Just a tad bit over the line (closed for Firehaze)

Smallpaw took in a deep breath of cold air. It was nice to get away from camp for a while. All of the tense Starclan drama had made him feel like he was suffocating in the commotion. It was nice to get some fresh air every once in a while. He'd gotten permission to go hunting by himself earlier this morning, and it was now sunhigh. The rays of sun warmed his pelt in the cold winter air, which was uncommon in the middle of leafbare. Relishing the warmth of the sun, he fluffed his fur and trudged on through the snow. He wished his paws could be as warm as his back was. He wanted to get as far away from camp as possible and find somewhere quiet and peaceful to hunt. He looked up to see if he could tell where Windclan territory ended. The apprentice had never been to the far end of the territory before, but he'd heard that Fourtrees was beyond.

As he unknowingly neared the border he smelled different scents. A few were familiar, he's smelled them while out on border patrol. He looked up and saw four great trees and proud rock standing in the middle. So this was Fourtrees. He wandered around the vast clearing, dozens of scents colliding and overwhelming him. He saw a footprint and put his paw in the space, and was amazed at how much bigger it was than his. Then again, he was the runt of the litter, and he was still an apprentice. He gazed across the clearing and started thinking about the incredible amount of cats that must meet here every full moon. Little did he know, there was something, or someone lurking around him.

The sun was high and bright in the sky, illuminating the forest floor with patched of sunlight that seemed to glow off the few patches of snow that made it through the tree cover and to the ground below. The bright light in the usually dim forest made the shadows look deeper and darker, which aided Coalpaw as he used his black pelt to blend in. He had told his mentor Batbite that he wanted to know this forest like the back of his paw, every nook and cranny he could possibly memorize. That's what drew him out of the camp today, slowly working his way through the shadows as he ducked under branches and dove between dried fronds of ferns. He wasn't quite sure Batbite or anyone knew he had left, but his mentor had said it was normal for apprentices to wander out of camp and she'd be disappointed if he wasn't sneaky like that at some point or another. The young tom took pride that no one had seen or heard him slip away from the dirt place and out into the forest, thinking this meant he had mastered some sort of skill to be able to sneak away. But it was also the dirt place and the fact that others don't pay any mind to that part of camp for the sake of ones privacy had escaped the young tom's mind.

Soon he neared Fourtrees and he slowed, remembering his first Gathering and marveling at the giant oaks in the daylight. He had seen them a few times in passing from when Batbite showed him the territory, but their sheer size always took his breath away. The black apprentice ventured closer, wanting to memorize every inch on Thunderclan's territory he could. As he neared the border a sharp scent caught his attention. It smelt like crisp wind and dried heather and grasses. Narrowing his yellow eyes the apprentice ducked under some brambles, using the dense shadows to his advantage as he peered out between a small gap. Another young tom was meandering through Fourtrees, seemingly lost in thought as he padded right out of Windclan territory and right into Thunderclan's. Not registering that the other apprentice probably didn't mean to cross the border, Coalpaw leapt out of the bushes as a growl tore through his throat.

"Trespasser!" The young black tom spat, his yellow eyes alight with anger. How could someone be so mouse-brained as to waltz right into enemy territory? Coalpaw tried to remember what Batbite taught him, but couldn't recall if Thunderclan had any quarrel with Windclan or not. Shrugging it off he sure as Starclan now had a quarrel with whomever stood before him. His claws slid out and dug into the dirt as his tail lashed. "What do you think you're doing on Thunderclan territory? Too small and slow to chase rabbits?"

Smallpaw jumped what seemed like a fox-length into the air at the sound of a hiss from behind him. He look around to see his attacker and rested his eyes on a black-ish apprentice. "T-trespasser!? That's t-the most mousebrained thing I've e-ever h-heard! " He said, he voice sounding more nervous than confident. "This is Fourtrees!" He sniffed the air to see what clan the other tom was from, which probably wouldn't help considering the fact that he'd never been to any gatherings, and that Windclan only shared borders with 2 clans. The clans Windclan bordered were Riverclan, and if he traveled to the corner of Windclan territory he'd be able to see Shadowclan from across the Thunderpath. The apprentice smelled of Oak and Mice, so he'd probably be from Thunderclan, though it was hard to tell from all of the colliding smells of Fourtrees.

He thoughts were broke when he heard the tom make another snarky comment. Puffing up his chest, he said, "What do you m-mean Thunderclan? Can't you see the trees?" He looked at the Thunderclan apprentice with an agitated face. "And you're not looking to big yourself, try comparing your height to some of the warriors back in Windclan camp. As for being too slow, i'd like to see you catch a rabbit." He hissed, but immediately regretted. This cat was already about twice his size, given the fact that Smallpaw was the runt of his litter. He knew that the other cat wouldn't let him go back unharmed either. He was going to get his tail kicked, and that scared him.

