✦Keeping promises, making memories✦【Closed】

❒ Blue eyes flicked up at the sky as the early morning slowly descended down upon the rest of dark, silent clan. Brookstone's vigil had been rather quiet and boring—how most vigils were supposed to be. However, she had many things to think about so at least she'd been somewhat occupied.

❒ The trip to the Moonstone had reassured her of most doubts she'd been having and had fulfilled one of her greatest wishes. Mallowmist, her mother, had been more than she could've imagined. It would be an experience that will stay with her forever. Her family was always there with her. Her shoulders and chest felt much lighter than ever before. She could finally breathe.

❒ Shaking away all her intrusive thoughts, the newly-named warrior looked back from her post to see if she could spot her best friend heading in her direction. She hoped he'd be there before any of the dawn patrols would be sent out. He had promised her that they'd have a friendly spar in the territory right after her vigil. It had been the one thing she'd been looking forward to since she'd been made a warrior. Any time with Stormdance made her feel all warm and content and Brook wanted more of that.

❒ Her whole face lit up at the sight of her best friend finally up and steadily making his way to her. Once he was close enough, the newly-named warrior grinned. "Mornin', Stormdance! Glad to see my favorite furball joinin' me this fine mornin'," Brookstone greeted quietly yet cheerfully. The molly stretched her limbs then her neck as she slowly stood up onto her paws. "My vigil was boring," she stated with a straight face. It stayed that way until she could no longer hold it. She began to snicker softly. "It was fine. Like any vigil, nothin' to really do but think, ya know?"

❒ She moved closer and bumped her shoulder into his—a gesture that had grown to be a normal occurrence for her. "The only thing that was keepin' me from not fallin' asleep on the job was you," she admitted. "I was excited for the spar." She beckoned him with her tail. "Let's get a move on then. Time to fulfill the promise ya made me," she purred jovially as she began to lead the tom out of the camp and to Beech Copse.

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❒ "We're here!" she sing-songed as she sauntered to the spot used for regular apprentice training. She took an exaggerated breath and let it out in a similar fashion. "Ah! I love the smell of great early mornings such as this one." She turned back to face her companion. "How'd you want this to do this? First to get tired out and not being able to get up loses? Also, do you wanna do a best outta three or just one round? We can always take a break in between each round if ya wanna do more than one. There are so many possibilities that it's makin' my head spin!" She shot him a mischievous look. "So many possibilities to beat ya at this sparring match!" She playfully stuck out her tongue before laughing. "It's all for fun anyway. It's even better since it's with you. You're my numbuh one furball, after all." She winked then poked his nose with a gentle paw. Ah, how she loved to mess with him. Stormdance had always been so cute to her.

❒ "Ha! I wouldn't have it any othah way!" she purred gleefully. Another giggle escaped her as he returned her last gesture. She nudged one of his shoulders and grinned. "Alright, alright. Let's get some room here, shall we?"

❒ She backed away to give them both a good amount of space. "Two outta three it is! I'm feelin' pretty good so we can definitely manage it," she meowed as she began to stretch her limbs. She blushed slightly as he used her own words. "W-Well," She cleared her throat, "Us furballs have to stick together." She shot him a soft look. She shook her head and snorted. "If I beat you multiple times, then I’ll have even more braggin' rights. We both have a good chance at coming out on top, after all," Brookstone finished.

❒ The newly-named warrior finally felt ready to commence the first round. "Alright! Are ya ready to rumble? Good! From the count of three!" She maneuvered to face her "opponent" fully. "Three," She eyed Stormdance slyly, "Two," She flexed a paw hauntingly, "ONE!" It began.

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❒ As soon as the countdown ended, Brookstone wasted no time in rushing over to Storm. She was usually a "do first and ask think later" sort of cat. It's really going to show during this sparring session.

❒ Brookstone grinned as she kept her unwavering gaze on the other's as she hurriedly approached. She didn't want him knowing where or how she'd be striking beforehand just by the movement of her eyes. It's going to be risky but she'll do her best not to trip or anything.

❒ Without losing too much momentum, the brown tabby molly brashly tried to slide under the tom to "rake" his belly. She won't be using her claws of course but she'll try to get him to topple over with the force of her kicks and bats or maybe just trip him up with her whole body. It all depended on if she'd calculated correctly. Maybe her bold attitude might come back to instantly bite her. Hopefully not. Hopefully, it worked how she intended and she didn't just accidentally slide too far or Storm countered her move too easily. She'd be rendered vulnerable. She needed to quickly think up a way to save herself in case she did miss.

