pafp A FIRE SET IN THE DARK - sparring

[Bluepool]

It had been a while since Scorchstreak had asked Bluepool if she could teach her how to become a better fighter. It was before she had become heavy with kits, her belly swelling until suddenly there were little Scorchstreaks and Badgermoon's running about (yuck!) Since then, however, Scorchstreak hadn't been able to hone her fighting skills, and Bluepool finds herself wondering if they had grown dull with the moons of being unused. Now that her friend was nearly ready to return to her warrior duties however...

"SCORCHSTREAK!" she calls out to the molly, her loud voice ringing out the still green-leaf air. When her friend would turn to look on her she would find a large smile plastered onto the moor runner's face "I am challenging you to a spar! Are you ready to fight me or did you grow soft during your time in the nursery?" It is a light-hearted jest, meant to poke the metaphorical bear. Bluepool, in the meantime would drop into a crouch, eyes narrowed, tail waving behind her, and that same grin still on her face for display.

// please wait for @SCORCHSTREAK

​

 

[SCORCHSTAR]

The day is peaceful, and Scorchstreak has been busy with tunnel patrols but still she feels restless. It feels as though there is slack to be picked up, and she has allowed herself to be lax for far too long. Her kits no longer demand all of her time, these days. And the calico worries, as Bluepool points out, that her fighting skills have dulled with that time spent in the nursery. She’d been upset that she had been excluded from the fight against ShadowClan—but if she had been there, would she have died alongside Sootstar? Despite her practicing with Bluepool and the progress that she’d made, it feels as though she’s backsliding with every day that passes.

Her friend’s voice is loud in the quiet that Scorchstreak has found herself in, and her scarred head jerks up to meet her fellow lead warrior’s gaze. "Bluepool," she greets, dipping her head in a simmering response to the tabby’s enthusiasm. "I’d love to spar with you. I haven’t been out of action long enough to be beaten that easily." A soft chuckle leaves her mouth, but the tunneler is confident in her abilities. She may not be able to beat the other in a spar, but she can put up a good fight at the very least. And Bluepool’s challenge is viewed as concern for her well-being, a desire to keep her prepared for a fight—still, Scorchstreak is roused. The flame of the fight rises in her chest, and blazing eyes blink slowly as the other settles into a crouch.

In a sudden motion, the calico rushes toward the other warrior, striking out with a paw aimed at Bluepool’s shoulder. Her claws are unsheathed, but she doesn’t aim to injure—just to make contact. Just enough to land a hit, to make the blue-furred moor runner feel the hint of claws. And then she retreats, moving quickly backward on paws light as feathers. Keep your distance. Hit once and then move away quickly, before the enemy can pin you.​

[ LIKE A RATTLESNAKE ]​

​

 

[Badgermoon]

The broad-shouldered tomcat was always happy to watch a spar - quite apart from being entertaining, it was also a quick and easy way to assess his Clanmates' battle readiness. Badgermoon had not borne the brunt of the child-rearing, and he was grateful for Scorchstreak's dedication to their children. Simultaneously, however, she was a member of Sootstar's council and an experienced tunneler, and it was a relief to have her back in action. All in all, the black-and-white cat was happy to settle in and watch, one brow raising at Bluepool's challenge and Scorchstreak's swift attempt at a strike. If @SNAKEPAW or any of his kits were around, he'd turn and murmur: "See how Scorchstreak is so light on her paws? That's essential for smaller cats. If you're not careful, you could get trapped if your opponent is bigger than you."​

 

[cedarbark.]

❝ I DON'T WANNA HURT EM' ✧°.☀ ————————————
Cedar was, of course, not far behind on the watching crew. The bigger tom moved and came to stop, settling down on his haunches as he peered on. Sparring was essential for teaching and practice, of course. He itched to get into a spar of his own, but for now, it was time to watch. A sidelong glance was given to Badgermoon and the cat(s) that accompanied him. A nod of his head, turning his vision back towards the two she-cats that were metaphorically locking claws.

His vision shifted and scanned. The sudden attack may give the queen an upper paw.. but he wasn't sure in this case. He leaned forward, watching intently. Lazer focus, Cedarbark. Gather information, learn.

"speech"

[penned by dallas - ☀]

———————————— ☀.°✧ BUT I DID, I'M IN A FIT OF RAGE ❞ ​

​

 

[SNAKEHISS]

❪ TAGS ❫ — The apprentice generally liked spectating cats spar — especially warriors renowned for their prowess in battle — but the sight of Scorchstreak now tended to make Snakepaw feel... bitter. Resentful. He was almost certain that she and Badgermoon weren't mates (if they were, they certainly didn't act like it) but she still bore his litter, only disclosing their connection to the black and white tom at the last possible moment. Snakepaw's world had changed literally overnight, with his mentor's focus now further divided as he doted on his children.

