For Whom Doth the Bells Toll [LAMPYLAMP!!]

Tarot watched in mild shock at the unexpected movement of his foe, eyes following the target, calculating the trajectory, and when the tom used the tree to propel himself towards the loner, he acted.

Instead of a counter-attack he went on full defence, memories of being pinned, of the damage it can inflict when you're in a vulnerable position at the mercy of your foes. He had made and engrained himself a move for situations such as this. Sure there were no claws out, but one must act in a spar as if there were claws, fangs, injuries, and blood involved. That was the point of a spar, a safe way to preemptively figure out how to react in certain situations on the battlefield.

Tarot dropped to the ground and curled up into himself, covering his vulnerable underbelly and throat. His back, flanks, and the back of his neck were the only targets available now. Very few lethal blows could be inflicted in such areas. Digging his claws into the soil below he took the impact instead of trying to dodge in that minuscule amount of time, or instead of just standing there like an idiot.

His move was one that did include self-risk though. It gave opportunity to mauling, but some enemies got rather bored of tearing at an unresponsive object, that was usually when Tarot struck back. This move was made to protect vital spots, and also give you an opportunity for a perfect counter-attack.

He never had to use this move in battle, of course. He fought very few warriors, and this made it obvious that one thing clan cats had was knowledge, shared experience, and that shared experience was passed on and built upon for generations. A fascinating concept, but not a unique one. Tarot had met loners who live in family units that could last generations, and in those generations, those units pass on their experiences to refine their knowledge.

Clans were simply a larger scale of that, so, therefore, had a wider pool of knowledge.

Klaus's target had become smaller, and no longer had any vital points of attack open for easy access. Tarot, instead of counter-attacking, had gone for defence, saving his energy to optimize it later, one could say. An interesting move indeed, his fighting style was as unpredictable as he was it seemed. Despite this Damage had still been taken of course.

The loner could already feel bruises forming under his fur, truly a troublesome thing.


[center][No actions due to the pinning effect]

Klaus
70HP / 1236P

Tarot
22HP / 100SP

Tarot went limp under Klaus's claws and the pale tom couldn't help but feel some disappointment. Still, he had gone into the spar knowing his foe was not aware of how to do this efficiently. He was at least confident that Tarot could be taught, or he wouldn't be wasting his time or energy going through this effort. Since his foe had chosen to ball up instead of try to throw Klaus off or fight back, he would be struck a few times over until he got a response out of him.

"Curling defensively won't save you from me." He spoke calmly, but firmly.

Klaus used Front Paw Strike, dealing 11 damage and -7SP


Klaus
62HP / 129SP (136SP -7SP = 129SP)

Tarot
No longer pinned!
17HP / 93SP (28HP - 11HP = 17HP)

OOC: Stats fixed. Tarot was at 28HP last turn. I think it's the way I set up the stats that is confusing. I'm trying something different o: Also just because one move says it pins/stuns your character doesn't mean they have to be pinned/stunned if you have a move to get out of it. Random Recall will allow someone to remove a round of pin/stun, which can then be followed up with a standard move (front paw strike or snap for example). Just for future reference! Also any of the "Dodge And __" moves remove the damage of the previous round, if it is unfavorable to you.

'Tch, troublesome.'

Tarot coiled his muscles and lept out from under his opponent, twisting around after gaining distance. For a moment he considered the tom before him. The loner was obviously not expecting to win, it was preposterous to think that he could in such a situation. Keeping his breathing steady he narrowed his eyes, crouching down and tensing his hind legs.

Then he pounced, gracefully arcing in the air he crashed down on the pale tom's back. Pinning your opponent when you weren't using your claws was annoyingly difficult, he was hardly used to sparring with such restrictions. Still, he wanted to last a bit longer in this fight.

In the end, it was for the experience. He needed training, even if it meant many losses in a row. Still, he hoped it would end soon, he was never one to enjoy fights with no risk or bloodshed, they were mind-numbingly boring despite their necessity in situations like this.

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

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'Effect Dice' : 3

Klaus kept his eyes trained on his adversary. He recognized the movements of an aerial pin attempt as they happened and prepared accordingly. As Tarot's paws landed upon his back, the pale tom swung his hind end swiftly out of the way, not allowing Tarot the space to land that he needed. Klaus immediately followed up with more paw strikes, mercilessly pummeling the other tom.

"I'm not just another alley cat, Tarot. You'll have to be more creative than that." He taunted, wondering how his opponent's temper was. An emotional cat was one that was easy to defeat in a fight, and if that were the case, Klaus intended to correct that behavior swiftly.

Klaus used Random Recall, canceling the stun, -5SP
Klaus used Front Paw Strike, dealing 11 damage and - 7SP

Klaus
54HP / 117SP (-12SP)

Tarot
6HP / 78SP (-11HP from Klaus's Front Paw Strike this round; [17 - 11 = 6])

Another failure.

As expected Tarot was hardly a match for the seasoned warrior. He watched as the tom moved out of the way of his pin, and shifted himself so he'd land evenly after the failed attempt. He never really liked doing aerial pins, but this whole training concept was about, you know, honing his skills. That didn't stem his dislike for the immovable, unadjustable aerial pin, but there were likely times and places for it to be used on enemies, not just prey in a hunt.

