4-8-20 5:03 PM
Silence filled the forest as they walked. Heaviness weighing down onto Twistpaw as he followed his mentor. It was like the entire forest was mourning something, drowning everything out from light to noise.
"Keep up, apprentice!" Lionclaw's hiss made him flinch. Glancing up to see the two glaring yellow orbs that bore down onto him. "This is territory were foxes like to burro."
Foxes? Twistpaw opened his jaws slightly. Tasting the air for a minor second before sighing in relief. The only scent was that of late rain and wet soil. Nothing close to the ranking smell of a fox near by. But I'm not scared of a fox. I'll gladly be able to fight one off!
Tail twitching he stood taller to see above some bushes. His ears perked as something rustled in them. The scent was hard to come by, but he could see the tips of a rabbit's long ears above the dark leaves.
Dropping into a crouch Twistpaw stalked forward. His ears prickled to keep track of the animal. The hare didn't seem to notice as he came just a few inches away. Black pelt blended perfectly into the shadows and the heavy rain-smell blocked his own scent.
Claws unsheathing he bunched up his muscles. Hips wiggling as he sprung from the bushes. Paws extended he felt himself clash into the hare. The smaller animal giving a startled squeak as he wacked at it's head. From behind the bush he heard Lionclaw pushing past the twigs.
Yellow eyes glared watchfully as Twistpaw bit into the sandy-brown coat, blood seeping down his chin. Within a few moments the rabbit stopped moving, eyes glazed over as it took its finally breath. A grunt brought his own gaze up. Seeing Lionclaw nod at him with a expressionless face.
"Good catch, apprentice." Lionclaw huffed, his tail lashing. "But that isn't the kind of prey we were looking for. Hurry up and put that into the dirt," spinning around he shoved past the hickory bush. Branches swinging back from where he had disappeared.
Twistpaw sighed inwardly as he covered the hare with dirt and leaves. Following the trail that Lionclaw had made in the growth. It wasn't hard to find the large golden tom that sat waiting for him. Annoyence flashing in his yellow eyes.
"Took you long enough," he hissed, "now look that way, across the river. Do you see those cats?" Head pointed towards the noise of water splashing on rocks he stepped back to let Twistpaw by.
Quickly he glanced down at the other side of the bank. His gazs resting onto a group of three cats, their scents that of dense forest, like heavy pinenettles. "Who are they?" Asked Twistpaw, ears twitching as the younger tom turned to Lionclaw.
The warrior narrowed his gaze onto him. "SturmClan, those low-life cats have been scented way to much on our borders for the past moon. Me and you will take care of this little problem," claws unsheathing he let out a deep growl, "today."
Swallowing back a small murmurs of surprise Twistpaw looked down. He didn't like the way that Lionclaw had said that, what were they going to do? It made the apprentice's stomach start to get a knot. A unusual quesy feeling that made him feel as heavy as a stone.
*
The large golden tom watched his apprentice squirm in his place. Worry making his features wrinkling up as Twistpaw kept glancing towards Lionclaw and the three SturmClan warriors.
Grunting he glared them down. Soon enough the black tom would understand it was necessary to warn off the other Clan's. If they didn't, then WaldClan would continuously be seen as the weakest of them all. Just because of their founder making foxdung rules about "accpeting those in need".
Lifting himself onto his paws Lionclaw padded along the shadows. Yellow eyes narrowed darkly as he glared down the three cats. They were bent over the water, most likely failing at catch the fish that darted around. Clumsy idiots.
Behind him Twistpaw followed more grimly. Looking at his paws without looking up once. He'll get over it. Lashing his tail the large warrior stopped to crouch down. Glaring over at the apprentice to do the same, who quickly dropped into a uneven hunters crouch.
"You will go into the river, look like you were trying to swim. Hopefully those fools will go to you, as soon as I attack, you will practice your own battle skills." The black-furred apprentice nodded with wide eyes.
As soon as he seen Twistpaw move out of the bushes and towards the river he quickly swipped his paws from under him. The apprentice let out a shocked cry, tumbling right into a cold river.
The sound of cats racing towards him gave Lionclaw a quick reminder to stay still. His gaze piercing through the bushes as he glared in spite at the SturmClan warriors. How could StarClan let those rogues stay in our forest? Disgust made his face scrunch up, claws unsheathing into the moist soil.
Twistpaw had been dragged out of the water. Sitting on the short grass that was along the riverbank. One cat stood in front of him, head raised as he look down at Twistpaw.
"What were you doing in the river?" The huge silver tabby spat, tail lashing angerly. "Trying to come across the territories?"
Shaking his head the smaller tom trimbled in his place. Water dripping off his whiskers, fur flattened to his skin. "N-no! I was j-just swimming," there was a murmure from one cat, who pushed forward.
"Birchfoot, stop tormenting this poor kit!" The she-cat lashed her tail over his ears. Sighing as she crouched in front of Lionclaw's apprentice. "Now dear, do you need help getting back across.."
Drowning out their voices Lionclaw slipped through the growth. He didn't have the time to hear them talking. How could someone help another Clan's apprentice? Weak, just like most of the WaldClan airheads.
As he silently swam across a shallow part of the river he snarled softly. Cold water splashing at his ankles as he narrowed his eyes. Getting across was harder, trying not to get caught by the three warriors. But they were more focused onto Twistpaw than anything else.
The little runt isn't so useless. Baring his teeth Lionclaw hissed, his paws cracking a stick. One of the warriors spun around, the tom spitting. "I knew it!" Lionclaw let out a loud battle-cry as he leaped at the tom.
Claws scrapping across Birchfoot's face the SturmClanner didn't even flinch before bitting into his shoulder. From the corner of his eye he seen Twistpaw jump at one of the other warriors, but he made a note that the young tom avoided attacking the she-cat. Weak for kindness!
Tossing the huge tom away he slashed the old she-cats face. Scarlet blood-drops splattered the grass as she stumbled back. Without missing a beat Lionclaw leaped forward, pinning the silver tabby down. His teeth sung into fur and flesh as claws scrapped his underside painfully.
Claws ripped through his flank as sharp teeth pulled at his tail. Hearing the crack Lionclaw spun around to face the same tom, blood dripping down his chin. "Stay away from my mother!" The tom hissed, his fur bristled out, clumps missing from the earlier fight.
Gaze scanning the sene Lionclaw flicked his ear. The silver she-cat had scrambled away to her sons side, a flash of hurt in her eyes as she looked at Twistpaw. Guilt twisted the apprentices features as he moved to Lionclaw's side.
"This seems over," turning he looked down at Twistpaw, "come, apprentice."
Head down Twistpaw mumbled something quietly. Keeping in pace beside the golden warrior as they slipped into the river.
4-12-20 8:59 PM
