Winds of Change [c]

Honeypaw was getting used to walking the territory. WindClan's land felt so big and sprawling, the flat moors stretching as far as her eyes could see. She could have sworn she saw the patrol go this way...

The short ginger she-cat wandered until she saw the most massive trees she had ever seen. Gawking at its height, she felt so small in the moment, even smaller than usual. At least Papa understood what it was like. Being a short cat in WindClan was like not being able to swim in RiverClan.

She heard paw steps; her ears tilted in their direction. She figured it was a medicine cat or something and didn't turn to face the noise. After all, she was still on WindClan's side of the clearing. She did nothing wrong.

Right?

Blackbear revelled in the freedom her new name gave her. Gone were the days of being woken up against her will and dragged out to train. She'd never have to ask for permission to leave camp again. She could hunt, fight, run, climb, all without saying a single word to anyone. She shook out her thick, wooly pelt as she trod through the forest, staying alert for anything interesting that may cross her path. She walked, she ran, she even climbed a tree in pursuit of a robin that she quickly caught and ate.

She trotted on through the forest, tail tip beginning to twitch. Her excitement at being a warrior ebbed, giving way to boredom and finally irritation. Before it could escalate to full anger, though, she stopped in her tracks. A scent. Not SkyClan, far from it. But it was a clan cat, of that Blackbear was certain. She broke into a run and soon found herself just outside Fourtrees. Forcing herself to slow down, she walked through the bushes and stepped into the clearing with her eyes trained on her target.

The cat was small, shorter than Thornstalker even. For a moment Blackbear hesitated, was this a kit? But then, what would a clan kit be doing outside of camp? No, she had to be an apprentice. Making no further attempts to discuss this with herself, she sprang at the WindClanner with outstretched claws and a low growl.

She slammed into the much smaller cat, knocking her onto her side and digging her claws into her orange pelt. "Where's your patrol? This isn't your territory." she growled. This wasn't her territory either, really, but the thrill of the fight shoved all reasonable thoughts out of her head. Honeypaw was an enemy, and Blackbear was going to make sure she knew it.



Blackbear used Jumping Strike on Honeypaw, dealing 10 HP and costing 7 SP.

Blackbear
HP: 30
SP: 73 (-7)

Honeypaw
HP: 10 (-10)
SP: 60

“StarClan, these trees must be so old—”

Out of nowhere, a massive cat barreled into her from behind, slamming into her rib cage. She let out a howl as claws sliced her fur, blood seeping from the cuts. Honeypaw slid into the earth, this cat on top of her. Her vision clouded, her head pounded, she started feeling so floaty…

“Where’s your patrol? This isn’t your territory.”

The words seemed foreign to her, everything did, cloudy and foggy…

Wait.

She saw the cat’s tail. There was a real chance this crazed brute would kill her.

It’s… my… only… hope…

Honeypaw grabbed Blackbear’s tail and yanked as hard as she could, then swiped at her face. She wasn’t going down without a fight.

“This is StarClan’s territory,” the apprentice hissed, coughing.

Coughing?

Blood trickled from her sides, her breathing was getting heavier and heavier…

Honeypaw used Tail Yank (-7 HP/-15 SP), then invoked her WindClan special ability Swift Strike (-5 HP/-10 SP)!

Honeypaw
10/20 HP
35/60 SP (-25 SP this turn)

Blackbear
18/30 HP (-12 HP this turn)
73/80 SP

Blackbear hissed with surprise and pain as Honeypaw grabbed her bushy tail and yanked as hard as she could. Despite the size difference between the two, the larger she-cat was knocked off her feet as she lost her balance. A sharp pain covered her face as the apprentice slashed at it, cutting through her muzzle. She roared, sprang back to her feet and then staggered, dazed by the pull on her tail. She was too off-balance to attack, though she swiped at the air with a hiss. Blood trickled down her mouth and she licked it off, ignoring the pain of running her coarse tongue over the fresh cut.

StarClan's territory? This WindClanner had to be stupid. She'd been in StarClan's territory, and it looked nothing like this. "Where are all the StarClanners then? I don't see any coming to protect you." She growled.


Blackbear is no longer stunned!

Honeypaw
HP:10
SP:35

Blackbear
HP:18
SP:73