WARRIORS
THE NEXT GENERATION
BOOK ONE
THE FOREST OF SECRETS
CHAPTER ONE: THE TEST
I have to do perfect, the long haired black and white spotted apprentice thought, or I'll NEVER be a warrior… She scampered quietly through the old leaves and wet green grass. She pricked her ears listening for the slightest movement anywhere. Eventually, she heard a tiny squeak and pinpointed its location. She dropped into pouncing position and crept slowly forward. She could see it, and smell it, her mouth watering. It was a dark brown and very fat. She pounced and with a flick of her razor sharp claws finished it off. She picked the fat mouse off the ground and took off for the tree she that hid her prey under and added this to the pile.
"Wow that's a lot of prey!" she mewed aloud, smiling proudly, "how am I going to get all this back to camp? Maybe Graypaw can help or maybe not… this IS a test… I suppose I'm gonna have to make, like, three trips."
She sighed. Graypaw, she knew, would always be there to help her no matter what the situation. After all they were best friends. She picked up a whole mouthful, a magpie and two mice. She would have to drag them down the worn, familiar, brown dirt path, past the beautiful, sparkling, blue river, and back into the busy camp. This is going to be a long day… she thought.
When she finally got her last big of prey into the hunting test pile, she decided to take a mouse and rest a bit. She bounded over to the center of the camp, where there was a huge pile of fresh, delicious meat for the whole Clan to feast on.
"Hey Icepaw! How was your first test? I passed!" her dark gray friend, Graypaw yelled as he ran up to her.
"Oh well, I don't know yet. Goldenleaf, um, she hasn't returned from her patrol yet." Icepaw mewed back, with a hint of uncertainty in her voice. Graypaw purred with amusement and looked right into her deep blue eyes.
"I am positive you passed. Look at all that prey!" She turned her snow white and black head and glanced at the pile of kill she had caught. Graypaw was right. She didn't know how she couldn't pass! She smiled and purred, nudging him.
"Thanks Graypaw. I can't wait to become a Warrior!" she mewed very loudly.
Graypaw purred, "Me either, Icepaw. Let's keep trying our best!" Just then, as Icepaw glanced at the fern and twig tunnel that lead to the beautiful shelter of their camp. She spotted her beautiful golden pelted mentor, Goldenleaf.
"She's here Graypaw!" she yelled, but before Graypaw could reply, she was already dashing for Goldenleaf. He purred and continued eating his fresh, plump mouse.
"There you are, Icepaw!" meowed Goldenleaf when Icepaw reached her and sat up proudly. Goldenleaf's beautiful Amber eyes looked over the many animals Icepaw had caught. Icepaw's eyes were fixed on her mentor, awaiting her results. "Well Icepaw," Goldenleaf started,