A/N: So how do you feel about their mentors? In the original, Sootfur was a possible love interest for Emberpaw, and while that may (or may not ;P) have changed, I realized that he really did need some more attention. I always liked him, and hated how little he appeared in the books-not to mention how early in his life he died. Anyways, thanks for reading! Enjoy!
Chapter 3
Lilypaw crouched low to the ground, her amber eyes locked on the golden tabby pelt of her mentor. Without any indication of the movement, the apprentice sprang, an entire two moon's worth of training showing in the ripple of her lean muscles as she fell into a practice fight with Thornclaw. She nearly had the warrior pinned when he used his greater weight to overpower her and pin her to the ground.
"Good job," he praised her as he let her up. "I had no idea where you were aiming, that was well done."
Lilypaw glowed at the praise, raising her chin a little as they went to separate sides of the clearing again. She was almost as good at battle training as Puddlepaw, but under Sootfur's mentorship Eaglepaw was definitely the best fighter among the apprentices. The lithe brown tabby had no idea that Sootfur had never been defeated in a training fight in the old forest, when he was still just an apprentice. But Thornclaw trained him, she reminded herself smugly as she prepared to attack her mentor again. Which means one day I'll definitely surpass Eaglepaw!
With a yowl, she lunged forward, acting as if she were going to jump on his shoulders again, only to dive at the last second and slither under her mentor, tangling her snowy white legs in her mentor's hind legs as he rose to stop her from landing on his shoulders. The motion tripped him up, but as he fell back he twisted and in one smooth motion spun on his front paws to land lightly on all four feet. Lilypaw didn't let him get away so easily though, instantly jumping to his shoulders. With her claws sheathed, it was nearly impossible to hold on as he rolled onto his back and smothered her beneath him. It won't be that easy! She thought of the tree-climbing practice they had done the day before, and with all the strength she had used to jump to the lowest branch of the Sky Oak, she kicked her mentor, sending him flying over her head. He landed heavily on his side this time, giving Lilypaw just enough time to scramble on top of him and pin him down as he regained his breath.
"Brilliantly done," he huffed as she let him up. "I think you've earned a break and a meal."
Lilypaw's tail curled happily as she bounced around her mentor. "And then what?"
Thornclaw gave her a good natured roll of his eyes. "I suppose I could take you on the evening patrol with me."
"Yes!" She bounded to the edge of the clearing. "Can I hunt on the way back to camp?" She didn't wait for an answer, turning and slipping into a hunting crouch as she ducked into the thick undergrowth. Leaf-fall was upon them and the leaves had begun to change from brilliant shades of green to warm ambers and browns. Perfect for my pelt. Lilypaw nearly purred as she spotted a mouse nibbling on a nut just two fox lengths away. But not so fortunate for you, little mouse. Murmuring a quick thanks to StarClan for the small animals life as Thornclaw had taught her, Lilypaw pounced, landing with a paw on either side of the plump creature and finishing it with a swift bite before it could even realize what was happening. I'll bring this to Sorreltail when I get back, Since Eaglepaw and Tanglepaw are hunting for the elders today.
When she got back to camp, Thornclaw was already there, eating a sparrow outside of the warriors den. Lilypaw went straight to the nursery, tilting her head curiously when she saw Emberpaw and Birchpaw outside.
"What's going on?" She mewed, sitting the mouse down for a moment.
"Sorreltail and Ferncloud said there was a draft in the nursery," Emberpaw explained, a concerned look in her blue eyes. "I saw the Birchpaw had just come back from patrol so I asked Ashfur if he could help me patch it up."
"And what about you, Lilypaw?" Birchpaw's whiskers twitched in amusement as he looked the younger apprentice over from ears to tail-tip. Now that Whitepaw had been made a warrior—Whitewing—the light brown tabby tom was the oldest apprentice. "It looks like you've been trampled by badgers!"
Lilypaw huffed haughtily. "I've been battle training. And I do not look like I've been trampled by badgers!"
Birchpaw's tail curled. "Do so," he taunted.
"Say that one more time and I'll trample you!" Lilypaw started sinking into a crouch, but Emberpaw shouldered between them, her eyes blazing.
"If you keep yowling outside the nursery, I'm going to trample both of you!"
Becoming a medicine cat apprentice had shaken all of Emberpaw's doubt and timid nature away, leaving her calm, confident, and composed. It made Lilypaw proud to see how far her sister had come in just two moons of training under Cinderpelt. And we've all still got so much more to learn…
Birchpaw ducked his head. "Sorry, Emberpaw," he amended.
"Yeah," Lilypaw gave her sister a lick on the shoulder. "I'm sorry. Do you need any more help? I'm about to bring this mouse to Sorreltail, I can ask if the draft is fixed while I'm in there."
Emberpaw nodded. "That would be great."
Without wasting another moment, Lilypaw picked up the fresh-kill again and pushed her way into the nursery. It was chillier than it had been the last time she was in there, though not quite as cool as it was outside.
"I brought you some fresh-kill, Sorreltail," she deposited the prey at Sorreltail's paws. The she-cat looked as if she was going to give birth at any moment.
