Showdown (Breeze vs Ripped) OPEN

Occ: let's wait for ash to post first, then all you spectators can pipe up

Rippedsky padded over to the freshkill pile, carrying the few pieces of prey he had found while out hunting. It had been better than it had been the past couple moons. Leafbare was finally thawing out. The black and white tom purred lightly, appreciating the heat of the sun. Before going to settle down, he plucked a decent sized thrush from the pile. Hunting all morning had really built up his appetite and he hadn't taken a break for a meal since the day before. His muscles ached from over patrolling and hunting, trying to keep up wth the demand. It had been quite a bit, but he loved doing what he could to serve the clan.

Carrying the bird along with him, Rippedsky chose a quiet part of the camp clearing to enjoy his meal. Cherrymist was off somewhere, most likely keeping busy as well, otherwise he would have probably shared a meal with her. It was nice to settle in with his mate at the end of the day. While he tucked into his evening meal, his eyes scanned the camp. Cats went about their own business, all doing something to keep the clan running. Skyclan really was a wonderful place. Especially since most of the clan had warmed up to him. Certainly not everyone, though. His eyes rested on Breezewhisker, one of Crowstar's sons. Ever since Rippedsky had joined the clan, and especially after Antdrop's death, the Skyclan warrior hated him. A chill ran down the warrior's spine as he thought of the hostility both Breezewhisker and Eagleheart had shown him. He would never want to fight either one of them. His eyes shot back down to his meal, trying to push the dark thoughts aside and not focus on the other warrior's presence.

Breezewhisker sat silently in camp, yellow eyes dull and lifeless. The biting chill of a fierce leaf-bare wind ruffled his thin gray tabby fur and he didn't even blink. Fawnsplash was still out on patrol, and the tom wasn't sure about his kits. Certainly, he hadn't been the easiest cat to be around lately. After Antdrop's death, nothing had been the same. It was hard, high impossible, for others to understand. The two toms hadn't been very close, not at all. But it was after the death of one of SkyClan's finest warriors that Crowstar and Poppysong's son had made some realizations about his father, his brother, the WindClan traitor, and himself.

Firstly, he realized that Antdrop had been right all along. At first, Breezewhisker had quietly discouraged open dissent against SkyClan's newest member, willing to give him a chance despite personal dislike. Of course, his brother had brushed him off, insisting eventually on confronting the tom, Rippedpaw- and even his father, Crowstar. To the gray tabby tom's everlasting shame, he had sat and watched as Antdrop was publicly lectured and yelled at by his father, who spouted out some propaganda about SkyClan being a Clan of rogues in the first place. Understandably, the black warrior ran off into the forest, shamed by his fellow warriors. But Breezewhisker had since learned that the only way he could possibly stop this tom would be to confront him publicly.

Secondly, he realized that Crowstar had never loved him. The leader had loved Tinylegs, his perfect son- and admittedly, Breezewhisker liked him too. He had loved Thornpaw while his brother was still alive, and had professed to love Antdrop after his son's death. But never once in his life had Crowstar ever really even talked to his youngest son. All his ceremonies had been performed by Vixenheart. His father had never been there for him, not once. As an apprentice, he had hoped and waited, believing his father to just be busy. Then, as a warrior, he thought perhaps the leader couldn't show love, or was afraid. His heart had melted towards his father then, and he had almost forgiven him.

Then Rippedpaw had come along. A special tom with the perfect sob story, the inherent and obvious humility, the complete nobleness, the right combination of uncertainty and determination to win his father's heart, the hearts of SkyClan.

And Crowstar had fallen for it, adopted him, loved him like a son. He put off ceremonies to patrol with his special new apprentice, defended him from bullies, sheltered him from the world's problems. He had been like a father to the tom. The leader had loved Rippedsky, doted on him, defended him, like he never did for Antdrop. For Breezewhisker. And the WindClan tom had absorbed it, soaked it up like a sponge, reveled in it, flaunted it unashamedly. Whenever he was confronted about it, he acted like the wronged party, the ill-used, dramatic hero. And Breezewhisker was sick of it.

It was time to stop being a coward.

