A Sparrow's Talons (Closed)

Green eyes shone from the tree where a small marbled cat sat quietly. Birds and prey had vacated the area when she made her presence known by attacking a rabbit which had fled onto RiverClan's territory. Her black ears flattened as she stared at the expanse of land not so far from her. Why did cats like to live in that? The trees looked to bent and thin to properly leap from. With a steady blink, she leapt down from her perch onto RiverClan soil and cringed. The ground was softer, the river flowing nearby rejuvinating the land. She hissed at the uncomfortable feeling of mud and dirt on her paws. It wasn't rough and soothing like tree bark.

Clearly, RiverClan cats were fools. Perhaps they believed they were part fish. With a steady huff, she sniffed the border with disinterest, only stopping at the scent of the rabbit. A thoughtful expression on her face as she looked over towards the deeper part of the territory. She could go in. Her tail twitched at the thought. What was going to stop her?

"Whatever it is you're thinking, stop thinking it." Shadefang's muscles rippled under his short dark tabby fur as he stepped out from behind the reeds, glaring dangerously at the SkyClan apprentice. His claws were already unsheathed, expecting there to be a fight. No, wanting there to be a fight. Ever since a few nights ago after his trip back from Twolegplace with his former mentor Silverfang, he couldn't get the image of his mother out of his mind. How helpless Sweet looked pinned to the ground under Silverfang's strong paws, the desperate mewls she cried out as she begged for mercy.

The feeling of his claws slowly tearing through her throat, the warmth of her sticky blood as it coated his fur.

He wanted more. He was as addicted to the thrill of cutting a cat down as a kittypet was to catmint. He wanted to sharpen his claws on this poor pathetic little apprentice. He needed to provoke her.

"What, you don't have enough prey in your territory or something? Guess that's what happens when the weakest Clan lives next to the second most dangerous part of the forest. Honestly, those Twolegs will just come in and take everything away from you at any time, so why bother sticking around, hmm? Unless you just want us to do to you what we've done to ThunderClan and WindClan."

(OOC: So, it's prooooobably gonna go without saying you don't want Sparrowpaw killed in this battle, so would it be okay if Shadefang were to deal an injury or two with lasting effects? Like a permanent scar or a nicked ear or something? :3)

(OOC: Give her a good scar XD I don't want her killed now, but... some point in the future perhaps. I'll let you know if she goes down the route of needing to be stopped. In the meantime, show no mercy XD I can have Sedgestrike find her bloody and injured if she's too bad off to make it back to camp.)

The blue and black she-cat paused. Her head turned to the sound of rustling bushes and the voice that came from them, pelt bristling at the sight of the tom. She wasn't far over the border, so she couldn't be in too deep of trouble... yet. She growled at his words, tail lashing behind her as she lowered her head.
"What?" She snarled, baring her teeth as her pelt spiked up further. How dare this tom insult her and her clan. Her claws sunk into the ground, pupils narrowed into slits as she watched the tom with bitter anger sinking into her pelt at every word.

How dare he.

"What do you know?" She spat back viciously. "Wretched fish-breath. Your clan is nothing more than a bunch of stupid water voles. We are SkyClan." She puffed her white chest out proudly. Her green eyes still tracking Shadefang's every movement. "We are the best, we can practically fly, while all you pathetic fishes can do is jump from your pond and flop uselessly on the ground." Her muzzle turned to a vicious smirk as she stalked forward towards him. For a moment forgetting the border even existed. "All you can do is pretend. I'd even bet your whole clan is nothing but rogues and kittypets, just like ThunderClan."

With that said, she leapt for Shadefang with a battle yowl. Startling the remaining birds into the sky as her claws ripped into his pelt.


Sparrowpaw used Leap-and-Hold on Shadefang, pinned for 1 turn

Sparrowpaw
20/20 HP
70/80 SP (-10)

Shadefang

39/45 HP (-6)
160/160 SP

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

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'Effect Dice' : 3

(OOC: In that case, Sedgestrike is going to have to drive Shadefang away from Sparrowpaw, because in the state he's in now he won't let Sparrowpaw live unless he's stopped. XD)

Shadefang let out a strangled puff of breath as it was knocked out of him upon impact. Momentarily stunned, he began to sluggishly struggle underneath the SkyClan apprentice, though he was quickly regaining his mind and his strength.

