bottlebay | 01. video

[This is a bit of a struggle, but Firepaw is doing his best. A very under-sized Litten is trying to put himself in frame, but he's a little awkwardly close.]

Um... hello. Can everyone hear me? My name is Firepaw, I'm- I was an apprentice of ThunderClan. Oh- and I used to be a cat, before I came here. A lot of you know me already, but... yes.

[Just going by his voice, it's pretty clear he's a kitten. Public speaking feels incredibly bad, even without a visible crowd.]

A few of you Twolegs - humans - have four legs now, and I wanted to offer help with getting used to that. I can teach you how to hunt and fight, or at least step lightly. I don't know much about our new powers, but we might be able to practice those together too. I can also help with learning different scents, since I think humans can't smell as well as cats, or... Pokemon. That might make gathering herbs and berries easier, too.

[One more thing which... feels like blasphemy for a cat, but he needs to do it.]

And... if anyone knows how to swim, I think I'd like to learn. If another storm comes with new folk, I want to be able to help them get to shore.

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[His hackles raise again, just seeing her walk over. It really does feel like seeing a fox, or one of the Thunderpath monsters (cars) approaching. But he tries to keep his face straight at least - she's struggling, and he can help her.]

I'm doing as well as I can. I think we all are.

[Firepaw walks over, and takes a moment to rub his side against her leg in what he hopes is a comforting gesture.]

If you're nervous, we can chat for a while first. Scaredy-cats don't win battles... and that's probably true for Pokemon too.

[W-What is he doing? Why is he doing that? A.B.A stiffens when he makes contact so easily, these kittens really are fearless. He doesn't worry that she could strike him down any second?! Kill him on the spot?!

How does he do it? She wants to be that brave...]

S-Scaredy-cat?!

[She practically squawks. What could have possibly given her away? Was it the trembling?? The hiding?? The way her voice sounds like she's constantly on the verge of tears?? Dammit, well there goes any attempt at a façade... At least it means she doesn't have to try.]

A chat...yes... I think a chat would be appropriate.

[It seems like the physical contact is making things worse, so he takes a few steps back and sits with his tail curled around his paws. And, while he's at it, he starts purring loudly - just to be a more comforting presence.]

Well, let's start with names. I'm Firepaw, I don't think I got your name earlier.

[Well, she's not so clueless that she doesn't know what purring is. She's seen plenty of stray cats in her travels to know that much. She was never scared of them before... Surely she can bring herself to overcome this...

In an attempt to gain some control, A.B.A lifts her head in a rather proud manner, as if she wasn't just shaking and crying a few seconds ago. She is...a big! Strong! Animal! Higher than a cat on the food chain, she's fairly positive of that. She's faced far more scarier things than a kitten, she can do this.

She can successfully introduce herself.]

A.B.A. ...My name is A.B.A.

[Success!!]

And I used to be quite proficient in killing.

[Okay...maybe reel it in a little.]

[His whiskers are twitching again, but he tries to cover it up by grooming his face.]

It's nice to meet you, A.B.A. You sound like a ShadowClan cat - those are cats in my world that are known for being cruel and deadly.

[He's never met one, but the kits in ThunderClan love to play "kill the ShadowClan cat". He's careful not to mention that, in case it scares her.]

I used to be a housepet, for most of my life. I've only been training to fight for about two moons.

[Cruel and deadly, huh? She's not so sure how she feels about being seen as cruel, but if it helps add to her illusion of intimidation, then...

Before she can think on it any further, he says something that grabs her attention. Not the fact that he's a former housepet, she really has no right to judge anyone considering she's the woman who married a key, but more so what it implies. Her haughty posture melts, her head lowering.]

You were inside...? [A beat.] It's nicer...isn't it? To be outside... To feel the sun...

[Slowly but surely, A.B.A soon finds herself lying down completely, bringing herself as close to his level as she can. Alright, so maybe she shouldn't be lording over a kitten. Especially a kitten she suddenly finds herself relating to.]

The Outside World can be frightening, but it's so beautiful... It's...good that you're training to defend yourself. I'm eager to know what you've learned...

[His ears perk up, and he squints his eyes as his own cat version of grinning.]

It's much nicer. Before I came here I was living with other cats, hunting my own meals and... I felt like I was an equal in my Clan. I mean, mostly. They look down on housecats, but they were giving me a chance and that's all I really wanted.

I know a lot about using my claws, but I'm still getting used to my new powers. I don't think my mentor would know what to do with them. [He lets out a little mouthful of fire, careful to angle it away from A.B.A.]

[Interesting... Cats seem to be much more welcoming than most. It makes sense, cat colonies depend on cooperation to survive.]

You found your Clan, I found my husband... Life really does start anew once stepping outside...

[So lovely. And honestly? She's just intrigued that cats appear to have a much higher vocabulary than she would've expected. Clan names, training, mentors. Has anyone studied this before??

Oh. Oh wait, that's fire. A.B.A's head jerks back purely out of reflex, but to her surprise, the fire itself doesn't seem to bother her at all. He must have angled that really good, she barely felt it.]

Fire powers for Firepaw. How fitting... You know...ever since arriving, I've been wondering if our forms had any correlation with who we are. You are, by far, the best example I've encountered. Out of all the Pokémon you could've become...

[Wait, wait, getting sidetracked. She's here for a reason.]

...I'd like to learn to fight with my own claws. [She holds one up, for emphasis. Sharp, green, unnatural to the rest of her body.] My nails weren't very sharp before, so that style of attacking was reserved for...desperate times.

I am very lucky, compared to everyone else. It seems like whoever got to choose our forms... they were thoughtful choices, I think.

[He pauses to really consider it.. but yes, they have lessons to do!]

Right!

[He jumps up, and goes into a deep stretch to warm his muscles back up, before walking back far enough that they won't hit that big rock while sparring. There's something very exciting about getting to teach others - he's doing his best to channel his own mentor, and hopefully do as good of a job as Bluestar did with him.]

Let's try practicing that quick swipe I showed you over the network - I'm not sure if you can retract your claws, but it might be good to keep them in while we're practicing. If you can't, then... I'll just try to stay back until we're ready to spar.

[To be honest, her claws scare him. But he's brave, foolhardy even, and he trusts her to be careful. And he'll show off that swipe again - a quick bap-bap-bap with his forepaw, claws kept in for safety.]

[Hm, yes, stretching... A.B.A focuses on his every move and concludes the best course of action is to just repeat everything he does. The moment he finishes stretching, she's right behind him, streeeeeetching just as much, giving herself a good shake once she's finished.

Step one, complete!

But now the real work begins, the quick swipe. A.B.A frowns at her own claws when he begins his explanation, she's pretty sure these things don't retract. But! She came here to learn, and she'll turn herself just enough to make sure she doesn't claw him to death.]

Just...like....YOU!! YOU-YOU-YOU!!

[A.B.A's baps are...clunky. Her chitinous forearms make her much more stiff and their length causes them to be less aerodynamic. She feels more like she's just waving it around than the graceful movements of her teacher.

This, of course, frustrates her.]

GAHH!! Like...YOU!! [wavewave] LIKE YOU!! [flail]

[The sight is actually really funny, but Firepaw is trying so hard not to let his whiskers twitch. Okay, so she definitely can't fight like a cat - this quick swipe was the first thing he learned as an apprentice, since it's natural for kits. He'll have to think of something else.]

Maybe you'd do better with one big swipe. [He looks around for an object to use as a practice dummy, but um... he doesn't see anything, so he just steps in front of her.] Here, let's just try and train your speed. Keep three feet on the ground, and try to hit me - don't worry, I'll dodge. [He thinks.]

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