Mud, Blood, and a Flash Flood

[Midgefur]

Originally Posted by Duskflight

{Oh, thank you >.<" Was actually worried it might not be enough haha!}
Everything around Raccoonpaw faded into a blur and the very sounds seemed to be blocked out of her ears, everything being focused on the apprentice in front of her and the small area they around themselves to fight. She found it useful to block out everything around her and focus solely on this conflict, though it did leave her open to attack if any other Shadowclan apprentice decided to jump in, or even a warrior. However, she forced herself to not think about that. She couldn't predict everything in a fight and she certainly didn't need to spend her time trying to do that. From her gaze, he looked nervous, like he had never had a battle before, as if he had never actually been trained to battle anyways. Was he a new apprentice? Get your thoughts back on track! Her mind yowled, forcing her to lash her tail, her claws flexing as she watched him for his next move, wanting to play more of a defensive strategy now that she had used her element of surprise.

"That's what you're going to be when I'm through with you!" She immediately yowled back in response, backing up just slightly as she saw him rearing up on his hind legs and drew up his forepaws and quickly swatted out, aiming right for her nose. It was a split second decision, but she decided to go for it. She let the strike it her nose, but then surged forward, head down, going to attempt to headbutt him in the chest, to send him sprawling backwards since he was on his hind legs, planning to start battering him once he was on the ground if her hit landed.

When the black and white tom's claws met the opposing apprentice's nose leather, he felt a wave of energy like an ember crackling in his chest- his first strike in battle! But he realized he should save any cockiness until afterward, especially when he watched as the striped she-cat barreled full force at him. Her head made an impact with his gut and Stiltpaw's breath escaped him in an audible groan, before getting shaken again as his back hit the forest floor. A heavy paw hit his chin and claws nicked his lower lip, before he knew what was going on, the tom felt strikes on his neck and chest as well.

Heaving, Stiltpaw had to think of something quickly, anything that might get him out from underneath the ThunderClan cat. Unable to suppress the frustrated hissing passing through his teeth, he raised his hind legs and kicked out as hard as he could, trying to score her underside with pale claws. The distant meow about someone with a broken leg, made the young tom shiver involuntarily and he hoped to StarClan nothing like that would happen to him.

[Leaf_tail]

Originally Posted by Constellation

Rain was always a delight to Passionblaze, but fighting in heavy rain? It wasn’t an easy thing to do. The weather conditions weren’t ideal for the purpose. His fur was matted down, rain dripping in his gaze and blurring it for a moment. As Passionblaze spring forward to cast another hit, he was pushed back with a sharp sting from the other tom’s claws. Giving him good long scratches on his face. Passionblaze let out an infuriating growl. Bad timing for it to be storming this hard... the acidic rain dripping on the scratches left on his face, burned even more, but with loss of feeling and a numb mind, Passionblaze found it hard to notice it.

When the battle was over, he’d notice it. All the pain this battle physically beat him. For now, the rain couldn’t stop the fight so through a blinded vision, Passionblaze lowered himself onto the ground, swiftly slipping forward to drag a claw against his opponent’s side. Lowering himself to the ground made it a bit easier to see, but not as easy it would be in daytime. Or, a day that had clear skies. The water was building up, he could feel the puddles covering his paws.

Covered in bruises, dust, mud, and blood was not a pretty sight when the rain was the final piece of art that drenched his pelt.

Seething with rage and pain, Brokencreek snarled and leaped forward, his claws swiping at Passionblaze's face. Before he had gotten too far, the mud around his feet caught on his fur, pulling him to down to his paws. He hissed in rage and tugged his feet from the thick sludge. He backed away from the other cat as the reality of the battle sank in. The rain, the mud... StarClan must be furious, he realized. But not even StarClan could keep him from this battle.

It wasn't only StarClan that was affecting his performance. The other cuts and wounds along his body were slowly but surely sapping at his strength. The rain made his kinked tail ache dully. Though he kept his teeth bared and his hackles raised, his exhaustion was evident in the slump of his muscles. Brokencreek could barely muster the effort to dodge the tom's attacks. I can't do this, he realized, his desperation mounting.

