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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2017 23:56:20 GMT -5
  RainClan - Senior Warrior - Tom - 42 Moons
The Wooded Cove: a place mostly for starry eyed lovers and herb-hunters, though Adderstrike enjoyed detaching himself from the tense bodies bustling around camp. Even after the resolve of Riverclan's recent and quite intense civil disputes, the purists and the loyalists have been socially divided, and discomfort between the two parties was almost palpable. At least that foolish occurrence is over with. Adderstrike muttered to himself. It's unbelievable. The whole clan is acting like a band of kits. He swiped at a lone pebble by his feet, watching it tumble into the rippling pool a tail-length from his paws.
Adderstrike appreciated the tiny, peaceful pond in the Wooded Cove and watched as the water lightly lapped at its marshy, herb-covered shores like a queen caressing her kit. Thankfully it wasn't cold enough to freeze the pool altogether, but the weather had long since browned the forest and covered it with a thin, soft layer of snow. The delicate fronds of the healing herbs around the water's perimeter were shriveled and dusted with frost, though their smell was still mildly potent despite the season's harsh temperatures and conditions. The scent of herbs still gave him flashbacks to his early kit-hood; Adderstrike felt grief piercing his heart like the teeth of a thousand badgers. I miss Cherryrose. He thought piteously. She was the best medicine cat. Adderstrike took a few steps forward. He felt a soft tingling on his paw pads as the frost melted beneath his feet, and bent his neck down over the pool, lapping a few drops to quench his thirst. The chill rushed through his tongue and down his throat like a breath of gelid air, and the cold mouthfuls of water burned like fire in his belly. Like swallowing shards of ice. He griped to himself.
Adderstrike moved away from the clearing with his slight, yet noticeable limp, leaving a trail of dark paw-prints in his wake. Drear and grim childhood memories weren't something he wanted lingering on his mind when he had his warrior duties to complete. Enough wasting time. Adderstrike scolded himself. I just stopped by for a quick drink. There's more hunting to be done. The brown tabby tom rolled in snow, hoping that the flakes coating his fur would help disguise him if he happened to run across land prey. He had been attempting to catch more mice, voles, shrews, rabbits, and squirrels lately, as the fish have been becoming less and less available. Besides, his tracking skills were much better than his patience by the riverside.
Adderstrike had been walking for what felt like hours. The sun was falling beneath the horizon and all he managed to catch was a thin, scraggly shrew, of which he had retrieved just a few moments before. His muscles ached and it felt like the snow had soaked him to the bone, not to mention his nose was running and his ears and paws were numb from the chill. He passed by the Wooded Cove clearing again, and the pool that he had drank from was almost completely frozen over. An icy breeze whipped between the trees, showering Adderstrike in frost. He he closed his eyes tightly and clenched his jaws around the shrew, of which shed a few thin droplets of blood in the snow as Adderstrike continued onward towards camp. The shadows grew longer and stronger as the evening wore on, though the warrior's pelt began to prickle. He was exhausted, though still very aware of his surroundings. Something has been following him for the past several minutes. He could feel it. Adderstrike paused and set his fresh-kill on the ground, listening and looking intently, though the freezing wind was making it quite difficult. He heard a faint rustle behind him and whipped around.
"Stop lingering in the shadows." Adderstrike hissed, arching his back and fluffing his fur.
Beyond the snow covered undergrowth poked a fierce red snout and the vivid, amber eyes of a fox. It felt as if the wind had stopped completely. The creature stalked forward, rustling the bushes as she scraped past wiry, brittle branches. Her claws raked across the ground at each step, though it was her eyes that enticed Adderstrike. The hunger, power, and craze within its depths awakened a sense of...admiration? Envy? The fox emitted a guttural growl that could have sent any cat turning tail, though Adderstrike continued to stare, unmoved. Drool dripped from the foxes yellowed jaws, and her ribs jutted out like flexed claws. What a powerful creature. He thought.
