What Lurks Beneath the Dark [Newleaf Tears Topic/OPEN]

The night was cold and a soft breeze froze the bodies of those cats who were now living among rocks. The night sky was covered with grey, dark clouds, with no stars to be seen. For a few days, tSkyclan and Windclan had been living in peace but it could only be momentary. The flood had not only destroyed the home of the clans but the dens and shelters of predators too.


The pack of dogs who lived at the gorge were now hungry and thirsty for blood. They had travelled through the flooded lands, killing everything in their way. But in the end, they found the track of the cats who flee to the mountains. The leader of the pack could recognize that scent with no doubt: they were the animals who stripped them away from one eye. It was time to return them the favour. After a whole day of running, the six dogs finally managed to reach the rocky lands and in no time, the scent of the sleeping cats was found. With a deep growl, the leader of the huge beasts irrupted into the improvised camp of the remaining cats that were living at the Highstones. His dogs followed him closely as the big animal caught the first cat in sight, a small, white tom with stubby legs. He bit its flank and tossed him away, letting out a strong bark. A second brown-furred dog followed him closely and caught a white and ginger patched cat by the leg and shook him aggressively.  

Dog #1 used Iron Bite on Tinystar, dealing 30 damage and costing 20 stamina.
Dog #2 used Iron Bite on Finchstar, dealing 30 damage and costing 20 stamina

Dog #1
150/150 HP
330/350 SP

Dog #2
150/150 HP
330/350 SP

Tinystar
85/115 HP
270/270 SP

Finchstar
90/120 HP
300/300 SP

Food. They were starving. That was the only thought going through the dogs' minds as they ran behind their pack leader, snarling and snapping and barking with him. They had been driven out of their pack lands, but now there was food- cat prey, in a fearful and huddled pack. Easy. One dog ran to a large, strong-looking tom and xmped down on his hind legs, teeth biting deep into soft flesh- the other dog grabbed a smaller she-cat and did the same. Their hunger consumed them. Time to hunt.

Dog #3 used Iron Bite on Swiftstep, dealing 30 damage and costing 20 stamina.
Dog #4 used Iron Bite on Spiderfur, dealing 30 damage and costing 20 stamina

Dog #3:
150/150 HP
330/350 SP

Dog #4:
150/150 HP
330/350 SP

Swiftstep:
70/100 HP
280/280 SP

Spiderfur:
70/100 HP
280/280 SP

The running was exhausting; the mongrels did not like the way that the terrain had been settling since the flooding. The ground which was normally firm had been slick and muddy. Each loping step seemed twice as hard, a struggle to maintain footing. The scents of the many, many frightened, tired, and wounded cats were overwhelming, however; they raced onward towards the scent of their prize. At last the dogs had reached the mountains and located the dislocated cats. Two followed close behind the first four, tongues lolling. The leader let out a growl, signaling the beginning of the attack, and the dogs immediately dispersed and began to wreak havoc. One grayer dog, leaner than the rest, charged for a small cat [Deerpaw; Night]. A second dark gray lunged for another small calico apprentice [Gingerpaw; zeroa5raven].

Dog #5 used Iron Bite on Deerpaw, dealing 30 damage and costing 20 stamina. Deerpaw can no longer fight.
Dog #6 used Iron Bite on Gingerpaw, dealing 30 damage and costing 20 stamina. Gingerpaw can no longer fight.

Dog #5:
150/150 HP
330/350 SP (-20)

Dog #6:
150/150 HP
330/350 SP (-20)

Deerpaw:
0/20 HP [KO'ed]
80/80 SP

Gingerpaw:
0/20 HP [KO'ed]
80/80 SP

Sleep; it was a peaceful action, or so one would've thought.

Jolting awake, a involuntary screech lept out of his throat was he awoke something stabbing into his rump and then to be what seemed flying through the air. Landing with a thud which knocked the air out of his little lungs, the small leader gasped for air and tried standing up to see what had happened. Through the squinted slits of his eyes were the forms of several dogs which were obviously targeting the sleeping clans and began picking off the cats one by one.

