Cat Got Your Tongue? [c]

It was a breezy newleaf evening, and cats were winding down back at camp. There was an empty nest back at camp- Muddypaw's. He had been on a hunting patrol, but he veered from their ranks to hunt down the largest vole he'd ever seen! There was no way he'd let a vole that size out of his sight. The tom was hot on its trail; he had scared it off toward Highpine when he misstepped on a twig.

Muddypaw parted his lips to taste the air. The vole was definitely here, probably taking shelter underneath brambles or ferns. He stopped, eyes trained on the landscape. He was studying the territory for any sign of movement. Waiting... waiting...

Suddenly, after what seemed like hours, there was a scuffling beneath a clove of heather. He dropped down in an instant, focused and determined. Smokewish would be so proud if he caught this vole! The thin apprentice crept forward. He seemed to be still in time, placing his paws delicately against the leaf-littered ground. He could feel his jaws watering with the thought of the vole. All he had to do was--

It took off before he had pounced. With each muscle tensed for the hunt, he took off after it. Muddypaw's heart pounded out of his chest in anticipation. He couldn't lose this. He couldn't. The brown fur was a blur as it took off past Highpine, obliviously to the tom. He was sprinting with all his strength. It twisted between trees and nearly drove him in circles. Then, the RiverClan cat saw it tuck into a hole in the ground. Painfully, he scrabbled at the hole with his dark paws. "No, no, no!" he wailed, tossing up soil and leaves.

Little did he know, he was out a ways away from the Highpine border. In SkyClan territory. He continued digging on SkyClan ground...

OOC: Are we using the battle system here??? If not just tell me and I'll remove it from my post



Hawkstrike was heading towards Highpine with Jaypaw at his side. The only reason he had allowed the younger cat to come was the fact that her mentor seemed to be a bit busy at the time and he saw himself reflected on her as she so eagerly asked to go out in a patrol with him. Since the death of Crowstar the brown tom had become less and less sociable with the cats of the clan as he tried to get over the grief that his departure caused, and the loss of Rippedstar not long after didn’t really help his condition as he lost the only other cat he had come to truly respect in the clan, even if it was only because Crowstar himself appointed the black and white tom as deputy.

During this time his thoughts had started to wander the darker areas of his mind and echoes of old promises had plagued his mind. The lone patrols he had started to take helped him to vent off the anger that he still couldn’t let go of, as well as give him time to think without other cats interrupting him…but change of pace every once in a while wasn’t that bad.

The scent of RiverClan didn’t surprise him, as he knew their territory was near, but how soon he had picked it up caused his fur to rise slightly and claws to unsheathe half way as his steps became cautious. His suspicions were soon proved correct as he spotted a cat digging in SkyClan territory, way past the scent marks.

“Trespasser…” His voice was merely a whisper, only meant for Jaypaw to hear. The usually calm and smiling mask he used to wear to hide his true self cracked almost immediately. He crouched lightly with claws unsheathed and fur standing on end, eyes cold and focused on the smaller cat as he approached them with silent steps, carefully to do so by behind to avoid getting detected.

When he was close enough, and without any kind of warning, he slammed one of his paws with unsheathed claws against the flank of the trespassing cat. Many warriors had underestimated him in the past give that he was smaller than average, only to find out that it wasn’t all just skin and bones what hid under his fluffy brown coat. He hadn’t earned his suffix out of pity after all.

“You should’ve thought it twice before daring to cross that border, fish-breath” His voice was low and cold with a subtle hint of cruelty, a cold glare never leaving the blue eyes of the younger tom. His brutal approach could appear as unnecessary, especially against an apprentice like Muddypaw, but for Hawkstrike this cat was just another intruder that he had to get rid of, it didn’t made any difference if it was a dangerous rogue or a tiny kit.

It was like if the Hawkstrike SkyClan knew had been replaced by a completely different cat, one so cruel even getting close to him was enough to make anyone nervous…and in part claiming that wouldn’t be exactly wrong.


Hawkstrike used Front Paw Strike on Muddypaw, dealing 13 damage and costing 10 stamina

Muddypaw
7/20 HP
80/80 SP

Hawkstrike
80/80 HP
230/240 SP

Muddypaw was too busy with his muzzle in the earth to notice his attacker pelting toward the tom. He heard pawsteps thundering toward him, but when he glanced up, he was too late to react. The she-cat made the apprentice bowl over from her powerful strike. He yowled in surprise, digging his claws into the dirt for stability.

