CAUGHT, in the mayhem of war between dreams and reality, Sedgepaw struggled to comprehend her surroundings, specifically the cat below. The pale brown tabby with mangled shoulders and pastel green eyes returned Sedgepaw's stare, but, unlike hers, their eyes were void of confusion. In fact, there was an eerie clarity to their gaze; it was as if they knew everything with a glance. Sedgepaw's skin crawled beneath her fur. She doubted her sanity now, for no earthly cat could perceive the world with such arcane eyes. Across the effervescent rapids that separated them, they continued to stare at Sedgepaw in silence, but the words they spoke continued to echo in her head: "There are bodies in this water."
Bodies, perhaps dozens if Sedgepaw's nightmare was a vision in disguise, littered the unforgiving depths of the river. She was beginning to suspect Vinestripe was among them. However, she came up blank when trying to put a face to the murders. Segdepaw inched towards the hill's edge, where it dropped into a cliff framed by roots that jutted out of its face, which stretched towards the misty surface of the river, thirsting for freshwater. A forewarning pebble took a dive from the hill's lip, plummeting towards the river that swallowed it without a qualm. Sedgepaw inched back then, heeding the pebble's sacrifice. She was desperate for answers, and she believed the mysterious cat below had them, but a descent from this point would mean her demise. Her plume-like tail lashed with frustration.
"Who are you?" she yowled from the hilltop.
There was no response, which prompted a hiss from her throat. The cat slowly backed away from the shore, their eyes not moving though they bowed their chin, as if bidding farewell. Sedgepaw physically reacted to their slow retreat, nearly scrambling over the hill's drop in her haste.
"No, wait!" she cried.
They vanished into the ferns, leaving Sedgepaw pacing at the edge, her white paws itching to give chase. Her amber eyes darted frantically about the shoreline, trying to pluck that light brown pelt from the masses of ferns and reeds to no avail.
"Sedgepaw!" It was Ospreypaw's voice that brought Sedgepaw back to reality; she called to her while ascending the hilltop, and when she appeared Sedgepaw thought she spotted a hint of worry on her face. Instead, the black and white apprentice was staring at her questioningly, and her aggravation was apparent when she spoke again. "You mousebrain, we were looking all over for you!"
Gazing at her friend, Sedgepaw knew her irritation masked her worry. She smiled and shrugged her broad shoulders in defeat. "Well, you found me." She hid her bewilderment with a wry grin. "Took you long enough too. You're definitely not a tracker, Ospreypaw."
"Very funny." Ospreypaw narrowed her eyes, and Sedgepaw knew she failed to evade her friend's intuition. "Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Oh, please, save that spiritual mumbo-jumbo for Redleaf." Sedgepaw laughed. However, she was beginning to surmise the possibility of witnessing a manifest spirit. The spirit of Vinestripe.
"Come on, you, Batface and Molefoot are downhill waiting." Ospreypaw turned back towards the forest, flicking her long tail. "The new apprentices and their mentors are there too."
Sedgepaw groaned inwardly. After being in the wake of madness, she forgot all about her audience for the day's training. Between her long night and the unexpected appearance of Vinestripe and the cat across the river, she could feel her body's strength wane. The first time she was to test her skills before younger apprentices, and she was not even on top of her game! Sedgepaw gritted her teeth angrily. StarClan had a rotten sense of humor; it was as if her ancestors mapped out her embarrassment on purpose.
Following Ospreypaw down the hill, she returned to the ravine where the jutting knees of cypress trees ruled. The jagged, erect roots staggered throughout the mud, and in-between them were Batface, Molefoot, Snakefang, Mothfur, Lilypaw, and Pebblepaw. Sedgepaw gulped when she realized all their eyes were on her.
"I'm ready," she announced, keeping her chin high. Even with all the attention being honed in on her, Sedgepaw refused to cower. She would prove herself to them, Batface especially.
"I'd hope so," Batface retorted, "You've already wasted enough time with your little stroll." Spittle rained from his lips as he emphasized every word with unbridled annoyance.
