BayflightStudios:

Wind ruffled Tidepaw's fur as she crept along the shoreline, digging her paws into the frosty sand for balance against the gale.  It was getting ever stronger, bringing the icy scents of coming snow that burned like fire in her nostrils, and yet Tidepaw was loath to return to camp.  She knew Hopflight was most likely waiting to lecture her for sneaking out again, but Tidepaw didn't really mind much.  However, the sharp wind slapped her face and raked along her spine in such a way now that made Tidepaw's heart leap into her throat.

I'd better be headed back.

She quickened her step, hurrying along as quickly as her bad leg would allow her.  Soon the coast was behind her, and she followed the border up towards AspenClan land.  Following the boundary was the safest way to return to camp, considering Hopflight hadn't taken her around enough for Tidepaw to have memorized the inner territory yet.  The musky, earthen scents of the enemy Clan began to clog Tidepaw's scent glands, and she wrinkled up her nose at the offending smell, quickening her pace.


Owl-Flight:

As Robinflight stalked across the territory she found herself hunting near the Tidalclan border. She often hunted on her own like this and found herself suppressing a purr of satisfaction as a mouse came into view, sitting right on the border.

She dropped into a crouch, paying no mind to the fact that one wrong step could propel her right across the border and into an enemy clan's turf. She was a few paces away from being within range of the mouse now.


BayflightStudios:

Blue eyes glittered as Tidepaw prepared to veer away from the forest borderline, when suddenly the wind slapped her across the muzzle- bringing with it the enticing scent of a nearby mouse.  It was tantalizingly close, and Tidepaw paused, struck undecisive by her want to return to a warm, mossy nest, and the urge to hunt.  At last her instincts won, and she turned, stalking as quietly as she could through the undergrowth.  She knew that mice were the one of the hardest prey to catch, and that she had almost no experience in hunting, but Tidepaw always looked at every prey-animal as a challenge.  Backing down was not an option.

The tiny, tawny-pelted animal came into sight as Tidepaw slid into a hunting crouch, even though her bad leg twisted away to awkwardly lie against the forest floor.  She took pride in her strong leaps instead of stalking- she could run like the wind and jump as far as a squirrel, even if stalking was not her strong point.  Just as she prepared to pounce, she froze, noticing where the mouse stood.

Mousedung!  Right on the border!


Owl-Flight:

Waiting just a moment as the mouse came closer to her, probably digging around in the snow for a long forgotten seed, Robinflight dropped lower ready to pounce. Tightening her leg muscles she prepared to pounce. One heartbeat passed, then another, and another, and finally, she pounced. Her paws right on target as she flew roughly two fox lengths to her target. Unaware of any disturbances that may accure before she made contact with her kill.


BayflightStudios:

Tidepaw lunged just as a bleak shadow passed swiftly over the muddy ground across the border.  She let out a hiss of surprise as she managed to make out the gleaming eyes of another cat, and then they collided, pain shooting sharply through her shoulder.  She gasped out and was aware of falling, the other cat's weight pressed against her side as gravity sank its heavy claws into both hunters' pelts, claiming its hold.  The impact with the ground drove the breath from Tidepaw's body, and she barely managed a frustrated snarl as she saw the mouse's pale tail whisk to safety through the nearby bracken.  Mouse dung!


Owl-Flight:

Robinflight wasn't 100% sure what happened next. Only that she collided with something fuzzy, and not much smaller than herself. The air was forced from her lungs as she landed on the ground. Fear shot through her. She was sure she'd been spotted by a patrol hunting so close to the border and they'd attack. She didn't stand a chance against an entire patrol of well trained warriors!

When she looked around she sighed with relief and pulled her hind legs out from under the young apprentice who had landed on them. Her tone changed to annoyance now, "Apprentices shouldn't be so close to the border without a mentor, anyone could have seen that kill was mine, does Tidalclan always sent their youngest apprentices out to catch their food?"  there was a mocking tone to her voice implying that Tidalclan was weak and foolish. Robinflight had fallen across the border when the collided and now she walked back to her own side, pelt pricking.


