[sleepyyjax]

 

Originally Posted by Daragca

​​​​
Owlthroat
he/him | Shadowclan Enforcer | 47 moons
Killer Aptitude T3 - Just A Scratch - Silver Tongue T2
The Dancing Bird

Owlthroat’s lips curled into a smile as Newtbelly spoke, seems like he was indeed keeping busy. It pleased him to know, particularly when it came to sparring. Nothing like keeping the claws honed and ready for battle. Despite it being rather dull as of late, not for Owlthroat of course. The enforcer had been plenty busy with his own challenge against the now promoted Rookfire. It had brought the excitement he needed back to his life.

However he still couldn’t help but crave for a real, honest to Starclan, battle. Something where he could kill and shred apart a couple cats without blinking so much as an eye. He’d had to adapt that fight as to not cause permanent injury, as did Rookfire. ”Apart from the challenge, I must say things have been rather lackluster.” He chortled as his eyes roamed the ground in search of more toads. He hadn’t spotted another quite yet.

”You think you’d hold your own against a challenge?” The question was a curious one, he wanted to guess if Newtbelly had the self belief. He didn’t know how he would truly fare, he’d like to think well seeing his experience by now and his training from yours truly. He couldn’t help but feel like he’d be rather bitter if he lost, but there was rumblings of change and even a clueless oaf like Owlthroat could feel that. Flytail was already whispering in his ear for extra training, vowing he would go against Rookfire. But he couldn’t see his brother having the ability to defeat him, Rookfire was a good fighter. Not as good Owlthroat, he egotistically believed. Flytail was a decent fighter but his brother had never been a bruiser like himself, perhaps he’d pick a different target. Maybe Briarsplash? Mind you she was formidable in her own right.

[ @sleepyyjax ]
[ foreshadowing who? ]

Newtbelly
he/him | Agatha Kitty, Shadow Fiend, Killer Aptitude T1 | 23 moons
ShadowClan Enforcer

header: @/daragca

Ah, the challenge. He'd avoided the subject. Honestly, he worried that he'd talk too negatively of Rookfire and appear imature - especially when Owlthroat clearly hadn't taken the challenge personally. And - well, the concerns plauging his mind when it came to the clear cut running down the large cat's nose. Concerns regarding how that related to the challenge. He'd ignore those concerns as best as he could. If Owlthroat wanted to share, he would.

Anyway. The challenge itself. As much as he craved some excitement in his life, he was eternally glad that he wasn't the one up there. So, the next question made his breath stop. His faith in his own ability to hold his own... Wasn't high. At least, not aqainst any cat older than himself.

He supposed it was one of the things that caused his thirst for battle: lack of experience. He had faith that his training was top standard, but what was training without real world pratice? Without ever actually getting his claws out in the face of another cat? It did shock him that ShadowClan had been so peacefull; Right from his warrior ceremony till now, there hadn't been a single major battle. Not against other cats, anyway. He was still sour that he hadn't been chosen for the assault on RiverClan (despite knowing how reasonable it was for him to not attend).

"It depends on the cat." He sighed. There was no use lying to Owlthroat. He figured he knew him too well. Plus, claiming that he could best a warrior twice his senior would be foolish. Even Rookfire, around the same age as him, would have torn him to shreds. Of course, that was a matter of experience. Though he didn't know the ins and outs, it appeared that Rookfire's life had been... Tumultuous? He'd never asked about it. They hadn't ever spoken, really. All he knew about him was his RiverClan heritage. And he figured, something big must have to happen, to make a cat change clans. Either that, or RiverClan really was that much of a mess. Either way, it was clear just from the way he behaved. He was a cat with experience. Not that any of that was worth thinking much about now. For some unbeknownst reason, he'd ended up challenging Owlthroat. So luckily, ShadowClan's newest form of derranged entertainment was not watching Newtbelly get his pelt absolutely destroyed.

It was obvious though, that Rookfire's challenge had sparked a fire in the heart of the ambitious clan. There weren't many known cats he'd anticipate a challenge from, though. Mosstangle was a great warrior, but he couldn't imagine her challenging any of the current enforcers. Flytail was clearly ambtious, but he couldn't imagine him challenging Newtbelly. Maybe he'd go for Rookfire, looking for revenge on his brother's part? It would make sense - he seemed to have a more volatile personality than Owlthroat. He could certainly get upset on his brother's behalf. Who else... Fernsmoke had proven a powerfull warrior in their spar. Though, like Mosstangle, she didn't strike him as somecat that would want to challenge any of the current enforcers.

Perhaps some new warriors would come foreward. That would make sense. "If any new warrior thinks they're big news, I'll send them running back to the apprentice den." He explained with a scoff. The gall required to challenge an enforcer, as some itty bitty 12 moon old, had to be immense. The total lack of disrespect, he decided, would ignite enough fury in him to smite any little guy into next moon. It's the same kind of thing that bugged him about Rookfire's challenge. Though, of course Rookfire was far older than 12 moons. He'd calmed down about it a little, after learning that Owlthroat was actually not the returning enforcer's choice. But still, if it were Briarsplash or Tuftedtusk, he'd be just as upset. He was sort of hanging onto the hope that he was the intended reticipent. Perhaps Hawkbite wanted to save him the embarassment... Or, Owlthroat threw himself in the ring to protect him? Stars, he'd never know. "But it'd be foolish to belive that I could beat my seniors. Expereince and age are important factors." He shrugged, attempting to look non-chalent about the thought. "Even Rookfire - if he can match you, well - I wouldn't stand a chance." He paused, "not to say I'm weak." He tapped the tom's shoulder with his tail, playfully. "Just nothing compared to my own mentor, eh?"