pafp tooth and claw | asking battle advice

[Addervenom]

Life doesn't discriminate

Exiting the comfort of a milk scented nursery, smoldering auburn eyes drift along the clearing of camp, searching for something to worthy of his time. Hunting and overtaking his den mates in great feats of strength grew boring. Their complaints over his relentless tussling drawled on and on within dark furred ears. Threats of tattling causing the boy to begrudgingly stop his roughhousing. Babies, the lot of them. An exasperated huff flutters bitterly past his partially open maw as he steps out, single flaxen paw taking the lead as he cuts his way through camp. Eventually, Adder's eyes fall upon the back of Sunstride, a glimmer of interest sparking within near blood red depths. He both remember and appreciated the advice given to him the day prior when wrestling his opponent. That tidbit alone making the moorland prince nearly unstoppable during his brawls.

Perhaps the warrior would have more wisdom to offer today? "Sunstride," The boy calls, beckoning for the warrior's attention and once he has it Adderkit continues. "Do you have any battle moves you could teach me? Or do you have some more advice?" He questions, drawing a step closer with expectant eyes. (@SUNSTRIDE) ​

Between the sinners and the saints​

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[SUNNVAR]

He had learned to fight as he learned to walk– that was the way of their life, was it not? Though he had still been a child beneath his father's paw, and perhaps still was in his distant thoughts, there was nothing they could do with their time but learn and experience. Rolling stone across the snow, hefting it awkwardly. Hunting weakened prey, tussling for approval and honor. Leaning was a long, long process, even if not all of them would now admit to the need of it. It is something Sunstride does not understand of WindClan, how quickly they think them grown enough. Strong enough. At least they will train early, and learn quickly. Adderkit perhaps even quicker than the rest, with how he threw himself to the future.

There is no hiding a warm smile as one of the moorland's newest additions seeks him out. Adderkit is young, and still small, yet burdened by barriers he does all he can to shake. There is something to admire in that. "Adderkit," the burnished tom greets in turn, and makes his attention known by sinking to rest his belly upon the grass. His task is forgotten to humoring this child, and he wonders if any other would be brave enough to reprimand him for it. After all, was this not the child of their leader? "You are eager to learn. Good! That enthusiasm will serve you well." Thoughtful, the tom shuffles his paws against the ground and turns his head. "You are small, for now. Time may change this, but tell me, what would you do against me? How would you fare, were I your opponent on the battlefield? What would you do?"

﹥ˏˋ〘  OOC NOTES INFORMATION 〙ˊˎ﹤

• ooc: —
• SUNSTRIDE. named for his coloration and his bold chasing of fate.
  —— cis male, uses he - him. thirty-four moons old. warrior of windclan and former rogue.
  —— cautious of clan life, but an apt learner. encourages close bonds between clanmates.
  —— loyalty uncertain, cares for those surrounding him. undoubtedly closest to wolfsong.
  
  sunstride is broad and bold– a creature standing above most of windclan, though not a beast beyond its borders, with fur that flames red at its base and deepens to a burnt amber with every whorl and stripe. his eyes, in comparison, are a pale summer's blue, still as bold as the rest of him.
• "speech"

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[MALLOWLARK]

Bloodthirsty kittens! What joy- he could never have fathomed such a thing. Battle moves- they searched for it, thirsted for the opportunity, in the depths of this land. He supposed kittens could do very little thinking for themselves- when your little minds were barely formed, what could you do but absorb the culture! And oh, how WindClan loved battling. Loved battle moves and scars and bloodshed. And a malleable brain had caught that, rolling around in Adderkit's brittle little skull, child of Sootstar.

Eager to be involved- and amused by the hypothetical that Sunstrider suggested- Mallowlark could not resist inserting himself in the conversation, sure he could give the boy a couple of hints. Sunstrider could probably unhinge his jaw and swallow the kid whole in a fight- he'd have to have some answers, in order to have a chance. "Oooh, I'd say go for the eyes." he suggested, head lolling to the side as if it was too heavy for his shoulders. In a lightning-quick movement, his unblinking gaze snapped toward the child, looming over them in an instantaneous movement. "You're small enough- you could latch right onto his face!" Yeah, that seemed a sound strategy... it'd at least let the kid get in a few swipes of damage before he was torn in half. ​

☺PENNED BY PIN​

 

[TIGERFROST]

Tags and Information

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Ah, combat. Tigerfrost is a scarred warrior for a reason, but despite his injuries, few could deny just how skilled in battle that the chimera was. Was he the best? Certainly not. Or at the very least, he doubted it. Tigerfrost didn't know the skills of every cat in the forest, after all. But nonetheless, the nearby conversation grabs his interest, and his eyes shift to observe as pricked ears listen in.

Sunstride's question is an interesting one. Dealing with larger and stronger opponents required cunning and agility, both of which Tigerfrost had used to best the massive figure of Houndthistle in a previous spar. Mallowlark voices his suggestions, seemingly interested in the conversation as well. Tigerfrost, however, says nothing. He was more interested in how young Adderkit would respond to the question.​

 

[WEASELCLAW]

Weaselclaw can tell a true warrior's heart lies beneath his still-tiny son's pale tabby fur. He wants glory, wants his enemies to fear him, even as young as two moons. He watches with pride as Adderkit approaches Sunstride fiercely. His co-lead warrior does more than humor his son -- he engages him, challenges him. He nods approvingly. There's no reason Adderkit can't start thinking about these things before he's apprenticed.

