I don't own Warriors.
Chp. 10
Mosspaw awoke the next morning to find Graypaw standing at the entrance of the apprentice den with Waterpaw. Standing up and stretching, Mosspaw padded over to them and asked, "What's going on?"
"Our assessment is today. We're supposed to meet Snowface at the training hollow after we eat." Graypaw meowed glancing at Waterpaw who had started growling. "We just get back from the Moonstone and he wants us to train." Waterpaw stalked away to the fresh-kill pile leaving Mosspaw and Graypaw to follow. "Have you told Birchpaw yet?" Mosspaw asked while they were eating. Waterpaw swallowed and made a bewildered face. "No, I completely forgot. Why don't you go tell him Mosspaw?" Mosspaw hissed at Waterpaw and stalked off the den. Inside, she saw Rippedpaw and Birchpaw curled up in their nest, breathing slowly. Mosspaw padded over to Birchpaw and nudged him. "Mosspaw?" he meowed.
"Birchpaw, our assessment is today, and we need to go." Mosspaw told him looking over at Rippedpaw as she spoke. "Wake up Rippedpaw and tell him too." Mosspaw started padding out of the den when Birchpaw spoke. "Mosspaw, I'm sorry about yesterday. I just wanted to make sure you were safe. I never meant to annoy you." Mosspaw looked back over her shoulder and gave a small smile. "It's fine Birchpaw, I understand." Mosspaw padded back to the fresh-kill pile and sat down. "Are Wildheart and Firepelt going to be assessing us too?" Graypaw asked.
"Probably." Waterpaw said standing up and licking her lips. "Well, lets get this over with."
The five apprentices arrived at the hollow shortly after sunrise. Firepelt, Wildheart, Snowface, Sagefur, and Nettlefur where already there waiting for them. "Okay, here's how this is going to work. Mosspaw and Rippedpaw, you to will hunt over by Snakerocks. Graypaw and Birchpaw, you will hunt by twoleg place, and Waterpaw will hunt by Treecuter place." Snowface meowed to the apprentices. "Your mentors will be following you to see how well you do. Once you're done, meet us back here and we'll asses your fighting skills." Snowface looked at them all. "You have until Sunhigh to hunt. Go." The five apprentices bounded off into the forest. Mosspaw raced through the undergrowth until she saw the outlines of Snakerocks. Slowing down to a walk, she began sniffing the air, searching for prey. She saw a mouse a few tail lengths away and fell into the hunting crouch. Moving forward, she pounced, her body seeming to move through the air, and killed it in one swift motion. After only a few minuets, she had caught three mice, a rabbit, and a thrush. Scraping earth over her prey, she began sniffing the air again. She caught Firepelts scent and felt her fur grow hot. Wanting to impress her mentor, she carefully stepped between the rocks, cautious of adders. A dove was up ahead and, as she stalked towards it, a flash of brown streaked past her and landed on the dove. Mosspaw hissed in surprise as the cat looked at her. It was Rippedpaw. "I was hunting that." Mosspaw growled.
"Yeah, and I beat you to it." Rippedpaw meowed, picking up the dove. "Besides, you have tons of prey already, there's no prey over in my area, so I'm hunting here for now." Mosspaw turned away from him feeling angry that she had been shown up in front of Firepelt. Bounding away into the undergrowth, she caught a scent that was painfully familiar to her. Stopping, she sniffed again and caught the rouge scent that had been haunting her dreams. Her blood ran cold. Were the rouges here now? Firepelt was trailing her, she could tell him, but she wasn't supposed to talk to him during her assessment. Trying to control her now shaking legs, she sniffed the air again and was relieved to find no trace of the scent. Maybe it was just her imagination acting up because she was nervous. Shaking her head, she padded off into the forest again.
