Careful Assessment [C]

Iceheart

Iceheart was not exactly one for babysitting. She found her own apprentice difficult to keep track of and train. Caring for other apprentices, even as a quick favor to other warriors, was exhausting. However, she was still happy to do it, for the good of her clan.

“Leafpaw,” Iceheart greeted as she approached. She looked down at the apprentice and meowed, “Duskflight is busy today, but I’ve been asked to give you an assessment today. We want to make sure that apprentices are being trained well, so I’m going to observe you and see how much you’ve learned.” She nodded with her head for Leafpaw to follow her out of the camp. “You are going to go hunting for prey. I’ll be observing you, so make sure you give it your all. This will reflect not only on you, but also Duskflight. Do you understand?”

Iceheart

Iceheart’s tail flicked a bit uneasily at Leafpaw’s terse response. She supposed that was what she deserved—after all, the two had never spoken before. Iceheart had never put in the work to actually meet the apprentice.

She cleared her throat and looked forward again. “I’ll leave you to your own devices here. Go about hunting as though I’m not around—you won’t be seeing me anyway. After you have caught three pieces of prey, report back to this spot and I’ll look over everything that you caught.” She looked to Leafpaw and gave an affirming nod to punctuate the assignment. “Good luck.”

Iceheart

Iceheart took a slow breath, trying not to feel put off by Leafpaw’s lack of response. She used to be so much better at speaking to other cats, and now it felt like she blundered at every turn. She shook it off and carefully moved after Leafpaw, sticking to shadows and avoiding her line of sight.

Everything immediately went wrong, of course.

Iceheart watched from behind a tree, muscles tensed and ready to jump in the moment Leafpaw seemed to be overwhelmed, but she knew that as an assessment, she had to try and deal with it on her own. An adder wasn’t too difficult of an enemy, so long as Leafpaw was careful.

The adder hissed at Leafpaw and lashed out, biting her so quickly that it almost didn’t seem like it was there, before moving away again.

Adder used Serpent Strike, dealing 6 damage and costing 10 SP.
Serpentine Movement is in effect. Leafpaw's next move WILL NOT hit!

Leafpaw
14/20 HP (-6)
45/60 SP (-15)

Adder
8/15 HP
65/75 SP (-10)

[OOC: Desperate Blows can only be used when your opponent has higher HP than you, so I’ve corrected the adder’s HP without the Desperate Blows!]

Iceheart

Iceheart winced to herself, watching Leafpaw bite down on nothing. Serpents were quick and hard to pin down, especially for apprentices who didn’t have much experience with them yet. She mumbled encouragements to herself, hoping that Leafpaw could manage on her own. Iceheart knew that she would be proud if that was the case.

The adder was relentless, though. It snapped forward, biting on her again before trying to slink away.

Adder used Serpent Strike, dealing 6 damage and costing 10 SP.
Serpentine Movement is in effect. Leafpaw's next move WILL NOT hit.

Leafpaw
8/20 HP (-6)
40/60 SP

Adder
8/15 HP
65/75 SP (-10)

Iceheart

The adder hissed, its eyes almost seeming to glow with eagerness at the apprentice’s faltering. It opened its mouth, fangs glistening and it hissed before lunging at Leafpaw again to try and finish her off. Icceheart moved faster, intercepting the attack as she stood between Leafpaw and the predator. The snake’s jaws clamped down on her shoulder and Iceheart hissed in pain as the adder shrunk back, looking warily at two opponents now. It almost seemed to glare at the both of them before it quickly retreated, disappearing into the marsh.

Iceheart let out a soft breath and looked to Leafpaw. “Are you alright?” she asked. “You did really well. Snakes are difficult to fight.”

The adder used Serpent Strike, dealing 6 damage and costing 10 SP.
Iceheart used Blocking Leap, taking the damage and costing 5 SP.
The adder has retreated; fighting is finished.

Iceheart

Leafpaw’s outburst surprised Iceheart, and then she was off before any words could reach Iceheart’s tongue. She’d forgotten how much energy apprentices could hold. She followed after her at a far steadier pace and winced when she watched Leafpaw’s lack of caution cost her some prey. With it long gone and Leafpaw now splayed out in a puddle, Iceheart closed the distance between them. She didn’t try to pick Leafpaw up from the muck and instead sat at the edge of the puddle and looked at her with a neutral expression.

“Snakes are tricky predators, and it would have been unbecoming of me to let one knock you down when I was here to help,” Iceheart mewed simply. There was no judgment in her voice—only facts. “Let me get a look at your wounds. You took a couple bad bites. I want to make sure it’s nothing that the medicine cats need to take care of.”