What Shall We Die For? [P8]

Fallenpaw's eyes lingered on the fog ahead of her, her body tense and wavering as she hesitently shifted her grim gaze. She seemed to glance at her mentor every few seconds, just to comfirm, and to harness, her wandering thoughts, vivid realistic daydreams that had the tendency to strike her weakest points, which would inevitably cause Fallenpaw to lose what nerve she had left. Her eyes again drifted to the mist shrouding her vision, and, when she narrowed her glistening orbs, focusing, she could make out faint outlines of cats in the distance. Seeing her clanmates reactions to this, she knew that the scene of intimidating rouges was not mere imagination.

They had arrived.

Her eyes narrowed as she took a few pawsteps back, bracing herself as her claws unsheathed on instinct. Doubt clouded her mind; ShadowClan was outnumbered, and more cats appeared before her than she had expected...more than she had forseen in her dream. She dug her claws into the earth below her, the marshy ground submitting under her grip. She took a deep breath - finally realizing how air-starved her lungs were, and narrowed her eyes. These were invaders...nothing more. Not murdering cats who wiped out an entire clan, a cult known as the Deomilites - they were a threat to ShadowClan, and that was all she needed them to be.

Yet she didn't trust herself to stand her ground when they drew close enough to draw blood. This forced her to dig her claws in deeper. This was her first battle, and, no matter how more perilous it was, she could not stand fleeing; that was unbocoming of the future ShadowClan leader. What would Nightwing think of her if she submitted to that cowardice?

Her face whitened at the mere mention.

Suddenly filled with energy, she bared her fangs. Fallenpaw would welcome their claws with her own. She was tiny compared to her clanmates - by far the smallest - but she would aid wherever possible, just as her mentor taught her.

There was no signal for battle. In a flash, the shadows moved in confusing patterns among the fog and out stepped a burly brown tom, scars raking his broad shoulders. He towered over even the tallest Clan warrior, and one ear appeared to be torn.

Barbarossa.

The Commander didn't say a word, simply launched himself at Sagestar and clamping down on his shoulder with iron jaws, and a flurry of cats followed with screeches and yowls, exploding from the mist.

Barbarossa used Teeth Grip on Sagestar dealing 16 damage and losing 20 SP; he can only be hit by Front Paw moves for three turns.

Barbarossa:
HP: 120/120
SP: 280/300

Sagestar:
HP: 104/120
SP: 300/300

---

---

Right behind the Commander was another brown tom, a white patch highlighting his right green eye. Baldwin leaped up, gripping the ShadowClan deputy with thorn-sharp claws in an attempt to unbalance Nightwing.

Baldwin used Leap-and-Hold, dealing 14 damage and losing 10 SP. Nightwing cannot move for two turns.

Baldwin:
HP: 100/100
SP: 190/200

Nightwing:
HP: 86/100
SP: 200/200

---

---

A black she-cat stalked up through the mist, no wind to give away her scent. She recognized the handsome strategist almost instantly as she peered through the near impenetrable gray wall. A growl rumbling in her throat, thinking she could have trusted the newcomer. The traitor! She pelted forward with a yowl, hitting Amalric's side at full speed head on.

Emicho used Back Kick, dealing 16 damage and costing 15 stamina.

Emicho:
HP: 100/100
SP: 185/200

Amalric:
HP: 84/100
SP: 200/200

The member 'Sleepy' has done the following action : Dices roll

'Chance Dice' : 5

Sagestar's eyes peered into the fog. Luckily, the weather was on their side. Even if it weren't night, the ShadowClan cats could easily use the thick fog for cover - something he was sure these fox-hearts couldn't. It was their special trait. Now, the only thing to do was to wait for the right moment to attack.

He gritted his teeth, waiting for the perfect opportunity, but unfortunately waiting too long. The moment the large tom stepped out, his obvious opponent, the gray tabby let out a caterwauling yowl and leaping at the intruder - however, the cat got ahead of himself and underestimated the size of this rogue. He unsheathed his claws and aimed to bat at his ears, to draw quite the large amount of blood - a favorite scare tactic of his; he took a wrong step, though, and was overpowered - feeling the monster's sharp teeth on his scruff.

So, that's how it would be. There would be no formal dances of death, or bantering threats - it was clear this cat had one mission on his mind. So be it.

The ShadowClan leader pulled himself around, latching one front paw into the shoulder of his enemy, digging his claws in until he had felt the familiar, warm trickle of blood beneath him. With his hind legs, he attacked what he could, raking his razor sharp talons down Barbarossa's side with short, but powerful kicks.


Sagestar used 'Front Paws Strike', costing 10 stamina and dealing 18 damage.

