CHAPTER+THREE;;

dawnpaw's tongue of thunder

(and flamepaw's hunger for ears)

They were waiting for him by the camp entrance; Dawnpaw, Flamepaw, Nightpaw, and their mentors. Briarpaw stopped just short of being in their tight-packed circle, but Rookclaw drew attention away from that. It was a subtle difference, though. Briarpaw himself hadn't even noticed, but that evil glint in Flamepaw's eyes told him something was a tad off.

"You guys will be going over fighting moves today," Rookclaw informed, meeting the apprentices' gazes, "every couple of sparring battles, you will change to a different partner-"

"We know that already, Rookclaw," Nightpaw interrupted impatiently, green eyes narrowed. "Any kit can figure that one out!"

"Nightpaw." Honeyheart snapped, grimacing at her rambunctious apprentice. Rookclaw dismissed it without so much as a word.

Briarpaw, of course, didn't know how the multi-apprentice battle trainings went. This would be his first time doing so. Nightpaw's petty retort had hurt him a little, since he didn't have an idea of what was going on, but since it wasn't directed at him and it wasn't that big of a deal, he could forget it. He shuffled uncomfortably, daring a glance at Dawnpaw. She was watching Rookclaw attentively.

"Keep your claws sheathed, apprentices," and as he said this, Rookclaw let his eyes linger over Flamepaw and Nightpaw, "this is just training."

Done with his lecturing, Rookclaw padded up next to the other mentors, talking in hushed voices with Honeyheart, Blacknose, and Silverwhisker.

Flamepaw scoffed, falling in step beside Nightpaw, glaring ahead at the mentors. "He's a mousebrain. Any smart cat would know training's worthless if it isn't practiced like a real battle!"

Briarpaw droned them out, barely listening to Nightpaw's inevitable agreement, searching yet again for that beautiful cream tabby pelt amongst theirs. He wished Dawnpaw had been beside him, to speak with him, but she wasn't - she was trailing just behind Silverwhisker, head up and tail nearly brushing against the grass.

He hung his head, feeling like a loner, though somewhat grateful that Flamepaw's anger was directed toward Rookclaw and not him. He'd been at the receiving end of Flamepaw's wrath more times than he could care to count, so he followed silently, trying desperately not to stumble into something and gain their unwanted attention, keeping his eyes peeled ahead as he always had to do, otherwise he'd misstep on the ground that either looked too close or millions of foxlengths away.

The training grounds were nearly at the edge of the territory, which seems like a dumb act at first. But, no cat could argue that the training grounds were situated on the best territory for just that - training. It was beside the river, where the trees were starting to fan out and disperse. A few foxlengths away from LeafClan's training grounds was the border between them and BayClan, which were by the ocean. The faint smell of the sea and river mixed here. A smell that Briarpaw had always favored.

There was a lot of space to train and patches of soft sand and dirt. The river bubbled softly. If one concentrated over these sounds, they would be able to hear the gentle crash of waves against the seashore, many and many foxlengths away. The patrol situated in the center of the training grounds, right on a big patch of dirt. Even in this, Briarpaw could feel little grains of sand under his paws. Not many trees could grow without the natural forest soil, so that's probably why there weren't many near the edge of their territory. Briarpaw nodded smugly, amused with his fast-thinking. No apprentice could compete-

"Alright, are you all ready to train?" Honeyheart meowed, looking over them, smiling broadly. "I'm going to assign the first partners, alright?"

She nodded to Flamepaw. "You'll be training with your sister, Dawnpaw. Nightpaw," she looked at him, "you're with Briarpaw."

Nightpaw groaned, though Briarpaw was unsure as to why. He was there to train, and so was Briarpaw. Did he really think he wouldn't have to train with him? He had said any kit could figure the training routine out. Briarpaw was beginning to suspect that Nightpaw had a whole hive of bees in his brain. If he has one... he thought, forcing himself not to glare at the other apprentice. Who was probably glaring at him.

The sets of apprentice put a distance between their training areas. Silverwhisker and Blacknose padded over to where Dawnpaw and Flamepaw were, while Honeyheart and Rookclaw padded to Briarpaw and Nightpaw.

He faced the black apprentice, a cold shiver running up his spine as he looked. "Try not to stumble, crossed-eyes." Nightpaw meowed breezily. Neither mentors spoke up, but when Briarpaw looked frantically to Rookclaw, the tuxedo-pelted tom nodded his head. Swipe those bees out of that mousedung's brain, Briarpaw read into it, and nodded back, keeping a laugh from escaping his muzzle. He looked back to Nightpaw, confident.

"Start." Rookclaw meowed - though it sounded more like a gruff growl.

The two circled, round and round, not breaking eye contact. The fur along Briarpaw's spine was ruffled up, his ears folded back, green eyes narrowed to tiny slits. He kept Rookclaw's frequent advice locked up at the back of his mind; Don't let your emotions get the better of you, Briarpaw. They had said. He didn't know if he could do it. All of those bitter remarks came flooding back to him. He wondered if Nightpaw would make the first move-

Forgetting about his disability, Briarpaw charged forward, paws out, carefully sheathed, like Rookclaw had warned. Nightpaw's eyes widened; he hadn't been expecting Briarpaw to make the first move. Briarpaw nearly grinned, but a heartbeat before he thought it would, he made contact with Nightpaw. He nearly lost track of himself, falling to the side - which would have put him at a serious disadvantage.

