Buggy Bugs (c)

Alright, it was a bit early for her to be out and about. The sun hadn’t yet risen, not even peeked over the horizon, but the moon was low in the sky. It wasn’t like it was midnight- there was just enough light from the nearly full moon for the golden warrior to find her way on the ground. She wouldn’t trust herself in the trees, not with the treacherous shadows.

Dawnfeather made her way to Highpine as the sky slowly began to lighten. Nighttime… so pretty, so fleeting, so delicate yet deceptively strong. The young warrior leapt onto the lowest branch of Highpine, flicking her tail. What a wonderful… this didn’t quite count as morning yet. Late late night, what a wonderful late late night.

A rustle on the ShadowClan side of the border caused her ears to prick as she looked over, struggling to make out anything in the dark.

Cicadapaw crept through the forest, his dark, splattered pelt helping him meld into the pines with ease. It was getting too early to continue his hunting, the sun would rise soon and take away his advantage. However, he wanted to catch one more thing before he had to return to camp. He wanted to make his mentor proud.

He purred quietly to himself at the scent of a mouse, a bit close to the border but that wouldn't bother him. He casually snuck through the underbrush, getting ever nearer to his prey until finally he pounced... and missed. His claws struck dirt and a frightened squeak let him know he had been detected. "Fox-dung!" he cursed, bounding after the little rodent as to not lose it.

A second strike of his paw led more successful, a quick bite securing his victory, but he had left the safety of the pines to do so. Looking up, he had crossed the border into Skyclan territory, and further up was a pale orange she-cat perched in highpine... oops.

"Stars, you really are over-grown squirrels, aren't you," he commented, voice calm yet teasing. Perhaps insults weren't the best course of action, but he sure as Starclan wasn't going to apologize and give up his catch either.

Oooh, a ShadowClan cat. He looked like a good hunter, easily catching the mouse. Wait. Wait a second. He was on SkyClan territory… wasn’t she supposed to attack him? He looked up, but instead of apologizing, he commented on… squirrels? “You really are overgrown frogs, then,” she said, sinking her claws into the bark, judging the distance as best she could. “Sorry, nothing personal.”

Dawnfeather dropped from the sky like a thunderbolt, landing squarely on the ShadowClan cat, careful to keep her claws mostly sheathed and away from his face. Unfortunately, the darkness had caused her to slightly misjudge her landing, and she wasn’t able to keep him pinned like she’d hoped. “I’m… Dawnfeather,” She panted, putting her back to the tree- Hawkuncle had taught her that. “You?”

Dawnfeather used Jumping Strike, dealing 7 damage and costing 7 stamina.

Dawnfeather
50/50 HP
113/120 SP

Cicadapaw
13/20 HP
60/60 SP

Cicadapaw grunted as the she-cat landed heavily onto him, his legs buckling beneath the weight. He could feel the pricks of claws, but not as much as he would have expected. Was she going easy on him? She better not be!

With her lackluster hold, Cicadapaw slipped out from under her, twisting quickly to face the Skyclan warrior. "Cicadapaw, might wanna remember it for when you go whimpering back to your camp," he hissed, trying his best to sound menacing. It certainly sounded cool in his head anyway.

He launched himself forward, landing just a bit to her right so that he could rear up and snap his teeth into her scruff. Once he felt himself secure, his paws battered into her shoulder, uncoordinated in his rush to do damage. He didn't know if he could beat a full-grown warrior, but he certainly was going to try.

ooc: Still new to fighting, don't be afraid to correct me
Cicadapaw used Snap with Desperate Blows, dealing 13 damage (+1 for Night Finesse) and costing 12 stamina.

Dawnfeather
36/50 HP
113/120 SP

Cicadapaw
13/20 HP
48/60 SP

Ooc: you write it out better than I do, lol

Dawnfeather tilted her head to the side, momentarily taken off guard. “I don’t thi-“ Suddenly, a jolt of pain went through her shoulder as the tom sunk his fangs into her, followed by a volley of ill-directed yet powerful blows. Dawnfeather immediately threw herself forwards, rolling onto her back and back onto her paws, mind racing. He was in his element- her bleeding shoulder spoke to that. It was time to use her element.

With a mighty bound, she leapt straight over the tom and into the Highpine, managing to hook her front  claws into its lowest branch. She whipped herself around, front claws twisting into the bark, eyes locking onto the tom’s telltale splotches of orange and white. She pushed herself forward with her front paws, then followed it up with a splendid kick, shooting forwards and onto the tom’s back, thrusting him into the dirt. The whole maneuver had taken only a few seconds- it seemed hunting had paid off.

Dawnfeather kept the apprentice pinned down, trying to not push his chin into the ground too hard. Her shoulder stung, but the adrenaline kept her going. This was… kinda fun. Maybe she’d spar with Olive later. “So… how’s ShadowClan? Rogues still being a pain in the tail?” She shouldn’t occupy him too long, he might be needed at home. But somehow she rather thought he liked a fight.

Dawnfeather used Leaping Bound, dealing 5 damage and costing 10 stamina. Cicadapaw is pinned for one turn.

