Everlasting Love (Stormwind)

Amber scrambled beneath Emberleaf, trying her hardest to worm her way out of the other warrior’s grasp, but once the she-cat’s hind claws were dug into the earth below it was all over. The crowd’s count reached seven and Sterlingflight trotted up to the pair, nodding to the Loveclan female. “Emberleaf wins!” Called the deputy, earning cheering from the crowd even as they tried to watch Duststorm and Graycloud on the other side of the clearing.

Duststorm again found himself putting his head at an odd angle, trying now to continue to land heavy blows on the She-cat’s head, and use his strength and size advantage over the younger she-cat.

Emberleaf knew better than to sit on Amber and instead she placed her forepaws on the other she-cat’s chest, digging the claws of her hind paws into the ground.

Graycloud jumped back, shaking her head in an attempt to clear it.

Duststorm didn’t roll to his paws as quickly as he would have liked, and felt a little dizzy with the speed at which he did get back upright, but he still went on the offensive once he did reach Graycloud, cuffing The she-cat’s ears a few times before trying to land a harder blow on her muzzle.

Amber was surprised by the burst of speed from Emberleaf and squawked as she was bowled over, squirming beneath Emberleaf to try and escape. The crowd began to count to seven, at which point Emberleaf would win.

Duststorm’s kick was strong enough that Graycloud was sent tumbling off of him, wheezing.

Emberleaf took a little skip back to avoid the blow and then lunged.

Duststorm rolled to his back beneath Graycloud as he was knocked over and pushed upwards with all four paws as the Dimclan she-cat passed over him, trying to wind The she-cat.

Amber eventually got a little bored, and on one of her feints she swiped at Emberleaf’s face.

Emberleaf huffed at the rather obvious feints, not moving.

Graycloud bowled Duststorm over.

Duststorm braced himself as the younger warrior leapt forward, The tom having to tilt his head at an odd angle to keep Graycloud in the clear part of his vision on account of his injury.

Amber feinted towards Emberleaf a few times, darting forward before jumping back to safety just as quickly.

Graycloud nodded in response to his words and leaped forward once the fights had been started.

Emberleaf waited for Amber to come to her.

(That’s why I said was. Sterlingflight made the plans for this before he knew Duststorm was going to be in it again.)

Amber looked eager to give Dimclan a good name by beating the warrior across from her, flashing a confident smirk. She was probably the least experienced of all of the cats in the competition, but maybe she could throw her opponents off by using some non-clan fighting moves.

Duststorm smiled over at the unfamiliar she-cat. “Good luck!” The older tom Mewed quickly. He was obviously in pretty good spirits today, and it showed.

Sterlingflight nodded, and so the fights began.

(...Duststorm is more senior than Streamfire. He was a warrior before she was born)

Emberleaf stood across the designated area from Amber, eyeing the other she-cat.

Graycloud was nervous as she faced the much more senior warrior.

Wolfheart decided not to fight, preferring to keep things even and not throw an extra cat into the system, which might break the plan that Sterlingflight had laid out previously.

Since Sterlingflight and Streamfire had been the two most senior warriors when the deputy had his idea for organizing the fights, they got a pass on the first round. Emberleaf was matched against Amber, while Graycloud would go up against Duststorm first.

“The rules are, whoever gets pinned and stays pinned for seven heartbeats is the loser.” Mewed Sterlingflight to the other fighters. “You can use whatever moves you want, but no claws.”

Oakfoot padded over beside Willowheart to watch, the first two fights about to begin simultaneously to ensure there was enough time to get the race in before sunhigh.

Of my cats, Streamfire, Emberleaf, and Graycloud joined in to fight. Willowheart also padded up to watch, with a couple bundles of herbs just in case.

Those that weren’t going to be fighting moved to the edges of the clearing, while those who would got in the center. Of my cats, Sterlingflight, Wolfheart, and Amber lined up. Duststorm did as well, a surprise last minute addition, and several cats gasped as they realized he was no longer blindfolded and seemed to still have his vision.

Once cats had finished cheering, they started to set up for the fighting competition.

Oakfoot flashed his signature grin back at Emberleaf, the handsome tom elated to have impressed the beautiful she-cat.

(Seven pieces, actually)

Emberleaf beamed at Oakfoot happily.

Wolfheart won the individual contest easily, his five pieces of prey nearly as good as the teams. Meanwhile, Oakfoot set his prey down first, having two thrushes and a squirrel to add. Peach set down a pair of mice. Sterlingflight and his daughter had caught a blackbird, two mice, and a vole.

Sterlingflight glanced with approval at the other groups. “Congratulations to Oakfoot And Emberleaf, winning with six pieces of prey!”

Peach smiled over at Blossomsnow, proud of herself and happy to have spent the time with her friend, even if they didn’t win.

Oakfoot’s eyes lit up, the tom looking to Emberleaf happily. “We did it!” He purred softly to her, as the rest of the gathered cats cheered their names.

Puddlepaw got swept up in the excitement and joined in cheering for the winners once he learned their names.

When Emberleaf and Blossomsnow headed back to the meeting place with their respective partners, the former was carrying a water vole, a squirrel, and two pigeons while the former was carrying two mice and a shrew.

Some time later, after each of the groups had had time to stack up plenty more prey, Sterlingflight called that it was time for the hunting contest to end. Each team would bring their catches back to the training hollow so a winner could be declared.

Blossomsnow smiled. “Okay,” she mewled.

Peach nodded. “A peach is a fuzzy fruit. I’d rather have something more like a warrior than a fluff ball.” She purred quietly. “We’ll see when that happens, if it happens.”

Blossomsnow blinked in surprise. “Really?”

Emberleaf nodded in agreement and started to head in said direction.

As they walked, Peach looked to Blossomsnow. “I Asked Rainstar If She would change my name when she decides to give me a real warrior name.”

“We could try further downstream next,” suggested the tom, trying to think of how they could gather as much prey as possible.

Blossomsnow shrugged and headed off in a random direction. It was as good an idea as any.

Emberleaf blinked at her friend.

Peach smiled softly at Blossomsnow’s indecision. “I’m not entirely sure, either. We could just go some random direction.” Offered the bengal. “Honestly, I don’t care too much about winning. I’m just glad I get to spend the time with you...”

Oakfoot rejoined Blossomsnow, dropping his thrush into a hole he dug out right next to where the calico buried her vole.