Diclaimer: I do not own Warriors.
"Come on, kittypet," Flamepaw teased.
"I am not a kittypet!" Rainpaw growled.
"You aren't even a warrior. You think you can take me?"
"Flamepaw, I have Starclan on my side. How can I lose with a team like that?"
"Just because you're a medicine cat in training doesn't mean that Starclan is paying attention to you only. Now come on!" Suddenly Flamepaw became a blur of orange as he leaped toward his friend in mock battle. Rainpaw was surprised; Flamepaw crashed into her and they went tumbling across the clearing.
"Hey!" she cried.
"You wanted to battle, so I'm battling."
"Fine." Rainpaw shoved Flamepaw off of her and darted to the other side of the clearing. They circled each other, slowly, then more rapidly, waiting for the other to pounce. Finally, Rainpaw got bored, and laid down. Flamepaw cocked his head, then shrugged his confusion off and crouched. He made a few feints, and Rainpaw started at the first few, then gave up and just watched him, amused. Rainpaw had been watching closely, practically reading his thoughts—he finally pounced, and she was ready. She bounded out of the way in time, and Flamepaw crashed into the ground. As soon as he got up, he shook his head. Rainpaw took the opportunity to dart. But instead of running away, she dashed towards him, until she collided with him, unbalancing his feet and bowling him over. She turned backwards upon landing and leapt on top of him, pinning him.
Flamepaw was stronger, though, and shoved her off and rolled on top of her. Rainpaw gave up. "You're good," Flamepaw commented, "but you need much more practice. That dart, though, where you knocked me over… that was good. You could have had me. A warrior with the same performance would have won."
Panting, Rainpaw replied, "Well, I'm too tired right now, but expect me to beat you soon." Grinning, she added, "Wanna try again tomorrow?"
"If you have time, sure."
"Great. Can't wait to win."
"Don't get overconfident, Rainpaw. You might never beat me."
Rainpaw looked hurt. "I can if I want!"
"Rainpaw, I was just saying-"
"That I'll never be a warrior now? That now that I'm a medicine cat apprentice that I would never be as good a warrior apprentice?"
"No! Rainpaw, stop it-"
"Fine," she cried, then stalked out of the glade.
Flamepaw stood there, eyes hurt and watery. He sniffled, then, head and tail drooped, he padded out of the glade back to the camp. He had just lost his respect with Rainpaw. He admitted—he did care for her. Could he bring them back together, though? He slumped over to the apprentices' den, curled up tightly in his nest, and slept.
Rainpaw was sleeping too, but not really. She was having a strange dream again with Starclan. She ran towards a light in the forest, then there she was, with Froststar and Greymask and Wolfstorm. Froststar noticed that something was different with Rainpaw. "What's the matter?" she asked kindly.
"Nothing," Rainpaw muttered stubbornly.
"No, Rainpaw, something, not nothing. What's wrong?" she tried again.
After quite a bit of coaxing, Rainpaw finally told what was wrong. "Flamepaw got mad at me. He said I would never be good as a warrior."
"No he didn't. I was watching. He was saying that he was ahead of you in warrior training, and that you might not be able to beat him because of that, but you still might be able too. That you probably could after enough practice."
Rainpaw was slightly more relieved, but she was still sad. She and her best friend
had just blown up at each other. How hard would it be to mend the ragged tear in their relationship? Rainpaw cared for him. She didn't want to lose her only friend!
"Rainpaw, you're still worried, I can tell. I would leave a little bit more time for the dust to settle, but then you can forgive him, and he you. But don't expect immediate results. Just say hi to each other and maybe talk a little when you can, then maybe your bond can regrow. Okay?"
Rainpaw sniffed. "Okay… I think that maybe some walking would help. Is it okay if I go walk around some?"
"There's no need to ask. This is your territory as much as it is mine or anyone else's."
"Thanks, Froststar." With that, Rainpaw walked off to explore the vast stretch of the night sky."
I think you can see where this is going. I think the plot is really starting to move along now... but I can't think of something to happen when Demonclan is discovered... should she be captured and back on earth mistaken for dead? Or something else... ideas, please?