Adderstrike's fur was still ruffled, though his body began to grow more relaxed and supple. Now that I know what I'm up against... He noted to himself. The intensity between predator and prey grew unbearable, and within only a few moments of silence and prowling, the fox lunged forward with open jaws. Adderstrike faced the beast's gaping jaws head on, scratching wildly at the foxes face and eyes. Eventually, he was forced to dodge her snapping teeth, but instead of a futile retreat, he launched himself on her back and ripped at her skin relentlessly, feeling each bone beneath his claws. The fox snapped at Adderstrike once or twice before rolling over on top of the unsuspecting tom, momentarily dazing him. Though the fox's rancid hot breath on his face brought the tom swiftly up on his paws. This is the smartest fox I've ever seen! Pulling off a move like that! Adderstrike thought to himself. A spark of concern burned lightly in his gut. His limbs were growing numb with exhaustion.
The creature snapped at him again, but Adderstrike darted under her belly before her teeth met his pelt and bit down hard on one of her hind legs. He felt warm blood bathe his tongue. She made a half growl, half yelping noise before latching her jaws on Adderstrike's loin, ripping him out from underneath her. There was a instant of surprise as Adderstrike hung upside-down, dangling from the fox's jaws. Shooting pains momentarily clouded his senses, though his inner stoicism held true. I'm not going to be fox-food tonight! He yowled to himself. The brown tabby tom stretched up and clawed furiously at the fox's face, falling to the ground with a thud. The drop knocked the wind out of his lungs, and jagged teeth rushed towards his face. He rolled to the side to avoid the fox's onslaught and faced his antagonist head on. I don't know how much I can keep this up. He choked to himself. Adderstrike's heart was fluttering, and he felt like melting to the ground in fatigue, though he stood with his back arched and his face wrinkled in an angry scowl.
"Is that all you've got flea-pelt?"
Liberty for wolves is death to the lambs.
Out of
suffering
have emerged the
strongest
souls.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2017 19:02:22 GMT -5
STORMSTAR After being cooped up mostly in camp for so long, Stormstar had felt the overwhelming need to get out on his paws and do some legwork himself. Thus he set out with a few warriors on the evening patrol, taking Roselight, Ashclaw, and Honeywisp.
Small flurries of snow fell sporadically as the cats traversed the Stoneclan border, Stormstar taking just as much time to mark areas as the other cats, sniffing for odd scents or diverging border lines. Nothing seemed particularly out of place, and since he didnt scent any sharp or recent Badgerpaw scent. He hoped this meant the apprentice had come to his senses and stopped meeting friends at the Stoneclan border. Badgerpaw could always see friends at the gathering if he really wanted. Not that Stormstar had much time as a leader to be making sure that his apprentices were in line, that was partially his deputy's job.
Once they had finished patrolling the border, they headed back in the direction of camp. It was nearly fully dark, and STormstar picked up his pace in order to return his patrol to safety adn warmth, but just as he was about to cross the river into camp, he scented fox. Immediately he froze, his tail going ramrod straight and his fur fluffing out.
"Roselight,"He said as he pinpointed the scent,"Run to camp for reinforcements. We have a fox on our territory."
The rest of his patrol perked up, instantly tense as Roselight bounded away.
Stormstar led his patrol across the smaller streams, following the pungent scent of fox until he heard screeches and fox barks. The leader cursed under his breath and went into a sprint, thick gray fur whipping around him from the inertia.
He skidded to a halt inside the wooded cove, just in time to see Adderstrike stand up again and arch his back at the fox.
