A Lesson Learned Far Too Late

Fallowlight's icy blue eyes darted back and forth from the river on one side, to the open territory on her other. She was still uneasy roaming around the territory freely by herself, so she'd asked Jaystar to accompany her along this herb patrol. She turned to look back at him, his grey fur shining as the sun beat down on them. Despite the great length of time that had passed, she still hadn't fully accepted the fact that he'd had kits… With her mentor. The revelation was quite shocking to her, considering the two cats that she loved most had participated in a forbidden relationship, going against the Code that she had been taught for her entire life to cherish. Perhaps even more shocking, though, was when Goldeneye had become an elder, leaving Fallowlight to care for RiverClan on her own. Her training hadn't even been fully complete, she was still learning- she shook her head, realizing that she had gotten lost in her own thoughts once again. She tried to focus her ears on the songs of the swallows nearby, and eyes on the muddy ground in front of her, slowing her pace so that she could search the grass and reeds for much-needed herbs.

She had stepped over a large patch of Marigold, for she had her sights set on a Willow tree surrounded by very large thickets of bush that had somehow survived the floods. "Could you pick the Marigold for me, and put it in one of these leaves? I'm going to go collect some bark from the tree up ahead." Fallowlight had placed a large leaf in front of Jaystar, gesturing towards it with her paw as she spoke. Then she sped up once again, leaving Jaystar to collect the Marigold as she trotted around the corner to the tree. The bark was very easy to peel off, and she began making a small pile at the roots.

She lifted her eyes when a small group of swallows flew out from the bush suddenly, a shudder crawling down her spine at the absence of their song. The only thing she could hear was the rushing of the river nearby, the otherwise eerie silence screaming at her to turn around, and run back to Jaystar where she was safe. But she kept telling herself that there was no need, and forced her eyes back to the tree in front of her.

---

Large, amber eyes peered out from underneath the bush, placed unmovingly on the light ginger she-cat in front of the tree. An intense pang of hunger struck constantly at his empty belly, reminding him that he had no choice- if he didn't catch this cat, he would die. Remaining crouched with his stomach low to the ground, he took one step forward, accidentally snapping a twig that he hadn't seen under his paw. The leaves of the bush rustled loudly as a few birds fled, flying up towards the uppermost branches of the willow tree nearby. A grimace formed on his maw as the she-cat turned around to face the bush. If he lost this one his body would submit to the hunger… Relief flooded him as she looked around, clearly not spotting him hiding beneath the cover of the leaves.

When she turned back around to dig into the tree again, the fox realized that this was his chance… Now or never. With a flash of russet fur, he darted out from the bush, snarling as saliva dripped from his lips. The small, fluffy cat hardly had time to react before his maw was around her, teeth puncturing her skin and sinking into her side. An awful yowling filled his ears as she screamed despite the pain. He relished the taste of blood running over his tongue, clamping down even harder, causing a sickening crunch that signified the snapping of her ribs under his teeth.

The Fox used Iron Bite, dealing -30 damage and using -20 Stamina Points.

Fallowlight:
15/45 HP
100/100 SP

Fox:
90/90 HP
260/280 SP

---

Fallowlight's yowls of pain echoed across the forest, a high-pitched squeal that would surely send shivers up the spines of anyone nearby. She was barely able to muster any words, for the pain was too great… "J-J-Jaystar!" Somehow, she had managed a faint yowl for her leader.

This patrol seemed strange. The tom looked to Fallowlight walking by his side and wondered what was going through her mind. Their world had been shaken by the flood, she had been left alone, with no mentor to take care of all the wounded and sick of that catastrophe. Did she hate him? That thought pained him the most. Fallowlight was like a daughter to him and knowing that he disappointed her... it was just too painful. No matter how many time he said sorry, there was no way to undo the already done damage. Their kits were now part of the clan. They were accepted by everyone as good loyal cats and Goldeneye was living her days in the elder's den while he was leading with one life left. His days were counted, that was the price to pay. But the really high one was to lose the trust of the ones he loved, including Fallowlight.

When the she-cat spoke, he was taken out of his own mind. Jaystar didn't complain at all and he nodded obediently, approaching the bunch of herbs carefully to start collecting them. "I'll try my best. Be careful." He mewed before picking the first flowers with his mouth. The she-cat left to go behind a nearby tree. It was a bit far yet not too much. The leader kept his work diligently, occasionally digging the ground to take more herbs.

