Come, Let's Flit Among the Trees (closed)

Swansong winced as the owl darted down again, feeling its talons rake through her fur even as she tried to duck away, leaving a stinging fire behind. But it gave Willowpaw an opportunity, and she heard a shrill cry from the bird as she whirled around, her eyes widening at the sight of her apprentice yanking its tail feathers. The bird flapped madly, skewing to the side and crashing against the trunk of the oak tree in a chaotic mess of feathers.

She was already moving as it hit, launching herself up the trunk at a branch over it, keeping clear of its madly flapping wings and slashing talons. An instant later, claws outstretched and tail keeping her on target, she dropped squarely on top of it.

---

The owl shrieked as the little cat yanked at its tail feathers, pain shooting from the pinion ends as they threatened to tear, its flight suddenly askew. Fighting to regain its balance, it crashed into the tree's trunk, almost dropping from the sky. A moment later it did as the other one dropped on top of it, panic suddenly flashing in its dark eyes with an ear-splitting screech that tore from its beak, for the moment too stunned by the pain in its tail feathers to move.

Swansong used Sky Drop, using 15 SP and dealing 10 damage.

Owl is stunned.

Owl
HP: 21/50 (-10)
SP: 100/120

Willowpaw
HP: 10/20
SP: 57/80

Swansong
HP: 35/45
SP: 125/160 (-15)

The moment the owl fell, Willowpaw leapt to take advantage of its momentary stun to attack. Spinning, she used her hind paws to scratch at the owl's belly deeply. She hissed angrily at the creature. Fear burned in her chest, but determination burned stronger.

Willowpaw used Belly Rake, dealing 7 HP of damage and costing 10 SP.

Owl
HP: 14/50 (-7)
SP: 100/120

Willowpaw
HP: 10/20
SP: 47/80 (-10)

Swansong
HP: 35/45
SP: 125/160

Swansong heard her apprentice's hiss as the she-cat used her back legs to slash at the owl, more blood-flecked feathers flying from its body. The owl itself was only making a dry rasping noise now, but she felt it gather itself in desperation, and leaped from its back, slashing with her front paws.

An odd feeling of pity tugged at her heart as she watched it struggle to get to its feet, beak open as it hissed, its feathers rumpled and blood leaking from its breast feathers. Still, the wounds on her own back stung, and she could see a glint of dark red on her apprentice's back. This wasn't a creature to hesitate in attacking, but still she stood back for a moment, giving it a chance to get back into the sky and fly away, her muscles tensed to dodge if it chose to attack.

It did. The flash of its talons slashed out at her face, its wings stretching out as it hissed again, maddened pain in its dark eyes.

Swansong used Rear-Up to Slash, dealing 11 of damage and costing 15 SP.

Owl used Talon Strike, dealing 10 damage and costing 10 SP.

Owl
HP: 3/50 (-11)
SP: 90/120 (-10)

Willowpaw
HP: 10/20
SP: 47/80

Swansong
HP: 25/45 (-10)
SP: 125/160 (-15)

It seemed like the owl was about to be defeated. Willowpaw’s ears twitched in surprise as her mentor stepped back for a moment, as if waiting for the owl to leave. The owl, of course, didn’t take the hint and dove at Swansong again, attacking her.

Leaping forward yet again, Willowpaw snapped her back paws upwards, scoring another scar into the owl’s belly. She hoped this was enough to get the creature to leave. Her teeth was bared at the bird.

Willowpaw used Belly Rake, dealing 7 HP of damage and costing 10 SP.

Owl
HP: 0/50 (-7)
SP: 90/120

Willowpaw
HP: 10/20
SP: 37/80(-10)

Swansong
HP: 25/45
SP: 125/160

Swansong leapt nimbly backward out of reach of the owl's talons, and a second later Willowpaw again struck out, her claws deepening already bleeding wounds. The owl let out a choked screech, stumbling as its wings slackened, the light in its eyes dying. A couple of weak flaps, and it lay still.

Swansong let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, the air draining slowly in her lungs with a sigh. Turning from the feathered body, she met the eyes of her apprentice, giving her a slightly wan smile as her heartbeat began to slow back down to normal, the frantic pulse of battle fading away. "Well done, Willowpaw. I have to say-" She glanced around for any sign of the mouse - predictably, it was long gone - "that was incredibly well fought for a young apprentice on her first day!" Though Redfall, too, had had to battle a predator on his first hunting patrol, at least he'd managed to catch something first. Hopefully it wouldn't be too disappointing to Willowpaw that she hadn't.

She could feel the stinging wounds along her back starting to sticky her fur with blood, and running an eye over her apprentice, she could see the young she-cat's own wounds oozing. Stepping forward, she gently touched her tail-tip to the other's back. "I don't think we'll be doing any further training this morning, though. Not until we get back to camp and visit Sagelight."

Willowpaw nodded as the adrenaline, the only thing that had kept her going, drained away. Suddenly, her eyes tingled. No no no, not now- That was a bit late. A sniff, and tears began to flow down her face.

"I-I'm sorry-I can't-help that-" She choked out between sobs. She was just such a crybaby at the worst of times... Her wounds throbbed painfully. She was absolutely horrified that Swansong would think badly of her.

Swansong's eyes widened slightly as her apprentice began to sniff, sudden tears flowing down her face. Immediately, the apprentice began to apologize - of all things - her broken voice stammering between sobs, and Swansong shook her head as she gently dr@ped her tail over Willowpaw's shoulders, softly interrupting, "Shh... it's alright, you don't have anything to apologize for. You just fought a battle against something that came out of nowhere - I don't see anything to be ashamed of in a few tears." She touched her chin to the young molly's downturned head, keeping her voice soft and soothing as she continued, a hint of gentle humour entering her tone. "If I'm honest, my own paws are shaking worse than a pine in a windstorm."

"Th-Thanks..." Willowpaw was honestly quite surprised that Swansong didn't seem to be upset or annoyed by her. Most cats she knew would be.

Oh. So it was... Apparently normal to be crying at that kind of times...

Willowpaw subconsciously leaned into Swansong's touch. She'd never had a parent before as far as she could remember, and this was extremely comforting.

"Guess we better go back now before some other predator stumbled upon us." She said at last, pulling away from Swansong. Her tears had dried, recovering as fast as ever.