In a flurry of remounted vigor, he pulled his ears flat and attacked Passionblaze, aiming for the soft underskin of his belly. If you can't win fair, play dirty.

[Brilliance]

Originally Posted by Leaf_tail

Seething with rage and pain, Brokencreek snarled and leaped forward, his claws swiping at Passionblaze's face. Before he had gotten too far, the mud around his feet caught on his fur, pulling him to down to his paws. He hissed in rage and tugged his feet from the thick sludge. He backed away from the other cat as the reality of the battle sank in. The rain, the mud... StarClan must be furious, he realized. But not even StarClan could keep him from this battle.

It wasn't only StarClan that was affecting his performance. The other cuts and wounds along his body were slowly but surely sapping at his strength. The rain made his kinked tail ache dully. Though he kept his teeth bared and his hackles raised, his exhaustion was evident in the slump of his muscles. Brokencreek could barely muster the effort to dodge the tom's attacks. I can't do this, he realized, his desperation mounting.

In a flurry of remounted vigor, he pulled his ears flat and attacked Passionblaze, aiming for the soft underskin of his belly. If you can't win fair, play dirty.

Giving up was not an option. Never an option when it came to the flamed tom. He fought until he was motionless. Since he wasn’t dead yet, he was still useful, so he continued to fight. Every burning sensation was shadowed by his empty thoughts and raged emotions. Passionblaze detected a drop of energy from his opponent. Giving up so quickly? Possibly, this gave Passionblaze an advantage. Then again, Passionblaze didn’t like to fight opponents who were tired so quickly.

Then, the tom came hurtling back towards Passionblaze, giving the deputy less time to recuperate. Passionblaze rolled to the side, feeling fresh claw marks wound his side. Internally, the deputy was screaming but his outward appearance had been eerily calm. Blood, mixed with rain created such a graphic scene that it wasn’t for the faint of the heart.

Passionblaze, as quick as he could, he used the strength in his bulky legs to kick at the Shadowclan warrior. At least to throw him far enough so that he was able to cater to his side. This was not a simple wound. His side, deeply gashed made it hurt for him to twist. Despite this, Passionblaze never been the one to allow pain to deter him. So, he was up again in a flash, ready to endure whatever this tom offered. The power of impulsion was fearless. The weak of impulsion was reckless.

[Radler]

Originally Posted by Spiral Whirl

Snowpaw was minding his own business in the battle, well trying to. He didn't want to fight, while he was so keen on it last time... it got out of hand in his point of view. Snowpaw unsheathed his claws, maybe he should try to help someone out? No one really noticed the white furred apprentice which was a shocking thing to him. He stood out. He wasn't exactly the kind to well, talk while he fought. Unless he was begging for mercy, then nope. Snowpaw at the last second heard a noise, he jumped away but not enough to where his attacker would miss. A piece of his left ear was torn off, Snowpaw looked at it. At least it isn't the other ear. He realized that he was in a battle, right now. Right now. He glared at the she-cat, assuming it was a apprentice closed to his age. He darted away, before twisting around. He aim for her side, bringing his claws up to at least injure her side. He noticed that in battle his weakness was his side and belly. While already knowing about his left deaf ear. Snowpaw needed to keep a eye on it if she figured it out. For one thing, he wasn't someone who was competitive but hated losing something. Being in last place, it didn't even have to be first! Just not last place.