Mosspaw and Firepelt padded back to the training hollow, their mouths full of prey. Rippedpaw and Waterpaw were already there, sitting next to their mentors. "How was hunting?" Waterpaw asked as Mosspaw approached. "Fhima." Mosspaw meowed, her mouth still full of prey. "Sorry, it was fine." she said again looking over at Rippedpaw. "Are Graypaw and Birchpaw back yet?" Waterpaw shook her head, looking into the forest. Mosspaw set her haul down with the others, then padded back to Waterpaw to wait. They did not have to wait long, before Graypaw and Birchpaw arrived, carrying prey in their mouths. "Finally!" Waterpaw meowed with a dramatic sigh. "Okay, now we'll asses your fighting Snowface meowed as the apprentices set down in front of him. "We have an odd number, so one of you will fight your mentor. Graypaw and Rippedpaw, you will fight each other, and Waterpaw and Mosspaw, you to will fight. Birchpaw, you will fight Sagefur." Snowface finished with a nod towards Sagefur. Birchpaw looked crestfallen, and Mosspaw knew that he had been hoping to get her as a partner. Mosspaw and Waterpaw faced each other and started to circle. Waterpaw leapt first, and landed on Mosspaw's shoulders. Mosspaw launched her off and sprang at her stomach. She raked her claws down it and bit Waterpaw's ear. Waterpaw struggled free and jumped on Mosspaw. Mosspaw flipped her over and pinned her down to the ground with one paw on her neck. Bending her head, she meowed into Waterpaw's ear, "Are you okay after yesterday to fight?" Waterpaw growled and bucked Mosspaw off. Mosspaw landed with a thud and struggle back up. "Of course I'm okay. Nothing could keep me from a fight." Waterpaw yowled as she swung a paw at Mosspaw's head. Mosspaw dodged and rammed into Waterpaw's side, sending the she-cat flying. "Good! 'Cause I wouldn't want to hurt you even more!" Soon, the she-cats were locked in a ball of fur and claws. Waterpaw managed to throw Mosspaw away and get to her feet. Mosspaw landed some distance away, at the path that lead to Fourtrees. Mosspaw staggered up and breathed heavily, trying to catch her breath. As she breathed in, the rouge scent she had smelled in the woods was so strong, Mosspaw expected them to come bursting through the trees. Waterpaw sprang at her and she used her paws to unbalance Waterpaw, causing her to land in the dirt. Mosspaw raced over to Firepelt and meowed hastily in his ear. Firepelt nodded and turned to Snowface. Snowface's eyes grew big and he ran off to get the rest of the apprentices and their mentors. Mosspaw and Firepelt dashed back to camp, and came to a skidding halt in front of Silverstar's den. Firepelt yowled inside and Silverstar emerged a few moments later. "Silverstar! I smelled them! The rouges! They're here! I think they're going to attack today!" Mosspaw said breathlessly. Silverstar stared at her for a few moments then jumped onto Highrock and yowled for the cats to assemble. "The rouges that Mosspaw told us about are here. We think they will attack today." Silverstar yowled to the cats sitting below her. "I want all the elders, queens, and kits into the nursery-". At that moment, there was noise outside. All the cats in the clearing stiffened and stared at the entrance. Snowface and the rest of the mentors burst through with their apprentices. All the cats seemed to relax at the sight of them. Snowface bounded over to Highrock and yowled out, "We saw them. They were headed this way when we passed them. They didn't see us, but they are very close." The cats in the clearing immediately broke up, the queens, kits, and elders rushing off to the nursery, and the warriors and apprentices gathering around to fight. Silverstar jumped down and joined her warriors. "Mosspaw!" It was Bramblestump, one of the senior warriors. He was guiding one of the elders who seemed unable to walk out of fear. Mosspaw hurried over and grabbed the elder's scruff and helped Bramblestump guide him to the nursery. Mosspaw turned back once he was safely inside and ran back to her friends. Just as she reached Graypaw, there was snarling and hissing form outside the camp wall. Rouges filled the camp, fur bristling and eyes full of menace. Mosspaw stared horrified as her dream became reality.
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