Everlasting Love (Stormwind)

Mossflower was starting to breathe a little heavily by this point, not as young as Echowhisper anymore.

Echowhisper growled softly to herself, the she-cat lowering her head and pinning her ears back, willing herself onward as they made it to the hill that seemed to be made entirely of jagged rocks sticking out at odd angles. Oakfoot was here, beckoning the racers on to the left and cheering his mother’s name. All they had to do now was go right around the aspen grove and then finish at the camp clearing.

Mossflower didn’t make the rookie mistake of looking back when she heard the thump, just kept running.

Puddlepaw wasn’t big enough to just jump over, and gave a frustrated growl as he was forced to run around, making him fall even further behind. Echowshiper kept pace, but her landing wasn’t quite as graceful, and she stumbled a bit.

Once, there was a fallen log in their way and Mossflower leaped over it easily enough.

As Mossflower predicted, Puddlepaw fell behind the pair of warriors after they got about halfway to the second landmark, having tired himself out.

Echowhisper stayed just behind Mossflower, her mouth dry and her lungs screaming for air as she kept pace with the surprisingly fast senior warrior.

Mossflower managed to make the turn without losing any of her speed. Once she straightened out again, she sped up a little.

Before long the cats met their first landmark. They were meant to turn right at the stream and follow it until they got to Tumbled Rocks. Just in case they’d forgotten, Wolfheart was standing there, pointing with his tail along the creek. Puddlepaw followed his direction, skidding a little as he turned but recovering enough to not lose his lead. Even as Mossflower turned Echowhisper remained right behind her.

Moss flower wasn’t worried about the young apprentice pulling ahead of her, as she could tell he was already running as fast as he could and it would tire him out quickly.

Puddlepaw felt as though he had to sprint from the very start in order to keep up with the larger warriors, and for a moment he did pull ahead of Echowhisper and Mossflower.

Echowhisper didn’t fight to pull ahead. In fact, she comfortably settled in directly behind Mossflower, running at the same pace as her to stay just a taillength behind the older she-cat as her paws thudded against the ground.

Mossflower bolted as soon as Sterlingflight started the race, eyes narrowed as she ran through the forest, keeping her speed steady instead of outright sprinting. It would keep her speed more consistent, rather than going flat-out right at the beginning and quickly tiring out.

Puddlepaw And Echowhisper lined up on either side of Mossflower, each focusing only on th path that Sterlingflight had laid out before them. Sterlingflight made the trio wait to build suspense and give the others time to get to a good vantage point. Then, with a yowl of “Go!” The tom started the race.

Mossflower gave her mate a brief smile before joining the two younger cats at the starting line. She fixed her gaze on Sterlingflight, waiting for him to signal the start of the race.

Echowhisper and Puddlepaw had entered in the race with Blossomsnow. In order to aid the cats with knowing what the course was, especially the Dimclan apprentice, several cats were sent to various landmarks in the territory. Sterlingflight explained the route to the racers while the rest of the clan listened in. They went out to different landmarks as well, so that there would be spectators scattered throughout the course as well. As Duststorm made his way to watch somewhere, The tom turned to Mossflower, winking knowingly at her as he padded towards the finish line, at the clan camp.

"Thank you," Streamfire said, smiling at him.

In the race, of my cats only Mossflower was going to compete, Rainstar having abstained from all competitions and Rainstorm disdaining competing with the LoveClan cats.

“Well done,” Sterlingflight grunted to his daughter as he got to his paws, offering her a smile. The clan cheered her name loudly, along with Puddlepaw and Amber. Now, it was time for the race.

Streamfire stepped back and let her father up from the ground, looking vaguely stunned. I didn't expect to win.

Sterlingflight thrashed around, but it was no good, and Streamfire was declared the winner of the entire contest.

Streamfire placed a paw on his chest, curling her claws into the ground.

Sterlingflight thrashed around beneath Streamfire. He didn’t allow her to roll him onto his side, but couldn’t manage to get out from under his daughter either.

Streamfire tried to pin him on his side, using her weight to keep him down. Not that it helped much, small as she was.

Sterlingflight sputtered when he was bowled over just as he reset himself for the fight, finding himself beneath Streamfire as the countdown began.

Streamfire lunged for him as soon as he crouched, eyes narrowed and focused on him.

Sterlingflight nodded, getting back into a proper stance.

Streamfire sighed, rising to her paws. "Let's just get this fight over with, yeah?"