Chapter 5
Shock-waves ran through Runningpaw's body as she slammed
into the ground. She gritted her teeth in pain, and staggered to her
feet. A well-built calico crouched opposite of her, his teeth bared.
As he ran forward to swipe at her head, she ducked and knocked
him off of his paws.
She quickly ran forward and pinned him with her two forepaws.
"Ha! This battle is over!"
"Well done. But the day has not yet come when my apprentice
can better me in a spar."
With these words, he twisted beneath her, and bucked her off.
As he moved to knock her down with a swift tackle, she twisted in
a narrow arc and snagged her claws into the fur on his haunches. As
she moved forward to bring him to the ground, he once again kicked
her.
Tasting blood and reeling in shock, she barely registered his
next words.
"When facing a stronger, heavier enemy, never try to force
them down. Small, fast cats such as you or I should target the extr-
emities -- like this."
She was caught off guard as he nipped her foreleg, sending
her off balance, followed by a quick shove to the shoulder. She
sprawled out on the ground, utterly defeated.
As her mentor -- a cat named Rainfall -- moved in for the
"kill", he paused over her lifeless form. "If I were your enemy, you
would be finished."
"I don't think so!" Runningpaw sprang to life, knocking
Rainfall off of his paws. With a graceful twist, she leaped to her
feet and swiftly pinned him. She pounded his belly with her hind-
paws, and he went still.
"You have done well. Training is over for today." As she
stepped off of him, he slowly turned and walked out of the hollow.
She rested a moment, glowing with pride in the scarlet sunset.
Then, she sat up and padded after him, looking forward to her next
training session. She knew she was one step closer to becoming a
warrior.