School of Hard Knocks [Closed]

Dawnhawk was not thrilled with having been assigned an apprentice. He had his own plans for himself throughout the day once his patrols were done. But now it looked like he was going to be given a job that he couldn't just get done quickly and he went on about his own agenda. Or... could he speed things up? Dawnhawk was willing to try it. Ashpaw may have been his younger sister, but it didn't mean that he had to be extra kind or give her special treatment. If she didn't know yet, she would soon. An irritated Dawnhawk got up at about his usual time, just about half an hour before the sun actually grew bright across the horizon. The ivory and gold pelted tom trotted toward the apprentice den and poked his head in, spotting Ashpaw fairly quickly.

"It's dawn," He informed the entire den, but addressing Ashpaw specifically even though he wasn't whispering. "Let's go Ashpaw. You're being timed." He ducked back out of the apprentice den and waited for her. He didn't even bother to sit down. He figured with an entrance and an announcement like that, in front of the other apprentices if they were awake, she would put some hustle into her steps and be outside quickly.

Ashpaw barely slept that night. She was constantly thinking of what her new apprentice training may be, making sure to stay extremely quiet so she did not wake up the other apprentices. This new den felt weird to her, but she needed to make a good first impression. She stayed up most of the night before her tiredness overwhelmed her, for she had never stayed up that late in the past. Her eyes fluttered open and closed until finally she was asleep.

What felt like only a moment later her new mentor called for her to come out of the den and train. It took a moment for her yellow eyes to pop open. She yawned. Staying up was not the best idea. She slowly got up feeling the heavy weight of her body on her paws. At first everything was slightly bleary and she could not think. Everything seemed to be out of focus because of how tired she was. A minute later, Duskhawk's words sunk in. I'm being timed! she thought.

Carefully, she rushed out of the den and met her mentor outside. "Okay," she said trying to find the right words to say. "What are we doing first?"

Dawnhawk didn't actually time his sister, he just wanted her to hurry up. She darted out of the den, which made him smirk. Upon her question, he nodded in the direction that he wanted her to follow him. He started walking at a pace that he was comfortable with. Maybe she'd keep up fine, maybe she'd have to hustle a little. It made no difference to him regardless.

"This is the best time to hunt, so we're going to do that while the hours of the morning are still early." The rest of the journey to the creek would have been in relative silence unless she asked good questions that deserved to be answered.

Living up to her name, his sibling blended in well with the burnt landscape around them. Dawnhawk's eyes glanced in the general direction of the sun and then back to Ashpaw.

"Alright. Observe me closely. I will show you the art of the stalk, then I will catch prey and swiftly dispatch it. If you need a better explanation of how to do it, I'll tell you after. Sometimes it's better to learn by watching." With that, Dawnhawk bent his knees and elbows low, let his tail trail off of the ground behind him, and balanced his weight across his paws. A squirrel was burying an acorn at the base of a tree as Dawnhawk approached, purposely with the sun at his back. If the squirrel looked up at him, even on a gray landscape, Dawnhawk couldn't be spotted in harsh light.

Swiftly and easily, Dawnhawk pounced and caught the squirrel and buried his teeth into its neck. He brought it back to Ashpaw and dropped it at her feet.

"Any questions before you give it a try?

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 1

Ashpaw followed behind Duskhawk, having to walk faster then normal to keep up with him.  At first she attempted to make small talk with him, but quickly realized he was not too interested in that, so they just walked in awkward silence until they reached there destination.  Duskhawk told her to watch him hunt and she did... well as much as her tired eyes could focus.  Duskhawk asked her if she had any questions.  "No," she replied.

Ashpaw spotted another squirrel climbing down a tree and crouched low trying to repeat what her mentor had done.  This position felt weird to her.  She stalked her prey going slowly closer and closer.  She desperately wanted to catch the squirrel, but more than that, she wanted to be someone her big brother could be proud of.  Finally, she pounced. Gripping the squirrel in her jaws, she looked up at her brother, walked over, and put the now lifeless animal at his paws.

The member 'Little Ripped' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 5

Dawnhawk sat back on his haunches and watched as Ashpaw dropped into a hunting crouch. It was fairly similar to his own, which he was surprised by. She at least learned fast, so that was good. Dawnhawk would not have been gentle with a dumb apprentice. He eyed a twig on the ground that Ashpaw nearly stepped on, but she didn't. If she would have stepped on it and scared the squirrel off, Dawnhawk would have yowled into her ears to teach her to watch what she was doing next time. When the squirrel hit the ground by his feet, Dawnhawk simply nodded once, but said nothing else in approval.

"Alright. Now we have prey... but that doesn't mean we get to go home. I'm training you to be a warrior, right?" He didn't pause for very long before he kept talking. "A warrior knows how to fight. You can't be afraid to kill or be killed, and we will test your claws now too." Dawnhawk picked up his squirrel and nodded for Ashpaw to do the same. He stashed his squirrel into a nook made of three rocks tightly in a triangle shape. They would have to be fine there for now.

