine wasn't rigid.

It was hard not to trust this cat, she just seemed so... helpful. Honeyleaf's words made since as well, and she seemed to know as well as Tigerhawk did what she believed laid in her future. The young warrior saw no reason not to trust a cat from Starclan. Her large tabby head nodded her agreement, and her green eyes flashed. "How will you aid me in this task?" Her gaze traveled up and down Honeyleaf. "Where you a well renowned medicine cat? Your name is unfamiliar to me." They where reasonable questions she thought. After all, if Honeyleaf where to lead her on, wouldn't it be normal for her to be curious about her? Grant it, Tigerhawk wasn't always the most curious of cats, but this medicine cat had her very curious in deed.

Fighting, something she could surely pass with ease. A wry smirk appeared on her maw, faint as the glowing mushrooms around her. Tigerhawk, despite being a proud cat, was still freshly out of her apprentice stage and knew the values of accepting instruction. From certain cats of course, anyone at home might have their ears clawed off if they suggested she was doing something wrong. But Honeyleaf was wise, and old.
There was no telling what she could share with the young warrior.
Tigerhawk fought of the urge to shiver as Honeyleaf's feathery fur brushed her flanks and her eyes followed the shecat as she circled. Despite wanting to seem calm and collected, the shecat felt a bubble of apprentice-like excitement. Who wouldn't? Not everyone got visited by a Starclan cat!
Her claws sunk into the marshy earth and kneaded the ground for a bit. The earth in her pads was soothing, yet it didn't keep the eagerness out of her eyes. "When shall we start, Honeyleaf?" Tigerhawk said the medicine cats name slowly, as if seeing how it rolled of her tongue. She wanted to see what fighting skills Honeyleaf had learned throughout the years, physical tasks where her favorite. Her eyes bored into Honeyleaf showing eagerness, apprehension, and that uncanny mixture of ambition and determination that meant no one was safe if they got in her way.

The young warrior smirked as Hobeyleaf's sweet voice trickled into her ear. Though her proud self would never admit it, she was surprised at the medicine cats agile movements. She had actually startled her a bit, perhaps she was more then just a pretty face.
Tigerhawk's heavy tail lashed, making the thick mist around it swirl and her whiskers gave a slight twitch. Perfect, they would get started immediately. This is how she liked it, right to business.
Hee well kept claws slid out once again, disturbing the earth below her.  They glinted ivory and deadly sharp.  Her intense gaze narrowed once again, her orbs gleaming in the dull light. They seemed to absorb it, with the slight glow they gave.  Her stance hadn't changed much, but her muscles where 'locked and loaded' as one might say.  She was ready to move with the slightest twitch Honeyleaf gave.
"Always." Came her confident voice. The single word seemed to express many things. It was a challenge of sorts, inviting Honeyleaf to try and surprise her again. She may have been caught off guard the first time, but she was ready now. This medicine cat may have been unexpectedly agile, but so was she. Tigerhawk was ready for her first lesson.  

 Tigerhawk, trained expertly in battle, turned around with nimbleness for a cat half her size. It was a quick, fluid, and precise action. This was her element, she knew every bit and piece of battle training that she could learn from her clan.
Everything seemed to move in slow motion as Honeyleaf started her assault again. Tigerhawk made a split second decision deciding that the medicine cat was lunging to her left, Tiger's right. After that was a mystery, but due to her size difference there was a chance she could slip under her torso. It was all careful guessing, but she had fought enough cats to see al sorts of different styles. Honeyleaf's may have been unique, but that didn't faze her.
Bunching her hind legs, Tigerhawk lunged nimbly to her right, making sure to stay out of the way of Honeyleaf's barreling form. Safely out of reach, the shecat stuck out her left forepaw, aiming to trip the medicine cat. It might have been treacherous play, but all is fair in the game of war, right? Should she succeed, the young warrior would make an easy pin on the downed shecat. The pin of course, would depend on how she fell.
Other times Tigerhakw might have been mocking during a training session, but the little bit of respect she had (It isn't much mind you) told her it would be better not to tease this Starclan cat. Well, at least not on the first day.

In her attempt to trip Honeyleaf, she was indeed off balanced. So when the smaller cats head shoved into her shoulder she stumbled to her left. For a precarious heartbeat, a wide eyed Tigerhawk swayed and teetered on three paws before falling to her side. The warrior scrambled in a tangle of limbs to get up, lashing out in the process with fully unsheathed paws. Though ungraceful, it would be most unfortunate to strike at her when her heavy paws and tail where whipping about. Chances where, any cat would get hit.
Now, during this process the young warrior had grown increasingly... upset. She was not only surprised that her tripping trick didn't work, but angry. Her hot head had never gotten her in too much trouble before, it usually just made her more ruthless. Unfortunately for Tigerhawk, Honeyleaf was the kind of cat that would probably use that to her advantage.