They were tossed to the side, and Briarpaw kicked at Nightpaw's belly with his hind legs, nipping gingerly at the sides of the apprentice's neck, though he wanted so bad to leave a mark. Taste Nightpaw's blood on his tongue. Nightpaw let out a shrill caterwaul and pawed right back, writhing and twisting until finally the two broke apart, going back to that circling-motion, standing on the very tips of their toes, never looking away.

"Foxdung," Nightpaw hissed, just under his breath, loud enough for Briarpaw to just hear. Maybe the mentors did, to, because just out of Briarpaw's vision Rookclaw tautened and Honeyheart's ears flattened against her head.

He didn't respond. He'd lose his concentration and his confidence. He'd probably lose a lot of blood later on, if he did; Nightpaw and Flamepaw would surely have it out for him. In fact, he'd probably be best to not win any of the three matches he would have against the tom.

But the thought of Emberstorm's twinkling blue eyes when he told her that he'd beaten Nightpaw three times out of three made him nearly squeal with glee.

Maybe just trying to get one wouldn't harm anything. Nightpaw'd get the majority of it, anyway. If Briarpaw could win one, that was.

Another caterwaul cut into his thoughts and Briarpaw froze, wincing violently backward as Nightpaw flung at him, paws slapping against his shoulders and hindlegs walloping into his stomch. Do it for Emberstorm you crowfeed! Do it or else!

Fueled with determination and pure desire, Briarpaw struggled with Nightpaw, hissing right into the tom's face. Nightpaw stiffened, glaring into Briarpaw's eyes just before the tabby headbutted him to the chest and then broke free. Briarpaw thought they'd go back to the circling formation, but Nightpaw charged again. Briarpaw could practically smell the anger in the air.

That wasn't such a good idea-

Teeth caressed the fur along his neck and Briarpaw felt a growl rumbling deep in his throat; he twisted, slamming his hindlegs into Nightpaw's stomach, debating whether or not he should just call the apprentice out right there, right now. But no, he wouldn't. Too many bad ideas in one day would lead to a series of unfortunate events - something of which Briarpaw could seriously live without. One more heave and Nightpaw was pushed off him.

Feeling the whole world pause, Briarpaw quickly approached him, nearly foundering over Nightpaw's body as he misjudged depth and distance yet again, but he didn't. Triumphantly, Briarpaw put one single paw almost too tenderly atop Nightpaw's flank than he had been thinking of. He'd kept a firm reign over his emotions. He was proud. And he won a round he could tell Emberstorm about, even if he didn't win all of them. At least he knew Pikestream and Pebblepaw would be glad for him. Rookclaw, too.

He met Rookclaw's gaze again, stepping away from Nightpaw so the apprentice could stand up and brush the grass, dirt, and bits of sand out of his pelt. The black-and-white tom nodded once again. You may not have gotten the whole hive out, but I think I saw a few bees buzzing away, Briarpaw read, and chuckled, which resulted in Nightpaw jerking his head up to glower at him. Briarpaw nodded right back at his mentor, seriously proud of himself.

Just as he had predicted, Briarpaw failed at the other two rounds with Nightpaw. Nightpaw had been really enraged, though, since he had seriously underestimated Briarpaw. Briarpaw, who, in the last two rounds of their duel, had nearly sprained his paw stumbling and floundering about like a fish out of water. Nightpaw had snickered at him, eyes glinting maliciously. See what happens when you act out? Better learn your place, crossed-eyes.

His next session, though, oh no...

Honeyheart and Blacknose squared off with Nightpaw and Flamepaw, who looked like they were about to goof off rather than take their training seriously (both of whom who had been so readily able to scorn their mentors for not taking their battle training intently enough). Briarpaw soon forgot about those mousebrains though, as he was facing Dawnpaw in her ultimate beauty, feeling her amber eyes scorch down on him like little orbs of fire.

They circled. Briarpaw felt like he'd swallowed a whole river of sand, and in his stomach, those grains of sand had birthed frantic, fluttering butterflies who tried to crawl up his throat and out his mouth. Could Dawnpaw see it? Could Dawnpaw sense how he felt? He hoped not...

Lost in his thoughts, he'd taken a tumble, tripping over his own paws. He felt his face burning as he tried to regain his balance but a heavy force dropped down on him and suddenly he was closer to Dawnpaw than he had ever imagined himself being, glancing into her sparking amber eyes for one moment and kicking at her stomach the very next, though he honestly didn't want to struggle against her.

