There's more than one way to skin a badger [C]

Large paws had carried the tom away from Ambersun's sleeping form, seeking out his own comfort. He needed to get away from her, to let his guard down, reflect, calm down... Try not to claw his own pelt out. Ambersun's presence made him itchy, and hot, and like he needed to sink his claws into something, preferably her hide, but he couldn't do that. Brackenpaw had to show restraint if he wanted to return home, and the constant prickling of his pelt around her was mostly manageable. She was at least tolerable now, thoughts of revenge halted until brindled paws finally set foot in SkyClan camp. He didn't stray far and kept a mostly watchful eye on her, the apprentice still needed his guide after all.

Brackenpaw jumped from snow dusted rock to the next, scaling the craggy area. The night was cloudless, Silverpelt shimmering in full above, and the moon bright as ever alongside her. He curled his bushy tail over his paws, gazing up into the sky. He thought of his siblings, were they up there now long dead and he was the none the wiser, or were they home... Safe, and eyes bright? Did they look up and see the same as Brackenpaw, and wonder the same of him? Was he dead, dying or almost home? Brackenpaw knew the answer, and how he wished he could yell it out to the valley below, give Honeypaw, Harepaw and Shatteredsky the closure they deserved. Soon though... Soon he would tell them himself. The tom closed his eyes, and sank to his belly, neatly tucking his paws beneath his muscular form. He was content for the moment, his unease lessened for the moment.

The wind ruffled his pelt, and Brackenpaw would have sighed in pleasure, if the scent of an unfamiliar cat hadn't been brought to him on it. Blue eyes shot open, and Brackenpaw turned to face the rogue with a scowl. He knew this wasn't clan territory that he could not fault the rogue for existing, but if they were a threat to him and Ambersun, perhaps they wouldn't exist much longer. He fixed the rogue with a steely glare, but made no moves to initiate a fight... Yet. He had to conserve his energy. "Can I help you, cat?" he meowed stepping forward. His eyes raked over the ginger tom before him, already assessing how best to take him down. Regrettably it looked like he could need Ambersun if the tom was aggressive. Mostly he would need her, due to his own queasy nature when it came to blood. How he would get over that, he needed to figure out, and soon.

Brackenpaw pushed back, shoving his own forehead against Ajex's, dark ears pinned back against his head. "I was offering you help, I'm not apologising." he growled back, pushing harshly against the rogue. The tom's claws skittered against the icy surface of the rock, and he was forced to disengage earlier than he would have liked to as to avoid tumbling over. Brackenpaw recovered quickly, and took several paw steps backwards. He really didn't want to fight, and was putting as much genuine effort as the impulsive tom could muster into avoiding one. "I've never had a single lesson in my life." huffed Brackenpaw. "Wait. How do you know that? Are you making fun of me?" No one had ever mocked the the tom before, and that was almost as shocking as the fact this rogue seemed to know about how his mentor had abandoned him, and his mother had died. Brackenpaw did not appreciate the slight against his mother, his freshly cooled temper was already heating up. "My name is Brackenpaw, and you would do well to remember it." his eyes narrowed "I'm the only cat you'll ever meet that has taken on a wolf and survived, so I don't think you want to be my enemy. So, cat, what is your name then, seeing as you're so big on manners?"

It seemed he had failed to mention the fact he hadn't won the fight, and this Ajex was quite happy to assume Brackenpaw's greatness. The brindled tom missed the obvious trap he was being walked into, completely oblivious to the dulcet tone the ginger cat spoke with. Still, it didn't mean he found Ajex any less aggravating, and if he was insinuating that Brackenpaw was weak, he would prove the rogue wrong, one way or another. There was also the assumption about Ambersun that further riled him "She's not my friend." he corrected with a snap, as he stalked past Ajex, bumping him with his shoulder. "Let's go find this badger then, Ajex." He paused then tossed a look back over his shoulder, blue eyes narrowed "It's okay if you can't fight and need help, not everyone is as qualified as I am, ginger" meowed Brackenpaw coolly. There was a small glance spared in Ambersun's direction to make sure nothing happened to his guide before he continued to skulk into the forest.

Using a sheathed paw, Brackenpaw swatted Ajex's tail out of his vision "You want me to see the badger don't you?' Ajex took the lead, and like the past few moons the tom was resigned to follow.  Some semblance of a guiding figure was doing wonders for his impulsive nature, especially with Ambersun being someone he so vehemently detested. He didn't find his ego blazing as he followed after the rogue, and he didn't even shoot anymore insults Ajex's way. The badger was easy to find, the stinking brute of a creature snoring loudly. "Looks like my least favourite brother..." he murmured with a chuckle, but as Ajex leapt into action, and that putrid metallic smell hit his nose, the brindled tom's smile fell.

