[Taxx]

L Y N X P A W

I've got the eye of a fighter
Dancing through the fire

Lynxpaw’s thick pelt ruffled as she ran; the wind swept it back, but flashes of anger stiffened the fur so that patches tried to stand on end again. She wasn’t a kit, and if she didn’t listen, it was because the orders she was given were stupid, so why follow them? Skidding to a halt beside a gorse bush, Lynxpaw dug her claws into the ground and trembled, struggling to quell the irritation that raced through her. Her apprentice days, which she’d so looked forward to, weren’t turning out to be the rewarding experience she had hoped for.

Plucking at the earth and the grass that grew thick under her paws, the young she-cat crouched and heaved a heavy sigh. What did Redscar even want? For her to blindly, mindlessly do as she was told? But why should she? Yes, she wanted to learn, but if she had ideas about how to do something, shouldn’t she do it? Why did he have to act like her suggestions were nothing- just because he was older?

“Stupid Redscar,” she growled, raking her claws over the ground, taking out her aggravation on the roots of grass and gorse. “Stupid rules. Stupid warriors thinking they know everything!” Springing forward again, she crashed through the grass, stumbling once or twice as stray roots stubbed her toes, the pain only adding to her irritation but too incensed to go slower.

Which was how she ended up running right into the fox, crouched over a rabbit in the grass. The wind, blowing toward Lynxpaw, had prevented her from scenting it, and the fox, muzzle bathed in rabbit blood, had had no idea a cat was approaching. He reacted defensively, a snarl ripping through the air as he struck, and Lynxpaw wasn’t quick enough to avoid the slashing fangs that gashed her shoulder.

Pain seared her brain instantly and she yowled, recoiling from the fox, blood streaming down her leg. For just a moment, the two stood motionless, both staring at the other. Then Lynxpaw broke the standoff, pinning her ears back, bushing out her fur again, and baring her teeth as she hissed. “Get off our territory, you stinking fox!” That was their prey the fox was eating, and while she couldn’t make it not-dead again, or take it back to camp for one of the elders or queens (honestly who would want it, stinking so badly?) she could make sure he didn’t take any more prey that didn’t belong to him.

When the fox didn’t move, Lynxpaw edged closer, growling a warning, every muscle on edge as she tried to intimidate the intruder. This was what a warrior did- protected the Clan’s territory from whatever threatened it. Fox or cat, it didn’t matter. It wasn’t supposed to be here, and so it had to go.

When the fox sprang, it wasn’t in the direction Lynxpaw had expected: not for a border, but for her. A split-second too slow, she hurled herself away, only to be brought to a sudden, wrenching stop as teeth snapped shut on the leg already coated in blood from the wound. Sky and grass blended as she was shaken, an audible pop accompanied by another surge of pain from the shoulder, and then she gave a screech.

Pain and fear, a sensation and an emotion she’d never felt to this extent. Little aches were part of life, and fear had had no place in her life, the six moons she’d lived so far, kept in the confines of the camp and protected, no matter how unwillingly. Now fear gripped her tight, making her heart thrash in her chest, and pain wracked her leg and shoulder. Caught in the grasp of an enemy, a creature she suddenly realized could- and would- kill her without hesitation. Stupid, her mind spat at her. So stupid.

She hit the ground unexpectedly, a gasp rasping from her throat. The brief attempt she made to rise was only met with a twitch of three legs, and the weight of a paw on her back made any further attempt impossible. The gaping mouth and hot breath of the fox flooded her senses, and terror scorched through her again, and she drew breath for one more scream.

“Motherrrrr!”

And you're gonna hear me roar

Hellion

[Hellion]

the moments when you're in so deep

FEELS EASIER TO JUST SWIM DOWN

Compelled against her better judgment, Firestar left the camp without a patrol on her heels. Rumors of a fox lurking in the territory spread faster than wildfire. Relying on the truth she had lives to spare, Firestar ventured out of camp in an attempt to track the vile creature. She knew better than to attack such a thing head on but she could find it's den and send a patrol to drive the beast out.

Scenting the air and finding no hint of the fox close to camp, Firestar moved further into the territory. Faster on her own, she was able to maneuver around LightingClan's expansive territory with relative ease. Her pace remained consistent using her stamina to the best of her ability she managed to cover a considerable amount of land.

There had been signs of the fox along the way but nothing substantial. The hints to the creature's whereabouts were difficult to place, furthering Firestar's frustrations.

There were new kits coming to the nursery with Cloudyfeather's pregnancy close to its end. Firestar would sooner lose all her lives in one battle than see a fox tear into camp and steal away young lives. Her mission to find the fox was not one she took lightly.

Backtracking to ensure she hadn't missed a clue, her attention quickly shifted to the scent being carried on the wind. Lynxpaw and judging from the lack of companion scents, she was alone.

Shifting all her focus onto Lynxpaw, Firestar headed off in her daughter's direction. Motherhood and leadership had made it difficult for Firestar to be a balanced figure in her daughter's life. Russetfall was better suited to parent her. Deciding that once she escorted her daughter home and gave her a punishment for being alone in the territory, she'd have Russetfall step in. Not that she enjoyed the idea of Lynxpaw in trouble, she did need to put her paw down. Lynxpaw hadn't shown signs of using her kinship to Firestar for favors and the calico leader was going to make sure that was never an option.

Following her daughter's scent for a few tail-lengths, the fur on the back of her neck bristled before she realized why. FOX!. A panic that could only be felt by a mother, had Firestar sprinting in her daughter's direction.

She arrived just in time to see Lynxpaw hit the ground. No there was no thinking of Firestar's part. She did not bother to form a plan she acted on instinct alone and the painful reminder that she had already lost one kit.

Sprinting again she managed to release a yowl of motherly rage before her small form collided with that of the fox. Intent on maiming or even killing the creature, Firestar gave it all she had. Her claws dug deep into whatever flesh she came into contact with. The fox did it's own damage, thrashing the now bloodied Firestar to try and rid himself of the leader. There were yelps and snarls on both ends as Firestar fought through the pain.

In their fighting, the pair had tumbled away from the injured Lynxpaw to be now a few tail-lengths away.

Then it went silent.

For a total of 10 heartbeats, there was no sound. Then a long-drawn-out pain filled yowl broke through the air as a pained yelping joined in before silence overcame the noise.

Lying on her side, fur matted in mixed blood, Firestar began to whimper. The fox, an equally bloody mess, lay gasping for breath a mere few inches away. Trusting there were no fox ancestors to grant the vile creature any extra lives, Firestar watched the orange demon take what she hoped would be it's last breath.

She had won, she protected her daughter but at what cost? Wincing as her legs started to go cold, Firestar was grateful for the reprieve from the pain of her injuries. Her sight started to fade, then a ringing in her ears was all that was left before succumbed to the sensation of losing another life.

FIRESTAR

background image | its quiet uptown | table by phoenix

Taxx
its a bloody mess

EDIT 8/15 LEFT IT AMBIGUOUS IF THE FOX LIVES OR DIES.