Emberpaw felt a burst of victory surge through her as she nicked Snowpaw's ear, a childlike pleasure because this was her first battle and that was her first ever succesful, well, semi-succesful, move. She couldn't wait to tell Nightshadow! But first, she would need to defeat this scrawny Thunderclan tom. She landed clumsily, her paws skidding slightly in the mud, and before she could react, the white apprentice was dancing around her, approaching her with nimble movements and soaring towards her with his claws outstretched. While Emberpaw always prided herself on her speed, she could not dodge his blow as effectively as he had dodged hers. Not thinking how to react, she had turned towards him and his claws had instead sliced through her shoulder. Emberpaw yowled in pain, frustration shading her tone. She wrenched herself away from Snowpaw, drawing herself up to full height, her fur bristling and tail shaking with anger. She stood with blood welling from her shoulder and dripping down her leg, pooling in a muddy indent at her paws. Emberpaw gave her shoulder a brief lick, inspecting her own wound before whirling her attention back to Snowpaw. She gave the white tom as little time to react as possible, surging toward him and gathering herself into a leap less than a fox-length away from him. As she threw herself through the air, she aimed to land squarely on his back, hoping to knock him to the ground and bite him on the back on the neck.

[Radler]

Originally Posted by Liekki

Nightshadow smirked as she saw that her attack had succeded. She tried to pretend that it was no surprise, but she was worried about how her strength would hold up with the mud and slippery rain. She nodded as heard the other cat's words, Mmhm, Hon. Not gonna cry, huh? Surprising. You know, I might go easy on you if you cry." She rolled her eyes and felt the unstable ground beneath her paws. This was a horrible time to be fighting, and she guessed there would be tremendous losses on both sides. And I won't be one of them, she reassured herself. Steadying herself, she stood square in front of Mistwing. Nightshadow was scared that they would lose cats to the weather and ShadowClan wouldn't win, but Nightshadow had to have faith in her clan that they would win. Attacks running through her head, she thought quickly about the validity of each one. She then decided that if she knocked the other cat down and gave her a few good swipes the ThunderClan cat would run away, or at least beg for mercy. Thinking about this, she suddenly she leaped straight ahead with her paws out in front of her.

Mistwing snarled in frustration as she skidded to the ground. The look of certainty and victory that glinted in Nightshadow's eyes enraged her. Mistwing, who had never been certain about anything in her life aside from the fact she would never have something to lose, was going to be defeated by this simple Shadowclan cat. Anger surged within her, and when she saw Nightshadow leap towards her once again, Mistwing made a risky move. She flipped onto her back, revealing her belly, knowing with the speed that Nightshadow's moved at she wouldn't have enough time to gather herself to her paws. Mistwing's favourite move in battle had always been to go for her opponents stomach, and now that Nightshadow's victory was almost already ensured, the last thing Mistwing could use in her battle was her recklessness. Mistwing kicked her paws in the air, claws flexing as Nightwing soared towards her. Her icy eyes shone fiercely through a pelt matted almost entirely in mud. This was Mistwing testing Nightshadow's resolve. If she committed to her attack, Nightshadow could either give or recieve a potentially life-threatening wound.

[OOC: cut her up, sis! also, sorry for the late reply my dog has been really sick so I've been looking after her]

[Liekki]

Originally Posted by Radler

Mistwing snarled in frustration as she skidded to the ground. The look of certainty and victory that glinted in Nightshadow's eyes enraged her. Mistwing, who had never been certain about anything in her life aside from the fact she would never have something to lose, was going to be defeated by this simple Shadowclan cat. Anger surged within her, and when she saw Nightshadow leap towards her once again, Mistwing made a risky move. She flipped onto her back, revealing her belly, knowing with the speed that Nightshadow's moved at she wouldn't have enough time to gather herself to her paws. Mistwing's favourite move in battle had always been to go for her opponents stomach, and now that Nightshadow's victory was almost already ensured, the last thing Mistwing could use in her battle was her recklessness. Mistwing kicked her paws in the air, claws flexing as Nightwing soared towards her. Her icy eyes shone fiercely through a pelt matted almost entirely in mud. This was Mistwing testing Nightshadow's resolve. If she committed to her attack, Nightshadow could either give or recieve a potentially life-threatening wound.