Sedgepaw curled her lip, struggling to tame her desire to snap back at her disapproving mentor. "I was stretching my legs," she explained mildly.
Molefoot had interrupted the argument before it started with their jovial tone. "Okay! Today, Ospreypaw and Sedgepaw will demonstrate their skills of agility, strength, and climbing capability."
Trying to sustain her satisfaction when Molefoot stole Batface's opportunity to scold her, Sedgepaw gave the other warrior a broad smile and nodded excitedly. "I got this!" she affirmed.
Ospreypaw snaked around to sit beside her, a challenge twinkling in her golden eyes. "So you say."
Batface spoke up again, his tongue reluctantly adopting a cordial tone. "We will begin with agility then. At the foot of the cypress, where the knees are not present, will be your starting point," he began, his short tail flicking sideways at the tall cypress nearby. "You both will race through the knees and roots of the trees to the best of your ability, finishing at the end where the oakbridge overpasses the ravine."
Sedgepaw glanced from one end to the other, feeling her belly churn uneasily. Agility was never effortless for her; she preferred to charge full-speed ahead, not swivel through obstacles with grace like some lanky heron. She wrinkled her nose and shuffled her paws grudgingly, feeling the excitement radiating off Ospreypaw. Her friend was noticeably slimmer than she was, with the long legs to boot. Defeating her would be a challenge.
Across from where she sat, Snakefang and Mothfur were murmuring to each other. Sedgepaw wondered what they could be exchanging. She wondered if they doubted her. Unease caused her pelt to prickle, for the judgmental glare of Snakefang was fixated on her now. Mothfur was stoic in contrast; he did not seem to regard Sedgepaw or Ospreypaw with any favor. Still, his soft murmurs coaxed self-consciousness out of Sedgepaw, which she struggled to smother.
Ospreypaw led the way towards the cypress that marked the start of their first test. Sedgepaw followed with determination coloring her face. She walked before Lilypaw and Pebblepaw with pride, carrying herself in a manner that allowed every muscle in her limbs to ripple. She wanted to intimidate the new apprentices and impress the mentors, refusing to let her insecurities swarm her mind.
Inhaling deeply, Sedgepaw gazed across the ravine. She stood beside Ospreypaw with tense muscles, her amber eyes gleaming with a storm of resolution and apprehension. Her heart was beating erratically. It felt like a woodpecker was stuck in her ribcage, hammering its beak against it in an attempt to be set free. Shaleheart and Batface joined the others on the flank of the ravine, where they could observe without getting trampled. Sedgepaw stole a glance at Ospreypaw before the race began, and she felt anger rise from her belly when she saw the smug look of confidence etching her narrow face. She looks as if she thinks she already won!
"Steady," Molefoot called, preparing the apprentices for their go. Time moved at a snail's pace. "And… Start!"
Sedgepaw bolted off from the shadow of the cypress. She unsheathed her claws, wanting to grip the soft ground with more certainty. Clods of mud churned up from under her paws, scattering backward to splatter against her tail. She knew if she got a strong start, she might win. Quickly, the spikes of roots greeted her. Sedgepaw hissed, skidding to the side to avoid colliding with one head-on. Her evasive maneuver was unpolished, and her broad shoulder kissed the knee painfully. Wincing, Sedgepaw spotted the flash of black-and-white fur coasting through the teeth-like growths with ease. No! She's going to get ahead of me! Sedgepaw scrambled onward, dodging through the knees madly, her shoulders and hindquarters taking a beating in the process.
"Dammit," she growled. Sedgepaw could feel her claws burn. With every erratic step, she threatened to tear them.
