Sticks and Stones (closed)

Prickletail, sent flying through the air by the badger, landed with a dull thud in a pile of dead leaves. With no interest in getting hit by that thing again, he instead opted to slowly climb to his paws and circle around until he wasn’t far from the fight, close enough so he could grab his sister once she hit the dust, but far enough so he wouldn’t get hit again… stars, that badger was strong. He didn’t think he could take a hit like that again.

He peeked around the tree to glimpse Appledapple tearing into it like there was no tomorrow. What a mouse-brain. You’ve got to stun it, or pin it, or else it’ll completely annihilate you. With his best I-am-not-getting-involved-in-this-again face on, he waited behind the tree, out of sight, tapping his claws against the bark. If it had been a fox… yeah, sure, he’d help. But it wasn’t like badgers ate cats, and if Appledapple got a bit beat up… well, she’d just have to learn to appreciate him, wouldn’t she?

Prickletail did not attack this turn.

Appledapple:
13/30 HP
61/80 SP

Badger:
61/90 HP
108/150 SP

Prickletail:
13/30 HP
73/80 SP

The badger was far bigger than her, far stronger, and there was no way she could beat it. Still, Appledapple was locked in combat with it. Even if she hadn't been completely lost in her rage and her need to attack, she wouldn't be fast enough to flee from it, so she had no choice. Paying slightly more attention to her opponent now, the small she-cat managed to dodge its next large swipe, then aimed a counter-blow at it to try and dissuade it from attacking again. Maybe if she bothered it enough, it would just leave her alone.

She could have sworn she saw her brother attack it for a moment, but then she saw him peeking out from behind a tree. How dare he stand and watch while she fought this predator single-pawed? A fresh new wave of anger washed over her., distracting from the pain of her shoulder wound. "Come over here and help me, Prickletail, you coward!" Appledapple yowled, glaring at her brother. "What, you're too high and mighty to dirty your pelt? I should have known! Fox-hearted coward! You could at least run for help, but you're just hiding?! What about your warrior oath?" If her claws weren't full of badger, she felt that she could have bowled the tom over and bitten his ear, like she used to when they were kids. Except he'd never been this mouse-brained before. She knew begging and flattering was the best way to get him to do things, but she was so furious all she could do was insult him. "I should've known you would be no help!"

Badger used Heavy Blow on Appledapple, but she dodged. -22 SP

Appledapple used Dodge and Fight successfully, dealing 5 damage and costing 15 stamina.

Appledapple:
13/30 HP
46/60 SP

Badger:
56/90 HP
86/150 SP

Prickletail:
13/30 HP
73/80 SP

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

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'Effect Dice' : 5

Oh. Oh no. She’d seen him. Prickletail internally groaned and pressed himself against the tree. It was still kinda fun goading her to anger, but this time he wasn’t even trying to make her mad. If they’d stopped, come up with a plan, and then attacked, yeah, sure, he’d help. He’d get out of there if his pelt was in danger, but he’d help. “I’m making sure you don’t get your tail bit off by that thing!” he hissed from behind the tree, peeking out to see Appledapple dodge a blow. “You keep talking like that and I’ll leave you to it!” He probably would save her anyways… probably.

Take it out on the badger, not me. On the badger. On the badger. Part of him wanted to leap out and pin the thing to the ground, just to show her. Hmmm… but that’d probably get them both killed. For the Dark Forest’s sake, Appledapple, just get beat already! He mentally groaned. Maybe he should leave her to the badger, just because of her mouse-brainedness. He could just say it was too strong… hmmm… no, he wouldn’t. After all, she’d just proved she couldn’t beat it without him, hadn’t she?

Prickletail did not attack this turn.

Appledapple:
13/30 HP
46/60 SP

Badger:
56/90 HP
86/150 SP

Prickletail:
13/30 HP
73/80 SP

Appledapple knew that her brother was saying... words. However, she couldn't focus on them. Not only was the fog of rage obscuring her senses, but her vision was also beginning to blur from the blood loss. She couldn't stand up for much longer... He should be feeling the same pain as her. The tortoiseshell lashed out at him verbally again, though there was less venom in her voice. She was so tired. "You coward... you... you coward... You'll never be Minkstar's choice...." Why couldn't her brother help her? No, he was capable. Why... wouldn't he? Was it possible that her tantrums as a kit had made him dislike her that much? It had always been back and forth. Neither one of them had substantially wronged the other. Did her proneness to violence make her that unlikable? What... what should she do about it? What could she do? She couldn't control herself. She didn't know how. No one could teach her how.

As she stood, swaying, lost in the physical pain and trying to shake the unreasonable anger from her system, Appledapple was caught off guard. The badger struck her once more, taking her down easily. She would die here. Prickletail wouldn't risk his own life for her under any circumstances. Coward... but he was her brother... and she'd loved him... Couldn't one cat like me best? Just one? All I need is one. A deluge of thoughts flooded through her mind all at once as she fell to the ground, tossed like the mossball she and her siblings would play with, and then all suddenly went dark.

Badger used Heavy Blow on Appledapple. Appledapple has been knocked out.

Appledapple:
K.O.

Badger:
56/90 HP
86/150 SP

Prickletail:
13/30 HP
73/80 SP

Prickletail rolled his eyes at his sister’s snarling. Yeah, like she was the one to talk. A part of him wanted very badly to leave her there… but then it’d look like he ran off like a coward. Which he was not. Not really. She fell silent, and he poked his head around the tree. Ah. She’d slumped to the ground. With a flash of movement, he sprang out and raked his claws down the badger’s hind leg. He dove around it, snatched his sister’s scruff in his jaws, and clambered up a nearby tree. Phew. She was heavier than he’d expected, compact for such a small cat.

The badger, annoyed, sniffed at the base of the tree for awhile before giving up and plodding off. As soon as it was truly gone, Prickletail prodded his sister, growling under his breath. “Come on, mouse-brain. I can’t carry you back to camp, and I doubt you want to be carried back to camp.” Hopefully she’d rouse herself… he didn’t like the idea of dragging her back to camp and getting dirt in her wounds. She was still his sister, after all.


Prickle used Fight and Flee, consuming all remaining stamina and dealing 10 damage.

Badger:
46/90 HP (-10)
86/150 SP

Prickletail:
13/30 HP
0/80 SP (-all)

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

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'Hunting Dice' : 2