[OOC: cut her up, sis! also, sorry for the late reply my dog has been really sick so I've been looking after her]

Nightshadow felt a surge of panic as she saw Mistwing's paws go up into the air. Her momentum carried her forward, but if she tried to move out of the leap she had taken, she would tumble to the ground and could get more injuries. She cringed as Mistwing's claws raked across her stomach, the wounds just deep enough to draw blood. Nightshadow yelped as she hit the ground hard on her front paws behind Mistwing. She whipped around and gathered her strength for another attack. Her style of fighting used slow, heavy attacks that required a lot of strength, but not much speed. She used her powerful back legs to once again pounce, trying to pin Mistwing down. It didn't occur to her that so far none of her pouncing attacks hadn't worked, so she continued on with trying to defeat Mistwing. This time she didn't say anything, focused on the task at hand rather than insults.

(OOC: Oh, sorry to hear that! I hope your dog gets better! Who should we mention now?)

[Radler]

Originally Posted by Liekki

Nightshadow felt a surge of panic as she saw Mistwing's paws go up into the air. Her momentum carried her forward, but if she tried to move out of the leap she had taken, she would tumble to the ground and could get more injuries. She cringed as Mistwing's claws raked across her stomach, the wounds just deep enough to draw blood. Nightshadow yelped as she hit the ground hard on her front paws behind Mistwing. She whipped around and gathered her strength for another attack. Her style of fighting used slow, heavy attacks that required a lot of strength, but not much speed. She used her powerful back legs to once again pounce, trying to pin Mistwing down. It didn't occur to her that so far none of her pouncing attacks hadn't worked, so she continued on with trying to defeat Mistwing. This time she didn't say anything, focused on the task at hand rather than insults.

(OOC: Oh, sorry to hear that! I hope your dog gets better! Who should we mention now?)

Mistwing let out a sigh of relief when her plan worked. As much as she had faith in her move, she didn't want to die on her back looking like a stupid apprentice who hadn't even learned to shield their stomach. While visibly, Mistwing appeared to have the upper hand, the shallow cuts littering Nightshadow's body oozing blood, the Shadowclan warrior heavy blows had taken it's toll. As Mistwing rose to her paws, her legs trembled, feeling bruises forming in all the areas where Nightshadow had hit her. Mistwing summoned all the disgust she could in to her voice, spitting out, "You really are a slow learner aren't you? All Shadowclan cats are the same. Can't tell another cats business from your own, can't tell a cat from a fox, and can't tell when you are absolutely losing, not just a fight, a battle." Mistwing flicked her tail, gesturing to the grappling cats around her, in an attempt to distract Nighshadow. Mistwing didn't know Nighshadow very well, and didn't know if her taunting would make her opponent more fierce or more clumsy. This time, Mistwing wrenched her body in to the air, rising on her hind legs to meet Nighshadow mid pounce. She lunged forward, teeth bared and aiming for Nighshadow's throat. But again, at the worst possible moment, the mud shifted beneath her paws. Her claws scored the soggy earth but it was no use, she began toppling backwards yet again. Mistwing's jaw snapped shut a hair's breadth away Nightshadow's throat, her first and last chance at a killing blow ruined. As Mistwing fell backwards and Nighshadow toppled over, Mistwing wondered how Nightshadow would react, knowing that Mistwing had intended to end her life.

[OOC: perhaps in your next post you can pin Mistwing down and go for the throat cut and tag Owl when you do it, she should be able to tag Beau when she attacks you. and remember I'd really love it if you could miss Mistwing's throat and instead cut her eye, i really want to her to part blind lol]

[Jynx]

Originally Posted by .:Blue Wishes:.

(( This will be short, Sorry ! ))

Goldenstar had begun to feel raindrops beat down on him, nothing crazy yet, but downpour certainly wasn’t far away. He scowled when he missed the she-cat, but didn’t let that discourage him. It was up to him to try to make up for the uncalled order to attack he had released, but there was no way he could make this up. He was trying his best to not call himself stupid, almost dodging her, before feeling a weight slam into him, now trying to push her off him, preparing to rake his claws across her stomach.

