The blood-soaked apprentice's claws didn't quite hit where she was aiming (anywhere fatal) but a tail was good enough. With him unable to run away like the little mouse he was, Cinderpaw's job would be much easier. Sparrowstar's call floated through her ears, but she hardly heard it. Even if she did, no way was she retreating when they wanted to use her clanmates as decoration. So what, if attacking a fleeing warrior was disrespectful? Skinning a corpse was even more so.
"Coyote. Hurt me much worse than you ever will." She answered simply, raising her voice over the shouts of battle. Reaching down, she aimed to clamp down on her adversary's tail wth the same crushing bite she'd caved in Mossfang with -- if she was successful, she'd plant her paws on his flanks to gouge her claws deep into his body. She would not falter until she had her clanmate back.
Roosterflame let out a small sigh of disappointment at the apprentice’s lack of control over his own life. He was letting his decisions be made by his clanmates, Roosterflame could detect it in his voice.
As the apprentice leapt at him, Roosterflame struck out at his cheek, aiming a blow below the left eye. He didn’t want to hurt anyone, he hated it, but this was war, this was-
Roosterflame’s eyes landed on a familiar pelt, and his heart quickened. Sparrowstar was here! She was calling off this curse’d fight! Oh, that goodness for Sparrowstar seeing the end of this and-
Blood roared in Roosterflame’s ears as the ShadowClan warrior with a pelt like midnight leapt at his best friend. “No! Sparrowstar! Look out!” He cried before, suddenly, like she could phase through matter or something, another dark-pelted ShadowClanner appeared in front of him and struck him in the shoulder, telling him to retreat with his clan. Tears threatened to well in Roosterflame’s eyes as blood oozed from the shoulder wound and pain raced through his mind, but he kept them at bay. What sort of Warrior cries during a battle? ”That was my plan,” Roosterflame hissed, backing away from the shadow personified, his hackles raised and tail puffed out, “But your buddy over there just attacked my leader and best friend, so that’s not going to happen until Mr. Angry and Scary calls off his attack.”
Roosterflame was faintly aware of Dawnstar’s cry for the fighting to cease as he began to back away from the ShadowClan warrior and apprentice, though his eyes were locked on Sparrowstar and that black tom who had her pinned. He hated this. This was hell. Why was he here? As soon as he got back home, he wanted to collapse in his nest and forget about it all.
The ThunderClan leader had began calling for what might’ve been a retreat, but was cut short by Shadowfur’s tackle. He wasn’t about to let her go; she needed to be reminded of the consequences of letting her warriors live undisciplined lives. ShadowClan wouldn’t tolerate prey-thieving. Only when she’d been properly reminded of her responsibility as ThunderClan’s leader would he allow her to leave.
She violently thrashed beneath him, making it nearly impossible to stay on top. Opting to try a different strategy, he pushed off of the ground and sprang to the side. Immediately whipping around, he lashed out and attempted to sink his claws into her front paws. If he succeeded, he would pull her paws out from under her.
( This can be where Sparrow gets her scars, if you’d like! @Everyone- This fight is closed to everyone but myself, Jayvines, and Undertaker if he wants Dawn to call Shadow off. )
Quote:
Originally Posted by Undertaker
@fallout? @Cherry~ @Jayvines @daenerys @Epiphany
Wildpaw swiftly greeted her with that strange nickname that would never make any sense to the leader. As expected, Dawnstar tolerated the odd lingo and listened with more attention than she would have had she let Wildpaw regularly run her mouth. There were some interesting tidbits that escaped the apprentice's mouth. "So it was ThunderClan who started this, that's new." She wondered where they had gotten the courage from. Before Dawnstar could ask the apprentice more important questions, such as wounds, casualties, and the reason ThunderClan was trespassing in the first place, Sparrowstar arrived.
She went right over the border and barged into a fight between Mirehound and some bumbling ThunderClan warrior before calling for a retreat. Oddly enough, Shadowfur immediately launched himself at Sparrowstar not long after. Dawnstar watched for a second without doing anything, mostly because Sparrowstar deserved a bit of beating for ignoring the borderline, however, she didn't sit still for long. "You stay close." Dawnstar turned her head to Wildpaw, ordering her near with a soft growl. There were still a few cats growling and snarling in battle, Dawnstar didn't need Wildpaw getting caught up in anything after Dawnstar just said she'd keep an eye on her.
