i just can't win (c)

Gender: Male
Rank: Apprentice

Bearpaw padded silently along the edge of Skyclan's border, his nose to the ground as he followed the markers around trees and through tall clumps of grass. After replacing the bedding in the nursery, he'd been eager to get out of the camp and return to the border where his apprenticeship first began. Sunfire had once told him that any cat that came from outside of clan territory couldn't be trusted and ever since, he liked to check the border for trespassers. Outsiders were more dangerous than any regular clan cat. They had no rules to follow - no code to keep them from murder or theft. Not that the code always kept clan cats from doing so.

The tom was aware that clan cats could just as easily become murderers or things of the like, but for now, his sights were set on outside forces. Now that he was almost fully grown, any cat could easily mistake him for a warrior - especially rogues or kittypets, which seemed to enjoy causing trouble. Tail lashing, Bearpaw lifted his head, a suspicious scent in the air. It was faint, almost indecipherable, but he could tell that it was another cat. From what he could tell, the stranger hadn't crossed the border yet, but it was best to make sure that it stayed that way.

Growling under his breath, Bearpaw followed the scent, his blue eyes dark with distrust. Soon enough, the distant twolegplace seemed to crawl closer and closer and before he knew it, Bearpaw caught sight of a fluffy black tom sitting near a fence. The cat was a decent distance from the border, but he wasn't going to take any chances. Stalking out from the undergrowth, the brown and white apprentice approached the border, stopping only a pawstep from the scent line.

"It's a fine morning for a stroll, no?" His eyes narrowed briefly, taking in the yellow-eyed cat before him. "You look like you're expecting more than a peaceful walk though. What do you want?" If the stories had taught him anything, it was that rogues always wanted something from the clans. Their territory, their food, their resources...it was always something with those snakes.

Gender: Male
Rank: Apprentice

Bearpaw's eyes narrowed into a distrustful glare as the unfamiliar tom spoke, the fur along his spine prickling. It was a good thing he had decided to patrol the border today - Starclan knows what this sneaky tom was up to. Though, the more he spoke, the more Bearpaw found his temper beginning to boil over. Why did he insist on speaking in riddles? Just goes to show how obnoxious outsiders were, they understood nothing of honor, strength, and kinship. Why, this tom was all alone - he probably abandoned his family long ago...rogues had no loyalty.

Tail lashing impatiently, Bearpaw scoffed. "Oh please. If you want a conversation partner, you'd better look somewhere else. Skyclan is not grounds for you to spread whatever mischief you're up to." Bearpaw lifted his chin, attempting to stare down the older tom. He may not be fully grown, but he'd proved himself to be a pretty capable fighter thus far - at least, he thought so anyway. "Maybe try Riverclan, they're super friendly." A small smirk wormed its way onto the apprentice's face at the thought of this tom trying to make friends with the water-loving clan.

Snickering softly, he added, "Plus, you don't need to worry about them hurting you-" His smirk suddenly faded into a disdainful sneer. "They're much too fat and slow to pose a real threat." Bearpaw chuckled at the joke, his fluffy plume of a tail held high. This rogue likely knew nothing of the clans, though. He could tell him anything he wanted to, and he'd probably believe him.

Bearpaw's icy blue gaze traveled down the other tom's body for a moment - he didn't look particularly weak, though. As much as he disliked the other clans, he didn't wish harm upon any cat. Well, not those who didn't deserve it, of course. It would be best to put an end to this and send him on his way. "Well, I can tell you now, I'm not interested in making small talk, so you'd best be on your way."

Gender: Male
Rank: Apprentice

Bearpaw considered the loner for a moment, an almost smug grin on his face at the silence coming from the other side of the border. He'd clearly stricken the tom dumb and left him floundering for something to say. With a flick of his tail, he opened his jaws to suggest that the other tom move along when, almost faster than he could follow, the larger, older cat was upon him with teeth and claws bared! With a yowl, Bearpaw wrenched himself away from the rogue, his blue eyes burning with rage.

How dare this clanless nobody attack him!? And on Skyclan soil at that! Looking back, he hadn't been the friendliest, but he'd done absolutely nothing to provoke this brutality! At least, as far as he was aware. Growling low in his throat, Bearpaw tried to ignore the sting of claw marks on his skin and sprang towards the black tom, landing smoothly atop his back, his claws easily finding purchase in the other tom's flesh. This wasn't the ideal situation, but he would not take this attack lying down!

Whatever it was that had provoked the older tom, he didn't care. All that mattered now was getting out of here alive. Starclan knows if this insane cat intended on letting him out of here alive! Of course, a more rational cat would realize that it was a hopeless battle, but Bearpaw wasn't exactly known for thinking things through carefully. For all he knew, this rogue could be part of a group bent on stealing Skyclan's land! He couldn't just flee and lead him right to their camp!

Snarling, Bearpaw shifted, digging his claws deeper into the black tom's shoulders. He had a good grip! Hopefully, he could wear the tom down a bit, enough to at least escape when the opportunity arose.

Bearpaw used "Leap and Hold" costing 15 stamina and dealing -6 HP.
Felix is pinned for 2 turns!

Bearpaw:
9/20 HP
(-15) 45/60 SP

Felix:
(-6) 54/60 HP
123/160 SP