Ahead, Ospreypaw slithered through the spiked roots with a gait so fluid streams would be jealous. Sedgepaw gritted her teeth and charged forward faster, longing to catch up. The tendons in her limbs screamed in protest. The knees became more numerous as Sedgepaw carried on, to her dismay. Slipping awkwardly sideways, she struggled to avoid a protruding root that appeared unexpectedly. Her totter was not over, for she had to jump abruptly to avoid a shorter knee in her path. Nearly stumbling, Sedgepaw dove between two more knees with wide eyes. It was like they became teeth that hungered to impede her in her stampede. Not keen on being skewered, Sedgepaw slowed her pace and snaked between the knees with more ease. She sacrificed her speed grudgingly, but finished with a fraction of grace. Sedgepaw already knew she lost, but at least she completed the test.
Oakbridge welcomed her with shade, and Sedgepaw collapsed into it. Her eyes screwed up to see Ospreypaw sitting patiently, grooming her long forearm with practiced pride.
"Looks like I win this one," she observed nonchalantly.
Sedgepaw knew she was riveted by her victory, and she would have preferred Ospreypaw act so. Feigning modesty was somehow more frustrating to Sedgepaw than gloating.
Ospreypaw made a huffing noise. "Don't act so melancholy." Her black tail-tip brushed against Sedgepaw's nose. "You can't win everything."
"Easy for you to say," Sedgepaw snapped, still struggling to catch her breath. "You're the winner."
Ospreypaw rolled her eyes, but before she could reply, their mentors approached. Molefoot was beaming, of course, and they looked ready to parade their apprentice with praise. Sedgepaw sat up slowly, not surprised by the look of disappointment on her mentor's face. Shadowing them were Snakefang and Mothfur, and they both were murmuring between each other again. Bringing up the rear were the young apprentices, and Sedgepaw noticed Lilypaw was looking more enthusiastic than ever.
"That was incredible!" Her mew exploded from her mouth, causing Pebblepaw to jump beside her. She danced up to Ospreypaw on her dainty white toes. "You're so fast, like, like nothing I've ever seen before. I'm going to be just like you!"
Ospreypaw nodded, unappreciative of Lilypaw's excitement. Her ears were flat, just like her expression. "Everyone has their own skills. Our skills are what make us unique."
Lilypaw was undeterred by Ospreypaw's deadpan tone. "Well, I hope I'm not skilled in falling like Sedgepaw. Then they may call me Lilyfall!" She snickered, clearly impressed by her own joke.
Sedgepaw curled her lip and cuffed the apprentice's ear with her paw. "How about Lilythorn, then?" she hissed. "You sure are skilled at being a thorn in my side."
Lilypaw made a grumble of protest, backing away from them with a look of disdain, and Pebblepaw crawled behind her. His big blue eyes gazed up at Sedgepaw fearfully, and she smirked. With a lunge, she pretended to pounce on them, only to land a whisker's length away from them to give a roar. Sedgepaw gave a snort when both apprentices ran to their mentors' sides. That's what I thought. Ignoring Snakefang's glare, Sedgepaw faced Batface and Molefoot, awaiting their instruction.
Ospreypaw nudged her side. "Nice job terrorizing the pests," she whispered with a smirk.
"I'll be terrorizing you next," Sedgepaw promised, returning the smirk.
Batface cleared his throat, an indication that his patience was waning. Sedgepaw fell silent, allowing her mentor to speak while avoiding his bright amber glare. She longed for him to look at her the same way Molefoot looked at Ospreypaw.
"Next, a test of strength," Batface announced. He glanced between Ospreypaw and Sedgepaw with scrutiny. "The apprentices will duel one another in a mock fight, and the winner is the one that can pin the other down."
"Keep your claws sheathed!" Molefoot warned, and Sedgepaw shrugged when they fixed her with a pointed stare. "And do not break the other's skin, or the duel is over."
Sedgepaw entered the shadow of Oakbridge, which passed over the ravine to connect with the hill that stood before the river. It had fallen long ago, reduced to nothing but a log that allowed the cats to cross without having to scale the hills. Now, it shaded the battlefield, keeping the earth beneath moist and soft to cushion the blow of tussling apprentices. Squaring her shoulders, she sized up Ospreypaw as she took her place across from her.
