...Even At The Cost Of Your Life [Now Open]

Sootwhisper looked as the kits played happily on the Broken Pools. The day before had rained, just enough to fill up the pools to low enough levels for it to be safe for the young kits to learn to swim, a crucial skill they would need in their future.

He looked around with weary eyes, scouting the area yet again. Not long ago Shade had been exiled from the clan, so he couldn’t be cautious enough. He didn’t come alone, but his warrior companions and queens had decided to secure the area around after one of them listened some ruffling of leaves nearby. He was the only one to be against splitting to make sure the area was safe, but the warriors that had accompanied him were fairly newly named and still held the imagination and recklessness of apprentices, and after their theories of the sound went from voles and mice to hawks, eagles, foxes and rogues, they had managed to worry the queens just enough to convince them to go with them.

With an annoyed sigh he had once more to demonstrate the proper swimming technique after a couple kits somehow forgot that they had to move their paws to move inside the water. He looked so darn stupid trying to swim on land…he was just glad the pools were shallow enough to not let any of them drown, as they could always reach the bottom with their back paws if they ever needed it.

It wasn’t until his sharp trained ears picked up the sound of pawsteps approaching that he turned around, expecting to meet the gaze of one of the warriors of queens that finally came back to help him out with the kits.

Eyes lit up in delight, young Tuftkit ran around splashing and diving into the water of the Broken Pools. He giggled as he watched Sootwhisper teach other kits how to swim while still being on land. The kit got out of one of the small pools and rushed up to the warrior. "Sootwhisper! Do you think you can be my mentor when I become an apprentice?" he asked with twinkling sky blue eyes. The tom-kit slowed down as he saw the warrior looking back, somewhat on alert. "Sootwhisper?" he called softly.

The kit had stopped walking once he was by the warrior's side. The fluffy tom craned his neck up to try and see who was coming. "I-Is it the other warriors? O-Or the queens?" asked Tuftkit softly. The tom-kit was a bit nervous once he remembered rumors that Shade could be lurking in the territory. He pushed those nerve-racking thoughts aside. Maybe it was one of the warriors or queens? Or some prey just running about. The worst case scenario could be predators, rogues, or...Shade. The small kit shivered as the bad thoughts came pushing back.

Tuftkit backed up a bit to where he was still close to Sootwhisper but a bit behind. He hoped that nothing bad was coming to get them.

A familiar scent wafted over the area. A familiar scent that was tainted with rogue. A low growl rumbled from the quivering reeds as an all-too familiar cat pushed himself through, his amber eyes narrowing murderously at his prey, his scarred muzzled twisted into a malicious grin.

“Isn’t that cute?” Shade chuckled lowly as he stalked closer and closer to the disabled warrior and the kit he protected. ”Just a little kit practicing to swim with a disabled, without a care in the world. Well, except you’ve overlooked one thing, obviously. Honestly, Sootwhisper, I’m surprised at you. You know you can’t possibly fight off a dangerous, blood-thirsty rogue. Where are the others, hmm? Or do you just simply have a death wish for yourself and this precious kit?”

A soft growl came out from the depths of Sootwhisper’s throat as she quickly stood and turned around to face his former clanmate, the sudden movement causing some of his old wounds to ache and protest, but he ignored the discomfort. There were more important things for him to focus on.

Without thinking much, he moved one of his hind paws just in front of Tuftkit, both as an instinctive attempt to hide the smaller tom from view and block Shade if he attempted to reach him “Tuftkit, gather the rest of the kits and hide” He didn’t need to turn around to know the rest of the kits was looking at them with wide eyes, some with fear, some with confusion. After all, not all of them knew about Shade nor the danger he represented.

His attention soon returned to Shade as he spoke, only a flick of one of his tattered ears letting him know that his words had been heard “They went to check on some sounds, they shouldn’t be far” His voice was calm and only above the volume level of a whisper. Sootwhisper rarely showed his emotions at all, and it was only during very specific situations, so Shade’s taunts slid off him with ease instead of getting under his skin.

Gold and sapphire quickly looked through the forest surrounding them as the heavily scarred warrior tried to catch a glimpse of those companions that should be at his side instead of only StarClan knows where looking for imaginary foxes and eagles, but each time his bicolored eyes were forced to return to Shade’s amber ones after being unsuccessful.

“You either overestimate yourself or are crazier than a rabid squirrel if you think you can just walk around RiverClan’s territory after your exile…at best, it will only eventually get you killed, and you shall then rot in the depths of the Dark Forest without anyone to mourn you as your memory fades away while we as a clan thrive and grow stronger without you around” He wasn’t stupid, and as much as he hated to admit it he knew he was at a disadvantage here, not only for the wounds that crippled him but by the fact he had something to protect while Shade was free to attack without a care…but that wasn’t going to make him step back, he had to try and stall for as long as possible to give time for his clanmates to return and help him chase the rogue away.

But even if he was forced to face Shade in battle on his own, he had made a promise a long time ago, and if this was the time to fulfill it he was ready. He was going to protect his clan, even at the cost of his life.

OC: Excuse my late reply! I had to do errands these past days!

