Snapping Turtles [closed]

Applefang stood up, walking over to Addershade. ”Hey, uh, wanna go hunt together?” he asked. The birth of his kit had been an amazing excitement, and he had tried to stay in camp to be with his mate and kit, but he wanted to stretch his legs, and he hadn’t been out with his father since his apprentice days when the older warrior had been his mentor. It would be nice to catch up, to talk a bit. They were both fathers now, and both had their own struggles, but they were a family together, and they could get through anything together. He just needed to talk it out with someone, and getting out of camp would just be so nice.

Addershade looked up from where he was sitting, a little startled. But once he saw it was Applefang who had come to talk to him, he smiled brightly. He loved his children, and was happy for any opportunity to spend more time with them. He and his son hadn't gone hunting together since Applefang was an apprentice; it would be a nice to do so again. And besides, Addershade enjoyed hunting. He felt like it was one of the few things he was really good at. But his encounter with that angry goose had cured him of wanting to go hunting solo for a while.

"Of course," Addershade said, stretching out a little. "I'd be happy to go hunting with you. Shall we head out now?"

Applefang was happy at the positive response from his father, and took the first stride with his gangly ginger legs. Padding toward the camp entrance, Addershade presumably near him, he walked happily and peacefully. As the left camp and approached the river, the young tom turned to the older warrior, ”So, how are you? What’s up?” he asked. It felt nice to talk to him, the two of them had a close bond, but lately, with their warrior lives, free time had been rare. The last time they had a proper conversation very well could’ve been when Applefang was still training under his father. Approaching the river, ready to fish, he leaned over to watch the fish swim by, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. But suddenly, a turtle sprung out!

The turtle hated when cats came around and tried to disturb her as she was resting in the river. They came and made loud splashes as they tried to catch fish. She was annoyed, this being another one of those occasions. Fed up with the annoying behavior, she decided to teach those ginger toms a lesson. Springing out of the water, she bit onto the younger-looking tom’s leg and locked her jaw.

Applefang, learned, winced as the turtle camped around his leg. He clawed at it, hoping to shake it off, back into the depths of the flowing stream where it had appeared from.

A turtle has attacked! The turtle used Gripping Bite, dealing 10 damage and costing 30 stamina.
Applefang used Rending Front Paws, dealing 13 damage and costing 25 stamina.

Turtle
137/150 (-13) HP
420/450 (-30) SP

Applefang
50/60 (-10) HP
175/200 (-25) SP

Addershade
100/100 HP
280/280 SP

"Oh, nothing much lately, other than the usually daily tasks..." Addershade said, responding to his son's inquiry as they approached the riverbank. "Which is sort of a relief, really. Anyway-- I'm sure you're busier than I am, having had another kit recently..." All of Addershade's kits were adults now, with warrior names, and he and Lightsong didn't have any plans at the moment to have more kits. But he still remembered the panic that came with being a new father, and was all too aware that there were some worries that never went away, even as they got older.

Before his son could answer, a turtle appeared, latching itself onto Applefang's leg.

"Applefang!"

Addershade's eyes lit up in panic, and he lunged for the turtle, swiping angrily at it with his claws, hoping to dislodge it or distract it or something-- anything to get it away from his child. He felt fear pounding in his chest at the sight of blood welling up on his son's leg under the turtle's solid grip.  

Addershade used Front Paw Strike, dealing 14 damage and costing 10 stamina

Turtle
HP: 123/150 (-14)
SP: 420/450

Addershade
HP: 100/100
SP: 270/280 (-10)

Applefang
HP: 50/60
SP: 175/200

Applefang winced as the turtle jiggled around on his leg. Both himself and his father were frantically swiping at it, trying to dislodge it from his leg. But the turtle was realer else’s, and somehow she kept a grip on the ginger tom’s leg. His green eyes glowed with determination as he reared up, shaking the turtle on his leg in a desperate attempt to shake it off. As he came backboard down, the predator was still there, so the to, slashed at it with his paws again, hastily trying to loosen it’s tight grip.

Turtle continued Gripping Bite, dealing 10 damage and costing 30 stamina!
Applefang used Rear Up to Slash, dealing 13 damage and costing 15 stamina!


Turtle
110/150 (-13) HP
390/450 (-30) SP

Applefang
40/60 (-10) HP
160/200 (-15) SP

Addershade
100/100 HP
270/280 SP

Despite both their best efforts, the turtle's grip on Applefang held strong.

He struck at the animal again. He was a little worried that if he attacked it too wildly and missed, he'd hurt Applefang instead. So he tried to keep his attack as controlled as possible, focusing on attempting to dislodge the turtle.

"Let go of my son!" The older warrior snarled at it menacingly, despite knowing it wouldn't understand him. In a way, he thought fighting against predators was  more dangerous than fighting an enemy cat; at least with another cat, there was some chance you could reason with it. But he had no way to communicate with this creature; the only option was to fight it until one side ran, or was too injured to fight, or...worse.  

Addershade used Front Paw Strike, dealing 14 damage and costing 10 stamina

Turtle
HP: 96/150 (-14)
SP: 390/450

Addershade
HP: 100/100
SP: 260/280 (-10)

Applefang
HP: 40/60
SP: 160/200

Applefang’s grateful gaze met his father’s. He was grateful for his father’s defending him, grateful for being such a good dad. The turtle unclenches his leg, and he let out a gasp. The release of his leg was painful, but the pain was also disappearing completely. He started to limp away, hoping the turtle would leave. But the small animal had it’s eyes set n Addershade. It crawled toward the older tom, and Applefang came hurdling at him. The warrior had just defended his son, there was no chance he would let the creature take a bite out of him. ”No!” he hissed, swiping at the turtle with his paws angrily.

The turtle turned on him, and it took a bite. This one was different. It wasn’t meant to cling on, like it had been before. It was meant to kill, to destroy. Applefang’s eyes closed and he let out a moan full of agony. The creature released it’s bite and started to exit the scene. The ginger warrior collapsed onto the ground.

The warrior’s body felt like it was burning up and freezing at the same time, his leg pounding and pulsing with pain. Blood was rushing out even more than before, and he knew, somehow. He knew that he would ‘t survive. ”D-dad...” he choked out. ”I love you.” Then his emerald green eyes closed, and he exhaled one last time.

The turtle used Damaging Bite, dealing 70 damage and costing 90 stamina! Applefang is dead!

Turtle
96/150 HP
300/450 (-90)

Applefang
0/60 (-70) HP
160/200 SP

Addershade
100/100 HP
260/280 SP

Addershade's feeling of relief at seeing the turtle let go of Applefang's leg was quickly devoured by a feeling of utter dread as his son stepped in front of him, protecting him from the snapping turtle's wrath.

The older tom gave one final hiss at the turtle as it began to exit-- but he saw no point in chasing it or attacking it again. It was already leaving, and his son was badly hurt. The important thing now was making sure he was going to be alright.

But he could tell with just one look at the younger warrior that he wasn't going to be alright. Addershade was neither foolish nor optimistic enough to see anything other than the reality before him. His son was in his final moments. And there was nothing he could do about it.

"A-Applefang...?" Addershade felt more powerless than he ever had before. "I love you-- I love you too. My son..."

Addershade rested his head on Applefang's now lifeless body

"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I wish it had been me instead..." he muttered quietly.

All the old warrior could do was sit there, alone, as sobs escaped uncontrollably from his throat.