The imposing feline began padding across the blood-frothed ground and veered around anything cats still struggling in battle. "SHADOWCLAN ENOUGH!" If the Queen of Mean hadn't been noticed yet, the shrill, commanding, caterwaul she gave would be enough to announce her presence. The steely glare in her eyes promised only the severity of punishment should disobedience become even the slightest of thought. Dawnstar prided herself on her ability to control her cats, and no one would be spared should her control be shattered or tested.
"Report." She demanded, expecting one of them to give her some explanation on why her territory was now drenched in blood. It added some color to the dreary forest, but she knew that she'd be dealing with potential predators sniffing around for a bit now. She'd have to remind her Enforcers to keep an eye out for foxes, coyotes, and whatever else might come sniffing around here later when it came to border patrols by ThunderClan.
Gradually making her way over to Sparrowstar, Dawnstar, lifting her paws, shook them, and flicked blood and dirt off the pads as she waited for her cats to heed her orders and settle. She wanted a head count, who was alive, who was dead, who needed immediate attention upon return to camp, and so on.
Shadowfur interrupted his own leap as Dawnstar called for ShadowClan to stop. He broke away from the leader, but not before giving her a warning hiss. “Keep your damn cats off of our territory.”
Padding away from her, he went to join Dawnstar. The dark Enforcer wasn’t exactly clear on why the whole situation had started, so he decided to just keep quiet until someone more in the know could report.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Willowfern
Roosterflame let out a small sigh of disappointment at the apprentice’s lack of control over his own life. He was letting his decisions be made by his clanmates, Roosterflame could detect it in his voice.
As the apprentice leapt at him, Roosterflame struck out at his cheek, aiming a blow below the left eye. He didn’t want to hurt anyone, he hated it, but this was war, this was-
Roosterflame’s eyes landed on a familiar pelt, and his heart quickened. Sparrowstar was here! She was calling off this curse’d fight! Oh, that goodness for Sparrowstar seeing the end of this and-
Blood roared in Roosterflame’s ears as the ShadowClan warrior with a pelt like midnight leapt at his best friend. “No! Sparrowstar! Look out!” He cried before, suddenly, like she could phase through matter or something, another dark-pelted ShadowClanner appeared in front of him and struck him in the shoulder, telling him to retreat with his clan. Tears threatened to well in Roosterflame’s eyes as blood oozed from the shoulder wound and pain raced through his mind, but he kept them at bay. What sort of Warrior cries during a battle? ”That was my plan,” Roosterflame hissed, backing away from the shadow personified, his hackles raised and tail puffed out, “But your buddy over there just attacked my leader and best friend, so that’s not going to happen until Mr. Angry and Scary calls off his attack.”
Roosterflame was faintly aware of Dawnstar’s cry for the fighting to cease as he began to back away from the ShadowClan warrior and apprentice, though his eyes were locked on Sparrowstar and that black tom who had her pinned. He hated this. This was hell. Why was he here? As soon as he got back home, he wanted to collapse in his nest and forget about it all.
It seemed that her violent thrashing was having the intended effect, and a distressed call from a voice she recognized as Roosterflame sparked a sudden burst of determination within the young leader. As the pressure on her sides eased up, the lithe molly sucked in a breath of much needed air before bursting to her feet as her assailant leapt to the side. Whoever he was, he was whipping paws towards her and she acted purely on instinct as her paws raised in an attempt to block his attack... However, it seemed like his attack wasn't meant for the bulk of her body like she anticipated and a surprised hiss escaped her jaws as claws latched into and quickly ripped through the tops of her front paws.
Springing backwards to try and gain some distance as the fresh wounds began to burn (a far too similar experience to the lacerations on the bottoms of her paws that she had endured during the battle at the cove), Sparrowstar's answering attack was stilled as Dawnstar called off her warriors.
Stars above... This was going to need some explaining...
Merely narrowing her eyes into a glare at the retreating Shadowclan warrior who had tackled her, Sparrowstar gently made her way backwards onto her territory.
"THUNDERCLAN!!! Back to your territory. NOW!" she yowled out, recalling anyone who hadn't heard her previous cut-off call. "Thrushfur, I want injured and dead gathered and taken back to camp. Get everyone home, preferably in one piece."
