Change
One moon later
"You know, Oakclaw, I'd be interested in seeing how our two apprentices fare against one another. It would be a good indicator of how far they've come."
It was the cusp of dawn on the horizon as Redpaw exited the apprentice den for the morning patrol when he caught wind of this snippet of conversation shared between Ashfur and Oakclaw. In that same instance any trace of drowsiness that had lingered, tailing after him out of the den, immediately vanished to be replaced with an attentive ear zoned in on the two warriors ahead.
Oakclaw casually glanced at the warrior besides him, a mild look of interest on his face. "You don't say?"
"Sooner or later they'll be forced into a combative situation against a rival Clan anyway," Ashfur was saying, "so I figure while we still have the chance we might as well give them a taste of real battle against another trained adversary. It'll be in a controlled environment, of course," he added, as if an extra incentive to persuade Oakclaw.
The brown tabby seemed to consider it, holding a pensive look on his face as he mulled over Ashfur's proposal. For Redpaw the answer came with no hesitation as a sore memory resurfaced in his mind. What he wouldn't give to rectify that previous blunder on his part and embarrassment that he had suffered at the paws of Sagepaw those few moons ago. His paws were itching in anticipation at just the thought of it.
Much had just changed in the interim between when he'd gotten flattened and the tom he was now. Back then he'd been significantly smaller and inexperienced, having little to no actual training in regards to fighting, while Sagepaw and the other apprentices were several days ahead of him. Muscle now rippled beneath Redpaw's pelt after several rigid moons of tutelage under Oakclaw. And he felt now more than capable enough to handle himself in a fight than he had before in his time as an apprentice.
"I'm not sure," came Oakclaw's unexpected answer, snatching Redpaw from his revere. "I'd have to personally talk it over with Redpaw and get a feel for his thoughts in response to your idea."
Ashfur gave a short nod in response and told Oakclaw to contact him when the two of them had come to an agreement on the challenge. As the warrior was trotting off Redpaw was marching toward his mentor who didn't seem at all surprised to see him approaching in the slightest.
"I suppose you heard that," Oakclaw said.
"I have no problem fighting Sagepaw," he immediately stated.
"Oh, I know you don't," Oakclaw replied.
"What's wrong then? Do you think I can't win?"
"I'm not entirely sure which of you would win."
Redpaw frowned. "Do you really believe that or is it just you don't want to say?"
"I wonder?" Oakclaw mused out loud, smiling slightly.
Having been in charge of his training for the better part of three moons now, Redpaw knew Oakclaw had a better understanding of his abilities then probably even he did. If any cat knew how a battle between the two apprentices would ultimately transpire, it had to be him. So what was he playing at then by being coy about the entire thing?
Oakclaw wasn't one to mince words when it came to giving blunt answers to a straight forward question. But then again, Oakclaw wasn't known for giving the answers Redpaw usually wanted when he asked him a clear cut question either. Whatever his true purpose Redpaw knew he would need to keep his wits about himself if he was going to impress the tabby. One of the reasons he wanted this chance was the opportunity to show Oakclaw what he had learned while under him.
"We'll finished this discussion later. Come on," Oakclaw intoned, waving him on with his tail, "we're on dawn patrol, remember?"
Redpaw obeyed without complaint, falling in line behind him as they moved on to join the rest of the assembling group that comprised the dawn patrol. It consisted of five cats, two apprentices and three warriors. Bluefoot and her apprentice Lilypaw, he and Oakclaw, and finally Roseblossom.
Leaf-fall was out in full force as the patrol plunged into the dew dripped forest. The best way to describe the way in which the forest had slowly morphed over the moon into its current incarnation was to compare its transformation to that of a caterpillar into a butterfly. Gone was the lush and verdant display of vegetation that had healthily adorned the treetops and floor only to now be ran amuck by this mottled epidemic that had spread everywhere unopposed.
It was a surreal experience for Redpaw to behold, having never been witness to such a drastic change to his home in only matter of days. The appearance of their territory had certainly taken some time getting used to, not to mention how dryer the air had slowly gotten. It lacked a certain vibrancy and wholeness that he had formerly associated BoulderClan with, becoming more stale and sparse in texture as the moon dragged on.
"You're not bringing Hollypaw along, Roseblossom?" Bluefoot questioned the she-cat as the patrol made ground on their rounds.