Huffing, the warrior rolled to her paws, claws still unsheathed as she was unsure if the battle had ended at first. Seeing no threat coming from her mentor she eased herself up from the defensive position and glared. Tigerhawk's eyes went downcast for a second as she nodded, before snapping back up. She wasn't going to be caught unprepared again. Her maw stayed firmly shut as her head followed the medicine cats every move and she soaked up her every word, knowing them to be true.
The young warrior lashed her tail in aggravation. It wasn't that easy just to calm down. Taking a deep breath, she nodded her head in acknowledgement, and meowed through gritted teeth. "Should we try again? ...After all, practice makes perfect."  The last part came out in a slight scoff, as the shecat was still in her temper.  
Honeyleaf didn't cease to supprise her.  Who would have thought of a battle smart medicine cat?  I suppose she has been up here for a long time...

Tigerhawk made a rather futile lunge for the medicine cats tail and missed by a mouse-length. Hissing and growling under her breath, she glared at the pine that the shecat had disappeared up. Part of her wanted to call Honeyleaf cowardly for running off, but she knew it was most likely a prod at her shriveling patience. Oh the irony that she'd get so frustrated at this meager training session. So much for starting out on a strong note... This cat was making a fool of her! Yet, this poke at her weak spots was also, probably,  Honeyleaf's way of helping. After all, any cat with a temper such as hers would surely not make a good leader. Yes, Tigerhawk decided, this is Honeyleaf's way of helping. Still, she found herself annoyed with her antics. The young warrior did try through to keep her composure as the Starclan cat had suggested.
Lashing her tail and extending her sharp ivory claws, Tigerhakw gazed up, her head cocking and swiveling to every faint creak. Even with her good eyesight the boughs where shrouded in mist and shadow. Still grumbling under her breath, she padded to the nearest tree, a stately rock hard pine, and was making to climb it before she asked herself if that was smart. Now, normally Tigerhawk would just do it and be confident that all would work out, but she was truly trying hard to find a scrap of dignity by impressing Honeyleaf. She wasn't the best in trees, her bulk made some awful noise when she was up there. But, on the ground she was vulnerable to an attack from above.
Kneading the earth, Tigerhawk decided to take her chance on the ground. She stopped the angry rumble in her chest and thanked Starclan for her striped pelt, which she hoped would help her stay concealed in the shadows. The warrior hadn't thought far past the fact that she was going to try patience over vengeance. Heck, she didn't even know how she was going to evade an attack from the trees.
Still sour, Tigerhawk slinked in the shadows, weaving and winding through various trees so she stayed in the darkest shadows. The little clearing where the two cats had been training earlier was barely visible, but Tigerhawk kept it in sight should Honeyleaf jump to the ground. Now, as much as Tigerhawk hated it, it was a waiting game. Really, it just depended on who found who first.

The warrior's eyes widened at the loud crack that reverberated around the eerily quiet forrest. Her first reaction was to reel around and face it, which on her part was a rather foolish move for she was met with the sight of Honeyleaf flying towards her face, claws extended. She only had half a heartbeat to be shocked at the sight of her out stretched claws. In a desperate attempt to save her eyes, she lunged to her side and landed heavily one a single forepaw, grunting at the impact.  Using the other paw as leverage to swing herself agilely around, Tigerhawk faced where Honeyleaf's claws would have surely met with her back. Not wasting a second she surged forward and made to tackle the medicine cat from behind, as she was busy recovering from her landing. Unless she had eyes in the back of her head, Tiger wasn't sure if she did or not at this point, she wouldn't have time to see her coming and move. The warriors intent was to get a ground brawl going, as she would excel at this with her larger size and thick, well maintained claws. At the thought of claws a question surged through her head concerning training and sheathed claws. However, being the rather ruthless cat she was, she didn't have a moments hesitation to shed blood as the image of a leaping Honeyleaf filled her mind, in which she undoubtedly had exposed claws. In fact, the thought of a little 'fun' made Tigerhakw smirk...

Tigerhawk smirked proudly down at Honeyleaf, and even grinned as the medicine cat sheathed her claws. The fiery light in her eyes didn't die however and in the heat of the moment she might have lashed out. Though when the medicine cat spoke she held her claws. She accepted the praise readily enough, but didn't pull off quite yet, she was wary of tricks. Her 'victory' would not be lost so easy. Still full of raw pride, she lent in close and meowed in Honeyleaf's ear. Her voice was cold and mocking, "Lucky breaks, can get the cat on the other end killed."
Deciding the old Riverclan cat was defeated for now, she pulled off slowly and took a single step back. She gazed smugly as the medicine cat got to her feet. Her stance was tall and her tail tip twitched like a metronome. Sheathing her claws, Tigerhawk rolled her shoulders and licked her maw. She would wait to see what else Honeyleaf had to say. After all, she was her new mentor. .