"W-Wake up!" he winced, pain shooting up his spine. Twisting around, blood poured out from his lower back. That sure didn't look good. Trying to stand up proved to be a failure, for the pain was too much for the tiny leader to handle. "Wake up!" he yowled louder, his heart pounding and adrenaline racing through his veins. Even his stubby front legs weren't of much use in trying to drag himself along the ground, and he wanted to screech to the stars above. He couldn't just sit here, he had to do something!

The alpha dog showed his large teeth and licked his muzzle, ready to keep fighting. He was hungry, his pack was hungry and these cats were the closest meal they had near. The black and white dog leapt forward and grabbed with his jaws the scruff of the small leader. Though his fangs didn't sink into too deep, the animal made sure to shake him a lot before tossing him against a rock.

Dog #1 used Trash on Tinystar, dealing 20 damage and costing 20 stamina. Tinystar is stunned for 2 turns.

Dog #1
150/150 HP
310/350 SP

Tinystar
65/115 HP
270/270 SP

The member 'Jay Bird' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Effect Dice' : 4

A soft breeze stirred the fur of an orange and white tabby, sitting outside the caves of Mothermouth, staring out into the clearing. His tail flicked back and fourth restlessly, and his yellow eyes flickered over the landscape with impatient accuracy. Finchstar's mind was very much awake and active, leaving the tom unable to sleep. It was only a few sunrises ago when the leader had named Swiftstep the new deputy of WindClan, not only was it his first ceremony as leader, but his first major decision as well. Finchstar told himself that he'd have to get use to this, making crucial life or death situations for his clan. Not just sometimes, but every day... It was a new commitment to say the least. Part of him didn't believe that Brindlestar was actually dead. It was as if his wildly stubborn mind thought it could battle with even themes such as death. But the truth was the truth, no matter how much he fought it. Finchstar was the leader of WindClan, and had rose to his position in only a single moon. One minute, he was hunting beside his mate and friend as a warrior, and the next, the wellbeing of a very clan had been placed in his paws. A long sigh from the warrior's maw seemed to speak of the turmoil that swam in his head. But he would prevail as he always did, soon Brookclover would stand by him as well, soon WindClan would be safe again, and all would be right with the forest. Soon.

Finchstar's yellow eyes lifted to the sky, perhaps it was an act of foreshadowing. The tom didn't feel right, something was off. Small pebbles trembled near the orange and white tabby's feet, bouncing over the rocky ground, vibrations thundering through the grass. Something's coming... Finchstar thought, feeling his haunches rise. The tom went to call to the sleeping cats that resided in Mothermouth, when fate had grabbed him by the leg. Soon revealing itself as a massive brown dog, saliva mixing with the blood of his prey. Finchstar yowled with pain and disbelief, ripped from his spot on the rocky ground and thrown farther into the clearing, rolling like a stray gorse bush. His leg felt like a wild fire, searing with red hot pain, crimson blood staining the grass below him.

Finchstar's vision was blurred, and his ears rang with white noise, the barks of fearsome predators only echoing as blurbs. Lifting his head, the tabby gasped in his broken state, seeing more dogs stream into the cavern where the two clans had made their dens. This can't be happening... Finchstar thought to himself, feeling like he was living a nightmare. Wounded cats were still sleeping in Mothermouth, along with kits, elders, apprentices yet to be battle-trained. I have to do something... Finchstar rose feebly to his paws, recognizing the brown dog who had ripped at his leg not but moments ago. He was charging towards the cave, ears flapping wildly, fangs flashing. A sense of duty roared within the tom like a lion as he bounded over the clearing in two shaky bounds, hindered by his bleeding leg. Jump broken by his wound, Finchstar barely managed to clamber his way onto the beast's back, hissing from effort. The dog was nearing the cave now, as Finchstar mewed; "I wouldn't do that if I were you..." Voice laced with pain. He proceeded to rake at the very ear he had spoken into, blood splattering over his face.