Green eyes turned back towards the hulking figure of Dawnstar as she called for reports from her own warriors. Great skies, who would have anticipated her having to apologize to DAWNSTAR of all cats... Clearing her throat, the tan molly squared her shoulders and dipped her head to the Shadowclan leader.
"Clearly, a select few of my warriors disregarded the code this day. I apologize for the losses this has garnered, and if the perpetrators have not been killed in this skirmish, I assure you they will be dealt with thoroughly and immediately."
Glancing across the bodies that lay strewn across the border, a frown tugged at her lips. Truly... It was a waste of cats for this to have occurred. And now she would have to make up for it.
"Although it seems our losses were similar, Thunderclan created this fault. You are well within your rights to request prey or herbs to compensate for the difference."
__________________
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”
The sounds of battle and the words of those around her were devoured by a low ringing in her ears. She barely noticed Sparrowstar nudging her away from the fight, didn't see as Shadowfur flung himself at the ThunderClan leader, nor did she hear the second calls for retreat. She stumbled over the scent line and collapsed, swallowing against a second wave of nausea.
If ever there was a time she genuinely needed Sundust, it was now.
The blood-soaked apprentice's claws didn't quite hit where she was aiming (anywhere fatal) but a tail was good enough. With him unable to run away like the little mouse he was, Cinderpaw's job would be much easier. Sparrowstar's call floated through her ears, but she hardly heard it. Even if she did, no way was she retreating when they wanted to use her clanmates as decoration. So what, if attacking a fleeing warrior was disrespectful? Skinning a corpse was even more so.
"Coyote. Hurt me much worse than you ever will." She answered simply, raising her voice over the shouts of battle. Reaching down, she aimed to clamp down on her adversary's tail wth the same crushing bite she'd caved in Mossfang with -- if she was successful, she'd plant her paws on his flanks to gouge her claws deep into his body. She would not falter until she had her clanmate back.
The warrior felt the teeth clamp down on his tail. Claws ripping into his flank as blood poured out from the wounds. He screamed in pain. “GOD DAMN YOU ACTUAL FREAK! DID YOU TAKE LESSONS FROM THAT COYOTE?!” The warrior twisted, his jaw that was locked around the pelt slowly losing its grip. The warrior yelps suddenly as the muddy blood soaked pelt fell from his jaw. The warriors life felt like it was in slow motion in that moment, like everything he had done was for nothing.
The bengal snarled at the grey shecat, clawing aiming to claw her muzzle as he twisted and flopped onto his back, also an attempt to get her off of him. Other front paw trying to reach for his lost prize only for it just to be just out of reach. His feet now trying their hardest to kick her away from him so he could grab the pelt once more. The tomcats head turning back up to look at the other warrior. He was pissed, although words coming out of his mouth as a flurry of noises. “HENRIDNRIFNEIDND GET OFF, DOG FOOD!” Frostscreech yowled, he didn’t have the energy to keep at this. The blood loss was already starting, not seeing Elmshadow was completely out of the question now. The warrior silently prayed the Medicine cat had restocked his herbs.
[ Frostscreechs Attacks: Clawing of the muzzle
Flipping over to get her claws out of his flank
Kicking Her away ]
__________________
hunting kat and dark in leafí’s basement
“I would've died for your sins
Instead, I just died inside
And you deserve prison, but you won't get time”
--
✰ [ stag’s carrd ]✰
kat sneaks away from aries... and runs into carmen
Last edited by stag; February 23rd, 2023 at 08:50 PM.
Retreat. Both Sparrowstar and Dawnstar had called a retreat. Well, ThunderClan had called one first, and that stabalized the fact that ThunderClan had technically lost.. whatever this fight had been, but right now that wasn't Lark's problem. Right now, her sharp gaze had zeroed in on her brother. Her younger brother, Daypaw, who was not kin but yet somehow felt as so. Larkfire had had no kin to rely on before. Not her father, who'd told her he'd loved her, and then given her away. Not her mother, who hadn't loved her from the start and had yet found ways to make Lark's heart bleed from the inside. Not even her older brother, Howler, who she'd loved and looked up to with all her being, only to be outshone and pushed away as insignificant at every turn. Her family hadn't loved her, and that had caused her to become tentative for labeling Dappledleaf with the term 'mother' and Daypaw with the term 'brother'.
