Not-So-Warm Welcome

Cardinal always told him stories about the Clans. Stories of love, of hope, of kindness, of betrayal. He didn't know if they were real or not, and neither did his siblings. His siblings who he cared about- Azar, Ivory, and Quill. They were more skeptical than him, though. His siblings wanted to stay behind, stay at home. Rowan, though... Rowan listened to the stories. He wanted to know about what was out there, he needed to know!

So when the full moon illuminated the world at the age of 6 moons, Rowan decided he'd leave. He pressed his forehead to his old mother's to say goodbye. "I won't stop you, but be careful, young Rowan." She said. "It is a long and lonely road if you wish to make it to the clans. And when you make it there, do not forget your old mother Cardinalcry or the name I bestowed you three moons ago." And he did not. The winding journey took him through twolegplaces and deserted forests, across a river and through woods. He honed his ability to hunt and tried and failed and tried and succeeded. He tried to swim like the river cats, which ended in him soaking wet downstream. He tried to sneak like the shadow cats, but his paws were just too big and he kept tripping over them. He was okay at climbing trees, at least reaching the lower branches. He gave up on being like the clan cats after a while. For countless sunrises, he wandered, and grew. Now, it had been four moons, and he was surprised to see his reflection. How he'd changed! His belly growled like a rabid dog - he needed food.

Surrounded by rocks and trees, he began to hunt for a morsel of food, finally finding a mouse. Relieved that this forest was plentiful, he began to eat, not even hearing the nearby pawsteps approach.

Shadepaw stretched her legs as she padded along the border, relieved to take a moment for herself amidst the hustle and bustle of Newleaf Clan life. After she poured her heart out to Birdsong, her urges had grown a little easier to deal with. She still had yet to speak a word of it to her mother or Wrenspring, but at least somecat knew about it. With a quiet sigh, Shadepaw picked up her pace, weaving around trees and brush in her path. It wasn't entirely safe for an apprentice to be patrolling the border alone, but she was sure she could handle herself should anything come along.

And come along something did. A whiff of unusual cat scent hit her nose and she perked up, raising her ears and parting her mouth to scout ahead. A trespasser. All nerves on high alert, she stalked forward, locating a brown pelt she didn't recognize. A cat, rogue maybe? Not from any of the Clans, she was sure. As she got closer she noticed the stranger had caught a mouse on SkyClan territory. The young tom looked to be about her age... But with the recent Asylum take-over, she couldn't be too careful.

Dropping to a crouch, she crept closer, making sure to stay downwind and out of sight. Once she was close enough, she unsheathed her claws with a menacing growl and leapt, bowling both of them over to the ground. "Stop! You're trespassing on SkyClan territory!"

Shadepaw used Run-and-Tackle on Rowan, dealing 6 (+3 for sneak attack) damage and using 10 SP.

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

Rowan
36/45 HP (-9)
140/140 SP

Surprised, Rowan hit the ground with a thud and scrambled to his paws to see another cat, similar in age to himself, snarling about a territory, with a strong specific scent. "Skyclan?" He asked quietly. Skyclan. He was at the clans? And this... This was where his mother had been born. This very forest. How many of the stories were true? He wanted to know, but this cat didn't seem willing to chat, so he clawed at her. "Attacking me without even a hello? Rude." He said, this time with the intent for her to hear.

Rowan used Front Paw Strike on Shadepaw, dealing 9 damage and using 10 stamina.

Shadepaw
11/20 HP (-9)
70/80 SP

Rowan
36/45 HP
130/140 SP (-10)

(OOC: so sorry for the late response ;; )

"We don't allow rogues on our territory!" she snarled back, aiming a swipe at the tom's face. "Let alone rogues that steal our prey! Think twice before you say something stupid like that again." The rogue didn't smell like Asylum, but she really couldn't be too careful. Just wait until Bloodstrike heard about her heroics...!

Shadepaw used Front Paw Strike on Rowan, dealing 6 damage and using 10 stamina.

Shadepaw
11/20 HP
60/80 SP (-10)

Rowan
30/45 HP (-6)
130/140 SP

(OOC:you're fine!! i, too, am incredibly forgetful cx)

Rowan wasn't expecting the blow to the face- especially with his stunning good looks. He processed the fact that his face was bleeding for just a moment before he slashed at the gray cat's face in retaliation. "I'd hardly call that stealing, I caught that prey with my own skill." He claimed defensively. "Are all Clan cats that pretentious?" He asked innocently, though it was mostly an act - his exceptional acting had gotten him out of plenty of tough spots on his journey.

Rowan used Front Paw Strike on Shadepaw, dealing 9 damage and using 10 stamina.

Shadepaw
2/20 HP (-9)
60/80 SP

Rowan
30/45 HP
120/140 SP (-10)

Shadepaw recoiled from the blow to her face, wincing at the sharp sting on her cheek. Her energy was draining, but she couldn't bear to surrender to him when she was defending her Clan's territory. Panting, she backed up and sprang at the tom, growling as she landed squarely on top of him. "Do you not understand the point of owning a territory? You can't take things from our territory, it belongs to us! Are you dumb?"

Shadepaw used Leap-and-Hold on Rowan, dealing 6 damage and using 10 stamina. Rowan is pinned for 1 turn.

Shadepaw
2/20 HP
50/80 SP (-10)

Rowan
24/45 HP (-6)
120/140 SP

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

---

'Effect Dice' : 1

Rowan was shoved to the ground by the force of the Skyclan cat, too stunned to respond. Of course he understood territories... in theory. But he wasn't anywhere near a camp, so he wasn't any danger! Some cats were way too strict for the forest. City-cats he could understand; pray was scarce there. Not here, though. This forest had plenty to sustain everyone. Trying to withhold it was just greedy. What would she do with his meal anyway? Take it to her clan under his nose? Now THAT was stealing.

Rowan is pinned!

Shadepaw
2/20 HP
50/80 SP

Rowan
24/45 HP
120/140 SP