The future's in your paws. Shape it well.Roleplay in a cat Clan of warriors. Based off the Warriors series by Erin Hunter. Takes place in an AU before the cats in the books existed.
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Characters : Whinchatpaw [W], Acornkit [A] Clan/Rank : Skyclan [W], Windclan [A] Number of posts : 190 Gender : she/her Age : 17
Subject: set in stone [c] Mon 3 Jul 2023 - 21:55
◇ whinchatpaw ◇ "you get one chance, make it count."
Whinchatpaw had promised himself that he would only be out alone for a short while. He had yet to use his claws against another cat, so he was aware of the dangers of exploring territory without a supervising warrior. So far he was enjoying his stroll. Moving at a brisk pace, he moved from the shade of a tree to the next while keeping his eyes and ears open for anything out of the ordinary.
The tom had ventured fairly far away from camp as the trees began to thin out. The spaces between the pines revealed a rather curious rock. It looks like it's been split in half... Whinchatpaw circled the boulder and placed a tentative paw against the stone. It had been heated by the sun above, making it warm to the touch. He was about to climb on top of the structure to investigate the fracture, but he heard pawsteps approaching.
Subject: Re: set in stone [c] Tue 4 Jul 2023 - 5:41
Since becoming a warrior, Graywind had come to enjoy patrolling. She leaped through the trees with ease, golden eyes scanning her surroundings for signs of predators and cats who shouldn't be out on Skyclan territory. Today the forest seemed calm, with no signs of the foxes that seemed to pop up everywhere. No sign of cats who didn't belong either, which was good-
So naturally as the thought entered her mind, her eyes landed on a gray and tan pelt. A familiar pelt, she realized, moving closer through the tree tops. No other cats were in sight... What was an apprentice doing out here alone?
"Whinchatpaw! Up here." Graywind called, perching on the branch she had found, "What has you out here? The halfstone is quiet now, but predators still like this area. Where's your mentor?"
Characters : Whinchatpaw [W], Acornkit [A] Clan/Rank : Skyclan [W], Windclan [A] Number of posts : 190 Gender : she/her Age : 17
Subject: Re: set in stone [c] Tue 4 Jul 2023 - 6:26
◇ whinchatpaw ◇ "you get one chance, make it count."
The tom's eyes flicked up toward the warrior's voice. Graywind! The first thing he thought of was the fact that Graywind was in the trees. Ever since he saw Dawnfeather leap up Tallbranch as a kit, he admired the skill that all Skyclan blood seemed to inherit. However, he was reminded that he had not asked for permission to leave camp.
"Silverwing's at camp," he began. "...I thought I would be okay out here myself, at least for a little while."
Jumping down from the cracked rock, he padded towards Graywind. They'd never really had a conversation together and when they crossed paths in camp, it had never required any words. Now Whinchatpaw studied the silver-furred she-cat, realizing her pelt quite resembled Silverwing's though her fur was longer. She seemed like a fairly experienced warrior.
Changing the subject, the young apprentice asked, "This rock... What happened to it? How did it become Halfstone?"
Subject: Re: set in stone [c] Tue 4 Jul 2023 - 6:40
Golden eyes narrowed in disapproval to hear that the apprentice was out on his own, with his mentor back in camp, but Graywind simply sighed. "You ought to have taken someone with you." The tom leaped down from the rock, and so Graywind jumped gracefully from the trees, paws landing on the rocky ground.
"I'm... Not sure, actually. It looks like it's been struck by lightning, but if that were the case it happened long before any of us were born." She mewed. "Foxes and other nasties like to make their dens here, either way. Not a place for anyone to be, especially not an apprentice. Even if it's empty for now."
Characters : Whinchatpaw [W], Acornkit [A] Clan/Rank : Skyclan [W], Windclan [A] Number of posts : 190 Gender : she/her Age : 17
Subject: Re: set in stone [c] Wed 5 Jul 2023 - 9:31
◇ whinchatpaw ◇ "you get one chance, make it count."
He knew he could have joined a patrol instead or asked Silverwing to come along, but he hadn't been able to resist the joy that often came with being alone. It wasn't something he could explain to anyone. He simply preferred the peace of solitude.