BayflightStudios:

Tidepaw sprang to her paws, discerning the scent of AspenClan on the other cat's pelt, and her pads prickled.  Mousedung!  What is it with these AspenClanners always hanging around my border?  She seethed silently at the other cat's condescending manner, practically spitting each word as if they were thorns.  "In case you didn't notice, I'm not the fool who leaped the border!" she hissed.  "You shouldn't even have been going for that mouse!  And so what if I'm an apprentice?  Obviously I can hunt as well as you can, if we both leapt at the same place."  She bit back an angry growl, her fur bristling like an angry dark-gray thunderhead.  "AspenClanners.  Ugh.  You all act like you have thistles up your noses."


Owl-Flight:

"It was on the border" she hissed, " I had as much right to go after it as a Tidalclan warrior would have. Now why don't you run home to your mother, the might have some milk for you to make up for your lost kill." She taunted her with a vicious grin on her face. Her shoulders tight in case she attacked, though in all honesty she was about as worried about losing a fight against this cat as a fox was worried about being eaten by a mouse.


BayflightStudios:

Tidepaw bared her teeth, her pelt prickling in fury.  "I might if I had a mother, and if I was as mousehearted as half your Clanmates are!"  She huffed shortly, her claws gripping the ground as her coiled muscles rippled beneath her fur.  Though Tidepaw was not as old as Robinflight, her lanky legs made her just as tall and just as able in a fight- that is, if she had any battle experience.  But seeing the apprentice bravely crouching with a dark snarl over her face, scars marring the left side of her face and suggesting past dangers, it was hard to even imagine that Tidepaw was completely inept at fighting.

"You think you're so great," sneered Tidepaw, "just because you've got a warrior name.  Guess what, kitty?  I'm going to have one too.  You're not the only cat to ever get a warrior name before."  She rolled her eyes, struggling to calm herself.  "And obviously, you lost that mouse just like I did.  If you're the best warrior AspenClan can offer, then I think I'm pretty safe."


Owl-Flight:

Though it didn't show on her face or posture in the least the apprentices words had hit a weak point in Robinflight. She was far from the best Aspenclan could offer. Her weak frame and heart made battling very hard for her without a partner. She did however believe she could take on this apprentice. It was clear she wasn't very old and despite her scars Robinflight didn't believe she'd had much battle training. At least not much judging by her stance. Being a senior warrior of thirty moons Robinflight had almost no trouble picking out the cat's bluff.

She asked once more, this time dropping the immaturity she had foolishly adopted from the apprentice and speaking in a stern voice much like that of a mother scolding a kit, "Where is your mentor? Do they know you're out heat trying to make an enemy warrior skin you? They should really teach you not to go on suicide missions," she grinned as she added the last comment, she couldn't help it. It was part of being in Aspenclan, you always had to one up the other clans.


BayflightStudios:

"Oh, I'm sorry," Tidepaw mewed coldly, "but in TidalClan, apprentices don't have to be babysat by their mentors...but I guess in AspenClan, you do things differently."  She curled her lip and barely bit back a growl- how dare this cat poke fun at her age?  Tidepaw was just as big as this cat!  And my claws are just are sharp.


Owl-Flight:

"Yes, Aspenclanners have the sense not to let an ignorant kit wander off on his own just to -

Robinflight suddenly stopped talking and lifted her head looking in the direction of the human fence that made up one of her borders. It was shaking, like several animals, a bit larger than herself, were climbing over it.

"What in star clan's name.." she muttered and took off running along the border,she turned to the apprentice and snapped at him, "Go home, I have more important things to deal with than you." She wanted the apprentice to go home because whatever was coming over the fence might not be safe.