Breezewhisker stood up decisively, a determined fire back in his yellow eyes. I will make you proud, Antdrop. I will avenge you. He stalked over to where the the cause of all his problems lay contentedly, feeling completely safe in his "home," a smug smirk on his face. Time to shatter his false feeling of security. The gray tabby tom walked right up to Rippedsky...

...and slashed him across the face.

"I'm sick of your mouse-dung," Breezewhisker spat. "I'm done with the stunts you've been pulling. You've fooled most of my Clanmates, but you can't fool me. You're a mouse-brained, fox-hearted, traitorous, cross-Clan coward, and I can't sit here and watch you occupy the place on Crowstar's right paw where Antdrop should be right now. Somehow you've poisoned my father, driven him to hate his own sons. He never loved us in the first place, but now? Now, his favorite tom is the WindClan rat who ran away because he couldn't fight. Fight me now, you coward! Show the real SkyClan cats that you don't belong here, then run along with your tail between your legs to the slimy badger pit you came from."

Breezewhisker used Front Paw Strike on Rippedsky. -11 HP, -10 SP.

Breezewhisker:
60/60 HP
190/200 SP

Rippedsky:
33/45 HP
160/160 SP

Vipertail was in camp at the time. The maine coon she-cat had her long, silky pelt groomed. She always loved her father. He was her hero. From the time when she had been known as Viperkit, she always doddered in his pawsteps—but now, she was a warrior. And she could fulfill that destiny. She was crouched by the fresh-kill pile, a lapwing in her paws. Its feathers were velvety against her pads, sore from the day's hunting. As per usual for the snarky she-cat. Vipertail looked up as she saw her father approaching Rippedsky. Her fur bristled. That bastard isn't worth your time, Breezewhisker, she thought, prejudice against the former WindClan tom washing over her like a thick wave of blood. No matter how close Pansypaw had gotten to him, he was still an outsider.

When her father, the noble grey cat who had sired her, slashed him across the face, she felt the sweet taste of satisfaction in her mouth. She got up, not grinning, but glaring straight at Rippedsky. "You... you have just waltzed in here like you own all of Crowstar's adoration!" she hissed, padding up to Rippedsky. Her tone was softer than Breezewhisker's, but equally as truthful. "Antdrop died... and my grandfather paid no attention to his death because of you." Vipertail choked a bit on those words, but shook the pain out of her fir-hued eyes. "I ask you... why?" she meowed. She stared him down, standing faithfully by Breezewhisker's side.

She dug her claws into the ground, struggling not to make her voice rasp against the sheer emotion of her words.

A surprised gasp broke from Rippedsky's throat as he leaped backwards from Breezewhisker. The impact and suddenness of the attack surprised him. He had always known Crowstar's son didn't like him, but never knew it would come to this. His mind raced has he tried to come up with a plan. One thing was clear to him, though, he wouldn't fight back. He couldn't fight back. Personally, Rippedsky had nothing against the older Skyclan warrior.

Before he could respond, Vipertail padded over to join his attacker. Her words to him were like venom. Oh, Starclan, help me, He prayed silently to the warrior ancestors. This was turning into something bigger than he ever could have imagined. His stance was defensive as he faced the pair, mostly looking at Breezewhisker. The tom wanted to make himself seem like as little of a threat as possible.

"None of that's true," He protested to the grey tom, "I never meant to harm your family in anyway. Your relationship with your father has nothing to do with me. That is between the two of you. Antdrop was driven by his own hatred. I had nothing to do with his death, Breezewhisker. It was an accident." Rippedsky paused, reaching for something more to say. Something more to try and convince them that this wasn't a good idea. Dividing the clan would get them nowhere.

"I'm not going to fight you, Breezewhisker," The warrior's words were final. He allowed his fur to flatten, again trying to avoid the confrontation.

Lilypaw was going to greet Rippedsky, having started viewing the older tom as a companion. Lilypaw was quite fond of making many friends, finding it important to be social and to speak with her clanmates, but seeing her older brother march over towards the warrior she knew something wasn't right.

And when her brother brought back his paw and brought it across the Ex-Windclan cat's face, their clanmates face she gasped. Then came Vipertail, supporting the crime that was taking place! Wrong! Horrible! Rushing forwards she shoved Vipertail's rump and grabbed Breezewhiskers teeth in her jaws and tugged.


