Chapter 3 Part 1
Mintpaw felt the breeze ruffle her pelt and the soft, lush greenleaf grass felt wonderful under-paw. Mintpaw wanted to stop right there and roll in the grass, but her apprentice tasks came first. Fun could come later, right now, she was going to train. If she wasted her time on playing around like a little kit, if her clan was really under attack, she wouldn't know but the basic's of fighting, and the other clan's would overpower her.
She glanced behind her, Bushpaw and Lilyblossom were two fox-lengh's away from her and Shinningtail. Mintpaw ran faster and harder, her paws thruming the now hard ground, the ground had went from soft grass to rough, torn grass and dirt. It was the battle ground where Shadowclan accused Poppypaw, or Poppyclaw now, of crossing the border. She saw Bushpaw's frightened look sent chills down her spine, something much worse than what Nightfall told Lilacpetal's kits had happened. She heard Nigthfall's tale of the battle to the kits, and knew there had to be something worse that happened, Bushpaw streaked past her like a blur of silvery fur, he wanted to get out of the battle grounds. Her paws pounded the ground, the grass became soft and lush once more. She ran faster and faster, untill tree's became only brown and green blurs. She saw the silvery fur right ahead of her. She slowed down, silently climbing a tree racing up above Bushpaw.
She leaped on top of her clanmate, him reeling around, surprised. She rolled herself into a ball, fliping in the air. Landing facing Bushpaw, she shoved him over, claws sheathed, and she ran. Getting to the Training Oak Hollow first was her goal. Their mentor's were watching silently from the tree's. She heard the snap of a twig, turning around she saw Bushpaw, swiping at his muzzle hard, he fell on his side. Mintpaw may be smaller than Bushpaw, but she was stronger, faster, more agile and smart. Leaping to the low branch of a tree, she grabbed a vine. She tied her clanmate, gently, to the tree roots. He could claw his way out, she knew it. She used the time she had to run before Bushpaw came to his senses again. She rolled in a flowerbush to mask her scent. Running harder, she heard Bushpaw's growl. Panting, she saw the Training Oak.
Thank Starclan, she thought. She heard Bushpaw's panting too. He must be getting tired too. Maybe I can use that to my advantage. Mintpaw thought. She stopped in front of Bushpaw, he tripped on a twig. While he was tangled in the brambles near the twig, Mintpaw grabbed some vines and lay them out, he would trip or get tangled in them as she ran over them. She leaped into a tree and ran through branches. Uh, oh. Mintpaw got worried. Bushpaw leaped into the same tree. She ran fast and dove out of the tree into the Training Oak Hollow Tunnel.
"Yes!" Mintpaw cheered.
"Okay, Mintpaw, you win." Bushpaw sadly mewed.
"Don't be so down, Mintpaw may be great at running and quick thinking but you have your strengths too. You are strong and loyal, it is a good place to be, in battle you two could work really well as a team, strength, speed, smarts, and loyalty." Lilyblossom praised.
"Why don't we do what we came to do?" Shinningtail mewed impatiantly.
The four cats padded down the dirt tunnel to the underground hollow that Skylcan used for apprentice training out of sight. It was also a nice, cool place to relax when it's hot.
"Okay, Mintpaw. Crouch and do what I do, okay?" Shinningtail mewed as she crouched, leaped, twisted, swiped the air and landed sliding under an invisable opponent clawing a their belly.
Mintpaw copied perfectly.
"Great job, Mintpaw. Now, let's see you use it on Bushpaw." Shinningtail instructed.
Bushpaw swished his tail as Mintpaw crouched. He sprang up but his strength was no match for Mintpaw's speed. Mintpaw leaped, twisted and hit Bushpaw across the muzzle, stunning him as he fell on his paws, she slid benath him, pawing his belly. He then slammed his weight on Mintpaw. She shreaked and lay limp. Bushpaw had no clue what hit him, Mintpaw was on her back and she used all of her strength, and pushed him up onto his back. Slamming the ground he grunted.
Mintpaw hissed and slammed her paws onto him belly, he rolled over and she pinned him down by his shoulders.
"I surrender! I surrender, Mintpaw!" Bushpaw yowled.
Mintpaw hopped, gleefully off of her clanmate.
"Good job, you fought well. Bushpaw may be bigger and older than you but you pulled it off using your youth to your advantge." Shinningtail's eyes shone with pride in her apprentice.
