Chasing The Thunder [Open]

Jester’s paws caused some rusting as they stepped through the dense forest that made up most of ThunderClan’s territory. He wasn’t used to the territories of the wild cats, which was made obvious by his lack of skill at being as silent as them…he probably would need to try and fix that soon. Even during leafbare, the frozen undergrowth made it hard for him to move with the stealth that he had grown so proud of…each one of these wild territories seemed to pose a different challenge.

During normal circumstances, the black tabby would’ve voided crossing the borders of wild cat territories, even less allow himself to wander deep into them as he was doing now. However, the news of the sudden hit the clans had suffered to their numbers after some mysterious event spread like wildfire across the filthy streets of the twolegplace he reluctantly called home. Many rogues had taken upon this chance to try and snatch better quality prey from the clans that lived there, some bolder ones even had tried to claim some territory of their own and settle right under their noses.

He?

He was looking for food, yes, but more important than food itself, he was carefully looking for these clans of fierce territorial cats.

The information about them was scarce, their motives unknown, their society a mystery. Few rogues had been daring enough to try and find out more, and very few returned…and those that did only brought back some new scars. If he wanted to know what made these clans so special, their secrets, he was going to need to be careful.

His ears twitched as he scanned the forest. Each territory birthed new rumors, some more widespread than others. This specific section of the territories spoke of large cats with little to no fear against intruders. Sharp claws and powerful blows able to put most intruders out of combat in a single hit, he would need to watch out for those…

The cold yet soft undergrowth beneath Elkpaw's claws felt... different, almost unnatural to him. Though not necessarily the feeling there was just some difference in the air that makes his paws twitch and his fur bristle. Opening his mouth to scent the air around him, he found a scent that was unfamiliar. He'd recently attended the gathering, and knew all the scents of the clan cats, but this was bad. Very bad, because this was no clan cat at all.

Crouching down, the tall cat's heart beat quickly, fearful. He kneaded the soft earth beneath him, breathing hard before going back and thinking hard over possible ways to subdue this intruder. Wait, no-- The cat was right there. Frantic, he pounced with all his might at the cat, pinning him back and holding him down, claws to shoulder blades. He yowled inadvertently. I'll protect us- this cat could hurt the clan, I'm right, I'm right-

Elkpaw used Grapple on Jester. Elkpaw rolled a 2, causing a total of 4 damage.

Elkpaw
30 HP/30 HP

Jester
36 HP/40 HP

The member 'cat5' has done the following action : Roll Dice

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'Battle Dice' : 2

One of Jester’s ears moved to face the sound of soft rustling, eyes going wide as the rustling turned into a yowl and a cat pounced towards him from their position, hidden by the frozen undergrowth of the forest. These clan cats surely had adapted to their territories spectacularly if they could move in such silent ways through this kind of terrain.

He opened his mouth in an attempt to say something to prevent the inevitable hut that was coming his way, but couldn’t really say a thing as the unsheathed claws of the smaller cat hooked into his skin and his weight pushed him to the ground. The hit, while mighty, wasn’t as powerful as he had been told, and the cat felt rather light to be one of the massive beasts he had been hearing about from other rogues. Then he turned his head as he started trashing and squirming under the cat to try and get away from him to notice.

This cat had to be at least half his age, and yet it seemed to not have any trouble holding him down.

“Let go, kit!” He was far from skilled in battle, and he knew it well. This was exactly the kind of scenario he was really hoping he didn’t have to face, and yet he didn’t seem to have a choice.

After some thrashing, he managed to press one of his hind paws against the younger cat's belly and extended it with as much strength as he could, ripping the apprentices claws off himself and throwing him a tail-length or two away as he quickly got to his paws.


Jester used Escape and successfully frees himself from Grapple, dealing 1 damage. Jester is immune for 1 turn.

Jester
36 HP/40 HP

Elkpaw
29 HP/30 HP

The member 'Silver Ink' has done the following action : Roll Dice

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'Battle Dice' : 4

Elkpaw yowled in surprise as he was shook off the rogue. He landed a few tail-lengths away, and skidded over the snowmelt. He quickly got to his paws, breathing heavily, eyes wide from shock. His tail was thrown up, fur bristling, lips pulled back. "You- you piece of foxdung! You clan-less rat! What in all of Starclan are you doing on Thunderclan territory, huh?" He hissed, ears pinned back, but careful to protect his side from any potential blows the rogue would attempt. he carefully circled the rogue, thin ice and snow crunching under-paw. The cold air kept his senses sharp. He was hesitant to even allow the cat to speak, but he had thrown him off fairly.

He awaited the opposing cat's response. While he waited, he took in his attackee. He was a dark furred tabby cat, slender and clearly caring of his appearance. His vibrant eyes caught his attention, but he refused to make much eye contact. He was a bit taller than Elkpaw, but for his age he was certainly the tallest. Nevertheless he continued to size him up- clearly he had minimal experience fighting since he was so well-groomed and unable to react in a battle. Like a Rivercat, really. It was weird and he felt uncomfortable. Back to staring him down.