The tom lashed out almost as quickly as he had been attacked, striking the warrior's fur. It was considerably less powerful than her attack. Fear gripping his pelt, Muddypaw wanted to turn back and run, but what kind of a RiverClan cat would he be? He stood his ground, his blue eyes flashing for mercy. Oh, StarClan help me...

Muddypaw used Front Paw Strike on Hawkstrike, dealing 6 damage and costing 10 stamina.

Muddypaw
7/20 HP
70/80 SP

Hawkstrike
74/80 HP
230/240 SP

Jaypaw watched Hawkstrike from behind a large, fallen log. What was he doing?! Was he trying to get SkyClan into trouble? Her calico fur bristled, chills surging through her spine as she watched the apprentice try to fight back. Was he going to kill him? Surely not. The experienced warrior clearly had to have more sense than that, did he not? Slowly coming out from her cover behind the thick wood, she looked into Hawkstrike's eyes, her own glinting with nothing akin to worry, but something more like... Advice? She herself didn't know what to call it, but the words came out slow and calmly. She couldn't care less about the apprentice, she was concerned with the outcome of Hawkstrike's actions for the both of them. "Hawkstrike, please. He's only an apprentice." She raised a nonexistent eyebrow, waiting for him to attack again or reply to her statement.

ooc; crap post, I know, so sorry it took so long;;

OOC: I’m so sorry for the huge delay!!! Awful days had been awful



Hawkstrike let out a hiss as soon as the smaller claws of the apprentice connected, however, instead of being out of pain or even surprise from the sudden counterattack, the hiss was overflowing with anger. It was like many moons of bottled anger had somehow managed to be set loose with the possibility to fight another cat. His ear flicked lightly when he heard Jaypaw’s words, though he didn’t turn around to look at her at all.

“He’s a trespasser, Jaypaw” His words were colder than the ice that covered the river in Leafbare. His glare was locked on the RiverClan apprentice, pupils reduced to nothing but thin lines, as his fur raised and fangs bared as he basically hissed the next words “He had the chance to run, he decided to fight. Just like any enemy, he deserves no mercy”.

As soon as the words left his muzzle, he launched yet another attack. Any cat trained by the laws of StarClan probably would’ve decided to hit his body again just to knock him out…but he was trained during darker times by crueler laws and merciless mentors, all of which praised the murder of those that dared challenge them. Because of this, sharp claws slashed the throat of the younger tom without doubts, and even after the blood stained his paws yet again he only glared at him without any kind of grief nor regrets.

However…something inside him kept him from landing a slash that would mean imminent death for the tom.

“Stay here” His voice made clear his order wasn’t up for debate as he turned his head just enough for his green gaze to meet Jaypaw’s for a second. He then grabbed the injured apprentice by the scruff and walked over to the border before throwing him over, making sure he landed in one of the many aromatic plants found close by. This wasn’t his first time disposing of evidence of his questionable actions, and he trusted that his scent as well as any other would be erased by it, whether the tom died or not, he didn’t care. One less enemy to worry about if he did.

He quickly licked his paw and claws clean before walking towards Jaypaw. Not too much blood had been spilled on SkyClan’s side of the border, the forest would get rid of most if not all of that evidence on its own before the next patrol of any side came by.


Hawkstrike used Front Paw Strike on Muddypaw, dealing 13 damage and costing 10 stamina

Muddypaw
KO'ed

Hawkstrike
74/80 HP
220/240 SP

Muddypaw's tail lashed at his opponent's words. No mercy, on an apprentice? Only dishonorable warriors would show no mercy to an apprentice! Stay strong. Don't let his words deter you. Yowling loudly, Muddypaw launched himself full-force at Hawkstrike,  claws extended. His mistake; he was much too slow. His yowl was stopped abruptly, forever caught in his throat.

The tom was stopped dead on his four paws, staring unblinkingly ahead. The yowl caught in his throat began to rise to his tongue as blood. There was a ripping sensation coursing from his neck to his entire body. The shock of the pain sent the RiverClan apprentice in a lifeless heap at Hawkstrike's paws, coughing and spattering before he went silent. It was all a blur of pain and darkness. Time seemed to slow as Muddypaw felt his world spiral. He was falling away from reality and into a pool of shadows.

There was no trace of Hawkstrike. The only evidence of him was the memory Muddypaw gripped onto; his powerful scent, his brown layered pelt, his unforgiving green eyes.

Hopefully, some cat would find him before he bled out on his own territory unconscious.