Sparring With Snakes (OPEN)

[xx snakey]

A fierce yowl rang throughout the forest, alerting those who heard of a battle. But this was a private war, between one cat and his most beloved enemy. This was Duskstar's private war.

He leapt to the side, batting a dusty brown serpent away from his already bleeding shoulder. He snarled angrily, spinning and closing his jaws swiftly around a lunging snake. He snarled, his lips curled back viciously, showing no weakness.

He cringed, sharp pain shooting through his hind paw. He kicked out, trying to throw the snake away. But it wouldn't let go. His teeth closed around it's midsection, snapping it's spine and yanking it from his foot. He growled, licking poison from the bleeding wound and smiling at the jolt it gave him. But bliss was short lived as he once again was caught in another snakes bite. It's fangs sunk into his shoulder like needles, gripping and shooting deadly poison into his system. He shivered, his eyes rolling and foam leaking from between his lips. He snarled at himself.

'Don't loose control! You can do this.' He shook himself, ripping the adder from his shoulder, it's fangs still embedded in his skin. He flexed, pushing the little needles up and out so he could rip them out with his teeth. He then licked his lips, spitting foam out onto the ground. He glared at it, whipping around to slash open another snake, leaving it lifeless on the ground. The remaining serpents looked at him wearily, tempting to retreat. He yowled again, the pebbles under his feet crunching under long black claws.

"Come and get me you *Forest forsaken scum." He snarled, looking each snake in it's ugly yellow eyes. Then something shot out of the shade of a rock, long and ugly and black, fangs glinting with venom in the sunlight. They sunk into his neck, forcing him to the ground as the slimy scaled body curled around his neck. He sputtered, spitting at the ground and flailing his limbs as he tried to rip his attacker from his throat. His strength faded with every labored breath. 'Great *Forest, I'm dying...' He thought, trying to fight harder. His breath came in labored pants as poison over took his system. "Help... Help me..." His voice cracked and died as he writhed on the ground, trying to escape what was coming. If only someone would help him at this one time he was so vulnerable.

ooc: open to anyone.
*Forest- referring to the Dark Forest because he does not believe in Starclan anymore.

[it's FiSHY, scaredy-cat.]

...S tumbleknot:.

.: Stumbleknot padded quietly through the woods, his limbs bent low in a crouch. Locking on his target, the brown tom stalked his prey. Paw-step by paw-step, he inched in. Everything was going well. He was downwind, and the vole was literally oblivious. Somehow, its mellowness and plain brown pelt reminded the deputy of himself. Oh, StarClan, mousebrain. Everyone knows you're not a vole! he scolded himself, which was rare for the deputy to do. But the thought really made him worry. Was he like that prey - just waiting to get pounced on and eaten?

Stumbleknot stepped closer. Fresh-kill was just a tail-length from his grasp. He flexed his claws, and got ready to pounce when a snarl rippled through the air, and the vole was gone in a flash. The deputy bit back a spiteful 'mouse-dung!' as he quickly realized who's voice it was. Duskstar?! He jumped out of his hunting crouch and bolted through the brambles, following his scent and the direction of the sharp meow. A hiss rang in his ears, and he immediately knew it was not from the voice of a cat, but an adder.

Claws slashed and teeth bared as the leader fought face-to-face with the cursed animal. "Duskstarr!" Stumbleknot yowled in concern, and leaped in to join the fight.

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[xx snakey]

Duskstar, seeing the appearance of Stumbleknot, flared back to life inspite of the adder wrapped around his neck, fangs bore into his flesh. Teeth dug in and claws yanked, ripping the demon from his throat, droplets of scarlet blood spattering the ground. It was his own. He surged his his feet, stumbling and splattering the beige flats of Snake Rocks with his crimson lifeblood. A tear in his beautiful neck mucsles, left by the damned snake and stained red by his own will to live.

He snarled, foam dripping from his muzzle, conjured by the amount of venom that flowed through his veins, far more then normal. He shook himself, finding his own muscles spasming and quivering. He fought for control, his breath ragged and labored. His vision blurred, his trusty sunset amber orbs betraying him by falling in an out of focus. Then something caught his eye, a flash of brown molted scales.

