Rising Storms [Closed]

He could do this...His tail nub twitched as he led Stormpaw from the SkyClan camp, slowly working out how he was going to tackle this training session. He had already formed a pretty simple plan in his head - teach Stormpaw how to hunt, show him a bit of the territory and call it a day. Simple, easy, no sweat...Right? He let out a soft sigh, wondering why he had decided to give himself two apprentices. Not only did he have the responsibilities of being the deputy, he now had the added work of taking his apprentices out and teaching them the basics. He at least had the idea of splitting them up - perhaps a bit more work on his end, but it was going to save him a headache...Besides, each apprentice had to learn a bit different, right? This way, he could get a better idea of maybe how to teach Stormpaw without having to worry about how Wolfpaw was doing.

Stormkit, or... Stormpaw still found it hard to believe he's an apprentice now, and that he's leaving camp and going to go out into the territory. He'd be taught how to hunt today. He still found that exciting. From what he could tell from the past hunting patrols entering camp, squirrels get a bit plumper during early Leaf-Bare. Maybe he would return with a chunky squirrel? He didn't know, but he was excited regardless.
He looked around at the trees and the leaf-carpetted floor, awaiting what this training session had in store for him.

Foxfire came to a stop as he tasted the air, making sure there was plenty of prey around for Stormpaw to hunt for. Once he was content, he turned to face his apprentice and cleared his throat. "Today we are going over hunting on the ground - we'll...Tackle how to climb and move in trees later," he said...Hoping he would perhaps have a better grip on his fears by then. "The first part of a successful hunt is knowing how to properly carry yourself," he explained, falling into a hunting crouch as an example as he went on. "You want to try to be small - make yourself hard to see but don't brush against the ground. You want to hold your tail out to make sure it isn't rustling anything as well. Weight balanced on each paws..." he took a couple steps forward, before launching himself forward and landed neatly on his paws, turning to face his apprentice. "Then leap and catch. You won't always catch it - even the best hunters might miss a prey now and then...But you'll be feeding the Clan in no time!"

Content with his quick lesson, he tasted the air and started to explore for something for Stormpaw to go for...Before he glanced up at a squirrel above them in the branches. "You up for a challenge, Stormpaw?" he asked quietly, nodding his head up at the squirrel. "Us SkyClan cats are known for our powerful legs. Think you can jump up and pull that squirrel down?" He knew it was possible - he hadn't tried it in a while but he recalled hunting like that on his first hunting lesson. It would be a good test of skills and he had faith in Stormpaw's abilities.

Stormpaw looked up and saw the squirrel in question. It was muching on a tree nut. He smirked to show that yes, he was up to the challenge. He then tried to replicate what Foxfire showed him. Paws evenly spread, low to the ground, invisible as possible, tail straight behind him...

Stormpaw carefully eyed the squirrel. He braced his hind legs, before finally he leaped as far up as his legs could take him, front legs out and claws fully unsheathed. The squirrel stared into the distant branches before letting out a bark-like squeak and running away, disappearing into the branches. Surprised, Stormpaw stumbled to the ground, barely landing on his paws. He flexed his claws and growled at himself. First the leaf, now this? Can he catch anything without looking like a mouse-brain? A thought suddenly sounded in his mind. That squirrel didn't look at him. It didn't even acknowledge his existence, it was looking at the branches. What was it running from? He looked up and saw a big bird, but... something was off about it.

An owl was staring at the squirrel Stormpaw tried to catch. Sadly, the squirrel saw it and fled. However, a cat came flying into the branches a moment later. The owl now stared at the gray tabby on the ground. This prey seems much bigger. Maybe that squirrel running was a blessing in disguise? Flexing it's wings, the owl swept down and raked it's talons against the cat's flank, bringing along some gray fur, before it clung onto the cat's shoulders and back.

