on the road to ruin [s]

The sun brought little warmth from its place in the mostly clear sky, and a harsh wind swept across the moors, not unusual for Windclan territory. It was in the name, after all. Magpiepaw's pelt fluffed up against the weather, thankful as ever that it wasn't raining. She would never understand why Riverclanners would so eagerly soak their fur through, especially in icy leaf-bares such as this. Her paws kept moving consistently, each step into the very thing layer of snow that covered the tough grass.

If she was honest, warrior training was not nearly as enjoyable as she'd expected it to be. She wanted to think that it was because she didn't need it, that they might as well have made her a warrior fresh out the nursery. However, there was still things she hadn't learnt, and her fighting skills were definitely lacking. Her solo mission out of camp wasn't supposed to be an active protest, more a display of how little the rules need affect her. At the end of the day, it wasn't like her parents would be mad at her, and Goldenstar seemed far too lenient to punish her much. But then again, she wasn't entirely sure about the rules of apprentices leaving camp alone. No-one had stopped her, but few had actually seen her leave.

Either way, she was determinedly walking away, without a real plan in mind. Well, of course, her eyes were always sharply looking around in search of a trinket. But by now, that was standard. In Windclan, good eyesight was helpful when it came to the open moors in spotting not only prey, but predators. However, Magpiepaw's vision was usually distracted.

She walked at a brisk pace, and then now and again burst into a sprint for a short distance, kicking up snow behind her. Soon, she was near the Thunderpath, where she could see ice shine on the surface, even from a distance, making it glisten in the tentative sunlight. She had learnt from playing near Tallrock as a kit that frosted rocks were dangerous and slippery, and couldn't help but wonder how the monsters kept their grip at such a speed. As if summoned by her thoughts, one came whizzing past, making Magpiepaw take a few paces away from it just to be safe.

Her track here still hadn't magically formed a plan in her mind, but pretty soon one was formed for her.

Pitter-pattering of paws much too small to be a cat's caught her attention. Assuming it was prey, she crept towards it, scanning the surroundings for any signs of movement. Much to her surprise, the head that lifted above a tuft of grass was not in fact prey, but a weasel. She'd heard enough stories about the slender creatures to know how surprisingly vicious they could be.

But instead of either being making a move, they simply stared. Cat and weasel, beady black eyes locked onto pale green. Both were perfectly still, statues that managed to fizz with energy, as neither dared destroy the peace. So naturally, Magpiepaw had to tear it to pieces.

Just the simple baring of her teeth launched both into action, the weasel scuttling towards her, and her shifting her weight to be ready. She leapt towards it, trapping its small body beneath her claws. It tried to attack her whilst she held on, but to no avail.

Magpiepaw used Leap and Hold on Weasel. Effective for 2 turns!

Magpiepaw
20 hp / 45 sp [-15]

Weasel -pinned 1/2-
14 [-6] hp / 135 sp

Pinned like nothing more than prey, the little animal couldn't do much, and Magpiepaw focused hard on keeping it trapped. Hayglow had covered the basics of fight, but not enough for the apprentice to feel fully confident in it. She thanked Starclan that she wasn't fighting another cat, one who could put her at risk of being properly injured. But then again, her fight with the weasel was far from over.

Magpiepaw continued to use Leap and Hold. Weasel is pinned!

Magpiepaw
20 hp / 30 sp [-15]

Weasel -pinned 2/2-
8 hp [-6] / 135 sp

Eventually the weasel escaped her grasp, but she was impressed with how long she had managed to hold on. But now she had picked a fight, the injured weasel wasn't eager to back down. It ran at her, much faster this time. After her previous attack, the animal seemed impossible to hit, moving with such flexibility and speed that Magpiepaw found herself backing up, away from it. It nipped at her, never stopping and yet managing to move with the fluidity of a river.

Weasel used War Dance on Magpiepaw. Cannot be hit next turn!

Magpiepaw
14 [-6] hp / 30 sp

Weasel
8 hp / 120 sp [-15]

Magpiepaw continued to step away, flinching as every attack hit some part of her. Each time she tried to strike out, her claws cut through clear air, and the weasel was attacking from the other side.

No attacks

Magpiepaw
14 hp / 30 sp

Weasel
8 hp / 120 sp

Finally, the moment rose where the apprentice could get a hit on the animal. She left no room for error with a well-timed claw strike, executed successfully with the help of nothing but luck.

Magpiepaw used Front Paw Strike on Weasel

Magpiepaw
14 hp / 23 sp [-7]

Weasel
2 hp [-6] / 120 sp

The weasel, although injured, did not give up the fight. It locked its teeth around Magpiepaw's foreleg, despite the heavy injuries it had already sustained. In a desperate bid to get away and to fling the thing that was hurting her leg further away, the apprentice  moved further and further from her original position, unaware of what was behind her.

Weasel used Gripping Bite on Weasel. Effective for two turns!

Magpiepaw -gripping bite 1/2-
7 hp [-7] / 23 sp

Weasel
2 hp / 105 sp [-15]

Luckily, although on of her legs was completely out of action, Magpiepaw still possessed a perfectly well working set of teeth. Just like the weasel had done to her, she snapped out at it, catching the animal on the back of the neck, as if it truly were prey. Just like every rabbit she'd ever caught, the animal went limp in her jaws, once-vicious attacks trailed off into complete, stony stillness.

Magpiepaw used Snap on Weasel. Weasel is KO'd!

Magpiepaw -gripping bite 1/2-
7 hp / 16 sp [-7]

Weasel
0 hp [-6] / 105 sp

Only with her enemy defeated did Magpiepaw become aware of where she was located. 

Only when the ground started to shake did she think something was wrong. 

Only when the roaring of a monster filled her ears did she fear for her life.

Every muscle was paralysed with fear, and so the apprentice stayed frozen at the mercy of the monster. At the last moment, the black and grey she-cat curled in on herself, head ducking down as she prepared to meet Starclan. She wasn't even a warriors yet; that wasn't fair! Buzzardpaw would get to become a warrior and live a perfect life with a full name. Now she'd never get one.

Wind rushed over her back, fluffing up her long pelt. When all was calm once again, she peeled an eye open, ready to be met with the sights of Starclan. However, much to her surprise, the only blood near her was from the bite on her leg. Everything about her surroundings felt normal, besides the thudding adrenaline within her and the thumping of her heart working the fastest it ever had. But there she stood, breathing and alive, we'll enough to walk herself back to camp.

And that was what she did. But just not yet.

A glimmer caught her eye. Different from the thunderpath in the way it shone, bolder and more reminiscent of the portable reflective puddle she had been given by Hen as a kit. Except this thing was thin, so thin that she struggled to pick it up at first. With her new finding in her jaws, she scurried away as fast as her injured leg could carry her.

For many, a near-death experience was humbling. But for Magpiepaw, it left confidence growing inside her, the idea that the thunderpath, although high-risk, could be just as highly rewarded.

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

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'Effect Dice' : 5