Nightspark rushed forward at the signal, he felt the sand under his paws, warm, liquid... He struggled from time to time, feeling his paws sinking or slipping, but he continued to run, determined to arrive before Gingerfrost, he was only focused on things in front of him, as he arrived at the rock, he didn't stopped to run, running staight in the rock, at the last moment he jumped on the rock, well... he have touched it, and hard! His outstretched paws touched the stone and the speed nearly made him knock his face on the rock, he pushed back, and went flying before catching up on the sand, nearly falling in it, but it didn't stopped him and he raced toward the finish line, as he arrived, he looked around, he had been so focused that he haven't seen if Gingerfrost was in front or behind him...
Peachpaw nodded and looked at kestralpaw, the molly lashed her tail as the began. She ran off just seconds later after kestralpaw began running. Her legs spreading further and further from apart with every step. Soon she caught up and touched the rock at the same time kestralpaw touched the rock. The molly then turned around and began heading back, Her paws keeping the same length with every stride. RUnning in the sand didn't seem hard, The molly just kept running pulling ahead of the apprentice she made it look easy. she soon made it to the finish line with ease then looking at kestralpaw the molly smiled big"come on Kestralpaw!" she said happy and excited, wanting the apprentice to give all he has. Was running in the sand really hard? The molly ignored that question and tried to purk her partner up.
Kestrelpaw was still running possibilities in her mind as she began to run back. Yes, her plan would now as Peachpaw pulled ahead. How confident she seemed. A devilish grin nearly pulled on her features. Yes, it would work well enough.
She neared the other apprentice, and began to pick up speed. She was now used to running on sand, and would use the surroundings to her advantage. Faster, faster, she urged herself. As she got closer, and closer... she skirted out of the way, dragging her paws behind her. The effect was beautiful- a wall of sand that flew up and cascaded down onto Peachpaw.
She used the moment to her full advantage, and immediately darted around to Peachpaw's blind spot, taking the moment and the sand to ram her shoulder in the blind spot's direction.
Peachpaw nodded and looked at kestralpaw, the molly lashed her tail as the began. She ran off just seconds later after kestralpaw began running. Her legs spreading further and further from apart with every step. Soon she caught up and touched the rock at the same time kestralpaw touched the rock. The molly then turned around and began heading back, Her paws keeping the same length with every stride. RUnning in the sand didn't seem hard, The molly just kept running pulling ahead of the apprentice she made it look easy. she soon made it to the finish line with ease then looking at kestralpaw the molly smiled big"come on Kestralpaw!" she said happy and excited, wanting the apprentice to give all he has. Was running in the sand really hard? The molly ignored that question and tried to purk her partner up.
Kestrelpaw was still running possibilities in her mind as she began to run back. Yes, her plan would now as Peachpaw pulled ahead. How confident she seemed. A devilish grin nearly pulled on her features. Yes, it would work well enough.
She neared the other apprentice, and began to pick up speed. She was now used to running on sand, and would use the surroundings to her advantage. Faster, faster, she urged herself. As she got closer, and closer... she skirted out of the way, dragging her paws behind her. The effect was beautiful- a wall of sand that flew up and cascaded down onto Peachpaw.
She used the moment to her full advantage, and immediately darted around to Peachpaw's blind spot, taking the moment and the sand to ram her shoulder in the blind spot's direction.
Briarfang nodded and turned to Wispwatcher "let's get started then" he mewed with a smile and walked towards the starting line.
As soon as Beansprout said go he pushed of the sand with all his strength and started running as fast as he could the sand definitely made it harder but he was determined to do his best.
Right, this seemed easy enough! "You're on!" meowed Wispwatcher with a grin of their own, padding up to the starting line. At Beansprout's call, they broke into a sprint—and immediately realized why this race was done on the sand. They hadn't expected the softness, the instability of the sand, and Wispwatcher stumbled briefly before regaining control. A breathy laugh escaped them as they worked overtime to catch up with Briarfang.
With long strides, the young warrior nearly ran right into the rock that marked the turning point, but they managed to slow down enough so they could bap the rock with a paw and whirl around to continue the race back. They'd lost some speed with that earlier stumble, but they were sure the rest would go smoothly!
This was it, the start. After Beansprout gave his final explanations, Gingerfrost moved to stand at the starting line. He shook out his pelt, taking a brief moment to stretch. It's been a while since he's fought, even longer since the last time he had a good run -- this would be tiring no doubt, but at least it had some benefit. He glanced at Nightspark; the warrior didn't look particularly bigger or smaller than him (or at least, he presumed so, from both their crouched positions - but sight could betray).
The moment the RiverClan leader sounded the alarm, Gingerfrost sprinted off, his feet tapping into the ground. He quickly took note of how uncomfortable to sand felt beneath his paws as he ran. On top of that, the more his paws hit the ground, the more it shifted backwards with the movement of his feet, kicking up sand behind him as he went. With each step, it looked like he was about to faceplant, but he managed to keep upright, just behind Nightspark.
His goal wasn't to bypass the other warrior, rather, he was fine running behind him: Gingerfrost was well aware he wasn't the fastest amongst them. While he could pull off some fairly quick movements and switch gears easily, long-time running was never something he practiced much, nor was his body particularly build for running. Those quick little movements were momentarily and easy; this is long-term, and as such he had to compensate with practice and care.
