initiation [closed]

The first time he'd met his mentor, Dovepaw had been anxious. The she-cat who wore a fox pelt was going to be his mentor? Was she going to be harsh and strict? Killing a fox was no small feat. Why would one wear a second skin, especially when the weather was so warm? He had been confused. But after spending some training time with her, he'd come to notice she was completely different. Underneath the pelt, she was as soft as a cloud. She was skittish and noticed absolutely everything he did--even a single whisker out of place would be remarked upon, but not in a condescending or rebuking way, just as a statement of fact. She was soft-spoken and strange, but a good teacher and a good cat. So when he was going on a patrol with her--and Mothpaw, her other apprentice, whom he'd only met in passing--Dovepaw didn't feel worried anymore. He followed, ready to learn something new.

He hadn't been expecting to learn about Egretswoop's heritage. But when she turned to look at them, golden yellow eyes glimmering, Dovepaw sat and listened. Harebounce... one of the senior warriors of the Clan. He'd seen the she-cat once or twice, he believed. Apparently she was Egretswoop's adopted mother. For some reason, he had assumed that his mentor was born RiverClan, like most of the other cats in the Clan. Hearing that she had been born outside of it like he had made him feel an even stronger budding kinship with her. He was also of rogue blood. Or, no... he was ThunderClan, he thought. But that was just a dream. That didn't count. All he knew for certain was that he was not originally of RiverClan, and neither was she. That made them kin--in some sense, anyway.

Asylum... it was a strange word. It was one he thought he might have muzzily remembered from elders' tales when he was very young. Wearing pelts to look more ferocious. Well, that did certainly explain the ruddy fox fur that lay across Egretswoop's back. So it was... a tradition? Dovepaw flicked an ear as he listened, pale blue eyes fixed on his mentor's gaze. A tradition that was not strictly from RiverClan. But traditions were taught, not borne by blood. That was evidenced by his acquired prowess in swimming and fishing. "Brick" and "Milk." Strange names. But was "Dovepaw" any less strange? What made a name strange or not? He had no clue what a brick was, but at least "milk" made sense. A flowing white pelt like that was reminiscent of the liquid that every cat once knew.

It only took Dovepaw a few moments to think about the offer. Asylum, fox pelt, strange names, odd traditions he'd never really understood and would never fully understand. Probably he ought to say no and try to fit in better with his RiverClan Clanmates. And yet... someone was offering him a tradition. An exclusive event in which he would be included. A bond to be shared. Right now, all he really had was his siblings and his adoptive family. He had RiverClan, but so did everyone else. The idea of receiving something special, something that was meant just for him (and Mothpaw and Harebounce, he supposed) was tempting. It made something inside his chest contract in a warm, dizzy way. So before he knew what he was doing, the apprentice nodded. "I would be honored to join you," he said. His tail swished behind him. "I don't know much about this Asylum, and I don't know what a Brick is, but I think that tradition is a good thing. If you are willing to view me like one of your kits..." Well, perhaps he shouldn't have said that. But she had been the one to mention it. He glanced away, hoping that she didn't think too much of it. He wasn't trying to insert himself into her life in that way. "Well, I... I'll do it."

"It would be an honor to allow myself to be considered family, for one or both of you."

So he hadn't been overstepping, then. The dizzy sensation in Dovepaw's chest only grew stronger, flooding his mind with a rosy kind of warmth at the word "family." Like a big sister, then... or maybe like a mother. Neither roles that were currently occupied by any living cat. He had Owlcall. He had his siblings. But... now, he had Egretswoop as well. Or, should he call her Milk? It hadn't quite been clear. Either way. She was now something akin to his family. The gentleness in her light amber gaze struck right to the core of his being, and he returned her gaze with an openness that hadn't previously been present in the pale blue of his own eyes. Family.... She was still his mentor, of course, but there was a new level of deference and care with which he now regarded the fox-pelted she-cat. The pressure of her muzzle atop his head felt as welcoming as any embrace he'd ever shared with his own siblings.

First she gave Mothpaw a name. He turned to look at the two, head tilted curiously as he witnessed the unfamiliar ritual. The name--the word--was also one he had never heard in his life, similar to Brick. Toffee. One of Egretswoop's first memories... It must have been something that the Twolegs had, then. But it wasn't long until her gaze returned to him. Another word that did not quite sound like a word rolled off of her tongue. "...Iron." It tasted almost cold, hard, as he tried it out in a whisper. A secondary name. She... thought he was mighty? Thought he was strong? For some reason, the qualifications to his name almost affected him more than the actual name itself. The gesture was repeated, and he pressed his head up into her own, welcoming the affection. It felt nice. Nice to be acknowledged; nice to be accepted. Milk, Toffee... Iron. Around Egretswoop and Mothpaw, he could now be Iron. What did that mean? He supposed there was only really one way for him to find out.

