"Stupidpaw! Get up! Our mentors need us!"
I stood and shook. Leafpaw was standing in front of me, with a hostile gleam in her green eyes. I didn't say anything, and I padded past her. Honeywind and Darkfeather were chatting.
"Hi Darkfeather." I meowed. She purred. "Where's Leafpaw? Growled Honeywind.
"I'm here!" She replied, padding out of the den. "Oh good." Meowed Honeywind.
"What will we do today?" Leafpaw asked. "Training." Meowed Darkfeather.
"Yes, but what kind of training?" Asked Leafpaw. "You'll find out." Darkfeather snapped.
Leafpaw whispered something in Honeywind's ear. I chose to ignore her. Darkfeather did too.
"We're here!" Cried Honeywind. We had stopped in front of the sandy hollow.
Battle training.
"Alright" Began Darkfeather. "Today we will work on the basics of battling. Honeywind, train with Leafpaw, and I have Amberpaw." Everyone shuffled to get in their groups. "We'll train separately, then a mock fight with these teams."
Seems fun. I hope we win.
"Let's begin." Cried Honeywind.
Darkfeather was in a corner. I hopped over. "Alright. We'll start with a basic attack. This is the bounce claw." She crouched. "Okay, I'll demonstrate, then you do it."
I hope I don't mess up!
Darkfeather pounced. But, she landed right in front of me. I growled and swiped my paw at her chest. I guessed she'd miss-aimed her jump. But, she jumped again, and landed on my back. I was confused by her surprise attack, but an instinct to roll took over me. I ignored it, and reared on my back legs. Surprised, the older she-cat topped off with a thump.
Yes!
"Nice! I'd expected you to roll!" She purred. "Now you try! Remember, as soon as you jump in front, you have to jump on, quickly!
I gave her a nod. Then I turned to the sound of chatting. Leafpaw and Honeywind were talking.
They haven't started!
I turned back to Darkfeather. She was staring at them too. Quickly, she looked at me, and I dropped into a crouch. I remembered seeing Darkfeather's legs directly under her. I lifted my head.
Now!
I jumped, and landed directly in front of her. Instinctively, she swiped. I jumped again, and I landed on Darkfeather's strong shoulders. She hissed, and bucked me off. I landed on my back.
"You're good!" Purred Darkfeather.
I dipped my head. "Let's do that a few times, then we'll try other moves."
Darkfeather and I practiced until sun-high. I worked on some decoy moves, and classic feints. I'd also learned some advanced techniques for different sized cats, as well as the other basic attacks. She showed me defenses too. My all-time favorite move was a trick. You crouched in defeat, then slammed into them. My muscles ached, but it was a good ache.
Then Darkfeather raised a loud call.
"Time for a mock fight! Gather in the middle."
Honeywind and Leafpaw bounced over, their tails fluffed with enthusiasm. Darkfeather looked at the assembled cats. "On my word." She stretched and blinked a few times. "Go!"
Immediately, Darkfeather leaped at Honeywind, who was looking at Leafpaw. Surprised, the golden she-cat barreled over. They grappled, so I turned my attention to Leafpaw. I found her quietly padding towards me. With a hiss, I darted for her left, but my eyes were fixed on her right side. She yelped with confusion, and gave a clumsy swipe. I ducked, and rammed my side into hers. Leafpaw yowled, and tripped over her paws. I had an advantage with her on the ground. Without a moment to waste, I flopped onto her belly. My weight crushed her, and she gasped. After a moment, the ginger and white apprentice found the energy to knock me off.
I stumbled, and I saw Leafpaw ready to pounce on me. She'd easily pin me down.
I started to panic. Leafpaw was ready to pounce. She did.
At the last second, I rolled, and Leafpaw slammed into bare ground.
She hissed a curse at me. I got up quickly, and crouched down, as if to show defeat. "Ha! My idiot sister can't even fight!" She mocked.
She crouched, and every muscle screamed to dodge, but I held still. With a yowl of triumph, she leaped right for me, right as I was packing power for my jump.
Now!
Leafpaw was sailing towards me. I let the muscles go, and like a spring, I shot right at her.
It was almost as I was watching in slow motion. For a heartbeat, her green eyes flickered with surprise. My body slammed into her chest, and she let out the faintest squeak. Everything else had gone silent. And suddenly, a blur of ginger flew through the air. I was able to enjoy it for a moment, before I saw her hit the ground. She'd flown out of the sandy hollow, and as she landed, a disgusting smell hit me. I blinked, and when I opened my eyes, she was coated with a dark material. It was fox dung! She crawled out and shook, when my attention was taken to a sharp jab in the flank.
Somehow, Honeywind had escaped Darkfeather, and was now taking me on.
Think!
I desperately tried to remember all of my strategies for facing a larger cat. She took a swipe at me, and I ducked. The golden cat hissed, when an idea fluttered into my mind. I bunched up my muscles, and jumped onto her broad shoulders. She rolled immediately, but Darkfeather had taught me to expect that. I jumped off right away, and now I was facing her unprotected belly. I swiped at it, my claws sheathed, and she let out a yowl.
"Enough!" I looked up from my small battle. Darkfeather was standing atop a tall rock. "We're done now." She meowed. Let's get back to camp, it's nearly night. Leafpaw huffed, but obeyed angrily.
We started to walk back to camp.
Wow! I beat Leafpaw! I best not rub it in though. She's mad enough. Eww! She REEKS of fox-dung!
Every cat was already eating when we got back. I picked up a small mouse, and gulped it down. When I'd finished, I retired to my nest for the night. The den reeked.
Mouse dung! How will I sleep now with Leafpaw's stench?
My mind floated to my victory at the hollow, and I fell asleep easily.