Chapter 67: Battle Training

Streak yawned and pawed at the ground, feeling incredibly bored.
"These blades here," Nightgale nodded at the very long blades of grass in front of her, "you can use to mend broken bones. Wrap them around your paw and you can use more of them to keep the bind."
"Why did you decide to go to the healing group first?" Streak hissed to Raoul.
"I thought it'd be useful," Raoul insisted. "Sometimes healing is more important than fighting."
"Remind me of that when I'm cornered by Firebenders," Streak grumbled.
Raoul gave Streak a look. "You should be more respectful."
"I don't want my first apprentice lesson to be on healing," Streak muttered.
"On the bright side, we know he's supposed to be an Earthbender and not a Healer," chuckled Eclipse.
Comet, who was also in the group, was looking more interested than the whole group put together. "Did you ever have to mend a broken bone?" he asked.
Nightgale giggled. "Well, Eclipse one time had to help Ash's broken paw."
Mkia looked at Comet. "I never knew you were interested in healing."
"Yeah...sometimes I find it more interesting than Bending," Comet shrugged.
"Then maybe you should become a Healer!" suggested Nightgale, beaming.
"You can do that?" Comet cocked his head.
"Yeah. I think Ash could have you switch," Airia nodded.
"Hmm," Comet murmured, looking thoughtful.
Twig looked at Comet. "If you do, you're giving up something great."
"But I'd be getting something great," Comet said.
Twig sighed. "Your loss."
Airia gave Twig a warning look.
"Back on track now," Nightgale said, looking more excited, "if someone is harmed you should come find the Healers. We'll be hidden in the cave leading to the Fire Nation."
Streak perked his ears. "There's caves outside the Fire Nation?"
"Yeah," Nightgale nodded. "We'll be well hidden there, and so will any patients."
"Rotate!" called Bluefall.
"See you all later!" Nightgale called, eyeing Comet.
"I think she's taken a liking to Comet," Streak muttered.
"You think? The way she keeps beaming at him?" Twig snorted.
Streak chuckled. "Ha, yeah."
They walked to the next station; Streak's heart leapt as he realized what it was. "Alright! Fighting!"
"Yeah!" Twig agreed. "So much more interesting than all of that healing junk."
"Right?" Streak exclaimed in agreement.
Stone looked at them as they arrived. "Well, you're here then. And by the looks of things you're going to need some help with fighting techniques."
"Stone," Darner said in warning.
"She was your old mentor?" Streak looked at Raoul.
"Yep," Raoul nodded, looking proud.
"I feel sorry for you," Streak snorted.
"She was a great mentor," Raoul insisted.
"And mice fly, I suppose?" Twig snorted.
Stone growled. "Let me just say that an important rule is..." she slammed into Twig's side and pinned her down. "Never keep your eyes of your opponent!"
Twig snarled. "Get off me!" she kicked Stone in the stomach.
"Twig, show a bit of respect," River snapped.
Stone let Twig go. "Let me start of by a bit of explaining. You may think you know your enemy, but you don't. The Firebenders train, train, and train. They can do battle moves you can't imagine. And I should know. I've trained with them," she growled.
"You were a Firebender?" Streak gasped.
"Indeed I was," Stone glared, "more the reason to have things to learn from me."
"Stone's one of the best fighters I've ever seen," Darner remarked. "You'll have a lot to learn from her."
Streak sighed. "Can we get a move on?" He didn't want to have to hear Darner complimenting Stone the whole time.
"Yes," River nodded. "First we should work on offense. Say Stone is a Firebender."
"Won't be that hard to picture," Twig snickered. "She already has Firebender temper."
Stone, ignoring Twig, leapt at River. River jumped to the side and Stone landed where River was. "Getting out of their way is efficient," River said. "Although Firebenders are pretty quick. If you can't get out of the way, act fast."
Stone then tackled River and pretended as though she was ready to claw him. River bit down on her leg and kicked at her. Stone ripped her leg away and bit down on River.
They both then got up. "You got to keep fighting," River said, "this is a matter of life and death. What you do could determine your fate. Stick with groups while fighting. Don't get caught alone."
"And if you're outnumbered," Darner began, "here's a fighting move. Twig, Streak, River and Stone, all of you attack me at once. I'll show you."
Streak exchanged looks with Twig, then turned to look at Darner. "Seriously?"
"Yes. Attack me now," Darner ordered.
Streak sighed. "Don't see how he'll get out of this..." with that, Streak lunged at Darner, Twig quickly following. Stone and River joined in.
Streak fought to get a grip on Darner, but Darner began bucking. He landed on his front paws and kicked at Twig, who was behind him, and Twig fell back and landed hard. He then swiped at Streak who was in front of him, and Streak fell back. Darner landed on his front paws after swiping and kicked at River. Stone got onto his back and Darner rolled over, crushing Stone.
"Whoa!" Streak scrambled to his paws. "How'd you do that?"
"Requires balance," Darner replied, "but use all your legs when attacking."
Darner then demonstrated it once more, leaning on his front paws and kicking out, then landing on his back paws and swiping. He then got back down on all fours. "I'll teach Streak and Comet this. River, you handle Mkia and Airia, and Stone, you can help Raoul and Firefly."
Darner turned to Streak. "Okay, Streak, you're up first. Try doing what I did."
Streak nodded and studied his front paws. Here goes. He then jumped to land on his front paws but toppled over, face-planting into the ground. Comet snickered.
"Good try," Darner shrugged. "Try again though."
Streak got back to his paws. I'll show Comet what for, he thought determinedly. He instead reared up on his back paws, which Streak found easier than going on his front paws. Streak batted at the air, and allowed himself to fall down onto his front paws and kick out his back legs, but collapsed once more.
"Try once more," Darner said encouragingly.
Sighing, Streak got up. This time. This time, for sure, he told himself. He then got on his back paws, rising up, and swatted at his invisible opponent. He then let his paws fall down and gave a powerful kick out to the back, and jumped back onto his back paws and landed on all fours. "Did I get it?"
"Well done!" Darner nodded. "Comet, it's your turn."
Comet shook his head. "I want to be a Healer, not a fighter."
"Ah. But even Healers need to know some basic moves to defend themselves," Darner said, "try it out."
Streak was relieved that Comet made more mistakes than Streak did himself, but Comet learned it pretty well, and had the hang of it before long. Darner was impressed and seemed proud of the two of them. "Okay," Darner nodded, "now Streak, we'll try it out. Comet and I will attack you."
Streak got himself ready, bracing himself as Darner and Comet both lunged at the same time. Streak reared back on his hind paws and delivered a blow to Darner's head, making sure not to claw him. Streak then allowed his front paws to fall down and kicked at Comet behind him.
"Good job!" Darner said. "Now, we'll attack Comet."
This is for laughing during my first failure, Streak thought, lunging at Comet.
Comet looked a bit intimidated by the pair of them, and because of this Darner easily slammed into Comet, making Comet fall. "Come on. You need to focus," Darner scolded.
"Sorry!" Comet squeaked.
Darner sighed. "Let's try again."
Ha, Streak thought triumphantly, getting into pouncing position once again.
Once Comet was ready, Streak and Darner lunged at him. Streak headed for his front, and Comet reared up and swatted at Streak, knocking him away. When Darner jumped at his back, Comet got onto his front paws and kicked at Darner, sending him onto the ground.
"Good job," Darner grunted.
"Rotate!" called Quake.
"What! We only got to learn one move!" Streak protested.
"You'll be back," Darner pointed out. "We still got a few days."

Author's Note:
I used that move from Warriors. ouo
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