Hey everyone! I finally got a new computer, so now I can update all my stories. :) So here's chapter 3! I hope you like it!
"Ashpaw! Training!" a deep voice called. "Get up, now!"
Ashpaw stirred slightly, rolling over with his blue-gray eyes open.
He yowled in surprise as he was a white blurr with green eyes less than an inch away from his face, smiling broadly.
"Angelpaw," he grasped as he clambered to his paws. "What'd you do that for?"
His sister giggled. "You should have seen the look on your face!"
"Oh, come on guys! Stop messing around. It's our first day of training! Get up, and come on." Sapphirepaw meowed as she approached. "I'll wake up the rest of our friends."
The golden brown tom cocked his head. "What do you mean? Why are you waking up the-"
A loud sigh interrupted him. "Bramblestar said that he and the rest of the mentors are going to show us the territory together."
"Thank-you, oh great knowing one." Angelpaw grumbled as she padded out of the den after her sister.
Ashpaw grinned and padded after them into the clearing.
As he stepped into the clearing, he noticed that the mentors had all left. The apprentices were milling around, chatting nervously. Ashpaw bounded over to Sparrowpaw, and meowed, "Hey! I have an idea. Let's race to where our mentors are. All we have to do is follow their scent, and it'll be fun."
The tabby cat nodded eagerly and together, Ashpaw and Sparrowpaw shot toward the other apprentices.
"Everyone! Ashpaw had a great idea. He said that we should all follow our mentor's scent, and make a race out of it. Who wants to join us?" Sparrowpaw's eyes were fixed on Featherpaw while he announced their idea.
Angelpaw and Sapphirepaw jumped into the air to show their excitement, while Twilightpaw nodded slowly.
The solid white she-cat leaped over to Featherpaw, and touched her nose to her's. "What about you? Do you want to race with us?"
The silver apprentice thought for a minute, acting like she hadn't already made up her mind. "Well..." she said dramatically.
"Please!" Angelpaw begged.
Featherpaw laughed, "Sure!"
Ashpaw purred with amusement as Angelpaw gave Featherpaw an affectionate nip on the ear. "Come on! Last one to find them is a piece of mouse dung!"
Sparrowpaw and the golden apprentice took off, their soft paws kicking up dirt.
The she-cats bounded after them, trying to catch up.
Ashpaw was slowly taking the lead, breathing in every different smell of the forest. He could hear Sparrowpaw's breathing getting louder as he attempted to pass his best friend. Ashpaw chuckled and shot forward, leaving the tabby far behind. His ears twitched as he heard the loud caw of a crow, and the soft twitter of a sparrow. The soft green grass felt great against his golden paws, and he looked to the left as he heard the gentle waves lapping at the land. The smell of his mentors was getting stronger by the minute, and he leaped into the air as a bird flew overhead. It squawked at him and flew higher to get away from his outstretched paws. He skidded to a halt at the edge of the clearing and listened to the almost silent movements of their mentors. He began to catch his breath, and licked his paw happily. His fur was being ruffled by the wind, and he squinted his eyes as he looked for his friends.
Sparrowpaw finished second, almost running into Ashpaw because his paws couldn't stop him.
Angelpaw and Twilightpaw tied for third and Sapphirepaw wasn't far behind the two she-cats to win fourth place.
Finally, Featherpaw raced into the clearing.
"Haha! You're the last one here, Featherpaw!" Angelpaw laughed, gently nudging her disgruntled friend.
Featherpaw snorted.
Sparrowpaw smiled as he padded up to the two she-cats along with Ashpaw. "You did fine."
"Yeah, come on, cheer up!" the golden brown tom chimed in.
Featherpaw smiled slightly, and padded over to her heavily panting friends.
Ashpaw grinned broadly, and flicked his tail for Sparrowpaw to follow him. He quickly approached the impatient mentors.
Bramblestar turned to face him, his amber eyes glowing. "Thank you for finally joining us." he meowed. "Let's go."
Sapphirepaw and Angelpaw raced towards him, and took up positions beside their brother. "Ready?" they asked in unison.
Ashpaw nodded, and sped after the mentors and apprentices.
Soon after, Ashpaw, his sisters, and the rest of the cats were milling around the Sky Oak. A quiet hoot sounded from the ancient tree, and Ashpaw watched as a few of his clan-mates looked up, their ears pricked as they surveyed the tree.
What is this place? Ashpaw thought. What is it called?
Before the young tom could ponder anymore, Bramblestar yowled. "Attention all apprentices! This is the owl tree. That low hoot you heard was an owl. It is a bird that usually only comes out after sun down."
Oh! I've heard of them. Sandstorm claims to have seen one when she was younger.
"Cool." Ashpaw heard Sparrowpaw murmer.
Featherpaw nodded, her clear, crystal blue colored eyes fixed on the golden-brown apprentice once more. "Yeah, way cool."
Ashpaw smirked. He padded over to her and touched his pelt against hers as the other cats began to leave the clearing. The tom grinned to himself as she heard a low purr rising from her throat.
"Come on," he whispered in her white ear, "Lets catch up with them."
She grinned, and twined her tail with his. She echoed his thoughts quietly. "This isn't so bad, is it? I mean, being with me.."
Ashpaw shrugged, thinking hard.
Featherpaw didn't seem to think much about his quiet answer, and they padded silently after their clan-mates..
The golden-brown tom opened his mouth, paused, and then spoke. "I suppose not."
The she-cat smiled. "Glad you think so."
Yeah, yeah, Ashpaw. She's putty in your paws."
Ashpaw slowed the pace. They were falling behind, and no one had noticed.
"Why don't we stop here for a moment? I smell mouse." Ashpaw meowed casually.
Featherpaw looked at him, admiration flowing through her face. "Sure!"
The golden-brown tom nodded once, and drank in the forest's many scents. He crouched instinctively, remembering what Lionclaw had told him. The mouse was upwind, so it couldn't smell the two cats. He crept forward, his golden paws making no noise as he stepped over dark green leaves and sharp twigs. The small creature slowly came into view, its whiskers quivering and its tiny ears twitching. Ashpaw watched it scuttle around for a moment before springing and finishing it off.
He trotted back to the well-trodden path where Featherpaw was fidgeting nervously.
She jumped as he dropped the mouse on the ground. "Oh! Its just you." she sounded relieved as she made her way over to him.
Ashpaw laughed. "Come on, I bet they're noticing that were missing. Let's go."
She nodded, and together, Ashpaw and Featherpaw raced after the fading scent of his friends and family.
The end! What do you think about Ashpaw? He's such a showoff. Does he really like her, or is he just using her? Find out in the next chapter.
Oh, and see the little gray-blue button at the bottom left? It's awfully lonely...It hasn't been pressed in a while. So, what are you waiting for? Start reviewing. :P