Dawnfeather
36/50 HP
103/120 SP

Cicadapaw pinned
8/20 HP
48/60 SP

He growled as the she ripped herself free from his grasp, his tail lashing behind him with more intrigue and anger. This felt so much more gratifying than when he fought the owl. He knew a bit more about what he was doing and it had been so long since he was able to fight something. It got his heart racing like nothing else, to feel something's skin give way to his claws and the scent of blood seep into the air. He could only imagine what a true battle would be like, with yowl's and hisses coming from all directions. Perhaps his head was making it sound more glorious than it was, but at this moment, he didn't care.

"Yeah, that's right, run like the squirrel you- Ahg!" His taunt was cut short with a squawk, Dawnfeather keeping her hold this time. No matter how hard he scrabbled against the dirt, he wasn't able to weasel out this time.

"We chased them out, Shadowclan's much stronger now they aren't messing up everything." He huffed, exhausting starting to cling to his bones as he wriggled beneath the she-cat. What he said was a lie, but some Skyclan cat didn't need to know one of their members had been taken by the rogues, just that they were gone now. He didn't know much about it either, his burning hatred for the codeless wretches making it hard for him to listen to any news about them without his blood boiling over.

Cicadapaw is currently pinned for (1/1) rounds!

Dawnfeather
36/50 HP
103/120 SP

Cicadapaw pinned
8/20 HP
48/60 SP

“I’m not a squirrel,” she chuckled. “Squirrels are red. Im more of a golden color, very light golden color.” Dawnfeather began to slowly loosen her grip, bit by bit. “You’ve got to be more aware,” she said, as though she was teaching Hollowpaw. “You’re strong and definitely have the potential to be a great warrior. Got to use that brain of yours! You’re a very fierce fighter, but why would a warrior flee from an apprentice just after the fight started? You did sink your fangs into my shoulder, and it hurts, but that’s not enough to run me off my own territory.”

The golden molly suddenly released the apprentice from her grip, taking a few steps back. “I wouldn’t trespass here if I were you. Most SkyClan cats have short tempers and wickedly sharp claws. You’re lucky you ran into me, not Wolfstar, Bloodstrike, Beechaunt, especially Briarthorn, Bearflower, or any of the other really tall and angry looking cats.” She took another step back, waving her tail. “Go ahead, leave and I’ll keep my maw shut.” Why was she lecturing him? Well… she did get along well with younger cats. And he had potential, and she rather liked how spunky he was, without being overly… murder-y?

“Oh, and congratulations about the rogues being run off!” She purred. Good news for ShadowClan, and for the rest of the Clans. Despite seemingly having let down her guard suddenly, she kept a close eye on the tom, ready to dodge his sharp fangs.

Dawnfeather did not attack this turn.
Stats unchanged. Cicadapaw is no longer pinned.

Dawnfeather
36/50 HP
103/120 SP

Cicadapaw no longer pinned
8/20 HP
48/60 SP

Cicadapaw started to deflate as he was lectured. This cat wasn't his mentor. They weren't even in his clan! Yet, here they were critiquing his fighting, even giving what sounded like compliments in some parts. He had to try so hard to get some genuine praise from Burningwing and here was some basically stranger giving them out for free! It was weird, made his head hurt. Or maybe that was just his fatigue.

He lifted himself to his paws, shaking out his pelt. However, he paused at her offer, looking over his shoulder at her incredulously. Really? He could just leave and she wouldn't tell anyone? "Thanks...?" Cicadapaw didn't know what to do here, completely caught off guard by this cat's kindness when really he didn't deserve it.

He could attack her now. Dawnfeather's eyes were still locked on him, but if he moved quick enough he might still have the element of surprise. And while he didn't have much, he still had a little energy left to fight... but it didn't feel right.

"Alright, I'll go. And you can keep the mouse too." There, he wasn't losing, he was just... deciding to end the fight. And he didn't lose the mouse to her either, he was giving it. His mental gymnastics allowed him to feel a bit better about the fight's results. "I demand a rematch when I'm bigger though! When the fight's more fair!" Cicadapaw called over back as he made his way over to his side of the border.

Cicadapaw Yielded!

Ah, good. He showed common sense- a rare commodity in SkyClan, at least- no, no no. The early hour must’ve been making her grumpy. The sun’s first rays began to touch the top of Highpine, glistening in the dew. “Oh! Well, erm, thank you! That’s very kind of you!” The mouse was a bit squished, but Dawnfeather never caught mice, seeing as how she could barely find her way on the ground, let alone hunt. “Oh-okay!” She called after his retreating pelt. “Erm- don’t forget to tell your Clanmates how you held off a full-grown warrior!”

Apprentices were funny things. They’d throw themselves into danger just to be able to say they’d done it. Maybe she’d helped brighten Cicadapaw’s day! Er, night. Dawnfeather waved her tail until the tom’s pelt faded into the darkness, then picked up the mouse and headed home. Maybe she’d do this more often. The tom certainly seemed to enjoy it, and no one got too hurt- but her shoulder did sting. Maybe she’d see Muddy or Beechaunt, she mused, heading back into her own territory as dawn began to break.