In The Great Big World

A continuation of this topic
Lilypaw stumbled through the darkness, her clear-blue eyes clouded with pain. The storm buffeted her small body back and forth mercilessly, and this time, she didn't try to fight it. Every step she took, every paw she placed in Skyclan territory reminded her that she didn't belong. her world was all wrong, and there was nothing she could do about it.
Windclan, Windclan, Windclan. The name pounded itself into her brain, chanting in unison with her heartbeat. She took another step, her knees finally buckling as the wailing storm sapped whatever energy she had left.
I'm lost... she thought dimly, staring dully as a dark creature rushed above her. And all alone.

She didn't have the ability to move her limbs as it bore down on her, it's silent wings sending drafts of ice-cold air onto her face. The only thing she could feel was a dull, numbing fear as her mouth opened in a silent scream.

---

Mintwhisker sat bolt upright in her nest as lightning crashed suddenly, bathing her den in white. Immediately, the taupe tabby knew that something wasn't right. She slowly gathered herself and stood, her heart pounding as her large ears twitched. She didn't know what she was listening for- she only knew that she was straining to hear something, anything, through the deafening roar of the wind.

The first thing the small apprentice heard was the sound of a furious shriek directly above her.
Slowly, carefully, Lilypaw turned her head. Streaks of dirt had stained most of the fur on her face brown, creating a blurry mask to match the ridge of feathers around the eyes and beak of the large Great Gray Owl that was swooping over her. It's wingtips brushed her white fur as it circled and flew lower, snapping at her face and back with sharp talons.

Lightning hit nearby, sending flashes of light and rolls of thunder crashing around them. In response the owl piped it's alarming cry into the night air. It turned, ready to finally seize the squirrel-like creature that had stumbled directly into his hunting path so carelessly. He shut his talons with a clatter and launched into the air only to discover that it had somehow managed to evade him.

The noises, light, and confusion were enough to send the black-and-white she-cat jumping into action. Letting out a long, unbroken screech of fear, she leapt to her feet and tried to run, only to find herself skidding into a thick, marshy patch of mud as deep as her chest. She heard another hoot above her and struggled to turn her gaze toward the sky, blinking as rain hit her face.

---

Mintwhisker stumbled out of her den as the next roar of thunder echoed around Skyclan's camp. Something in her heart was urging her to set off into the forest immediately, but she knew that if she ran into trouble along the way she would need the help of someone more experienced in battle.
So instead, the taupe she-cat turned toward the Apprentice's den. The last thing she wanted to do was put such a young cat in danger, but she needed someone who would follow her, someone who would trust her, someone capable of taking care of themselves.
"Sparrowpaw!" Mintwhisker was at the young she-cat's side, nudging her gently. "I don't have much time to explain. I need your help. I think..." She trailed off as the older apprentice sat up. "We'll have to go into the forest."

---

"Arg!" Lilypaw struggled to pull herself out of the mud. There was only one thing she could think of as the owl's cry sounded, even closer than before. Help, help! Someone, anyone...
The owl alighted in front of the the young cat, clacking his beak as he shuffled awkwardly forward. What was this bright... thing? It was hardly larger than a squirrel... Hopping forward, he tried once again to identify the creature. He was confused now, and that only made him more disgruntled.
His thick feathers ruffled in annoyance as the helpless creature let out another piercing call akin to the squeal of a terrified mouse. He crept ever closer, his curiosity deepening. Could he eat this small animal?
Suddenly his quarry twisted, swiping at his chest with needle-sharp claws. He fell back briefly, launching himself into the air with a disgruntled hoot. He flew in a sloppy circle, trying to gather himself before he rounded on the annoyingly bright apprentice once more. Having learned his lesson, the owl did not land and instead rushed overhead, lashing out at her pale eyes with one clawed foot.

Lilypaw used Front Paw Strike, dealing 6 damage and using 10 SP
Owl used Talon Strike, dealing 10 damage and using 10 SP

Owl:
24/30
290/300

Lilypaw:
10/20
70/80

"The forest? Do you have bees in your brain? Look at the weather." The blue and black speckled she-cat grumbled as she rose to her paws. Limbs stiff from a day of hunting in the rain, now it seemed she would be heading out into some horrible storm as well. Though her green eyes did open, and she padded out of the den. Her moderately long pelt absorbing water almost immediately as she began to run alongside the medicine cat. Even though she didn't want to be out in this, she would never reject a request from the one cat who cared about her.

The one cat who had looked after her despite being Sedgestrike's kin. The scars across her face had been slow to heal. Fur was still missing as they showcased her betrayal to his values. Perhaps if she had only been stronger. Yet that had been the issue in the first place as she pelted headlong beside the other cats. A flash of white caught her eye, but she ignored it. In favour of a large screech that echoed ahead of them. Her ears trained onto the sound, the beat of a wing against the heavy rain sent her heart into her throat.

An owl. As she reached the scene and spotted the black and white apprentice she snarled and pelted down onto the bird without hesitation. She sprang with as much force as she could muster from the slippery ground. Her claws tore out a few feathers as she yowled out a battle-cry and slammed into the bird mid-dive. No bird-brain was getting one of her clanmates as it's meal.

Sparrowpaw used Run-and-tackle on the owl.