Roseblossom snorted in reply. "And have her wander around here scatterbrained? I'm giving her the opportunity to rest and see if it does anything to help her regain the focus she's lost over the course of this moon." She shook her head after a pause. "I'm not sure what's gotten into her lately. If she's not stumbling over her paws in exhaustion, she's muttering bouts of nonsense to herself when she's meant to be listening to instructions."
"Sounds like she's become even more of a hassle to handle than usual," Bluefoot noted.
"Not in a way that I'm familiar with," Roseblossom responded. "I expect her to be difficult, to be stubborn and prideful, but she's been none of that! I hardly recognize her as the absent minded cat that she's been. I'm liable to take her straight to Fernleaf for a evaluation if something doesn't change soon."
This was all news to Redpaw who had been pretty preoccupied himself lately to notice much of a change in Hollypaw's behavior. The two apprentices were rarely around each other these days for Redpaw to be able to pick up on something like what Roseblossom was saying. He felt just the slightest twinge of guilt that he had been neglecting his friend, especially after all the times she had went out of her way to check up on him when he wasn't doing his best.
I'll try to talk to her at some point soon, Redpaw solidified within himself.
A bit of a reprieve from the constant grind as a apprentice was sure to do her some good. They could venture off for a while together where he'd allow her to go off on whatever was on her mind as he sat and listened.
The rest of the dawn patrol went off without much of a hitch, ending rather uneventful. The five cat group soon returned, sunrise well over with, carrying a select array of prey that they deposited at the freshkill pile. Redpaw had managed to catch three pieces of prey, two thrush and a sole squirrel to go along with the rest of the patrol's catch.
Everyone dispersed without much discussion between each other, leaving Redpaw alone at the freshkill pile. Answering the call of his stomach, he decided to grab one of the thrushes that he had caught and settled down for a late breakfast as he watched the slow activity of the Clan rise in tandem.
"Hope I'm not interrupting," a cheery voice called over his shoulder, "but I just spoke with Ashfur and if you're still set on going against Sagepaw there will be a gathering of several apprentices for mock battles in the forest momentarily."
Redpaw nearly jumped out of his coat in joy at the news. Oakclaw hovered nearby with a amused smile at the eagerness brimming from the ecstatic apprentice.
"Be sure to finish your meal," he said. "You'll definitely need the energy."
Redpaw tore at the thrush with a frantic degree of ravenous that he hadn't known he'd had, devouring the prey in seconds. He licked his mouth, savoring the taste of blood on his lips as he flexed his claws in anticipation.
My chance at redemption had come. Today was the day where everything changed once and for all. I had taken all the proper steps in preparation for becoming stronger and being the ideal cat I envisioned myself as. Proving to myself and Oakclaw that I could compete on the same level as Sagepaw was the last thing I needed to validate it.
"I will be the overseer of today's matches," Swiftstep called out from his position in the center of the clearing. "My word is law and you will show respect before and after the battle. Regardless of the outcome, at the end of the day we are all Clanmates, so behave as such. Anything less will not be tolerated."
The tight knit clearing was filled with about eight apprentices anxiously listening as Swiftstep went over the proceedings for their matches today. There was a taut, slightly feverish feeling hanging in the air that reflected the body language and mind state of the apprentices that day. How could any of them feel another way?
This was the first time where they were all being given the permission to go all out against each other. No practicing techniques or going over drills. Most of them were about to engage in one on one combat for the very first time in their lives.
Redpaw had the edge over the rest in the fact that he had already been thrown headfirst into it, but because of how terrifying and instinctual majority of it had been, he wasn't very eager to count it. He hadn't been ready then, which was what separated that incident from the moment today.
"The eight of you will be split into pairs of two," Swiftstep continued. "When I call your names you will come to the center and dip your heads to each before retreating ten pawsteps back away from the other. On my word, and only on my word, will you then proceed to start fighting." There was slight pause as Swiftstep's eyes silently scanned them, appearing to decided on who he'd match together first.
"Sagepaw and Redpaw!" rang out the names, as Redpaw marched forward without the slightest hint of hesitation or stutter in his step present. He hadn't known whether or not he could contain his anticipation if he had been forced to wait any longer to go up against Sagepaw. His determination was at an all time high and he was finally ready to show what he was made of.
He and Sagepaw met each other in the center of the clearing before Swiftstep, who stood overlooking the two of them, as they both dipped their heads to each other in a show of goodwill and respect.
"Get ready to get stepped on, little red," Sagepaw whispered smugly, locking eyes with him.
