Blood in the Briars

Bloodpaw was like most adolescent cats in a lot of ways. For example... overconfident. Bloodpaw sniffed at the border between his clan and what he knew to be Shadowclan. He remained on Skyclan's side for a few moments, debating on what to do. He wanted to actually interact with other clans without being on edge like he had been at the gathering. He had mostly been focused on guarding his shy, sweet sister from attack rather than interacting with other clans like he was supposed to, but this morning was different. It had been a few weeks since his first gathering and he meant to make up some lost ground on the socializing aspect of things. This was neutral ground... so all the Shadowclan cats could do was growl and hiss at him, right? Bloodpaw would probably back down from fully fledged warriors, but an apprentice or a young rogue? If they got violent with him, he was keen on fighting back and testing his strength against theirs.

But I will not be the one who starts it... He mentally told himself.... reminded himself even. He picked up on the many clues at the gathering that Skyclan wasn't exactly... the favorite. Fine. Bloodpaw wanted to change that. He would prefer the other clans' future generations at least knew him to be a reasonable but strong cat. Not that he thought lowly of Spottedstar... maybe. He had conflicting feelings on some of the decision that his grandfather had made when the gatherings became hostile, but what could he do? Bloodpaw was not the leader of Skyclan and he may never be. Maybe the answers to these problems were not as simple as Bloodpaw thought they were.

He took in a breath, as he often did when he prepared for something, and strode closer to the tall pine tree. He glanced up at the branches to make sure no one was watching him, even smelled the air first as a precaution, but as far as he could tell, no other cat had been near this tree for at least a few hours. Not even the scent of a patrol... that must mean that they were due soon.

Hopefully they don't mistake me for an adult... Bloodpaw thought to himself with a slight dread. He sometimes forgot that he was significantly large for a cat of only a little over 7 moons. He looked like an adult, with the exception of the slight tell-tale signs of his paws being a bit too big for him still and his face, upon a longer observation than a glance, still suggested "adolescent". Well, that and anytime he spoke... his voice had deepened some, but he still sounded too young to be an adult at least.

Bloodpaw spread his paws apart evenly in a rectangle shape for balance, but tried to make it as casual-looking as possible. His tail hung low behind him, but he dropped his head so that his skull, neck, shoulders and back were aligned. He was ready for a spat, but he wasn't actually crouching so as not to appear hostile. Now... the waiting game. Hopefully he wouldn't regret this decision.

Alright Shadowclan... time for a little one on one conversation with the deputy's only son... I hope this ends well for both of us.

Even though Briarpaw had been a bit roughed up by her starry foes at the previous gathering, she found herself wandering around the territories alone. She couldn't recall the last time she'd gone on a patrol with an actual warrior, or for that matter... With anyone at all. She much preferred to roam the marshes by herself, and occasionally with Redwolf, if she'd have her. Usually, she had no issues with other Clan cats, and if she noticed any of them nearby she'd dodge into the shadows to avoid any unpleasant conversation. She'd managed to get out of camp fairly early compared to her Clanmates and was content with just wandering around, occasionally marking a border here or there.

But tonight, her mind wandered. Though she and her brother hadn't talked about it, she knew that he'd lost a life. She wasn't exactly sure how she felt about it, either. Of course, she was sad, but beyond that, she had no clue what exactly it was that she felt. And when it came to Freckleface... Flintstar had never admitted anything about their relationship to her, but Briarpaw knew something was up. Her brother hardly ever showed physical affection for anyone, yet somehow she'd managed to wrap him around her claw. Dare she say it... she felt the slightest hint of jealousy. Not because Freckleface was... mates with him, she supposed? but because she'd managed to reach a part of him that she never could, it seemed. Briarpaw herself had never been good with emotions, that was one thing the two of them had in common- and it didn't really make for a good sibling relationship like she often saw among her littermates, who she'd also seemed to stray from. What had she done wrong?

Before she even had a chance to register what was going on, she found herself at Highpine, staring a SkyClanner in the eyes. She immediately noticed that his paws were squared, and her shoulders tensed, claws unsheathing. "You've got a whole lot of gut showing up here after what happened to my brother at the last gathering. SkyClan could have helped save him," She growled, stepping a bit closer with each word. Pent up anger began to boil in her chest, and Briarpaw saw red. Despite the fact that the tom before her looked nothing like the SkyClan leader, she saw his face in his, and all she could think about was getting revenge for Flintstar, a low growl building up in her throat. Suddenly, she darted forward- not very gracefully, as her large body and clumsy paws didn't allow for it- landing squarely on the smaller tom's back. With so much weight on him, he was rendered unable to move, and she leaned down to whisper in his ear. "You're all a bunch of mangy cowards, leaving the way you did."