However... he suddenly dropped the marigold hanging from his muzzle when his nose caught that awful scent. The tom looked around, alert, and he unsheathed his claws in a defensive way. The birds were gone, there was no prey near. He could sense the danger on his spine. When Jaystar finally turned his face to the tree when Fallowlight went, the scream reached his tufted ears and he did not hesitate. In a blink, the large tom ran to the origin of the she-cat's voice just to face the fox that grabbed her. The leader let out a furious hiss and jumped toward it, landing on its spine and digging its claws into the flesh. "LET HER GO!" He yowled, biting hard on its scruff.

Jaystar used Leap-and-hold, dealing 15 damage and costing 10 stamina.
Fox is pinned for two turns.

Jaystar
120/120 HP
290/300 SP

Fallowlight
15/45 HP
100/100 SP

Fox
75/90 HP
260/280 SP

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

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'Effect Dice' : 6

The RiverClan leader showed up just as Fallowlight's vision began to blur around the edges, violently purple and blue colored shapes swirling around her mind. She was barely able to register what was happening; she was aware of the fact that Jaystar had arrived and yowled… something at the fox, she wasn't sure what. She was also vaguely aware that Jaystar had attacked the fox, but she wasn't sure how, and she had no clue where he had went… More than just her vision was blurry, now. Her brain began to fog up as a dream-like haze overcame her, making it very difficult for her to process solid thoughts or to speak at all. All that she could muster were straight he sounding noises filled with pain and suffering. She couldn't string together a solid sentence, because the pain in her side was far too great. It was as if there was a lump in her throat, mangling any words that she tried to get out.

---

Just as the fox was beginning to think that this would be an easy kill, another large tom showed up to ruin it for him. The fox hadn't even noticed the large silver cat running towards him until he'd heard a furious yowling, and at that point it was too late for him to do anything about it. He winced slightly as he landed right onto his back, shredding the russet fur lining his spine and tearing into muscle. He tightened his grip on the ginger and white she-cat, beckoning forth more odd noises from her. He wasn't willing to let her go, he had to eat… Despite the warrior perched on his back, he tried his best to remain standing, the little medicine cat hanging between his jaws.

The Fox is stunned for One more turn.

When the leader noticed that the fox wasn't letting go of the small she-cat, Jaystar's rage rose. Being more violent than before, he stretched one of his paws and reached the fox's face while still holding its scruff with both his fangs and other paws. His claws ran swiftly through the predator's face and he could sense the flesh being torn apart under it. Deep inside, the leader hoped to have taken one of their eyes. I'll make you pay for this, beast... He thought to himself digging its fangs deeper into the fox's skin and fur.

Jaystar kept using Leap-and-hold, dealing 15 damage.
Fox is pinned for one more turn.

Jaystar
120/120 HP
290/300 SP

Fallowlight
15/45 HP
100/100 SP

Fox
60/90 HP
260/280 SP

If getting the Fox to release the young she-cat was the older tom's goal, he had surely succeeded. Her limp body fell to the ground a couple tail lengths away with a dull thud. He yowled as the newly formed claw marks in his eye stung and blood dripped from his eye. He kicked back madly as the silver cat continued to claw into his back, his newly blinded eye stinging as his attempts failed.

The Fox is no longer Stunned.

When Jaystar was unable to keep up any longer, the fox finally dropped the little she-cat. The tall tom jumped away and before the predator could react, he sneaked under its body and attacked its belly with unsheathed claws, leaving a large wound through the exposed flesh.

Jaystar used Belly Rake, dealing 20 damage and costing 10 stamina.

Jaystar
120/120 HP
280/300 SP

Fallowlight
15/45 HP
100/100 SP

Fox
40/90 HP
260/280 SP

Growling furiously as blood dripped from underneath his belly, the Fox made a lunge for the grey tabby that had caused him to toss away his meal. He was far larger than the furry little she-cat anyway, he would make a far better meal… He bit down on the tom's scruff, biting past fur and getting a large amount of skin in his jaw and clamping down hard. He then shook his head fiercely, shaking the Clan cat around so that he was sure to be in a daze.

The Fox used Thrash, dealing -20 Health Points and using -20 Stamina Points.

Jaystar is stunned for 2 turns.

Fox:
40/90 HP
240/280 SP

Jaystar:
100/120 HP
280/300

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

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'Effect Dice' : 5

The leader's vision was turned to red and black in just a few seconds. The world around him was pure dizziness once the fox finally let him go. The back of his head was in terrible pain and Jaystar felt like he could faint any second. To let the darkness embrace him and wash him away. But then... he saw the white and light orange fur of the she-cat, tainted with crimson blood. The tom clenched his fangs and walked towards her just to stand in front of her and face the blood-thirsty predator. He knew he was unable to fight and that the fox would beat him up but... it had to be done. He had to protect Fallowlight... his friend... his daughter in so many other ways that she probably would never know. "B-Back o-off..." He hissed, the blood covering his shoulders.