"My best advice to an apprentice like you is this: A wrong decision is still better than no decision. Don't panic. Don't freeze. If you ever want to look dad in the eye again, absolutely never run away. Do you understand me?" There was real warning in his voice in his last sentence. His eyes scanned the charred landscape for one thing in particular that he felt would be reasonable for his sister to fight, but not have an easy time of it.

An owl suddenly flew to a branch that still proved to be a bit sturdy when it landed. Dawnhawk nodded at it for Ashpaw to see.

"You'll fight that. Don't worry, I won't make you fight by yourself, but you will fight." Dawnhawk dropped into a crouch and stalked toward it as if it were prey. Purposely, once he was close, he leaped up to the branch next to it and jumped, roughly, to break the branch under the owl's feet. The owl panicked and took flight, but swiftly doubled back and attacked. Dawnhawk waited for it to get close....

"Fight well, Ashpaw!" He called out, a feral smile spreading across his face. The owl swooped down on the pale tom, intending to rearrange his facial features.


Owl used Swoop on Dawnhawk, dealing 30 damage and -20SP

Owl
50 HP/100 SP (-20SP)

Dawnhawk
15HP / 160sp (-30hp)

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Dawnhawk had been ready for the owl to retaliate. He had antagonized it after all. He moved deftly to the side and made an attempt to claw it as it passed him. His claws connected and left light but noticeable claw marks down the owl's side.

Dawnhawk used Dodge and Fight. Owl's previous attack missed! Dawnhawk's counter attack is successful, dealing 5 damage. Dodge and fight -15SP.

Owl
Dodge and Fight was successful! -5HP
45HP / 100SP (-5HP)

Dawnhawk
45HP / 145SP (+30HP for dodging) (-15SP)

Ashpaw
20HP / 80SP

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

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'Effect Dice' : 5

When Ashpaw dropped the fuzzy brown squirrel at Dawnhawk's paws, she expected to hear something a little more like 'Amazing job, you are such a quick learner.  Or even just a 'good job' would have been highly appreciated.  But instead all she got was a nod.  Which she still thought was nice.  She did not know why she expected anything more from Dawnhawk.  Honestly, from what she gathered from the morning she spent with him, that was the highest praise she got so far.

He started talking with her about training and what being a good warrior was and she listened the best she could, trying to do everything right to please her brother.  For a moment in time, when he was giving her advice, his voice sounded was filled with what sounded like a genuine warning.  Which made her step back, before she replied "Yes" to his question.  But a moment later it made her smile because this was the first real advice her mentor gave her.

She saw a large owl fly on to a branch and she realized Dawnhawk noticed it as well when he nodded his head at it.  Oh, no she thought.  She did not know why she thought this, but she just had the feeling that something she was not going to be to fond of was going to happen.  She was right.  A moment later Dawnhawk was on the branch next to the owl.  The next thing she saw was the owl flying off the tree and turning around, storming at her brother.  Dawnhawk told her to fight.  It all happened so fast.  Her mind was spinning as she looked in terror at Dawnhawk.  For a moment she felt like she was frozen.  She wanted to go help her mentor, but rushing at a bird bigger than her, she did not think was the best answer.  Maybe she could use brains a little more than brawn.

She started to climb up the back side of the tree so the owl did not see her.  Thankfully, Dawnhawk dodged the owl and lightly clawed it.  Ashpaw had noticed that the branch wasn't very far off the ground.  Ashpaw leaped from the tree and on the owls back, pushing the owl down and pinning it on the grassy terrain.


Ashpaw used Leap-and-Hold, Dealing -6 in Damage & Costing, -10 in Stamina.

Owl
39HP / 100SP

Ashpaw
20HP / 70SP

Dawnhawk
45HP / 145SP

The member 'Little Ripped' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Effect Dice' : 6

The owl had missed it's target when it thought for sure that it had that cat! A stinging slice down it's side was annoying, but would not stop it from trying to shred the dumb feline that dared antagonize it! The owl had been about to whip back around when a sudden weight landed upon it's back. A surprised hiss whooshed from the owl's beak as gravity claimed the feathered beast and pulled it to the forest floor. Ash smoke billowed up around it as it fought uselessly to get free from the smaller cat. The owl didn't even know where it had come from!

Owl
Stunned for TWO turns
39HP / 100SP


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Dawnhawk had glanced over to where he had last seen his sister as the owl zipped away. He didn't see her, but she had moved fast enough that her ashy cloud trail was still there. Dawnhawk's eyes followed it quickly... up the tree and... his eyes landed on Ashpaw just as she hit the owl's back. He stared for a moment, genuinely impressed by her swiftness, her use of her actual brain that most clan cats lacked, her timing of the jump and her ability to actually hold the bird under her after all of that. And it was her first real fight! Dawnhawk charged, not wasting time. She had the owl for now but who knows how long that would last? He jumped back onto his hind legs and put his full strength and weight into his claws when he furiously swiped at the pinned owl below him. Feathers and blood coated his pale paws.

