Chapter Three

Jaypaw knew as soon as he stepped up to face Mousepelt that he would be able to do this. All of the things he had learned about fighting came flooding back to him, and he took a deep breath to clear his head of all other thoughts. He shook a front paw out to limber up his muscles, then stretched the other. He repeated the exercise with his hind paws just like Mousepelt had taught him, then squared up. He nodded to his mentor as he had been instructed to do, then closed his eyes, envisioning the perfect spot to attack.

Before his eyes had even opened, his paws were in motion. He felt as if he had bird wings as he sprang at his mentor, targeting her shoulders with his eyes but sliding down to her legs in a fraction of a heartbeat. The collision threw his mentor off her paws, and he heard a sigh as the wind was knocked out of her. Without even hesitating, he was on her shoulders, pinning her down with his paws. He concentrated deeply, forcing himself to keep his claws sheathed. He held her down for a heartbeat longer, then relinquished the pressure on her shoulders and neck.

Firestar nodded approvingly, stepping forward. "Good job, Jaypaw. I knew you could do it." Jaypaw felt pride swell up in his chest as he took his spot next to Lionpaw, his heart still racing with exhilaration. "You know, that's really the first time I've ever concentrated on fighting, and it wasn't that difficult. I just imagined I was hunting, chasing a fat mouse, and my paws felt like they had wings on them. I felt like I could do anything!"

"Now you know how I feel every time I fight," Lionpaw commented, then flicked his tail. "I think I'm next," he added as Spiderleg beckoned him forward. "Yep, I'm next," the golden apprentice confirmed as Spiderleg hollered, "Come on, Lionpaw!" He strode confidently forward, the spitting image of his father except for his golden tabby coat. He sported the same broad, muscular shoulders, wide-set ears and legs, massive paws that sheathed deadly claws, and burning emerald eyes that shone with a passion for whatever he was doing.

Jaypaw watched keenly, practicing his hunting sight through the gathering gloom in the small side-valley. Lionpaw stood proudly, his bulging muscles flexing at any tiny movement he made. Before Jaypaw even knew what had happened, Lionpaw had barreled forward, covering the distance between him and his mentor in two loping strides. He hit Spiderleg and sent the warrior tumbling head-over-tail. He lay for a heartbeat, motionless, and just as Jaypaw started to get concerned, he sprang to his paws and countered Lionpaw's attack with ease. But the seasoned warrior, with all of his skill, lacked in brawn compared to his apprentice. The younger tom batted his mentor aside and sprang effortlessly onto his back. Spiderleg desperately tried a classic fighting move: he fell to his side and attempted to roll on the younger cat. But Lionpaw kicked him off with a powerful thrust of his hind paws. Once again, he somersaulted, but this time he really didn't rise. Firestar started to bound toward his motionless figure, but he struggled to his paws and limped up the small valley until he had reached the group. Lionpaw already stood proudly at the front of the assembly, his chest puffed out and his eyes glinting with a final flash from the last ray of the setting sun.

"Very good, Lionpaw."

Firestar's voice broke the awestruck silence that had fallen over the cats, and they all jumped slightly. "Spiderleg, you should be proud of what you have taught this apprentice," he meowed to the sleek black warrior as he sat down heavily next to Lionpaw. "I am proud of him," he replied, glancing at the golden apprentice out of the corner of his eye. "More than words could say." Lionpaw looked down at his paws, and Jaypaw blinked, wondering if the cocky young apprentice was feeling guilty for something. It wouldn't be the first time…He spoke harshly to his mentor frequently, but then always seemed to feel a tinge of remorse when the lean tom talked about him so proudly.

Jaypaw was lost for words, and as he exchanged astonished gazes with Hollypaw, he knew she was, too. Neither of them would dare put their mentors in danger like that, but it had been a display neither of them would forget in a hurry. It was obvious that Lionpaw was the exceptional defender ThunderClan desperately needed. They had many warriors and apprentices, but no outstanding cat had emerged from the shuffle as a brave protector like Lionpaw.

Jaypaw blinked, emerging from his thoughts as Hollyhock stepped daintily forward as Berryspots beckoned her for her final combat assessment. She faced up to her mentor and nodded calmly. Jaypaw saw her take a deep breath as he had done, then she leaped boldly forward and, using the same tactic Jaypaw had exercised, slipped nimbly down and knocked Berryspots' paws out from under him. He was up in a flash, but she tackled him with ease and he finally conceded.

Firestar nodded approvingly at Hollypaw as the apprentice and her mentor trotted back to the group. "I am pleased to report that all three of you have officially passed your combat assessments," he informed the apprentices and mentors. "You should all be proud of yourselves, apprentices because you are truly skilled at hunting and fighting alike and have shown that over and over throughout your training, and mentors because you and you alone have groomed these young, impressionable cats into fine warriors that will in time be as revered and honored as yourselves."

All six cats stood in silence as Firestar concluded his speech. Jaypaw shifted uncomfortably, wishing he could just go back to his den and go to sleep. Finally Brambleclaw spoke. "Back to camp?" he suggested, his deep voice rumbling in contrast to Firestar's relatively light meow. "After all, the mighty warriors must rest up before the naming ceremony. And they need to enjoy their last night in the apprentices' den," he added, looking pointedly at Lionpaw with his last words.

Jaypaw narrowed his eyes. He knew Lionpaw would miss Snowpaw terribly, but he also thought that Snowpaw liked Sparkpaw. So much drama, he thought briefly. Then he turned and followed the rest of the cats back up out of the valley and into the main camp.

THESIGHT