Balancing Acts [c]

Stars, finally, there were no cats to breathe down his neck for once. Rowanpaw– with his infinite wisdom, he thought proudly to himself –had managed to slip outside of camp without Sprucepaw dragging him back by the tail, or Stormdance around to worry over every step he took... or Poppyshine, though he didn't want to dwell on that. She was the one cat he cared if he upset, and he could only imagine her reaction to hearing about his adventure. But she wasn't here right now; there was just the bright sun, warm air, and a wealth of opportunity.

Bouncing on his pads, Rowanpaw skipped through the grasses, reveling in his freedom. There was so much to do out here. He could practice his hunting, or go sniffing around for predators– dragging a weasel back to camp he'd beaten single-pawed was sure to earn him some renown –or he could go stick his nose around their borders, and see what other cats were out and about, or... Rowanpaw slowed, letting his paws sink into the damp grass. It was such a nice day, and really, too hot to do much work, anyway. No one could fault him for just enjoying a nice, peaceful walk.

Oblivious to his own clumsy paws, Rowanpaw paid no mind to the crackling of sticks as he marched right over them. A quick inhale proved that there were no predators around to drag him off to their dens; though, it did bring the familiar scent of his Clanmates, fresher than the lingering scent of patrols that had gone through. Ears lowering, the ruddy apprentice stopped hard in his tracks, looking over his shoulder to scan the scenery. Nothing immediately jumped out at him, so he started to relax; and then, as if sensing the ease in his thoughts, the grass parted and one particularly nosy mentor stepped forward. It seemed like Stormdance was interested in something else, or he just hadn't noticed his apprentice yet, or just hadn't had time to react– well, he was going to have something to react to.

Rather than finding a shrub or particularly tall clump of grasses to dive into and hide, the apprentice spun fully on his pads, rich green eyes laser-focused on the dark tabby. If he hadn't been noticed already, he would make himself known now. "No!" He shouted as he spun around, ears pressed low to his head and whiskers trembling with frustration. "What are you doing out here? Are you following me?" His harsh mew was as accusatory as it was strained with dismay. He'd just wanted a moment alone! Just a minute to explore and be by himself without fretful warriors shepherding him left and right. And yet, Stormdance had shown up anyway. He'd been so careful not to be followed, too... Rowanpaw's tail flickered stiffly to and fro. "Can't you patrol anywhere else? Must you stalk me wherever I go?"

For all he'd put his mentor through, Rowanpaw couldn't think of a time he'd made his mentor seem angry. Cross, sure; frustrated, most certainly; concerned, absolutely. But truly, properly angry?

The young tom stilled, his fur stiffening until it stood straight all along the length of his spine. He wasn't sure whether the shot of adrenaline that went through him was from fear or thrill. Stormdance had the potential to put him at serious risk if he turned around to tell Poppyshine or Perchstar. On the other paw– he had earned a reaction. He wanted to dig into that, see how much he could get out of the darker tom.

To think, Stormdance had the nerve to stalk him on his private venture, then get so heated when he was called out on it! Rowanpaw bristled further, until all his fur stood on end and he'd swelled to twice his size.

"In case you haven't noticed, I am not Woolywing, nor am I Yarrowblossom. I am competent where they were not." Rowanpaw hissed back. His voice had lost the high strain to it, though it still simmered with frustration and dismay. That pair of then-apprentices were fools in their own right, they had gone out looking for the fox, he was sure of it. At least he was keen enough not to go searching for predators– though he was sure he could handle it if one came.

With an irritated huff, he turned on his pads, pacing around his mentor in a tight circle. [color=darkorchid]"You worry far too much. There is more between my ears than mud and scales. What am I meant to do, anyway? Would you like me to stare at the same reed-wall I've looked at for my whole life? Venture down to the broken pools? Oh– or is that too daring for you?" Rowanpaw was properly spitting now, ire in every syllable. "Honestly, Stormdance. How do you expect me to learn, if not by doing?"

There, Rowanpaw ceased his marching, and he looked briefly hurt before the irritation returned to his expression. "Here I am, attempting to become a good warrior, and yet I am in trouble regardless. Doomed if I do, doomed if I do not." He hissed, spat, and raked claws through the earth, tearing at the soil. "You only choose not to trust me. There is not a hair out of place on my pelt, and there never has been. I have done everything right, and still you fault me. Perhaps you just have some grudge against me. Is that it, then? Perhaps you'd like to see some beast run for us right now, if only to prove yourself right."

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

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'Effect Dice' : 3

Stormdance ranted and raved in turn, and Rowanpaw hissed quietly back at him as his mentor drolled on and on. He was patient enough to wait his turn to speak but stars above, it was hard not to cut through with his own snappy remarks. His jaw parted briefly, ready to insist that he was smarter, that he was better, untouchable compared to the others, but he was beat by the spill of words from Stormdance. The darker tom spat something about ruining his life, and almost, Rowanpaw hissed an agreement; instead, he only twitched his whiskers, narrowing his eyes to stare hard and furious against the pained look that briefly overtook his mentor's anger.

