Far from Home [O]

Seconds seemed to stretch on into hours as Woolypaw soared overhead, eyes wide with terror. He watched helplessly as, almost in slow motion, they passed over RiverClan's camp and territory. He could see the river and, despite the sheer horror that paralyzed both his body and mind, he recalled his training with Stormdance and recognised the border they were currently aerially trespassing. Tall pines replaced willow trees, tall enough to almost brush him as the eagle flew by. StarClan, this was so high up. He felt sick.

Were... Were the trees getting taller? No. The eagle was descending. Hope bloomed in his chest, though suffocated by his fear. His squirming began anew in earnest, despite the sharp pain that pierced his sides woth every move.

He looked to his left, making eye contact with Sandykit. Poor Sandykit. "Sandykit! Squirm, squirm! It's going down! I knew-" His voice caught, but he pushed on. "-I knew we'd be alright. See?" He hoped the eagle didn't understand them. How fitting would it be of his seemingly cursed luck if it caught wind, if it flapped its terrible wings and went even higher than before. Then he'd be responsible for not only his own death, but that of a kit. Poppyshine would be destroyed.

The eagle seemed not to notice, though, and their steady decline continued. Three foxlengths... Two... One...

His legs instinctively scrabbled for purchase as they reached the ground, bringing clumps of dirt up as he raked the forest floor with his claws. Then the pressure lifted from his torso and he was free. Woolypaw retched, his half-digested breakfast leaving his body. He stood there, trembling.

Sandykit. Where was Sandykit? Then it dawned on him, why the eagle had landed: it was not mercy. The eagle simply needed to drop him, too heavy to take to its nest. That meant...

"SANDYKIT!! NO!!!" He spun around and charged at the beast, which was preparing to take off. He opened his jaws and clamped onto the leg holding his Clanmate, almost weeping with relief when the talons opened on reflex and the shaken kit came tumbling from the eagle's grasp. He ran to her, grabbing her by the scruff and stepping back from the ired eagle. It flew to close the distance, slicing at Woolypaw's eye with a claw. Blinding white filled his vision, both from the pain and from the deep gash the attack left. Blood gushed from his eye and he screamed, a terrible piercing sound despite Sandykit's scruff muffling it. He staggered, disoriented and in the most pain he'd ever felt in his life. He was sure he'd die here. At least he'd die protecting Sandykit.


Woolypaw used Snap on the eagle, dealing 6HP and costing 7SP. The eagle used Talon Strike on Woolypaw, dealing 7HP and costing 10SP.

Eagle
HP:24 (-6)
SP:85 (-10)

Sandykit
HP:1
SP: 30

Woolypaw
HP: 4 (-7)
SP: 41 (-7)

The member 'xaandiir' has done the following action : Dice roll

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'Invasion Dice' :

Woolypaw was too overwhelmed by pain and fear to register what exactly was happening. But he was alive. He backpedaled instinctively, putting as much distance as he could between him and the bird- whose focus was no longer on him. The apprentice blinked, bringing searing pain to his left eye, and finally recognised his- their- saviour. Poppyshine. He sagged with relief despite himself. He wasn't quite relieved enough to put Sandykit down, but he was sure he wouldn't die now. Little by little, confidence dripped back into him. Brookstone's appearance and attack on the eagle only further bolstered him and he no longer felt the agonising terror that had been coursing through his body. Now, all he had to focus on was the pain. Far enough from the eagle now that it couldn't attack him easily, he slumped to the ground in a heap and dropped Sandykit at his paws, shielding her between his front legs.

The eagle screeched in pain as the RiverClanners attacked it, reeling back. It flapped its wings wildly but was too dazed by Poppyshine's sudden attack to react, eyes pinned in rage and beak snapping at air.


The eagle is no longer stunned.