Border Kerfuffling [closed]

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

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'Effect Dice' : 1

Lightpaw knew he couldn’t afford to stay still for long. Too much time had passed as it was. Any moment now, he would feel claws digging into his own skin or find himself knocked to the ground. What cat wouldn’t take advantage of that? Apparently, the one he’d chosen as his opponent. As the ringing in his ears faded, he heard her voice. ”I’m fine,” he said, foolishly—why would she care? This was beyond salvaging now; even Leaftwirl, previously unwilling to fight, was taking part.

Winning this fight would help even the numbers, help his brothers, help prove he had made any progress at all. For all he knew, this was common etiquette or, worse, a trick. His apprenticeship had been turbulent enough that he could imagine he’d missed something important. Finally casting off the chill the mysterious pain had left in its wake, Lightpaw narrowed his eyes. "You should worry about yourself." He collided with the calico at a full sprint, hoping to knock her off balance. As he scurried back, unwilling to risk being so close to the calico if the pain rendered him motionless again, he heard the sound of his own name. Leaftwirl. What had she said? "Never hurt a—"

No. No, he had misheard. Much like the one in the mountains, this battle was noisy enough to make it alarmingly easy. It would never—he would never...

Lightpaw used Run-and-Tackle on Mosspaw, dealing 6 damage and using 10 stamina.

Lightpaw
15/20 HP
60/80 SP (-10)

Mosspaw
23/35 HP (-6)
90/90 SP

In his current state, Beartooth almost found himself wishing for a task that he could easily immerse himself in to forget about the recent events that had occurred. A patrol was exactly the thing to keep his mind focused on something, anything else. Part of the warrior almost wished for someone to cross the border in order for him to throw himself into the familiar. As much as he hated it, as much damage as he had caused with these horrible claws, the tabby found it to be something that he could manage without thought and almost as effortless as breathing. The many scars on his coat, and even more on that cats he had fought, told a similar story. He focused on the earth as the patrol carried on. Once they were near the border, his head only lifted upon the words being tossed from enemy to enemy. It appeared the patrols were disputing the borderline for not the first time.

His claws had already unsheathed to knead at the earth in preparation for a fight. Skyclan being a neutral force meant that battle weren't typically dissuaded by an allegiance. Like every clan, even allegiances were threatened by the lack of respect for borders. It was something deeply ingrained in the cultures of all the clans. Borders had to be respected. That was the very reason that he had once ended up accidentally attacking a medicine cat. He thought of sweet Amberdawn for a moment, knowing full well she would attend to wounds if there were a fight. Would she recognize and blame him if the cats she love bore his clawmarks? Beartooth hardly had time to think before yowling broke out and both parties of cats came together in a flurry of claws and teeth. A low growl rumbled in his throat as he glanced about for an opponent. Most of the apprentices and warriors seemed preoccupied and he was a moment away from leaping in to help a clanmate with their fight until something caught his eye.

Mosspaw.

The medicine cat that had been accompanying them was being slashed at by an inexperienced Skyclan apprentice. Instinct kicked in and immediately Beartooth's paws were thudding across the earth and towards the scuffling pair. He did not even consider the fact that Mosspaw wasn't fighting back, but if he had, he would have branded her as stupid. Although, it was his duty to defend the cats of the clan and one he did gratefully so. If Mosspaw's lack of fighting meant he had to step in, well, it would have happened either way. Beartooth reared up on his hind paws, casting a shadow over the much smaller cat. His bulk intimidating as his many claws flashed under the light of day. A snarl broke from his maw as he landed back onto his paws, slashing once down the apprentice's throat in the process and threw the Skyclanner off of Mosspaw. Seven jagged, parallel lines welled up with scarlet almost immediately. He was known for the damage he cause after all, "It's against the code to harm a medicine cat. Stop fighting." The massive tabby's words were low and commanding as he stood protectively in front of the she-cat. She would not be harmed any more under his watch.

Beartooth used Rear-up to Slash on Lightpaw, using 15 stamina and dealing 13 damage.

