Open to Join Sharp Claws and Keen Gazes

Not in the mood for a fight (even though Bloomfire was usually one to greatly enjoy them), the sleek she-cat wound her way behind a few of her clanmates, trailing at the back of the group as they made their way towards a hollow. Battle training was a great idea, but Bloomfire did not need it. She knew she wasn't unstoppable, but if forced against one of Boldstar's kits you would be able to tell the winner before the spar even started. She would show no mercy, for it was pointless taking her out here. She came along hoping she could get a grasp on how her clanmates were travelling, as after all - she would never support a battle in which her clanmates were not capable of fighting. 

Coldgaze's wound was a new addition to his various scars, adding to his already slightly unappealing appearance. While Bloomfire did love a good fight, her pelt was almost perfectly clean and scarless. At even the smallest injury she was at Willowfrost's den, asking for a bunch of herbs so it would heal quicker. Looks were a must for Bloomfire, despite the fact that no amount of grooming could quench its natural ruggedness. She sat towards the back, plumed tail flicking from side to side as her gaze was trained on Coldgaze. 

"Goosesong. I will put you with the apprentices." It would be good practice for the littermates to have to work together to take down a larger opponent. And maybe one of their mentors could see exactly how much work they would need. "Merrypaw. Sturgeonpaw." He motioned with his tail, siccing his own apprentice and her larger brother on the senior warrior. They had only just started training for combat - this probably wouldn't be much of a fight.

After a few laps, he managed to get each cat paired with an appropriate opponent. Senior warriors against apprentices, and no apprentice stayed with their usual mentor. Which was ideal, since learning new skills was more important than a mentor going easy on their apprentice.

He sat back, pleased with himself for a moment before feeling eyes on him. A flick of his ear, and he turned to look - noticing Bloomfire avoiding the scuffling cats. "You aren't exempt, you know." His tone was rather deadpan, but he still left a spot for her to join him overlooking the gravel embankment.

Sturgeonpaw jumped at the change to train against a warrior - he was big! Big enough to take on Goosesong, surely. Plus, he had his sister at his side. They were sure to win this fight.

He dropped into a ready stance, just like Cottonbright taught him, and waited for Merrypaw to do the same. "I'll go straight on." He whispered. "You, uh, go for the side." He didn't have many ideas for strategies but surely one cat couldn't hold off two opponents.

'You really want me fighting them? They won't learn a thing, for they'll be pinned in a matter of seconds.' She sat there, tail still flicking as she readied herself for the performance. Would Goosesong prove himself against Boldstar's kin? She would hope so, otherwise the tom might need to go back to his own training. 'Do tell me, Coldgaze. Would you have given me an apprentice? If it was you in charge instead of Boldstar?' She turned to hold Coldgaze's mismatched gaze. She wasn't hurt but not being given an apprentice, she didn't want one. Plus she had never been on Boldstar's good side, but what did RiverClan's deputy, and future leader think of her instead? She watched intently as Goosesong moved first, 'And the show begins.'

Sturgeonpaw:

The strike landed for sure and he could feel Goosesong's weight bearing down on him. While it was probably not smart, he rolled towards his opponent so he was technically underneath the larger tom before rapidly scooting out and pressing his full weight into an attempted grapple. He wasn't as big as the warrior. But he was big enough to be a nuisance.

He never got to see if the kick landed on his sister, but he still managed to call out to her. "Jump on 'im!" It wasn't a great battle call - and easily countered - but hopefully he would be enough of a dead weight to allow Merrypaw a chance to maybe get a grapple on the back of Goosesong's neck.

Coldgaze:

"It's experience for them." His tail flicked in irritation at Bloomfire's commentary. She had always had a way of getting under his skin. Her and apprentices... a terrible idea really. Hopefully Boldstar never put her in charge of any newly apprenticed kits.

"No." He returned the look. He didn't need to give her a reason. Bloomfire was a decent enough warrior. But she wasn't loyal enough to be trustworthy, or selfless enough that he could assume she would act in the clan's best interest. "And I'm not the leader. I won't be for many moons. Maybe I'll just keel over. Or get a new set of wounds." Her stare made his head wound itch.

Sturgeonpaw's strategy had some holes in it but in the moment he could appreciate the quick thinking. He honed in on his own apprentice, curious as to her actions.

His blunt answer was exactly what the ruddy she-cat had expected of him, and she simply battered her eyelashes in return. 'Such little faith in your own clanmates, Coldgaze. To lead you have to trust those you control.' 

Many moons? Boldstar looked ready to perish at any moment, at least in her opinion. The tom had been alive for moons upon end, and his time was coming to a stop. Soon it would be Coldgaze's era, and if he didn't realise, perhaps he wasn't fit for leader after all. 'Not long until you are though' She added with a wink, 'Just look at him, oldest clan cat around, not even multiple lives can save him.' Bloomfire didn't actually want Boldstar dead, but a change in leadership would bring new challenges, new rules and ways of doing things. It would bring a multitude of things that would stop her life from being so mundane, and she honestly couldn't wait. Who would be deputy? One of her siblings hopefully, and not some dull suck up like Goosesong. 'Oh do keel over, it would make my life ten times more interesting! Die right here and I might jump for joy.' Bloomfire's green eyes sparkled, with what though, was undiscernible. 

Sturgeonpaw:

Ack! Sturgeonpaw scrabbled to free himself from Goosesong’s roll – nowhere near as graceful as the older tom’s attempted pin. The only thing he had on his side in this moment was his sister – who was providing enough of a concern to their opponent that he had a moment to free himself as Goosesong righted himself.

“How do you tell other cats what you wanna do then?!” His pelt was sticking up like a pinecone with irritation. “You just – decide? And assume your opponents will walk into your claws?”

Goosesong looming over him was quite intimidating, but Sturgeonpaw put on a brave face and lashed out at the senior warrior. He went for the face – eyes, nose or head – where Cottonbright had taught him. Something about ‘blinding or disorienting the opponent. While he didn’t have his claws out, he did aim to throw a clump of powdered snow into Goosesong’s eyes to give himself a chance to reposition and hopefully give Merrypaw a striking chance.

Coldgaze:

“I have faith. Just not in you.” There was a teasing note to his tone as they watched the fight. Sturgeonpaw at seemed to know that his role would likely be a heavyweight fighter as he grew – and Merrypaw was putting their mobility training to the test. As for Bloomfire… he did trust her. She was a formidable foe, an intelligent strategist and nearly as bold as him. Her personality grated against his own, but she made him think and reevaluate his plans almost constantly.

He didn’t like to think about how old Boldstar was. He… had such complicated feelings about the old tom. He had been – was- a good leader. Otherwise, the clan wouldn’t have prospered as long as it had. But he was also the status quo and seemed so stuck in his ways that Coldgaze wanted to rip out his leader’s tufted pelt. Which wasn’t surprising – stubbornness came with age.

At Bloomfire’s suggestion, he glanced her way before slowly sliding into a resting position. “I could. But you wouldn’t get your entertainment.” He would give his left eye to see Bloomfire prancing around like a kit. She always seemed so smug. “You’d be stuck with Boldstar and…” He paused thinking about who might take over from him before turning his attention to the fight.

“Boldstar and Goosesong.” Truly – that was the last thing Bloomfire would want.

[OOC: Goosesong, after a few more twists and turns, wins the battle fairly, giving a nod to the apprentices before walking off and nearly blending into the crowd]
[GOOSESONG LEAVES]