As she got closer she made out the shape of a cat coming in her direction. "This is clan territory," she snarled, "You have no right to be here." The scent of the cat washed over her now, it wasn't a kittypet that was for sure. It smelled of trees grass, but at the same time it smelled like the paths monsters ran down, and twoleg garbage. It must be a rouge, she though, it wasn't alone, she picked up at least two other scents and there could be another that she just hadn't noticed yet. They were hiding, they didn't think she knew they were there. When she realized this she felt as if there was a rock in her stomach. Ambush. She wasn't sure yet, but why else would they be hiding. If that was their plan they would already have her surrounded, she'd have no chance.


BayflightStudios:

Tidepaw narrowed her eyes as the cats clambered over the fence, her fur beginning to bristle.  Robinflight's sharp comment on Tidepaw's young age was lost in the back of the gray apprentice's mind as she curled her lip, silently unsheathing long, curled claws.  At once she struggled to recall what little Hopflight had told her about battle- she remembered with a glow that others had thought she had good instincts.  But will those be enough to win?  She counted four pelts, all stinking of Twolegplace, and she flattened her ears.  Without even saying anything she fell into a battle stance alongside Robinflight- though she disliked the AspenClan warrior, there was no way she was going to abandon a Clan cat to the mercy of rogues.

"What do we do?" she growled softly, hating that she had to use "we".  If they ran, the rogues would surely see them- if they stayed in place, the rogues would see them soon enough anyways.  Her fur bristled in fear as she realized the imminent answer: they had to fight.


Owl-Flight:

The cat Robinflight had snarled at tilted it's head before Robinflight hid a chance to respond to the apprentice's question. It directed it's attention to the older cat and asked, A clan eh? Well we wouldn't want to get in some bit fight with a clan now would we? Maybe we should just go, that sound like a good idea?" The cats oddly high pitched voice was cold and almost emotionless aside from a slight hint of amusement as it looked from Robinflight to Tidepaw and back again. Then an expression crossed his face as if he'd realized something important, "Oh but wait! There is no clan to fight here. I smell cats, but they're all far away are they not? They're all in their barbaric dens hidden away in the animal reserve like savages. No, you're all alone out here. Just you, and me, and my cats." The 3 other cats gad emerged from hiding, one on ether side of Robinflight and Tidepaw and one behind them.

Robinflights pelt was bristling and she tried not to show any fear. "I'm a seasoned warrior and could take on any of you with one paw tied behind my back." She made her voice as deep and threatening as she possibly could, "Go back to rolling around in your twoleg's filth why don't you?" She couldn't help but mock him, it was part of her nature but it probably wasn't the best idea to tease a cat who had her out matched two to one. Even so she took a threatening step forward with a snarl, "If you don't believe me why don't you come find out?"

"Oh sure, sure you can sweet heart, or at least, if we were as weak as your clanmates you could. But judging by the looks of you any one of us could take you on without and help. Why don't we find out? Say, I'll even let the kitten help."


BayflightStudios:

A guttural snarl ripped itself free of Tidepaw as soon as the foolish cat let the word "kitten" roll from his lips.  Her pent-up fury, which had bristled and swelled throughout the bantering exchange, now exploded in a flash of claws as she flung herself head-on at the tom.  She was sick of other cats poking fun at her age and youth when she was clearly just as big as they were- and just as capable of giving them a good clawing.  The skinny rogue never stood a chance of dodging Tidepaw's wild rage, and her claws hooked into his pelt as she rolled him head over heels away, spitting and tearing at any part of her enemy that she could reach.  

"No one," she snarled between blows, "calls me...a kit!"  Her blue eyes shone with the sharpness of steel, and her claws flashed as she smacked at the rogue's face.


Owl-Flight:

Robinflight had still been hoping to get out of this without a fight, but that idea vanished as Tidepaw attacked. She had no choice but to join in, but she wasn't as vicious as Tidepaw. She darted in, landed a few well aimed blows and shot away. However they were up against a large, powerful tom and one of his paws nailed Robinflight in the side of the head. Thankfully it was the backside so it didn't leave a mark, but it hurt her jaw and knocked her to the ground where one of the onlooking cats lashed out at her back. It however made no move to attack, it was only a warning to keep her inside the ring of cats and not attempt to run away.

