[RiverClan] River Race
 

Mintleaf has decided to host a river race! Warriors and apprentices from RiverClan are permitted to join it!

How it works:
Reply to the most recent prompt, and I will roll for how you did with that segment of the race
Rolling
1= huge screw up, 0 pts for the segment
2-10= small screw up, 1 pt for the segment
11-19= fine travel, 2 pts for the segment
20= burst of speed or critical success, 3 pts for the segment
I might give advantage (roll 2 dice take the higher #) to someone who puts a lot of effort into their post.

Prompt 1: Going down from the starting gate, the course looks fine, but as you progress, you notice that the currents are growing a little bit stronger. It is getting more shallow, so it is hard to swim
@xath

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Codwhisper's ears perked at the mention of a river race. A small jitter ran the course of his spine as he hurried over. Few things in life excited him quite as much as swimming. He put himself at the starting line and awaited Mintleaf's signal.

As soon as it came, Codwhisper dove into the water, letting the cool water wind through his fur. His sleek pelt kept the most of the cool wetness from his skin as the water beaded and rolled over his grey spots. He streamlined himself and struck out through the current.

He stroked confidently forward until the tug of the water began to pull and push him off course. He smiled. The current was as comfortable to him as his own den. His paws began to graze the bottom but he pushed on.

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Asterhawk grinned, this be easy! he thought. he jumped in the water eager to start, but as he went farther he found himself caught in a strong current... why was it so shallow?!

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When her mentor, Mintleaf, organized a river race, it should've been understood that Flickerpaw would absolutely be there. The little black kiddo lived for any opportunity to impress their mentor--even when Mintleaf didn't ask her to, or explicitly told her to leave them alone. Any attempt to dissuade Flicker from participating would be met with a bright, manic grin; clearly the apprentice planned to fling herself into the water! This was a test of her abilities! They would show off their amazing mastery of the current under Mintleaf's approving gaze, and become renowned in RiverClan for her sheer awesomeness!

"Hey, Mintleaf! I made it!" Flickerpaw came running over the INSTANT they noticed their esteemed teacher standing on the riverbank. Excited, she tried to bump her head against the underside of Mintleaf's chin in greeting, purring like a motorboat with her feathery tail lashing back and forth. "I won't let you down--you'll see how fast I am! I'm a SHARK compared to these guppies!"

She cast a sharp grin to her competitors… only to witness Codwhisper and Asterhawk diving into the water before her. "H-Hey! Here I come!"

Flickerpaw splashed into the water, black pelt instantly plastering sleek and oil-slick to her minute frame. They whirred their legs like eggbeaters, furiously kicking to stay afloat; Flicker didn't have much practice swimming, but she was RiverClan for stars' sake--this was in her blood. Spitting water out that kept trying to flood her mouth and nose, the shadowy apprentice gasped for air and tried to peer over her shoulder at Mintleaf waiting on the river's edge. "This--ack, ugh--this is easy! I'm not even--"

The current abruptly yanked Flickerpaw off course, dragging them briefly under the clear crystalline surface. Because she was so small, Flicker hardly noticed the change in the river's depth--but she DID feel the harsh tug-and-pull of stronger forces attempting to push her into failing. Flickerpaw simply kicked harder: ears pinned back and eyes flashing with stubborn anger.

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Mintleaf watched the cats as they passed the rapids.

{Codwhisper rolled a 9! +1 pt, @Ravensong }
Mintleaf watched codwhisper get a little stuck. "Codwhisper! It seems you got a little too comfortable there. A circular current swept you off your feet for a minute! but it's okay, just get back up and push on!"
{Asterhawk rolled a 12! +2 pts, @Rogueheart }
Their gaze then glanced toward Asterhawk, farther along than the others. Despite the shallowness they seemed able to find a way to keep afloat for long enough to pass the segment. Good work!
{Flickerpaw rolled a 1... +0 pts, @xath }
Mintleaf's gaze then peeked toward Flickerpaw as she struggled to stay afloat, getting swept up in the same current as Codwhisper. Your small size means it took much longer for you to escape. You are now much behind the others, but it's okay! brush it off, and think positive!

Segment 2: you see a vast stretch of water ahead; some duldrums. there are a lot of fish, and many rocks. don't get stuck!

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The spotted tom struck out confidently with his webbed paws. The current swept over him and he watched Asterhawk pull ahead. He huffed frustratedly and put his all into paddling forward. The water ahead looked better though before he even saw the fish, his mouth began watering as though it knew. Had he skipped breakfast that morning? It wouldn't be the first time the tom had rushed himself out of camp without thinking about eating first. His paw grazed a slick fish and distracted him for a heartbeat. He corrected himself and focused on pushing forward through the water. He'd come back to this spot later for a quick meal, after he won this race.

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Asterhawk noticed some rocks a head, he tried his best to stay away from them...

