She gave a low sigh, crouched low to the ground with her eyes locked on a spot a tail-length away. Others might see nothing, but the young she-cat could just make out a shadowy outline with piercing, ice blue eyes. The trainee gave a twitch of her ear, a drop of blood flicking off the tip. More slicked the dark fur on her head, but it was no opponent that left the marks. Her paws were dark with the same, her own claws colored bright red. The outline was a hard taskmaster, and she wasn't above using her young student's own claws against her when hers left no mark. She could only do so much, after all, and any interaction with the real world had to be done through the odd-eyed trainee. Corax-kun knew this, and she could tell from the white flash of a knowing smirk that the figure was aware of that knowledge. She was in her head, after all. The figure walked a slow circle around the black she-cat, occasionally brushing a paw through her tail or over her flank. Each touch triggered a response, Corax's body moving of its own volition as the shape forcefully corrected her posture. It only took a few moments, but each shift brought a silent cry of protest. Each cry only widened the cheshire smile on the shadowy figure. She loved to torment her granddaughter so very much after all. It was the only way to grow up strong in this place.

   Eventually the shape returned to the spot Corax's eyes hadn't wavered from. She moved to echo the position the trainee now crouched in, one paw tapping against her neck. "Remember, go for the throat," she meowed in a soft voice, the sharp light in her eyes contrasting harshly against her tone. Corax hated these lessons, but she could do little to resist. Every day, it became easier and easier for her grandmother to take control, as evidenced by how casually she would adjust and shift Corax's posture. She was at Raven's mercy. Fortunately, just as the trainee had bunched her muscles in preparation to leap, the sound of approaching pawsteps reached her ears. She paused, trying her best to ignore the hiss of frustration that echoed in her mind. She brushed away the repeated words of, "Go for the throat," as she turned her head towards the noise. "Hey," she meowed, tail giving a light wave in greeting. It took all her effort for her voice to not get cut off as the voice spat, "Weak," in her ears.