Redpaw returned the stare placidly. "Just shut up and fight, Sagebrain."
A spark of shock intermixed with irritation rose in the russet tom's eyes. Good, Redpaw thought as he began to move ten steps backwards. It's time you realize that I'm not that same little apprentice you pushed over three moons ago.
"Claws are to remain sheathed at all times," Swiftstep reminded, as the two apprentices took their places across from each other. "The battle will officially be called to an end after one of you has successfully pinned the other. Sagepaw and Redpaw, because your mentors have decided to attend your match today I will add the stipulation that they are within their right to call an end to your match should either one of you be in a position where they deem you are not able to continue. Understood?"
They nodded their assurance of the rules.
"Very well then. On my call."
Redpaw flexed his claws, pricking the ground as he dug into it. Directly across from him Sagepaw rolled his large shoulders and narrowed his eyes at him. He wasn't smirking anymore. The smoldering, intense look that had taken over his eyes told Redpaw that he was coming straight forward him. Fine, that was the way he preferred it anyway.
The moment Swiftstep's cry rang out into the air Sagepaw had darted forward to close the gap between them immediately.
He was deceptively fast. The larger tom loved to approach his opponent in a disengaged manner, deliberately luring them into a false sense of security before he pounced on them. Every move on his behalf was basically a taunt. He was constantly mocking him, daring Redpaw to come forward and have misfortune befall him when he did.
That was how the first ten or so tense heartbeats of the battle went. Sagepaw seemingly casually, nearly lazily prowling around him in direct contrast to Redpaw's more measured and calculated sweeping moments, searching for a opening in the russet apprentice's defense.
Suddenly Sagepaw was on him. Redpaw didn't see the strike thrown, but he definitely felt it. Pain flared against his side as he was floored immediately. He hastily scattered to his paws, barely just avoiding the clubbing blow that slammed onto the spot he'd only previously just been.
It was attacks like that landing that would decide the battle for them. Oakclaw had given him one piece of information before the battle, and it'd just saved him from a sure defeat.
"If there's one thing I could say to sum up the type of fighter Sagepaw is, it'd probably be cautious. He doesn't like to commit to attacks that will put him at risk. You'll soon realize that it's why he only throws singular strikes. He likes to hang back and see how his opponent reacts to them, and if he senses an opening from that he'll dart in for another. He's the kind of cat that you have to discourage early or he'll maul you."
He was in the tabby's debt for that crucial advice. Now that he had experienced just how blindingly quick Sagepaw could be, Redpaw would have to make it work so he changed the russet tom's advantage into a disadvantage. But doing so was a lot easier said than done. He would need to press the action.
Darting in wildly had been what had led to his downfall last time as Sagepaw had simply slipped his attack and flattened him. He was smarter now and a lot more composed. Angles were the answer to this riddle. Angles and-
"Hey, Sagebrain," Redpaw called out only loud enough for Sagepaw to hear. "What's the matter, shouldn't you have won already? You must be losing it if you can't even squash little ol' red."
The desired reaction was instant. Sagepaw's fangs flashed as they danced around each. Redpaw focused on constantly shifting his body weight from his hind legs to his front in an effort to throw off Sagepaw, who was watching him a lot more closely now, his eyes narrowed into a permanent glare. He wasn't shifting his own stance much anymore, becoming too preoccupied with Redpaw's movements, while simultaneously making himself more of a stationary target. Sagepaw darted forward again, but this time Redpaw was anticipating it, having noticed the tensing in the russet tom's hind legs.
The ginger apprentice was already out of the vicinity of Sagepaw's strike radius when the tom swiped away at then air. Redpaw shot in at that moment as Sagepaw tried to move away and slid in between his legs to nip at his hind legs and exit out again as his adversary whiffed at air again in an attempt to hit him as he moved away.
They reconvened in the center across from each other now sharing a score apiece on the other. While Redpaw's may have done less in terms of damage it was more important in terms of potency for what it did for Sagepaw's psyche. The russet apprentice had never expected him to survive his first attack, let alone manage to get a hit off on him. Already this battle was favoring Redpaw more than the first one had.
The battle continued on like this. With Redpaw baiting Sagepaw in with taunts only to have a wide berth of room to move in retaliation as Sagepaw moved in prematurely, lending to the ginger apprentice being able to dart in and nip at him again and again which only served to raise his confidence. Frustration overtook Sagepaw's once cool and relaxed posture and forced it into a rigid and agitated state that took more risks that resulted in Redpaw retaliating on.