Jester had to swallow the indignation and rage that came once the initial panic from being attacked faded. He knew better than to lash out, especially during a first impression like this…plus, he doubted that such a young cat would really be all alone, and the last thing he wanted given his desired goals was to earn the hatred and enmity of the wild cats from the get-go.

“ThunderClan?” He had heard rumors of these cats naming their groups, but he had no idea of this being and actual fact until now…interesting.

He gave a quick look at the apprentice, doing a very quick assessment of the situation. Aggressive, that was painfully obvious…but his stance lacked the offensive, bloodthirsty characteristics on a cat out for blood or attacking out of rage he was used to see in the twolegplace, and while the hint was there, territorialism seemed to be also be mostly lacking…yet, he could understand the subtle body language that hinted at a protective behavior. Much like a queen when you get too close to her kits.

“First of all, my name is Jester” His voice was calm and smooth, with that expertly used tone of a cat not looking for trouble “And as I know you can tell just by looking around, its leafbare. Why you think I’m here? You wild cats take claim of the lush territories full of prey for yourselves, even in these harsh months. Do you have any idea of how many of us starve beyond your borders? How many times I’ve been forced to walk past a queen mourning the death of her kits because she couldn’t provide even scraps for them, clearly heartbeats away from succumbing to her own hunger as well? Why would we even risk our lives against your kind, so infamous for brutally murdering us all, if we had any choice?”.

His voice held a strong tone of indignation and pain, eyes struck by sadness and grief as even his own stance seemed to crumble and shift lightly as he appeared smaller, thinner, less intimidating.

All of this was, of course, the old act of pity, one he had managed to master many moons ago. If this cat was truly of the protective kind, and was still young enough to be impressionable, maybe that would be enough to tap into his head and lower his guard.



Jester is trying to talk his way out of the fight. Jester is no longer immune.

Elkpaw listened as the older cat spun his tale. Though attempting to be diplomatic and respectful, since he was bested in battle, he found it hard- this cat was from the Twolegplace, and any respect he would've had begun to crumble. Jester. "I couldn't give a rat's tail why you're here- since you're not even from here, you should know better than most cats that this is our territory, surely you've heard of Lightningstar and before him, Thunderstar? Clearly from all this suffering you're talking about you should know better than to test your luck," the apprentice rambled on, lips drawn back. This was a nerve-racking situation- this cat was brand new, unfamiliar, a rogue- Jester could kill him, after all. Who knows if the Twolegplace turned him into a bloodthristy cat, even if he wasn't particularly skilled? Elkpaw needed to make sure he seemed intimidating.

He stood as tall as he could now, refusing to bite into the pity story he heard. This cat truly should've known better than to approach Thunderclan territory, or any other clans territory for that matter. He worked up the nerve to speak more. "Sure, sure, whatever- but what do you want? There's carrionplace past Shadowclan territory, if you're that hungry there's always that. Don't steal our prey- it's scarce enough in this season at is."

Elkpaw is guarded but is no longer interested in fighting.

Jester’s ear twitched lightly as he noticed that the young apprentice had somehow managed to avoid the emotional blow he thought he had managed to direct so well. These wild cats were so much different from what he expected. Nothing like the rest of the rogues, loners and kittypets he had met on his time, a new challenge indeed. He just hoped he hadn’t sink his fangs on more than he could chew.

“I know none of those names, sad to say. All I’ve heard are tales of wild cats, brutal and territorial, claiming both claimed land and territories that were free to roam as their own, kicking its original owners out and stealing the prey that was from everyone at one point” Jester completely omitted the age of such tales. He doubted his own parents, or even their own parents were alive to see those free lands, free of wild cats…or clans, as this young tom claimed.

When he mentioned the Carrionplace he had to suppress a chuckle “You talk as if I should know all these territories like the tail on my tail, young one. You talk of places and…clans? That I know little to nothing about”.

He turned to look at the tiny wounds left by their scuffle earlier, licking the little droplets of blood that stained his fur “You wild cats seem to be a bit close minded, wonder how much of what you refuse to see you would be able to understand if you only tried”.

The fur on the tom's back prickled with agitation, not knowing how to explain places and concepts ingrained into his understanding. This random, wild cat from twolegplace smelled of all the clans- had he not wandered around? Why did Elkpaw have to be the one to explain? "So what if we defend our home? These lands have been ours since the chaos of a free forest ended. It's safer this way. If you're not a cat of any clan then either go back to twolegplace or find a kittypet-sympathetic leader to take you in. I'm not here to help you. You came here, sniffing where your nose doesn't belong. You can smell us here, stay away," he hissed, ears pinned back. He hoped his height would scare him off now, since he'd walked towards this strange cat more.

He watched the fellow tom lick his wounds, and felt a droplet of pride settle in his belly. He did that. Good. "You're a wanderer, aren't you? The forest can be searched in a matter of sunrises. Carrionplace is Shadowclan territory. The marshes are their home. All the food you need is there. Don't return to Thunderclan's forest," he bit out, lying a little to make an end to this sound more appealing. It was nasty there, from what he heard, full of crowfood. But the promise of food might make him stay away, and that's what his father needed, right? Lightningstar would know he did good. "North," he advised, "past the Thunderpath where Monsters hunt," he replied, flicking his tail about wildly.