Woo, double digits! We have reached our tenth chapter! Let's get on with the story.
It had been seven sunrises. Horizonpaw was excelling in his hunting and he had begun his fighting training two sunrises ago. He was strong, but far from ready.
But that's not why he was sat below the Flatstone with the rest of the Clan.
Solarstar leapt onto the Flatstone and began his speech.
"This morning, I am proud to announce that, after a talk with three warriors today, three if our apprentices are ready to become warriors. Come forth, Tigerpaw, Goldpaw and Flamepaw."
The three apprentice looked around in shock and surprise. It didn't look as though they'd been expecting this. Nevertheless, they padded forwards to meet Solarstar as he jumped down from the Flatstone. They were, however, blocked by Beechflower as she ran forwards to meet her kits: Tigerpaw and Goldpaw.
They tried to duck away, but there was no stopping her as she coated them in licks. Flamepaw began laughing, but he was assaulted by his mother, Shimmerheart.
"Uh... I understand you are proud of your kits, but this ceremony needs to happen before the next Gathering." Solarstar said when a few more heartbeats passed. The two queens broke away from the apprentices, who now looked shinier than ever.
"Right, sorry." Beechflower apologised. The apprentices carried on walking.
"I, Solarstar, leader of SunsetClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have worked hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Tigerpaw, Flamepaw and Goldpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your lives?"
"I do."
"I do."
"I do."
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Flamepaw, from this moment on you shall be known as Flamestorm. StarClan honours your faith and your loyalty."
Solarstar rested his chin on the newly-named Flamestorm's head, and he licked his shoulder respectively.
"Goldpaw, from now on you shall be known as Goldspeckle. StarClan honours you thoughtfulness and kindness."
Solarstar repeated the gesture to Goldspeckle, who licked his shoulder too.
"From this day forward, you shall be known as Tigerstripe. StarClan honours your bravery and strength."
The gesture was repeated one last time, then everyone began cheering.
"Flamestorm! Goldspeckle! Tigerstripe!" they chanted. Horizonpaw joined in. He was happy for his former denmate, but he still longed to be a warrior soon. And a few days ago he had wanted to be an apprentice.
Horizonpaw followed his mentor into the Training Clearing. Shellpaw, Flurrypaw, Glimmerpaw and their respective mentors were already sat there waiting.
"Finally, you've shown up! Great StarClan, I was starting to thin-" Shellpaw was cut off.
"Are we all here? Brilliant." Raggedclaw said, removing his tail from a rather annoyed Shellpaw's mouth.
"Okay then, today we are going to practice fighting moves against each other." Twigtail explained, "Each of you has rehearsed your moves on a mentor that will react as he needs to react. Today, you will fight against a cat that will fight back with their own tactics and will be unpredictable."
"This is how it will be in a real fight, but if anyone is seen inflicting a real wound with claws unsheathed, there will be consequences." Shimmerheart added.
Raggedclaw took charge. "Right then, let's see. We'll try Shellpaw versus Glimmerpaw and Horizonpaw versus Flurrypaw. Begin!"
Horizonpaw took his place opposite the white-and-grey she-cat. They circled each other for a few heartbeats, their challenging gazes daring each other to make the first move. He received a pang in his chest, but he couldn't tell whether it was from excitement or nervousness. Horizonpaw darted in and swiped down Flurrypaw's side, only to hit air as she sprung backwards.
Flurrypaw raced around him and delivered two blows to his hindquarters before going to run away. Horizonpaw spun around and clamped his jaws into her tail. She was yanked backwards and fell forwards. He jumped onto her back.
"Give up!" he hissed into her ear.
"Never!" she smirked, and sprang up.
Horizonpaw managed to land on all fours, but the force of the landing made him hesitate for a second. Flurrypaw took advantage of his stop and ran forwards to fake claw him.
She stopped dead.
Flurrypaw's eyes widened with fear and dark memories. Her fur began to bristle and her ears were pricked. Tawnytail cocked his head.
"Flurrypaw? What's wrong?" he asked his apprentice.
Twigtail suddenly tensed too, and he scented the air. His leafy green eyes flew open.