The swift strikes from his opponent were met with attempts at evading which only ended up with him taking slightly less damage than he would've if he had tried to foolishly weather it. Finally finding an opening, he danced back to gain distance again, at the moment wishing that longer-ranged attacks were more feasible than they seemed to be in nature.

He rose a brow at the taunt thrown at him from his new acquaintance and sighed. "I knoweth yond well enough, dear Klaus, but the fact of the matter is yond mine own lifeth hath been about survival, naught battle, and frontal assaults in survival art things to be avoided. Mine own skills lie in ambushes and swift fatal attacks, naught drawn out trading of blows. The element of surpriseth is mine own main ploy." He huffed, one could say he was an assassin rather than a warrior. Both had rather opposing points of focus in a fight. "Oneth hard to useth in a training session whither oneth is rarely pushed to the desired panic as a result of the unexpected. The reason being yond thither is no risk of perishing at mere unpreparedness, just the risk of wounded prideth."

His tail twitched at that as he quietly assessed his own physical state. He always had to be careful about injuries, with a rather high pain tolerance comes less awareness of when you're at your limit. So, the usual feeling-bassed assessment was useless, Tarot had to use logic and calculation to see if he should retreat from fights or not. "Of course, I doubt such a tactic wouldst be effectiveth 'gainst thee even if thee were unawareth of it. I wouldst be more likely to perish in such a scenario than thee." The loner drawled sardonically.

Usually, he wasn't in such extended bouts of battle. If claws had been out he would've long since had to give up just to avoid the risk of infected wounds and blood loss. He mulled over the presented problem, coming to the conclusion that pouncing the way he had in his last move should be avoided in fights. Tackles would be more effective due to being more controlled. Still, that wasn't the main problem he had in this bout of battle training, the problem was simply that he lacked flexibility in frontal assaults, he seemed to have his strategic abilities hindered greatly in the heat of battle, since he largely strategized before fighting, not during it.

A flash of irritation at himself arose with that realization, and his ear flicked at the brief irate feeling that passed over himself. Bothersome, this was bothersome but necessary. "'Tis a conundrum, it seems, yond I hast to work around in these sessions."

Tongue clicking in faint, but expected disappointment, the loner retreated back to the stone he had sat upon in the first place, tail low to back up the words he'd speak after settling.

"Though I agreed to train to remedie yond, of course. Mine own experience is lacking, which hath been clarified hither. After a personal assessment, I'd say another bout wouldst push me to exhaustion. Exhaustion is something I'd rather naught risk in such an unfamiliar placeth and with a near-stranger..." He studied the tom in a clinical fashion, taking in what seemed to be their physical state. The rogue seemed barely hindered, eyes still alert, stance still ready. No major blows had been dealt on Tarot's side, unlike Klaus's last attack.

Expectedly, the loner was outmatched and lacked the stamina to deal with that. Training was so inflexible; the irritation tied to that thought showed in his gaze slightly. Eyes lidding he let out a puff of air, the soreness beginning to bare itself to him. Sleep was going to be something bothersome to accomplish.

"In lighteth of this, I forfeit. Thee win this square session, as I'm sureth thee'll win many more in the future until I gain skill." His voice held no inflection of frustration at the statement, he wasn't a sore looser unless the one he lost to was crude and uncultured. Klaus, currently, wasn't."Apologies if mine own performance was disappointing but I expected it to be in this situation. I'm hardly a battle-worn clan cat after all." The last words were spoken with wry humour. Being agile and lightweight had its advantages in a good many situations, apparently, this had not been one.

Tarot preferred spars of mental ability, not fighting ability. If he could grasp all he wanted with no physical resistance he'd truly be satisfied in life. Sadly, nature didn't work that way, he'd need to learn. He'd just have to look at this as gaining knowledge, not constantly being slapped in the muzzle with his own inadequacy in the ways of wild cats.

Opening the hues he hadn't known he'd closed, he stared steadily at the pale feline before him, sitting down and physically disengaging from the spar. He was still tense, as if expecting to be attacked despite that. Even if the distrust wasn't shown on his features, it was still hinted at with his body language. It was an expected thing from someone who was always alone, and therefore, never dared trust the backstabbers in the streets.

Distrust was survival, and despite the words spoke by Klaus, it wasn't dissipated. He was simply forcing himself to seem relaxed despite constantly being prepared for the 'near-stranger' to take the chance and strike him down. Sharing life stories meant nothing to the loner, something that didn't quite seem to be the case with the rogue who had bared at least some of his heart to him.

The forest cats were certainly a different breed of cat from those that Tarot interacted with more regularly.

"So, Klause, what is your next order of action now?" The cynical tom lead. He wanted to lay down but he wasn't sure if 'training' for this traveller ended at spars.