Finchstar used Front Paw Strike on Dog #2, dealing 18 damage and costing 10 stamina.

Finchstar:
HP: 90/120
SP: 290/300

Dog #2:
HP: 132/150
SP: 330/350

The dog yelped by the sudden cut and he turned his whole body to the cat who dared to do it. A deep, angry growl came out of his wet mouth and all he could see was red covering his vision as he launched himself against the ginger patched tom. Grabbing him by the back, the huge beast started shaking his head with the small body still between his jaws. He threw him to the floor and walked to him closer, only wishing to kill him for what he did to his ear.

Dog #2 used Trash on Finchstar, dealing 20 damage and costing 20 stamina. Finchstar is stunned for 2 turns.

Dog #2
132/150 HP
310/350 SP

Finchstar
70/120 HP
290/300 SP

The member 'Jay Bird' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Effect Dice' : 4

The lean sleek gray dog whirled around, paws scratching against the stone of the mountains as excited barks mingled with the shocked, surprised, and frightened yowls and wailing of the gathered cats. Their eyes flickered red with hunger and malicious joy. The dog spotted another smaller silvery-grey cat [Shellpaw; 81556] and let out several rapid barks, bouncing up and down to try to intimidate it into running; in fact, the dog loved the sound of a cat scrambling with its funny little feet on the earth. Truthfully, though, the dog did not have the patience to wait for a response and immediately swatted one thick paw out to send the apprentice tumbling away.

The dark gray dog was distracted from their first target by the sound of the leader's cat's piteous cry, likely rousing the other sleeping cats. The large canine let out a snarl low in his throat and spotted a furry gray creature [Aspenpaw; Grizzly]. They charged at the cat and bowled into it, sending it sprawling with a soft aroo of satisfaction.

Dog #5 used Heavy Blow on Shellpaw, using 20 SP and dealing 25 HP. Shellpaw can no longer fight.
Dog #6 used Heavy Blow on Aspenpaw, using 20 SP and dealing 25 HP. Aspenpaw can no longer fight.

Dog #5:
150/150 HP
310/350 SP (-20)

Dog #6:
150/150 HP
310/350 SP (-20)

Shellpaw:
0/20 HP [KO'ed]
80/80 SP

Aspenpaw:
0/20 HP [KO'ed]
80/80 SP

It had seemed that not too long ago, Swiftstep had fallen asleep, dreaming about random events from his life when he was awoken by a searing pain on his hind legs and by Tinystar's panicked yowl. The tom gasped and jumped up, he staggered backwards while he arched his back, making himself look bigger. "Beast!" spat the brown tom as he unsheathed his claws. The adrenaline that was rushing through him helped mask his pain. He reared up onto his hind legs and he slashed wildly at the dog, making sure he left some deep wounds. He then jumped back, gasping at the returning pain in his hind limbs. He hissed and quickly scanned around. His mother had been near him before the attacks began. Did another dog get to her? What about Foxspirit? Was Finchstar also under attack? And the apprentices? Swiftstep's mind and heart were racing as he clawed the ground. He returned his attention back to the snarling brute and took a defensive stance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Swiftstep used Rear-Up To Slash to Dog #3, dealing 17 damage and using 15 sp.

Swiftstep:
70/100
265/280

Dog #3:
133/150
330/350

The dog snarled as their chosen prey fought back, feeling another emotion besides hunger as its claws teared into his flesh- pain. He did not like pain. This prey cat would pay. Growling with renewed, fierce anger, the large dog picked up Swiftstep by the scruff and shook him around, before flinging him to the side. Maybe that would get him to stop moving.

Dog #3 used Thrash on Swiftstep, dealing 20 damage and costing 20 stamina. Swiftstep is stunned for 1 turn.

