Chapter 6

Practice

Gingerstar14: This is the first totally new chapter!!! YAY!!!!

"Brambleclaw, ready to go?" Whitetail asked. Brambleclaw finished off his rabbit and leaped to his paws. The first whole day since he became a WindClan cat, he was going to train to run on the moor, since that was how WindClan caught their prey. Whitetail's apprentice, Springpaw, was coming with them.

"Of course I am!" Brambleclaw replied, excited. "Let's go." Whitetail nodded and motioned to Springpaw, a silver tabby tom, and followed his mentor out of the camp down the hill toward RiverClan border. She stopped at the rise and pointed down the steep slope. Brambleclaw followed her gaze.

"You must build up your speed- forest cats are naturally slower than us." She explained. Brambleclaw nodded. He felt very exposed, and was getting uncomfortable. He reminded himself that that was how he was going to live from now on. "So to practice, run down this hill with us."

"Okay." Brambleclaw focused on the way the ground sloped, detirmined to keep up with the WindClan cats. He bounded forward, feeling the wind in his fur as he pelted down the hill, shoulders pumping. Whitetail caught up with him and passed him, and Springpaw kept pace with him, nodding.

He stopped as Whitetail paused to turn back, skidding in the heather. Brambleclaw bent over panting, though the others didn't look very tired. "Good for your first time." Whitetail purred.

"Look!" Springpaw gasped. "RiverClan rats!" Brambleclaw looked up to see Dapplenose, Rainstorm, and Duskpaw standing by the border glaring at the WindClan cats.

"Keep off of our territory!" Whitetail's fur rose, but Rainstorm was glaring at Brambleclaw.

He took a pace forward to stand directly on the border, his eyes gleaming. "You threaten us but allow ThunderClan on your territory? Typical WindClan!"

Brambleclaw bristled, but Whitetail stepped forward before he could say anything, her voice even. "Brambleclaw has joined WindClan. He has as much right to be on our territory as Springpaw and I." Dapplenose muttered something to Ranstorm and he rolled his eyes but turned away.

"Good riddiance!" Spingpaw yowled after them, jumping guiltily when Whitetail scolded him. "Sorry," he muttered.

"I hope they don't cause trouble- I'd hate to hurt WindClan," Brambleclaw sighed. "That was really bad luck."

Whitetail shook her head. "It doesn't matter. I'm not ashamed of telling them that you joined our Clan- you didn't do anything bad!" That's where you're wrong. "Let's get away from here." She turned around and began heading up the hill. Springpaw shot ahead, but Brambleclaw trailed behind.

"You coming?" She turned around as she reached the top, and he bounded the last few pawsteps forward to join her. Springpaw reappeared, proudly carrying a small rabbit. "Wonderful!" Whitetail shot forward to rub her cheek against his. Brambleclaw felt a pang of jealousy. He could never have that in WindClan, no matter what happened, he was a stranger in WindClan.

"Should we head back to camp?" Brambleclaw asked, padding past them, trying to remember which way they had come and if he would ever feel at home here. Whitetail simply nodded and began following him.

"Think you can find the way back?"

"I'm pretty sure." he replied, concentrating and heading up along the slope until the land began to look a bit familar. The sun was setting, casting a bright light across the lake, a beautiful sight that could be seen over the entire expanse of the territory. Brambleclaw felt a burst of pride as he led them into camp.

"You did great," Whitetail pressed up against him. "We'll do more tomorrow. Those RiverClan cats are a bother." Brambleclaw just nodded abesntly; now that his thoughts weren't occupied, he began to think about ThunderClan.

What would Squirrelflight think of him now? What about all his friends- Gingerpelt, Brackenfur... But there was no going back now.