Nightstar's Rite (Open)

He had decided that it was time for himself to take on the Rite of Passage that he had declared as a way for young warriors to prove themselves. Since he was the cat to introduce the new practice, with Thalia's help, of course, he only saw it fitting that he allow the youth of Shadowclan to watch his rite, instead of only just his senior warriors. They needed an example, and Nightstar was confident in his strength as a clan leader to pull off a fight with a badger without much issue. He could feel the strength thrum through his body that Starclan had given him at his ceremony, and he was more than happy to take advantage of such a generous gift.

He made sure that he had groomed his fur, his black coat silky and clean as he padded into the forest. He had scouted out the badger den the night before, the hole under the roots of a pine tree and the space in front of it cleared out a dead giveaway and a good battleground. Stopping in the middle of it, Nightstar thumped his front paws rapidly, mud spraying and the shock vibrating his shoulders, warming him up a little bit. Before the Badger emerged from its den, he made sure to make sure that the cats that were there to watch his rite were well out of the way.

He'd make sure he brought this Badger down with a minimal injury, but he knew that luck played a part in it. His mother lost her life to these beasts, defending their camp from a group of them, he'd show these foul creatures that even if his fearsome mother was dead and gone, her son would be here to protect Shadowclan and that he was a fearsome foe that they'd think twice of facing.  But it wasn't just that, but a Badger's reputation for being a harsh, cruel beast, and fearsome in their own right, was exactly what the young leader needed to display his strength to the other clans. It'd keep him warm during the day when he was sleeping in his den, but it'd be a wonderful war pelt.

Soon enough though, the Badger emerged from its den with grunting breaths, and Nightstar stood tall, glaring at it with menacing amber eyes. Then he rushed forwards, launching himself into the air over the badger, his paws hitting the pine tree above it and using it to pivot so he landed squarely on its back, his claws fastening into its shoulders and grasping the Badgers neck with his jaws.

Nightstar used Leap and Hold, Dealing 13 Damage (10+1+3), and Costing 15 Stamina. The Badger is stunned for Two Turns.

Nightstar:
80/80 HP
155/170 SP

Badger:
77/90 HP
150/150 SP

OOC: Tfw no dice roll

The member 'Grey' has done the following action : Dice roll

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'Effect Dice' : 5

The Badger roared with anger and confusion, it had only been resting in its den when a wild black cat had made a disturbance and was suddenly attacking it! The Badger jumped and bucked, although in no way elegantly as it tried to toss the cat on its back off, but was unable in its efforts.

Nightstar's confidence grew, holding steady and strong as he kicked his back legs against the badger's back, shredding its fur and skin until its black and white pelt was turning red and dark. No matter how hard the Badger thrashed, the young leader held steadfastly. He'd do this as clean as he could, as streamlined as he could, for the youth that was watching him kill a badger. Determination drowned any fear that Nightstar would have felt, facing and fighting this badger alone, and for that, he was grateful.

The Badger charged for a tree, desperate to get the attacking cat off so much that it sent itself careening into the side of a pine tree, hoping to squish the feline between its body and the hard surface of a tree trunk. But luck was not in its favor at this time, and the cat jumped off before it could thoroughly squish it. But at least, it stood a few badger lengths away.

Nightstar uses Leap and Hold, Dealing another 13 Damage (10+1+2) and Costing another 15 Stamina.

Nightstar:
80/80 HP
140/170 SP

Badger:
64/90 HP
150/150 SP

After narrowly avoiding getting squished by a tree, Nightstar gave himself a moment to get his footing back before advancing on the Badger once more, his claws digging into the ground to make sure he didn't lose his grip in the mud as he ran to his target, which was still reeling from his last move. Crouching very briefly, Nightstar shot forth in a single leap, his paws gripping whatever they could as he bodily tossed the Badger onto its side before he sprung away, evading giant swinging paws by a hair.

Nightstar used Jumping Strike, Dealing 13 Damage (10+1+2), and Costing 7 Stamina.

Nightstar:
80/80 HP
133/170 SP

Badger:
51/90 HP
150/150 SP

This time though, the Badger recovered quickly, rolling back onto its heavy paws. With a nimbleness borne from what could have been the rage, the large paws that Nightstar had only mere moments before evaded, struck him across the head, sending the Shadowclan leader reeling into the mud across the clearing.

The Badger used Heavy Blow, Dealing 17 Damage and 22 Stamina.

Nightstar:
63/80 HP
133/170 SP

Badger:
51/90 HP
128/150 SP

Nightstar gasped in a big breath of air as he struggled to his paws, the deep gouges of where the badgers claws had been sending searing pain pulsing down his neck, muzzle, and up his ears. Blood oozed into the leader's eye, but it seemed that he at least still had his eye he noticed as he blinked it with relief, hoping to squeeze the stinging blood out but without much luck. Licking his maw, he glowered at the Badger, adrenaline beginning to numb the pain that was making the side of his face throb.

He charged the Badger once more, hoping that the Badger would think he was going to go jump it again. This time he let his claws sheathe as he tossed himself underneath the Badger. But despite his skill, he inherited after his father first and foremost, and while he had gotten under it, he was not quick enough and the Badger had grabbed his tail with a crunch and whisked him back out from under the creature.

Nightstar attempted a Belly Rake but it was unsuccessful! Nightstar suffers a penalty of -5 Dmg and Costs 25 Stamina.

Nightstar:
58/80 HP
108/170 SP

Badger:
51/90 HP
128/150 SP

Badger used Iron Bite and dealt 22 Damage and Costs 30 Stamina.

