Unsafe Passage [c]

ooc: This takes place after Harrier's moonstone. She is an apprentice in this.

Harrierpaw didn't receive any answers about her mother, though that was to be expected. An outsider knowing of StarClan was highly unlikely, but she was still bitter about it. To have cats of their choice be able to have more lives than average... Her mother could have used that.

"I'm ready to go home, Burdockroot." Her voice held a tinge of sadness mixed with anger, but she would keep what transpired to herself.

Burdockroot got up and stretched, shaking out her fur with a yawn. "Alright, let's get home." She started padding towards the cave entrance, flicking her tail to motion Harrierpaw to follow. After leading the soon-to-be warrior, Burdockroot started the journey hime. Once they made it past the harsh rocks, the medicine cat glanced over to Harrierpaw. "Did something go wrong?" Asked in her flat voice, she tried to scrunch her face together to look like concern.

Burdockroots' monotone voice cutting through the silence made Harrierpaw jump slightly, paws stumbling on the last of the loosening rocks. "No... Nothing went wrong." She hesitated before continuing, "StarClan is a bit unfair sometimes, is all." She glanced at the ShadowClan medicine cat, noting that the older molly was at least trying to show concern, which made her smile a little. It was appreciated after such a disappointing moonstone. "I was hoping to see someone in my dream, even though I already knew she wouldn't be there. Still a bit disappointed." Harrierpaw grimaced. She would herself there. Telling a medicine cat of all cats that she thought StarClan was unjust in the way they pick and choose who gets power or extra lives, or even have an afterlife at all, probably wouldn't go well.

Still padding alongside Burdockroot, Harrierpaw spoke up again, "How do you like being in the position you're in?"

Burdockroot nodded before looking forward again. "I did not see any StarClan cat in my dream. I did not believe in them until I became a medicine cat. I still do not love them. I do not need to." She hadn't thought about Fawnpatch for moons. She thought that she was her actual mother and the Dark Forest were the true power. When the Dark Forest was defeated, nobody questioned her loyalty to them despite the fact that she had been in the position of being disloyal. It had never really occured to her to be, besides leaving. But her words still join the other whispers in her head sometimes, and she wondered if she was still out there somewhere. Hearing a question from Harrierpaw she grunted in response. "It's alright. Probably would be easier if I wasn't the way I was." What was she? Bad temperament? A flight risk?

A medicine cat who hadn't even seen StarClan until she'd come into that position. A huff escaped Harrierpaw. Not because she thought it blasphemous, but because it really solidified how she thought of StarClan. "StarClan really shows their true colours once a cat comes into even a little bit of power, huh?" Burdockroots words of still not loving them, and not needing to, echoed in her own head. Yes. That was a good way to put it: StarClan was a vital art of the forest but, in order to serve your clan, you didn't need to love those high and mighty stars. That wasn't the point of all this. Harrierpaw nodded. She'd remember that.

"The way you are...?" Maybe it was because this had been the longest she'd ever exchanged words with ShadowClans introverted medicine cat, but she didn't understand what Burdockroot had been trying to say. Maybe it was because she was quiet...? Perhaps the lack of emotion in her words?

A rustling to their right broke her concentration before she could ask further questions. "...Did you hear that?" It was much bigger of a sound than prey would make, but she hoped to be wrong.

Burdockroot just nodded to both of Harrierpaw's statements. She was actually about to speak, but she too heard the russel. The fur on her body start to raise and her claws unsheathed. Her warrior instinct easily took over and she took a few steps forward to protect the apprentice. "Stay here. I will go check it out." As she slowly started to inch to the bush, she didn't have to go far before the beast appeared before she could actually go and investigate. Before her stood a badger. Hungry and snarling. The slightest hint of a grin curling at her lips. She had already killed one, she could do it again. Snarling, she approached...

She had been told to stay put, but the ugly maw of a badger appeared just as Burdockroot approached the sound. While Harrierpaw knew for a fact that ShadowClans medicine cat was battle trained, the apprentice couldn't help but panic. She was not good in these types of situations, and it had been taught to her that you should strike our opponent first. And she would with all her might. "B-Burdockroot!" She missed the slight grin the older she-cat dawned, her focus set on raking overgrown claws across the face of their trespasser.

The moon high overhead glinted off the badgers teeth as she neared.

Night Finesse is in effect! +1 to all attacks.

Harrierpaw used Jumping Strike as the first move dealing 7(+3) damage and costing 7 SP.

Harrierpaw:
20 / 20 HP
53 / 60 SP (-7)

Badger:
80 / 90 HP (-10)
150 / 150 SP

Burdockroot flinched as Harrierpaw came flying past her, and her eyes widened slightly. "Harrierpaw, get back. It'll kill you!" She hissed before throwing herself into the battle as well. Before she could reach the animal, the badger was already punishing Harrierpaw with his fangs, sinking them down onto Harrierpaw's smaller shoulder. Enraged, Burdockroot used every ounce of her weight to launch herself forward and knock the apprentice free from its grasp. With the apprentice out of the way of harm, she started her attack with a yowl, furiously swiping the badger's face.

The Badger has used Iron Bite for 22 HP and used 30 stamina.
Burdockroot has used Front Paw Strike and Desperate Blows for (8+5+1 ) HP and used (7+7) SP.

Harrierpaw:
0 / 20 HP (-22 KO)
53 / 60 SP

Badger:
66 / 90 HP (-14)
120 / 150 SP (-30)

Burdockroot
50/50 HP
106/120 SP (-14)

A yowl tore from Harrierpaw's throat as the badger bite down hard on her shoulder. She didn't need to feel the warm, red liquid pour out to know she had lost this fight immediately. She slumped over on the sidelines, not unconscious, but in too much pain to continue.

From her position on the ground, she could tell she stepped in for nothing: Burdockroot had gouged an eye out if this beast already, all by herself. How desperately the apprentice wanted to help her!