Owl:
15/30 (-6 + -3)
290/300

Sparrowpaw:
20/20
70/80 (-10)

Lilypaw:
10/20
70/80

(OOC: Let ice post next~)
"Lilypaw!" Mintwhisker skidded into the dark clearing, her murky green eyes wide. She grabbed the young she-cat's scruff, dragging her away from the owl as Sparrowpaw launched herself at it. Rippedstar's final litter was all she had left of her adoptive father, and she'd be StarClan forgive us if any harm came to them while she still breathed.
"Where does it hurt, dear? Speak to me!" She immediately set about patching her scratches with the small bundle of herbs and cobwebs she had brought with her. "Are you alright?"

Mintwhisker used Heal, restoring 5 HP and using 15 SP

Owl:
15/30
290/300

Sparrowpaw:
20/20
70/80

Lilypaw:
15/20 (+5)
70/80

Mintwhisker:
45/45
85/100 (-15)

---

Lilypaw shook as Mintwhisker pulled her roughly aside, blinking as she bustled around her worriedly. She couldn't muster the strength to speak, and merely nodded once or twice before turning to watch Sparrowpaw battle the owl, her clear blue eyes wide and empty.

---

The owl screeched angrily as two more cats suddenly appeared out of the bushes. Before he had a chance to react, one of them leaped straight into the air and knocked him onto the ground. He rolled around, his large wings flapping furiously as he struggled to shake her off. When he managed to finally get free of her clawed grasp he hovered around her, scratching at her neck and face with his claws.

Owl used Talon Strike, dealing 10 damage and using 10 SP
Owl:
15/30
280/300 (-10)

Sparrowpaw:
10/20 (-10)
70/80

OOC: sorry for the wait ;; (also is Tiny supposed to just come in and help 'em out? If there's something else he needs to do that I'm forgetting, let me know :3)

IC: Having decided to leave camp to check on how the usual patrols were doing, the sudden sound of an owl's screech sent a shiver up the small tom's spine and his head immediately shot up in alarm. Listening closely, he darted towards the sound of the struggling bird and fighting cats, fearing for the worst. While cats were usually able to fend off most predators, owls could be unusually persistent in their fighting and seeing as though it was Leaffall, it had to be extra hungry.

Skidding to a halt, Tinystar's heart continued to race as he gazed upon the group. Mintwhisker was leaning over an injured Lilypaw while Sparrowpaw attempted to fight off the bird by herself. Unsheathing his claws, the stout leader barred his teeth and prepared himself. Waiting till the large bird was close enough to the ground, he lunged at its neck and bit down hard. Bringing it down to the ground in a frenzy of panicked feathers and slashing claws, Tinystar didn't let his grip weaken, even as its warm blood oozed into his jowls. After a few moments of frantic screeching, the owl's movements slowed down and soon enough, it fell limp.

Letting go, the white and grey tom licked the blood from his chops, his lungs heaving from the sudden burst of adrenaline. "Is everyone alright?" he mewed, looking to Sparrowpaw and then to the medicine cats, nothing but worry on his face. How did the owl even manage to attack them in the first place?

Tinystar used Killing Bite, killing the owl and costing 10 stamina.

Tinystar
HP: 115/115
SP: 260/270

Owl
HP: K.O.'ed
SP: 280/300

Sparrowpaw
HP: 10/20
SP: 70/80

Lilypaw
HP: 15/20
SP: 70/80

Mintwhisker
HP: 45/45
SP: 85/100

Her claws dug into the ground, ready for the owl's next strike. Her gaze turned to Lilypaw's briefly and in time for her to see the flash of white fur gallop up behind them. Within seconds, it was over and the bird flailed around with the tiny tom at it's throat until it stilled. Ugly feelings of bitterness crept up her throat as the words she wanted to say were restrained by sheer will. Instead, she turned towards Lilypaw, her gaze green and sharp. There was no scent of a warrior around, both a confession and condemning in it's own right.

"What is wrong with you? For StarClan's sake, you were alone. Only foolish kittypets are that mouse-brained." The words came out a bit harsher than she meant to. Though her gaze softened slightly as she pulled back and relaxed her itching muscles. Yes, Lilypaw was a fool... but she was alright. They had come in time. Her head turned towards Mintwhisker, green eyes filled with curiousity. "How did you know she was out here?"

Lilypaw shook like a leaf as she stared up at the three cats, her clear blue eyes wide and frozen. She didn't move when Mintwhisker brushed against her in a comforting manner. Her dark ears flicked in recognition of Sparrowpaw's words, but she made no effort to try and form an understandable sentence.

"I..." Mintwhisker's voice trailed off. How did she know? "I'm not sure quite yet. The important thing is that Lilypaw's safe now." The Medicine Cat shivered, casting a dark glance at the sky. "Let's head back to camp. It's only going to get colder, and it's better to be safe in our dens when the rain picks up again."

Turning to Sparrowpaw, her harsh words pierced through his pelt. Bearing that scar in which she, and the clan, was burdened with as a reminder of his cruel ways, her crude words made her sound just like Sedgestrike. Shivering under his pelt, he tried to hide his discomfort as much as possible.

Letting out a sigh, he turned to Mintwhisker and Lilypaw. "Well, I'm just glad you're alright," the small leader mewed with a slightly worried smile on his muzzle. "I agree," he told Mintwhisker with a nod. "Lilypaw, are you able to walk?"

A soft gusty sigh was Sparrowpaw's reaction to Mintwhisker's lack of explination. She shook her head and turned towards camp, exhaustion creeping beneath her pelt. It didn't really matter why Lilypaw had made the harebrained mistake. She turned her green eyes to the younger apprentice with a huff that further deepened her dissapproval, before she began padding back to camp herself. Soft mutters of how useless and a drain of energy this excersize was.