"Adderstrike! Rest a moment! Let us take some hits." Flicking his tail left and right, Ashclaw and Honeywisp dashed around to flank the weakened creature, while Stormstar charged its front. With a piercing yowl, Stormstar dodged the first lunge of the fox's jaws, twisting and latching onto the foxes neck, weighing it awkwardly down with his heavier weight. Honeywisp and Ashclan raked its sides and clamped down on its tail, and the fox yelped and whined. As was the case when animals are backed into a corner, the fox gained a sudden surge of strength and threw off all the cats. The two warriors tumbled away, and Stormstar skidded to a stop barely a few tail-lengths away. Before he could react, he felt the fox's jaws clamp shut on his his gut.
"Starclan help me" He hissed at the pain.
I'm not standing still. I am lying in wait. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2017 10:32:00 GMT -5
RainClan - Senior Warrior - Tom - 42 Moons
"Adderstrike! Rest a moment! Let us take some hits."
Adderstrike only heard bits and pieces of what the cat said, though he recognized the voice.
He wanted to curl up on the snow dusted earth and slip away into a nice, deep sleep. I'm so tired. The tabby tom thought drearily. He shrunk down to the ground slowly. Blood had matted his flanks and the snow around his hind paws was beginning to shed a crimson glow in the light of the moon. Was that Storm- Adderstrike didn't finish his thought. Pain began to wrap it's icy finger's around his waist and dig into his sides with a grip as sharp as icicles and as strong as oak. He inhaled sharply. It all happened in the blink of an eye.
Adderstrike glanced towards his clanmates with a gaze glazed with struggle. The scene was nightmarish. He saw his allies flying through the air, landing heavily on the frosted soil. The atmosphere grew momentarily still. The fox's wounds glistened as the soft, pure glow of moonlight filtered icily through the dark branches above her; though the picture was anything but soft. It's pure evil, that's what it is. He hissed to himself. Adderstrike jerked his ragged body up onto unsteady paws.
Adderstrike watched in dismay as the fox lunged at a cat's belly. He felt a rush of anger and violence erupt from the depths of his heart. Now you've done it. He forced down pain and half-leaped half stumbled forward towards the fox's face, scratching weakly at its eyes. Buzz off dirt-breath. Adderstrike let out a deep growl. You don't belong here, and you never will! He felt as though all of Starclan was at his back, their pelts brushing against his and warming him to the core.
When Adderstrike glanced to the side, he saw Roselight.
Liberty for wolves is death to the lambs.
Out of
suffering
have emerged the
strongest
souls.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2017 13:50:38 GMT -5
STORMSTAR Time seemed to slow dramatically as pain clouded Stormstar's senses. He felt his heart thudding within him, but part of him was numb. The next seconds seemed like an eternity, and STormstar wondered if that was what being Starclan, above the ever slowly moving world felt like.
Suddenly he felt the fox pull back as another cat came from the side. Unfortunately, in doing so, the fox's fangs ripped a longer gash in his gut. Stormstar landed, the air in his lungs flushed out with an oof.
Thankfully the bleeding leader caught sight of Roselight leading several more cats. His gaze was too bleary to catch just who it was. With a struggle, he heaved himself to his paws, ignoring the blood dripping slowly but surely from his side. With a snarl he stumbled again towards the fox, but also towards Adderstrike.
"Adderstrike! Fall back, y-you're hurt. The patrol can take care of the rest. We both need to preserve our strength to make it back to camp!"
His voice, which had at first started out faint, grew stronger as he snarled at the fox and at Adderstrike, Roselight darting in with Ashclaw to distract it. Backing away from the fight, Stormstar took the opportunity to catch his breath and assess his wound. Starclan! The fox had not torn the area completely open but it must have nicked something inside, because the wound smelled foul.
The weakening leader panted, but otherwise did not allow his clanmates to see his distress of the seriousness of the wound, they needed strength, not another leader failing on them.
He just hoped they ended it soon. I'm not standing still. I am lying in wait. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2017 23:57:29 GMT -5
RainClan - Senior Warrior - Tom - 42 Moons
Adderstrike's paws froze to the ground as Stormstar's snarl cut icily through the night air.
"Adderstrike! Fall back, y-you're hurt. The patrol can take care of the rest. We both need to preserve our strength to make it back to camp!"
