His patrol had turned tail- scented that fox and decided they'd turn around, their patrol not big enough to deal with it. Fernpaw's disappointment had shown clear on his face, then; inevitably, they'd get another patrol together. A different squadron built for fighting, and he'd be left on the sidelines again. As he had trudged back to camp, falling behind his patrol, Fernpaw's mind had whirred with the possibilities that he was about to lose- the heroic defeat of a beast on their lands was a reality he could almost feel beneath his claws. So- with deft, graceful paws, the ginger apprentice had snuck from the distracted patrol. He would apologise to his father later.
Now, Fernpaw had taken into a run. He knew the patrol would be back to camp by now, reporting on their findings, rallying a collection of cats to fight this beast- but on his watch, they wouldn't need them. No. StarClan, or whatever other forces in the land, had at last given him his chance to prove himself, and Fernpaw was not going to let it slip from his grasp.
It was red, like him. Blazing bright when he saw it, stinking and- as far as he could tell- alone. It was larger than he had thought it would be, but... but all it took was a precise killing blow, right? A claw dragging across the just-right place... he knew that much. Knew a battle could be ended in a single strike, if you placed that strike well enough.
It needed to go. He needed to get rid of it, to help RiverClan. At last, to help. Fernpaw's claws leapt from their prisons, and his usually-cheery features contorted into a snarl. His fur bristled with instinctive danger as he got closer and closer to it, but he ignored the sensation, narrowing his verdant eyes. Hissed words whirled in his thoughts.
I am not useless. A step. I am not a burden. Another. I won't disappoint RiverClan. Another. I should be a warrior!
He leapt, claws outstretched, spittle and a hiss flying from his maw. There was a buzz in his blood when his claws cut flesh, but the fox didn't topple as a cat would. He couldn't- couldn't pin it. How could he have thought that, even for a moment? The dizzying aftermath of his misjudgement made him falter, and that was his fatal error. He allowed it, in that moment of pause, to knock him over.
It tore his flesh like fire splitting ice.
Claws sharper than he'd ever felt cleaved the skin of his face, streaking across his eye, and suddenly- suddenly, he couldn't see a thing except the gush of blood and the blur of panic. Terror and pain burst from him in a single sound, a yowl to the welkin. Help me, he thought, but could only scream.
\ followup to THIS THREAD!
TLDR; fernpaw broke away from his patrol and attempted to fight a fox alone to 'prove himself'. currently he needs saving and his eye is clearly badly injured!!
Now, Fernpaw had taken into a run. He knew the patrol would be back to camp by now, reporting on their findings, rallying a collection of cats to fight this beast- but on his watch, they wouldn't need them. No. StarClan, or whatever other forces in the land, had at last given him his chance to prove himself, and Fernpaw was not going to let it slip from his grasp.
It was red, like him. Blazing bright when he saw it, stinking and- as far as he could tell- alone. It was larger than he had thought it would be, but... but all it took was a precise killing blow, right? A claw dragging across the just-right place... he knew that much. Knew a battle could be ended in a single strike, if you placed that strike well enough.
It needed to go. He needed to get rid of it, to help RiverClan. At last, to help. Fernpaw's claws leapt from their prisons, and his usually-cheery features contorted into a snarl. His fur bristled with instinctive danger as he got closer and closer to it, but he ignored the sensation, narrowing his verdant eyes. Hissed words whirled in his thoughts.
I am not useless. A step. I am not a burden. Another. I won't disappoint RiverClan. Another. I should be a warrior!
He leapt, claws outstretched, spittle and a hiss flying from his maw. There was a buzz in his blood when his claws cut flesh, but the fox didn't topple as a cat would. He couldn't- couldn't pin it. How could he have thought that, even for a moment? The dizzying aftermath of his misjudgement made him falter, and that was his fatal error. He allowed it, in that moment of pause, to knock him over.
It tore his flesh like fire splitting ice.
Claws sharper than he'd ever felt cleaved the skin of his face, streaking across his eye, and suddenly- suddenly, he couldn't see a thing except the gush of blood and the blur of panic. Terror and pain burst from him in a single sound, a yowl to the welkin. Help me, he thought, but could only scream.
\ followup to THIS THREAD!
TLDR; fernpaw broke away from his patrol and attempted to fight a fox alone to 'prove himself'. currently he needs saving and his eye is clearly badly injured!!
✦ penned by pin ✦