"Thank-you," she sighed softly. Ferncloud sat towards the edge of the nursery, and she gave Lilypaw and appreciative flick of her tail. She had recently moved back into the nursery herself, and decided that even after her next litter was born, she was going to stay in the nursery instead of returning to warrior duties, feeling that she was more helpful that way. Seeing the way Sorreltail struggled to get around now, Lilypaw realized that Ferncloud was probably right. Pregnant and nursing queens would definitely appreciate the gray she-cat's help.
"Is that where the draft is?" Lilypaw inquired, pushing thoughts of queens and kits from her mind. That's definitely not the life for me.
"Yes," Ferncloud's meow was soft and concerned. "They've nearly got it patched, just a few more twigs should do it."
Lilypaw dipped her head. "I'll let them know!" Careful not to disturb Sorreltail while she ate, the warrior apprentice ducked back outside. "She said it's nearly gone." She reported. "Just a couple more twigs."
"On it," Birchpaw glanced around. "I'll go get some from right outside the camp."
As the older apprentice bounded away, Lilypaw turned to her sister. "Care to share a meal when you get done with this? Or does Cinderpelt have more for you to do?"
Emberpaw purred in amusement. "Cinderpelt always has more for me to do." She gave Lilypaw a gentle head-butt. "But I will have time to eat once we finish with this hole."
"Great," Lilypaw purred. "What would you like? I'll go ahead and get something from the pile before Tanglepaw gets back and inhales it all!"
"Anything's fine," Emberpaw laughed, shaking her head as Lilypaw bounded away.
The fresh-kill pile was bountiful, Lilypaw noted, even though the weather was getting cooler and plants were beginning to die. She chose a thrush for herself and picked out a squirrel for her sister, before carrying the fresh-kill to a sunny spot outside the apprentice den and settling down to wash the dirt from her matted fur while she waited. As much as she hated to admit it, Birchpaw had a point. Her training session with Thornclaw had gone from dawn until sunhigh, and her usually glossy tabby fur was clumped and stuck out in every direction. She was wiping a now-clean white paw across her whiskers when Emberpaw and Birchpaw joined her. The older warrior apprentice carried his own piece of fresh-kill, and settled down with the two she-cats to eat.
"So how did the training go?" Birchpaw spoke first, mumbling around the large bite of mouse he was swallowing.
"Good," Lilypaw purred before taking another bite of her own meal. "I actually managed to beat him once or twice."
Emberpaw flicked her black tail-tip against Lilypaw's side in a silent 'congratulations' as she chewed.
"Maybe we'll get to train together soon," Birchpaw's amber eyes flashed. "I'd love to do some sparring. It's been ages since all of the apprentices have been able to train together."
"I didn't think that ever happened?" Emberpaw tilted her head, seeming confused.
"Well, it hasn't here, at the lake. But Ashfur told me about back in the Old Forest, when they would have battle assessment days and take all of the apprentices to the training hollow at the same time and let them spar with each other. Obviously not all of the mentors would go, but he said that when he did stuff like that with Thornclaw, Brightheart, Cloudtail, and Ferncloud back when they were apprentices the deputy and one or two senior warriors would go to watch them—sometimes even the leader!"
"I would love to get the chance to show Firestar and Brambleclaw what I can do," Lilypaw sighed longingly. "But what are the chances of that happening any time soon?"
"You could always ask," Emberpaw supplied helpfully. "It sounds like it would be beneficial anyways, and ThunderClan has grown large enough now that you could all be spared at least one dawn patrol."
"You know what?" Lilypaw jumped up as she finished her thrush. "I'm going to. I'll ask Thornclaw while we're on the evening patrol tonight."
"I will, too," Birchpaw sat up and stretched. "I think Ashfur wants to take me out hunting before it gets dark. We'll report their answers to the other apprentices tonight, deal?"
Lilypaw nodded. "Deal."
"In the meantime," Emberpaw flicked her ears towards something past Lilypaw's shoulder, and the apprentice turned to see Thornclaw padding towards them.
"Thornclaw!" She started to ask him then and there, but the golden-brown warrior cut her off.
"If you want to go on the evening patrol tonight, you've got to check the elders for ticks first, and help Puddlepaw make sure all of their bedding is clean and dry," he meowed. "Since Eaglepaw and Tanglepaw did the hunting today, it's only fair that you and Puddlepaw take care of the rest.
"Yes, Thornclaw," Lilypaw rolled her eyes, but dipped her head respectfully.
Emberpaw gave her a sympathetic glance. "I'll go fix some mousebile for you," she murmured, trying to keep the amusement from her tone. Birchpaw didn't try to mask his own laughter, his tail curling as he called a taunting, "Have fun!" over his shoulder as he moved to join Ashfur at the thorn tunnel.
Lilypaw couldn't help but sigh as she followed Emberpaw to the medicine den, forcing herself to focus on the positive—that being the mission she and Birchpaw were on. I can even tell Puddlepaw to ask Brambleclaw about it when I see him in the elder's den! The thought of sparring with the older apprentices made her paws tingle with excitement. I can't wait!
Addition A/N: As their personalities grow, I'm definitely interested in what you all think their warrior names should be! Thanks again, and feel free to review!