Dog #3:
133/150
310/350

Swiftstep:
50/100
265/280

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

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'Effect Dice' : 2

Once in a deep sleep, Deerpaw let out a startled and pained yowl as sharp fangs dug into his leg. He was flung into the side of a nearby boulder, unyielding and very, very painful. Though whatever had grabbed him let go, he felt absolutely frozen. Dazed, the WindClan apprentice tried to focus on the sounds around him. The yelps and... and barks. 'Dogs?' Though his fur stood on end as he watched his Clanmates and SkyClan cats get tossed about, he couldn't stand up.


That scent. That terrible, terrible scent. Spiderfur's eyes shot open at the first wisp of it on the night air and she sat up, eyes and ears wide open. Her damaged leg pulsed with pain, giving her a sharp nip with every beat of her racing heart. Then, she saw them. Six horrible beasts rushing towards the sleeping cats. A wave of nausea hit her. Along with one of their attackers. Her shriek of terror turned into one word: "Dogs!" A yowl of pain escaped her as the predator caught her in its jaws. Her paws scrabbled uselessly against the dog's chest, until its stinking tail came close to her face. Out of options, she grabbed it with sharp fangs, tugging hard and hearing a few vertebrae pop in the process. When the dog let go, she gave it a quick slash across its face for good measure. While she was holding her own in the moment, the old warrior could only see with tunnel vision. She couldn't think about anything else. She just running on adrenaline now.

Spiderfur used Tail Yank and Swift Strike! It dealt 9 + 7 (16) damage and used 10 + 10 (20) stamina. Dog #4 is stunned for one turn!

Spiderfur
HP: 70/100
SP: 260/280

Dog #4
HP: 134/150
SP: 330/350


It wasn't the yowling that woke her, no. As usual, sound went over her head, as easy as the breeze carrying leaves up and out of reach. It was what the ground said that really woke her. Rumbles gently shook her awake, then it was the smell. Blood. Confused, the she-cat's head whipped around to see faintly recognizable creatures tearing into the cats sheltered around Highstones. Briefly stunned, she shook her head fiercely before launching herself into the fray, knowing full well that these creatures would strike first if she didn't. Crowstar's violent end and mangled body floated in her mind's eye, but then... it turned into Elmcloud. 'StarClan, please no.' With powerful hind legs she bowled over one of the dogs snapping at the helpless apprentices.

Firflower used Jumping Strike on Dog #5! It dealt 10 damage and used 20 stamina.

Firflower
HP: 40/40
SP: 110/130

Dog #5
HP: 140/150
SP: 310/350

One moment, Finchstar's claws were shredding the ears of a dog, and the next he was caught in its massive jaws, swung to and fro. If the pain in his leg wasn't enough, Finchstar's vision began to blur, his neck bobbed like the heather on the moor. The orange and white tabby was flung mercilessly onto the cold stone floor, leaving a trail of crimson behind him. Head lulling to the side, the tom could witness the horror, watching as the dogs ran through their makeshift camp, tearing at the fur of SkyClan and WindClan's apprentices mercilessly, leaving them unconscious on the cold ground. "No..." Finchstar rasped, voice feeble and small. Tinystar was clamped in another dog's jaws, Swiftstep, Firflower, and Spiderfur fought with tooth and claw, but the massive beasts only kept pressing forward. Soon they would be overwhelmed. The leader's claws scratched across the stone as he tried to heave himself to them, but it was no use. His mind swam within itself, blurring his thoughts and distorting the barks and yowls to only the sound of pain. A red haze began to cloud the edge of Finchstar's vision, the sight of his attacker seemed to sway with his exhales. Was the dog coming closer? Backing away? It was impossible to tell, only the hot feeling of pain ate at the tabby now. His body lay exposed on the earth, bleeding out. Only one thought ran through Finchstar's head; WindClan will not fall today... I won't allow it... Then his mind drifted off into a haze.

Finchstar is stunned for 1 more turn.