Releasing the tom she hissed. "What is wrong with you!? He's our clan-mate Breezewhisker! Why do you care so much about his place in fathers heart? Father loves us all very much! We're his children, you've got to understand that you diddling around with your daddy issues won't fix anything between you and dad!" She spat, tail lashing as she pushed her brother, hopefully away from Rippedsky.

Vipertail gasped with utter surprise as Lilypaw shouldered her way through to Rippedsky. She watched, eyes round, as Lilypaw protested against Breezewhisker's actions. How was he wrong? Vipertail cocked her head, still shocked. She blinked at Lilypaw.

Addergaze had spent her time between patrols dozing, relishing in the weak warmth of the day by lounging around camp. She had been on the brink of slipping into a deep sleep when she managed to glimpse Breezewhisker stalking towards Rippedsky, but she was jolted awake by the unprecedented attack. Leaping to her paws, she watched with narrowed eyes as the cats spat insults back and forth, a frown crossing her features as she caught Breezewhisker's words.

Stalking forward, she halted a short distance from Rippedsky, watching as Lilypaw confronted the angered warrior- it was a pleasant surprise that the apprentice was acting more like a warrior than Breezewhisker and Vipertail currently were. "Oh both of you grow up!" Addergaze snarled, glaring at both Vipertail and Breezewhisker- had they lost their minds? Attacking a Clanmate over the fact that a grown warrior wasn't getting enough attention from his father!"Don't take your daddy issues out on Rippedsky, Breezewhisker." She spat, gazing over at the older tom with furious eyes. Behaving like kits! No wonder Crowstar doesn't pay attention to this lot- they're a lost cause." She reflected, rolling her eyes. Personally, she could careless if Breezewhisker dropped off the face of the forest, but seeing Vipertail act in such a manner irked her- what did her friend have to do with any of this? She didn't want to be rude to Vipertail.

"The only coward here is you Breezewhisker- attacking a Clanmate over the fact that you think your father hates you? If your behavior today is any indication of your personality, then no wonder Crowstar doesn't wish to spend time with you. Grow up and talk to Crowstar to work out whatever you think is wrong." She hissed, pupils shrinking to slits as she brashly addressed the quarreling pair. Rolling her eyes once more, she kept her place beside Rippedsky, more than ready to break up the fighting if it started up again.

Fawnsplash had just padded in from hunting, a mouse and thrush in her jaws, when she heard the familiar voice of her mate, but he sounded angry. Her head turned toward his voice as soon as she made it through the camp's entrance. Oohh. Realization washed over her. She had a feeling this was coming from the grey tabby tom, and she wasn't the least bit surprised. For one, she couldn't understand for the life of her how a cat could just abandon his clan, especially in a time of need, and not think twice about it. And just because he didn't agree with Ashstar? If every time someone didn't agree with Crowstar they left, we wouldn't have a clan anymore. That's what being in a clan is about. Working through the problems and making yourselves even stronger than before. She though angrily. And what was worse was Crowstar. He had already basically abandoned Breezewhisker, which irritated her to no end, and then this WindClan traitor walks in and its all "Oh my gosh you're so great. You're like my son."? Meanwhile he can't even have a relationship with his real son? She had been abandoned by her parents when she was a kit, so there had been no hope for a relationship with her parents for her, but Crowstar was here. He could have a relationship with Breezewhisker if he tried but he wasn't. She lashed her tail irritably as she stashed her prey on the fresh-kill pile before moving to join her daughter and mate. She didn't say anything because there was no need to. Her daughter and mate had summed up the tom pretty well and all she would do was be redundant. Suddenly Lilypaw was shoving Vipertail and grabbing Breezewhisker, tail tip twitching in annoyance as she refrained from doing something stupid. "Lilypaw.. You don't know.." She paused calming herself. "Do you not see that this traitor," She meowed, flicking her tail towards Rippedsky, "has earned more love and respect from Crowstar than Breezewhisker has ever gotten?" She meowed through bared teeth. "Apparenty. You don't. And that's not even the point." She finished. She was trying very hard to remain calm and not make this worse, but it was proving hard.