A scent he didn't recognize hit his nose, but the ruddy tom barely acknowledged it. There were still threats being made against him, promises of going back to camp and dragging him kicking and screaming to Perchstar for assessment. That was of far greater concern to him– Rowanpaw refused to be brought before Perchstar, to risk being stripped of his rank. He would not be made into a kit again, nor expected to act like one, especially not with his siblings fast approaching their warrior ceremonies. Again, he wanted to spit, but he'd been interrupted– though this time, it wasn't Stormdance who cut him off.

The stench that had permeated the air grew suddenly stronger, enough to finally draw Rowanpaw's interest. And with it came the sound of pawsteps heavier than any cat he knew; light enough that for a moment, he could have fooled himself into thinking it was just the scattered steps of a passing patrol, but something instinctual told him that was wrong. Wrong, and dangerous to think, as well. Branches crackled, and slowly, Rowanpaw turned, staring into the distance with narrowed eyes. Before he could really take anything in, a streak of russet fur– almost like his own, the thought flashed through briefly –bolted into view. And–

Rowanpaw screeched, paws flailing as he was lifted off the ground. Pain radiated from his neck, sharp and hot, and the apprentice yowled louder when the pressure grew tighter. While he hung, his vision swam, spotty with fear and pain. Was Stormdance still there? Or had his mentor turned and fled in an instant? Despite himself, and despite their arguing, Rowanpaw found himself desperately wishing the dark tom had not disappeared in his haze. He was being thrashed around, he could feel his spine being jolted side to side. Dimly, he wondered if it was how mice felt when cat's paws came down on them.

And then he wasn't hanging anymore. Just as quickly as he'd been snatched off the ground, the teeth that bore against his neck released. But he wasn't back on the earth; there was no soft grass underpaw. With a pounding heart, Rowanpaw realized he was... flying? He was flying, suspended above ground. It couldn't have been for more than a second, maybe two, but it felt like he could feel everything as if the moment stretched on for hours. The wind that cut through his fur from the swiftness of his flight; the way his legs flailed gracelessly, seeking something stable to connect with; the pain, now dulled, that radiated out from his neck; most of all, he felt it when he landed again, his shoulder connecting with the earth first. With a dull thud, he rolled, groaning, through the grass.

Through the fog of shock and pain, he heard his name. Rowanpaw lifted his head, wincing at the way his muscles protested from the slight action, and realized he could properly see again. The thing that attacked them– it'd been a fox, he could reason that much, even if he'd yet to see one. It was snarling and spitting, and looming right over him. Heart pounding, Rowanpaw felt his blood run cold. He'd been hurt– he could die. Panic surged through him, and he was about to force himself to his paws and try to scramble away, but in the same beat the creature was ripped away from him with a yelp of its own. Stormdance was dragging it around by the tail, pulling them apart, and leaping to stand between him and the fox.

"Stormdance." Rowanpaw hardly breathed the word, his voice soft and trembling– and awed. So his mentor had stayed. Not only stayed, but threw himself forward fangs first in defense. Shrinking back, Rowanpaw made no motion to disobey, curling against the grass with a low hiss of pain and wide, unblinking eyes.

Rowanpaw is stunned for this turn.

Rowanpaw [stunned]
10/20 HP
60/60 SP

Stormdance
40/40 HP
85/100 SP

Fox [stunned]
52/60 HP
165/180 SP

Laying on the ground, all Rowanpaw could think about was his injury. It was mild– he thought so, he'd survived it, at least –but even if it wasn't grievous, he could still hear the unsteady beating of his heart as it throbbed into his neck. Could feel it, too, the blood congealing in his fur with every pulse, thick and hot and sticking.

More than that, he'd been injured. Not just swatted on the nose, cuffed or nipped too hard by his siblings... truly and remarkably hurt. He was bleeding.

The thought chilled him, horribly. If it weren't for the wetness in his scruff, or the way his muscles protested when he shoved himself to his paws, he would have convinced himself it hadn't happened at all. He was supposed to be indestructible, supposed to be better.

Shaking his head to clear the last wisps of fog clouding his mind, Rowanpaw wavered on his feet, figuring out his balance against the soreness. As he stood, Stormdance lurched away from him, closer to the fox. His dark claws glinted in the sunlight, flashing as they raked through russet fur and came away coated in blood. He had never thought Stormdance a particularly violent cat, or even fierce... but watching the dark tom stare down the canine, fur raised and a deep growl rumbling out of his throat, Rowanpaw realized he'd certainly earned his rank as a warrior.

As capable as he was though, he'd put himself right in front of the canine's teeth. Something stirred in the apprentice's chest as he watched, and before he realized it, his paws were carrying him forward. He'd wanted to obey for once, he really had, but the cold sense of worry in his heart propelled him forward despite himself.

