surrendered, succumbing [closed]

---

As ebony slowly streaked over the hazy sky, the unrelenting dance of ice had seemed to gradually subdue... until all that was left was a deep mist, a fog obscuring all in its wake. And yet to her, perhaps in her disorientation, in her state of confusion, her little control over her fading life... the pitched reverbration in her ears, the coating of frost twinkling on her eyelids, the incessant trembling of her fragile form... it was all being perceived differently. As if the blizzard was still ensuing, in all its malice and evil... she failed to recognise how the storm had already died down. She was astray in her own illusion. The bleak dryness in her throat, the deceptive embrace of the snow... just like it was that sunrise ago. Or maybe, it had been forever ago?

---

Its prey was so.. blissfully unaware, oblivious to the colossal beast looming overhead. A victim, so daintily framed by the descending sparkles; a figure painted silver in the mystic dusk. Its piercing gaze surveyed the cat, pinched to slits, dilating in the murky gloom. The powerful sight this mighty beast possessed, its strikingly powerful vision, allowed it to glide along the gales - unstirred regardless of the heavy shroud of fog. As it beated its vast wings, its gusts warping the atmosphere itself, distorting the dim veil with flurries of wind. It radiated sinister might as it glided in broad arcs, wings expanded wide to fly along the whispering breezes.


Its beak snapped ajar, a stinging whistle shattering the sky. A shrill cry, piercing the atmosphere. The fog stirred to welcome the beast, its blurred silhouette high above warping, enlargening... until a dense shadow swallowed the white-touched ground. A darkness the eagle brought, gaping wide to devour its prey, as it hurtled down at sickeningly brisk speed. Razor talons unfurled to full length, ready to grasp it victim, glinting chillingly in the dim light. The eagle's beady eyes glimmered with malevolent exhilaration; its wings swept back, grazed by the icy winds. Closer, and closer, the peril began to descend.

---

Eagle used Talon Strike, dealing 10 damage and costing 20 stamina. The force of the Eagle's blow has caused a concussion; it threatens to leave the scene with its unconscious prey.

EAGLE
hp; 60/60
sp; 180/200 [-20]

FEATHERPAW
hp; 10/20 [-10]
sp; 80/80

---

With the impending threat of the blizzard finally seeming to blow away with the final wisps of its winds, Ivystar took it as an opportunity to go out hunting with Honeytongue and her apprentice, Poppypaw. Snow still fell gently from the sky, but the air was otherwise still and calm. The silence was unsettling- it was as if the snow was simply absorbing all the normal sounds of the forest; the rushing of the river. The quiet seemed to stretch on forever, masking the sound of her pawsteps as she left indentions in the snow with each step she took further into the territory. Honeytongue and Poppypaw were trailing behind her as they walked along the river, searching for the perfect place to stop for a hunt. Immediately Ivystar's ears pricked when the shriek of a large bird sounded, piercing the otherwise silent atmosphere with its cry. And then, as if everything had clicked into place, she was running.

Snow flew behind her as she darted along the riverside, feathery tail flowing behind her as she ran, pushing to get to where the snow had turned a deep shade of burgundy. The cold stung her eyes, but she didn't care. Without missing a beat, she shoved herself into the air, teeth penetrating feathers, skin, and muscle. The silver-striped she-cat didn't even need to think about it; it was like second nature. Not that she could piece together a sound thought if she tried. A loud, incessant ringing pierced through her skull as she fought to get the bird and, in turn, Featherpaw, to the ground. She'd managed to drag the bird down by the wing, and as they fell back to the snow-trodden ground Ivystar hoped to StarClan that her Clanmates had followed her, to help her make sure Featherpaw made it back home alive. Feathers flew in a flurry around the trio, all while the snow still fell gently around them.

That was the irony of it all, wasn't it?

Featherpaw's world was ending, life ebbing slowly as talons pierced her torso. Iyystar's heart was racing as she fell to the ground, eagle in tow. The eagle was fighting for its next meal, which wouldn't come as easily as it had initially thought. The world was falling apart around them, but the snow still fell, and the river still ran.

Ivystar used Teeth Grip on the eagle, dealing -16 Health Points and using -20 Stamina Points. The eagle is stunned for 3 turns.

Ivystar:
120/120 HP
280/300 SP [-20]

Eagle:
44/60 HP [-16]
120/200 SP

Featherpaw:
10/20 HP
80/80 SP

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

---

'Effect Dice' : 6

Honeytongue's pelt prickled at the surprise chill that filled the air, having hoped that the worst of the cold weather was behind them. While the snow itself had been a pleasant thing for a while, the leaf-bare had carried untold tragedies and the warrior only hoped that brighter days would be there for them once it was gone. But there wasn't really much time to dwell on the 'what ifs' the future held, just to focus on the patrol ahead of them. She trailed after Ivystar, swishing her tail to knock around the light, fluffy snow as the trio trekked forward.