Beartooth
HP: 60/60
SP: 185/200 (-15)

Lightpaw
HP: 2/20 (-13)
SP: 60/80

Having stepped back, Mosspaw saw Leaftwirl leap into battle, along with the rest of the patrol. She hissed in exasperation, there was no need to have this battle, all that would come from it was needless injuries and pain that could have been avoided had both patrols just moved on, going their separate ways. She winced at the thought of having to treat all of the new wounds once they returned home, and felt for Amberdawn who was probably sitting unsuspecting in her den that would soon have all these cats filtering in. Her distraction didn't last long, apparently the apprentice was set on attacking her. Eyes widening as he charged at her, she dug her paws into the ground, preparing to bring out her warrior training. She would just get him to back off, that's all.

As he retreated, she prepared to reach out and clamp her jaws around the tom's tail when a large shadow appeared over the two, and she recognized the large paws with extra claws that stood before her. She looked up to see Beartooth's back as he lashed out at the apprentice, the warrior placing himself between the two. Peering around his back, she saw the apprentice sprawled on the ground, and gasped as she saw the crimson blood welling in the scratched at his neck. She spun around, eyes searching desperately for something, anything, that could help. Her eyes landed on some nearby moss, and she sprinted over to force it up before running back to the apprentice's side. He was from a different clan, and had attacked her, but she refused to turn her back on any cat who needed help. She kept a small distance though, dropping the moss next the the apprentice's side. "Sheathe your claws. I can't help you if you insist on trying to rip my fur out, I like it the way it is. Please, for the love of StarClan, sheathe them so I can help." She begged, hoping that the young cat would accept her aid, at the very least so he could get home for Amberdawn to help more.

Mosspaw holds to see if Lightpaw sheathes his claws so she can aid him.

Mosspaw
23/35 HP
90/90 SP

Beartooth
HP: 60/60
SP: 185/200

Lightpaw
HP: 2/20
SP: 60/80

As realization dawned, so did horror. Along with the warrior code and the general rules that made a cat a decent one, Lightpaw had learned medicine cats weren’t to be injured. StarClan themselves chose who earned that position. He had to protect his Clan, but this—there was no need to guard a border from someone who was already more or less above boundaries. Suddenly, the unexplainable shock he’d received for his first attack made sense. There were consequences for hurting a cat so closely tied to the stars.

A shadow fell over him. He was by no means small for an apprentice, but the cat that descended on him like the wrath of StarClan itself was gigantic. Claws dug into his throat, tearing out fur and a yowl so loud Lightpaw couldn’t have imagined it coming from him. As soon as he hit the ground, he tried to get back to his paws; even that small motion made pain rip through his neck, and he collapsed before he’d made much progress at all. The second time, he simply lay there, defeated. He didn’t want to see the damage. He could already feel the blood in his fur. Instead, he eyed the creature who came to stand between him and the calico. Seven claws. Massive paws for a massive cat.

A bit of moss fell at his side, and the calico was there. Even now, she didn't attack him, but offered help despite his insistence on fighting her. She really was a medicine cat.

Lightpaw sheathed his claws. If moving his head hurt this much, he wouldn't dare try to speak.

Lightpaw is no longer fighting.

Lightpaw
2/20 HP
60/80 SP

Mosspaw
23/35 HP
90/90 SP

Beartooth
60/60 HP
185/200 SP

Relaxing visibly as the SkyClan apprentice sheathed his claws, Mosspaw immediately set to work. With the amount of blood seeping from the tom's neck, she knew she had to act fast, so she bent and quickly shook out the moss before pressing it firmly against the tom's neck, being careful not to push too hard and break the tom's airflow. "Shhh, try to relax, you're going to be fine. Here, help me by getting onto your side so I can get a better angle, okay?" She gently nudge the tom to his side, and felt a little relieved as he settled down. Her mind went wild with possibilities though, she had no herbs, and no cobwebs, just this moss. Everyone else was too busy fighting to pay attention to what was going on, and she wanted to yowl at all of them for being so close-minded and mouse-brained to not be available for her to call upon to help.

She looked down at the rest of the moss and snagged it with her teeth, shaking it out in turn before pulling the moss currently on the wound away, having been soaked in blood, and reapplying pressure. This was the only wound, thank StarClan, but it was massive, and she worried for the young apprentice as he stayed silent. What if he passed out? Oh stars.... "Alright, I'm gonna ask you to hold this in place, I'm going to go get some cobwebs, I saw some just a few paw steps away. Make sure you don't suffocate yourself, alright? I'll be right back." Once she knew the moss was secure, she darted to a bush and collected a pawful of cobwebs, hobbling back and sticking them to the moss, making sure it was secure. "I'm so sorry I can't do more, you need to get back to your camp immediately. Amberdawn will help you. Tell her Mosspaw sent you, and that I'm so sorry." She nosed the tom's opposite shoulder, and offered him her shoulder as he stood.