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

Dawnhawk
45HP / 130SP (-15SP)

Owl
Stunned for TWO turns
28HP / 100SP (-11HP)

Ashpaw
1/2 turns of Leap and Hold
20HP / 70SP

Ashpaw had underestimated how hard it would be to keep the owl down.  After only a moment of pinning the owl to the ground her legs began to ache as the large animal flopped around.  She tried extremely hard to hold its wings so it could not fly and bit it's neck to keep it pinned.  Her jaw throbbed in pain.  She never held on to something for this long before, nor something this strong.  Dawnhawk came down and started ferociously scratching the owl.  Ashpaw glanced at him.  This was the moment she realized that her once thought glorious plan could end up one of two ways, being successful and hope that Dawnhawk was finally proud of her or losing her grip and getting severely hurt possibly at best.

She slightly loosened her grip only to mumble to her brother, "I don't think I can hold it for much longer!"



Ashpaw Continued to use Leap-and-Hold, Dealing another -6 damage

Owl
Stunned 1 Out of 2 Turns
22HP / 100SP (-6HP)

Ashpaw
1/2 turns of Leap-and-Hold
20HP / 70SP

Dawnhawk
45HP / 130SP

The owl felt the smaller cat's grip loosen and it thrashed with a new surge of energy. It finally got to both of it's talons, tossing the unwanted passenger from it's back. Still, the effort had left the owl winded and not quite able to pump it's wings to get to the sky. It stood there, wings out defensively on either side of it, hissing and puffing out it's feathers to make it appear to be three times it's real size. It needed to catch its breath for just a moment before it continued to attack, but once it did, it was ready to kill both of these felines.

Owl is no longer pinned, but still cannot attack!

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Dawnhawk locked eyes briefly with his sister just before the owl threw her off of it. He scowled, wondering if she just hadn't tried to talk she might have stayed on. Oh well, it couldn't be helped now. The owl was winded at least. Dawnhawk lunged for the owl again and his claws sought the owl's flesh. He tore into it with more ferocity than before, being wary of the beak and talons. Could he have pinned it again? Sure he could have, but it wouldn't teach Ashpaw anything to simply bat her paw at an immobile adversary.

Dawnhawk used Upright Front Paws, dealing 11 damage and -20SP

Dawnhawk
45HP/ 110SP (-20SP)

Owl
Turn 2/2 Leap and Hold; No attack able to be made!
11HP / 100SP (-11HP)

Ashpaw
Final turn of Leap and Hold
20HP / 70SP

Ashpaw got thrown off the owl's back and hit the ashy ground.  Her back throbbed from the landing, her paws ached from the hold, and her jaw stung from the hard pinning she attempted.  With a little struggle at first she sat up, seeing that her brother already made another move.  She wanted to collapse.  She almost wished that she hit a tree and got knocked out because then her brother would not be mad if she did not fight anymore.  Although she needed to fight.  She needed to prove to her tribe and her brother that she was strong.  That she would be a good warrior.

She got on her paws.  Although her body continued to tell her that laying down would be the best option, she needed to help her brother.  She knew she did not have enough strength to pin the beast again.  She saw only one thing that she might be strong enough to do.  She walked over to the owl, going slower then she wanted to.  She scratched the owls back, as hard as she could, and was pleased when she noticed blood coming out of the wound she formed.


Ashpaw used Front Paw Strike, Dealing -6HP in Damage and using 10 SP

Owl
No attack can be made
5HP / 100SP (-6HP)

Ashpaw
20HP / 60SP (-10SP)

Dawnhawk
45HP / 110SP

The owl felt claws dig into it's chest, hopped back from the blow, only to be clawed again in the back. The owl was tired, bloodied and felt it's strength fading fast. It knew it's time was near, but it was determined to try to take at least one cat with it. The owl turned, but it's weakened state would not give it the strength to fly again. It lashed out with talons focused on the smaller cat, hoping to do a decent amount of damage to the smaller adversary before being brought down.

Owl used Talon Strike on Ashpaw, dealing 10 damage and -10SP

Owl
5HP / 90SP (-10SP)

Ashpaw
10HP / 60SP (-10HP)

Dawnhawk
45HP / 110SP


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Dawnhawk watched as the owl turned, quite weakly and kicked sharp talons toward his sister's body. Dawnhawk actually could have pounced on it and ended it there, but instead, he took a few steps back. The owl was weak enough that an apprentice should be able to handle it, in his opinion. He would do nothing to interfere now. If Ashpaw lost her life to this predator at it's weakened state, then she wasn't what Skyclan needed.

"Shake off the pain, Ashpaw!" He shouted, though he wasn't completely sure if she had been struck. The owl's feathers had obstructed his view. "Kill it. You need to finish it!" He instructed. At that moment, Dawnhawk reclined onto his haunches and waited, doing nothing and leaving Ashpaw to either triumph or die.

Dawnpaw chose to make no attack this round.