Mutepaw tackled the dark brown tabby.
Dustpaw responded with a kick in her gut, tossing her off with ease. He leaped, pinning her with a smug smile. Mutepaw took her sheathed paws, raking them across his gut and using her small hinds legs to throw the tom off.
Dragonflystar and Leopardleg watched with approval at the apprentices battle each other. Dragonflystar had set the pair to spar with each other for today's training.
Mutepaw stood stood in a defensive stance, hissing and huffing at the tabby. Her blue calico fur bristled as she carefully watched the slightest of his movements.
Dustpaw flexed his claws, huffing. "Hehe."
What're you laughing at?
Dustpaw leaped high in the air, landing on top if Mutepaw and shoving her to the ground. She let out a squeak, wrestling him off of herself.
Dragonflystar gave a nod. "Alright, that's enough. You both did wonderful." Her calm voice sounded with pride.
Mutepaw gave a nod. She glanced to Dustpaw who also gave a curt nod to his leader. He turned to Mutepaw. "Good training, I guess." He grumbled.
Still grumpy. Eh, I shouldn't let myself be concerned with him of all cats. Fox-heart.
"Alright, apprentices. Lets go back to camp now."
The pair followed the cream-and-brown she cat and the gold spotted she cat back to camp, where they got some food and rest.
...
Mutepaw glanced down at her paws before flicking them back up to the queen's group of nests.
She wandered to the nests, watching the kits play with interest.
Dewkit tackled his brother, nipping at his tail and batting playfully. Volekit flipped himself around, laying on his back and batting back at his brother's face.
Mutepaw gave a smile. Mudpaw skidded to her side, pausing briefly to watch the kits.
"Hey, Mutepaw! Its cool how we're so old now right?" He joked.
Indeed, they were getting older. Mutepaw was now 11 moons old!
The calico gave a sigh. Soon, she would be a warrior. Which would mean more freedom, right?
Mudpaw glanced back to the kits.
Dewkit stood proudly over his brother. "I win!"
Volekit glared playfully. He kicked his hind legs up, kicking his brother off.
Mudpaw gave an approving nod.
"I win, now!" Volekit squeaked.
Mutepaw began thinking of how little times Volekit used to speak around older cats. And how he usually gives in quickly.
He seems to be getting more confident. Mutepaw thought. She gave a glance to Cloverstorm, whom, in her nest in the corner, watched her kits play carefully.
"Need anything, Cloverstorm?" Mudpaw offered. "Oh, no, but thanks, Mudpaw, Mutepaw."She responded.
Stonetail slipped into the nursery beside his mate, licking her cheek with a purr.
Mutepaw turned around, slipping out of the nursery and wandering to her nest. Just a few more moons and she'll become a warrior! Always what she wanted.
Mutepaw gave a yawn, resting her head as she studied the late afternoon sky. Many cloud-shifts(minutes) went by as she did nothing but look around.
Mutepaw felt the burning sun on her blue pelt. It sting-ed at her fur and shined in her eyes. She hastily got up, taking a sip out of a small stream that ran through camp and sitting back down.
Her light amber eyes scanned camp. The day was cooling off as the sun set and yet still seemed hot. Warriors hurried to finish their duties, queens and kits sat in the shade, elders sipping from the water.
Her gaze shifted to Dragonflystar whom seemed pretty busy. She was talking to two cats who gave a nod and rushed away to complete tasks. The cream leader sighed.
Mutepaw slipped over to her leader, dipping her head in respect before tilting her head.
"Oh, Mutepaw. Hello, dear. I'm honestly pretty tired." The she gave a yawn. "Its hot out, isn't it?"
Mutepaw gave a nod, narrowing her eyes to look at the setting sun.
"Mm. I'm gonna get some water. Talk to you later, alright?"
Mutepaw gave a nod.
She slipped back to her nest, mouth dry and paw pads hard. She gave a silent groan, grudging up and licking up some cool water. She raised her head to see Dustpaw in front of her.
Um? Mutepaw tilted her head.
"I just need some water." He grumbled, taking a step forward next to her and sipping at the cool liquid.
Mutepaw slipped back to her nest, laying in it and curling up as the day got darker.
Most warriors, queens, elders and apprentices went to sleep as the stars began shining out of Silverpelt.
Mutepaw, however, was still staring at the stars, wondering. Would she ever meet her parents again? Maybe in StarClan? Would she become a warrior, like her lifelong dream to make her parents proud?
Mutepaw sank down, glaring at her paws. Right now, she didn't really feel as confident as she usually does. She felt...alone. She has Mudpaw and Leafpaw as friends now, and Dragonflystar. But... who else would be there?
She felt a tail rest on her shoulder. She glanced over. Dustpaw, who sat between Mudpaw and Mutepaw, had strangely rested his tail on the blue calico she.
Er...Dustpaw??? I thought he didn't like me at all...? And now...? Hm. Mutepaw raised a small paw, batting at his tail.
Dustpaw blinked his amber eyes open, retracting his tail. "What was that for?"
You're asking me?
He rolled his eyes, blinking them shut and drifting off into sleep again.
Mutepaw glanced to the stars once more, managing to finally drift off into sleep.
...
Mutepaw sniffed the air. It smelt like a hot green-leaf day. A warm breeze. Hot sun. She ached out of nest and towards Fernpad, who was much better now since the accident.
Mutepaw gave a purr seeing her mentor was much better.
"Hello, Mutepaw! I'm so glad I can get to training you again!" The gray tabby purred. The young warrior raised her head to glance at a cat a few fox-lengths away.
"Er..one moment, please. I have to, uh, talk to someone..." The tabby wandered to a fluffy dark gray tom and socialized with him. Mutepaw recognized the tom as Ebonywater.
The tom gave a nod and Fernpad padded back to Mutepaw.(pun not intended...)
Mutepaw gave a nod to Fernpad and the pair left to do some more training.
...
Mudpaw shifted. Dustpaw sat besides his brother, glancing into the stream. "Is something...wrong, Mudpaw?"
"What? Oh, no- no. Nothing is wrong...just. Well, I'm anxious for when I become a warrior is all." His brother responded.
"Why so?"
"Well, the test to prove if we'll become a warrior. I mean, what if I fail?" Mudpaw worried.
"You won't. You're one of the strongest cats I know, Mudpaw." Dustpaw purred.
A purr rumbled in Mudpaw's throat. "Thanks, Dustpaw. To be fair, youre pretty tough yourself." Mudpaw raised a paw, playfully batting his brother in the shoulder.
Dustpaw gave a smile. "Did you finish your duties yet?"
"Yeah. I'm just waiting for Mutepaw to finish, though."
Dustpaw gave a nod, glaring at his paws. Mutepaw. Mutepaw... He thought, shifting his gaze up to the blue calico who seemed to be approaching the pair.
"Hey, Mutepaw!" Mudpaw purred.
Mutepaw flicked her tail, touching her nose to Mudpaw's as a greeting.
A purr rumbled in his throat. "So, finished with your apprentice chores?"
Mutepaw nodded.
Dustpaw's eyes trailed to Mutepaw, envy filling his eyes. He glanced away, staring at birds in the sky.
"Dustpaw?" Mudpaw meowed.
"Hm?" Dustpaw grunted, glancing back at his brother.
"Want to go hunting with us? Smokebreeze is coming, he said we could."
Dustpaw glanced away.."With whom else?"
"Just Smokebreeze, you, Mutepaw and I." His brother responded.
Dustpaw glared at his paws. "Alright." A small smirk appeared on his face as he glanced up. "Sounds great."
Welp, here's the very late new chapter. I hope you enjoyed.