Her opponent was lean with a build that promised speed and agility. The sharpness in Ospreypaw's yellow eyes made Sedgepaw wary, for she knew her friend was equipped with intelligence as well. Rolling her shoulders, she tensed her muscles in preparation. Ospreypaw's long tail lashed fiercely, but she did not speak. She was standing before Sedgepaw with a cold look of concentration on her narrow face.
Sedgepaw's amber eyes gleamed. She wanted to get a rise out of Ospreypaw. "I'm not going to take it easy on you!" she warned.
Her opponent merely shook her head in response, which prompted Sedgepaw to growl. Ospreypaw did not seem the least bit intimidated by her. Her friend's silent self-assuredness only fueled Sedgepaw's will to win.
"And begin!" Molefoot ordered.
To Sedgepaw's surprise, Ospreypaw made the first move. In a flash, the apprentice disappeared, darting to Sedgepaw's side with enough speed to rival a lightning bolt. Ospreypaw struck her shoulder with the same quick motion, bringing her paw down with enough force to sting. Sedgepaw winced but was able to react in defense before Ospreypaw went for another swipe at her head. Ducking, she heard with the whistle of Ospreypaw's blow narrowly miss her ear, and Sedgepaw snarled when she headbutted her opponent in the chest.
Fallen leaves rose again when Ospreypaw was bowled over onto the ground. Sedgepaw did not allow her time to recuperate. She lunged, forearms extended, and prepared to pin her down. Ospreypaw was too keen, however, and rolled so that Sedgepaw smashed her paws down on the ground where her shoulders used to be. Then she felt the sting of Ospreypaw's rear paws kicking at her side, rattling against her ribs. Batface's words echoed in her mind. You're still a thoughtless, impulsive opponent.
Sedgepaw sprung backward, recalculating her next move. Ospreypaw got to her paws again, and the two apprentices became locked in a circling motion. Each watched the other pensively, evaluating their opponent and predicting their next attack. Ospreypaw was smart; Sedgepaw realized she would have to be smarter if she was to win. She could not withstand the idea of losing again. Though her mind was foggy with fatigue and the gore of Vinestripe's appearance haunted her, Sedgepaw could still feel the fire of determination searing her veins.
With a hiss, Ospreypaw snaked towards her in a swerving motion, which made her position hard to pinpoint. However, Sedgepaw noticed Ospreypaw's eyes flicker briefly to her legs, and she jumped before the apprentice could slither beneath her. Landing behind Ospreypaw, Sedgepaw spun and clobbered the back of her head with her massive white paw. She could hear Ospreypaw's grunt, and Sedgepaw assumed the apprentice was stunned. Growling, she pounced on Ospreypaw's back, knowing her weight would pan out favorably against the slimmer she-cat, and began to rake her hind paws against Ospreypaw's hindquarters.
Feeling Ospreypaw struggle, Sedgepaw clung to her shoulders as best as she could with sheathed claws. Suddenly, Ospreypaw writhed, arching her narrow back to slip from Sedgepaw's white toes. Ospreypaw, once freed, spun around to swipe at Sedgepaw's muzzle. She snapped her neck back to jerk away from the strike, and she felt Ospreypaw graze her whiskers. However, she failed to dodge the next blow and felt the smack of her paw against her face. If Ospreypaw unsheathed her claws, Sedgepaw knew the wound would have cut deep. Giving a hiss, she reared up on her hind legs and crashed down towards Ospreypaw, knocking her across the shaded clearing. Mud stained her black and white fur, and Sedgepaw noticed the burning ferocity in her friend's eyes. She was not surrendering easy, and Sedgepaw began to worry she would not have the energy to endure the battle much longer.
