I woke up with a start as Lilyfoot shook me awake. Thrushkit was already sitting outside, her pelt clean and glossy.
"I figured you needed the extra sleep from your little adventure today. Now come on, it's your turn," Lilyfoot said.
I stumbled out of the den and obediently let Lilyfoot groom my fur. Once I was done, my fluffy black fur was smooth and sleek, and my yellow eyes were glowing with pride as Goosestar leaped onto Highrock and called the clan to gather around him.
I began bouncing around, trying to shake off my sleepiness. Then I licked the sand from my paws and we walked forward.
"Today we are gathered here to welcome two kits into the training of become a warrior. Thrushkit, Lightningkit, please join me on Highrock.
Thrushkit leaped first, and she slipped and almost fell back to the bottom. Using her claws she scrambled upward and managed to stay on.
Don't worry little one. I'll give you strength so you do not embarrass yourself like your sister. A voice said in my mind.
I immediately knew it was Nightstar, and I felt power surge into my hind legs. I leaped forward and landed almost perfectly on the ledge. I think I heard Blossomkit gasp. Then Goosestar continued.
"Thrushkit, from now on you will be known as Thrushpaw, and your mentor will be Maplewhisker," Goosestar said.
Maplewhisker leaped up here as perfectly as I had and she and Thrushpaw touched noses before leaping back down Highrock together.
"And Lightningkit, from now on you will be known as Lightningpaw, and your mentor will be Sparrowtail," Goosestar said.
Sparrowtail joined me up here and we touched noses before joining the crowd again.
"I am very proud of Windclan, and how powerful we have become. We recently beat Thunderclan for more territory and no cat has gone hungry. We are now preparing for leaf-bare, and after our new apprentices have been trained a little, we will attack Riverclan to get more territory. On the edge of their territory, there is plenty of rabbit holes and hiding places for mice that I think Windclan could use. So Sparrowtail and Maplewhisker spend most of your time teaching the apprentices battle moves, rather then hunting," Goosestar said. The clan meeting was dismissed, and Adderpaw and Breezefur joined us.
"I'm glad you're finally an apprentice. Now we can practice moves together in the training hollow!" Adderpaw meowed.
"Alright, like Goosestar said, we must start with battle training. We'll do it a little today, and then we will take the dawn patrol tomorrow. Adderpaw, you can help show Lightningpaw around the territory," Breezefur said.
Adderpaw, Sparrowtail, and I nodded and we headed out. I felt much bigger on the moor, now that I was an apprentice. But I was really just as small. We walked for awhile until we approached a clove of trees. They seemed like the only trees on the entire moor. But the trees were so tightly packed; I didn't know where to get in.
Breezefur suddenly disappeared among the tree roots, and so did Sparrowtail. Adderpaw beckoned me with a flick of his tail, and I saw him crawl underneath a large root. I couldn't see his brown tabby tail mixed in with the tree roots, so I just went straight forward and crawled over and under the roots. After a little bit I came into a clearing, and a soft layer of grass was beneath me. Sparrowtail, Breezefur, and Adderpaw were waiting for me.
"Sorry, we should have told you about entering the training hollow. It's difficult the first couple times, but you get used to it after a while. Don't worry," Breezefur ensured me.
"It's fine," I replied, flicking a clump of dirt from my fur.
"Alright. Adderpaw and I will start working on a new advanced fighting move. Sparrowtail and Lightningpaw can start working on some of the basics," Breezefur said.
Breezefur and Adderpaw went to the farther side of the clearing, while Sparrowtail turned to face me. I suddenly realized he and Thrushkit had the same shade of blue eyes. Weird.
Little one, do not worry. I will give you some of my power and knowledge. You will fly through these battle moves with such ease, you will be on the more advanced moves twice as fast as your sister. Nightstar said in my head.
"Okay. Now remember, in training, you always keep your claws sheathed. We don't need to injure our own clanmates. So first let's just start with a claw rake. I'll demonstrate. Pretend there is a cat in front of me. I'll do the claw rake on his muzzle," Sparrowtail explained.
Suddenly Nightstar appeared where Sparrowtail had said the imaginary cat would be. He was very faded and ghost-like, but I could see his black fur, amber eyes, and his outline.
