Hey everyone. Sorry for the long wait. I kind of got lazy for a while, and now that summer is here I've been busy. Anyways, I'm trying to keep up with my writing again.
"Hey, Firepaw!" A voice woke Firepaw from his dreams. "Wake up already!"
Firepaw opened his eyes and sat up, looking around, still sleepy. He was having a great dream about hunting a deer in the woods, but as he looked around he didn't care about the dream any more. Today was his first day of training!
"Training begins at sunrise." Graypaw told him, holding his hand out to help Firepaw stand. In his other hand, he held a couple spears. "Sandpaw and Dustpaw are already up. Ravenpaw won't be training with us for another day or two, though. We need to hurry or we'll be late."
Firepaw grabbed his pocket knife in one hand and took Graypaw's with the other and pulled himself up. "Let's go then!" He said and followed his new friend out of the den and out of camp. Together, they ran from camp and up a rock strewn valley. As they climbed the crest of the ravine, Firepaw noticed how good of a day it is. The sun was shining, fat white clouds hung in the sky, and there was a cool breeze in the air.
Excitement built up in Firepaw as he followed Graypaw down a slope and into a sandy hollow. There stood Lionheart and Tigerclaw waiting. They stood together in the middle of the clearing.
"In the future, I expect you two to be on time." Tigerclaw growled, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Don't be too severe, Tigerclaw." Lionheart told him. "They must be tired after last night." He turned to Firepaw now. "You have not been given a mentor, Firepaw. For now, Tigerclaw and I will share your training."
Firepaw nodded enthusiastically, ready to begin.
"Today," Tigerclaw started. "We will get you your weapon and show you the territory." He turned and walked towards a small shelter off to the side. "Come," He motioned for Firepaw to follow.
Firepaw followed him to the shed and Tigerclaw handed him a bow and arrows. Firepaw looked down at it, feeling it in his hands.
"A normal Clan apprentice would have already known what their weapon is." Lionheart told him. "To become a warrior you must be able to use all weapons and have one or two that they are the best with. We will start with finding your main weapon. Take as much time as you need."
"How will I know if the weapon is for me?" Firepaw asked, weighing the bow in one hand.
"You'll know." Lionheart promised, watching closely.
Firepaw knew that the bow wasn't for him the second he pulled back on the string. It just wasn't right. He shook his head and put it back in it's place. He reached for the short spears. He tested them out. Not bad... But he frowned and out them aside, picking up the next weapon. This one was a club.
He liked this one. He turned back to Lionheart and Tigerclaw, showing them his choice.
"A club?" Lionheart nodded. "Not many choose that."
"Set it aside, you can grab it on our way back to camp." Tigerclaw told him. "And hurry, we want to get back before sun down."
Firepaw nodded and set the club and his pocket knife on the ground before following them from the clearing.
"We will be showing you the edges of the territory." Tigerclaw said. "We hunt and protect what is inside the borders." Then, they ran from the clearing and back into the forest. Firepaw slipped on the sand as he raced to catch up with them.
But as the forest thickened they slowed to a stop. Tigerclaw peered through the bushes at the path ahead of them.
Lionheart whispered to Firepaw, "That is a human path. They like to walk their dogs along here." He sniffed the air with his cat like senses. "Can you hear anything, Firepaw?" He asked.
Firepaw listened closely. Finally, he shook his head and said, "It's all clear."
Tigerclaw nodded and the four walked across the path and to the forest on the other side. Here, the trees were all pine. They grew in long, strait rows. The pine needles felt spongy as he followed the warriors.
He could sense the cat people's unease as they continued. He knew it was from the lack of undergrowth, but Firepaw didn't mind the change much.
"Humans put these trees here." Tigerclaw told him. "They cut them down with their loud monsters every greenleaf. I'm sure you know all about it."
Firepaw nodded, guessing that the trees would later be sold as Christmas trees or are just being used as logging. He took notice of Tigerclaw's word choice. Monsters? Greenleaf? He guessed that machines were monsters, and that greenleaf was summer.
They padded through the forest and Tigerclaw motioned to the side. "The Human's place is over there. But you already know that, don't you? Today, however, we will be going the other way. "
Firepaw ignored that comment and kept walking. After a while they reached another human path. They quickly crossed it into the shelter of the oak trees on the other side. Even though they have their normal forest cover again, they were still uneasy.
"We are approaching Riverclan territory." Graypaw whispered. "Sunningrocks are over there." He pointed at a large mound of smooth gray boulders. Firepaw felt himself get goosebumps and shuddered slightly. This is where Redtail was killed.
Lionheart stopped by a large flat rock. "This is the Thunderclan and Riverclan border. Riverclan rules the hunting grounds beside the great river." He told him. "You can't smell it now, but if you completely join our Clan, then you will gain the senses to tell one Clan's scent from another. For now, you much be very careful not to pass over the border."
"I will." Firepaw promised. He made a mental note to only walk where the cat people do and try to remember the best he can to watch where the borders are.
"We'll follow this boundary, as it leads strait for Fourtrees." Lionheart said and they set off quickly again, with Graypaw and Firepaw jogging behind.
"What is Fourtrees?" Firepaw asked.
"It's where the territories of all the Clans meet." Graypaw answered. "There are four great big oaks there and-"
"Shh!" Tigerclaw said over his shoulder. "Be quiet! Remember that we are by enemy territory."
The two apprentices fell silent, and Firepaw focused on only walking where the warriors did. He didn't want to accidentally cross the border.