Mosspaw used Minor Heal, restoring 3 HP and costing 10 stamina.

Lightpaw
5/20 HP (+3)
60/80 SP

Mosspaw
23/35 HP
80/90 SP (-10)

Beartooth
60/60 HP
185/200 SP

The SkyClan she-cat had never been a large one, even with her longer legs, they didn't add much weight to her frame. Lynxtail stayed down for only a second, and then shot upward with a roar, using her distraction with Lightpaw as an advantage. "Mousedung." Leaftwirl whispered to herself as the ThunderClan tom found his paws. It was then that she truly realized his size, how he towered over her, long fur and all. This was not the first time she had taken on a cat half her size. Tackling that RiverClan warrior all those moons ago was an act of impulse, a foolish desire from a foolish mind, protecting her clan against an invisible danger. This battle had deemed itself unnecessary as well, a few insults had sent claws flying and now her clanmates were hurt. And her friend, Mosspaw as well. But Leaftwirl found she could only focus on the tabby tom in front of her, now sprinting toward her figure and letting out a paw to swipe. Leaftwirl ducked to avoid it, but found it was only a ploy as Lynxtail pinned her to the ground, his weight crushing her in place. Mosspaw could be seen from her view in the ground, and she wanted to call out as Lightpaw attacked once more. No! Don't hurt her! But Lynxtail's words whispered in her ears only made her blood boil even more, and the SkyClan she-cat tried to buck against him, twisting under his frame as dirt clogged her ears. "Then ThunderClan should have had enough sense to walk away!" Leaftwirl responded, finding it foolish that even the forest's warriors could be taunted by an apprentice's jab. She lurched upward and threw Lynxtail off, spinning to a spot nearby and preparing herself for another attack. This was all mousebrained.

Leaftwirl is no longer stunned.

I'm not 100% sure if I can attack yet, so if I can't please let me know and I'll edit!
IC: "Foxdung," Eyes narrowed, the young warrior hissed a curse as the Skyclanner escaped his grasp. Lynxtail stumbled backward. "Battles are inevitable," He mewed, his voice low. The tom's short tail twitched as he faced his opponent. "and your apprentices will learn a valuable lesson." With that, he reared onto his hind legs and slashed wildly at the Skyclan she-cat's face and neck.

Lynxtail used Rear-Up To Slash, dealing 11 damage and using 15 SP

Leaftwirl:
HP: 20/40
SP: 110/120

Lynxtail:
HP: 34/45
SP: 135/160

As he focused on the calico’s voice, the roar of the battle died down. Though he didn’t resist as she helped him shift onto his side, his heart was racing. He…he wasn’t going to die, was he? Throughout his training, he’d suffered bumps and scratches, same as any apprentice, but none of them had been like this. This wouldn’t go away after a few sunrises. He hadn’t expected he’d be the second of his litter to end up in the medicine den for something serious; he had no doubt that would be his destination as soon as he could stand again, and that his siblings, Maplepaw especially, would never let him hear the end of it. In a haze, he pressed a paw to the moss as ordered until the calico returned with a clump of cobwebs. How many of them had seen? Would Leopardstar find out? Would Tinystar find out?

For the first time in his life, he lacked the strength to worry. It wouldn’t matter who found out if he never made it back to camp. The calico had bought him time; he needed to use it. As awful as it felt to turn tail and leave his brothers to the wolves, Lightpaw did not want to die here.

To his surprise, as he stood, leaning on Mosspaw until his legs steadied, the cobwebs held the moss securely. He would still need to be careful, but he didn’t have a patrol to keep up with now. Lightpaw held Mosspaw’s gaze for a moment, wishing there was a better way to let her know he’d understood; then he staggered toward SkyClan’s portion of the forest, disappearing into the trees.

Lightpaw has fled.

Sandpaw stepped backward with a yowl of pain and shook his head, beads of blood dripping from his pelt. "I can do this all day!" he gasped. Though, as he glimpsed to his side and saw Lightpaw stumbling away. His paws tried desperately to pull him towards his wounded brother, but he couldn't just walk away. He started this, after all!

