OptimusPrime2017: Thank you!
Chapter 5:
The apprentices den felt odd, the cavern was roomy and clear, the moss fresh, and the scents new. Tangles of plants were draped over the entrance, brambles and briars woven in between. Ravenpaw sighed, shifting again in his mossy nest, the pale dawn light floating into the cave. With a begrudging yawn, he got to his paws.
"Had trouble sleeping?" asked a drowsy Nightpaw, the black furred apprentices claws digging into the ground as she stretched. Applepaw slept next to them, snoring loud enough to wake the whole clan.
"I swear," Ravenpaw meowed "He could sleep in the middle of a storm while cat battle and still wake up two days from then."
"I know," Nightpaw said with grin "But I know what will wake him up!" She bounced over to the sleeping ginger tabby, crouching down right next to one of his ears.
"Were going on a war patrol!" she trilled, leaping back. Applepaw jumped up, whipping his head around in sudden excitement.
"It works everytime!" Nightpaw snickered.
"Hey!" Applepaw burst out in fury. Ravenpaw chuckled at the two, the tip of his tail flicking with bemusement. After a few moments Applepaw joined the the giggling.
"Anyone elses paw pads sore?" the ginger apprentice asked after the laughter had died down "Mine sure are." Nightpaw nodded, lifting up one of her raw pads.
"Mine to," Ravenpaw said, grooming some moss off of his back. A rustling at the entrance snapped them all into alertness, making them turn. A huge black warrior stood in front of them, his coarse fur bristling with slight irritation.
"Come Ravenpaw," Shadowstream said in a low growl "And Nightpaw, Rippledusk wants you at the edge of camp." Nightpaw nodded and slipped swiftly out of the apprentices den, her long black tail disappearing as she rounded the corner of the entrance.
"Lets go," the warrior hissed. Ravenpaw hesitated for a moment but slumped off after his mentor. The camp was bustling, three cats returning with prey in their jaws, Fernstem and her apprentice trotting out of the thorn berrier, and a group of warriors waiting at the very edge of camp. He could see the blue-grey form of Rippledusk in the group, Nightpaw standing besides him. Just before he and Shadowstream padded out of camp he gave his litter mate a smile.
The territory seemed brighter than the day before, light dappling the rocky floof with specks of sun, more birds singing around them. Shadowstream halted suddenly, turning to face his apprentice.
"We'll start with battle training," Shadowstream grunted "I'll show you how escape a pin." Without warning Shadowstream launched himself at Ravenpaw, the huge toms front legs outstretched. Shadowstream hurtled into the apprentice, slamming hard into Ravenpaws side with his shoulder. The tiny apprentice toppled over, rolling over and over again on the rubble strewn ground, ramming into a boulder. He bounced back, Shadowstream placing a heavy paw on his chest.
"Now," his mentor hissed "Place your hind paws on my underbelly and kick me off." Ravenpaw nodded quickly. He reared his haunches back, readying himself. He kicked up with as much strength as he could muster, forcing his paws into Shadowstreams stomach, gritting his teeth.
"Harder," the warrior spat, his lips curling back to reveal partly yellowed, sharpened fangs. Ravenpaw nodded again, rearing back for a second time. He drove his paws back into the black cats belly.
"Harder," Shadowstream repeated, louder this time. Ravenpaw panted heavily, the paw on his chest beginning to become painful. He kicked again, his tiredness not helping.
"Do you want to be killed?" the Torrentclan tom snapped, his words sharper than a thorn in Ravenpaws ears. He felt anger swell in him, spreading from his tail to the tip of his nose, making his yellow eyes flash with rage.
"Of course not!" he snarled.
"Then prove it," Shadowstream growled back, "Show me what you're made of." His mentor extended his claws slightly, just barely enough to break skin. With a gasp Ravenpaw kicked at his stomach, the anger giving way to shock. Shadowstream jumped back, looking down with an unreadable expression at Ravenpaw. The apprentice glared sharply up at Shadowstream, his gaze icy. Surprisingly the warrior gave a nod of approval.
"Good," Shadowstream meowed, for once his tone something other than disappointed, though not impressed "Keep working and you may become a warrior of worth."
"I guess that was a compliment," he muttered to himself. He brushed his bristley tongue over the claw marks, the metallic smell making him recoil. The tang of the blood seemed to linger in his mouth.
"Go to Fernstem and get that fixed up," Shadowstream ordered "You know the way to camp, I have some hunting I need to get done." With that, the warrior stalked off, heading to the cliff faces.
Ravenpaw blinked. That's it? The second of confusion passed quickly, replaced by sparks of anger. The apprentice padded off, heading for camp, his shoulders hunched and his ears flat.
His fur prickled with fury, his eye sparkling, his mouth shut tight, the air full of unsaid words. The sight of the Torrentclan thorn barrier only made the feeling grow.
The next couple chapters may be a bit shorter like this one, though i'll try and keep them at least 1000 word per chapter, anyway, I hope you enjoyed!