Breezewhisker's heart warmed as his daughter came to his aid, hurling Rippedsky's folly in his teeth. He loved his kits- unlike Crowstar. Then the tom he had attacked immediately tried making himself the injured party in this fiasco, the tom who was being blamed and had done nothing. Snowstorm, Lilypaw and Addergaze immediately opposed him, Lilypaw even going so far as to try shoving him away from the traitor. His own sister, turning against him. Well, he couldn't easy he hadn't been expecting it. But there was no easy he could back down now. Even if all his Clanmates decided to hate him, he would serve justice. He gave his mate a thankful nod for defending him, then turned to Addergaze, the newly appointed warrior who thought she was better than everyone else. His daughter's friend.

"Oh, trust me, Addergaze, I've tried getting through to Crowstar. There's no talking to him when this kiss-up is around." He flicked his gray tabby tail insultingly at Rippedsky. "This isn't my personality, and I'm not a coward- it took a lot for me to finally get up here and confront this bastard. He's the reason Antdrop ran away into the forest, the reason he felt unloved- the reason SkyClan's greatest warrior died when he still had so much to give. This has nothing to do with what you call my 'daddy issues;' this is a severe case of injustice within our own Clan. And I intend to see this through! I will finish what Antdrop was unable to do and rid our Clan of this piece of scum once and for all."

Breezewhisker turned back to Rippedsky. "Coward! You've only proved my point. This is why you left WindClan- you were a tiny apprentice too scared to fight or even do what your leader told you to. Ashstar herself denounced you as a disloyal coward, and she knew you better than most of us in SkyClan do. Whatever respect, love and praise Crowstar lavishes on you hasn't been earned in the slightest- you do less than what every SkyClan warrior learns to do and you're regarded as a hero. But you can't fool me, Rippedsky. I will free SkyClan from the curse you've laid on us and make us a true Clan once again!" He pummeled the tom with both paws, anger and hatred over the past moons flowing out of him. He could feel Antdrop's approval from StarClan.

Breezewhisker used Upright Front Paws on Rippedsky. -13 HP, -20 SP

Breezewhisker:
60/60 HP
170/200 SP

Rippedsky:
20/45 HP
160/160 SP

Lilypaw looked to Fawnsplash in dismay, it was true that she didn't know what had really happened to Antdrop, and he was her brother! Lilypaw was shocked at how much hate Rippedsky was receiving from his new clan! But when Breezewhisker continued to harm the tom-cat she knew that something had to be done. "Stop it Breezewhisker! You're killing him! Dad will hurt you if you continue to harm Rippedsky! He'll exile you, disown you!" She yowled, striking cruelly at her brothers insecurities.

Turning around and without much time to think other than the thought that words couldn't fix the situation in that moment, Lilypaw launched herself onto Breezewhiskers back, Eaglehearts tough training coming in handy as she leaped. Claws unsheathed as she ripped at his back, teeth biting into anything they could grip.

Lilypaw used Leap-and-Hold on Breezewhisker, costing 6 damage and 10 stamina!

Lilypaw

20/20 HP

70/80 HP

Breezewhisker

54/60 HP

170/200 SP

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

---

'Effect Dice' : 2

Rippedsky's breath caught in his throat as he realized this was only going to escalate. The more cats that joined, the more his blood turned to ice. Crowstar wouldn't want this. This shouldn't be happening. It's not good. Before he could get a word in and attempt to tell them to all stop, more cats were chiming in and picking sides. There shouldn't be sides! He screamed internally. Once more, Breezewhisker was on him again, attacking with both paws. The way the Skyclan warrior talked about his past aggravated him. This all happened moons ago. It had nothing to do with anything that was happening now.

"I fought for Windclan, just like every other cat there that day. And why I decided to leave has nothing to do with you anyways," He met Breezewhisker's blazing eyes evenly. Rippedsky wouldn't attack him, but he also wouldn't allow himself to sit there and be taunted, "Me making the choice to not fight you doesn't make me a coward. I just have standards and those standards do not allow me to attack a clanmate. No matter how mouse-brained he is acting." The black and white tom stood his ground firmly, continuing to match Breezewhisker's stare, and ignoring the stinging from blows.

His eyes widened when Lilypaw leaped onto her brother, but before he could shout at her to get off, another cat joined the crowd.