Stealing a glance at her mentor, she saw a peculiar gleam in Batface's orange eyes. Struggling to decipher his expression, she almost lost her opportunity to react to Ospreypaw's offensive move. The apprentice faked her out, for her eyes were locked on the side of Sedgepaw, but she landed her blow on the opposite side. Falling victim to Ospreypaw's cleverness, Sedgepaw felt her opponent's paw rake down her side. Baring her fangs, Sedgepaw knew she would have to react before Ospreypaw gained the advantage. She could not afford to lose. With Ospreypaw circling to attack again, Sedgepaw decided the best option for victory was to cripple Ospreypaw's boon: her swiftness. Once more, Ospreypaw surged forward with viper-like reflexes, but this time, Sedgepaw was ready. She invested too much energy on using her strength alone; now her attack would have a purpose. In a sweeping motion, Sedgepaw lowered her body and lunged forth, her large paw did not aim for Ospreypaw's face or chest or shoulders, the typical targets, this time, she struck at Ospreypaw's willowy limbs.
Angry shrieking from Ospreypaw startled the nearby crows, and there was a muffled clapping noise when Sedgepaw's strike collided with her legs. Swept off her feet, Ospreypaw hit the ground chin-first with a loud thud. Then, Sedgepaw wasted no time in pinning her there. Ospreypaw gave a grunt, but with her legs twisted beneath her, she could not escape.
"That's it!" Batface shouted. He stood and approached the dueling apprentices with a stern expression. "The spar is over. Sedgepaw's the winner."
Sedgepaw raised her chin and smiled at her mentor. To her delight, Batface cracked a small grin. It did not look forced, and it was not overtly obvious, but it was enough for Sedgepaw. She won, she made him smile. "Fantastic!" she crowed.
Ospreypaw gave a hiss. "Okay, you've won. You can get off me now."
Sedgepaw ducked her head apologetically. "Oh, sorry, Ospreypaw." She released her friend from her grip, smiling still.
"Of course." Ospreypaw rose to her legs shakily, rolling her eyes. She shivered off the leaves and mud that collected on her pelt during the fight.
Molefoot approached to shoulder Batface. "Well done both of you!" His yellow eyes gleamed, and Sedgepaw nearly laughed at the starkly different reaction he had compared to Batface. "You performed spectacularly in your own way. You both will make fine warriors one day."
Batface gave a small nod then but said nothing more. However, Sedgepaw still felt his gaze on her, and she felt her heart swell.
Lilypaw and Pebblepaw bounded up to them with their mentors. Lilypaw looked fascinated, while Pebblepaw appeared scared out of his wits. The dappled gray apprentice blinked his big blue eyes slowly. "Will… We all have to fight like that one day?" he asked in a trembling whisper.
Snakefang replied with assurance. "All of us will fight one day. Our territory is full of danger."
Sedgepaw detected the faint scent of fear was rolling off Pebblepaw. Her amber eyes softened as she looked at him, but she refused to offer consolation for Snakefang's foreboding reply. It was true, after all. MarshClan was surrounded by enemies, and so she trained with the will to fight them all one day.
Snakefang continued, glaring at his apprentice with scrutiny. "There are beasts in the water, woods, and sky, Pebblepaw," he explained impatiently. "They prey on the weak, so MarshClan trains you to be strong."
Nodding, Sedgepaw could put names to every beast in the water and wood and sky that would do harm to a MarshClan cat. The murky water concealed alligators and pythons, and the woods harbored foxes and coyotes, and the sky was ruled by fierce hawks.
When Mothfur interjected, Sedgepaw was surprised by the calmness in his voice. "There is safety in the Clan, however. So long as you provide for the Clan, it will protect you. And so will StarClan."
Pebblepaw nodded slowly, but he did not look convinced. His little tail curled around his paws, hiding the slight tremor in his toes. "MarshClan has many enemies," he realized.
Snakefang snorted, shaking his head. "Even our own kind can be our enemy." With graveness in his tone, he explained, "There are others like us that choose not to live by Clan ideals. The Fallen. Banished from our land of plenty, they pillage our territory of prey, and if we do not learn to fight, they can easily infiltrate our camp and raid us of our kits and herbs."
Pebblepaw's eyes widened. "Aren't they Clan cats though?"