Truth be told... Larkfire had almost switched Dawnstar to that role, the title of mother where all she did was strive to prove her loyalty and dedication to. Because Lark had thought mother's were nothing other than cats to listen to. But instead, Dappledleaf had showed her what the real meaning of mother was. Dappledleaf had taken the role of caretaker, and Dawnstar her rightful place as leader in Larkfire's mind.
Orange hues sharpened back into focus as Lark surged forward with a quiet snarl, leaving Sneezeweasel's dead body to bleed out behind her, coating the land in red. Galepaw and Wildpaw had moved off, the former after kicking a ThunderClanner and the later taken away by The Queen of Mean herself, who Lark had previously paused beside long enough to nod and voice a single 'okay' before moving off again. But now she was rushing forward, steps thrumming with purpose against the ground as she skid to a stop between Daypaw and Roosterflame, turning vengeance-filled eyes upon the tom that had dared lift a claw to her brother.
And it was then that Mirehound's call rang out, telling Darkfall to draw Daypaw to safety. But Lark was past that point, she'd defend Daypaw's life with her own if she had to. Fortunately for him, the ThunderClanner was backing off. A wise decision, for he would live to see another day without Lark's wrath, young as she may be. "You'll regret hurting my brother. You can run, you can hide, but you can't escape." She snarled, voice a low rumbling threat. She would remember him, and he would need to watch his back, for Lark was not of noble cause. She had been raised to cheat at every turn, and if it meant sinking her fangs into the back of someones neck just to gain the upper paw, Lark wouldn't hesitate.
With that, the fiery-eyed feline stepped backward, ushering Daypaw with her, because only a fool would turn their back on an enemy. And if no one had recognized it yet, Lark was far from a fool.
Hearing Sparrowstar’s call for retreat, Darkfall watched Thrushfur run off with a hint of satisfaction. He had managed to fight him off! Though undoubtedly should the battle have raged on any longer, he could have found himself like one of the many corpses lying around him. Thank the stars he didn’t.
He had been so caught up in his fight and chaos that he hadn’t noticed that Dawnstar had appeared until her voice rang out across the battlefield. Was it a coincidence that she was here? He hadn’t remembered seeing anyone on his way there, but maybe the leader had just been out for a stroll?
Whatever the case may be, Mirehound had called him for a task. He didn’t bother responding as she began running towards their clan’s leader to report or something. Honestly, he wasn’t quite sure but that didn’t matter as he had something important to do.
He turned to where Mirehound had run off from and noticed the apprentice being swept away by Larkfire. As much as he wanted to protest that he had been told to do it, he remembered that the two of them were adopted siblings so it’d be wrong of him to do so. ”Is he okay?” The black tabby asked carefully. ”Are you okay?” is what he really wanted to ask but it seemed as though his friend was left uninjured and judging from how she just reacted to Roosterflame, could still go for more so she was probably fine. He had to proceed carefully now, because knowing Larkfire, she could just as easily snap at him and tell him it was none of his concern.
The tom was startled to see his leader being attacked. He instantly charged in after seeing his leader being pummeled to the ground. My reaction was too late! He scowled, his paws thumped against the ground to come to his leader's assistance. His gaze darted to Dawnstar in a flash. Every, single, cat on this battlefield leapt at the Queen's deafening voice. They all immediately switched to following her ultimate order. Compared to when he was in combat, Thrushfur felt much more agitated. He noticed a shimmering ripple in Dawnstar's eyes. Was she watching this? Unable to fully process everything that was happening at the time, his ears fidgeted madly. Of course she was. His eyes were fixed on the Queen of the Shadowclan as his irises made a slight turn into slits. He pondered what might transpire if Dawnstar failed to end the Shadowclan's dominance over them. Because even when they arrived as backup, the odds were very much against them. He discovered the black cat that had initially charged Sparrowstar finally backing off. Prior to frantically cantering over to join Sparrowstar. He grimaced as he overheard the Shadowclan cat speaking. Although two leaders were present, he didn't need to say anything at this time because he didn't want to come off as a bigger jerk than them. He gave the Shadowclan cat a piercing glare. How dare you curse at my leader? Come back for more and I'll make sure you'll never be able to walk. His eyes became tiny slit-like irises that wavered in his sockets like a sword's point waiting for its next victim. The feathered tom remained motionless in case anything unexpected occurred simply because Shadowclan was around. essentially acting as her bodyguard up until the start of their brief conversation with their leader.