***

Eagleheart had been out in the forest all day. Between hunting and patrols he had been too busy to take Lilypaw out. As he padded casually into the clearing, mouth stuffed with his catches, he was quickly stunned to a stop. The warrior blinked his eyes a couple times to make sure this wasn't a dream. Before him stood a good portion of the clan. Breezewhisker faced Rippedsky, Lilypaw clung to her brother's back, and the rest gathered around. Hackles and fur were raise, something was up. At least she is getting some training in, He thought to himself as he rushed over to join the scene.

"What is going on here?!" He demanded with a dark snarl, "Lilypaw get off of Breezewhisker right now!" His last sentence was an order and he expected the apprentice to listen. If necessary, he would drag her off. He threw Addergaze a questioning look in her position next to the Windclan cat. As this thought about it, his anger rose.

"You have something to do with this, don't you?" Eagleheart's question came out a hiss. Clearly the Windclan cat was causing some issues here. And if he had to, Eagleheart would help put a stop to it.

Addergaze's rolled her eyes at Breezewhisker words, cringing at his little monologue about how it was somehow Rippedsky's fault that Antdrop died- didn't he just fall out of a tree? "I would purposely jump out of a tree if I was kin to that hot mess." She sighed, watching as Breezewhisker fell upon Rippedsky once more- only to be attacked by Lilypaw. If the situation wasn't as chaotic and tense as it was, it would of been amusing; an apprentice flailing on top of a warrior who was striking at a completely limp cat. "You should learn to listen to your sister- since she's obviously the only cat out of the pair of you that actually uses her brain. Actually I take that back, Lilypaw's the only one who has a brain. This is clearly solely about your 'daddy issues', don't stain your brother's name by dragging him into this as an excuse to attack your Clanmate. If you're going to dig yourself into such a deep hole, you might as well own it." She snorted, although unlike Lilypaw she made no move to get directly involved in the petty fight- the more cats involved, the more trouble.

Eyes trained upon the odd squabbling trio, Addergaze didn't notice Eagleheart's initial approach until he spoke up, and her amber eyes snapped over towards the warrior- oh great, more fuel to the fire. "Oh nice of you to finally join our little party," She spat, tone dripping with sarcasm, "I always figured that whenever it came to harassing Rippedsky, you'd head the crowd. Shocking that you aren't jumping with joy at the opportunity to maul our Clanmate." She hissed, sneering out the word 'clanmate' as she glared at Breezewhisker. Normally she wouldn't have been quite so rude to Eagleheart, but the situation was frustrating and adrenaline was coursing through her veins at the sight of a fight.

Pansypaw was awakened from a deep slumber by a loud commotion in the main clearing. Opening her jaws in a loud yawn, she pushed her way back the brambles of the apprentice's den and blinked in the sunlight. The yowling continued, and the bi-colored she-cat studied the situation. It didn't take long though; when Breezewhisker struck Rippedsky it gave her all the information she needed.

Wide awake, Pansypaw dashed forward and sniffed Rippedsky's pelt worriedly. He had already received a few injuries, and and the young she-cat felt rage boil up in her chest. Pinning her ears back, Pansypaw narrowed her murky green eyes in an outraged glare.

"What in StarClan are you doing?! Rippedsky is your clanmate! I always knew you had some mouse-brained grudge against him, but this is out of control!" Spitting the words out, Pansypaw avoided meeting Vipertail's gaze by focusing on her enraged uncle. She didn't want to argue with her cousin, her best friend.

Standing tall, with her chin high, beside the black and white patched tom, Pansypaw curled her lip disdainfully. She had never understood her family's vendetta against the former WindClan tom; he had always seemed like a nice and respectful cat, and a valuable member of SkyClan. Heck, she probably would have been killed by Mudfoot if it wasn't for him! She had always held the tom in high regard, as a close friend; if she hadn't met Bouncepaw she might even had pursued him as a love interest.

"SkyClan doesn't need this pointless infighting! We need to show a strong, united face in the forest! How can we do that, when we have the leader's son duking it out with a young warrior over his daddy issues?!" She didn't mean to be harsh, and she was well aware that she insulting a cat that outranked her, but she needed to stand up for her friend. We cannot lose our dignity like this!