Shadows Behind a Lark

[occultation]

Shadowfur nodded. Her reasoning for saving the leader was valid. He would’ve made an argument to save the kits over the leader. Whether or not that was due to his distaste for Dawnstar’s leadership was not a question that crossed the tom’s mind in those moments.

“Last scenario,” he said. “It’s been a terrible leaf-bare, and your Clan is completely out of herbs. Your leader asks for your advice as to what should be done. What’s the plan of action you suggest?”

( Sorry for the short post, I don’t have much else to say in this post lol @Kat )

[Rose]

Larkpaw
Post Count: 138/100

Taking a deep breath, Larkpaw responded without waiting a moment longer after she'd taken a few seconds to think. "Send out herb patrols, for anything that's scavenge-able. Probably won't find anything, but looking won't hurt. And secondly, ask the other Clans for help. ShadowClan is proud and have a reason to be, sure, but pride shouldn't come in the way of life and death. If asking the other Clans for help means saving a kit or clanmate, casting that arrogance aside and momentarily bowing to showing weakness is worth it."

[ @Cherry~ - Shadowfur | No problem! ]

[occultation]

Shadowfur hummed in approval. Larkpaw was a practical cat, with a level of intelligence and poise that many her age lacked. He could see why Dawnstar selected her to be an Enforcer. “That shows a great deal of maturity and balance,” he complimented, giving his first actual comment on her performance this whole assessment. He didn’t feel that it would give away that she was passing with flying colors thus far.

He stood up and circled once. “Now for the final part of your assessment. We’ll be having a spar. Per Dawnstar’s wishes, this will be with claws unsheathed.” Personally, he felt it was stupid to have spars with claws unsheathed in the midst of leaf-bare. But, he didn’t want to meet the ends of Dawnstar’s claws tonight.

“You may attack first. Begin when you’re ready.” He unsheathed his claws and whipped his tail back and forth.

( @Kat )

[Rose]

Larkpaw
Post Count: 140/100

Ears flicking as Larkpaw soundlessly received praise from Shadowfur, the cat who was currently taking her assessment, Lark’s mind focused solely on the last thing on their list. Battle. And this was what she'd come to do. She’d come with a mindset to fight Shadowfur, a cat very much larger than her. It hadn’t been what she’d gotten right away, but at least now she could test out what she’d been planning.

Amber eyes flitted over Shadowfur’s shoulder for a moment, as if focusing on something that’d appeared behind him. “What’s that?” She asked seriously, and then, whether the large black tom got distracted or not by her aversion, the lithe she-cat lunged forward with sudden speed, twisting her body to slide underneath Shadowfur. Unsheathed claws first tried to claw at the Enforcer’s belly, and then latch onto his back left leg to attempt to bite down on his shin. If she could land a blow anywhere, it would give her a headstart. Without giving pause, whether she’d caused any damage or not, Larkpaw immediately rolled back out from under Shadowfur and sprung to her paws, taking on a defensive stance as she re-faced him.

[ @Cherry~ - Shadowfur ]

[occultation]

Shadowfur turned his head around as Larkpaw seemed to notice something behind him. Scuttling paws from Larkpaw’s direction grabbed his attention back, and he instinctively reared back on his hind legs. This movement allowed him to avoid her claws hitting his belly, but her teeth soon nipped his hind leg.

He leapt away from where he assumed she was, as she rolled away. The two cats were soon facing one another again. “Trickery like that might work against a Clanmate who trusts you, but not always against an enemy,” he growled.

The huge Enforcer decided to try out the move Vulturefang used against him some time ago now. He leapt forward with great strength, swinging his left paw at Larkpaw’s head. A half second after his left paw came up, he struck out with his right paw, aiming toward her legs.

His hind legs wobbled under the strain of supporting his weight during a move he’d never done before. He dug his hind claws in the dirt to keep balance.

( @Kat )

[Rose]

Larkpaw
Post Count: 142/100

A lowly hiss of pain was the only indication that Larkpaw had been struck by Shadowfur. Sure, she'd ducked out of the way after acknowledging his words, successfully avoiding his first strike. But unfortunately, her forearm hadn't been so lucky. When Larkpaw had gone to jump backward and out of Shadowfur's way, his claws and swiped painfully on her right front leg.

Gritting her teeth against the stinging pain shooting up her limb, Larkpaw ignored the cut for the time being, refocusing on her opponent. Fine, so the fresh wound was distracting, but Lark wouldn't let it distract her. Fiery amber eyes danced with thought for a moment, and the former loner let her claws dig into the soil, loosening slightly the packed ground beneath her feet. Lunging once more, first the smaller feline aimed to cast dirt in the direction of Shadowfur's eyes, and then rushed forward, left forearm lifting in a quick but (hopefully, if all went well) surely placed strike for either of his shoulders.

[ @Cherry~ - Shadowfur ]

[occultation]

Shadowfur immediately knew what she was going for as soon as her claws started furiously swiping the ground. The dampness of the ground rendered her attempt at blinding him with dirt rather futile, but he leapt back out of the way regardless.

It was a good thing he did, for Larkpaw rushed forward and swiped at him with a paw. The paw passed his neck with a whoosh.

He darted to her side and lunged forward, attempting to wrap his front legs around her middle. If he could grab her, he would roll them both onto their sides and squeeze her with his legs.

( @Kat )

[Rose]

Larkpaw
Post Count: 147/100

Claws twitching with dissatisfaction as Shadowfur once again ducked out of her grasp, Larkpaw spun around, twisting to face the larger tom as he lunged at her. Calculating amber eyes scrutinized the other enforcer for a beat, and then Larkpaw threw herself backward, allowing Shadowfur to tackle her. Apprentice and Enforcer hit the ground with a thud, but Larkpaw didn't allow Shadowfur to go any further than that. Her frontpaw claws attempted to dig into Shadowfur's front limbs. The moment Larkpaw's back hit the ground, she used the force of her fall to spur action into her backlegs, aiming a heavy kick, claws unsheathed and all, at Shadowfur's exposed belly.

[ @Cherry~ - Shadowfur ]

[occultation]

Shadowfur pulled Larkpaw down with ease. They were both on their sides now, her back against his belly. He started to squeeze, but as he did so a swipe from her ripped down his front right leg. He hissed in pain, this injury much more painful than the hind leg nip.

Larkpaw flailed her hind legs, to an ends that Shadowfur was unsure of. Despite the pain searing through his front leg, he kept his grip on Larkpaw. If he continued squeezing and she was unable to get him off, ideally she’d eventually start to black out from a lack of air.

( @Kat )

[Rose]

Larkpaw
Post Count: 147/100

The scent of blood sharpened Larkpaw's senses as her swipe rightfully landed, opening a fresh wound on Shadowfur's front leg. But her small victory didn't last for long, because the unfortunate feeling of being squeezed suddenly descended upon Larkpaw, stealing her air and dimming the corners of her vision. Oh dear, she was being choked. That would not work. Not at all, so abandoning all else, the lithe damsel began wriggling out of Shadowfur's tight grasp. She wouldn't allow herself to pass out, not at all. It seemed fruitless, her attempts, until Larkpaw's vision began swimming, and another kick of adrenaline helped the apprentice enforcer squirm out of Shadowfur's grasp.

Spinning away from the tom and then re-facing him after once more dropping into a defensive stance, Larkpaw kept her amber eyes focused. Or, at least, she allowed herself to refocus after all that almost vision loss. She didn't know how long this was supposed to last, but Lark would endure. She didn't seem to have a choice, after all.

[ @Cherry~ - Shadowfur ]