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Water spewed from Flickerpaw’s mouth as she coughed and spat, choking hideously as the current grabbed her like a helpless baby rabbit and flung her off course. Her side bumped into a rock—another rock—she dipped underwater, had to claw her way to the surface with wild eyes and a harsh, gasping breath. True, the black-furred apprentice had been born with RiverClan-blessed webbed paws… but those paws were so wee they were like acorn caps trying to scoop their way forward. She tried to use her tail as a rudder, steering her back on track, but a whirl of water spun them in a complete circle and disoriented them so bad that Flickerpaw had to float for a moment, blinking and gulping, until she saw where Mintleaf stood on the bank and understood that she’d been turned backward.

“ARE YOU SERIOUS?”

That shriek of rage managed to clear the last bucket of liquid from Flickerpaw’s lungs. With a ferocious snarl, they used their back legs to kick off the next rock and propel them through the crystalline current—shooting onward as though she were a dark, shiny fish.

In a few strokes, the river spread itself wider; the current relaxed, feeling nearly still compared to the dervish that had attempted to drag Flickerpaw to the bottom. Ahead, they could see Codwhisper going strong, with Asterhawk weaving around some rocks… the onyx apprentice sneered, ignoring the burn of her muscles, and pushed herself to catch up. This was their chance! Go, go, go, swim faster, don’t give up—

Something large and slimy brushed against Flicker’s side. She squealed before she could swallow the shocked noise, and quickly bit their tongue; it’s only been a fish, sliding its silvery way downstream. More followed the first; soon Flickerpaw was paddling within a school of metallic fish, their fins batting at her as if she were as inconsequential as a leaf. Flicker bit their lower lip and ignored the hunger stirring in her gut; she instead focused on bouncing between the river rocks, using them as springboards to push off from and shoot closer (hopefully) to Asterhawk and Codwhisper.

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Mintleaf saw the three cats swerve in between each and every rock there was. Asterhawk went into the first segment first, followed closely behind by Codwhisper, and much farther back was Flickerpaw, desperately trying to keep pace. He walked more downstream, waiting for them at the end of sector 2.

{Codwhisper rolled a 19! +2 pts| @Ravensong |}
Despite your apparent hunger, you seem to swivel through the rocks just fine. Just be careful! It could catch up to you later!
{Asterhawk rolled a 3! +1 pt| @Aqua Catrina |}
Perhaps it was the fact that you got an early lead that lead to your slip up, but when a fish touched your leg, you freaked out and lost some time. Hang in there though! The race is tight!
{Flickerpaw rolled an 11! +2 pts| @xath |}
Despite your major screwup in the first sector, you're getting back on your feet pretty well. If anything, your small size helps you evade the rocks better. You haven't quite caught up to the other two yet, but hang in there!
Current standings:
Codwhisper: 3pts
Asterhawk: 3pts
Flickerpaw: 2pts
Prompt: You see the third sector ahead. It looks fine at first, but as you get closer you see a BUNCH of plant material. Seaweed? Kelp? you don't have time to know, just try not to get tangled!

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Asterhawk blinked, that fish had really scared him! and what was that up ahead? why was the water green?

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The spotted tabby pushed on ahead. He focused on keeping his paw strokes steady and sure. He'd caught back up to Asterhawk and couldn't afford to lose any more time. He saw something in the water ahead but decided he wouldn't worry himself over it. He pressed on forward, trying to get as much of a lead going into the next obstacle as he could then address the problem when it arose.

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Mintleaf watched as the cats cleared the third sector. @xath forgor about this I think
[Asterhawk rolled a 6! +1 pt @Aqua Catrina ]
While pondering about why the water was green, you weren't looking how, and you got tangled in the greens. Don't worry though! brush it off!
[Codwhisper rolled a 20! +3 pts @Ravensong ]
Your tactic somehow... worked? the problem was the greens, but the speed you put on let you break through the kelp without worry, with record speed as well. Good job!
[Honeystream rolled a 17! +2 pts @Carmela ]
You wave right by the rocks, and don't worry, you notice the seaweed and kelp and move around it with ease. Keep going! You're past halfway there!
[Flickerpaw rolled a 5@ +1 pt @xath ]
You try getting around the greens, but you get caught in a tall kelp plant. Your small size doesn't help here, and you get stuck for a little bit. Keep on going, even if you can barely see Codwhisper at the front by now.
Standings:
Codwhisper: 6 pts
Asterhawk: 4 pts
Flickerpaw: 3 pts
Honeystream: 2 pts

Prompt 4: The penultimate segment looks fine, but as you get closer, the water is much colder. there are chunks of ice? in newleaf? no time for questions. Just don't get slowed by them!
[ @WillowBlows12 ill get you in next segment]

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Asterhawk blinked Ice? ok! Asterhawk liked Ice! he swim over and batted at it...