Owl used Talon Strike on Stormpaw, dealing 10 damage and costing 10 stamina

Owl
HP: 50/50
SP: 110/120

Stormpaw
HP: 10/20
SP: 80/80

Stormpaw's fur stuck up as the owl swept down. He tried to dodge, but it's talons still caught his flank. He yelped in pain as warm liquid dripped down his side onto the leaves below. He hissed and yowled as the owl hovered above his back, attempting to grab him. He rolled over on his back before desperatly raking his back claws on the owl's belly.

Stormpaw used Belly Rake against Owl, dealing 7 damage and costing 10 stamina

Stormpaw
HP: 10/20
SP: 70/80

Owl
HP: 43/50
SP: 110/120

The owl wasn't scared of the gray cat's attack. It still hovered above him trying to get a grip on his pelt.

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 10

Foxfire's eyes widen when the familiar shape of an owl came scooping down, talons out as it tried to grab onto his apprentice. "STORMPAW!" he yowled, springing into action as he broke into a mad dash, panic and fear rising in his chest. Another owl, great...He hadn't seen one since he had broken his legs and he had hoped he would never see one again. But anger rose in his chest, overcoming the fear as he snarled, leaping. His paws rammed into the owl's wings, claws out as he tore at the feathers as he sent it crashing to the ground - and hopefully freeing Stormpaw from its grip. "Are you okay?" he gasped, keeping his claws deep into the owl's thrashing wings, using all of his weight from keeping it from getting back up.

Foxfire used Leap-and-Hold on the owl, dealing 14 damage and costing 10 stamina. Owl is pinned for 1 turns.

Foxfire:
100/100 HP
270/280 SP (-10)

Stormpaw:
10/20 HP
70/80 SP

Wild Owl:
29/50 HP (-14)
110/120 SP

The member 'Honey Booberry Bagel' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Effect Dice' : 2

Stormpaw gasped and scrambled to his paws as his mentor tackled the owl and got it off of him. His legs trembled in fear and shock of what just happened. "Y-yeah. I'm alright... I think..." he replied. His side shot stinging pains at him as it complained of the wound that owl caused. He stared over at Foxfire as he pinned the owl down. 'I... I have to help him! I have to be brave!' he thought, his claws coming out once more. Ignoring the stinging pain in his side, he ran over and clawed the owl's head, from its forehead to its cheek. Tiny feathers came along, a bit of payback for his small clumps of fur the owl tore earlier.

Stormpaw used Front Paw Strike on Owl, dealing 6 damage and costing 10 stamina

Stormpaw
HP: 10/20
SP: 60/80

Foxfire
HP: 100/100
SP: 270/280

Owl
HP: 23/50
SP: 110/120

The owl screeched as a much larger orange cat tackled and pinned it down. It was surprised as it didn't know another cat was here. It tried to kick its legs and flap its wings as it screeched in enraged defiance. Afterwards, the gray cat suddenly clawed its head, causing it to screech multiple times. First of anger, then of pain, and finally of fear as the orange cat didn't let it go.

Owl is pinned for 0 more turns

Foxfire's eyes flickered with worry at the sight of crimson staining Stormpaw's dull-colored fur, the bright color standing out in a sickening away. He could feel the owl struggling beneath him, screeching as Stormpaw came racing over to help him deal with it. However, the owl's struggling was getting hard and harder to hold on and was forced to release his grip to slash at it before jumping free. He leap toward Stormpaw, gently pushing the injured apprentice back as he snarled and faced the giant bird, standing between the owl and his apprentice with narrowed eyes. He hissed, snarled as he slowly started to approach the bird, hoping it would get the idea that to fight again would be death and to flee for its life.

Foxfire finished Leap-and-Hold on the owl, dealing 14 damage. The owl is freed.

Foxfire:
100/100 HP
270/280 SP

Stormpaw:
10/20 HP
60/80 SP

Wild Owl:
9/50 HP (-14)
110/120 SP

Stormpaw backed up as Foxfire stood in front of him, protecting him. His ears went back and his claws sheathed as the wound stung more now, after he put strain on it by fighting. He crouched down in fear as his breathing grew uneven and quick.