Fall back? The tabby tom's eyes blazed furiously, his mind racing. You don't think I can fight it? I am fully- Adderstrike felt a weight slam heavily into his shoulder, knocking him to the ground with a vigorous thud; he hit the frosted earth and slid a tail-length through snowdust. Shame began to itch under his skin as the tom lay still, disheveled, cold, and shocked by the unanticipated tumble. He watched Mottledpelt rebound gracefully to her paws. She glanced apologetically towards Adderstrike, her tail twitching slightly, and her light green eyes glowing like minty moons in the darkness. It was only a moment before the tortoiseshell she-cat leaped back into battle. Did I see...pity? His stomach churned at the thought. Maybe I'm not as sharp as I thought I was. He pondered dizzily.
Adderstrike sat up on his haunches, head spinning wildly like a lost leaf in autumn winds. He glanced over at the remainder of the patrol, noticing a few tails disappear rapidly into the sparse undergrowth, undoubtedly pursuing the fox to either the border, or her bloody resolve. What end would I choose? Adderstrike thought uncomfortably. He paused. What am I thinking? I'm no bloody fox.
Although battered and bruised, what was left of the patrol emanated vitality and strength. Some had stayed behind, and the younger warriors boasted split ears and a few minor injuries as they strutted around making sure their fellow clanmates still had four legs. Adderstrike sighed, his warm breath billowing from his jaws in clouds of grey. It was chilly outside. He felt numbed from the adrenaline pumping through his limbs and core. The tabby tom turned around, seeking Stormstar. I just need to find Stormstar. Where is he? Adderstrike pondered silently, his eyes searching restlessly for that familiar smoky grey tom. I know he's here. I heard him. I swear it on the stars I heard him.
Mottledpelt had begun to take a few steps towards Adderstrike, concern dripping from her eyes like melting ice, though the tabby tom bounced to his paws in an effort to deter any sympathies. I don't need anyone feeling sorry for me. He grumbled to himself. I just need to find Stormstar. Adderstrike trotted towards the group of cats, noticing his leader along the outskirts. After a few confident steps, his strides began to falter and shrink. Oh I really don't feel too well. His gut roiled violently. I have to vomit. Adderstrike began breathing through his mouth as he approached Rainclan's devout leader. Rancid breath is better than a face full of...
"Impeccable timing, Stormstar. If it weren't for you and the others, I'd have been fox-food by now." Adderstrike hesitated before dipping his head humbly. "Thank you."
Liberty for wolves is death to the lambs.
Out of
suffering
have emerged the
strongest
souls.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2017 17:47:08 GMT -5
STORMSTAR The gray leader watched with satisfaction as his warriors attacked the fox, driving it off in a flurry of blows. While several warriors chased it off, some remained, including Roselight, who came to stand at his side.
She looked him over, concern lighting her eyes as she looked over her leader. He caught her eyes and shook his head just slightly. The clan did not need to know, his legs shook almost imperceptibly, and he allowed some of his exhaustion to show. Keeping up a strong face was harder than he expected. Roselight nodded slowly, and he realized that she, just like him, had lived through a long and terrible time in Rainclan history, watching several leaders pass on before them, one of which had been her mate.
"Roselight... go back to camp ahead of us, tell Rushwhisker if you find him, to meet me in my den, and let Ottersplash know he will have several patients... but that he is to come to me when he is done."
The she-cat nodded slowly, and then gestured to some of the other less injured warriors to follow her back.
Stormstar turned to find a very shaky and smelly Adderstrike in front of him, thanking him.
"You're welcome Adderstrike, we need to ensure we dont lose anymore able-bodied warriors. That said.... let's head back. We both need a visit to Ottersplash."
The leader motioned to the other remaining warriors and they trekked back to camp, at a slower pace for the sake of the wounded. I'm not standing still. I am lying in wait. |
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