(OOC: Excellent! This will do them both huge favors in development! 8D )

Sparrowpaw glared down at the tom she had pinned. Her claws raked through his dark coat as she snarled and glared down at him condescendingly.
"Better than SkyClan indeed. Who's beneath who's paws? Trapped like the pathetic fish you are." She growled, then struck at the tom's head with her unsheathed claws. "You should flop back home."

Sparrowpaw still has Leap-and-Hold on Shadefang, he is no longer pinned

Sparrowpaw
20/20 HP
60/80 SP (-10)

Shadefang

33/45 HP (-6)
160/160 SP

Shadefang finally found the strength to shove Sparrowpaw away, knocking her towards the flowing river. A rather evil grin stretched across his face. ”I think we’re about to see just who’s the pathetic fish trapped under one’s paws.” He launches himself at the apprentice and grabbed her scruff tightly between his teeth before dunking her head into the river, digging his claws into her shoulders and holding her there for several seconds.

Shadefang used Underwater Clinch on Sparrowpaw, dealing 9 damage and costing 10 stamina.

Sparrowpaw is Stunned for one turn.

Shadefang
33/45 HP
150/160 SP

Sparrowpaw
11/20 HP
60/80 SP

When the dark tabby tom wrenched himself free of her, Sparrowpaw tried to hold onto his pelt. Tried to rake her claws in just that little bit more and unfortunately, left herself open. His launch unbalanced her and allowed her scruff to be grabbed. Suddenly, her pelt was soaked. Cold seeped through it onto her skin as water flooded around her and into her jaws as she attempted to yowl. Her paws flailed in the water as she pulled in desperation. This was horrible. The sensation of water flooding between her paws, not letting her grip on anything, stinging her eyes and her muzzle as she did her best not to cough up what air she had.


Sparrowpaw is stunned

Sparrowpaw
11/20 HP
60/80 SP

Shadefang

33/45 HP
150/160 SP

Shadefang let out a mrrow of cruel laughter, watching as the pathetic apprentice tried with all her might to emerge her head to suck up a lungful of air. But he wouldn’t let her. Not yet. He wanted to wait until her struggling turned feeble and weak before letting her out. He heard that drowning in a way was a peaceful way to die, or at the very least compared to other methods.

That just simply wouldn’t do. He wanted her death to be long and torturous. He wanted to put true terror in her heart. He wanted her to beg for mercy, mercy that he wouldn’t give.

With time, he noticed her struggling began to turn sluggish, and air bubbles began sporadically bubbling up to the surface. She was close to drowning. He wouldn’t let her die so tamely.

He dug his teeth into her scruff again and yanked her out with a harsh tug. As she coughed and struggled for air, he seized the opportunity and reared up on his hind legs before slashing his claws viciously down her side, causing a wide gash and sending blood pooling from the wound. When she collapsed to the ground, he pushed her face into the muddy riverbank, which began to turn a deep red with her warm, sticky blood. He bent down and pressed his muzzle against her wound, and when he lifted his head again it was dripping dark crimson. He snarled and licked his lips. The taste of cat blood was intoxicating.

Shadefang used Rear-Up to Slash on Sparrowpaw, dealing 11 damage and costing 15 stamina.

Sparrowpaw is unable to battle.

Shadefang
33/45 HP
135/160 SP

Sparrowpaw
0/20 HP
60/80 SP

(OOC: If he beats sedgestrike, he gets to kill Sparrow. I'm willing to lay that out.)

The loud thumps of her heartbeat felt rapid in Sparrowpaw's ears, as more water was treaded, the beat began to slow. Her muscles felt exhausted, more used to flying high than swimming. It felt strange, being so weak. A snarl choked out of her throat, then much to her surprise she was yanked out of the water. Dazed and confused, she coughed up water until his claws bore down on her once more. A hoarse yowl coming from her throat as she struggled to push him back, away from her, entire body trembling. Finally, her legs could not bare the weight of her body. She collapsed with a pained groan. Half drowned, her fur was in ragged shape from the water. Blood seeped from the wound on her side that would definitely scar. She turned her head, green eyes widening when he pressed his muzzle to her wound. His snarl and blood covered lips sent a chill that raced down her spine. Her fur would have prickled if it wasn't wet.

Was she going to die here? The thought occurred to her, and she swallowed back against it, choking out painful words. "D-don't do it... i-it's... against the code." The words fluttered out of her weak and tired jaws. Her bright green eyes dulling with sleep as she slowly lost her grip on the waking world. She didn't hear the loud and fierce yowl from SkyClan's side.

