The Price of a Pelt

Today was the day, the first of her charges would be receiving their very first pelt. With that in mind, she had approached him casually the day before, speaking to him not as a mentor, but as an equal. This was something she did regularly with all of the cats in Asylum, unless she was actively training or assigning tasks, but it served an important purpose. Yesterday, perhaps without even realizing it, Spark had selected what pelt he was to claim for the time being. A raccoon, perhaps, maybe a fox, he had said, and so Lyralei had set out with the sole purpose of locating both predators and marking their locations to find the next morning, when Spark decided for sure. As the sun rose the next day, so did she, and she roused the young tom as well. With a smile, she quietly explained what they were going to do, and led him away from the camp. Once they were several tail lengths from the outer edge of the camp, she turned back to him. "Yesterday, you said a raccoon or a fox would be what you would wish to have as a pelt. Today, you decide. This way, she mewed, gesturing to her right, "slumbers a fox in it's den. The other leads to where a raccoon has chosen to rest. With your height, I suggest we try the fox, but the decision is up to you. Your path lies ahead, Spark, make your choice and claim what is yours." She purred, waiting for Spark to choose his target and following him. Whichever he chose, they would get the first attack, with the raccoon having just settled after a night of exploration and the fox just starting to wake. Her paws were light with the joy of the prospect of fighting alongside her pupil.

Spark woke up early to the sight of Lyralei, the Scout captain. Despite being a figure much stronger than he was, he wasn't scared of her at all. She seemed like a cat that, despite her strictness during training, that truly cared for Spark and the other Scouts, and the ginger tom could respect that. Following Lyralei away from camp, Spark listened as Lyralei explained what they were doing. We're getting my pelt today, Spark realized. And she's letting me choose which one I want. Taking Lyralei's advice, Spark turned right to fight the fox.

Eventually, the two cats reached the fox's den. There it is. It seemed to just be waking up, so the ginger tom decided to attack it when it wasn't paying attention. Before it could look up, Spark slashed the fox's face with his sharp claws, drawing blood. The fox screeched in pain before biting Spark back. Even though it hurt, Spark felt like he made a solid blow on the beast.

Spark used Rending Front Paws on Fox, dealing 15 damage and costing 25 stamina.

Fox used Iron Bite on Spark, dealing 30 damage and costing 20 stamina.

Spark:
HP: 45/75
SP: 175/200

Fox:
HP: 75/90
SP: 260/280

Lyralei followed Spark as he made his choice, her tail curling at the prospect of fighting a fox. It was her chosen pelt as well, and the thought of one of her first group of trainees following in her pawsteps brought a giddiness she hadn't been expecting. Spark wasted no time in attacking the creature, and Lyralei followed suit. In a moment, she had sprinted to the other side of the fox, sliding under it's exposed belly and lashing out with sharpened claws.

Lyralei used Half-Turn Belly Rake dealing 15 damage and costing 20 SP.

Lyralei:
75/75 HP
180/200 SP (-20)

Spark:
HP: 45/75
SP: 175/200

Fox:
HP: 60/90 (-15)
SP: 260/280