"C'mon, Badgerpaw," Thistlepaw mewed, prodding her in the side. "Raventail and Featherleg are training us together today."
Badgerpaw opened her amber eyes. "This early?" she groaned. "Featherleg and I were out on dusk patrol last night."
"It's well past dawn," her sister meowed. "Get up. The gathering's tonight, and we might get to go if we impress Raventail."
"You'll get to go no matter what," Badgerpaw responded. "He's your mentor."
It had been half a moon since Badgerpaw had begun her training. She was getting used to waking up early and eating last, and she had even stopped complaining about the chores she was required to do, such as gathering new bedding and checking the elders for ticks. The latter wasn't even too bad, as it meant she could talk with the previous warriors of the Clan.
The sisters emerged from the den to meet their mentors, who were waiting outside the cave. Badgerpaw gave a slight shiver. Leaf-fall was nearly upon them, and while it was still warm, the air had gained a slight crispness to it.
"We're doing battle training today," Raventail meowed. "Are you two ready?"
"Oh, yes!" Thistlepaw meowed. "I always beat Badgerpaw when we were kits."
Badgerpaw looked at the gray she-cat incredulously. "You did not!" she meowed. "I pinned you just as often as you pinned me!"
"Kithood battles hardly matter," Featherleg informed them. "You had no training then. You two haven't spared with each other seriously yet, have you?"
Badgerpaw shook her head, and Thistlepaw did the same.
"Then this will be different," Featherleg meowed.
"Let's go," Raventail meowed, his tail flicking as he lead the cats to the camp entrance. "We don't want to waste time."
The cats padded after him, and Badgerpaw whispered to her sister, "Why's he so grumpy?"
"He's just stressed," her sister whispered back. "After all, there's WindClan scent over the border, and nothing's been done. Redstar might not even be bringing it up at the gathering tonight."
Badgerpaw winced as her sister so casually talked poorly about the leader.
They arrived at the training hollow, and their mentors turned to them.
"We want to work on actually fighting your opponent," Raventail meowed. "Based on WindClan's recent behavior, you might need it."
"You've learned basic moves from us, but true battles rely on instant responses, and you won't always have time to think before a reaction," Featherleg added.
Badgerpaw gulped; her belly twisted at the idea that a battle would come so soon into her apprenticeship. She pushed down the feeling of fear. It's my duty, she reminded herself.
"We want you to spar," Raventail meowed. "Remember, claws must be sheathed and you can't draw blood with your bites."
Thistlepaw nodded, then looked to her sister and crouched baring her teeth. Badgerpaw sank into a crouch of her own. They waited for a heartbeat, until Thistlepaw launched herself forward.
Badgerpaw knew her sister too well, and had been certain that the she-cat would make the first move, so she was ready. She ducked, but lifted herself up at the last moment to knock her Thistlepaw's backside so that she would land clumsily.
"Oof!" Thistlepaw hit the ground, but jumped up before Badgerpaw got the chance to pin her. She launched herself again, this time managing to land on top of her.
Badgerpaw felt herself nearly collapse at the weight, but she fell and rolled to her side so she was on top of her sister. She writhed around so that she was now facing her, and placed her big paws on her chest to keep her down.
"Well done, Badgerpaw," Raventail meowed, and Badgerpaw felt herself glow with pride at the deputy's praise. "That was quick thinking."
Badgerpaw let her sister up and grinned at the dark tom. "Thanks," she meowed sheepishly.
"Very well done," Featherleg agreed.
Raventail looked to Thistlepaw. "You were too aggressive," he told her. "If you had focused more on keeping balanced, you would've stayed on top."
"Yes sir." Thistlepaw nodded.
"Alright, go again," Raventail meowed. "This time, Badgerpaw, I want to see you attack first. Defense is all well and good, but I want to see what else you can do."
Badgerpaw dipped her head, though she felt quite nervous. Now Thistlepaw knew that she would make the first move, and she would be ready.
The two apprentices got back into fighting stances. Badgerpaw hesitated a moment, thinking of how she should start. Leaping felt too risky to her, so she opted for running forward.
She dashed towards her sister, striking at her front legs to get her off balance. Thistlepaw hissed and stumbled back, but jumped forward to bat her across the face.
Badgerpaw growled and ducked away from a second blow. She slammed her whole body into Thistlepaw, who retaliated with a fierce bite to the back of the neck.
Badgerpaw winced. She felt no blood from the bite, but it had hurt. While she was stunned, Thistlepaw pushed her to the floor and held her there.
The two she-cats sat panting for a moment before looking to their mentors for praise.
"Good job, Thistlepaw," Featherleg purred. "Proving yourself from the last fight I see."
Thistlepaw moved to let Badgerpaw stand. "It was nothing." She shrugged.
Badgerpaw wanted to claw her over the ears. You're just making me look bad by saying that!
"You both did well," Raventail added.
"Badgerpaw, I liked you using your size against her," Featherleg meowed. "Being bigger has its advantaged on the battlefield."
Badgerpaw realized just the how much bigger she had grown than her sister. She had always been more thickset, but glancing over, she noticed that she wasn't quite at eye level with her sister anymore.
"Thank you," she said after a moment.
They discussed fighting moves and sparred for a bit longer before turning to head back to camp.
"You two will be going to gathering tonight," Featherleg told them as the walked back. "Be on your best behavior. Don't even think of bringing up the border crossing to the WindClan apprentices."
"Of course," Badgerpaw mewed. "Thanks for letting us go."
Thistlepaw looked to her sister. "This is so exciting!" she purred. "Our first gathering!"
"Yeah!" she mewed, but felt oddly nervous. She had a feeling that this gathering was going to go poorly, what with border crossing. She gave a quick prayer to StarClan that things would go as plan.
And please make sure Thistlepaw behaves, she added.