They crossed a shallow stream, jumping over easily. By the time they reached Fourtrees, Firepaw was out of breath. He panted, not used to traveling this far so fast. The warriors led them out of the woods and stopped at the top of a bush covered slope. Below, there were four giant oaks, the very tops of them almost reaching all the way up the slope.
"As Graypaw said," Lionheart started. "This is where the four Clans meet every full moon. Windclan governs the high ground ahead of us, where the sun sets."
"And Shadowclan is over there, in the darkest part of the forest." Graypaw nodded to the side. "The elders say that the cold north winds blow over them and chill their hearts."
"There's so many Clans." Firepaw commented, trying to remember their names.
"You see now, how prey is so precious." Lionheart said. "Why we must fight to protect what little we have."
"But why?" Firepaw asked. "Why do the Clans fight, when they could work together and share hunting grounds?" He looked at them, confused when a shocked silence met his words.
"That's dangerous thinking, human." Tigerclaw growled.
"Don't be too fierce." Lionheart warned him carefully. "The Clan's ways are new to him." He turned to Firepaw now. "You speak from your heart, young Firepaw. This will make you a stronger warrior one day."
"Or it might make you cave into your human weakness at the worst moment." Tigerclaw added.
"Like I was saying," Lionheart moved on. "The Clans gather under the four oaks in a time of peace. The truce only happends on the night of the full moon, when the moon is at it's fullest."
"Then there should be a meeting soon?" Firepaw asked, thinking back to the night before.
"There is." Lionheart nodded, impressed. "Tonight, in fact. The Gatherings are very important. They alow the four Clans to come together under a truce for one night and share news. But you must understand and alliances can lead to more trouble than they are worth."
"It's our Clan loyalty that makes us strong." Tigerclaw told him. "If you weaken that loyalty, you weaken our chances of survival."
Firepaw nodded, "I understand."
"Come on," Lionheart said, "Let's keep moving." They continued along the ridge of the valley and crossed the stream again. By now, the sun was sinking in the sky as they headed the opposite direction of it.
"We are traveling along the Shadowclan border." Tigerclaw told him. "Keeps your wits about you. There is a fresher scent, which means that there might be a patrol near by."
As Firepaw nodded, he heard a new noise. He looked to the cat people, but they walked on like normal. After another moment, Firepaw recognised the sound as a busy road.
They stopped at the edge of the trees and looked out at the wide black road. Firepaw had been in a car on roads this big, but he had never walked beside one. Cars raced back and forth, the wind from them shaking the branches above Firepaw.
He flinched as car a car went past. He didn't like the bitter smell of the road, but he didn't complain, as the cat people have much better senses than him and effected them more.
"This is the Thunderpath." Graypaw told him. "You humans like to ride in the monster's bellies. But don't worry, the monsters never leave the path. So as long as you stay off it, you should be fine."
"It's time we returned to camp." Lionheart announced. "You've seen all our boundaries. We will skip over Snakerocks though. Let's grab your club and go to camp."
Firepaw felt relieved at the thought of returning to camp. His feet hurt from traveling so far in the unfamiliar shoes he had on. He was tired and hungry, too, by now.
He walked behind Graypaw as they returned to the training hollow. They paused shortly, only for Firepaw and Graypaw to pick up their things. Then they continued to the camp again.
When they arrived, they found food waiting for them. Together, Firepaw and Graypaw chose their share of food and walked to the tree stump outside of their den. They sat next to Dustpaw and Sandpaw, who were already eating.
"Hey there, human." Dustpaw narrowed his eyes. "Enjoy the food we made for you."
"Who knows, you might even catch your own meal some day." Sandpaw sneered, looking up from her food.
"Are you still on hunting duty?" Graypaw asked, trying to sound innocent but failing. "We've been patrolling the bourders. And don't worry, you'll be glad to know that they are safe."
Dustpaw rolled his eyes. "I'm sure the other Clans were just terrified to smell you two coming."
"They didn't dare to show their faces!" Graypaw yelled, accidentally knocking over his food as he leaned forward.
The two other apprentices laughed and Sandpaw told him, "I'll be sure to ask the other Clans tonight at the Gathering."
"You're going to the Gathering?" Firepaw asked, wondering what a Gathering was like. He wanted to ask questions but he kept quiet as Dustpaw spoke.
"Of course." Dustpaw sat up a little straighter. "It's a great honor, you know. But don't feel bad, we'll tell you all about it in the morning."
Graypaw ignored them and began to eat. Firepaw did the same, hungry after the long day of walking. He silently wondered when he was going to his first Gathering.
Bluestar called the cats going to the Gathering to join by the camp entrance. Sandpaw and Dustpaw stood immediately.
"Bye, you two!" Sandpaw called over her shoulder. "Have a nice quiet evening!"
Firepaw stared after them, watching the warriors and elders group together and then leave the camp at Bluestar's signal.
"Have you been to a Gathering?" Firepaw asked, turning back to his meal.
"Not yet." Graypaw chewed loudly. "But it can't be long. Every apprentice goes at some point." They continued their meal. Afterwards they sat outside the den and talked and joked around.
But as the sky grew darker, they pushed their way into the apprentice den. Firepaw set his pocket knife and new club next to his bed and pulled the covers up to his chin. Rolling onto his right side, he quickly fell asleep.
If I'm not busy or too lazy, I should be updating my other stories soon. Please review.