Oh StarClan, I started this, he thought.

Sandpaw used Run-And-Tackle, dealing 6 damage and costing 10 stamina.

Sandpaw:
11/20 HP
55/80 SP (-10)

Batbite:
27/40 HP (-6)
105/120 SP

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Ferretpaw panicked as Swallowpaw rushed her left side and began clawing frantically at nothing. She smashed into the dirty forest floor and gritted her teeth. A cheap trick, but no less cheap than as she twisted around and bit down on the tom's tail, using her heavy weight to drag him across the battle field. She pressed her claws into the ground, holding back tears that pricked at her eyes. Stupid blind side!

Ferretpaw used Tail Yank, dealing 2 damage and costing 10 stamina. Swallowpaw is stunned for one turn.

Ferretpaw:
13/20 HP
60/80 SP (-10)

Swallowpaw:
9/20 HP (-2)
70/80 SP

Only moments after finding her paws, Lynxtail ran to charge again, and the brown tabby found herself defenseless. His massive figure towered over hers, and she ducked to avoid his paws, but slipped and claws collided with her ears and face. "AAck!" The new warrior yowled in pain, rolling out from under the tom, her face burning. Blood sprayed onto her white muzzle and dripped into her eyes, obscuring her vision. The world seemed to spin around Leaftwirl in slow motion as she franticly tried to wipe the crimson away, not wanting to lose sight of her opponent. The pain she felt burned and seared like a hot fire, but it was one she had experienced before. This was not her first fight, nor would it be her last. And a good warrior never backed down.

A new, massive ThunderClan tom appeared on the battle field and slammed Lightpaw into the ground, and the red liquid gushed from him, too. "Lightpaw!" Leaftwirl called out, fear for her clanmate clawing at her heart. But her voice was raspy from the wounds, quiet and frail. Mosspaw was at the apprentice's side in an instant, helping an enemy cat. Compassion for her friend flowed through Leaftwirl, and it made her hate this situation even more. This battle was unnecessary, mousebrained and impulsive. And that it why it needed to end. Lynxtail had bounded closer with every moment that passed, and Leaftwirl found herself trapped between a tree and her enemy. But she would not give up that easily. Clambering up the bark, the brown tabby swiftly spun into position on a branch, her wounds stinging. She was fast, and although the pain was flaming, she needed to end this battle. Launching herself from the tree, the brown tabby landed squarely on Lynxtail's back, crushing him into the ground with her small weight, more blood dripping into her eyes. Blinded, the she-cat clawed wildly at whatever fur she could reach, hoping for a surrender.

Leaftwirl used Sky Drop on Lynxtail, dealing 10 damage and costing 15 stamina.

Leaftwirl:
HP: 20/40
SP: 95/120

Lynxtail:
HP: 24/45
SP: 135/160

Lynxtail hissed as the she-cat's claws dug into his shoulders. "What did you do to stop this battle?" He snarled, rearing onto his hind paws and bucking until her grip loosened. "I have a medicine cat to protect, and I won't lift a paw to stop my clanmates until you get yours under control."
With a final shake, Lynxtail was free from Leaftwirl's grasp. He instantly whirled around to face her. Without hesitation the golden-brown warrior rose onto his hind legs once again, this time pummeling the Skyclanner's face and neck with half-sheathed claws. He didn't dare use the move he had before for fear of causing permanent damage- Thunderclan had more than enough wars caused over stupid mistakes. This was only a border skirmish, after all, and his opponent didn't seem like she was looking for a battle in the first place.

