[Strelles] Strike the Match

Chapter 12: Ravenpaw's Story (Edited)

"Excellent Cardinalpaw - again!"

Cardinalpaw snarled his determination, narrowing his eyes as Asterdawn launched herself at him again. He dove forward, ducking beneath the mass of her body and lashed out with the combined force of his hindpaws and as much of his tail as he could. He was still the leanest of his faction, lacking the sheer bulk and heft that Stormborn cats had but he wasn't a tiny cadet anymore either. Now his blows packed as much of a punch as everyone else in his faction and he watched his mentor go crashing into the ground on her side, rolling smoothly to their paws in turn.

"Well done," they praised. "Now, elanki."

Cardinalpaw promptly drew on his makai, letting the energy flow through him; invigorating his somewhat tired body. It was draining in a way - he'd learned swiftly that though they were very similar, makai and elanki were different forces with different focals. Elanki was heavily combat based, it was always primed and ready for action from what he observed. Even his fellow cadets had less trouble than he did. Makai was The Shepherd's Tool - it wasn't meant for fighting and combat. It was better for calming others down, offering a soothing sensation of warmth or coziness. If it really came down to it, it was easier to just ignite the makai, creating brief blasts of fire but active channeling long-term tended to leave him drained.

Still, the expression of pride on his mentor's face made him puff up with self-satisfaction.

So he charged up the best that he could, channeling it through his teeth - far faster than it took during the last battle - launching himself at a branch intending to snap it with his own teeth.

Ever since Vahuŕepra had ushered off Lionbelly beyond the Sky, the barracks had been thrown into overdrive. Not even declared by Asterdawn herself, the faction had begun to train themselves into the dirt. In the wake of Lionbelly's death, Jackdawpaw had been reassigned to Swallowflail; the legionary that the golden-furred tom trained before Jackdawpaw. Lionbelly's entire family had taken three days to grieve and recover, with Jackdawpaw being brought back into training on half-days; easing him back into practice without causing him too much strife. Chaffinchpaw and Wrenpaw were a big help - remembering how it felt to lose Mottledstrike, they were with the gray tom every step of the way as he recovered.

Callastorm for his part was adjusting well to being the new lieutenant - even before Lionbelly had passed, many cats had gone to him for advice. When Lionbelly wasn't around, it was Callastorm prompted for emergency patrols and advice. Really the Sumta had only given official authority to the former rank head's words. Thruhspelt stepped up, unanimously elected by the remaining hunters as the latest rank head and on flowed the faction.

For his part, Tigerslash appeared positively beside himself over the wrongdoing committed against the Stormborn. When Lionbelly had been promoted, the russet tabby had stepped easily into the position as the faction's Guard Head and picked up where the golden tom had left off. With the death of his former denmate and friend, Tigerslash appeared to have gone into over-drive. Asterdawn hadn't needed to say a word - the Guard Head had already assigned patrols to take place in-between the dawn and dusk patrols on the Fennyield border.

"It's clear those marshlanders have eyes on our faction," Cardinalpaw had heard him claim to the guards, tail lashing with fury as he looked upon them. "I refuse to believe it was simple coincidence that the day Our Storm takes to the Moon's Fang for answers, the Fennyield just happen to attack."

"It sounds suspicious," Urchintail had piped up, earning agreeing murmurs from the guards.

"I want that border watched constantly," Tigerslash declared firmly. "There is a trespasser in our territory, watching us!"