---

It was meant to be a simple border patrol. Sedgestrike took the RiverClan side to avoid the lure of checking twolegplace for Rippedstar. As he scored a tree with his claws, he heard a weak yowl, one he recognised. His heart clenched painfully as he leapt out of his tree immediately and raced towards the yowl, ignoring the border as he caught the sight.

All at once, his heart froze. His precious daughter was laying at the paws of a wretched RiverClan cat. Anger surged in Sedgestrike's veins as he yowled a fierce battle cry and rammed into the strange cat's side. His green eyes sharp and dangerous as he hissed and stood between Sparrowpaw and her assailant.
"ENOUGH!" He snarled, "Get out of here!" He demanded as he glanced back at his daughter with worry, his guard dropping uncharacteristically for a moment as he nudged her head carefully to see if she was still breathing. The amount of blood on the ground was frightening to see. Of course Honeypaw wasn't with him this time... he could have used the help.

(OOC: Only if you're completely sure about that, I'll take up that challenge. Either way, Shadefang's gonna battle Sedgestrike XD)

"What makes you think I give a flying duck about the warrior code? I can kill you so easily. All I have to do is aim my teeth just over your throat..."

Shadefang wasn't able to do such a thing before a harsh yowl rose from over the river. He backed away in fright of being found out as the SkyClan warrior rushed up to the apprentice, checking her vital signs. Then his blood-stained muzzle stretched into another evil grin. This warrior was now on his land, and he wasn't aware of any possible sneak attack. This was his chance.

He broke into a sudden sprint and slammed his shoulder into Sedgestrike's, knocking him away from his defeated daughter. He stood over the terribly weak apprentice, glaring at his new opponent with a crazed grin. "You're in my territory as well, you know. But I'll tell you what: if you beat me, I'll let you both go home safe and sound. But if I beat you... well, let's just say you'll have to fight for her life."

Shadefang used Run-and-Tackle on Sedgestrike, dealing 9 (+3) damage and costing 10 stamina.

Shadefang
33/45 HP
125/160 SP

Sedgestrike
33/45 HP
160/160 SP

(OOC: I am sure. I acknowledge the risk and am willing to put that on the line. GO SEDGE GO BOI)


The silver tom hissed as he was pushed suddenly rammed into by the RiverClan tom. His claws immediately bared and he lashed out with full fury at his face and chest with a snarl. The blood stained muzzle sent an uneased chill down Sedgestrike's spine, but it was nothing compared to his threat.

He couldn't afford to be stunned. His heart thudded painfully as the mere thought of losing his daughter was terrifying. He looked down at her form underneath Shadefang's body and a vicious snarl crept from his throat. His green eyes narrowed as he stalked forward.
"How dare you." His voice rumbled. Each step was tense, ready to spring, but he didn't quite yet. No, he waited until he was close enough then immediately lunged for the other tom's throat with his claws. Deliberately trying to unbalance him off and away from his daughter. There was no time for banter, for threats. It was only time for action.

Sedgestrike used Upright Front Paws on Shadefang

Sedgestrike:
33/45 HP
140/160 SP

Shadefang:

22/45 HP
125/160 SP

Shadefang snarled as pain seared through his body, but rather than feeling angry, he felt thrilled. He had the chance to kill another cat, and he was far too excited to worry about feeling properly angry. All he needed to do was strike this obstacle down...

He pounced on Sedgestrike, knocking him away from his daughter again, and pinned him to the ground, digging his claws deep through his fur and skin, scraping against raw muscle. "Come on, little kittypet! You wanna protect one of your apprentices, don't you?" he taunted with a harsh yowl of laughter.

Shadefang used Leap-and-Hold on Sedgestrike, dealing 9 damage and costing 10 stamina.

Sedgestrike is Pinned for one turn.

Shadefang
22/45 HP
115/160 SP

Sedgestrike
24/45 HP
140/160 SP

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

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'Effect Dice' : 1

Sedgestrike felt his weight shift, but was too late to stop it as Shadefang took advantage of it. The slippery ground gave the RiverClan cat the advantage as he was pinned down, claws raking the ground leaving massive gouges, his tail lashing. He turned his head to attempt to bite the paws closest to him so he could get his own paws back under him.
"You are not touching my daughter again." He yowled fiercly, his hindlegs finally finding purchase as he abruptly jerked and slid to try getting his body out from under the other tom.


Sedgestrike was pinned this turn

Sedgestrike:
24/45 HP
140/160 SP

Shadefang:

22/45 HP
125/160 SP