That was until a bird's cry shattered the silence.

She jolted, her tail lashing to knock away any snow that clung to it from her little game. "What was th-" she questioned, breaking off as Ivystar suddenly darted away with fur on edge. She blinked, opening her mouth to call after her leader before she hesitated and glanced at Poppypaw. "Stay close!" she ordered before she broke into a sprint after the gray she-cat. The snow made following the path that Ivystar had made easy, watching as her leader took a flying leap at a bird that was struggling to get airborn with... Her blood ran cold, recognizing the limp form in the eager's grasp. "Featherpaw!" she cried, some relief at the fact that Ivystar had managed to bring the bird down.

She raced to lend aid to both her Clanmate and her leader, claws slicing at the eagle's feathers. She didn't know the much older she-cat all that well, she hadn't been there to welcome her back into RiverClan and had really only the chance to bond with her on a couple patrols...But Featherpaw was still a treasured member of RiverClan and this eagle wouldn't live to regret its poor choice of prey if she and the others had anything to say about it.

Honeytongue used Rending Front Paws on the wild eagle, dealing 15 damage and costing 25 stamina.

Honeytongue:
80/80 HP
215/240 SP (-25)

Ivystar:
120/120 HP
280/300 SP

Wild Eagle:
29/60 HP (-15)
120/200 SP

Featherpaw:
10/20 HP
80/80 SP

Poppypaw was pleased with the opportunity to get out of camp and stretch her legs. The blizzard had not been forgiving, and she was glad that it was over, even if the snow would make finding prey more difficult. She wasn't worried, though, as her patrol was definitely more than capable of finding something to feed the Clan. She padded along after Ivystar and Honeytongue, enjoying how it was so quiet and peaceful, until...it wasn't.

She heard the shrieking of the bird, and then Ivystar darted off, reacting faster than either Honeytongue or herself had. It didn't take Honeytongue long to react, though, and Poppypaw felt herself running after her, although she had a weird almost out of body moment before her brain caught up with what was happening.

"Featherpaw!" It was like a bad echo, coming heartbeats after Honeytongue's own utterance of the older apprentice's name. Poppypaw didn't know her well, but she was her denmate and her Clanmate. There was no way that they were letting this oversized pigeon take off with her!

With a hiss, the apprentice joined the fray with slashing claws.

Poppypaw used Front Paw Strike, dealing 6 damage and costing 10 stamina.

Poppypaw:
20/20 HP
70/80 SP (-10)

Honeytongue:
80/80 HP
215/240 SP

Ivystar:
120/120 HP
280/300 SP

Wild Eagle:
23/60 HP (-6)
120/200 SP

Featherpaw:
10/20 HP
80/80 SP

Another screech pierced the sky above, crackling with distraught, hoarse with shock -- instantly releasing its unconscious prey. The raptor's strident cry wavered as a force clashed into it, having scarce to register the foreign weight before a stinging pain slit into its skin. Tearing, an excruciating agony, slashing into muscle. Its almighty screech abruptly quavered into a breathless squawk; the strange sound that barely escaped its beak was not unike a croak. The colossal beast resisted against its new foe, indignant yet paralysed by shock, flapping its free wing with frantic motions. It was a frenzy of feathers, showering down upon its attacker as alarmed hysteria began to bubble within the eagle. The ground was expanding, looming dangerously closer... until, with a crash in the crumbling snow, the eagle had been taken down.


Frantically it flapped its ragged wings, twisting with strenuous effort beneath the pressure. With each throbbing heartbeat its feathers were stained with more vermillion, oozing in thin threads. Quickly comprehending just how much peril it was under, the eagle shifted into a frenzied fury. Flipping itself around, it made a feeble effort to defend itself by splaying its razor talons, hoping desperately to snag some fur. Its attempt was futile, however, and in the depths of the brawl it tried with little success to snap it beak at its attackers. And it was evident, even to a creature with such high regards of itself, that it was losing the battle. One last ear-piercing shriek exploded from its parted beak, before the raptor ripped itself from the cats' clutches. Using its brawn to whack the claws away, it spread its broad wings; its magnificent display tainted by its dishevelled, bloody feathers.


It staggered forward, lurching momentarily. Then, in a single swoop exerting all the strained energy it still possessed, the eagle casted a powerful gushing wind in its wake, before ascending into the air. As it floundered its scratched wings clumsily, struggling to remain airborne, the gusts swept under its weight to support the beast. A master of flight, the eagle managed to once again attain the reins of the sky.