Briarpaw used Leap-and-Hold, dealing -6 Health Points, and using -10 Stamina Points. Bloodpaw is stunned for 1 turn.

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

Bloodpaw:
14/20 HP (-6)
80/80 SP

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

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'Effect Dice' : 3

There wasn't much time for him to even register what was going on when the Shadowclan cat appeared, immediately showing aggression. Bloodpaw stared for a second and his eyes flicked to the ground, then back up. He was on neutral ground... What a nut job! So much for peaceful talks.

"I didn't come here for a fight. I wanted-" Aaaaand she was lunging toward him. Great. She landed on him and held him in place, the fury of her claws carving paths into his back. Bloodpaw decided right then that diplomacy wasn't happening. At least, not until he could get the upper hand and make her listen.

"I wasn't even there!" He growled at her. This is the disadvantage of mercy... A voice almost not his own hissed inside his head. He dismissed it immediately. Bloodpaw's claws came out and he prepared to fight back.

Grunting, Briarpaw drug her claws across the younger tom's back one last time before pushing herself off of him. She'd blatantly ignored whatever he said to her- all she'd actually caught was the tail end of his statement- "...even there!" Whatever. She didn't care. "SkyClan... SkyClan is just a bunch of fox-hearted cowards! They only care about themselves, I don't know how any of you can trust each other after a stunt like that!" She growled, her large paws ready to tear into flesh and muscle once again. She'd been taught to take advantage of what she was given, and right now, that happened to be nothing but genetics. Using her sheer size and weight, she pushed the tom backward and clawed at his underbelly- something she'd been taught by Shadestrike. After this, he'd surely be able to fight back, but for now, she had the upper paw.

Briarpaw used Belly Rake, dealing -7 Health Points and using -10 Stamina Points.

Briarpaw:
20/20 HP
60/80 SP (-10)

Bloodpaw:
7/20 HP (-7)
80/80 SP

Bloodpaw felt her twist herself around and go in for a belly rake. You know what? He'd take it. He didn't think he would win this fight, but this isn't what he wanted anyway. He dealt with the stinging pain as her claws slashed down the front of him, causing him to gasp. That said, he managed to find a way to get away from her. He jumped up into the air and unsheathed his claws for vengeance. She wanted to fight? Fine. He would at least put something on her.

Bloodpaw used Leap and Hold, dealing 6 damage and using -10 SP Briarpaw is stunned for 1 turn

Briarpaw:
14/20 HP
60/80 SP

Bloodpaw:
7/20 HP
70/80 SP -10

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

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'Effect Dice' : 2

A deep hiss echoed from Briarpaw's throat as she attempted to steady herself, thinking about what she could do next. If she tried to throw the smaller tom off of her back, she wouldn't have enough time to prepare for his next attack... And if she just let him rake his claws through her fur, then there was a chance she might not win. With a huff, she flexed her muscles and prepared to fight back as soon as she could.

Briarpaw is no longer stunned.

Bloodpaw had half a mind to tear away at her belly like she had done him, but he reined in his fury and took a deep breath while he had her pinned.

"Stop this! I didn't come here for a fight! Are you really so emotionally volatile you just attack on sight? Does Shadowclan lack discipline?" he growled at her, no longer attacking but trying to see if he could make her hesitate long enough to just talk.

"I know why you don't like us. I don't blame you even, but attacking me for crimes I didn't commit solves nothing!" You mousebrain! He refrained from saying that last part.

Bloodpaw accepted whatever would come next. If she chose to fight still, so be it. His head wasn't in the fight, so he'd leave and let her have her victory. He willing got off of her, dropped his head to guard his throat and rebalance himself on four steady paws.

Bloodpaw did not attack this turn

7hp / 70sp

Briarpaw hissed as Bloodpaw practically yelled right in her ear, readying herself to push him off of her back when he simply... Got off. She turned around and a low growl formed in the pits of her throat, crouching low as her tail swept the ground beneath. "It sure makes me feel a lot better." With a hiss, she leaped forward and shoved the tom onto his back once again, using her claws to shred the fur and skin of his soft belly. With a grunt, she pushed herself off of him. Before she retreated back to ShadowClan territory, she spat in his face, not bothering to add any words to the insult.

Briarpaw used Belly Rake, dealing -7 Health Points and using -10 Stamina Points.

Briarpaw:
14/20 HP
50/80 SP (-10)

Bloodpaw:
0/20 HP (-7) [K.O.ed]
70/80 SP