"Stumbleknot!" He snarled, throwing himself at the brown tom, knocking him away just as the adder's fangs sank into his own shoulder. He howled in pain, more venom surging through him. He didn't know how much more he could take. How much would his body yeild to? The poison no longer pleasured him, only brought him searing pain from each and every wound that graced his body.

A cold nothern wind whipped through the forest as he pulled the adder from his shoulder, snapping it's spine. What used to be a simple task now almost illuded him as his left paw crumpled out from under him and his vision contorted. Lucious gray fur stood out in akward angles, stained by blood and venom. He spat foamy siliva onto the stone once more, panting and watching his vision go double.

"Stumbleknot... help me..." His voice was hoarse, cracked by pain and the agony of being helpless. He looked at the brown tom, his eyes watery in pain and his sight coming in and out of focus. "I can't take much more... The v-venom... too m-much..." Suddenly, his eyes rooled back in his head and the huge tom collasped, his paws twitching and his mouth foaming as he struggled to stay alive in an unconcious state. His last thought was 'I hope there are adders in the Forest'.

[it's FiSHY, scaredy-cat.]

...S tumbleknot:.

.: Things seem to be happening in the speed of light, now. Stumbleknot stood almost petrified by the gruesome tangle of claws and fangs between the snake and his leader. Shaking his head in to focus, the deputy lashed out a claw and began a swipe at the adder - before hindlegs kicked into his underbelly.

"Stumbleknot!" Duskstar snarled. The tom felt something knock all of the wind out of him. He couldn't tell what was happening for a moment - the world became a kaleidoscope of swirling colors. But he didn't flinch. The mellow side of him was all gone when Stumbleknot was in battle - and StarClan, this sure was a big one.

He skidded across the dirt, scraping undergrowth as he rolled. His blood roared in his ears, as well as shriecks and hisses from both fighters. The deputy pulled himself up, pain running up and down his front right-limb. Was he limping? All Stumbleknot can tell was that his leader needed help - and badly, at that. In a moment the adder had sunken its teeth into his shoulder - and got flung off, like a boomerang, leaving fatal scars on the leader. Blood stained his matted pelt. The venom was acting up, now.

"Stumbleknot...help me..." Duskstar choked out. Every breath of his seemed to be a struggle, and his very voice seemed out-of-the-whack hoarse. "I can't take much more...the v-venom...too m-much..."

Stumbleknot's eyes widened in horror. This was his leader!! Brave and strong...and now crippled and beaten, by the adder who flew away like a boomerang. But like a boomerang, it came back - this time for Stumbleknot. Instinct hit him, and the brown-furred tom leaped into the air, seized Duskstar by his scruff, all while simultaniously kicking the snake away.

"Duskstar, are you okay?" fur muffled his words, "We need to take you to the medicine cat, right now! What got you into this mess? Is your shoulder still bleeding? Sorry, I can't look right now...How's that scar? You're probably tired - no, don't go to StarClan now! Just wait a while longer...we're almost at the camp...I don't think that fox-dung adder is following us...Duskstar, please don't got to StarClan! Hold on...The camp is just around the corner...You can... ..." Stumbleknot's words trailed off as he found himself rambling on and on with concern. But no time to hesitate now - Duskstar needs help.

As the duo crashed into camp, the deputy felt himself drop the leader to bellow, "Help!! Duskstar needs help!!" all while not noticing that fox-dung adder following not-too-far behind.

Oh, StarClan have mercy!

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OOC; heh...long post. O.O Sorry that you have to read through all of that xD ++...that adder is extremely out-of-the-whack sturdy. O______o

[xx snakey]

Duskstar stumbled along with Stumbleknot, knowing too wll that one of the horrid serpents had followed them. He knew he wasn't going to Starclan, not today, not anyday. He was not about to loose his first life to an adder. He collasped in the clearing, shaking and quivering, saliva pooling in his mouth. His vision blurred, and then came into focus again.

Dawnkit stood frozen acrossed the clearing, horror struck at the sight of her father, so weak... almost lifeless. Something stirred inside her, something evil. Her father was dying! What had done this! Rage poured into her every sense, long legs standing ridged, ready to jump. A molted brown shape caught her eye, the evil shape of the adder.