Barbarossa:
HP;; 102/120
SP;; 280/300

Sagestar:
HP;; 104/120
SP;; 290/300

With a bloodcurdling screech, that seemed to echo through the cold night, Shagrat sprang forward, pushing through the fog and jumping on the first cat she saw. In the darkness, Shagrat's eyes gave off an almost eerie glow. And those eyes moved towards Rustfang as she pounced from the side, digging her claws into the tom's flank as she brought her hind legs up too, kicking his side with powerful paws and stepping back. The brown cat grinning, sharp fangs gleaming in the moon's dim light as she watched the warrior closely.

Shagrat used Back Kick, dealing 13 damage and costing 15 stamina.

Shagrat:
HP: 60/60
SP: 185/200

Rustfang
HP: 32/45
SP: 160/160

~

Even completely calm and collected on the outside as she was, Blanche was still completely pumped for the fight. There was really no reason to be, since this wasn't her first battle, but this is how it always was for the lovely she-cat. The lithe she-cat slipped forward, along with the others. The cat wasn't much in size, but as she closed in on the clan cats, her movements could have been compared to a snake's. Finally, she darted towards Cedarfur, aiming for the neck but ending up digging her fangs into his shoulder. She had a tight grip, piercing sharp claws into his side to stay on. She was almost like a leech in this sense.

Blanche used Teeth Grip, dealing 10 damage each turn and costing 20 stamina. In effect for two turns.

Blanche:
HP: 60/60
SP: 180/200

Cedarfur:
HP: 25/45
SP: 160/160

~

Philip was jittery with excitement. Literally, with his paws shaking and eyes bright with joy. He hadn't been training for long, but the first thing he was taught was how to give the killing blow. As a kit, he constantly fought with his littermates, and though that caused trouble with his mother, the Commanders had been impressed. Now was his time to shine. He unsheathed his claws, eyes bright with a somewhat mad glint. He absolutely had to prove himself worthy today. He ran forward, taking joy in the hectic motion of battle and the scent of fresh blood hitting the snow. He jumped forward, laughing lightly as he landed on Gingerheart's back, digging his claws into her fur. "Time for the Clan of Shadows to be nothing more than a shadow, I'd say." His voice was just a whisper in the now booming battle as he dug his claws in deeper to her shoulders, getting a better hold.

Philip used Leap and Hold, dealing 12 damage and costing 10 stamina. Gingerheart cannot move for two turns.

Philip:
20/20
70/80

Gingerheart
48/60
200/200

The member 'Frosty' has done the following action : Dices roll

'Chance Dice' : 3, 5

Rustfang's eyes flashed wildly as cats poured like a tidal wave into the clearing. His heart sank to his claws as he saw a cat lock onto Nightwing, then his thoughts were blurred and killed as he felt a pair of claws on their own drive through his fur, and the wind knocked out of him. He flew back a few feet, then stood, shaking. Blood dribbled from his fur, and he looked at his attacker.
A brown she-cat with a malicious glint to her eyes.
With a shrieking battle cry, Rustfang sent himself flying at Shagrat. His teeth sank into her shoulder and he held on, digging his fangs deeper with every flinch of the she-cat.

Rustfang;
Hp; 32/45
Sp; 150

Shagrat;
Hp; 51/60
Sp; 185/200

Rolled a six for effect dice, does damage for two turns.

The member 'Pix(Sarrow)' has done the following action : Dices roll

#1 'Chance Dice' : 5

--------------------------------

#2 'Effect Dice' : 6

Nightwing watched the mist, suddenly, cats sprinted out, leaping at the ShadowClan cats, as soon as the cats came out a brown and white tom leaped at her, nearly knocking her backwards. shaking herself, trying to rid her pelt of the rogue cats. Finding this unsuccessful, she took a deep breath and jumped down on her back, exposing her black soft belly, but hopefully squishing the rogue. Knowing it didn't deal damage, she scrambled to her paws, quickly noticing the fighting around her.

Baldwin:
HP: 100/100
SP: 190/200

Nightwing:
HP: 86/100
SP: 200/200

It seemed like the rogue cat had come out of no where but the smell that had permeated through the air from this puny tom was horrible and very strange. It wasn't something she had smelled before, but she wasn't going to let that get in the way of this battle. As Philip attached himself to her back, she let out a loud and furious yowl as she tried to buck him off but to no avail. This cat really knew what he was doing even though he was only the size of an apprentice.

Philip
20/20
70/80

Gingerheart
48/60
200/200

Cedarfur yowled as Blanche dug her teeth into his shoulder. He pushed her with his front paws, claws digging into her chest, as to try to get her off.