Lynxtail used Upright Front Paws, dealing 11 damage and using 15 SP

Leaftwirl:
HP: 9/40
SP: 95/120

Lynxtail:
HP: 24/45
SP: 120/160

Swallowpaw hissed in pain as a sharp ache formed in his tail, and he was once again thrown to the ground like a piece of prey. His head was spinning, and he could barely breathe from how hard his body had just hit the ground. For a moment, he contemplating laying there, forgetting that he was in the heat of battle. Slowly, the Skyclan apprentice staggered to his paws, groaning at the uncomfortable sensation in his tail, and the headache the other cat had graciously blessed him with. "Why you.." as his mind spun for some kind of insult to throw at her, he noticed the tears swimming in her eyes. Tears of sadness and frustration threatening to spill from green depths. Ah, Starclan, here we go again. Shame caused his pelt to flush as he stared on, dumbfounded as the seething she-cat seemed to break down in front of him. He hadn't meant to do that. He had only been in this situation before and the fight wasn't this drastic. He stayed rooted in his place, still dazed from his trust fall with the forest floor, but watched her with concerned amber eyes. "H-Hey...are you good?" Swallowpaw called out nervously, tail twitching. Starclan, he was horrible in this kind of situation..maybe he shouldn't say anything at all. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to attack you like that...and from that side," he managed to suck in his pride and say the next few words whilst staring down at his paws. There was just something about another cat's distress...he couldn't help but apologize, even if they were locked in combat. "Stupid, stupid guilt. Stupid morals.."

Swallowpaw is no longer stunned.

Batbite observed the apprentice attacking her, as he almost moved to leave. "Are you finally realizing that your actions have consequences?" she asked, bringing her unsheathed paw down on him with as much force as her small frame could put behind it. She was fairly certain that, if nothing else, that would leave a scar on his shoulder; but hoped it wouldn't do any more than that. She wanted to prove that ThunderClan could defend themselves just fine, and teach this pipsqueak a lesson about picking fights. Nothing more. "I'll give you one more chance to walk away. So what do you say, pipsqueak? Are you feeling lucky today?"

From her tone, one might think she viewed the entire battle as little more than a game. That would be true; she wasn't especially concerned with anything past teaching this apprentice when to watch his words and his claws. Still, she didn't particularly want to seriously injure him. After all, it wasn't his fault his Clan seemed to have such low standards.

Batbite used Front Paw Strike on Sandpaw, dealing 8 damage and costing 10 stamina.

Sandpaw:
3/20 HP (-8)
55/80 SP

Batbite:
27/40 HP
95/120 SP (-10)

Ferretpaw froze as the cream tom spoke to her. It was unexpected and unorthodox, to be given compassion from an enemy. Was it genuine, this olive branch he extended to her? Was he just begging for mercy? She blinked back the tears in her eyes and shut her mouth, which had fallen open in her shock. The fight was not over yet. The she-cat tried to make herself bigger, stronger-looking. It didn't do anything to resolve how she was feeling. Why battle, why cause harm, if both parties wanted peace? He really seemed to mean it. Ferretpaw suddenly didn't care how it made her look. ThunderClan was strong, but they also knew how to pick their battles.

Ferretpaw sighed. She had to end it. She set her jaw tight and padded closer to the fellow, feigning aggression. Her clanmates couldn't see her show this weakness. "My name is Ferretpaw," she started, her tail lashing and ears drawn back. "This isn't worth it. I'll see you at a Gathering sometime, okay?" She reached forward and smacked the top of his head with a sheathed paw as gently as she could without arousing suspicion. "Don't tell anybody I did you this favor. Now go home before Beartooth gets a hold of you." She gestured to the grotesque tom with oversized fangs and too many claws. One of the three cream tabbies had just stumbled away from him after foolishly attacking Mosspaw. "That was your brother, wasn't it?" she laughed, "Go on! Tell Amberdawn I kicked your tail."

Ferretpaw used Front Paw Blow, dealing 4 damage and costing 5 stamina.

Ferretpaw:
13/20 HP
55/80 SP (-5)

Swallowpaw:
5/20 HP (-4)
70/80 SP

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Sandpaw cried out in pain as the small black she-cat sent her claws down across his shoulder blades. It hurt more than his brush with the owl, and it weakened him twice as much. His legs buckled under him, and as he watched the blood trickle down his coat, he knew the wound was deeper than anything he had felt. If Tinystar had been there, he probably would have said he deserved it. Finally, the tom understood that he did. It was too much, and if he tried to strike again, he would open the gash more. To any other cat, it would be an average battle scar, but it was a symbol of shame and embarrassment for the apprentice.

He looked up at the she-cat in a mix of disbelief and hurt feelings. It was childish of him, but he was upset that she had to take it so far. Sandpaw staggered to the side of the battlefield, away from the other cats, and saw Swallowpaw get pummeled by a brown and white she-cat who was stronger than her small body made her look. His brothers were both defeated. "Swallowpaw!" he cried out, not daring to move, "Don't leave me here!"

Sandpaw has fled the battle.