"It doesn't matter. They chose a life of struggle outside the grace of StarClan," Batface added, his gravelly voice just above a whisper. "They are not Clan cats anymore."
Sedgepaw exchanged a glance with Ospreypaw and nodded. They were both ready to fight off any Fallen that stepped foot on their land. Fallen were not favored by StarClan as she was, they were thieves and barbarians. Still, Sedgepaw struggled to liken the fierce Fallen to someone like Vinestripe. Her gentle, composed Clanmate would never stoop to stealing or raiding nurseries like the Fallen were said to do.
The silence that followed was uncomfortable for Sedgepaw. She glanced around at the faces of their Clanmates, seeing resignation on each of them. Bowing her head, she struggled to stomach the fate of the Fallen once more. How could anyone betray their Clan?
Molefoot piped up to break the silence. "How about we continue training?"
Ospreypaw nodded. "Climbing is next, right?"
Batface meowed,"Yes, and you will be scaling the Great Cypress with Sedgepaw." He inclined his head towards the cypress they had run from before. Now, they would be tasked with climbing the titanic trunk. "The apprentice that reaches the highest branch is the victor."
"Don't climb too high, though!" Molefoot added. "The Great Cypress is the largest tree in the swamp. If you go too high, and fall too far... you'll get acquainted with StarClan real quick."
"No worries," Snakefang hissed, a snicker slipping off his tongue. "Marshstar is here to watch over you!"
"Not that old nursery tale," Batface grunted, unamused.
Sedgepaw shook her head. The tale of MarshClan's founder giving his last life to the Great Cypress was famous in the nursery; hearing of it again made the whole story seem silly. Tch, Marshstar living on in a tree... rubbish. Weaving through the cypress knees with the group of MarshClan cats, Sedgepaw stared at the soft ground. She could feel her limbs grow heavy with fatigue. Though the freckles of sunlight that dappled the training ravine made an effort to warm her fur, she felt cold and worn. This last challenge would bring an end to her day, at least. Sedgepaw raised her chin and decided she could power through this next task seamlessly. All she would need is confidence and an insane amount of luck.
"You're not tired, are you?" Lilypaw chirped from behind. There was a taunting edge to her tone.
Sedgepaw glanced back and scoffed, "Of course not!" She felt like the new apprentice was purposefully crawling under her fur to rub her skin the wrong way. "A warrior never quits."
Batface chimed in. "Actually, a real warrior knows their limits." Though he was firm, his chiding had a lighter tone to it. He walked before them with Mothfur by his side, but the other warrior remained silent. "Warriors must learn to rely on one another. Our strength alone is not enough; we need to depend on one another to survive."
The idea of depending on someone else made Sedgepaw wrinkle her nose. She was the strongest of her littermates, the strongest of the all the apprentices, so her strength alone could help her in any battle. She narrowed her eyes at Batface and smiled. "Anyone can win a fight if they have help, but I can win my fights alone."
There was a glimmer of something in Batface's eyes. Was it disappointment? Anger? His only response was a sigh, which ended with him turning away. He did not speak again after that.
Lilypaw, however, failed to shut her mouth. "All this talk about fighting! Is that all you're good at?" She sniffed proudly. "One day, I will be good at everything! Dewpelt said so."
"Of course she did," Sedgepaw muttered. Dewpelt believed her kits could surpass anyone. It was no wonder Spiderfang was convinced they could start training early; Dewpelt did nothing but talk them up. Sedgepaw recalled the deputy constantly looming about the nursery, murmuring words of praise to her kits. Sedgepaw glared at the uppity apprentice that kept pace by her side. "You're pretty good at being a nuisance."
Lilypaw returned her glare. "You're just worried that I'll be better than you!" she retorted, sounding indignant.
Giving a laugh, Sedgepaw shook her head. "Pipe down, rookie. You've got a long ways to go before you're even close to being better than me."
