Hey guys! This is the last introduction chapter. We take a peek inside the last clan, BreezeClan. (I failed to mention, Adderstrike is from MarshClan and Snowpaw from ForestClan). I've also been doing some planning today in school. This is going to be a long story! But hey, if you guys stick through with me, and I stick to it, I will draw up some art and post a video or something to thank you all. Without further ado, Chapter Three. ~ ~
"Come on, Berrypaw, we are going to be late for our first assessment!" An excited voice broke through the dreams of the sleeping cream tom. He grumbled as he opened his eyes, light flooding into his face from the opening of the den.
"I'm up, Robinpaw..." Berrypaw yawned and slowly rose to his paws. His denmate was so eager for his training. Berrypaw, on the other hand, dreaded today. He hadn't been doing well in his training, and he doubted he would do well today. Rising to his paws, he yawned and stretched again as Robinpaw bounced impatiently.
"Come on...!" He demanded. Berrypaw ignored the russet tom and slowly made his way out of the apprentice den. He looked out at the camp. The camp was nestled between a space between two hills. Dens had been carved into the landscape long ago by rabbits and other creatures. The medicine den was next to the nursery, both the biggest and spacious dens available. There was also a high ledge for the leader to speak, right above his den. He mostly spoke from the entrance of his den. The warriors den was the closest to the only exit from the camp, and the apprentice den next to the warrior's den.
"Stop looking around! We are going to be late!" Robinpaw chided Berrypaw again. Berrypaw shook his head and nodded before dashing after Robinpaw to meet their mentors outside of camp. Frosteye and Snowfall were waiting outside of camp for the two apprentices. Robinpaw stopped in front of Snowfall, and Berrypaw slowly padded after him before looking up at Frosteye and waiting.
"Are you two ready for your assessments?" Frosteye asked. Berrypaw and Robinpaw nodded. Frosteye turned to Snowfall.
"Good. You will each be watched and assessed from afar. Please remember your techniques. We aren't looking for how much prey you've caught, but how well you've caught it. It's all in the technique." Snowfall instructed. Berrypaw nodded absently. He had heard this before, both from Frosteye and from Robinpaw.
"Good, off you go." Frosteye said. Robinpaw was off, and Berrypaw headed for the northern borders. There was easier prey to catch, and he didn't mind the icky bog smell from the edge of MarshClan territory. It didn't take him long before he spotted a hare. He instantly crouched down, and the wind blew against him. The hare took off. He cursed and dashed after it, but it was too late. He padded to a stop, gasping for air. He hoped Frosteye hadn't seen that. He turned as he heard a noise, and saw a mouse scuttling into a hole. He pounced after it, but alas, it was too late. He sighed in frustration.
The entire moor was against him today! Not that he blamed it. He was a lousy warrior. Or, at least an apprentice. He would be a lousy warrior someday. He was two moons into his training, and already it was clear he wouldn't be made a warrior with the others. Maybe he would never be a warrior.
The thought hit him like a ton of bricks, and he staggered back a bit. Just then a breeze blew by, to his nose, and he caught the scent of prey. It was a bird! He looked around before following the scent, walking light. He spotted the bird, and narrowed his eyes as he crept forward. He leapt at the last minute. The bird tried to take off, but it was too late. A quick bite to the neck marked his first and probably only catch of the day. Still, he was proud and happy to have caught something.
As he turned, he caught sight of something, or rather, someone. A cat! The fur was neither white nor red, so it wasn't Snowfall, Frosteye or Robinpaw. It was gray, with dappled tabby marks. However, it was gone before he could properly identify it. Still, his curiosity was overwhelming, and he dashed after it. He turned a tree to see the cat walking in the directions of the Mooncave, a small cave in neutral marsh territory where medicine cats and leaders sometimes went. Was it perhaps a cat from MarshClan?
He opened his mouth in greeting when a cat knocked him over. He gasped for breath as he tried to defend himself. He rolled as teeth snapped in his ear. He dashed away before turning to face his attacker. It was a dark brown tabby cat with amber eyes.
"What are you doing on MarshClan territory, BreezeClan scum?" The cat snarled. He smelled absolutely awful, like mud and rotting wood. The scent alone was enough to daze Berrypaw. However, a streak of white came by and knocked the tabby to the ground. It was Frosteye.
"Typical of a MarshClan cat to attack an apprentice!" Frosteye spat.
"He was on our territory!" The opposer snarled, throwing Frosteye off of him. He moved to attack again, but a light tan tom came running and stopped him.
"Enough, Hawkflight. This is neutral territory." The tan tom instructed, his words tense but otherwise not rude. Hawkflight glared before looking away in embarassment.
"I do apologize for my Clanmate's behavior. I hope you will not think too badly of the rest of MarshClan cats." The tan tom said. Frosteye's fur slowly settled.
"I will do my best, Adderstrike." Frosteye responded. The two MarshClan cats retreated from view. Frosteye turned to Berrypaw, who instantly shrank away, preparing to be yelled at.
"You defended yourself well, Berrypaw. Good job on catching that bird. We should go back to camp and have the medicine cat check you over." Frosteye said. Berrypaw looked up in surprise.
"You mean, I'm not in trouble?" He asked.
"Why would you be? You defended yourself against a MarshClan warrior. Not many cats can say the same." Frosteye purred proudly. Berrypaw's chest puffed out in pride. He walked back to camp with a smile on his face. He couldn't wait to tell Robinpaw!
"Wow! Really? What did he look like? How big was he? Did he smell like dead snakes and frogs?" Robinpaw demanded to know more over eating at sun-high. Berrypaw was happy to share the details. He was finally starting to feel like a success.
"Hello, guys!" A pretty light reddish brown she-cat trotted over, sitting next to Berrypaw and Robinpaw. She was Acornpaw, the medicine cat's apprentice.
"Oh, hey Acornpaw. How goes the herbs?" Robinpaw teased, pronouncing herbs with a hard h. She rolled her eyes and smiled softly.
"They're going fine, thanks. How was your assessment?"
"I caught a hare and a robin. But Berrypaw fought off a MarshClan warrior!" Robinpaw exclaimed. Acornpaw's eyes widened and she turned to Berrypaw.
"Did you really? Wow! That must have been really difficult. You must be on your way to being one of the best warriors the clan has see !" She exclaimed. Berrypaw's fur grew warm under the barrage of compliments and he smiled shyly.
"Thank you, Acornpaw." He said. Acornpaw nodded and also demanded to hear the details. It wasn't surprising, considering she was Robinpaw's sister.
After eating, Acornpaw took Berrypaw to check him over for any cuts and scratches. Although there were none, curiosity got the best of him as he looked over the herb store.
"What does this do?" He asked, pointing towards a yellow flowered plant.
"Oh, that? That's marigold. I use it to treat wounds, like to keep them from getting infected." Acornpaw explained. Berrypaw nodded, intrigued as he eyed the rest of the herbs. He wondered what the rest of them did, although he refrained from asking. When he was all done being checked over, Acornpaw nudged him gently.
"You can go now, great warrior." She teased warmly. He smiled shyly and nodded. He would have to visit again, he decided as he walked out of the medicine den. He would certainly have to visit again.
~~~ Alright! That's Chapter Three! After this, there will be less exposition and more plot, I promise you. We met our third hero, Berrypaw, the clumsy warrior. Hey, I was wondering if you guys could leave a review. It really boosts my confidence and makes me want to write faster and better. Even if it's only a few words, I hate checking and finding nothing for my hours of work. That's all! Bye!
