Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I've been busy. Well anyway, here's another chapter.

"Rainpaw wake up, it's time for training," a voice whispered in her ear.

"Huh?" Rainpaw muttered and opened her eyes. She expected to see her mentor, but instead she saw Cloudpaw staring at her.

"Why are you here?" she asked, getting up and stretching.

"We're battle training together today," he informed her.

"Oh," she meowed and followed him out of the den and into the clearing where Lightningfang and Autumnflare were waiting.

"Are we ready now?" Lightningfang asked impatiently.

"Yes," Rainpaw announced. They padded out into the forest and to the training hollow.

When they got there, Rainpaw and Autumnflare took one side of the hollow while Cloudpaw and Lightningfang took the other side.

"Okay, here's how it works. Since this is your first battle-training lesson, I'll teach you a few moves and tactics, and then you try them out by battling Cloudpaw, who was also taught some moves," Autumnflare explained. "Does that make sense?"

Rainpaw nodded.

"Although I'm going to get dirty," Autumnflare muttered. "I can't believe I have to do this."

"Uh, yeah. Can we start?" Rainpaw inquired anxiously.

"One last thing, you must keep your claws unsheathed the whole time," Autumnflare added. "No serious injuries."

"Okay."

"Well then, here's a nice move you should learn. It's rather simple. Just aim, leap onto your opponent's back, hold on with your claws, which you shouldn't do while training, and bite down hard. Easy enough, right?"

"Yeah."

"All right, try it on me then," she instructed.

Rainpaw charged at Autumnflare and leaped into the air. She landed on her shoulders and bit down into her back. Then herself off with her hind legs and landed back on the ground.

"Good, but because you couldn't sink your claws in, I let you do that. Now here's another one. Dash up to your opponent, slide under them, and scrape your claws down their belly before they try and crush you. It's a little risky, but the effect often pays off. Remember, no claws while training."

"I know, I know," Rainpaw muttered. "Can I try it?"

"Sure."

So Rainpaw once again charged over to her mentor and got under her, but was instantly crushed. Once the weight lifted, she got up, gasping for breath.

"You have to be a little faster than that," Autumnflare meowed.

Rainpaw tried again and ran over to her and slid under, hitting her belly with her paw as she went by. When she got back on her paws she saw Autumnflare nodding in approval.

"Much better," she declared. "But now my belly is all dirty."

Rainpaw sighed.

"Well I have one more move to teach you. This is a frequently used one and is very important. Here it goes, when your opponent has you pinned down on your back and is ready to scratch your belly, simply put your energy into your back legs and kick. Take advantage of the moment and get back on your paws. Now let's see you try it. I'll take you off your feet and get on you. Are you ready?"

"Yeah," Rainpaw answered.

Autumnflare dashed into her and knocked her over. Then she got on her and reared back to swipe at her belly, claws sheathed of course. Rainpaw kicked her off and watched her hit the dirt nearby.

Her mentor headed back over to her. "Nice, but now I'm covered in dirt!"

Rainpaw sighed again.

"Anyway, you're almost ready to battle Cloudpaw. But first, I have some tips for you. Always be light on your paws and be prepared for anything. Remember the moves I just taught you and most of all, remember not to use your claws."

How many times does she have to tell me not to do that? She wondered.

"Good luck," Autumnflare mewed. "I'll go make sure the others are ready."

Autumnflare padded off to the other side of the clearing and came back with Lightningfang and Cloudpaw. Cloudpaw and Rainpaw took their places in the center of the hollow, facing each other, while their mentors stood not far behind them.

"You know what to do," Autumnflare encouraged her.

"Get out there and show that apprentice what you're made of," Lightningfang told Cloudpaw.

"Ready?" Autumnflare asked.

"Yes," replied Rainpaw and Cloudpaw.

"Go!" She called. Rainpaw started the fight by charging at her opponent. Cloudpaw stood his ground. When she got closer, he jumped out of the way and landed next to her. In a flash he had stuck out a paw and smacked her hard right in the face.

Rainpaw retaliated by jumping behind him and biting his tail. Cloudpaw shrieked and flicked his tail, but she didn't let go. Instead, she bit down harder.

"Come on! Show some skill!" Lightningfang yowled.

Cloudpaw shook his tail around some more and then stopped, enduring the pain. Then he shot out his back leg, kicking her in the chest, knocking the air out of her and sending her flying into the dirt.

For a few moments Rainpaw lied in the dirt, face down, while Cloudpaw stalked over to her slowly, worry clouding his eyes.

Then she groaned and managed to get back on her paws. She stood there, breathing roughly, until Cloudpaw charged into her and knocked her over. She recalled the move Autumnflare had taught her and kicked him off. It was a weak kick though and Cloudpaw landed within striking distance. He lashed out a paw and smacked her hard the head and before she could react, he lashed out another paw and hit her on the nose. She growled in rage as he jumped away when she attempted to hit him.

"You think you're so great?" she snarled and dashed over to him and slid under, smacking his belly. She got back on her paws quickly and smacked him across the face. Then she leaped onto his back and bit down hard on the back of his neck. She tasted blood and immediately let go. Cloudpaw yowled and rolled over, flattening her. She fell off his back when he got back on his feet. She stayed on the ground, panting, while Cloudpaw stood nearby, also panting.

"All right, that's enough for now," Autumnflare announced. "Let's go back to camp."

As they padded back, Rainpaw thought about her sister again. She really wanted her back. Why did she have to leave? Suddenly, for some reason she recalled having seen a dark brown tom carrying a black piece of fresh kill. Or was it fresh kill? She couldn't remember ever seeing black pieces of fresh kill. Wait a moment, she thought. Ravenkit is black!

So yeah. Kind of a cliffhanger, I guess. Anyway, I know that was kind of short, so I hope the next chapter will be longer. XD