TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINALS #3: Rookpaw vs Wrenpaw

Wrenpaw was, admittedly, still very much so preening after winning her fight with Larkpaw. She loved sparring, she loved winning, and she loved sticking it to Larkpaw. She had a better opinion of Larkpaw’s quieter, less grumpy sibling but that won’t stop her from trying just as hard to win against them.

Wiggling down, Wrenpaw’s pupils expanded and she smiled brightly. When Perchstar called for the spar to begin, she leapt forward onto Rookpaw, tackling right onto him.

Wrenpaw used Jumping Strike, dealing 9 damage (6 + 3) and costing -7 SP

Rookpaw
11/20 HP (-9)
60/60 SP

Wrenpaw
20/20 HP
53/60 SP (-7)

Rookpaw

Larkpaw had been sour after his loss. Of course-- it was a loss, after all. But it was to Wrenpaw, the behated medicine cat apprentice. Rookpaw had done their best to ease the upset, but his bitter mood seemed set for the day. They were remiss to leave his side to attend their next battle, but they could not linger when Perchstar came for them. With a press to Larkpaw’s side, they departed to take their place on the sparring grounds.

Rookpaw’s gaze leveled on Wrenpaw, silently taking her in. She was far larger than him-- he would not win this fight through strength, though he factored that into few of his battles anyway. It was not unlikely that she could beat him, and rather soundly, despite her comparative lack of formal training based on muscle and weight alone.

Rookpaw’s ear twitched once, and their scrutinizing gaze narrowed. They refused to lose to her.

Wrenpaw sprang the second Perchstar released them, and Rookpaw stood still until a moment before her paws would collide with their chest. He stepped smoothly out of the way, raising a paw to bring down against her flank to unbalance her as she sailed past. Craning his head to look over his shoulder, Rookpaw mewed dryly, "You missed."

Rookpaw used Dodge and Fight, costing 7 SP. Counterattack successful, dealing 5 damage.

Rookpaw
20/20 (+9) HP
53/60 (-7) SP

Wrenpaw
15/20 (-5) HP
53/60 SP

Wrenpaw skidded to a stop, momentarily stunned when her attack did not land, but she just grinned and turned on Rookpaw again. “Haha, guess I did. But not this time!” She grinned broadly, leaping forward again.

This time she aimed for a more simple blow, darting to Rookpaw’s side to land a solid smack on their flank.

Wrenpaw used Front Paw Strike, dealing -6 damage and costing -7 SP!

Rookpaw
14/20 HP (-6)
53/60 SP

Wrenpaw
15/20 HP
53/60 SP (-7)

Rookpaw

Rookpaw met the grin with an unmoving stare. They didn't flinch away when Wrenpaw ducked towards them this time; again, they remained still until just before the moment of contact. She moved to their side, landing a blow by their hip that might have unbalanced them had they not moved forward at the same time. "I suppose," they mewed evenly. Then, taking advantage of the few moments she'd need to recover her balance from drawing a paw off the ground, Rookpaw rose onto their hind legs to push her head down into the pool-pocketed earth. "Not hard enough."

Rookpaw used Underwater Cinch, dealing 7 damage and costing 10 SP. Wrenpaw is stunned for one turn!

Rookpaw
14/20 HP
43/60 (-10) SP

Wrenpaw stunned
8/20 (-7) HP
53/60 SP

Wrenpaw gasped and sputtered at the sudden water in her face, shaking the water out of her fur as she quickly stumbled back to her feet. This was the same move Larkpaw had pulled on her in their earlier spar, and the same move Perchstar herself had taught her a little while back. With a burst of adrenaline and determination, Wrenpaw shook off the worst of its effects.

“Not gettin’ me down that easy!” She declared, shaking her head to make it focus again and leaping forward to deliver another blow against Rookpaw.

Wrenpaw used Random Recall, costing -5 SP, and Front Paw Strike, dealing -6 damage and costing -7 SP!

Rookpaw
8/20 HP (-6)
43/60 SP

Wrenpaw
8/20 HP
41/60 SP (-12)

Rookpaw

Rookpaw frowned watching the medicine cat scramble back to her paws, unwilling to be deterred by something as simple as water in their nose. Their frown turned to a proper grimace when Wrenpaw rounded on them again, big paw connecting with their shoulder. Puffing a breath, Rookpaw let themself fall with the blow, legs buckling beneath them. Their shoulder hit the sand with a soft pomf and they lay still for a moment, long enough to give Wrenpaw false hope she had one, before twisting back to life to swing at her chest, her exposed belly, anywhere they could reach.

Rookpaw used Play Dead, dealing 8 damage and costing 5 SP.

Rookpaw
8/20 HP
38/60 (-5) SP

Wrenpaw
0/20 (-8) HP K.O. pending!
41/60 SP

For just a moment, Wrenpaw was certain she’d won, and a burst of pride expanded her chest. She was going to have so many bragging rights, winning against two full blown apprentices when she was the medicine cat apprentice. She was about to celebrate said victory, when Rookpaw suddenly stirred back to life, and hit hard enough to send Wrenpaw stumbling down and onto the sandy ground with a dramatic huff.

She blinked dazedly up at the clear sky for a moment, before a light laugh left her. “Okay, okay,” She said. “I accept my defeat.” She rolled onto her belly to give Rookpaw a grin, rising up to her feet and shaking sand out of her fur. “Good job, Rookpaw.” She said, “We should spar again sometime. You’re a good opponent!”

Wrenpaw has been defeated!