snake in the grass [closed]

"Morning, Lilacstar." A small smile grew on Snowpaw's face. Her training session with Shrikestorm had seemed to be a mess, so she was focusing on seeming more ready. She'd done hunting since then, learned the territory better, learned a few fighting moves. Now, the leader of WindClan, Lilacstar herself, was taking her out in a session (Of course, with two Asylum cats already watching - the smile faded from her face at the thought, but it was unavoidable). Snowpaw was determined to do well, which meant getting clean catches and being confident in herself (something she found harder than hunting). She could tell she was a little happier because of the acting, but there was always dread clinging to the bottom of her stomach at the prospect of being analyzed by the leader.

"Is there a specific place you'd like to hunt? Or, patrol, if you want - I just assumed we were hunting." Hopefully she wouldn't take that misstep too badly. Snowpaw gazed through the gorse tunnel and territory beyond it. Time was hard to keep track of. She had been an apprentice for what felt like forever. She knew it wasn't true, and that all apprentices graduated eventually - she just hoped she could prove to Lilacstar here that she deserved the promotion to the status of a warrior.

Lilacstar chuckled as Snowpaw approached her, clearly excited to hunt. She had decided that, as leader, she would be keeping track of the training of apprentices, so now here she was taking Snowpaw on an excursion to assess the young cat, and she was clearly nervous. Lilacstar cringed a little inwardly. She had not thought about how her new rank would be a little intimidating to the younger cat. She flicked Snowpaw's ear with her tail, offering a smile to hopefully calm her down. "We can hunt if you would like, but not like this! You are a bundle of nerves, Snowpaw, relax a little! Instead of thinking me as a leader, why not pretend you are hunting with a friend?"

So with a playful headbutt to the shoulder, Lilacstar began to trot further into the territory. "Well come on then! Let's go! This will be fun!" The Asylum cats, of course, had to race to keep up with her, turning Lilacstar's mood sour. She had not minded the Asylum cats too much before, but since the incident with Thalia, an anger had been festering inside of her towards the intruders. She wanted them gone, she knew that now. But for now, she would maintain peace with them, simply for the sake of her Clanmates' safety. So now she stood begrudgingly with the pair of guards, waiting for Snowpaw to join them.

Being confident had evidently failed. Her nerves had shown. Well, that was not the goal. Snowpaw took a deep breath and and nodded. "Ah... yes, okay." Ignoring that worm of 'you don't have any friends, just Fawnpaw', the white she-cat waited for Lilactar to go head out. She didn't expect the headbutt or words after. Head jerking up with curiosity, Snowpaw hared towards the leader. Her long legs were able to keep up with the leader's, though the tip of her tongue was visible as she started to pant. Thankfully, Lilacstar slowed down. It was due to the guards that blocked their path. Snowpaw's demeanor grew more sour, similar to the leader's, as the pelted cats trailed them and they started walking.

She had grown more accustomed to the cold and snow. Though it wasn't actively snowing, there was a layer of it on the ground. Snowpaw didn't like looking at it or thinking about it (her mind wondered, instead, why she had been named after this). Which was unfortunate for her, as her eyes were fiercely fixed on the cloudless blue sky. She didn't see the dark gray coiling creature that was just perched in the snow, waiting for Lilacstar to take another step. Though it would do no immediate damage to Snowpaw, it was in a position where she would be able to do something about it, had she seen it early enough.

And suddenly, it struck, fangs sinking into Lilacstar's leg for a moment before it retreated back into the ground, dancing away. Snowpaw saw it then. She didn't know the nature of the attack, that it was venemous, but it had attacked her leader! Or her Clanmate. Friend, as the brown and white tabby had put it.

Claws flashed out, glinting in the sun, but the snake saw the blow and easily ducked under. Snowpaw stumbled forwards from the force of her blow. She stayed carefully out of the snake's range, as it seemed to have been retreating at the moment, and turned to Lilacstar, but kept an eye out for the snake. "Lilacstar! Are you okay?"

Snake uses Venom Strike on Lilacstar, dealing 50 damage and costing 60 stamina.
[effect dice: 1-3 hits. 4-6 misses] Attack misses
Snowpaw uses Front Paw Strike, dealing 6 zero damage and costing 10 stamina

Snowpaw
20/20hp
70/80sp [-10]

Snake
10/10hp
20/80sp [-60]

Lilacstar
70/120hp [-50]
280/280sp

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

---

'Effect Dice' : 5

Lilacstar let out a hiss of pain as the snake bore it's fangs into her leg, backing away from the serpent. This was bad. This was very bad. She had two choices. She could continue fighting, but the poison would spread faster, and her leg already felt as though it was on fire. Snowpaw was still safe, though, and a snake is much less dangerous when it's location is known. And a snake only had so much venom. And Snowpaw was being smart, she would not be bit. So Lilacstar decided to keep her distance.

"I'm fine for now, Snowpaw." She hissed through clenched teeth. Stars this hurt. "Just please don't let it bite you. I will be no use in a fight right now. Please be careful."

Lilacstar used disengage, using her remaining stamina.
Lilacstar
70/120 HP
0/280 SP
KO'ed

Snowpaw
20/20 HP
70/80 SP

Snake
10/10 HP
20/80 SP

The larger cat was out of the way, but the snake knew it would have to do something about the younger cat, and the two behind the younger cat. It was tired, though, and stood still for a moment, uncertain of what to do.

Snowpaw, paying more attention to Lilacstar, had lost the snake for a second until she saw it still for a second. Abandoning any sort of caution, the she-cat kicked snow at the snake, hoping it would be blinded temporarily, and brought unsheathed claws down hard on the snake’s writhing body. She hit her target, even if barely. The snake reared back with malignant eyes. For a moment, Snowpaw wondered if she would be sent to StarClan.

The moment passed, and the snake turned, slithering into the snow. The apprentice eyed it carefully this time, until she was sure it’d gone away, then turned to her leader. “I-I’ll get you back to camp safety,” Snowpaw promised, nervousness coating her voice. Their two Asylum shadows had done nothing in the fight, but they reluctantly boosted the leader onto their shoulders and carried her back to camp, Snowpaw in close pursuit.

Snake cannot fight anymore due to low stamina.
[effect dice: 1-3 hits. 4-6 misses] Attack hits
Snowpaw uses Front Paw Strike, dealing 6 damage and costing 10 stamina

Snowpaw
20/20hp
60/80sp [-10]

Snake
4/10hp [-6]
20/80sp

Lilacstar
0/0

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

---

'Effect Dice' : 1