IC: Tuftkit's pelt fluffed up in fright. The small kit nodded at Sootwhisper's command and scrambled to do as he was told. He told the kits to go hide because they were in danger. Once all his friends were hidden away, Tuftkit took to hiding behind the closest clump of reeds to Sootwhisper and Shade. He was scared but was willing to help the warrior in any little way he could. He unsheathed his small, needle sharp claws and hissed as menacingly as he could. Despite him wanting to fight, he stayed hidden. He intended on going out if anything starts to go very wrong.

Shade took a step forward, then another. "Do you really think someone as weak and unable as you can protect these kits from me? Trust me, when this battle is over these kits will be dead... and so will you." Not wasting anymore time, the rogue pounced at Sootwhisper, reared up, and slashed his claws hard across his cheek to knock him over.

Shade used Rear-Up to Slash on Sootwhisper, dealing 13 damage and costing 15 stamina.

Shade
60/60 HP
185/200 SP

Sootwhisper
42/55 HP
170/170 SP

Sootwhisper wasn’t as quick as he used to be, so he failed at avoiding the attack. The claws of Shade felt as if they were enveloped in flames as they slashed at his cheek, his weak legs giving up under him as he was thrown off balance by the strong blow. However, even if Shade still had strength and agility on his side, even if he was crippled to a point where he never could become stronger than he was, he still had the experience and fiery battle spirit that was so easily recognizable on those he shared blood with.

Without thinking he quickly turned his disadvantageous position to his favor, rolling over just so he was close enough to his opponent and using his claws to rake as his belly before getting back on his paws. He wasn’t going to go down so easily. If this was his time to join the ranks of the clan that walked the night skies, he would at least give Shade some scars to remember him by, and knock him off the pedestal of pride he had placed himself on top of.

Sootwhisper used Half-Turn Belly Rake on Shade, dealing 13 damage and costing 20 stamina.

Shade
47/60 HP
185/200 SP

Sootwhisper
42/55 HP
150/170 SP

The dark tabby rogue spat in furious pain, leaping back and wincing at the claw marks. He didn’t stay inactive for long, however; with all the battles he’d fought, he was all but used to the pain by now. Counterattacking, he leaped for Sootwhisper’s scruff, gnashed down on it hard, and violently shook him.

Shade used Scruff Shake on Sootwhisper, dealing 5 damage and costing 25 stamina.

Sootwhisper is Stunned for two turns.

Shade
47/60 HP
160/200 SP

Sootwhisper
37/55 HP
150/170 SP

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

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'Effect Dice' : 5

Sorry Chu....


Like a hot wave of fire, the pain that came from the attack engulfed him not once, but twice, as once he was released from the tight grip of Shade’s fangs his already aching legs gave in under him yet a second time, causing him to fall on the muddy ground under him. The wounds of old were quick to to complain as he tried to recover, and after the strong blow against the unexpectedly hard terrain of the Broken Pools his head felt like if it was spinning.

Sootwhisper is stunned for 1 more turn

Satisfied that he had managed to buy himself enough time to land a couple more strong attacks, Shade reared up and pummeled Sootwhisper’s head with both clawed paws in the effort to further disorient him.

Shade used Upright Front Paws on Sootwhisper, dealing 13 damage and costing 20 stamina.

Shade
47/60 HP
140/200 SP

Sootwhisper
24/55 HP
150/170 SP

The strong blow to his head didn’t help the white and black tom in the slightest to get back on his paws, he could feel the warm yet sticky droplets of blood on his face as he tried to get back on his paws, shaking his head to get rid of both the dizziness and pain. He had to wait a couple seconds before he could focus enough to see anything but colorful and blurry shapes. He knew he was losing but he wasn’t willing to concede defeat, if anything, any extra bit of effort from his part meant more time for the group of cats that were supposed to be at his side or at least a patrol to arrive.

Sootwhisper is no longer stunned

”Some fight you’re putting up there,” Shade taunted as he slashed his claws across his cheek again. ”If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you don’t even care if you can save these kits’ lives.”

Shade used Front Paw Strike on Sootwhisper, dealing 11 damage and costing 10 stamina.

Shade
47/60 HP
130/200 SP

Sootwhisper
13/55 HP
150/170 SP

As if something had snapped inside the crippled tom with Shade’s taunt, as soon as he felt his claws against his cheek he turned quickly towards him and made a motion of being about to slash his chest and belly with his claws once more, but it was only a decoy to mask his true attack. Basically imitating the stronger tom’s previous action his jaws clamped down on the fur and loose skin of his neck before shaking him with as much strength as he could gather. He couldn’t see a patrol approaching yet, he had to stall for longer. If the kits were smart them most likely would’ve run by now towards camp…oh, he just hoped they weren’t paralyzed with fear, or worse, wanting to play hero.

That would definitely give Shade an easy kill, the exact same thing he was willing to put his life on the line to avoid.

Sootwhisper used Scruff Shake on Shade, dealing 5 damage and costing 25 stamina. Shade is stunned for two turns.


Shade
42/60 HP
130/200 SP

Sootwhisper
13/55 HP
125/170 SP