Why had he agreed to this? Why was he so stupid? Brackenpaw swayed on his feet, feeling lightheaded. Why did he always have to get himself into trouble? It didn't help that he'd compared the badger to Shatteredsky either, they not be on good terms, but he'd never hurt his brother. The ginger tom landing squarely beside him snapped the apprentice out of his stupor. He needed to get moving, and to prove to this cat - who he didn't even know - that he was capable. That he was more than capable. Blue eyes fixed onto the lumbering creature, and he swallowed the lump in his throat charging forwards. His paws churned the snow beneath him, and as the beast drew closer he found himself dropping lower, and lower before flipping himself over entirely, and sliding beneath the badger. He dragged his claws through the badger's pelt, ruby red splattering both him and the ground beneath. The momentum of his charge allowed the muscular cat to emerge clear the other side, having split the creature from belly to tail. If he didn't feel so queasy Brackenpaw would have smiled at his skill, it was the same move he'd used on the owl with Honeypaw the first night of their apprenticehood. He'd pulled it off several times now, a move that even most warriors struggled with. Certainly it should score some points with Ajex, and backup his wolf story. The apprentice just prayed the uneasiness he felt around blood had gone unnoticed by the rogue.

Brackenpaw used Belly Rake on Badger. It was successful! Dealing - 10HP and costing - 25SP

Brackenpaw

20/20 HP
35/60 SP (- 25SP)

Ajex

65/65 HP
133/140 SP

Badger

67/90 HP (-10 HP)
150/ 150 SP

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

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'Effect Dice' : 5

While the creature was slow it's strength was deadly, and those powerful jaws closed around Ajex. Concern for his new companion flashed across Brackenpaw's face, and the blood that now stained Ajex only made him feel worse. Well, it was Ajex's fault for putting himself in the way, and this time seeing blood drawn on an ally wasn't as bad. The ill feeling was still there, but it wasn't like the wolves or the owl... This he found himself coping with. He could push through this. As the badger made another, slow lumbering turn, the apprentice used his agility to his advantage, feinting right, then swivelling to catch it's stumpy tail between his teeth. With a crunch! Brackenpaw yanked backwards, blood filling his mouth. The taste was nauseating, but he pulled harder, until the beast stumbled. As soon as he saw his signal, the tom released his vice like grip on its tail, spitting out blood and fur.

Brackenpaw used tail yank on the Badger! Dealing - 7 HP and costing -10 SP
Badger is stunned for one turn

Brackenpaw

20/20 HP
25/60 SP (-10 SP)

Ajex

43/65 HP
119/140 SP

Badger

43/90 HP (-7 HP)
120/150 SP

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

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'Effect Dice' : 5

Ajex mirrored the move he used earlier, and Brackenpaw couldn't help, but admire how the rogue fought. The badger stomped forwards, teeth gnashing, and Brackenpaw met it head on, Claws connecting with its muzzle and dragging downwards. While he tore the monochromatic creature's face off, he sank his fangs into the badger's neck. Again, hot blood filled his mouth, but he had this. The apprentice inhaled through his nose, then disengaged leaving the badger confused and even more aggravated. It certainly seemed to have slowed, its movement disorientated and jerky. Despite his churning stomach, Brackenpaw let out a huff and a satisfied smile. One more good whack from Ajex and victory would be theirs.

Brackenpaw used Snap and Desperate Blows on the badger. Dealing -10 HP (-6 HP + -4 HP) and costing -14 SP (-7 SP + -7 SP)

Brackenpaw

20/20 HP
11/60 SP (-14 SP)

Ajex

43/65 HP
94/140 SP

Badger

13/90 HP (- 10HP)
120/150 SP

The badger fell, and Brackenpaw felt indifferent for once. It was hardly a fair fight but, it had been his most enjoyable and least frustrating so far. He closed his eyes savouring the victory. Ajex was speaking again, and it reminded the apprentice all too well that he hardly even liked nor knew this rogue. He padded to his side, standing shoulder to shoulder with the tom, tail flicking back and forth. "Was that a compliment? You do realise wolves area lot bigger and scarier than badgers right, Ajex?" he mewed staring at the badger's corpse, a standoffish tone ever present "You wouldn't win, full offence, but also no offence. They are seriously no joke." His eyes closed, and like his nightmares, the wolves were back golden eyes gleaming, their song filling the cold night drowning out the screams of the clan cats. The stench of blood was thick in the air, and as thw wolves jaws closed around Lionstripe... His eyes flew open, chest heaving. "I watched warriors larger than you get bitten clean in half, so don't even try it." he didn't bother to explain anymore, it wasn't really Ajex business. "So what's next? What are we doing with it?" asked Brackenpaw