"Enough squabbling," Mothfur murmured. He lashed his feathery, golden brown tail with practiced containment of his annoyance. "Instead of competing to be the best, you should be learning from one another."
"Then why even have these challenges in the first place?" Sedgepaw rebuked. "Aren't they a competition to see which of us is best?"
Mothfur merely shook his head and continued in silence. Ahead, she could see Batface's ears twitching. Sedgepaw gritted her teeth, hoping she did not embarrass her mentor by snapping at a seasoned warrior like Mothfur. Jerking her head away from Lilypaw's glare, she noticed Ospreypaw carrying on with Pebblepaw peacefully. Judging by the twinkle in Pebblepaw's blue eyes, Sedgepaw assumed her friend must have been encouraging the meek apprentice. Snakefang, walking a pace before them, did not seem too pleased by Ospreypaw's words, however, for his tail was lashing and his ears were flat. Sedgepaw wondered why Snakefang even had an apprentice; the warrior always acted like he had a furball stuck in his throat, and he was a fairly new warrior to boot. What did he have to be mad about being as young as he was?
"Okay!" Molefoot chirped. "Let's get our last challenge done, then!"
Ospreypaw bounded up to them first, and Sedgepaw approached afterward. She could feel her legs groaning when she tilted her head back to peer up at the canopy of the cypress. The tree was so tall, and she nearly fell backward trying to look up at it. Reigning in her worry, Sedgepaw rolled her shoulders in preparation.
Suddenly, she could feel Batface's stout muzzle against her ear. Sedgepaw stiffened, eyes wide, as he whispered, "Take it easy during this test. I can tell your strength is waning."
Feeling her fur bristle, Sedgepaw struggled to sustain her retort. Batface doubted her! Her amber eyes flashed with determination. She would show him… Ospreypaw would lose to her again. She would climb this tree until she reached the clouds. Shrugging away from him, Sedgepaw placed her paw on the outstretched root of the cypress, breathing in deeply.
Ospreypaw stood beside her, gazing upwards. "I wonder how high these branches reach?" she mused.
"I'm going to find out," Sedgepaw smiled with confidence, knowing it will take every ounce of energy left in her to scale this massive trunk.
"Good luck, then." Ospreypaw smiled, wiggling her haunches as she readied to spring.
"Begin!" Molefoot cried.
Ospreypaw beat Sedgepaw in her leap, and she was showered with flakes of tree bark as her friend scrambled upwards. Sedgepaw jumped after her onto the tree's trunk, her shoulders burning as her body already struggled to endure the steep incline. Releasing a shaky sigh, she gripped her unsheathed claws into the ancient bark, scaling it slowly. Shreds of cypress fell in spirals as she climbed, and Sedgepaw refused to watch their descent for fear of following suit. She could see Ospreypaw's long legs scaling up the tree slowly and grunted as she struggled to catch up. The distance between her and the ground broadened with every reach, but Sedgepaw was nowhere near the first branch. Swaying moss draped down from the first branches of the old cypress tree, waving at Sedgepaw during her ascent.
"Careful, Ospreypaw!" Pebblepaw squeaked from below.
Sedgepaw noticed her friend was shivering against the tree, and she saw the yellow gleam of Ospreypaw's eyes as she stared below. Ospreypaw looked frightened as she fixed her gaze on the roots at the foot of the tree. Sedgepaw took a break from her competitive climb, for Ospreypaw was frozen against the tree, clinging to it tighter than the green moss that cushioned the bark. Sedgepaw ignored the burning in her legs as she stared across at Ospreypaw, panting softly as she reached her.
"Ospreypaw, come on, we're almost done." Sedgepaw brushed her thick tail against hers, which was trembling. "Let's just get to the first branch and head down."
Ospreypaw nodded slowly, wordlessly, and resumed her climb. Sedgepaw smiled and joined her. They climbed side-by-side, and Sedgepaw realized this was what Batface and Mothfur meant; the comradery of helping one another and overcoming a challenge together with her Clanmate made the obstacles less intimidating. Once the two apprentices reached the lanky arms of the cypress, Sedgepaw giggled when Ospreypaw hustled onto the branch with wide eyes. She stood at the broad base of it, where the moss collected to dangle, and wrapped her black tail around her shivering paws.