She ran, her too-long legs-for her age- carried her swiftly, and launched her over Duskstar's body, claws out stretched and aimed at the adder. "No!" Her father's hoarse cry sounded behind her but she blocked it out, swiping at the foul head of the serpent, though it slithered from her grasp. Her amber and green eyes watched it, following it as it moved. It lunged at her, needle like fangs peircing the skin on her small, yet powerful shoulder. She hissed, teeth digging into the adder's neck, pulling it from her body with a yank. The snake writhed in her grasp, it's whole body lashing out to try and get away as her jaws pressed down around it harder, hoping to feel the small, thin bones crack under the pressure. She did not quiver, not even twitch, though the adder's poison was now running through her small veins. She only bit harder, cursing the snake to the darkest part of the *Forest. And then, with a loud Snap! it's spine broke under her teeth, and the adder went limp.

She turned, dropping the snake's body like lead and raced to her father's side, unphased by the adder's venom. "Are you alright?" She mewed, terrified for her father's health. He twitched, and quivered, his whole bdy spasming. "Did it bite you?" He finally managed to choke out. She turned her head to the side, confused. "Yes, is that a bad thing?" She looked at Stumbleknot, wondering if he had the answer.

ooc: Kinda long. Dawnkit to the rescue! lol. This is going to be interesting...
*Forest= she is als referring to the Dark Forest.

[it's FiSHY, scaredy-cat.]

...S tumbleknot:.

.: Stumbleknot watched in horror as Dawnkit fought the adder one-on-one. "Stop!" he yelped, but he was too late, and knew too well not to interfere with this skirmish. This was Dawnkit's fight, and joining in would probably make her lose focus on the battle. Still, he couldn't help but to feel concern for the little kit. For a moment, the deputy was pondering on whether this was a good decision when her jaws closed in on the snake, and the poison drifted into her veins - "No - Dawnkit!" ThunderClan can't risk any more cats now! Again, too late. With a subtle snap the snake was dead, and Stumbleknot looked upon the young kit with awe. Quivering, the tom pawed the snake.

Lifeless. Harmless, like fresh-kill. But the deputy knew better that this was dangerous stuff he was coping with, and without a word, he grunted a nod of approval to the little she-cat and bolted out of the camp, tossing it away and away until it was to be run over by monsters on the Thunderpath. We have a prodigy in our clan, Stumbleknot thought proudly. How bold was Dawnkit to face the snake! But the good feeling fleeted away all too soon, and the deputy's blood struck cold as he realized what he'd done -

Dawnkit is dying. He left her in death's clutches, toxins flowing into her veins this very moment. His leader's life is seeping away, and all Stumbleknot has done was to try to help, only to do more harm. Guilt bubbled in the deputy's chest. What have I done?! What have I done?!

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OOC; Sorry about the late post! >_<'

[xx snakey]

Duskstar grunted, trying to pull himself to his feet again, but fell back onto the dirt. "Dawnkit, go fetch Stumbleknot. He's probably freaking out." Dawnkit nodded, racing off toward where the deputy had disapeared to. She large kitten paws moved her swiftly, nimbly through the undergrowth, with the occastional stumble. She felt energized, the adrenaline from the battle with the snake pumping through her veins. She walked right up to Stumbleknot, who was standing near the Thunderpath. She smiled at him. "Father wants you. I think you should go see him, he's a bit bent out of shape. What happened anyway? What's going on?" The kit's words flew out of her mouth at a very swift rate, making some things she said confusing and jumbled. She then turned away from Stumbleknot, leading the way back through the undergrowth.

Duskstar twitched, feeling his life start to fade. He pushed the darkness back with all the will power he had, forcing his paws to support him and shaking his head, saliva that dripped from his jaws splattering the ground along with blood from his various wounds. He blinked his eyes, focusing on the ground in front of him. He tried to gain control of his spasming muscles, paralyse trying to creep into his limbs. He shook it away, turning back to teh camp entrance, waiting to see his daughter and deputy walk through.

[it's FiSHY, scaredy-cat.]

...S tumbleknot:.

.: Dawnkit was leading him back to camp. Stumbleknot was glad for that, since his thoughts were all a jumble in his head and he couldn't think straight. As the brambles gave way to the camp, he stood, stunned, at the sight of Duskstar.