As he want, the tabby took note of his digging his claws into the sand, obviously, did nothing. Balance was the answer here and, luckily, balance is something the tabby had. When it came to the sharp turn, he was mildly impressed with the way Nightspark jumped up against and off the rock, though Gingerfrost didn't feel like doing the same, deciding to go around the rock instead. Just as he came up beside the boulder, Gingerfrost leapt somewhat sideways, his paws digging into the sand as he kicked up a cloud of dust, skidding nearly to a halt, though now turned favourably in the direction he had to go. He used to little ledge of sand that had build up behind his paws (his paws basically in a lose sand-dug hole) to kick off and gain some speed as he went.
This time, his running had become smoother. Although the ground was uneven due to those that were faster than him, he opted to lay his steps in the steps of others, as such being less bothered by the shifting ground as he sand had already been trampled down in those areas. While he gained on Nightspark, the tabby remained behind the warrior, making only effort to keep up. And when Nightspark arrived at the finish line, the warrior made the horrible mistake of seemingly getting distracted -- just how Gingerfrost wanted it.
For the last stretch, Nightspark looking around, Gingerfrost gained in speed. Using the momentum of this speed he leapt with outstretched paws at the warrior, aiming to tackle the feline's side and hopefully down him. Should he manage to do just that, the impact of the leap was likely to down both warriors, though Gingerfrost most probably on top lest they rolled through the sand. It could leave either him or Nightspark pinned, Gingerfrost aiming to slap the air out of the warrior's lungs should he be the one pinning Nightspark. In the unlikely event Nightspark ended up on top after their roll, Gingerfrost would simply kick up with both his back legs, the goal the same as before. That being said, the chance remained that Nightspark avoided his initial jump completely, in which case Gingerfrost, true to how he's always done it, would jump at the warrior two more times, this time aiming to land on his back and (lightly, for he didn't want to injure the warrior) bite Nightspark's scruff.
Nightspark heard a rustle just behind him, too late, he had made a basic mistake... he turned, only to be hit head-on by a rock named Gingefrost, the impact blew out all the air he had and he took a few steps back, he did not fall and gasped, trying to catch his breath at the same time "Khh..khh... Th-That's all you... khh... got?", he applied a small surviving technic, he sighed several times, watching Gingerfrost with an eye both suspicious and evaluative, finally, the air came back and he started to breath normally, he placed himself in a defensive position, his legs bent a little to bring his gravity center closer to the ground and to make himself more stable, he mumbled, a bit audibly, a litany "Straclan, father of all the clans, hear your son in his time of need... Bring your light on the weaknesses of my enemy, guide my paws toward the victory..." a gleam of zeal ignited in his eyes as he felt more confident, his moral took a small boost too, and when he approached, it was with a confidence and with zealotery, constantly mumbling something about Starclan, he placed himself in a defensive stance and waited, ready to oppose a wall of paws to every attack...
Firelight shot forward the moment Beansprout called for the race to begin. Her paws kept sinking into the sand, and it was hard to keep her balance, let alone run at a good pace. Her physical skills were decent—she often hunted and sharpened her fighting skills, even if neither of those things came naturally to her—but running wasn’t something she practiced. She reached out a paw to the rock and quickly ran back, glad that she managed to avoid falling during the sharp turn.
Peachpaw perked and avoided the sand that was gonna hit her the molly continued running trying to keep up with kestralpaw
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Cinderpaw darted the moment she heard Beansprouts call. Her paws moving quickly on the sand as she tried to adjust. her pas slid and slide every once a ahile and her paws also sink a bit.
Bluestone quickly let off the start line after hearing beansprouts call, The tom was only seconds off to start at the same time firelight went off. The one eye blinded muscular tom pushed hard on the sand almost barely keeping his balance. Upon reaching the rock he tapped the rock fast and darted off after Firelight. It was time for him to go faster, his pas picked up speed and he soon passed firelight with ease.
@Beamheart.
It was quite sad, his opponent didn't crumble below the tabby's weight, even so, the impact clearly left Nightspark breathless; good. This gave Gingerfrost a moment to recuperate, stepping back, his eyes locked on the warrior. He'd been in a few fights before, counting the predators he's fought as well, Gingerfrost knew better than to take his eyes off his opponent. His own stance, at a distance now from Nightspark, was a defensive one, ready to evade any coming his way. Though he took notice that, while muttering some words to StarClan, Nightspark had taken a defensive stance himself. Typical. But Gingerfrost wasn't about to put his neck on the line by attacking first again; no, he patiently waited for the other warrior's move. If he was so comfortable getting distracted and remaining defensive, Gingerfrost wanted to see him fight, tire him out. Over the time he's trained some of his favourite tactics had always remained, the waiting game is one of them. He could do this all day.
Gingerfrost wasn't attacking... He waited for him... Well... Nightspark decided to play the game! Changing his position and stance, he started to attack, wth small and timid attacks, to test his opponent defense, but then he really started to attack, the real fight had begun for him, multiple and fast attacks, always moving, never on the same place, he started to try to circle his opponent, lauching his light attacks from a safe distance... He continued to mumble prayers to Starclan "Father of the clans, let your wrath flow in our bodies, let your strength imbue our muscles...", it was giving him a moral boost, not to mention that is also influenced his fighting style, he was sure that Starclan was with him, and he fought with the behaviour and the gaze of a fanatic, with relentlessness and and the will to not take a step back.