The owl spread its wings out as the orange cat got off at last. It stared into the orange cat's eyes as he slowly approached the owl. It backed up a bit as it slowly realized. It couldn't defeat this orange cat, and he certainly won't let it get the gray one. There is no point in fighting an impossible battle. The owl stood up straight before flying upwards, stumbling a bit at the pain in it's sore wings, before it sloppily flew off into the forest.

Owl has fled the battle

Stormpaw's legs still trembled and he stood there with eyes filled with fright. The battle was over and yet he was still scared. His side still hurt badly. He looked at the ground to see crimson liquid dripping down onto the orange and yellow leaves below. His yellow eyes then went up to look at his mentor, saying no words.

Foxfire didn't move a muscle until the owl was well out of sight, certain that it was gone. Then he spun, staring at his injured apprentice with wide eyes. "Oh birdfeathers," he gasped at the sight of the blood, at how shaken Stormpaw was. "We should get you to Sagelight." It hurt, having to cut short the hunting session but he didn't see another way around it - he was in no shape to continue hunting. "Come on, you can lean on me," the deputy murmured as he approached, carefully pressing himself against the apprentice's mainly unscathed side. He did pause, gentle nosing his cheek in a sign of comfort. "You did well, Stormpaw, fighting like you did. I fought an owl during my first hunting trip as well...I ended up with a broken leg thought," he revealed as he coaxed his apprentice into a walk.

Stormpaw gently walked alongside Foxfire, leaning up against his mentor. His tail hung low as he padded onwards. He felt ashamed that this hunting trip had to end so soon because of a hungry bird. Hearing Foxfire talk about the owl he fought did make him feel better though, and the compliments towards his fighting. "At least I can return to camp with some form of experience..." he jested, smiling slightly. He tried to talk a bit more to distract himself from the stinging pain in his side. "Was my hunting crouch good at least?" he asked quietly. He figured he should return with a bit more knowledge on hunting.

Foxfire nodded, a small smile forming on his lips as Stormpaw tried to make the best of the situation. "You really did do well - once Sagelight gives you the all clear, I can take you out again to give hunting another try or perhaps teach you how to properly fight..." he paused, at the question of his hunting crouch. "It was great, I'm sure if that owl hadn't shown up, you would have caught that squirrel with no problem. You're a natural, Stormpaw. You'll be a great warrior one day," he praised.

Stormpaw's eyes relaxed a bit as Foxfire confirmed his crouch was good. He tried to comfort himself with his own thoughts, telling himself he was just at the wrong place at the wrong time, and things like that. "That's good..." he held his head up a bit. The camp shouldn't be too far now, should it? He tilted his head down a little as he slowly blinked, as sharp pains turned to numbness and tiredness.

As a silent fell over them, Foxfire was left to fret over his own worries and fears. Stormpaw had gotten hurt on his watch - granted he was sure the apprentice was going to be fine, the wounds didn't look major but...Well, he had better sympathy for how the leader must have taken his fall from the tree - in short; badly. He was also telling himself that there was nothing he could have done - he hadn't seen the owl until it had swooped because the branches had blocked it from his sights. He had done his best and kept it from carrying off his apprentice he...He really hated owls.

He closed his eyes for a brief moment, before flicking them open to stare at Stormpaw and try to read his expression. He would have to visit Stormpaw daily - try to keep his spirits up. He...He didn't want Stormpaw to end up like him - with a crippling fear. He could be better then that. Sagelight would take great care of him, it wouldn't be a problem... But it was anything thing for him to worry about with the weight of his deputy duties. He would do better, he had to do better. He couldn't let anybody down ...He...He wasn't sure if he liked the added weight of his new title but there was little to be done.

OCC: Annnnnd topic end~