❒ A smirk slowly grew on her face as she felt her paws successfully hit their target. As Stormdance began to topple over, Brook couldn't help the cackle that tore itself from her throat—he had looked quite silly. Despite it being just a friendly spar, she quickly schooled her features. She had to focus in order to win. Her position on the ground would most likely cater to future disadvantages so she needed to stop messing about and start trying to get back up.

❒ However, it seemed like her opponent had the same idea and began trying to get up all the while trying to trip her up so he could gain the advantage. Well, two can play that game! Brookstone pursed her mouth in concentration as she attempted to thwart his plans by rolling the other way. She only succeded in tangling them further. She pouted as she began kicking her limbs free. The moment she had a paw free, she bopped him on the head to catch him off guard, her playful side taking over. "Take that!" she grunted as she then tried to disentangle her other limbs as quickly as she could. Once she managed it with effort, she rolled herself away and onto a low crouch. She wiggled her haunches and eyed him warily. She could go and try her luck with a pounce or stay back to see his next move.

❒ After having a quick inner debate, she decided to rely on luck and lunged forward with the intent of pinning him down once and for all. Anything could go wrong but she hoped that things could go right. Speed was what she was relying on at the moment and she hoped it would be her hero during this round.

❒ Brookstone couldn't help but beam down at her "opponent". She hopped off him and then helped him up. "Up ya get! Don't go dyin' on me just yet!" she laughed with a playful look in her eyes. She waggled her brows before she began to strut around in circles with a puffed-out chest. "Take a good look, Stormdance! This here's the ultimate victor! Brookstone the Mighty!" She cackled again and gave him an exaggerated wink. "I'm playin', I'm playin'. I feel like I just jinxed myself for the second round," she huffed with a pout.

❒ Shaking her head she walked up to the tom and bumped shoulders with him before stepping away. "I'm giving ya the privilege of starting this next round. Brookstone the Mighty is generous like that." She struggled with keeping a straight face. Oh, how she loved messing around with her best friend. Honestly, Stromdance was the only one she felt comfortable going all out with. She wasn't normally this energetic with others—only half really.

❒ She stood away from the other and nodded. She needed to tone it down if she wanted to win. She couldn't use the same strategy. She needed to improvise and improve.

❒ Brookstone felt herself tense at Storm's calculating look. She could see him sizing her up and she regarded him with a guarded look. She couldn't possibly predict what he was thinking about so she had to be prepared for anything.

❒ Every little movements he made were automatically suspicious to her. He was up to something. One moment, she was watching him shift around—she subconsciously readied her own stance as a response—the next she practically became a sitting duck as he rushed toward her. Her natural response was to dodge to one side, preferably the one he wasn't aiming for. However, her efforts were not rewarding as she had hoped. She realized too late that he had set her up to get faked out. Drat! She cursed herself and her luck as she tried to lessen the impact of his charge but it was for naught. She was still bowled over.

❒ She grunted and allowed herself to continue to roll herself away from him as soon as she met the ground. She was utilizing the momentum his shove gave her as well as the few seconds that he lost focus on her due to the success of his move. She was hoping to gain just enough distance between them during that tiny frame of time so she could pick herself off. She was rather adamant about not remaining in such a vulnerable position. It would be too easy for him to pin her down.

❒ She couldn't believe that her plan worked! Well, kind of? It was true that Stormdance had gotten distracted but unfortunately for her, he had recovered just as quickly. She cursed her luck and tried to fumble onto her paws to give herself a fighting chance but wasn't fast enough. This was certainly a huge blow to her ego.

❒ Brook let out a big "oof" as she felt his weight bare down upon her back. "Ack! You're heavy!" she growled as she attempted to shake him off but he was quite determined to hold on. Stupid furball. "Get off! You're gonna break my back! I still need it!" she whined dramatically as she failed at lifting herself off the ground. It was difficult with someone on your back. She hit his flank with her tail and whipped her head back to try to chomp down on whatever part of him was available. She didn't want to lose this quickly. However, she was starting to get tired and his weight on her wasn't helping.

❒ The striped molly groaned and flopped over weightlessly. "Stoooorm, get off me ya furball. You're gonna flatten me into a Brook-nest... Honestly, I think I'd make a real cozy nest, not too hot or cold, but none of that's the point," she rambled as she pouted. "I can't believe ya pinned me this quickly... I guess I helped ya win with all that tumblin' and fumblin' I was doing. It was a really good impression of a rock, I think," she muttered sarcastically. She shook her head with a determined expression. "I can't let ya win too quickly next round. My pride can't take it. I won't stand for it," she half-joked as she scrunched her nose at Stormdance.