give it up, now | storm

[covecatcher]

"I don't think those dogs would want to mess with us at all!" it was a simple jest as they trailed behind their patrol, giggling to themselves at jokes they made. A patrol to scout out the dogs, it wasn't supposed to go wrong, they were supposed to come back in one piece. Looking in to the eyes of the beasts puts true fear in to her veins, fur stands up, this wasn't supposed to happen. She and Storm were supposed to go back to camp, her friend, yes her friend- head swivels like a pivot, is he okay? He looks just like her, grit teeth, wheres the others...? Why aren't they here, where are the snarls?

As she turns to look, theres a sudden realization the others had abandoned ship earlier, whether that was to save their own hide after seeing Emberstar or to get help was left to whatever Stars looked over them. "We need to go, too!" thoughts turned vocalized, she stumbles backwards. Where could they escape? Eyes dart from here to there, dammit! The dogs have them trapped in, they could duck around them? No, the dogs are fast, oh-

They lunge and her stomach drops because they encroach on Storm too, close in on him like they are doing to her and a yelp leaves her mouth as fangs enclose around around her shoulder. Quick on her paws shes ripping herself away, she has to get to her friend no matter how scared she is, no matter the pit of dread in her stomach.

If they lived this, would they be heros? Or would they be named stupid for not running in the first place? Would Raccoonstripe look at her with disappointment in his gaze, would Flame have the same teary eyed sob when they walked in to camp all battered and beaten? Who would grieve for her, for Storm, if they did not come back?

"I'm here, i'm h-" and just as she reaches him, shes yanked backwards by her tail, claws dragged against the ground below and leaves grooves in the mud. "What do we do!?" now shes clearly showing panic, rare in both her face and voice. Too much for her smile façade and it breaks, shatters in the face of the dogs as she twists and turns to rake her paws against the dogs face. They left us to die! But would she have rather them die with her? "I don't want to die!" shrill, the bite on her shoulder already has begun to blot her cream fur. It stings, but it doesn't burn like a large bite would.

Theres so much left to do in her life, she didn't have nine lives like Ember (though not that it would matter), she had to go home to her brother. She's fighting to get back up, to his side; a paw comes down on top of her head, slams her down to the ground, shes dazed- "Stars-" cut off by vertigo and the feeling of wanting to scream. Is there where it ends? Is this truly where it ends? She forces herself to stagger to her paws, shakes her head as if it'd rid herself of the spinning. "Storm, behind you!" voice rises to a scream, she writhes in the dogs grip and finally it lets her go. She goes dashing towards it and sails overhead, claws outstretched as they tear against the dogs face. The feeling makes her want to throw up but she stands there, back arched and fur bristling as she tries to size it up.

No. They'd both go home today. At least, she hoped so, watching a dog come straight towards her. Paws rooted to the ground, shes not sure if she has the strength to get out of the way.

// @Stormchaser MUAHAHA .. them ..
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[Stormchaser]

"WELL, I'VE GOT THICK SKIN AND AN ELASTIC HEART"​

Giggles and fun jokes they shared between them, their attention driven away from the patrol in front of them. Covecatcher makes a fun jest about the dogs not wanting to mess with them and he half-heartedly agrees, meanwhile under the mask bore a warrior who was on edge with anxiety and petrified of these beasts. But, fear came naturally right? Stormchaser is about to crack his own joke before a heart-stopping silence lays over them like a thickly woven blanket. The apprehension in the air was palpable and heavy before rumbling was heard, huffs of hot breath upon them within minutes.
Stormchaser shields Covecatcher, his body acting on it's own before his mind can comprehend what was happening. He was petrified, the fear scent evident as it rolled off of him. But he would not act upon those fears, not now. Right now he and Cove were in trouble, and he'd be damned if he'd let her get hurt without a fight. Pink lips curled back menacingly, revealing ivory incisors of his own to the drooling mutt before him with a shredded lip. That eerie smiling hound. We need to go, too! He half way hears Cove's words reach his ears, but he doesn't speak. What could he say? He was staring at the grim reaper itself, willing to go toe-to-toe with the behemoth in order to give Covecatcher a matter of seconds to escape. "Get away from here, Cove. Run. Now!" He finally barks an order at her, and chaos erupts before them.
Teeth flash and the warrior bobs backwards, lashing at the hounds snout with piercing claws. Flesh separates under his blow, blood splatters across his silver features as a snarl from the dog reverberates inside of him, it's booming voice almost making him flinch. He spares a glance to Cove to make sure she's safe—but there's another mutt and his heart immediately drops to his stomach. It had the cream warrior within its clutches, nipping at her shoulder and now snatching her plumed tail between large canines. "No!" A snarl tears from his throat, rage-laiden and like a clap of thunder. His attention is torn away from his own opponent to rescue his clan mate, barreling into the half-blind hound with ivory daggers digging under soft flesh. He anchors himself into it's shoulder, throwing the weight of his hind legs into the dog's throat with a surging kick. Howls of pain drown out any sound in this moment besides the thundering of his own heart. He fights with such ferocity, the dog is surprised before predatory drive takes over. They yelp as his kick connects and seems to let go of Covecatcher. "I'll kill you! I'll tear you to pieces!" He screams wildly now, sinking sharp incisors into the dog's ear while still anchored in it's shoulder. The dog was buckling under his flurry of attacks, backing up and trying to shake him off. The force flings Stormchaser off of the dog, causing him to land unceremoniously. He's dizzy, dazed from the shaking for a moment.

Then he feels teeth clasp over his neck.

The warrior screeches, immediately thrashing about wildy as he's dragged backwards. His adolescent mane saves him, the thick fur cushioning the blow along with the extra skin of his scruff. The puncture is a flesh wound, but large. Blood cascades down his shoulders, staining his blue fur with crimson ichor. Stormchaser twists himself just in time to hear Covecatcher's yowl, to see her sailing through the air over him and strike at the beast who had snagged at him. "Why are you still here?!" He snarls at her, his tone coming off harsher than intended. But it's meant as worry, he doesn't want her putting herself in harms way for his sake. He doesn't need this again. He couldn't bear it once more. A flash of tortie fur enters his mind, piercing virdian eyes staring back at him before he blinks and it's vanished. "We've got to get out of here. Go, get up the tree. It's the only way." He forces himself to stand again, stumbling from the thrashing he got earlier. His muscles are screaming at him, but it falls upon deaf ears. He won't falter. Not now. He won't be shielded from harms way again. This time he would be the shield—her shield and spear. Dark crimson blotting on her soft fur sending a raging white-hot blaze of fire burning through him. They would pay for that. He steps between them, aiming to nudge her behind him as he faces the two behemoths with an arched spine. "I'll distract them. Go on, Cove. Get to safety. Once you're up, I'll be right behind you. Okay?" His orange eyes flash behind him to her, a grin placing on his lips. "We're not dying today. We still got more shells to collect, don't we?" A facade, false confidence passing through his lips. He wouldn't show her that he was scared, he had to give her hope that they would survive.
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