When Egretswoop brought up the topic of pelts, he couldn't help but blink. He'd only had one brush with a predator before--and it hadn't been a pleasant one. He had come out on top, of course, but he hadn't really enjoyed the experience. Sparring was nerve-wracking but enjoyable. Actual fighting, on the other paw, wasn't a thing that he had been a big fan of. But he supposed it made sense that the fox pelt had to come from somewhere. She--Milk--had said that the pelt was for the purpose of wearing and intimidating foes. He did not believe that he would wear a pelt often, and certainly not as much as his mentor did, but perhaps for the purposes of battle... it might be a good tradition to honor. Though the thought of seeking out an animal with the intention of killing it to wear it made him feel slightly queasy, he instead nodded. "Okay. Whenever you deem me ready, I will try my best. I don't know yet what I would like to seek out, but... I'm willing. I'll fulfill this tradition as well, Milk."

Dovepaw--Iron--tried to swallow down the queasiness that began to rise in his throat as he began to follow Milk. He had been desired, had been accepted into an in-group! He wasn't about to mess that up by being a wimp. Besides, he knew he was pretty good at fighting from the apprentice's sparring tournament. Plus, he and Swanpaw had killed that snake awhile back. So he should be fine. He should be able to kill a predator... probably.

The main question was, what pelt would he try to get? Iron's ears were pricked up tall, listening for any sounds as they began to prowl the unfamiliar grounds of the nearby Twolegplace farm. He didn't want to fight a fox, and he especially didn't want to look like he was just copying Milk. Foxes were too big and scary anyways. He was a smaller tom, at least right now, and a pelt as big as that would just slip off of his shoulders. Making a decision this important without any forethought was scary, but he rolled his shoulders back and tried his very best to look as if this would be just like any other old day. Maybe he'd just pick the first predator he saw.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, a blank white spot suddenly appeared in his vision. A bird, enormous, larger than any bird he'd ever seen. When it spotted him, it let out a quiet hiss, waving its wings threateningly in his direction. His hackles raised for a moment. Then, he remembered. A pelt of a predator, to look more ferocious in battle. The sharp teeth lining the goose's beak struck a moment of fear into him. What if he could strike that fear into his own enemies? Into any who would dare to challenge his family? Any who would dare to challenge RiverClan?

Before he could second-guess himself, Iron darted forward with unsheathed claws, feeling his heart race. This was his first time ever initiating battle--real battle, not just a spar. The snake had attacked him first. This time, the decision was his. Iron was surprised to find that it felt good. He began by leaping at the goose with a war-cry, tackling it to the ground. It fell with a terrible squawk. But since it was nearly bigger than him, it soon escaped and beat at him with its enormous wings, disorienting him. This wouldn't be easy.

Dovepaw used Jumping Strike, dealing 9 (6+3) damage and costing 7 stamina.
Goose used Wing Bluff, dealing 5 damage and costing 10 stamina. The next attack on the goose must roll a die to hit.

Dovepaw:
20/20 HP
53/60 SP

Goose:
46/55 HP
160/170 SP

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

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'Effect Dice' : 2

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

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'Effect Dice' : 3

Dovepaw had never enjoyed battle. It had always made him startled, or uncomfortable, or worried for his family. But for some reason, despite the battering of the goose's wings feeling painful, and despite the effort it took, Iron found that this wasn't as awful as usual. Maybe it was choosing to fight--rather than being ambushed by a snake or bullied by an apprentice--that made him feel this way. He didn't smile so much as bare his fangs, but he wasn't scared. He was... well, not enjoying this perhaps, but he didn't hate it.

Toffee and Milk darted in to help. His mentor's skill was immediately apparent, pinning down the squawking beast, while his fellow apprentice's help covered yet another angle of attack. Fighting alongside others... it wasn't too bad. He lashed out with his own claws, slashing almost wildly at the goose, feeling its coat of feathers shred away beneath his blows. He made sure to listen to his mentor, though, and target the belly rather than the neck or wings. He wouldn't want to damage the pelt, if this was what he was to wear!

Dovepaw used Front Paw Strike + Desperate Blows, dealing 10 (6+4) damage and costing 14 (7+7) stamina.
Goose is no longer pinned.

Dovepaw:
20/20 HP
39/60 SP

Goose:
22/55 HP
160/170 SP

Egretswoop:
50/50 HP
105/120 SP

Mothpaw:
20/20 HP
53/60 SP