The next day later Troublepaw awoke refresh and ready for whatever the day brought to her. Her sister, Patchpaw, was still asleep, the cuts and scratches have already begun to heal, but the scratches on her belly could end up being scars. She nudged at Patchpaw, waking her up.
"Huh?" she jumped to her paws and spat angrily but stopped when she realized it was Troublepaw. "Oh sorry, I though you were our mouse-brain so-called-brother." Patchpaw hissed and let her fur stand on ends.
Troublepaw let out a moerr-ow of laughter, "Don't let him get to you, he was just grumpy yesterday. Must have let a mouse get away." Patchpaw let her fur lay flat again and relaxed.
"Yeah, your right." She purred at the thought of a mouse slipping through Shadowpaw's paws and him hissing in annoyance.
"Now come on, you don't want father-… I mean Brindleclaw, to get mad at you again." Troublepaw started to walk out of the den and out into the clearing.
The sun's rays were bright and warm as lit on Troublepaw's pelt. She stood there for a moment soaking up the warmth, remembering that leaf-bare was quickly approaching. The warmth disappeared as a shadow covered the sun, disappointed she padded over to Redtail, too excited to eat.
"What are we doing today?" Troublepaw couldn't help blurting out. Redtail flicked his tail in annoyance.
"ShadowClan has been in our territory today they have been stealing prey for weeks. Raggedstar is demanding more territory at the last gathering or he says he will take it from us by force, so we're going to the Sandy Hollow to practice fighting." Excitement shot down Troublepaw's back as she unsheathed her claws. Redtail laughed, "Wait till where at Sandy Hollow, Troublepaw!" Feeling slightly embarrassed she sheathed her claws and followed her mentor to Sandy Hollow.
Redtail stopped at Sandy Hollow and turned around. "This is very important Troublepaw. We are out numbered severely; we lost a lot of kits and warriors to greencough last year. It even took the remaining two lives of Silverstar. So," Redtail said more seriously then ever. "Show me what you got!"
Troublepaw purred I'll show you Redtail! I'm not a kit any more! Before she knew it she was running as fast as she could toward Redtail. When she was about a tail-length away she jumped at him, but he moved out of the way. As she set her paws on the ground she remembered the quarrel between Patchpaw and Shadowpaw. He could jump at me right now like Patchpaw! As soon as Troublepaw's four paws where all on the ground she dropped and rolled over, away from Redtail. When she got up she saw Redtail's four paws right where she landed, he purred a compliment then jumped at her again.
Redtail was too fast for Troublepaw, Redtail pawed at her side as she tried to escape. "Always stay on your paws, a ShadowClan warrior won't purr at you for dodging his attack; he'll jump straight at you again." Troublepaw soaked up his words and got ready.
As the sun started to set Redtail only had a light scratch on his side that was barely visible, as for Troublepaw she was pushed around and knocked over, but she learned as much as she could. She settled down in her mossy bed as Patchpaw walked up with a rabbit.
"Dyus huy dos ranghins to?" Patchpaw muffled through the rabbit.
Patchpaw put the rabbit down and repeated herself after seeing Troublepaw's confused look. "I said did you do fight training too?" Troublepaw shook her head as Patchpaw settled down by the rabbit and took a couple of bites then pushed the rabbit toward Troublepaw.
She took a bunch of starving bites until her belly was warm and full. Patchpaw looked at the half-eaten rabbit then at Troublepaw. "Hungry?"
Troublepaw nodded her, "I didn't eat breakfast."
"I see that!" they both laughed. After Patchpaw finished the rabbit they shared tongues and fell asleep.
The sun was just peeking over the horizon as a dawn portal yowled at the entrance waking Troublepaw from her dream with dreadful words.
"Wake up! ShadowClan is coming! ShadowClan is coming!"