"Badger!" he yowled as a black-and-white striped, huge creature crashed through the undergrowth and into the Training Clearing.
Shellpaw and Glimmerpaw broke up their fight when they heard the badger roar. Raggedclaw immediately sprung into action, unsheathing his claws and running at the badger with a yowl of challenge. His apprentice followed behind quickly; Shellpaw loved fighting. Shimmerheart and Glimmerpaw followed slower, ready to back them up. Twigtail soon followed with Tawnytail behind him.
Horizonpaw unsheathed his claws. He was going to fight. Raggedclaw and the others were blocking the badger from progressing further, scratching it when they could. Glimmerpaw was swiped away and the badger progressed further into the Clearing. Horizonpaw ran around to its right side and launched at the badger. He felt his claws hook into its pelt, and he sunk his teeth into its shoulder. It growled and shook him off.
The battle was taking more of a circle form now. The stripy beast was in the center, clawing at the cats surrounding him. It quickly became more chaotic. It rushed here and there, scratching cats. Raggedclaw faced it from the front, and it turned to lumber towards him. The black-and-grey tom leaped over it, spinning around in mid-air as it went. He clawed down the badger's back from behind.
Raggedclaw was knocked backwards by a kick and he sprawled over the ground, dazed temporarily. Tawnytail was swept aside, and everyone began backing away. Horizonpaw realised that Flurrypaw had not joined in the battle whatsoever, and saw her frozen at the edge of the Clearing, eyes wide.
The badger was crashing straight towards her.
"Flurrypaw! Dodge!" he yowled at her, running towards her. She didn't move. She didn't even flinch as the badger clawed her shoulder.
"It's all my fault," she whispered, over and over again.
Horizonpaw scratched the badger through a muscle and began to push Flurrypaw away when he realised that she wasn't going to move. The badger grazed him slightly, but Raggedclaw had recovered and was attempting to drag it backwards. He extended its shoulder wound and the badger howled and crashed back through the undergrowth.
Tornclaw, Greyfur, Greeneye and their respective apprentices came running in.
"What happened? We thought we could hear fighting!" Tornclaw panted.
"A badger happened." Tawnytail grimaced.
"If you could track it and make sure it's over the border, we'd be grateful. We have wounds that need tending to." Shimmerheart requested, looking at the cats.
Tornclaw dipped his head. "Very well."
Horizonpaw caught sight of Hollypaw's eyes filled with concern before she padded away.
Horizonpaw winced and began to squirm as his sister continued to apply the poultice.
"For StarClan's sake, hold still! You're being a real pain in the tail." Sunpaw grumbled, dragging him back into place.
"Are you nearly done?" he moaned.
"One more, and there!"
Horizonpaw broke free from his sister's grip and began to head to the exit of the Den.
"Sunpaw, you should treat your patients with more respect!" Silverheart scolded.
"Sorry, Silverheart, but it's hard to when they aren't treat me with any respect!"
Silverheart laughed. "Anyway, come on Flurrypaw, let's get that wound patched up then we're done for the day."
But Flurrypaw broke away.
"I-it's fine. I don't need any medication. It doesn't hurt!" she lied, hurrying out of the Den before anyone could treat her
Silverheart sighed. "That little kit has been scared recently. StarClan knows why. Here, Horizonpaw, take this mouse to her. I put some thyme in it."
Horizonpaw obediently picked up the mouse and left the Medicine Den. He followed the white-and-grey she-cat into the Apprentices' Den and passed her the mouse.
"Here, Flurrypaw, you need to eat." he said, settling down beside her. She sighed and began to eat the mouse. If she noticed the thyme, she didn't point it out. Blood was crusted around the scar she had received. Horizonpaw knew she hadn't gone to wash it.
He sighed and curled up with his fur touching Flurrypaw's.
It was midnight when he woke up. Horizonpaw had had a peaceful sleep, and he didn't know why he'd woken. A 'pang' had run through him and he just felt...colder.
Then he realised.
Flurrypaw was gone.
Hahaha! Cliffhanger! I bet you will never guess what happens! I'll update the allegiances, so you might wanna go check them out. Anyway, bye!