"Graywind... could you teach me to fight? I-I know you think I'll come out here again alone once I do, but I promise I won't! ...It's just that I want to be able to defend myself and others against predators as soon as I can. It would be amazing if you could give me some pointers." he blurted out.
Whinchatpaw was not usually one for words, but he could not contain his desire to learn. The young apprentice gauged the warrior's answer with pleasing eyes.
Subject: Re: set in stone [c] Wed 5 Jul 2023 - 10:44
"I'd hope you wouldn't... But you wouldn't be the first apprentice to sneak out of camp and you won't be the last." She had done it, her siblings had... And if he wanted to learn how to fight, Graywind thought it better that he know how if he was going to sneak out again. Or even on just a normal patrol that wound up encountering something out in the woods. "Alright, sure." She added. "So to start with, staying balanced and low to the ground is important. It makes it harder to lose your footing or be knocked over by a cat that's larger than you, though harder doesn't mean impossible. Keep your ears flat and your tail close to you, because those are things an enemy can grab and use as leverage... And it hurts when something is sinking their teeth into those. Keep your chin tucked, because your throat is a pretty important thing. Warriors are mostly honorable and we know that we don't have to fight to kill, but foxes or dogs have no such honor. And because this will be a spar, we don't need to use our claws. Got it?"
Characters : Whinchatpaw [W], Acornkit [A] Clan/Rank : Skyclan [W], Windclan [A] Number of posts : 190 Gender : she/her Age : 17
Subject: Re: set in stone [c] Fri 7 Jul 2023 - 8:49
◇ whinchatpaw ◇ "you get one chance, make it count."
Upon Graywind's agreement, his entire demeanor shifted to one of intense focus. Listening attentively, the eager tom took note of every instruction from the warrior. With Whinchatpaw, all guidance from any older cat was worth giving his full attention to because he believed one could only imorove if willing to stop and listen.
"Is this stance alright?"
The young apprentice had adopted a position where his body crouched slightly above the ground with his limbs outstretched. His ears were pinned back, but his tail still hovered near his hind leg.
Subject: Re: set in stone [c] Fri 7 Jul 2023 - 16:26
((Battle system and battle tutorial - if you'd like a more detailed walkthrough, let me know. Graywind is letting Whin have the first strike.))
Whinchatpaw listened attentively, and Graywind watched as he tried to stand as she had described. asking if it was alright. "Good... Tuck your chin." His form wasn't bad. She could see the slight confusion in his face, and hoped that would make it a bit more obvious.
"In a fight, you want to have the advantage of striking at your opponent first, usually. What do you think your first move would be, for someone who is aware of your presence and standing in front of you? You can try it on me, instead of answering with words."
Characters : Whinchatpaw [W], Acornkit [A] Clan/Rank : Skyclan [W], Windclan [A] Number of posts : 190 Gender : she/her Age : 17
Subject: Re: set in stone [c] Sun 9 Jul 2023 - 4:37
◇ whinchatpaw ◇ "you get one chance, make it count."
The apprentice obeyed and pressed his chin to his chest. Graywind was giving him the opportunity to prove himself. What would Dawnfeather do?
When questioning the ideal tactic for a warrior's attack, he found his thoughts drifting to the older Skyclan warrior. That first meeting with the she-cat had left a core memory ingrained in Whinchatpaw's mind. He dug deep and pictured the exact same scenario, except if Graywind had turned on the clan.
It appeared as if the apprentice had forfeited as he backed away from the opposing molly, back pressing against a tree. As he crept back, he let his hind paws find firm footing before tensing the muscles in his back legs.
Just gotta aim... and lunge!
Giving Graywind less than a heartbeat to react, the tom sprung onto the warrior's back and fought to keep his grip. His tail swayed side to side as he tried to stay on Graywind's back. Remembering what the warrior had instructed, he tucked his chin in and kept his body pressed against hers.
Whinchatpaw used Jumping Strike! He dealed -6hp damage and used 7 sp.
