Splashing Ice - Thank you for the reviews! For me, Crowfeather's this annoying furball who I like... kind of. He's a really interesting character!
Crowpaw snarled. He glared at Mudclaw ferociously. He hissed, arching up his back.
Mudclaw narrowed his eyes and snarled in return, and Crowpaw felt intimidated. But he quickly remembered Mudclaw's earlier advice, and didn't show signs of being intimidated. He fluffed out his fur dangerously.
The warrior's eyes glinted. He circled Crowpaw, and Crowpaw jumped out of Mudclaw's circle. Soon, they began circling each other. Crowpaw felt relish at the thought of facing a warrior like Mudclaw. He snarled, and prepared to launch himself at the senior warrior. Mudclaw showed no signs of attacking first. He just hissed.
The dark-gray apprentice launched himself on his mentor, clawing at the pelt.
Mudclaw turned, but Crowpaw was ready for that. He twisted, countering Mudclaw's attack, and he swarmed away. He caught his breath, waiting for Mudclaw to rise up again. Mudclaw glared at Crowpaw, and jumped, claws sheathed.
Crowpaw's eyes widened, and he ducked. While Mudclaw's belly was still visible, he clawed at it.
Mudclaw thrashed, and Crowpaw, alarmed, scurried away.
"Good job," Mudclaw rasped. His eyes glowed with pride. "It's fine."
Crowpaw purred. "Thank you!"
Mudclaw nodded. He glanced back. "I see the hunting patrol returned."
"Already?"
"We've been training for quite a time, youngling." Mudclaw replied.
"Yeah." Nightpaw sneered.
Mudclaw narrowed his eyes. "Nightpaw. Quiet."
Nightpaw snorted, but looked away, with Gorsepaw whispering in her ear. Crowpaw felt himself stiffen, and he hardened his mew as he called, "Why don't you fight me?"
Nightpaw widened her eyes. "Are you sure?" she asked.
"Yes!" Crowpaw sank his claws into the ground. "Definitely."
"You may not be ready for this," Mudclaw warned. "Nightpaw has been training for a long time. She might have her assessment soon, and her warrior ceremony. Are you sure you want to battle an experienced apprentice without practicing some more?"
Crowpaw dipped his head. "Thank you for worrying and telling me the risks. But I'm sure."
"Very well." Mudclaw nodded. "But you two will sheathe your claws. If I see you too vicious, I will report you to Tallstar."
Nightpaw glowered. "Yes, Mudclaw," she hissed. Her eyes were fixed on Crowpaw.
Gorsepaw was hovering nearby, purring gleefully. She looked smug as she shouted out, "Go, Nightpaw! Squash him!"
"If she squashes him, she'll have a moon of tick duty," Mudclaw sniffed.
"Oh, well. It's an expression." Gorsepaw muttered.
"Start." Mudclaw meowed.
Nightpaw hissed, arching her back.
Crowpaw drew his lips back in a snarl, bristling. His neck fur fluffed out, and tried to make himself look bigger. He narrowed his blue eyes, hissing. He began to circle Nightpaw slowly.
When Crowpaw started to circle her, Nightpaw did nothing. She looked quite peaceful. She glanced up at the sky for the slightest moment, then regained her peaceful and happy gaze.
Crowpaw readied himself to pounce, when Nightpaw leaped. He stopped midspring, dazzled. As he turned to face the black apprentice, he scowled. The sunlight was burning into his eyes.
He slowly remembered the first tactic Mudclaw had thought him: Use the sunlight to distract your enemy!
Too late.
As he yowled out a cry of dismay, Nightpaw crashed into him. She stood on him, her eyes gleaming with victory.
"I w–"
Crowpaw dashed to his paws, knocking Nightpaw off her paws. He scurried away, scouting higher ground.
There!
There was a small hill. Small, but enough for an advantage. He raced up it, watching Nightpaw bristle with anger.
"Hey!" she snarled. "That's out the training grounds!"
Just outside.
"Come and get me!" Crowpaw taunted.
"Do you think I'm dumb?" Nightpaw snarled. "Obviously you're using a popular battle tactic."
Crowpaw's heart stopped for a moment, but he tried to anger Nightpaw into coming closer, enough for him to launch down swiftly and attack. "Ha! Scared, are you? I'm just a new apprentice, and you've been training for at least five! I'm barely a month-trained one! Scared, huh? Rabbit-heart!"
Nightpaw drew back her lips in a snarl. She took one step, glaring at him. Then she broke into a full-fledged run, gaining speed.
When Nightpaw was several pawsteps away, Crowpaw leapt. For a moment, he wondered if he launched too late. But it was useless worry. He tackled Nightpaw, directly on her muzzle, knocking her down and giving Crowpaw enough time to pin her down.
"Ha!" he yowled, not taking eyes off her.
Nightpaw's eyes glittered with venom, but Crowpaw ignored it.
"Congratulations, Crowpaw. Get off Nightpaw, now." nodded Mudclaw.
Crowpaw stepped off the black apprentice.
"You have made a great plan." Mudclaw's eyes glinted. "You have brains, Crowpaw. You may be deputy or leader someday."
"Than – whoa!"
Nightpaw barged into him, knocking him off his paws. She hissed venomously, and raised a paw, with claws unsheathed.
Crowpaw's eyes widened. His first instinct was to close his eyes so he wouldn't get blind. But the warrior's instinct stopped him from doing such a cowardly act. He unsheathed his claws, and clawed Nightpaw away. He didn't aim at much, and it didn't hit anything, but the sight of the sharp claws certainly scared Nightpaw. She yelped and staggered away.
Glowering, Crowpaw barged towards Nightpaw.
Nightpaw clawed at Crowpaw's shoulder. He winced as he felt a claw swipe his fur. Thankfully, Nightpaw's grip was clumsy, and the blow did not draw blood. But it was still enough to scare Crowpaw.
"YOWL!" His fierce battle cry. Fierce? No. It was an instinct. It encouraged Crowpaw, making him think he was doing the right thing. He clawed at Nightpaw, claws sheathed. But seeing Nightpaw's flashing, unsheathed claws, he automatically unsheathed his as well. Glaring at Nightpaw, he aimed at her left ear. He felt something slice.
Horrified, he backed away.
Nightpaw's eyes were wide, and she searched frantically for her nick in the ear.
Her claws are sheathed now. Not a disability! thought Crowpaw bitterly. How much does she hate me?
Mudclaw glared at Nightpaw. "Your ear is fine." he snarled. "But what have you done? Attacking when the fight has ended! You cheated, Nightpaw, and your actions were not of a proper warrior. I will speak to your mentor, and you will have tick duty for a moon. That means your assessment will be delayed… a moon."
Nightpaw's eyes widened in horror. "But… I was supposed to get my assessments two moons later!"
"Exactly. That's a punishment."
Crowpaw felt pride blossoming in his heart. Heart softening, he told Nightpaw, "I'm sorry about your nick in the ear."
But Nightpaw just spat at him.
Well, I won, Nightpaw! You're bitter about that! Ha!
Any ideas... for the story?
Late updates will be presumed, because I started another one(please check it out!), and I don't have much time.
