| Sprucepaw |
Kitty Softpaws - Active | Ultimate Predator - Active | Agatha Kitty - Active
The young tom barely had the time to turn around and return to the spot he had hidden the two squirrels in when a very fuzzy, leafy hill suddenly materialized before him, covering him in merry licks. Truthfully, the apprentice didn't mind the brushing of the giant's tongue anymore. He had grown fond of their affections - and there was really very little doubt as to who this was - although he did hope this wouldn't make for a bad impression as far as Angry was concerned. He had never witnessed the tiny fury showing a range of emotions that did not involve anger, rage, ire, or violence. If he were to be honest, he wasn't even certain the ThunderClan leader cared much for what even he deemed to be the weaker emotions. Perhaps the turbulent tabby had simply outgrown her weaknesses by now. That outraged output of energy must have gone somewhere if not her size, after all.
The impromptu bath seemingly done, Fudge looked up at the beaming feline, a mixture of pride and frustration hinted in his half lidded gaze, the small, singular tap of his tail a much better metric of his current mental state. He knew The Boulder was proud, and frankly, that did make the eight moon old tom pleased... but he still couldn't help feel the sting of the one that got away. He would have to improve his technique in time... And what if the leader decided that bird was enough to keep him back? His mentor was very adamant this was not the case but... the chocolate point couldn't help but worry.
Turned out the former kittypet didn't have much time to concern himself over the hunting portion of his assessment. Gratefully, it seemed his hunting prowess with the squirrels had at the very least validated his climbing capabilities as a whole, which left only... combat. The part he dreaded most. How was he supposed to fight off such a colossal cat? Once more, the younger feline found himself giving a dubious glance at the larger one's encouragement, finding it difficult to believe that the leader would accept a loss as a worthy finish to his assessment. He was grateful, of course, for the fact that he'd been given The Boulder as a mentor. He couldn't have asked for a better cat to learn from. Fighting them, however, was a whole other beast to tackle... or mountain. A whole massive, furry mountain that was aiming a paw to his face- Wait... what?!
Fudge could admit that he had let his guard down. He trusted The Boulder explicitly, so when the mountain of a cat decided to tell him that they were entering the combat portion of the assessment, the Birman mix had assumed it was a recommendation. A small heads up waiting for confirmation from the apprentice. With his mentor's usual air of relaxation, it was hard to imagine anything would come out of nowhere with them... unless it was a hug. Seemed it was less a hug centric thing and more a physical thing however, as that paw came at him faster than he could react, and even as his eyes opened wide in slow realization he felt the first strike land squarely on his nose in what he could only consider an act of utmost betrayal.
Gratefully, all it took was that single strike to make the dark limbed paw react. He had gotten used to it at one point. It had been a short moment in his life despite it seeming a lifetime of misery even in retrospect. Those days he had wandered the city starving and getting beat up the moment he found any morsel to eat, another, larger cat always making sure to remind him that these strikes were a kindness. They were letting him know that life was tough as they laughed at his cries of pain and misery. He had learned how to defends against those cats before, and by instinct, he had begun to let himself drop. To fall to the ground and just let the beating finish. He knew the less he reacted the less fun they had. The sooner it ended. Except... he wasn't in the city anymore... and he doubted The Boulder or Angry would stop beating him until he was dead.
This thought striking into him more than The Boulder's own blows ever could, Fudge narrowed his eyes, rolling away from the feline's next hits and into the protruding roots of the nearby tree. The place he had hidden in to hunt the cardinals could provide some cover while he found a weakness, he hoped... Although frankly, looking at the giant, the young tom was once again reminded of how much smaller and younger he was. Of how lanky he looked in comparison to them. He was good at climbing... and hunting... and nothing else... But then... what was it they had said before? That hunting wasn't too different to an ambush attack. Well... maybe he couldn't surprise them anymore... It would be too late for an ambush, but if he could apply hunting skills to battles, perhaps there was a chance that he could apply climbing into fighting too? He would be unable to bring down the giant, but what was a mountain for if not climbing?
Narrowing his eyes, he skittered through the shadows of the roots, paws silent as he hoped his fur would provide ample camouflage within this shelter. It would be better, of course... if it wasn't for all this worthless sno- The snow... A rare, mirthless grin spread the tom's lips across his maw for a moment as an idea formed, grabbing at the snow while keeping a focused, attentive eye on his mentor. He'd felled the beast once before, hadn't he? With a snowball aimed at random? The paw knew fully that there would be no chance of this snowball procuring the same effect once more, for starters The Boulder did not have their own massive snowball with them. But if he could provide a distraction? Just enough to leap and land on the mountain's back... or at least help in clamber on him and aim a small nip at his neck? The chances of blinding the giant were zero, but... maybe... just maybe... Yes. A distraction. That was all he'd ask for as he tossed the snowball, aiming right at the feline's face. And if it failed and instead gained a massive paw down the roots attempting to grab at him? Well... those toe beans hurt when bitten, no matter how big you were.
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dino. [Bumblestar] | @
Rani [Mudhound]