---

Ivystar didn't have time to thank her patrol for coming to her aid, for the eagle was batting its wings and reaching out with razor-sharp talons, threatening each of them with the fate that had nearly befallen their Clanmate. It became clear as the two she-cat's bared claws and teeth of their own that this fight would be coming to an end quickly, and the eagle was smart enough to realize the same. Fur on end, Ivystar watched as the eagle backed away, tendrils of crimson staining the feathers of the great creature. As it lifted its broad wings into the air, Ivystar was reminded of the last encounter she'd had with an eagle... One that had left her father dead.

Moments later she was standing in that same spot by the Gorge, the screech of the eagle dawning upon her as it clutched onto her torso with strong talons. It was so many moons ago, but the memories were as clear as they'd always been. It seemed like moons since she'd let them resurface, burying whatever was left of them beneath her duties. Seconds later she was reliving those horrid moments when she hit the water, the crashing rapids pulling her under faster than she could comprehend what was going on. Then, teeth closed around her scruff, and she was thrown to the side, safely onto a smooth, cold rock. Then, the most horrendous image of all- Jaystar, covered in blood as his limp body lay barely breathing on the rocks.

It seemed like she'd spent an eternity in those moments. When she finally snapped out of it, she was crouched low to the ground, and the eagle was nowhere in sight. The fluffy she-cat was shivering- not because it was cold, but because she was afraid. Ivystar couldn't remember the last time she felt genuine fear, and it shook her to the core. It seemed like she'd been frozen, stuck in the same cowering position for ages. When she realized what was going on, however, she quickly got to her paws, shaking her head and running to Featherpaw's cold, unmoving body. It seemed as if the eagle had hardly done any damage to the she-cat herself... Had she simply given up?

Grunting from the soreness in her tired muscles, the silver tabby hoisted the apprentice onto her shoulders. Merely flicking her tail, she began padding as quickly as she could back towards camp, while trying to keep Featherpaw as stable as she possibly could. Between her teeth were two long brown and white feathers, fallen from the wing of the beast that had nearly taken Featherpaw away from her. It didn't get away with it this time, and Ivystar and the injured apprentice weren't going to forget that.

Honeytongue was forced back as the wings of the giant bird flared, striking out as the eagle twisted and snapped at any of the cats that drew close. She growled as she crouched, holding her ground as she waited for an opening, teeth bared as she gaze shifted from the still Featherpaw to the fighting Ivystar. But then, in a moment, it was like Ivystar had frozen. She watched with a flicker of worry as the leader fell into a crouch, gaze uneven as the eagle took flight. While it was not the opening she was looking for, Honeytongue darted forward to throw herself over Featherpaw, gaze locking onto the eagle as it rose...and rose... And soon disappeared from sight, having fled.

Slowly, once she was certain the danger was truly gone, she stepped to the side so that she could study Featherpaw. A quick prod with her nose sent a shiver down her spine, fear rising in her chest as memories of her own flickered through her. Trying to wake up Mudfrost only to find her friend so cold and unmoving in her nest. Feeling helpless as the reality of the situation had sunk in. Not again, oh StarClan not again! But the faintest stir from Featherpaw's chest brought her back. She was alive. Barely, but she was alive. "Ivyst-" she started, raising her head to call out to the leader but Ivystar was already darting toward the injured she-cat. She stumbled back to give her space to get her on her back.

"...Come here, Poppypaw," she called, stepping away from Ivystar as she worked to stabilize Featherpaw on her back. She trotted to the apprentice's side, gently brushing herself against her as she laid her tail across her back. This couldn't be easy for the apprentice - she recalled her own fights with a predator when she was an apprentice and the thought still sickened her. Of how hurt some of her Clanmates had gotten. Featherpaw would be alright...Hopefully. "You did good, fighting that eagle" she ushered to the apprentice, gently nosing her to walk beside her as Ivystar started to lead the group back. "Featherpaw is going to be okay, don't you worry about it."

It wasn't the strikes of the eagle that caused panic in Poppypaw, although that would have been enough. No, adrenaline gave her the strength to move so that no blows landed on her. What truly freaked out the apprentice was seeing Ivystar frozen to the spot. She felt words die in her throat, her mouth open but no actual vocalization was happening. What could she say?

Everything started happening more quickly as the eagle fled from them and Ivystar moved to action to help Featherpaw. Poppypaw stared hard at the other apprentice until she was certain that her flank was moving with breaths. Then she hurried to Honeytongue at her beckoning, and without thinking about it she pressed her face into her side for a moment, just taking solace in her presence and how she seemed to have more of a handle on things.

"Th-thank you," she stammered, falling into step beside the warrior, her eyes glued to her mentor in front of them. She was worried about Featherpaw for sure, but she was also worried about Ivystar.