Lost Hope: The Story of Icehope

Based on an RPG site

Chapter 3

Icepaw followed Gingerpelt quickly through the forest to the training hollow. It was a bright morning, though leaf-fall was not far off. Greenleaf was nearing an end, and most of the mornings were cool and crisp now. "I like fighting" She meowed excitedly.

When they were almost there, Burntclaw, leading his patrol of Tigerclaw, Silverclaw, and Clawpaw met up with them.

"Hey, Treeheart just had her kits...er kit." Tigerclaw purred. "There was two but..." his eyes glittered with sadness. "I guess we shouldn't let the death of a kit destory the happiness of new life."

"Really? She had her kit?!" Gingerpelt asked, her eyes glowing.

"Yea. It's named Nutkit. She's real cute! She looks like her mother!" Burntclaw meowed, bursting with pride. "I'm the father!"

"Congrats!" Gingerpelt congratulated him with a nod. Many cats were fond of Burntclaw, as he was very easy to get along with.

"I like kits." Icepaw spoke up.

"Oh, you like everything." Gingerpelt jokingly hissed. "And make sure you catch plenty of prey. The fresh-kill pile was low when we left." she meowed to the patrol.

Icepaw darted ahead of Gingerpelt. She got to the small sandy hollow; the training hollow, where apprentices train fighting with their mentors. It was empty. Strange. Usually other apprentices were there. But Icepaw gave it no thought. Today was a slow day.

As Gingerpelt stepped into the hollow, Icepaw jumped on her back. Gingerpelt yowled in surprise. She flipped on he back, squishing Icepaw. Then she flew onto her paws and shook violently until Icepaw was thrown off.

Then Gingerpelt held her down with one paw. "Warrior skills," she meowed, getting off Icepaw.

cepaw got to her paws. "I guess it's not too smart to jump on an enemy's back, huh?" She mewed quietly.

"No, not usually, but you must learn from experience." Gingerpelt replied. "But then again, it can be an affective move if used wisely. The counterattack is easy to use." Icepaw nodded. Gingerpelt sat down and curled her tail around her paws. "Attack me."

Icepaw backed up and then raced forward, ready to trip her with her nose as Gingerpelt reared up. She was right. When Gingerpelt stood up, the ginger-and-white cat easily unbalanced her and then landed on her side to pin her down.

"That was one of the first moves I learned," Gingerpelt grunted. "Now let me up, you great furball."

"Your the furball." She purred.

"Now, before you attack again, I would like to see your defending skills." Gingerpelt meowed.

Icepaw backed up. As Gingerpelt launched herself at her, she stood on her hind legs. When Gingerpelt hit her, she went flying on her back with Gingerpelt on top. Icepaw yowled in surprise.

"You're much smaller than me! You can't possibly stand against me like that. Try again." Gingerpelt jumped off Icepaw quickly.

Icepaw focused. The next time Gingerpelt leaped at her, she jumped away, whirled around and pinned Gingerpelt on her belly.

"Much better." She meowed when Icepaw let her up.

"Thanks. I try hard." Icepaw purred back. Gingerpelt flicked her shoulder with her tail. Then she padded to the other side of the hollow. They practiced all morning, and Icepaw got better and better at fighting. Gingerpelt told her to fight warriors her level. Icepaw laughed.

"Actually, you are almost as good as a warrior now." She purred.

By the time they were done, Icepaw was hot and tired. As the padded back slowly to camp, Gingerpelt sighed "It's Sunhigh now, and you already could be a warrior, if all warriors did was fight, but tomorrow, we can work on your hunting skills."

"Really? I fight that good?"

"Yes, you only need to improve your hunting skills." She replied, padding along the trail back to camp. "My apprentice, a warrior! You're my third apprentice, you know. First Bluemoon, then Mossfoot., now you."

"That's cool." Icepaw dashed into camp. She'd be a warrior soon enough!