On one certain occasion Redpaw overstayed his welcome more than he should have, scoring a sharp blow against Sagepaw before delivering a stinging one towards the russet tom's ear, cuffing him hard over the head. Relishing the satisfaction of his accomplishment one heartbeat too long resulted in being hauled off of his paws and into the air. Panic screamed in his chest as he was momentarily suspended in midair before landing roughly back onto his paws, having twisted his body in at the last moment to stick the landing.
The problem arose when he hit the ground, for Sagepaw had anticipated the spot he would fall and was there to meet him, blasting Redpaw with a smack that nearly sent him skirting across the clearing if he hadn't partially slipped the blow, having it painfully glance off of his shoulder instead of his entire side by retracting into himself at the last moment.
The two of them were wheezing now, their forms languid and bruised as they circled each other. Redpaw was wincing more, having hit the hardest of the two, but Sagepaw was the one in need of a break, taking deep gaping mouthfuls of air. One misstep on the other's behalf could easily seal the victory for either of them now.
Bracing himself, Redpaw gritted as he placed weight on his injured shoulder and prepared himself for one final push. He had a technique in mind that he had slowly been softening Sagepaw up in the hopes that it'd work on the larger tom. He would need to dart one final time and fake as though he was heading for one of Sagepaw's hind legs only to pivot back and attack a front leg with all his weight to the knock apprentice over. It was Redpaw's final hope that the added weight of the fall and his own would be enough to pin Sagepaw once and for all.
Sagepaw was swaying before him, clearly unsteady on his own legs which gave Redpaw courage to plough ahead with his plan. The ginger tom took a final breath and then shot in directly for Sagepaw. Redpaw immediately saw him tense his entire body in anticipation for a strike at his hind legs and momentarily felt triumph roar through him as he twisted his body around to lunge for Sagepaw's front leg.
Redpaw couldn't explain why, but for some reason something compelled him to look up in that exact moment as he went for Sagepaw's leg, and what he discovered shocked him. A look of dire desperation unlike any he had ever encountered before had overcome the russet tom's eyes. In that split second of a heartbeat Sagepaw reacted faster than Redpaw had time to register and could only let out a short grunt as the paw he had been about to grab only a whisker away from him was now planted on his back driving the air straight out of lungs as he struggled pitifully to remove the excess weight now crushing down on his upper back.
"Stop!" Swiftstep's voice cut through. "Sagepaw has the pin. The match goes to him!"
The crushing weight suddenly disappeared from Redpaw's back, and a moment later Sagepaw lay at his side gasping for air, completely spent of all of his energy. Redpaw could only stare back dazedly as it slowly began to creep and sink in that he had lost.
He weakly began to climb back to his paws, wincing at the flaring that erupted from his shoulder and back, only to glance up and find Oakclaw casually lurking by his side.
"How are you feeling?"
"Frustrated," he admitted, ducking his head down. "Did you know he'd beat me again?"
"I knew you'd make it tough for him," Oakclaw replied before quickly adding, "you might have even gotten the better of him if Brackentail hadn't shown up. I think Sagepaw would rather die then be embarrassed in front of his father."
Redpaw drew his head up in surprise, following Oakclaw nudge of the head towards the edge of the clearing where the BoulderClan deputy was slowly making his way across the field towards his son, a look of satisfaction present in his gaze.
"He appeared near the end of your fight," Oakclaw was telling him. "You were too preoccupied to notice, but Sagepaw's head shot up the moment he entered the clearing. In that moment, no matter what it cost him, he couldn't lose to you."
That explained the dire look of desperation he'd seen in Sagepaw's eyes. Just when Redpaw had finally thought he'd usurped the russet apprentice's reign, Sagepaw had pushed himself one step further than he had and taken it. Was that what it felt like to have a father? To have someone's opinion who you cared so deeply for it would move you to previously unattainable feats?
"You should hold your held high after that performance," Oakclaw said cheerfully. "It was quite entertaining."
"Even though I didn't win?" Redpaw said, turning towards Oakclaw. "I didn't disappoint you?"
Oakclaw titled his head sideways looking puzzled. "What would I or anyone else here have to be disappointed about? You fought valiantly. Don't believe me? Just take a look around at what your peers think of that battle between you two."