"Stormdance, wait!" Rowanpaw cried as he stumble-lurched into the fray. It was exceedingly obvious he hadn't been in a proper fight before by the way his paws briefly raised, unsteady, and he floundered about midstep. Then, deciding he had no more time to think, he ducked his head and threw himself skull-first into the fox's flank. It was enough to make the beast yip in alarm– and hopefully, pain –and whirl on him with fangs bared. Shrinking, Rowanpaw spat back at it and skipped away, ducking back behind his mentor.

"Do not fight without me," he murmured as he drew close again. There was a slight tremor to his voice, and what had been meant as a command came out more as a plea, desperate and afraid.

Rowanpaw is no longer stunned!
Rowanpaw used Headbutt, dealing 4 damage and costing 5 SP.

Rowanpaw
10/20 HP
55/60 (-5) SP

Fox
40/60 (-4) HP
165/180 SP

Stormdance
40/40 HP
78/100 SP

Relief washed over Rowanpaw when his mentor softly agreed to let him fight. He'd been very aware of the fact Stormdance could have sent him away, ordered him to stay back– or worse, to flee entirely. Even if he'd been ordered to do otherwise, he was determined to stand his ground against the beast. Inexperienced and afraid as he was, he was not the type to run.

The fox stepped closer, spitting dangerously, and Stormdance darted forward in an instant. Everything happened fast, faster almost than Rowanpaw could keep up with. The fox yelped as fur and flesh was torn from it, blood rising up to fill the sudden gap– then it was Stormdance screaming.

The noise shook him, froze him in place again. Whether things happened in too quick a blur for him to follow, or he'd screwed his eyes shut on instinct, he wasn't sure. One second, Stormdance was ducking away from the fox; then there was a snap, and the next, Rowanpaw watched as his mentor tumbled from between the fox's teeth, one of his legs soaked in thick blood. His chest tightened, pounding, and Rowanpaw darted forward to crouch at his mentor's side– not without a defensive hiss to the fox.

"Are you okay?" He asked softly as he approached, leaning over the injured leg. It looked like there were deep holes where teeth had just been, but if it was worse than that, Rowanpaw wouldn't have been able to tell. There was too much blood leaking from around the bite, and he knew little of injuries anyhow. Pressing the flat of his head against Stormdance's hip, the apprentice took in a soft breath, steadying himself. With his exhale, the fear at seeing the older tom dropped limply left, and in its place came surging anger.

Hopping over Stormdance to stand between him and the fox– the same way he'd done just moments ago –Rowanpaw let out a deep snarl, the most threatening sound he could manage. "You will not touch him again. He is mine to hurt, and mine only." He spat out, tail lashing. With that said and teeth snapping dangerously close, he sprang forward, bowling into the fox. It rolled, and Rowanpaw with it, until he was standing atop the beast with claws fixed to its shoulders.

Rowanpaw used Leap and Hold, dealing 6 damage and costing 15 SP. Fox is pinned for 2 turns.

Rowanpaw
10/20 HP
40/60 (-12) SP

Fox [pinned]
26/60 (-6) HP
135/180 SP

Stormdance
23/40 HP
71/100 SP

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

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'Effect Dice' : 6

To Rowanpaw's surprise, as he stood firmly atop the fox, holding it fast to the ground despite its writhing, Stormdance came quickly into view. He'd heard the scuffling of paws and quiet, pained hissing, vaguely seen Stormdance rise to his feet while he rolled with the fox... but somehow, he hadn't expected him to stumble forward, dragging his claws once more through the beast's chest. It'd earned a pained, distressed yelp, and blood welled against the wounds– some of it leaked onto Rowanpaw's paws where they slipped from its shoulders, and he grimaced at the way it stained the white fur.

"Your leg," he countered, green eyes flicking between the deep wound, to Stormdance's own blue eyes and back again. While he certainly appreciated the help, or his mentor's simple presence, he shouldn't be straining himself to fight a fox. Rowanpaw knew that much, even if he would have done the same. "I am... I'm surprised you're standing." His mew was weary, soft. Quickly, in a more brusque tone, he added, "Good, though. You are capable."

As he spoke, the fox started to wriggle again, claws scrabbling against the earth. Rowanpaw braced, ready to be thrown from its side, but the weight pushed against him felt like nearly nothing. The fight had exhausted their attacker as well, if its weakening struggles and– his ears twitched, listening closer –its wet, labored breathing. With a snort, Rowanpaw pressed his claws in harder, earning a thin yelp. When he spoke next, his words were gruff, but there was an undercurrent of warmth to them. "Were I to listen, I'm not so certain you would still have your leg. You should be grateful, that I am so willful and bold." For emphasis and arrogance, he put even more weight on. He was determined not to let the fox rise again.

Rowanpaw continued Leap and Hold, dealing 6 damage and costing 15 SP.
Fox remains pinned.

Rowanpaw
10/20 HP
25/60 (-15) SP

Fox [pinned]
12/60 (-6) HP
135/180 SP

Stormdance
23/40 HP
64/100 SP