Used Upright Front Paws, dealing 11 damage and taking 20 stamina.

Cedarfur:
32/45 HP
140/160 SP

Amalric looked around for Emicho. He had not known the cat while with the Deomilites, but still thought they looked familiar. Amalric used Front Paws Strike on the cat, swiping at Emicho's back vigorously.

Amalric used Front Paws Strike, dealing 12 damage and using 25 stamina.

114 HP
290 SP

Fallenpaw felt herself freeze as numerous rouges entered the battlefield, her body tensed to defend herself. Thankfully - or not so thankfully, as her clanmates had taken their assult and were currently in combat, no cats had payed her any heed, opting to go for others in the area. Larger, more intimidating targets than herself. She hesitently glanced around her, just in time to see a lithe she-cat sink her teeth into Cedarfur. Her movements were hesitent, and she glimpsed the ShadowClan warrior return her assult with his claws. Fallenpaw's eyes narrowed; she needed to do something to aid this battle. Darting around she sprinted, closing the small distance rapidly. Without thinking, she thrust her paw forward, attacking Blanche's exposed back with unsheathed claws.

Fallenpaw used Front Paw Strike, costing 10 stamina and dealing 6 damage.

-----

Fallenpaw

HP: 20
SP: 70

Barbarossa didn't make a sound, the small and brief flicker of pain in his eyes being the only indication he had felt the blows at all, and instead pushed forward with his jaws still clamped firmly onto Sagestar's shoulder so that the gray tabby was on his back. The massive Deomilite commander pushed his hind legs into Sagestar's soft underbelly, and raked and kicked as fast as he could. It was a needlessly brutal but efficient attack. It was clear that Barbarossa wanted to take no chances with Sagestar.

Barbarossa used Belly Rake, dealing 20 damage and costing 10 SP.

Barbarossa:
HP: 102/120
SP: 270/300

Sagestar:
HP: 84/120
SP: 290/300

---

---

"Come on, little Clan kitty!" Baldwin taunted, batting at Nightwing's face with two unsheathed claws. "Can't you fight back?!" he swung a paw at the deputy again, slicing at her ears to draw easy blood.

Baldwin used Front Paws Strike, dealing 15 damage and costing 25 stamina.

Baldwin:
HP: 100/100
SP: 165/200

Nightwing:
HP: 71/100
SP: 200/200

---

---

Emicho hissed, backing away quickly and crouching down with her ears flattened against her head, but not before laying a blow across Amalric's face. Her tail lashed and a growl began to rumble deep in her throat, her thorn-sharp claws digging into the muddy earth.

Emicho used Front Paw Strike, dealing 14 damage and costing 10 SP.

Emicho:
HP: 88/100
SP: 175/200

Amalric:
HP: 70/100
SP: 175/200

---

---

A pale ginger cat bounded out of the mist after her larger Clanmates. She had been told to wait with the others for a fresh wave of attack, but how could she? There was no way she was missing out on this! Anna's gaze swept the battlefield, alive with screeching and bloodied cats. The sight pumped the young cat full of adrenaline. Barbarossa locked in fierce combat with a much smaller but powerful looking tom, Shagrat battling back a young looking tom with strange eyes. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Amalric make Emicho back away with a heavy blow. Anna nearly bounded to the black cat's side when she spotted Blanche, fighting back two cats at once. In an instant, she rushed forward at the smaller gray she-cat and leaped, bowling her over and away from the Deomilite.

Anna used Leap-and-Hold, dealing 7 damage and costing 10 SP. Fallenpaw cannot move for one turn.

Anna
HP: 20/20
HP: 70/80

Fallenpaw:
HP: 13/20
SP: 70/80

The member 'Sleepy' has done the following action : Dices roll

'Effect Dice' : 2

The leader let out a large groan and winced, taking a deep breath and holding it - knowing that it was fatal to leave his soft under-belly exposed for too long. Getting himself together with a quick breath, it took a great deal of strength for him to snatch himself away from Barbarossa's grasp and shove the rogue long enough to give him the chance the get away; though, of course, this cat's persistent ferocity would not give him too much time to move.

Gathering what strength he had - perhaps not as burly as his opponent, but impressive for a ShadowClan cat, and enough to get the job done - he waited for the right moment to slip by his opponent, taking a large leap and grabbing him by the scruff, much like what had been done to him before; he held on and refused to let go, keeping him pinned and raking his claws where he could.

Sagestar used 'Leap-and-Hold', costing 10 stamina and dealing 15 damage. Barbarossa cannot move for one turn.

Barbarossa:
HP;; 87/120
SP;; 270/300

Sagestar:
HP;; 84/120
SP;; 280/300