Robinflight ignored the blow to her back and leapt back to her paws where the tom who easily managing to counter most of Tidepaws attacks by mirroring them war preparing to leap at the young apprentice. He swung his paw wide to catch him in the shoulder and knock him to the ground where he would then pin him and claw at his pelt.


BayflightStudios:

Tidepaw hissed as the other cat quickly gained the upper paw- any advantages of her surprise attack dissipated as the rogue's claws, in turn, slashed at her chest.  She spat in both pain and fresh anger, lashing out of instinct and catching a lucky blow on the stringy tom's muzzle.  Her claws swiped again, thick with his mousy fur, and tore at the tom's cheek.  Yowling, the rogue staggered back for a second to let Tidepaw crawl to her paws and catch her breath.  It rasped in her throat, and just as she began to panic over what to do next, the tom lunged again and bowled her over.  Tidepaw's bad leg buckled with shocking ease, and she yowled as she tumbled to the ground.  The rogue let out a grim cry of triumph, biting at her shoulder, and Tidepaw screeched.  She retaliated with a strong blow to the rogue's head, desperate to get away, and out of pure chance he hissed and gave up his grip.

"Run back to your Twolegs," spat Tidepaw, hiding her hurt by baring her teeth.  She wildly wondered how Robinflight was doing, but the rogue was beginning to circle her, and Tidepaw's every attention was fixated upon his ragged pelt.


Owl-Flight:

Leaping back into battle Robinflight latched onto the toms back locking her teeth on his ear. Not the tip like she would in a fight against a warrior just to teach them a lesson, but at the base, licking her teeth together as hard as she could he let out a howl of pain and rolled over, crushing her under him. She couldn't breath but still she wouldn't relent. The flesh was tearing between her teeth now, she could feel it, and taste it. The more her mover, trying to crush her and make her let go the worse it got. However the lack of air was getting to her quickly, and her ribs hurt like nothing she'd ever felt before as the tom pressed all his weight into them, her vision was blurring and she could tell another one of the cats was advancing to drag her off their leader.


BayflightStudios:

Just as the tom prepared to pounce, a loud screech caught Tidepaw's attention.  A few tail-lengths away, Robinflight had her teeth latched in the lead rogue's ear; her nose was pale as snow, however, and alarm flared in Tidepaw's heart as she realized Robinflight was out of air.  That foxheart's choking her!

Barreling towards Robinflight's foe and knocking her own away with a quick blow, Tidepaw screeched bravely and lunged at the other rogue without a second thought.  Her claws outstretched as she sailed through the air, and the last thing she saw before impact was the rogue's eyes, bright with surprise.  There was a terrible ripping sound as Robinflight's teeth were torn free, and the tom's shriek reverberated as Tidepaw tackled him to the ground.  Her entire body ached and stung, and as the tom clawed fiercely at her she knew she was bleeding, but she fought as hard as she could, trying to match the older tom blow for blow.  A kit could fight with you! she screamed silently, giving herself some strength at the faint amusement her secret curse brought, managing to catch the tom upside his jaw.


Owl-Flight:

Robinflights vision was almost black when the heavy force was lifted away from her, she felt a tear near her jaws and her mouth filed with blood. She spit out the cat's ear and rolled onto her side, couching and gagging until she vomited. She felt sharp claws down her spine as the remaining two cats joined in the fight, ganging up on the defenseless she-cat.

The tom who's ear she had torn off backed away from Tidepaw. Blood was streaming down his face and blinding him in one eye, in a vicious snarl he addressed Robinflight, "You'll pay for that you runt" He glared at Tidepaw, letting the apprentice know the threat was directed at her as well, "Come on, we have better places to be cats" he snarled and darted back to the fence, the fight ended as quickly as it had begun, but the one cat paused just long enough to kick dirt in Robinflight's face as she still lay on the ground gasping for air. And with that they were gone, leaving nothing but an ear, some blood and the rattling sound of the fence.


