Okay well I decided I might as well just post the next darn chapter because I only have one new reviewer :'( Thanks mucho to GinnyStar and A fallen tree!
GinnyStar: Thanks for reviewing! I appreciate it so much! (: And no, Riverclan does not have the speed to catch rabbits….they just think they do XD
A fallen tree: You have been so faithful with reviewing! :D I appreciate it a ton! And yeah…Lightningpaw is beast like that, being able to defeat three warriors by himself hehe!
Sooo….please read this next chapter and enjoy!
I woke up at the crack of dawn, and began to groom myself. Littlepaw was still asleep.
She didn't wake once. Nightstar reported.
He was nowhere to be seen, but I assumed he had been watching over us.
I checked on my half-eaten rabbit, and it wasn't crowfood yet. But I didn't want to give Littlepaw a bellyache so I buried the half-eaten rabbit so no cat would ever find it. I had half a mind to make sure the Riverclan dawn patrol didn't set paw on our side of the border, but the dawn patrol should be able to take care of that. So instead I set off to hunt for when Littlepaw woke up.
I quickly smelled something like mouse, but different in a way. It was definitely prey though. It was by the border, and it was fatter and a little bit bigger then a mouse, but kind of the same. I leaped on it and gave it the killing bite. I had never had a hunting lesson, but it kind of came naturally to hunt. I just couldn't catch rabbits yet.
"Nice catch," a cat mewed.
I jerked to my paws and sighed with relief. It was only Robinpaw. And she was on her side of the border.
"Thanks. What is this anyways?" I asked.
A purr rumbled in Robinpaw's throat," It's a water vole. It tastes kind of like a mouse." "Then I think Littlepaw will like this," I said.
"Who's Littlepaw?" Robinpaw asked.
"Oh. She got mauled by Hawkfeather at the battle and Birdsong couldn't move her yesterday, so I offered to stay with her in the fern clearing overnight," I explained.
"How thoughtful of you," Robinpaw meowed.
"Thanks, " I blushed.
"Robinpaw! What are you doing?" Jaggedtooth snapped.
"I was just talking to Lightningpaw," Robinpaw said.
"There is no time for talking when you are supposed to be catching prey! Especially talking to a Windclan apprentice!" Jaggedtooth snapped.
Jaggedtooth turned to yowl at me when he recognized me.
"Just quit distracting our apprentices from their duties," Jaggedtooth snarled faintly before stalking off.
Robinpaw flicked her tail in farewell and followed Jaggedtooth into the reeds.
I returned the clearing and Littlepaw had just woken up. She wolfed down the water vole, and we waited for Birdsong to come and get her. Birdsong came with what looked like the dawn patrol (Thrushpaw, Maplewhisker, Mumblefoot, and Brackenclaw) behind her.
"We're going to check the border real quick. Then we'll help you bring Littlepaw to camp," Brackenclaw said.
Birdsong nodded and all the cats left. Birdsong began to do a quick check-up on Littlepaw.
"Well you appear to be okay for now. Your scratches and bites are clearing up at an alarming rate, but your leg will take plenty of time to heal," Birdsong said.
The patrol soon returned and Birdsong ordered cats on how to carry her.
"Maplewhisker, take her head. Mumblefoot, taking her torso. Brackenclaw take her broken leg. Thrushpaw and Lightningpaw, take her rear end," Birdsong ordered.
It was a slow process, but soon Littlepaw was being carried by all of us. We slowly began to carry her up the moor and back to camp. Mumblefoot stumbled once nearly sending Littlepaw tumbling back down the slope, but Maplewhisker, Brackenclaw, Thrushpaw, and I held our ground for a few seconds until Mumblefoot got back into position. Plenty of time passed until we entered camp through the gorse bush. Sweetflower helped us lay her down in a nest in the medicine cat den, and then I headed out into the camp clearing. Thrushpaw nuzzled me.
"I was so scared when they came back to camp and you weren't with them! I am so glad you're safe!" Thrushpaw mewed.
Lilyfoot came racing out of the warriors den and started licking me all over.
"Thank god you're safe! I wouldn't have been able to live if one of my precious kits had joined Starclan before me!" Lilyfoot cried.