He sits beside Tigerfrost, dipping his head in greeting to the white-faced warrior. His good mood curdles when Mallowlark starts to engage his child -- Weaselclaw almost wants to intervene, doesn't want that moon-brained fool tainting his kits' minds -- but he relaxes when Mallowlark begins to talk about battle moves, too.

"Go for the eyes," the white tom says gleefully. Weaselclaw thinks of Smokethroat and smiles. "Sometimes fighting dirty is the only way you can survive in a real battle," he confirms gravely. Fair fights were his preferred method of combat, but he and Smokethroat had been going for the kill, and he has no doubt the next time they meet in battle, it will again be a dance of death.​

[ PENNED BY MARQUETTE ]​

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[cottonsprig]

Cottonkit likely had been one of the first to decline Adderkit's attempts at sparring. She holds no ill will towards her brother and his natural bloodthirsty nature - she holds onto her own, after all, and still entertains his when she can. Her curiosity and moreso adventurous nature take precedence, however. If Cottonkit can spend her time learning of the other Clans, of tunneling, hunting, exploring, or more - then she would rather do that. She finds education of battle to be just a notch less interesting, however still important.

Regardless, she loves her brother and loves his determination to learn in this situation. It's far more easy for the she-kit to relate to the other within this dynamic - learning by doing is something she hopes to achieve most often within her apprenticehood, and with such she knows that conversation and verbal lessons may be all she earns at this age. Who knows, though - maybe Adderkit will stumble upon just the right apprentice or warrior more than willing to tussle with him more seriously.

"Y'should scar them good, Adderkit," Cottonkit pitches to her brother, settling in beside their father and mindlessly batting the tip of his tail with a free paw. "They'll remember you for forever if y'do something like that." Scars tell stories, she's learned, and either they derive from success or, more often than not, failure. Cottonkit would love to learn that Adderkit, or any of her siblings for that matter, irreversibly marked someone with their claws. A permanent reminder that they're threats, each and every one of them.​

 

[Addervenom]

Life doesn't discriminate

The lead warrior lowers himself to the kitten's height, sanguine eyes never leaving the tom's own ocean blue. A thoughtful expression shatters the critical look upon his face, thinking of the best strategy given his current height and skillset. That is until an ivory bundle of fur appears beside him, head lolling as if it would fall off the tom's very shoulders. As Mallowlark thrusts his face into Adderkit's bubble the young prince scowls instantly. A single lip lifting with the beginnings of a snarl, head recoiling back from owlish wide eyes. He fixates the strange warrior with a judgmental glare, lifting a single paw in an attempt to mush the tom's face away from his own. "I could, but that would only work if his head was low enough to reach." He mutters, turning is attention back to Sunstride. He needed a plan that would work no matter his height.

By now he's gathered quite the crowd with his question. Seeing his father amongst them he is determined now more than ever to produce an excellent answer to Sunstride's inquiry. Glancing at his sister he nods in agreement. She was certainly right, what was a good fight without the possibility of gifting his opponent with a few scars? Another moment of silence passes before he finally provides an answer. "I would go for your belly, It's an easy spot for me to reach as I am right now. A soft belly is the weakness of all cats, right?" He can remember gifting one too many bunny kicks to a littermate and hearing them cry out a complaint. ​

Between the sinners and the saints​

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[SUNNVAR]

There is a crowd that gathers, and though he looks to each of them when the speak, his attention does not long leave the kitten that had sought him out. Mallowlark's suggestion even brings a smile to the tom's face, but Weaselclaw's assurance brings a faint seriousness back to his eyes. "There will always be those in a battle with less honor than you. Remember that, if nothing else. You should always be prepared for cruelty at another's paws." Going for the stomach is perhaps such a tactic. The flesh there is soft and poorly guarded, with fur not nearly so thick as the ruff of one's neck. His own belly twinges in sympathy at the idea of such pain, even if it does not reach his face. "A good tactic, but you must be quick– think how easily I could crush you, then, if I drop quickly. You would be pinned beneath me, and easier prey than a wounded mouse." He lifts his paw in warning, to show the difference in size.

"There are moments to take such risks, but if this were not one of them, what then? The eyes, as Mallowlark says? But you would be unable to reach me at my full height. Unless...?" With a tilt of his head, Sunstride guides him towards the next course of action, tugging along this child's curiosity and battle sense. He has learned quickly, young as he is. With time he may grow to be as fearsome as his parents. Perhaps with time he would join this council of lead warriors, and take WindClan to further heights. He knows that they will need many more champions in the moons to come.

﹥ˏˋ〘  OOC NOTES INFORMATION 〙ˊˎ﹤

• ooc: —
• SUNSTRIDE. named for his coloration and his bold chasing of fate.
  —— cis male, uses he - him. thirty-four moons old. warrior of windclan and former rogue.
  —— cautious of clan life, but an apt learner. encourages close bonds between clanmates.
  —— loyalty uncertain, cares for those surrounding him. undoubtedly closest to wolfsong.
  
  sunstride is broad and bold– a creature standing above most of windclan, though not a beast beyond its borders, with fur that flames red at its base and deepens to a burnt amber with every whorl and stripe. his eyes, in comparison, are a pale summer's blue, still as bold as the rest of him.
• "speech"

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