Subject: Re: set in stone [c] Sun 9 Jul 2023 - 14:27
The apprentice backed away, and Graywind watched him quizzically, wondering what was going through his mind. She noticed that he had found solid footing... Right before he sprang at her. Had she not been paying attention, the tom would've been able to knock her over, she was pretty sure. Graywind was tall, but lacked the bulk and muscle of some of her family members. She managed to keep her balance, though Whinchatpaw's strategy was a solid one.
"Good!" Graywind grinned at the apprentice, lashing out with a sheathed paw of her own aimed at his shoulder.
Graywind used Front Paw Blow for -5 sp, dealing -7 damage.
Characters : Whinchatpaw [W], Acornkit [A] Clan/Rank : Skyclan [W], Windclan [A] Number of posts : 190 Gender : she/her Age : 17
Subject: Re: set in stone [c] Tue 11 Jul 2023 - 6:41
◇ whinchatpaw ◇ "you get one chance, make it count."
Graywind's strike sent him tumbling; hanging onto a moving cat's back was hard enough without being swiped at. Whinchatpaw landed with quite an impact. His breath had been knocked out but he was quick to return the gesture. Getting back on his paws, he rammed into the she-cat's side head-first.
Whinchatpaw used Headbutt, dealing -4 damage and using -5sp.
Subject: Re: set in stone [c] Tue 11 Jul 2023 - 8:43
The apprentice rammed into her side... head first.. And Graywind let out a very real hiss. "Whinchatpaw, look at me." She mewed, "Your head is the last thing you want to batter your opponent with. You can do more harm to yourself than to your opponent if you aren't careful with that move. Stick to using your paws or teeth. Got it? I don't want you in the medicine den over a sparring session."
Graywind has chosen not to attack this turn. She uses Lecture instead.
Characters : Whinchatpaw [W], Acornkit [A] Clan/Rank : Skyclan [W], Windclan [A] Number of posts : 190 Gender : she/her Age : 17
Subject: Re: set in stone [c] Fri 14 Jul 2023 - 22:48
◇ whinchatpaw ◇ "you get one chance, make it count."
Whinchatpaw quickly recoiled when the warrior hissed at him. The proud glimmer in his eyes left immediately when he saw Graywind's expression. His ears flattened a little, but he endured the lecture. He hadn't expected such an outburst from the warrior.
"Oh... Got- got it." he stammered. The more he thought about it, the dumber he felt. An uncomfortable heat prickled under his pelt. Embarrassment.
It was a good couple heartbeats before the tom ventured with a question. "...can I try again?" Where pride had clouded his eyes, determination replaced it. He would never become an accomplished warrior if he did not learn from his mistakes.
Subject: Re: set in stone [c] Sat 15 Jul 2023 - 14:34
Whinchatpaw's reaction to her scolding made Graywind wince. Perhaps she'd been too harsh... She was only a new mentor herself, and this had been a rather impromptu training session to boot. He asked if he could try again though, and Graywind took that as a good sign. Whinchatpaw clearly wanted to learn. "Of course." Graywind mewed, "Just no headbutts. Sorry." She offered the tom a small smile.
Characters : Whinchatpaw [W], Acornkit [A] Clan/Rank : Skyclan [W], Windclan [A] Number of posts : 190 Gender : she/her Age : 17
Subject: Re: set in stone [c] Sun 16 Jul 2023 - 23:57
◇ whinchatpaw ◇ "you get one chance, make it count."
The apprentice gratefully accepted the smile and returned to his battle stance.Close to the ground, balanced, ears flat, chin tucked. And no headbutts. he recited. This time, Whinchatpaw faced Graywind with new determination. Planting his paws firmly on the ground, he sized up his opponent and went for it.
"Here I go..."
In a surge of energy, the tom leapt, paws outstretched. To his own surprise, he managed to tackle the warrior and now tried to hold her down.
Whinchatpaw attempted to use Leap and Hold [Pin] dealing -6hp and costing -15sp. Graywind is pinned for 1 turn!
![set in stone [c] 6d2238dd18](https://aggie.io/api/share/6d2238dd18.png)