He took a step back and looked down at the ground. A familiar tight feeling returned to his stomach. All he wanted to do was get away from commotion back at camp, but he couldn't even do that! What would the clan say when he got back, wounded? Would he get into trouble? What if he forgets everything Raventail taught him about fighting? What if he receives a fatal wound from this cat? Would Aspenheart be able to save him? What would his mother think? He shook his head and looked at the Thunderclanner with pleading eyes. "I-i..." He paused for a moment. "Can't I j-just leave? W-why does everyone have t-to be so difficult!? Starclan f-forbid some cat g-go t-to fourtrees without r-running into a f-fight! Don't b-be such a mouse brain!"

Coalpaw scoffed and lashed his tail. "Well you're on the Thunderclan side of the trees!" He spat, motioning to the side of the clearing they were on that was closest to Thunderclan and ever so slightly across the border. In all reality the Windclan apprentice was maybe a few pawsteps past the border and the young black tom could have easily told him to simply turn back around and leave, but he was already this far and he didn't want to seem like a fool. He wanted to return to camp a hero, someone who thwarted the attempts of a wold-be trespasser and stopped them from hunting within their territory. It was leaf-bare and prey was scarce enough as it was without someone else taking it. "And my legs would get me a lot closer to any rabbit than you puny stature. You're so small they might as well call you Smallpaw because you're so tiny." Unbeknownst to Coalpaw, he had correctly named the young apprentice because he was in fact, named Smallpaw due to his stature. "You can't run fast enough to catch a rabbit and I'd love to see you outrun this!" A snarl tore from Coalpaw as he leapt forward, his claws flashing in the sunlight as he aimed his blow at Smallpaw's ears, hoping to drive him back across the border.

Coalpaw used Front Paw Strike dealing -4 in Damage and Costing -10 in Stamina

Coalpaw
20/20
70/80 (-10)

((OOC: Let me know if I'm doing the battle system right, I am still learning))

OOC: I'm still learning as well, but i think you did it well except for the fact that i think you're supposed to put the stats of the opposite rper's cat as well)))

Smallpaw huffed at the opposing tom's so-called insults. He couldn't help the fact that he was as short as he was. At least he accepted his flaws, unlike this apprentice, who thought he must be better than everyone else. He was about to let out a sharp-tongued remark when he felt claws being swiped across his ear. His vision on the right side went red as he felt blood seep into his eye. He blinked away the blood and backed up a few steps.

As he was being pushed back toward Windclan's border, he remembered a move that his mentor, Raventail had taught him. He stood his ground and puffed his chest, facing Coalpaw. "I may b-be small, but at l-least i can use m-my differences as an advantage!" He darted underneath of the opposing tom and slashed at his belly, surprisingly feeling satisfaction at the crimson that started seeping out of the gashes. Smallpaw had never thought he'd feel happy about infliction pain on another cat. Horrified with himself and feeling a bit sick, he backed away from Coalpaw and thought about leaving.



Smallpaw used belly rake on Coalpaw, dealing -7 HP and costing -10 SP


Smallpaw
16/20 HP
70/80 SP (-10)

Coalpaw
13/20 HP (-7)
70/80 SP

Coalpaw felt the sting of claws biting into his flesh as he flinched, scrambling back and away from the smaller tom. His tail lashed as his yellow eyes blazed as he felt his belly fur grow sticky with blood. The young tom turned to face the Windclan apprentice, ready to shred the rest of his ears off but hesitated a moment. If they continued to fight then the rest of Thunderclan would know that he had snuck out, and could he get in trouble for defending their territory? The question hung in his head as his tail lashed, the movement pulling at his belly and the pain sparked the anger within him again. With a snarl he barreled forward and rammed into the smaller tom, shoving him with all his might to knock him back across the border.

"Stay on your side you filthy hare-brain!" Coalpaw spat, his breath coming in short pained gasps and he was sure something in his stomach might have torn more, the pain making his legs tremble ever so slightly as his blood seared in his veins.

Coalpaw used Run and Tackle dealing -6 damage and costing -10 stamina

Coalpaw
13/20 HP
60/80 SP (-10)

Smallpaw
10/20 HP (-6)
70/80 SP

Smallpaw yowled as he was once again shoved back toward the direction of the border. 'What was this cat's problem!?', He thought with a huff. Why was he being pushed back toward the border if he wasn't allowed to return in the first place? He'd have been going in the same direction anyways. Deciding he should focus on the battle, he faced the Thunderclanner, his mis-matched eyes wide. Taking action without giving it much thought, he rushed forward and quickly slashed his paws across his opponent's shoulder. He himself was grateful that the apprentice hadn't yet injured him that badly, and he felt kind of guilty about slashing at his stomach. Nevertheless, if he hadn't done it, it'd probably been done to him.




Smallpaw used front paw strike, dealing 6 health and costing 10 HP

Smallpaw
10/20 HP
60/80 SP(-10)

Coalpaw
07/20 HP (-07)
60/80 SP