Things haven't gotten any better.

"Duskstar!" he yelped. Then he turned around and leapted to the highrock, all while calling, "Get the medicine cat! Get the medicine cat!"

The tom couldn't stand to see the body of his leader crippled. So strong one moment...and so helpless the next. How could this happen?! He let open a series of 'fox-dung' and 'crowfood' insults at the adder, and peered over Duskstar, worry smacked on his face. Guilt filled in his golden eyes. Was Duskstar to lose his first life so soon? Stumbleknot closed his eyes and shook his head. A determined expression spread across his face.

"Duskstar, you need to get up right now!" he commanded with all the authority he could muster, "The clan needs you, and your life can't just go to an adder! ThunderClan will need your strength, not because we are weak or are looking weak, but because your leadership keeps us together!"

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OOC; Gah!! Someone needs to take up the medicine cat position soon! >.<' I can't go one saying "medicine cat" forever! xD

[xx snakey]

Duskstar grunted, pushing himself to his paws again. He coudl feelhis system working the venomout, his body gaining more and more control again. "I'm never doing that again." He grumbled, a silver shape trotting toward him across the clearing. He glared at the she-cat, a snarl twisting on his lips.

"Don't worry, Stumbleknot. Duskstar has this obscene amunity to adder venom, though alot does him in." Silverflower said, sounded pleasent as she dropped a bundle of herbs at Duskstar's feet. The acting medicine cat began to sniff her mate's wounds, and flicking her tail to Dawnkit. "Go get soem cobwebs, would you? Your bleeding alot, Duskstar." Silverflower looked at him seriously and he snarled. "What do you care?" She chuckled, sniffing the wound on his neck. "I care alot, you know." She pulled a large, heart shapped leaf from the bundle she'd brought, giving it to Duskstar who promptly chewed it up and swallowed it. "If your planning on poisoning me you should be more subtle." He meowed angrly before becoming slightly drowzey and slipping onto the dirt, his expression mellow.

"Well, that shut him up." Silverflower smiled, nodding to Dawnkit when she ran back up, her paws covered in cobwebs. "Stumbleknot, do you mind helping Dawnkit apply those cobwebs? I'd be very grateful." She looked at the deputy, her green and blue eyes sparkling. Then she turned back to Duskstar, putting an leaf on the ground infront of him. Duskstar sniffed the beige poltice warily, then lapped it up, feeling it slide down his throat with ease, a honied taste in his mouth. He looked at Silverflower lazily, her eyes bright and shining. He snarled half heartedly. "Stop looking at me like that..." Silverflower laughed, Shaking her head. "Here, these will hel with the pain." She pushed some poppy seeds toward him, and he reluctantly lapped them up. His muscles relaxed slowly, and the pain in his neck and shoulders dulled, leaving only a throbbing sensation in the way. He glanced at Stumbleknot, his eyes heavily lidded. "Thank you. If you'd not shown up I don't think I could have made it..." His voice was oddly gentle and he gave the deputy a half smile. "I knew I'd made the right choice when I'd picked you..."

[it's FiSHY, scaredy-cat.]

...S tumbleknot:.

.: The deputy felt himself fill up with bittersweet relief, well knowing that a life has been lost, but Silverflower had come for help.

"Of course," he mewed as response to the she-cat's request. Immediately, Stumbleknot began bundling up cobwebs and tenderly placing them on Duskstar's wounds, careful not to apply with too much force, but also cautious to make sure they'll stay. The spiderwebs felt uncomfortably sticky in his jaws, and clang onto his paws in fibery strings, not letting go until long after he'd brushed his soles against rough rock multiple times.

Stumbleknot shook his head. "Thank goodness I'm not a medicine cat. I'd be better off being an elder living off of crowfood than having that job -- or at least my clanmates will," he joked with a grin.

He turned to Dawnkit, obviously not noticing the conversation going on between his leader and Silverflower. He mewed, "Well, aren't you a talented one? First fighting an adder and then putting on cobwebs..." Stumbleknot trailed off. It didn't seem real for such a kit. "You've got your paws full with a father like Duskstar," and the deputy grinned a big-feline-proud kind of grin. "You're going to become a mighty fine cat if you ask me!"