Some mentor and apprentice pairings tended to grow so close that they almost appeared to be related by blood; at one point, Snakepaw found himself growing rather close to Badgermoon, something utterly unprecedented for a tom who was known to criticize those with outsider blood. He now knew that it would be better for himself if he just completed his training and moved on. Kin would always come first, evidenced with Sootstar and now likely with Badgermoon. The older tom had taught him everything that he knew, and he would always be accredited for such, but it wouldn't be wise to think of him as anything beyond a teacher.

Still, Badgermoon addressed him in an attempt to create a learning opportunity out of this moment, so Snakepaw figured that he'd plop onto his haunches and watch through a half-lidded, uninterested stare.

He wasn't sure if Badgermoon was making a general statement or insinuating that he was small, but Snakepaw noted the deputy's advice with a quick, "Hm." Snakepaw knew that being light on his paws would save his behind in the event of a real fight, which he hadn't experienced since their raid on RiverClan. It had been moons since then, and he had grown both in size and in wit. The next time another clan decided to test WindClan's strength, Snakepaw would be prepared.​

 

[Bluepool]

"SPEECH"
A small crowd begins gathering and faintly, she can hear chatter. Badgermoon telling his children- they’re children- to watch, instructing his apprentice on footwork. She was of the opinion that she and Scorchstreak were evenly matched when it came down to height. They were both on the smaller side, both hardened from different forms of tedious exercise. Scorchstreaks muscles came from digging and spending all her time under the earth, while Bluepools came from racing across the moors. The one thing that she did have over her friend, however; was experience. Her fathers instruction and guidance had ensured it.

Her eyes never leave the flame touched tunneler and when she darts forwards she is expecting the attack. Still, claws brush her silver fur as she darts away. It had been close. She can’t help but smile and let out a light laugh. It would be a lie to say Scorchstreak hadn’t improved since their last fight.

Quickly, she closes the distance between them, rushing her. If her opponent wanted to be far away she would get close. She aims to ram her shoulder into the other she-cats chest. Not hard enough to actually do any significant damage but she does hope to either send her tumbling or knock the wind out of her. Both would be preferable but one or the other was acceptable too. If her attack were to miss, however, it would leave the moor runner stumbling, thought it wouldn’t take long for her to find her footing again.

​

 

[RATTLEHEART]

The sudden, loud call of his sister's name was enough to make Rattleheart perk up, green gaze darting around as he tried to figure out who exactly was calling for her. Once he spotted Bluepool the tension in his shoulders evaporated, body relaxing as he realized the moor runner was just interested in a friendly spar. He couldn't imagine what Scorchstreak would've done to make her truly angry, but nothing made as much sense as her just wanting to check in on the tunneler's abilities after her time spent tucked away in the nursery. Rattleheart adored his sister's kits, but even he could admit that any time spent caring for them was time spent away from battle - and with all the enemies that Windclan had as of late, the ability to fight well was more vital than ever.

There was some anxiety radiating off the black and white tom as he settled near the rest of the gathered crowd, but he shoved it down into the pits of his stomach. There was no reason to worry about Scorchstreak. Not only would she put up a good fight of her own, but there was no way Bluepool would seriously injure her in a spar. Windclanners were meant to be ruthless even when in a spar, yes, but there would be no advantage to putting an able-bodied warrior out of commission just for practice. And yet still, his claws worried tirelessly at the grass and dirt beneath them.

In an effort to soothe his nerves, he rose his voice above the chattering of the others, calling out to Scorchstreak, "You've got this, Scorch! Show us all that nothing can make you soft, not even the nursery!" Rattleheart himself had never been much of a fighter - he'd learned to use his small size to his advantage in the past, but he still couldn't be considered to be a fighter. His sister, though... even if she shared his petite figure, she also had a fire within her that he often seemed to lack. She wouldn't allow herself to be bested - at least not in a significant way.
​

[ PENNED BY EO ]​

 

[Lizardbounce]

( ✧ ) SCORCHSTREAK

His attention whipped upwards, and scanned the camp for who had yelled his littermate's name. The fur on his shoulders prickled slightly, but relaxed when he saw Bluepool. He tuned into the conversation, and heard that she was simply being challenged to a spar. While he didn't appreciate his sister being yelled at like that, there wasn't much harm that could come out of a spar, and Bluepool wasn't a malicious cat...all would be fine. He tried to go back to doing what he was, but he was too interested now, he would go watch with everyone else.

