A Step Backwards [Closed]

Mottleheart sighed softly to himself as he pushed himself out of the medicine cat’s den, giving his pelt a shake as he breathed in the fresh New-Leaf air. It had been a long while since he had taken on the task of gathering herbs by himself, normally he allowed Featherlight to take care of it or joined her. But...He felt like he needed the fresh air. On quiet paws, he slipped from the camp with barely a sound other than the grass bending beneath his weight.

Already he was making an idea of a route to follow in his head, trotting on familiar ground and worn paths made by countless cats before him. He knew where herb patches were, where the best place to find what they were lacking. Part of his own wisdom he had gathered from his time as the medicine cat, some implanted in him by Gorsefeather when he was given his position.

As he came to a stop toward the first patch, he came to a stop at the sight before him. Before him lied dried herbs, withered and dead despite the fact that the grass around it was in perfect health. With narrowed eyes, the medicine cat leaned forward to study the crumbling herbs, a frown etched across his face. That...Wasn’t right. He had seen this herb patch only a few sunrises ago in perfect health. How had it died so quickly?

His fur prickled as he drew away, a sudden uneasy feeling falling over him. A feeling like it was suppose to mean something to him. “I-I don’t…” he mumbled to the air, giving his head a shake before the sound of shifting grass caught his ear. His ears perked as he turned, his mouth opening as he got ready to speak but the taste that entered his mouth caused his blood to chill.

A narrowed snout poked from the grass, white fur fading into orange as clear amber eyes flickered with intelligence...And anger at being discovered. Mottleheart stumbled backwards at the sight of the fox, his paws crushing the dead herbs beneath him before the fox took a lunge. Teeth sank into his shoulder as he yowled, twisting his way free as he stumbled backwards into a crouch.

With quick movement, he threw himself forward onto the fox’s face, his claws sinking in for a desperate hold as he squirmed himself out of the fox’s reach. The predator twisted and turned, attempting to wrestle the terrified medicine cat from his head, but it only caused Mottle to sink his claws in even deeper as he lashed out at any soft spots he could see.

That was until his tail flickered a bit too close to the fox’s jaw. A sudden piercing pain ran down his spine as teeth sank into it, a solid yank losing his grip as he was thrown to the ground with a painful thump. He moaned as he struggled to his paws, his brown eyes wide with terror as he flickered up only to see the jaws of the fox once again descending on him.

No, no, no. He didn’t-He didn’t want to die like this! With quick paws, he slashed out at the underbelly of the fox in an attempt to deter it from attacking but he was only met with shape pain as the fangs dug into his shoulder again. With a yelp, he felt the ground disappear beneath him as he was yanked into the air. He closed his eyes as he struggled to free himself, praying to StarClan that he would be saved somehow as he feeble attempted to land any blows he could as his paws lashed out at random.

Battle info:

Tail whisking to and fro, Brindlewhisker's pace was leisurely as she slowly made her way through the sweet, freshly blossomed heather. After hearing several concerning reports of fresh fox scents within the territory, she had decided to take a brief moment to scout out the unwelcome intruder that was likely still lurking about. Instinctively following the well-worn trails underpaw, the Deputy's chin was jutted skyward as she followed the rank, practically overpowering scent of fox. Mouth twisting into a grimace, her whiskers twitched slightly as the unpleasantly familiar undertone of carrion became more prominent. Such disgusting creatures! They'd need to make sure that no apprentices left camp without supervision until they were able to fully deal with the fox, She mused, only partially minding her surroundings, The last thing they need is another apprentice getting injured or worse-

A panicked yowl effectively derailed Brindlewhisker's train of thought. The blood that pulsed through her veins felt like ice, violently freezing up both her heart and lungs. Ears straining to pick up any other cries, the Deputy's once unhurried movements were immediately shifted into a frenzied sprint. Although the exact extent of the situation was unknown to her, it was clear that one of her Clanmates was in danger. Paws tearing at the soft, fragile Newleaf grasses underpaw, Brindlewhisker was practically flying over the nearest rise, the light breeze of the day sharpening substantially with her hasty movements. Now that there was much less distance between herself and her endangered Clanmate, the pained voice was much more familiar. The sight that greeted her sent a wave of fear pulsating from deep within the core of her being.

Oh great StarClan no! The icy sludge within her veins constricted painfully. "Mottleheart!" Brindlewhisker yowled, hurtling herself towards the bloodied Medicine Cat with such speed that her paws hardly seemed to be touching the ground below. A faint recollection simmered from deep within the recesses of her mind as she charged towards Mottleheart and the fox, the situation much too familiar to simply slip her mind. Only, the last time they had fallen into a similar situation, it had been an eagle in place of a fox. A fierce caterwaul bubbling up from deep within her chest, Brindlewhisker launched herself at the fox, hoping that her sudden appearance would encourage the creature to let go of her companion.

Brindlewhisker used Whirlwind Rush, Dealing -16 in Damage & Costing -15 in Stamina.

Brindlewhisker
100/100 [HP]
245/280 [SP]

Fox
53/100 [HP]
220/280 [SP]

Mottleheart
20/100 [HP]
245/280 [SP]