Nightstar:
36/80 HP
108/170 SP

Badger:
51/90 HP
98/150 SP

The member 'Grey' has done the following action : Dice roll

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'Effect Dice' : 3

He was getting tired, this much was true but there was no going back now. He had a badger to kill, and a pelt to gain. This time, he wouldn't think or plan his next move, he'd be fluid and flexible with what situation he'd be presented with, but it had been naive of him to assume that every hit would land, especially once the Badger had gained its footing. He'd gotten it off guard, it wouldn't be so easy now and he was scolding himself silently for even thinking that it would be as easy as he thought it'd be.

He leaped.

And landed on its back again, but there were no fancy tricks to precede it. He snapped his jaws around its ear, pulling and tugging with a fierceness that would make a snapping turtle jealous, or so he thought, he'd never seen whatever a snapping turtle was outside of nursery tales.

Nightstar used Leap and Hold, Dealing 13 Damage (10+1+3), and Costing 15 Stamina. The Badger is stunned for Two Turns.

Nightstar:
36/80 HP
93/170 SP

Badger:
38/90 HP
98/150 SP

The member 'Grey' has done the following action : Dice roll

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'Effect Dice' : 4

The only thing that prevented Nightstar from ripping the Badgers ear off, was that it would ruin the pelt. So he readjusted to pulverizing its back again and steering the lumbering bucking creature with the other ear. He wouldn't let go without a struggle, but he was certainly being given one with the way the Badger kept bucking, but it spent less time trying to shake him off, and reacted sooner by throwing itself into a tree once more, in which Nighstar leaped away again.

Nightstar used Leap and Hold, Dealing 13 Damage (10+1+3), and Costing 15 Stamina.

Nightstar:
36/80 HP
78/170 SP

Badger:
25/90 HP
98/150 SP

His energy was waning, but now, he was sure he knew he was going to win this fight. The Badger's large and lumbering size was going to be its downfall, and Shadowclans leader was quick and nimble. While he couldn't hit as hard as the lumbering beasts, smaller but more frequent attacks that expended the Badger's energy seemed to be the play. The young leader approached the badger again as it charged at him, rearing onto his back paws as he brought his front paws down onto the Badger's head, shoving its snout into the mud and dirt.

Nightstar used Upright Lock, Dealing 15(12+1+2) Damage and Costing 10 Stamina.

Nightstar:
36/80 HP
68/170 SP

Badger:
10/90 HP
98/150 SP

Nightstar did not foresee the Badger lifting its head back up and wrapping its jaws around his leg so quickly. He had expected time to get away from it before it managed to get a bite or a swipe in. But as quickly as he felt the Badgers crushing jaws around his leg, his back was connecting with the ground and mud once more. He gritted his teeth, preventing a yowl or a shout to escape his maw in an attempt to prevent those spectating from intervening or thinking him weak.

The leader went limp in its jaws, and it dropped him, its rotten breath and slobbering jaws dripping as it opened its gnarly jaws to wrap around the leader's throat. But in a flash, Nightstars eyes opened and his claws unsheathed to their fullest extent and ripped them through the Badgers throat. Blood was quick to drench the Shadowclan leader, and the full weight of Badger fell upon the tom with a whomp.

And all was quiet for a moment before the Badgers body moved and Shadowclans leader squeezed out from under it, heavily panting. He kicked it, waited for signs of life, and then turned to face where the spectators had been watching before he beckoned them down to the clearing.

The Badger used Iron Bite, Dealing 22 Damage and 30 Stamina.

Nightstar used Play Dead, Dealing 15(12+1+2) Damage, and 5 Stamina.

Nightstar:
14/80 HP
63/170 SP

Badger:
KO/90 HP
68/150 SP

"There you have it. I hope that shows you all exactly how dangerous Badgers are, and to choose them as your pelt bares great significance, yet great challenge, and there is no harm in choosing something else to represent you." Nightstar mrowed.

Sablepaw had gladly accepted his leader's invitation to watch over the rite. He had seen how mangled and brutalized Roseburn had been after her rite, and was curious as to how well Nightstar would fare. In the beginning of the fight, his mentor had been magnificent, weaving his way around the badger's attacks and throwing his own in where he could. It sparked excitement in the young apprentice, he had never seen a cat fight so well before. Fear replaced excitement as he saw Nightstar going limp, was he really going to lose a life before accepting help from those on the sidelines? Sablepaw sprang to his feet, ready to rush in and help his mentor, then it happened. A single quick slash to the badger's neck sent the beast toppling onto the leader's body. Sablepaw stood in shocked silence for a moment, until Nightstar emerged from under the corpse. With a loud whoop Sablepaw rushed to his leader's side, eyes shining bright with admiration. "Nightstar! That was incredible! The way you moved out there, and that final strike, why haven't you taught me how to do any of that yet?" He imitated the slash that felled the badger, swiping his claws through the air.

"You will learn as your training progresses. The purpose of allowing you to watch my rite was to demonstrate the amount of skill it takes to fight badgers, any predator for that matter. By the end of your apprenticeship, I hope that you will be able to hold your own against these foul beasts." Nightstar meowed, a little fondly, at his apprentice's enthusiasm. The little tom might as well of have the stars themselves in his eyes with how excited he was. "Once you have those basics down, I'll teach you those moves I used, yeah?" Shadowclans leader mrowed, lifting a paw to ruffle Sablepaw's head fur before padding up to those spectating to let them know that they'll have to drag the badger to camp.