BayflightStudios:

Tidepaw stood proud, fearless, and tall as she could for a moment longer, but when the last rogue's skinny leg whisked over the fence she let her shoulders slump, trembling with exhaustion.  The fight had been too long, and yet all too quick at the same time.  The light of battle faded reluctantly from her weary eyes, and she spat out a mouthful of blood- both the rogues' and her own- to then turn with a dull expression to look at Robinflight.

"You alright?" she muttered warily, limping over.  Tidepaw, for the most part, had only taken scratches and bruises, but a good claw from the lead rogue had left a short gash across her chest that trickled blood down her front.  If the lithe apprentice noticed, she made no move to wipe it away or even give it an acknowledging lick; she instead hobbled to Robinflight's side and nosed the older warrior to her paws again.


Owl-Flight:

Robinflight's breath came in rasps, but color was returning to her nose now and her eyes were focusing. She let the apprentice help her to her paws as she tried to gather her thoughts on what had just happened. Her ribs felt like they were broken, though she wasn't sure, if they were she probably wouldn't be standing right then. Finally she recalled enough of the attack to ask, "I ripped of his ear didn't I?"


BayflightStudios:

"Technically," Tidepaw meowed slowly, her stomach roiling at the very thought.  She shut her eyes tightly to force away the sickening memory of fur tearing and breathed out through her nose, trying to push out the lingering scent of blood.  When she felt clear-headed again, she let her eyes flicker back open, and she added shortly, "He won't be forgetting the Clans for a while.  Maybe having one ear will keep him in his stinking Twolegplace...and those other flea-pelts, too."


Owl-Flight:

Robinflight rubbed her tongue on the roof of her mouth with a disgusted expression- as if honey had been stuck there. "Not many cat's can say they've had a severed ear in their moth before.... I don't think I want to be one of the few." She spit out a mouth full of blood, "Can you make it back to your camp or do you want to stay for a bit?" She asked, adding, "I wont let any patrols hurt you, you've earned a short stay for helping me."


BayflightStudios:

Tidepaw's fur began to bristle as she suddenly remembered that she was on enemy territory.  She spun about to scent the border a few tail-lengths behind, and hurriedly backed over it, mewing swiftly, "N-no, it's alright."  Narrowing her eyes and jerkily nodding her head, she muttered, "Thank you...for...fighting by me.  I would've been...crowfood otherwise."  Her breath hitched as if it were difficult to admit she owed Robinflight, but a new respect gleamed in her eyes.  It had been the first fight Tidepaw had really been in, and she had fought it alongside Robinflight- whether that meant anything to Tidepaw now, it was yet to be seen, but it had earned Robinflight the fiery apprentice's respect.  Taking a deep breath, Tidepaw mewed swiftly, "Good luck...alright?"


Owl-Flight:

Robinflight nodded to the apprentice, "And thank you for saving me," she said, she would have added I owe you one but she would never say something like that to a Tidal clan cat. "Go straight back to camp in case any of those cats are still lurking around." With that she turned around and walked away. Slowly and painfully, each step an effort.


BayflightStudios:

Tidepaw nodded flatly and watched Robinflight go, her blue eyes narrowed until the shade of the trees swallowed the she-cat's tabby pelt.  Turning slowly, Tidepaw flexed her bad leg- it was sore from the battle, but she could still put weight on it.  Gritting her teeth, she began to limp away, but something drew her to pause.  Gazing back at the bloodstained clearing, she was gripped with a fiery emotion as she remembered the battle.

So this is what it feels like to fight, she realized silently, her shoulders slumping as the fire died away.  ...It is truly an...astonishing experience.

Filled with pride for what she had done- she had fought off a fully-grown cat on her own!- Tidepaw smiled and went on her way.  Though her wounds ached and she feared the rogues would return someday, Tidepaw was enlightened to know she had helped to chase them off...and maybe in the future she would see Robinflight again.  Maybe...they could even be friends.  After all, they had fought together....

Smiling to herself at the absurd thought, Tidepaw's gray fur melted into the trees, and silence reigned.