He pushed her off. Or, rather, they both pushed away, because when Briarpaw was circling again he could feel an imprint of her hindpaws on his stomach. Don't trip again, you stumbling newborn kit! She'll never even glance your way if you don't win, at least once! Like with Nightpaw. Just once and you'll be able to say you defeated her. Defeated him. For Emberstorm, Briarpaw guessed. It wouldn't be a lie if he just left out the part where it was a three-out-of-three duel, in which he won one and failed like all clumsy mousebrains do.

He jumped forward, thinking maybe he had caught Dawnpaw off guard, but she had met him equally all the same. Her head was definitely in the game. Focused and eager to win. She was ambitious, competitive... strong... Briarpaw tripped her up, hitting his hindleg against her own and twisting her to the ground. Hurry, Briarpaw, just once! Once!

His paw was on her flank and his chests were heaving, and one fleeting thought crossed his mind: Toadkit.

"Get off me, you mousebrained klutz!" Dawnpaw shrieked, rolling out from under Briarpaw's paw, sitting up and licking the fur on her chest flat. She met his gaze narrowed, and growled. "You won't win against me ever again."

And she was right. Dawnpaw flattened Briarpaw in the next to rounds, rebounding just as Nightpaw had. Either that or Briarpaw lost his fighting muse and determination. At least he could say he won once... at least he could say he won once...

Facing Flamepaw though, and he felt as though winning one time against this ferocious tabby would be completely impossible. He was already a nervous wreck from fighting Dawnpaw, anyway. There was just no way-

"Start!" Blacknose hissed, green eyes glinting in the filtered sunlight. It was already past sunhigh.

"Ready to lose, Bumblefoot?" Flamepaw growled under his breath, amber eyes (those of which seemed to have the fiery passion that his sister had) piercing into Briarpaw's, fangs barred. "I won't let you win. Not like those mousebrains did."

He didn't cower under Flamepaw's eyes. Not while he was being watched. He would hold his ground. Briarpaw tried to imagine Emberstorm watching him steadily, eyes keen for any tiny mistake he would make. Bumblefoot. He sure hoped Birchstar would never get the strange urge to change his name to that.

The other apprentice sprung, and Briarpaw braced himself, body stiffening, paws itching to swipe at Flamepaw. The apprentice latched onto him, rolling and snapping jaws (of course, do not draw blood) through the dirt and bits of grass. Briarpaw felt himself slipping out of the winning zone every heartbeat Flamepaw was batting at him, so he scored the apprentice's underbelly with his hindlegs and jumped back, tearing out of his grasp, but Flamepaw did the leap-again. This time, Briarpaw ducked, and Flamepaw just so happened to be snapping his jaws up and down like a rabid dog.

He swallowed the cry of "ouch!", wanting to seem tough to the mentors and Dawnpaw if she happened to be watching, done with her battling against Nightpaw.

Flamepaw's teeth sunk into the side of Briarpaw's right ear, tearing out a nick that reminded Briarpaw temporarily of Littlefur, and how she was missing the entire tip of one of her ears-

"Stop! Stop it!"

The smell of blood reached Briarpaw's nose and for a moment he was absolutely confused. The pain, though, it was sharp but not instantaneous; it welled up just as Rookclaw cried out for them to stop what they were doing, stop it right now!

Flamepaw pulled back, glaring at Briarpaw like it was his fault, and he turned around to watch as the two mentors padded up to them. Flamepaw didn't falter even once as Rookclaw's burning gaze settled over him. Briarpaw was still somewhat confused, wondering if he looked like Littlefur.

"Nice going, Eareater," Dawnpaw spoke up almost quietly from where she was waiting beside Silverwhisker, who hushed her. Yep, Briarpaw thought, she's done with her battling. I wonder if she won...? And she spoke up for me!

He almost laughed, but he wasn't stupid.

"What did we tell you all?" Rookclaw growled, ready to lecture Flamepaw and assign him to punishment when Blacknose "nose'd" in, eyes carrying the same violence that seemed to be ablaze in Flamepaw's and Nightpaw's.

"Excuse me, Rookclaw," the tom growled, never breaking his gaze from Rookclaw's, "but I can take care of my apprentice just fine."

Rookclaw looked as if he might argue, his pelt bristling, green eyes narrowed to slants, the faint trace of a sneer on his muzzle. Finally, Rookclaw pulled away.

"Sure. But this training session is over."

Blacknose watched his brother steadily as the large tuxedo tom padded up to Briarpaw, who shivered at the look of malice in his eyes. Briarpaw sure hoped he'd never be in a relationship like that with Cedarpaw.

Rookclaw leaned forward and sniffed at Briarpaw's bit ear. "Come on, let's get Mistpelt to treat that. Don't want it to get infected."

Briarpaw nodded, turning around, thinking at the back of his mind that Blacknose would most definitely not take care of his apprentice, and that Rookclaw might just visit with Birchstar if he was angry enough. Well, at least he'd get to see Toadkit again, if she was there.

ahh still no reviews! i guess this story's not that great then. i'm sill going to update it, though, as it's easy to write and distracts me pretty freakin well.

i would appreciate a review though! (:

the plot will show up soon, no worries. i hope i can execute it the right way.

hope you all enjoyed! (if anyone's reading!)