Tarot had forfeit, but Klaus was very aware how that was appropriate. He straightened up out of a battle stance, satisfied with their sparring session. "You did as well as a young warrior, which is better than a lot of cats. You're better than you think. Once your skills have been honed I have no doubt you'll be a force to be reckoned with." He echoed Tarot's own words, more or less, in agreement. He let a moment pass between them before a thought occurred to him. "Attacking the mind is just as important as attacking the body. I hope I didn't actually offend, but sometimes getting an opponent angry or otherwise distracted can turn the tide of battle. Whatever weakness you can use against someone, you should, even if all it is is cutting words."

Klaus had learned to use his words as weapons just as efficiently as his claws. Both skills were important. Now that their training was done... what now? Likely Tarot would want to rest and assess his damages, though they were light. Klaus had a small companion that would likely wake up and want to be fed. He supposed he ought to do that.

"My niece will want food when she wakes... though I might have her hunt for herself." He flicked an ear in the direction she was in. At this point, he thought he knew Tarot well enough that he'd be no threat to Dawnpaw. "You may come and go from this area as you please. Some of the dens here need nests to be fixed up, but they will provide adequate shelter from storms and the sun alike."

He'd offer to help gather materials with Tarot, but he wondered just how helpful he ought to be right away. He'd lost a spar just now, maybe he'd like to keep his own dignity in tact and gather his own materials for a nest.

"Is there anything you need to say before I take my niece hunting?"

Once he was honed, hmm? The loner tilted his head in contemplation of the rogue in front of him. "I supposeth then thee'll has't anoth'r weapon in thy arsenal, hm?" His words were dusted in light amusement as he said this, tail twisting in a relaxed manner.

The ex-clanner's next words made him pause and raise a brow. "No offence is taken, I useth yond tactic oft enow 'gainst opponents aft'r all. I didn't useth 't in this spar because I'd suspect'd t'd hardly affect thee. "

He idly nodded as the rogue essentially offered this abandoned camp up as a home base for him. It'd be nice not to sleep in randoms spots in between his travels through the clan cat lands. He supposed the tom really intended to make him an ally, how very curious.

The loner supposed he'd make a nest. He hadn't lost much dignity in this spar, after all the outcome was as expected. He wouldn't've been opposed to assistance, but it was no matter to him, he had made nests, temporary and long term, long enough to know which materials would suit him best.

Tarot glanced towards the spot Klaus directed his attention towards and became rather inquisitive about this 'niece' he mentioned. If this was going to be a haunt for him it'd probably be best to know what she looked like at the least... so he wouldn't unintentionally use his new acquaintance's kin as a food source. That wouldn't be ideal.

So when Klaus gave him the opportunity to voice his thoughts he took it.

"Could I p'rhaps meeteth this niece of yours? 't wouldst likely beest bett'r to knoweth h'r anon'r rath'r then lat'r so I misprision not h'r as a trespass'r."

Klaus smirked at the idea of Tarot throwing insults his way. Wouldn't affect him? Probably not... or Klaus would have knocked him a bit harder. Either way, it was over now. At the request to meet his niece, he nodded. "That's probably a good idea. She looks eerily a lot like me for not being my kit, though her mother and I are very similar in appearance too. Her name is Dawnpaw. Skyclan named her after me even after all of the horror I have caused them." He smiled, but it wasn't that far off from a snarl.

"I'm certain it is only to mock me. To be the warrior Dawnhawk could have been," Klaus snorted after mocking what was an exaggerated version of Primroselight's voice. "As if anyone in Skyclan could compare to me. Stealing my name means nothing." His fur bristled, but only for a moment. He sighed and began to walk towards the den where the little apprentice was sound asleep.

He gently pulled back the moss and other nest material that she was hidden under to reveal her small, still very kitten-like form. From the way her sides rose and fell, she was still fully asleep.

"There she is. She is nothing more than yellow and white fluff that grew a face." And far more cute to Klaus than he cared to acknowledge.

He hummed idly at the small rant his companion gave about the kit's name. ["Forsooth, how both'rsome of those folk... and petty." He commented, raising a brow as he padded quietly behind the pale tom.

Upon seeing the kit, he blinked. Sure, the small ball of fur was, objectively, quite endearing, but all he could think about was how bite-sized she was. He mentally shook the thought away, then glanced over to his companion curiously. "So wherefore doth thee has't h'r?" The loner inquired. "Has't thee craft'd some planeth to useth h'r 'gainst those fools?" That was the only reason Tarot could think of for dragging a kit along on your fight for survival, to him they were just extra mouths to feed, quite useless overall. At least she was apparently going to learn to hunt for herself, so she wouldn't be completely inept.

He had seen many mothers on the streets die because of their struggle in feeding young, hungry mouths, leaving the kits alone to the elements and killing them with starvation unless they used their parent's corpse as sustenance. Very unpleasant, and one of the reasons he'd never mate with another female loner. Such a burden should be placed on no one when you fight every day for your very life.

The silken-furred tom shifted onto his haunches, grooming his pelt idly to get rid of a few tangles. Briefly, he looked around, trying to find a spot to set up his nest. He'd prefer an abandoned den, much more protection from the elements rather than the open air.

He wanted a comfortable base of operations to return to from his excursions around the forest.