Sunrise!

"GRRRRAH!"she yowled, feeling her exhaustion fade with anticipation and power. She ducked and swerved, nipping at his paws and batting at his shoulders and haunches.

Griffonpaw took them, letting the fierce pinches run through his fur. He waited a few moments, showing now pain in his face or tension in his muscles, then, without warning, he collapsed into a bundle of fur. He lay there, limp and not moving, though he was breathing.

Foxkit's eyes widened and she padded cautiously over to the tom, prodding his side with a paw. "Um?"

Griffonpaw was surprised, his plan was ruined as Foxkit became curious and poked him with her paw instead of attacking him and pinning him down to make sure he was down.
He poked his head up, smiling and mewed "Boo." He broke out laughing, rolling onto his back, his whole body shaking with the happy noises coming from his muzzle.

Foxkit giggled and looked curious. "What's so funny?"

Griffonpaw looked up into the trees, puzzled himself. "I'm not sure." he rolled onto his side, facing Foxkit, "You." he laughed some more.

Foxkit squeaked. "Me?"

Griffonpaw stopped, his laughter turning into chuckles, then just a faint smile. "I'm just joking." he chuckled, sitting up. "You fight well, when you're angry. We need to work on your fighting when you have control over yourself, otherwise you could get yourself killed." he mewed, licking his chest fur briskly.

"What do you mean?"she asked in confusion, tilting her head to the side.

Griffonpaw settled himself, "When you fight, having a clear mind is the best thing for you. One wrong move, and it could cost you the battle. Or your life." he looked at his new apprentice. "When fury consumes you, you loose your concious. This means you don't know what your doing, your just throwing attacks wherever you can. Your opponent can take this to an advantage and take you down. The first thing I learned was to control my anger and ignore the insults that your opponent will throw at you. It's the oldest trick in the history of fighting."

Foxkit looked down, as if ashamed. "OK. I get it now!" She looked up, her eyes bright. "How do I do that?"

Griffonpaw looked up, wondering with his puzzled face. He looked back down at Foxkit with an idea, "Have the other kits ever picked on you?"

"Uh, no. But sometimes I hear the warriors say things about me." Foxkit tilted her head. "Why?"

The young tom nodded. "Does it make you angry?" Griffonpaw asked, trying to figure out where her short-temper could be tempered.

"Yeah. And then when I ask them what they're talking about, they look at me like I'm a badger in the nursery!"she said, her eyes shining with loneliness. Foxkit blinked, clearing the emotion away. "What does this have to do with training?"

"Well, when you got angry with me, that's the kind of thing I mean. It makes you quick and you hit harder, but your aim is thrown off, and you move clumsily. It's not just you, it happens to most cats. I'm not even lucky enough to be able to fight well under fury. Sit nearer to the warriors, listen to all their insults, and control your anger. Let it all flow through you." Griffonpaw explained, having done the same when the warriors though him insane.

"Oh." She looked down, as if concentrating on her paws. "Alright. I might even be able to see why they talk about me!"

Griffonpaw smiled. "That's looking on the bright side." he teased, "Come on, we're done for today my young apprentice. You've done fine for someone so young." he seemed to jump onto his paws as his stubby tail hung down, roughly reaching midway on his long, well-muscled legs. He strode forward, at a decent pace so that Foxkit could keep up.

Foxkit bounced up, on her paws in an instant. Apprentice! He called me his apprentice!she thought excitedly, racing after him.