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Steamtail came in,wanting to join the race

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(OOC: I didn't forget, I had a 13 hour OR shift and this race went too fast for me ;-; going to respond to both race prompts in this post. Thanks for the tag!)

A groan of despair leaked from Flickerpaw’s mouth when they felt the slimy slip of riverbed plants tickling her feet. If there was anything that the shadowy apprentice despised it was the ickiness of algae and other assorted green things touching her unexpectedly. Luckily their strategy of bouncing off the myriad rocks interspersed in the current had launched them from their abysmal place behind the other competitors; Flicker focused her pallid glare on the back of Asterhawk's glare and paddled with almost angry intensity--ignoring, with classic stubbornness--the water ferns and sword plants that brushed against their belly and kicking limbs.

A splash upstream had Flickerpaw’s ears swiveling backward, but she dare not lose her concentration. Of COURSE there would be last-minute stragglers elbowing their way into the competition! Well, Flicker wouldn't give the the satisfaction of catching up! She growled (spitting out another mouthful of murky water) and pushed through the burn of her lungs, the ache sinking into her legs…

Sorry. Was that ice?

Flickerpaw’s eyes nearly bugged from their skull. Surely this was a trick… Twoleg garbage or something. Flicker attempted to avoid these bizarre obstacles all the same, ears pinned back as she sneered suspiciously at each chunk of ice she passed.

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Mintleaf watched as the cats passed the penultimate sector. [ @WillowBlows12 heres your tag][ @Ravensong bump on this as well]
~Asterhawk rolled a 16! +2 pts[ @Aqua Catrina ]~
Mintleaf watches as you seemingly... bat? at the ice? and you don't lose time? hmm. good job! the final sector is upcoming!
~Flickerpaw rolled a 7! +1 pt[ @xath ]~
Your small body made it hard to keep up with the other cats- as the water was cold from the ice, and you have less body heat. You are too cold to go fast enough to catch up to the other competitors yet, but keep trying! it's still possible!
~Honeystream rolled a 13~ +2 pts[ @Carmela ]~
The cold was no problem for you. You swim right through it. Keep going, you might not lose!
Prompt 5: The finish line is visible, but there is a wave! better outswim it, if you get below an 11 you'll get washed to the shore, and have to go back in for 0 pts .
Standings:
Asterhawk: 6 pts [1st place, won my tiebreaker]
Codwhisper: 6 pts [2nd place, lost my tiebreaker]
Honeystream: 4 pts [3rd place, won my tiebreaker]
Flickerpaw: 4 pts [4th place, lost my tiebreaker]
Steamtail: - pts[pending]

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Asterhawk blinked, the finish line was ahead! but he looked back and there was a wave coming, "oh well, why not ride it to the finish line?"

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Steamtail swam through the running tides. Desprate to win.

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The young warrior let himself take a deep breath as the finish line came into sight. The final stretch. Codwhisper could swim all day so he decided to put his all into the last leg. He was in the running to finish this out with the win. Just before he pushed forward he noticed a wave coming in. A smile spread across his face. Not only was he racing to beat the other competitors, now the stakes had risen. He put his strength into his legs and pulled strongly at the water beneath him as he focused on getting to the finish line before the wave could reach him.

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Mintleaf watched the cats pass the finish line, unfortunately this was the end of the race. good job to [Removed] for the win!
[OOC: Keep in mind for the last stretch if you would normally have gotten 1 pt, you will get none and if you would have got 0 you will lose one, just because if you fail the severity of the obstacle is large and the stakes are high.]
[Asterhawk { @Aqua Catrina } rolled a 10! +0 pts]
Mintleaf watches as you swimm... towards the wave? He realizes you tried to ride it, but the wave sweeps over you, causing you to go back to the start of the section. You do eventually get to the finish line, but it's too late. Good job on runner-up though!
[Steamtail rolled a 12! +2 pts @WillowBlows12 ]
You swim past the wave with ease, but a fresh batch of distance separates you to the other racers. Good try though!
[Codwhisper rolled a 13! +2 pts @Ravensong ]
Good job! you outspeed the wave with distance to spare, winning the race for you. Amazing job, and thanks for participating.

Standings:
Asterhawk: 6pts, 2nd place
Steamtail: 2pts, 5th place
Codwhisper: 8pts, 1st place
Flickerpaw: 4 pts, 4th place @xath (lost tiebreaker)
Honeystream: 4 pts, 3rd place @Carmela (won tiebreaker)

{The winner will recieve 500kk, second will get 250kk, and third will get 100kk. Participants will all recieve 10kk for participating in this event. Thanks for doing this with me!}

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Steam galloped, wanting to catch up. His gaze locked on winning, nothing else.

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thats the end of the race dude. It's over. Good job on 5th tho!