The figure of a light gray tom was hidden among the thick foliage and thin trees. Thick fur was plastered to his pelt by the heavy rain, and his muzzle was tilted towards the sky. His mouth slightly ajar, his mind was elsewhere.
"Foxheart seems to have developed a cough. I'll let Goldencloud know." He said to himself.
His dark green eyes flickered, ears twitching as he heard the splashing of paw steps bounding towards him. His pelt was soaked, but as a tom cat stopped abruptly in front of him a muddy spray stained his light fur with the faint white tabby stripes.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, but he kept his composure and a calm expression. "Ashenstorm." He spoke with a soft voice, barely audible above the pounding rain.
"Why aren't you training?" The dark pelted tom hissed angrily, his tone reflected by his expression. Ashenstorm's claws dug into the muddy ground.
The other cat cocked his head to the right slightly, "It's raining." He answered simply.
"You mouse-brain, Stonecloud!" He growled, "Rain doesn't stop a battle. Rain doesn't mean we sit around and starve!" Ashenstorm bounded forward and closed the last tail length between them, and dragged a claw down behind Stonecloud's shoulder blade.
Stonecloud recoiled, flinching back. His eyes widened. The newly torn skin burned, blood welled but was quickly washed away by the rain. "W-Why?" He stuttered.
The newcomer bit Stonecloud's hind leg, and blood stained his teeth. He released his grip; "You weren't ready! You still have so much to learn! Now fight me, without losing any more blood." Ashenstorm challenged, his green eyes dark.
Stonecloud took a hesitant step back. He could hear his terrified heart thumping loudly in his ears, body numbed by the freezing rain. "I don't want to hurt you…" He trailed off.
Ashenstorm's amusement was clear in his tone, "As if you could!" He taunted. The sighed, "You're so pitiful." The tom sneered, "I'll leave you to practice until sun high, you'll need it."
To his relief, Stonecloud watched his father pad off with his tail held high. Once out of sight, Stonepelt dropped onto his stomach with a sigh. Soon, his wounds stopped bleeding. The tom rested, not practicing any moves yet not daring to return to Camp.