The ebony tom padded over, coming to sit beside his brother Rattleheart. moor runner versus tunneler...He found himself wanting to cheer for his fellow moor runner, but he held his tongue. If he cheered for his sister's competitor, she would surely have his pelt. "Get her Scorch!"​

( YOU GOTTA BE SO COLD ; TO MAKE IT IN THIS WORLD )

 

[Spiderbloom]

Spiderbloom entered camp with a rabbit in her jaws. She was pleased to know her time in the nursery hadn't hindered her too much, even if she stayed longer than what was probably expected. She couldn't help it, she wanted to spend as much time with her kits as she could before they went off on their training. It made her emotional just thinking about it.

Thankfully, there is a distraction ready to be perceived.

A spar between two cats she likes.... She doesn't know who to cheer for. Both Scorchstreak and Bluepool are strong and beautiful, and she respects both of them highly. How can she choose between the two??

She puts her rabbit in the pile and pads over to sit with her tail curled around her paws.

"I bet on the cat." She says with a smile.

Which cat? The one with the fur of course.​

 

[LUCKYPAW]

Like his kin, the sudden holler of Scorchstreak's name from Bluepool startles Luckykit, paws jerking through the dirt where he had been idly forming shapes. Wide eyes follow the source, and even if the next words aren't quite so loud as the initial call, he's still able to hear enough - Bluepool is asking Scorchstreak to spar with her. It's not an unusual request, he supposes, considering even he's witnessed the occasional spar in camp, but this time it's Scorchstreak participating, and with a pang he realizes he's never actually seen his mother in action. Sure, he knows she's strong from all the stories he's heard, and that she's an especially skilled tunneler, but stories surely don't compare to the real thing. As Scorchstreak appears, responding to the summons, other WindClanners begin to trickle over, gathering to observe, and after giving his ruined work one last glance, Luckykit trots over as well, settling himself beside Badgermoon to watch eagerly.

There's hardly time to process before Scorchstreak is off, launching herself at Bluepool, and Bluepool is repaying the favor in kind, the two mollies darting one way and then the next. They're both so fast it's hard for Luckykit to keep up, and for a moment he wonders if either of the battles WindClan had lost would have ended up different if the pair had been there to fight as well. So focused on the spar, he startles at Badgermoon's voice, quiet as it is, his shoulders lifting in surprise as he swings his head up to face Badgermoon. Even if it feels obvious after spoken, it does prompt him to watch a little more closely, really studying Scorchstreak's movements. It's a little like digging, he thinks - everything must be done with intention and precision, only in a fight it's not you and the earth, but you and another living, breathing opponent that's also employing a similar strategy. No time to second-guess or slow down to examine your options; even in this spar, where there's no real risk of harm, it feels too fast to keep up with.

Nearby, Rattleheart and Lizardbounce show their support by cheering Scorchstreak on, both calling out encouragement, and even Spiderbloom appears to offer her support (though, to which of the combatants Luckykit has no idea). He considers them for a moment - Bluepool is a fierce warrior, he knows, having earned her position as a lead warrior, and while she certainly seems a strong representative of the Clan, in his eyes, Scorchstreak wins out every time. In another scenario, he might have found himself cheering for Bluepool, but instead he follows after his uncles, calling out, "Go mom! You got this!" Two forces to be reckoned with, certainly, though of course he expects nothing short of victory from Scorchstreak, having no idea of the difference in battle training between the two of them.
​

[ PENNED BY HIJINKS ]​

 

[SCORCHSTAR]

Their gathering audience is of no concern to the calico queen; she has fought with the din of a bloody battle around her. She has locked claws with cats in the midst of worse crowds than this. At least the cats observing them are quiet, for the most part—with the exception of her kit and her brothers, who each shout their own encouragements to her. A wild grin spreads across her face when she feels the brush of silvered fur against her paw. Her claws don’t connect, but the icy mask is cracked. She has to remind herself that this is a spar, not a battle that she will come out of with stiff fur and new wounds. She and Bluepool don’t actually wish to harm one another.

Scorchstreak is able to skitter backward enough to remain out of the other lead warrior’s reach, but Bluepool closes the distance in true moor runner fashion, quick and sure-footed. Her shoulder slams into the tunneler’s chest, and though they are of equal size, Scorchstreak feels as though she’s been slammed into by a cat closer to Houndthistle’s stature. Still, her maw splits in a grin. "I’ve been kicked by hares harder than that," she says, but her words are light, teasing. The cough she lets out afterward is evidence of just how hard that blow was, though.

She starts to step back again, but stops herself short—if the other she-cat wishes to fight in close quarters, then so it shall be. The calico moves closer to Bluepool, teeth bared in a half-snarl that lies somewhere between playful and bloodthirsty. Without another word, she strikes out at the tabby-striped warrior’s legs, hoping to catch one with a heavy paw. If she manages to knock Bluepool off balance, she will attempt to slam her paws down on the shoulders of the other she-cat, hoping to keep her pinned. It leaves her in a precarious position, however, with her stomach exposed to retaliation.​

[ LIKE A RATTLESNAKE ]​

​