Sweetfawn struggled to keep herself from siding off of him, digging her claws into his pelt with a powerful grip. She was younger and much less experienced, though, and as he faked his claws down her soft stomach fur, asharp yowl of pain cut trough her. The female wrenched herself away, her belly wounds dripping from his marks. It wasn't so horrible that she would have to run away, but the pain was nauseating. As she faced the ShadowClan leader, her thoughts raced a mile a minute. "Why did you attack us on the night of a gathering?" She three the question out with no intent of backing up any retort, she had wildly thought of something to buy her a few crucial seconds before attacking again, and this was the first thing she thought of.

[:blue:]

Originally Posted by Deranged Llama

Sweetfawn struggled to keep herself from siding off of him, digging her claws into his pelt with a powerful grip. She was younger and much less experienced, though, and as he faked his claws down her soft stomach fur, asharp yowl of pain cut trough her. The female wrenched herself away, her belly wounds dripping from his marks. It wasn't so horrible that she would have to run away, but the pain was nauseating. As she faced the ShadowClan leader, her thoughts raced a mile a minute. "Why did you attack us on the night of a gathering?" She three the question out with no intent of backing up any retort, she had wildly thought of something to buy her a few crucial seconds before attacking again, and this was the first thing she thought of.

Golden’s shoulders stung, and now he was trying to get her off him. Thankfully, his claws actually managed to scrape across her stomach, and that helped a bunch. Quickly pushing himself up, grimacing as he felt mud plastered against his body. He could push the substance away, but that wasn’t the thing on his mind right now. What was actually on his mind was getting this cat to leave him alone. “The question you should be asking yourself is why your deputy attacked first.” he growled, his eyes narrowed. She was trying to stall, that was obvious, and that only made him lunge towards the she-Cat once again, trying not to kill her, but make sure that she would learn to check her facts before accusing him. Yes, he did attack, but passionblaze had hurt him first! There wasn’t any time to think about it right now, his eyes narrowed as he tried to pin her down.

[Leaf_tail]

Originally Posted by Constellation

Giving up was not an option. Never an option when it came to the flamed tom. He fought until he was motionless. Since he wasn’t dead yet, he was still useful, so he continued to fight. Every burning sensation was shadowed by his empty thoughts and raged emotions. Passionblaze detected a drop of energy from his opponent. Giving up so quickly? Possibly, this gave Passionblaze an advantage. Then again, Passionblaze didn’t like to fight opponents who were tired so quickly.

Then, the tom came hurtling back towards Passionblaze, giving the deputy less time to recuperate. Passionblaze rolled to the side, feeling fresh claw marks wound his side. Internally, the deputy was screaming but his outward appearance had been eerily calm. Blood, mixed with rain created such a graphic scene that it wasn’t for the faint of the heart.

Passionblaze, as quick as he could, he used the strength in his bulky legs to kick at the Shadowclan warrior. At least to throw him far enough so that he was able to cater to his side. This was not a simple wound. His side, deeply gashed, made it hurt for him to twist. Despite this, Passionblaze had never been the one to allow pain to deter him. So, he was up again in a flash, ready to endure whatever this tom offered. The power of impulsion was fearless. The weak of impulsion was reckless.

Passionblaze's legs caught him in the chest, shoving Brokencreek back into the mud. He hissed in agony as the mud seeped into his fur. He tried to get to his feet, ready to attack again, but his legs just scrambled uselessly in the sludge. His breath came in uneven gasps, his chest stuttering. Get up! he wanted to scream at himself. Get up, you useless piece of crowfood! He was frozen--in pain or fear, he couldn't tell. Get up get up get up!

Slowly, painfully, Brokencreek lifted himself to his paws. The cuts on his flank were not streaming blood, droplets steadily dripping off his fur and mixing with the mud. His back legs trembled with the force of keeping him upright, his paws gripping the ground. The wounds dotting his flank screamed in pain, but she shook his head stubbornly. Keep fighting, Brokencreek. Never surrender. He took a step forward, then another.

Brokencreek didn't bother to pretend that he wasn't injured; it was obvious to anyone watching that he wouldn't be able to stand on his paws for much longer, but he still had his pride. He flexed his claws, his chest heaving, his body swaying, and leaped clumsily at Passionblaze.