"You did it!" Sedgepaw cheered, still clinging to the tree trunk.
"I did… I made it," Ospreypaw muttered in disbelief. "Thank you, Sedgepaw."
Smiling, Sedgepaw nodded to her friend. However, instead of remaining with her on the first branch, she continued her ascent. She could hear Ospreypaw's gasp of surprise when Sedgepaw resumed her climb. The number of outstretched branches grew as she rose, shading Sedgepaw from the sun as she neared the sky.
"Sedgepaw, wait! That's too high! You're going to high!" Ospreypaw yowled after her.
"Don't worry about me, Ospreypaw! I'm not scared." Sedgepaw was reenergized by seeing her friend overcome her fear, and she was able to abandon her fears as well. Her body was tired, but her determination did not dwindle. Instead of petering out at the first branch, Sedgepaw decided to could go on and on until she reached the clouds. "Go ahead down!" she called to Ospreypaw. "Tell Batface I'll be the one to touch the sky!"
"Sedgepaw, no!" Ospreypaw protested.
Sedgepaw ignored the cries of her friend, which were followed by the protests of her Clanmates. They all stared up at her in disbelief and admiration, but Sedgepaw did not stop to bask in their stares, she pulled herself upward. She could feel the ripple of her muscles as they worked and the thunderous beat of her heart as the breeze whistling through the treetops caught her long, mottled brown fur. Sedgepaw's tail ruffled in the wind with the moss, and her claws snagged a narrow branch. She was high enough to be surrounded by the thinnest, newest branches that grew out of the towering cypress. When she climbed onto the highest branch, Sedgepaw was rewarded with a view of MarshClan's territory. The swamp and pine forest neighbored each other, and the silhouettes of flying snowy egrets mirrored the fluffy white clouds that floated across the pale blue sky. She gasped in awe when she saw the lake where camp was located, for the sun was captured in its center, glittering in the rippling reflection.
"The view is amazing up here!" she told them.
The only response was from Batface, but the howling wind that rummaged through the treetops drowned out his words. Sedgepaw sighed, feeling the wind in her fur. Her eyes grazed the skyline, and she drank in the sight of the river winding through the pine forest. It ventured parallel to the horizon, where the sun rose, and Sedgepaw wondered what roamed beyond the river boundary. It was there where the Fallen supposedly lived in permanent exile, ostracized from MarshClan's territory. She could see the pine forest thin out into a dense field spotted with large oak trees and birch trees, and she could not help but imagine the many cats living out there, forgotten. Perhaps the strange cat from before was among them?
Another yowl from Batface prompted Sedgepaw to gaze down from the branch she rested on. With a sigh, she realized she could not remain on her perch forever. It was time to return to her Clanmates. Her white toes kneaded the tree bark as she warmed up for her descent. However, movement in her periphery caught her attention. Below, on the riverbank, the ferns were rustling. Sedgepaw turned her head to decipher what could be making such a ruckus. Suddenly, a cat emerged from the reeds on her side of the river. It was the same pale brown tabby from before, but this time, they were on MarshClan territory. Sedgepaw stiffened, for those bright green eyes were locked onto her once more. Trespasser!
"You-!" Sedgepaw cried out to the cat, but a tremor from the branch strangled her words. The thin arm did not tolerate her jerking reaction to the intruder well, and the entire branch shifted with a groan. The droopy leaves of the cypress hissed menacingly, and Sedgepaw clung to the branch for dear life. "StarClan, help me!"
The cat watched her struggle, silently staring as she yowled in terror. Sedgepaw had glanced at the mysterious tabby before the branch gave way. The last image in her head was the cryptic tabby's face, with the penetrating, pale green eyes, before she was greeted by the sound of a crash, followed by darkness, then pain.