Jaystar is stunned.

The fox ignored the pleading words from the tabby tom cat, tossing his russet fur in an attempt to ignore the pain just as wel as he had the useless words uttered painfully from Jaystar’s maw. His eyes darted back to the smaller ginger and white she-cat behind him, whom he was obviously protecting. He felt a small sense of pity, but shook his head and concentrated on the task at hand. He darted towards him again, clamping down on a foreleg and applying as much pressure as he could muster.

The Fox used Iron Bite, dealing -30 Health Points and using -20 Stamina Points.

Jaystar remains Stunned.

The Fox:
40/90 HP
220/280

Jaystar:
70/100 HP
280/300 SP

Jaystar let out a yowl of pain when he was unable to run away from the fox's jaws. The fangs entered into his flesh, leaving him a burning pain running through almost all his lower body. However, he dealt with the agony and clenched his teeth, stubborn. He pushed and squeezed to escape from the bite, trying to contain his screams. The leader had to show no weakness or the fox would consider him another easy prey and both him and Fallowlight will die. The dizziness in his head was gone yet in the current angle the tom was unable to lay a claw on the big predator.

Jaystar is no longer stunned!

Trying to stay calm, the massive fox turned his head to the smaller she-cat that was still only semi-conscious behind the fluffy leader. He was unsure if he would be able to defeat the larger tom cat... But if he could get away with the smaller one, he would survive another day. Using the time he had created for himself by stunning the grey cat, he contemplated his options. It was then that he noticed that the tom was standing and getting to his feet... He didn't have much time. After darting to the side so that he would have easier access to the ginger and white cat, he managed to grasp her between his jaws with ease, clenching down on her small body as he tried his best to make a run for it, dashing around the reeds and splashing through small puddles of water in an attempt to get away from the older cat.

The Fox used Iron Bite, dealing -30 Health Points and using -20 Stamina Points. Fallowlight has been K.O.ed.

Fox:
40/90 HP
200/280 SP

Fallowlight:
K.O.

---

Fallowlight tried as hard as she possibly could to stay awake, watching through trickles of blood as Jaystar fought against the fox, cringing when he was hit again and again by the russet predator. She was hardly able to maintain lucid thoughts through the waves of pain that she felt in her torso, but as a medicine cat she knew that if she fell asleep, there was a chance that she could go into a coma... But the idea of closing her eyes was so entrancing. Her lids were nearly shut when she felt another piercing pain, almost in the exact same place s the last. A strained yowl escaped her lips as her blue eyes bolted open once again, and she realized that the fox was running away with her in her jaws... And perhaps it was better that way. Maybe Jaystar would realize that and not follow after the powerful fox...

"NO!"

Jaystar didn't think twice.

When the fox was over Fallowlight and took her away, the leader already knew what he had to do.

He ignored his wounds.

His own fear and pain.

Nothing of that mattered. The only thing in his mind was to save the she-cat from the predator's jaws.

The world around him was a blur as his paws moving by its own towards the fleeing animal. In just a matter of seconds, the tom who already knew all the shortcuts of his lands had managed to jump in front of the huge fox. In a blink, he stood up on his hind legs... and like a thunder, he smashed the predator's head with his claws, tearing the flesh apart in an attempt for it to let go of the medicine cat. "YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE HER TOO! LEAVE MY DAUGHTER ALONE!" The words came out of nowhere, but the tom had no rational thoughts anymore. His most emotional had taken over him and all he could think about... is that the she-cat he saw as her own kit... the one who probably hated him too for what he did... was about to die if he didn't do anything to stop it.

Jaystar used Upright lock, dealing 20 damage and costing 25 stamina.

Fox
20/90 HP
200/280 SP

Jaystar
70/100 HP
265/300 SP

A pained whimper escaped the fox's lips as the silver cat, yet again, risked his own life to save the pathetic little she-cat's. There wasn't any point to his antics now- she was practically already dead, hanging onto her life by a single claw. Even if he managed to save her from his claws, there wouldn't be anything he could do to save her. Why had he not realized that yet? He tried to see past the blood trickling into his eyes to where he has tossed the small she-cat when the larger cat attacked him, and realized with a sinking feeling that she was behind him. Very well, then. He leaped forward, the hunger pains in his stomach bigger than the pain in his head. He had ahold of the silver cats scruff again, and tossed him around violently.


The Fox used Thrash, dealing -20 Health Points and using -20 Stamina Points.

Jaystar is Stunned for 2 turns.

The Fox:
20/90 HP
180/280 SP

Jaystar:
50/100 HP
265/300 SP