What? Following Oakclaw's advice, Redpaw slowly looked around the clearing towards the area where the other apprentices had resided during the fight. They were chatting animatedly amongst each, casting wide eyed awed expressions of wonder and disbelief in his and Sagepaw's direction. Had the fight been that closely contested to have this sort of impact?
"That was some fine work done by your apprentice, Oakclaw," Ashfur said, coming over from where he had been congratulating Sagepaw along with Brackentail. "I've never seen Sagepaw forced to compete in that way since I first started training him."
"I appreciate the kind words, Ashfur," Oakclaw replied in turn, "but the only one who deserves praise in this situation is Redpaw himself. Why don't you try congratulating him yourself?" Oakclaw said completely straight faced with a tiny smile on his face and the same merry disposition as always, but there was something else behind it that caused Ashfur to stiffen up for the briefest of moments.
"No, you're right," the tom replied before swiveling his sight down towards Redpaw. "That was a phenomenal effort on your part, Redpaw. You have my respect." In a shocking display of humility, Ashfur then dipped his head towards the apprentice.
Redpaw could only stare back, gaping like a fish out of water before Oakclaw casually lifted a paw and pushed his head down in a similar greeting as Ashfur had done for him.
"There we go," the brown tabby replied blithely, smiling at the two of them. "Now go and congratulate Sagepaw on his victory, Redpaw," he said, nudging the apprentice forward. "We're Clanmates after all, so there are no hard feelings here."
Gingerly padding forward, Redpaw approached Sagepaw, pausing just a few pawsteps away from him and Brackentail, who noticed his presence and lightly tapped Sagepaw on his shoulder. The russet tom turned to see him, surprise and confusion sparkling in his gaze, until Redpaw bowed.
"Congratulations," he said, dipping his head to Sagepaw. "You showed why you're the best apprentice in the Clan."
He meant it. Sagepaw was truly an exceptional prospect among even the four Clans batch of apprentices. Honestly speaking, Redpaw thought it would probably take a warrior to defeat him. No apprentice was matching Sagepaw in talent or size when it came to a battle.
The ginger tom would be lying to himself though, if he didn't admit that it stung a bit to acknowledge. He had given it his all in that mock battle and still come up short. It was just something that he would need to learn to accept.
Sagepaw stared back as the realization of what Redpaw was doing slowly registered in for him. Redpaw watched it click together in his head and then slowly began to turn back to Oakclaw when he heard a cough from Sagepaw. The ginger tom turned back staring expectantly at the russet tom who seemed at a loss for words before. Well that was a first.
"Good on you too," Sagepaw grumbled out before clearing his voice and meeting his eyes. "Yeah that was hard fought, you showed what you were made of little r- Redpaw," he corrected himself, causing Redpaw's eyes to widen for a moment. If that's how you always fight then I won't have issues going into battle with you by my side." He dipped his head briefly. "And I suppose you can count on me being by your side."
Redpaw walked back to Oakclaw's side in a stupor, not certain he'd properly heard what he thought he had. Swiftstep was already moving along with the next match up as he sat besides his mentor. They watched a bit of it in silence, though Redpaw wasn't focusing on much of it to begin with. Sometime during the midst of the third match up of apprentices Oakclaw spoke up.
"You're awfully quiet over there. I'm mildly surprised here. I'd have thought you'd already be over having lost to Sagepaw again."
"You think so?" he replied mutely. "I don't know, I just put so much confidence in myself that I could do it and I've still come up short. I thought things would be different this time around. I guess I'm just a bit bitter that I thought I could change myself in the span of only three moons."
"Who says you haven't?" Oakclaw pressed back, pulling Redpaw's attention on him.
"What do you mean?"
"Learn and improve," Oakclaw said. "You've personally witnessed a threshold of skill and ability that you haven't yet mastered yourself. Use that knowledge and experience from this opportunity to better yourself now. Compare your first battle with Sagepaw to this one now, and you'll realize that you can become even greater then you were today. You nearly bested a cat that treated you as a kit in the span of only three moons. The results are right there in front of your face. You've already stepped towards change on several occasions. And with even more dedication and hard work on your behalf you can change even more. The cats around you are already starting to change."
He made this last statement with a knowing smirk that left Redpaw with a lot to think about in the coming days. For now, however, the ginger tom merely returned the smirk of his mentor with a smile of his own and one simple response. "Right."
Faster than even I was aware of, everyone around me, myself include, were changing. Some changes were subtle while others were a lot more notable with one in particular being completely unpredictable. Change had descended down into BoulderClan and it wasn't stopping just there.