eye of the storm [CLOSED]

Ah, familiar territory at last.

Lichen skillfully dodged rocks and outcroppings as he went, noting the growing scent of SkyClan. He had left the Twolegplace behind, finished with his business there for now. Perhaps he would return again someday, but he had business to attend to. Comfortable with where he was going, the young tom didn't care to be cautious. This was his territory, his birthright. As much as he had renounced his Clan-given name, he still felt tied to his home Clan and his family. Once SkyClan, always SkyClan. At least, that was how he thought of it.

It had been several sunrises since he made up his mind to return home. At first, it was a scary thought. Those Asylum brutes were probably still lurking around, if he had to guess, which meant he would have to tangle with them once more when he got back. He was stronger now, though, and older, and smarter, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem. The former apprentice had bulked out since his absence, looking more and more every day like an adult tom. Maybe even like a warrior, complete with scars littered across his pelt.

As it turns out, not many cats like dealing with someone so obnoxious. He'd gotten in his fair share of scrapes while he was away, but nothing he couldn't handle on his own. He wore his new scars with pride, however. Just like his father.

Lichen parted his jaws slightly to taste the air, scenting where the border was. He was getting closer, he could smell it. With a crooked grin, the mottled tabby closed the distance between himself and the SkyClan border and made a silly hop over the invisible line. No one was around. No one that he could tell, at least, but who cared? Let them come, he could take them.

He was finally back home.

Something about the nursery had taken up Honeycomb’s attention as of late, leaving her with no time for mentoring…which worked out perfectly for Jaypaw, who had taken it upon herself to fill her days. These plans didn’t contain a single lesson. What they did contain—a whole lot of wandering—was much better. Today’s destination, the Great Ridge, was a small cat’s dream, crammed with rock formations to hide behind and charred, towering trees from which to spy on the border below. Getting to explore it (mostly) unsupervised made it even sweeter. Jaypaw darted from one cluster of rocks to the next. Her Asylum companion (not the one she’d had with her during her first adventure; she refused to be hauled back to camp by the scruff like a kit again, thank you very much) meandered behind, his expression vacant under his hare-skin.

Something on the breeze caught her attention. A scent. Unfamiliar, yet distinctly alive in its warmth. Jaypaw’s heart thumped. Intruder. She threw herself into a crouch as low as a long-haired cat in leaf-bare could manage (thankfully, some of the snow had melted over the last few sunups), scampered behind the nearest rock, and held her breath. The Asylum tom joined her a moment later, looking dazed. Oh well. She didn’t need him.

Her long whiskers twitched as she peered around the rock. There he was. A blotchy brown-and-white tom approaching SkyClan’s border at a steady pace. Maybe he couldn’t smell the scent line. Or maybe all rogues were brazen about trespassing; a cat didn’t get that many scars by minding their own business. Jaypaw’s eyes narrowed. Prey wasn’t the only thing that used the wind to keep themselves safe, and for now, it was blowing toward her. She could get the jump on this cat. All she needed was a reason.

The rogue didn’t keep her waiting. Grinning to himself, he took a tiny, kittish leap right over the border—and Jaypaw, bolting out from the shelter of the rock, hurtled forward. She met the rogue at full speed, shoulder-first, hoping that could compensate for the difference in bulk. Only then did she snarl, “Go away!” This time, she'd saved the yowling until after her first attack; no one could say she didn't learn from her mistakes.

Jaypaw used Run-and-Tackle, dealing 6 (+3) damage and using 10 stamina.

Jaypaw
20/20 HP
70/80 SP (-10)

Lichen
11/20 HP (-9)
80/80 SP

Lichen didn't even see it coming.

A gray shape barreled into him, sending him sprawling with a yowl of surprise. Quickly righting himself again, he spun to face the she-cat, this...apprentice? An apprentice was attacking him? The stocky tom shook himself, his cocky grin returning. "You say that like I'm doin' something wrong, kid! You must be SkyClan. Jokes on you, so am I! But, since you started it..." He rushed towards her and brought unsheathed claws across her shoulder, making sure to not dig in too deep.

"Might as well give ya a little practice, huh?"

---

Lichen used Front Paw Strike on Jaypaw, dealing -6 damage.

Lichen
11/20 HP
70/80 SP (-10)

Jaypaw
14/20 HP (-6)
70/80 SP

Though she’d put enough weight behind her charge to throw him off balance, the rogue recovered quickly, to Jaypaw’s chagrin. Tail bristling to match the pines, she took a step back. Him, SkyClan? She’d never seen his face in her life! When she opened her mouth to say so, however, a clawed paw shot out toward her; her attempt to dodge got her a set of shallow, stinging lines across her shoulder. Jaypaw managed to wrestle her yelp into a snarl. “You’re right, I’m SkyClan—which is how I know you aren’t! Hitting him head-on hadn’t done much good… Pressing herself against the ground, she darted beneath him and flipped over to kick at his stomach. "I’m an apprentice, not some feather-headed kid!”

Jaypaw used Belly Rake, dealing 7 damage and using 10 stamina.

Jaypaw
14/20 HP
60/80 SP (-10)

Lichen
4/20 HP (-7)
70/80 SP