His mind raced, and he felt a surprising quantity of perspiration accumulating on his head. Hunger, not fear, was the problem. the desire to improve and grow into something bigger and better. Yet they fell short. This level of ambition, which was so strong within him, had never previously been experienced. His heart was wounded by the emotion to the point where he was powerless to stop it from taking over. He desired to get back what they had lost and establish their clan's reputation. To attain greatness, comparable to the thunderclaps in the turbid sky. But those ideas and those emotions can be discussed later. If only he could keep those ideas under control going forward. The future's propositions to him were unknown to him. But, he hoped it would be something wonderful—greater even. He turned towards Sparrowstar. Obediently nodding to Sparrowstars order. He immediately went into deputy mode, ordering the healthiest of cats he could find on the battlefield to drag and gather the bodies. "Thunderclan retreat back to camp! I need the cats who have milder injuries to bring back the bodies with all your strength! Help the cats who have more severe injuries to walk, gather yourselves and head back without any questions until this ordeal is over."
He left her. In the middle of a stars forbid battle, this idiot up and left her alone. Abandoned her so he could go running off. She spun around, dodging his claws with practiced ease. Spite fueled this mission, she would not let the iron taste that was settling into her mouth force her down. Barreling after the black-furred tom, she barely noticed Sparrowstar, instead opting to do nothing more than narrow in on her target. He would die tonight, and by her hands. He had hurt Roosterflame. He had hurt Pebblepaw. He was the reason bodies lay strewn across the clearing. He was the reason they were all dead, and he deserved nothing more than to lie in the dust with them.
She froze at her leaders voice. Stopping and staring as she called retreat, once, twice. They deserved to die. She wanted to kill them all, and now, now that bloodlust was fading. Now the rage was dropping with her adrenaline and though she sprinted forward to attempt to free Sparrowstar, there was no need. She was out of danger within seconds, and finally she could stop fighting. Skies, there were so many bodies. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Very few of them mattered, just the ones that came from her side, the ones that had belonged to her family, her friends.
A stupid quick rush of relief as she watched Cinderpaw a few meters away quickly disolved as she stared at the lump on the ground a bit ahead. Asterdance. No, no, no. Please. StarClan, please.
And for once they listened.
"Aster, can you move?" Russet and white made an appearance by their side. There was so much red. "We got to go back." They won. We lost and they won. Again and again and again. Attempting to help them up."Let me help you." Red dripped down her face.
The blood already in Cinderpaw's mouth mixed with her brand new enemy's, and the apprentice wondered if she would be taking two lives today. Maybe that thought should have phased her - maybe it would have, moons ago - but now, all she was focused on was hurting the cat who lay beneath her claws, and getting Bluetree home. Even as the two leaders let out ear-splitting calls to retreat, Cinderpaw refused to relent. No way was she just going to let him take her clanmate. She would be showing no respect to cats who called themselves a "clan" yet lived like this. There was no honor to what Shadowclan did, ever.
Claws whistled by her face, and Cinderpaw realized the tom was actually attempting to fight back. Well, that was new. He flipped over, tearing her claws from his back and giving himself the perfect position to kick her away... before her eyes flickered to the side to see what he had dropped.
Wasting no time, the apprentice dove for the pelt, trying to keep herself from retching as it finally touched her tongue. She rattled off apologies to Bluetree in the back of her head - for letting this happen to him, for getting Shadowclan blood all over him... but he was safe now.
She glanced back at the pathetic weasel warrior who had tried to take him. If she didn't want to risk the pelt, she'd have ripped his belly open right here, retreat be damned. "You're lucky I care more about my clan then I do about killing you. If I ever see your sorry face again, you're dead." The tabby apprentice snarled, before turning and trotting almost non-chalantly away.
She needed to help the injured. Sure, she was a little scraped up, but Cinderpaw had almost miraculously escaped with few injuries. Her eyes fluttered around the battlefield, before locking onto one figure.
She let out a sigh, tossing Bluetree's pelt over her back to further stain her pelt with blood, and trudged over to Bumblebreak. The apprentice hesitated for a moment - the snarled words of 'idiot' and scalding eyes and mumbled apologies that made everything better replaying in her head - before reaching to grab the warrior by the scruff.
Re: come on, everyone, let's tear into each other