Sparrowtail unsheathed his claws for this and raked his claws across Nightstar's muzzle. Blood dripped from the scrapes, and then the wounds just disappeared. Nightstar walked over to the side, as if to watch us.
"Now try it on me, claws sheathed," Sparrowtail instructed.
I felt strength power into my body, and my head was suddenly less fuzzy, and I could see super clear. I was very focused. I dashed forward, and did a spin before raking his muzzle. I saw Adderpaw and Breezefur staring at me in awe. I was smiling broadly.
"Wow. You did that perfectly! And we didn't even teach you the advanced, spin part yet!" Sparrowtail exclaimed.
I shrugged and said," Just the claw rake felt too easy, so I decided to add the spin to make it a little more challenging and interesting."
"I couldn't even get the claw rake down in one lesson! My timing was always messed up or I wasn't fast enough or I didn't rake hard enough," Adderpaw gasped.
"You've got an amazing apprentice on your hands," Breezefur congratulated Sparrowtail.
"Well I can see you'll be at Adderpaw's training level right now in a moon or less!" Sparrowtail exclaimed.
Adderpaw scowled. I smiled.
Thank you I told Nightstar.
Do not thank me. Soon you will have this strength on your own, and my help will not be necessary Nightstar replied.
"Okay, well since you seem to naturally know what to do, and since we're running out of time," Sparrowtail said," Why don't we pitch our apprentices against each other?"
"That sounds fine. But Adderpaw, please don't squash your denmate," Breezefur replied.
Adderpaw turned to face me, and I tried to make him seem small. It didn't work. Then he sprang forward, his paws outstretched. I prepared for his landing. Then suddenly with my new knowledge from Nightstar, I knew Adderpaw planned to roll me over with him. So I ducked down, and Adderpaw jumped over me. I flipped over and kicked his hind legs with my back paws, sending him tumbling into the tree roots. He came back out momentarily, and I charged. I jumped and Adderpaw ducked, but instead I landed right in front of him and clawed his muzzle. Adderpaw lashed out his paw to shove me away, but I rolled to the side and kicked his nose with my hind paws. He yowled and kicked me with his forepaw, but I stuck my landing. Adderpaw came charging after me again, and I slipped underneath his belly and raked his belly with my paws. Adderpaw flipped around and leaped on top of me, pinning me down with one paw. I was NOT going to lose this way and this easy. Then suddenly I let out a little whine, and my body went limp. I held my breath in my throat and kept myself from blinking.
Alarmed, Adderpaw loosened his grip and I shot forward, sending him flying.
"Alright that's enough. I am very proud of both of you. You may choose a piece of fresh-kill once we get back to camp," Breezefur praised.
Adderpaw and Breezefur slipped through the tree roots while Sparrowtail hung back to talk to me.
"I don't know how, but out there you fought almost as good as Adderpaw himself. You matched him blow for blow, and you had almost as much strength as him. And yet you are still as tiny as a kit and you seem as weak as one. You will be our greatest advantage in battle. Your small size will fool any cat, and then they will be begging for surrender beneath your claws. There is much potential for you. When you become a warrior, you will able to swipe out an entire clan. I am very proud to be your mentor," Sparrowtail whispered.
I nodded my thanks and he led me out onto the moor. Breezefur and Adderpaw were already far in the distance. Sparrowtail and I padded in silence.
Will I always have such focus and strength like this? I asked Nightstar.
Until you gain it on your own with practice and skill. Nightstar explained.
Sparrowtail and I had entered camp, and only a few cats were still awake. Silverpelt was creeping over us, and I was tired. Adderpaw and Littlepaw were staring into each other's eyes lovingly while they shared a rabbit. I let out a snort of laughter and when Littlepaw turned away for a second Adderpaw glared at me. I wolfed down a mouse and turned to go to the nursery. Then I shook my head and walked over to the apprentices den until Birdsong stopped me.
"Congratulations on becoming an apprentice," she mewed.
"Oh. Thanks Birdsong," I replied.
"Sparrowtail is a very good mentor," she said.
"Oh yes. He's taught me so much already," I said.
Birdsong then padded away, with nothing else to say. I entered the bracken apprentice den and saw Windpaw, Dawnpaw, and Thrushpaw curled up in their nests. I picked the nest between Adderpaw and Thrushpaw, and curled up in it. I fell fast asleep, my muscles aching from the long day.