And with that, Stumbleknot returned to patching up wounds with cobwebs.

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[wolfwind]

OcEaNsToRm ...


Oceanstorm resided in the medicine cat den going through the storage to see what Silverpaw would need to pick up. He heard a rustling in the background that sounded of alerting, but he somewhat ignored it so that he could rest in his memories. He was uninterupted till he heard the honorable deputy in the background shouting distinctlivly. The grey tom's ear twitched at the voice and he shook his head to drone out the memories that interrogated him. He padded out calmly till he saw his leader on the ground with Dawnkit and Stumbleknot leaning over him. That was then the ocean eyed cat pelted over to them and saw Dawnkit pressing the cobwebs on her father's fur.
"What has happened?" he asked urgently, but of course he was admiring Dawnkit's work as she patched up her father's wounds.

She is a much gifted feline already. Oceanstorm purred inside his head as he delt with the outside world first.

[/font]

[it's FiSHY, scaredy-cat.]

...S tumbleknot:.

.: "Eh?" Stumbleknot blinked as he diverted his attention to the approaching tom. Goodness, tragedies sure have a way of attracting cats! His chest heaved with a sigh of relief as he realized that it was just Oceanstorm, the medicine cat. Something told him that from the adder incident forward, he was going to become a much more wary cat.

"Oh, Oceanstorm," he mewed as calmly as he could, although despite his efforts, fear was apparent in his eyes as he spoke, voice trembling, "D-Duskstar...He got into a fight with an adder recently," Stumbleknot paused, and then mewed softly into the medicine cat's ear: "I...I think he has lost a life." Upon these words the deputy was not entirely sure, but he knew Duskstar had been injured heavily to some extreme extent, even though Stumbleknot did not know whether it was enough to wipe out a life. With one swift glance at Dawnkit, padding the leader with cobwebs, he continued, this time with a louder meow. "Dawnkit got involved as well. It was very couragous of her to provide the finishing blow to the foxdung snake, but it will have its consequences."

The brown tom winced. He flicked his tail to signal: "She's got venom in her veins, now." Despite his speechless words, Stumbleknot knew this time that Oceanstorm can tell the worry deep inside his heart.

ThunderClan couldn't look weak. Not right now, when times were tough. The deputy shifted a wary glance at the passage to the moor. What a wonder, how WindClan does not get involved.

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[wolfwind]

OcEaNsToRm

Oceanstorm put his ear towards Duskstar's chest to hear any vibrations or the blood pounding, but to himself he understood that he heard nothing. He sat back up and flicked his tail gently on Stumbleknot's shoulder.
"I think you may be right," he whispered and he swiftly whipped around to Dawnkit and looked at her sternly with his deep ocean eyes.
"Dawnkit, you showed great courage, but what were you thinking?" he hissed sternly, only because he needed her to understand how important this was.
He sat with Duskstar and calmly awaited his leader's prescense to be with them again. Slowly and not with much satisfaction did Oceanstorm pray calmly to StarClan for the safety of the leader's return. He remained calm through the whole thing though, not to worry his clan. Stumbleknot would have to remain calm too if he was willing to be noble for the sake of his own clan.

[it's FiSHY, scaredy-cat.]

OOC; Sorry xD My activity (energy-wise) is not as it should be *laughs*

...S tumbleknot:.

.: Stumbleknot watched intently as the medicine cat put his ear against the frail leader, listening for a heart beat.

"I think you may be right," Oceanstorm mewed.

Stumbleknot gulped. Although he expected this answer, shame and worry still fell upon him. He had no idea how many lives his leader had left. That, only an experienced medicine cat can tell. However, despite his suspicion, Oceanstorm's reply was nevertheless shocking. Just moments ago, Duskstar was up on his feet, fighting with the fury equal to a whole clan of warriors. Now, the cat lay fallen, patched up from ear-tip to tail-tip. He was staring so hard at the crippled leader that he barely heard Oceanstorm's remark about Dawnkit, whatever it was. Guilt poured into his eyes. That fox-dung adder! That fox-dung me! he cried mentally, for he blamed himself for the lack of assistance as well as the Dark Forest-heading snake that attacked in the first place.

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