"I'm fine Mom. Really," I meowed in disgust.
"All cats who can catch their own prey gather here under Highrock for a clan meeting!" Goosestar yowled.
Sweetflower tugged Littlepaw's den far enough outside the den that her head poked out. Every cat poured out into the clearing, and Thrushpaw and I sat down to hear the news.
"We recently went through an extraordinary battle in which we won extra territory. And Adderpaw and Dawnpaw fought excellently in the last battle, and Windpaw chased a fox off the territory all by herself only a quarter moon ago. I can think of no better time for your warrior ceremony. Now join me up here on Highrock," Goosestar said.
Adderpaw, Windpaw, and Dawnpaw leaped onto Highrock and Goosestar began to speak again.
"I am honored to give you your warrior names. Adderpaw, from now on you will be known as Adderfang. Starclan honors you for your bravery in battle. Windpaw, from now on you will be known as Windflight. Starclan honors you for your courage. Dawnpaw, from now you will be known as Dawnstripe. Starclan honors you for your loyalty," Goosestar mewed.
In turn Goosestar laid his chin on the new warrior's head and they licked his shoulder. They leaped down from Highrock and Goosestar dismissed the meeting.
"I'm so proud of all of you!" Maplewhisker mewed, pride ringing in her voice.
"I've been waiting for this moment since the moment I opened my eyes!" Dawnstripe mewed.
"Now I'll get to sleep in the big, cozy warriors den!" Windflight said.
"Now I'm one step closer in being able to lead this clan someday!" Adderfang proclaimed.
"No you're not. I'll beat you there Adderfang. You may become deputy, but I will be the next leader," I hissed angrily under my breath.
It felt bad to be competing against my best friend to be the next leader after Goosestar, but it was what we both wanted, and only one of us could win.
"Now the apprentices' den will be less cramped," Thrushpaw mewed as she stretched out her legs.
"For now the den will be just the two of us, with Littlepaw stuck in the medicine cat den," I reminded Thrushpaw.
"Oh yeah," Thrushpaw meowed.
"Lightningpaw! Come on! We're going hunting!" Sparrowtail yowled from the gorse bush.
I flicked my tail in farewell and dashed over to him. Cloudstorm and Darkpelt were behind him.
We padded out onto the moor and Darkpelt and Cloudstorm immediately headed off.
"I'm sure you've caught prey before, such as mice or birds, but you have yet to learn how to catch rabbits," Sparrowtail started.
"I'm fast enough," I meowed as I bent down into a hunting crouch.
"I'm sure you are Lightningpaw, but technique is what is most important. Now, rabbits will hear you first. They have giant ears, that are very good for hearing. So keep your paw steps as light and quiet as possible, and make sure your tail is down and not swishing the grass or anything. Next, a rabbit will smell you. So try and be downwind. Of course, every rabbit isn't going to be set up perfectly, but try your best. And once you get about one to three fox-lengths from the rabbit, you spring forward and start running. Running is in your blood Lightningpaw, so you will be very fast. And once you get into a good range of the rabbit you pounce on it, and kill it with a swift bite to the neck. Now why don't you practice on me. I'll go down to the hill over there, and pretend I'm a rabbit. Then I'll run away and you have to catch me. Pounce on me, but please don't bite my neck," Sparrowtail explained.
I nodded and watched my mentor run down the hill. What a stupid idea! Chasing Sparrowtail like he was a rabbit. I'd rather chase a real rabbit instead. It'd be better practice. Sparrowtail's senses are as dull as a Twoleg's! My senses are sharper then his!
Do not insult your mentor Lightningpaw. He is the one training you, not you training him. And he is a much better mentor then Honeystripe was to me. You will be way ahead for apprentices, but there is still plenty of things to learn from Sparrowtail. Nightstar said.
I snorted and crouched down. The moor grass swayed slightly with the breeze, tickling my belly fur as I slowly crept forward. I spotted Sparrowtail crouched in the grass, his ears turning slightly. His back was towards me, and the wind was downwind. I kept my paw steps light as I crawled down the cliff towards Sparrowtail. I sprang forward only two fox-lengths away from him and he went sprinting away. I charged after him, focusing on his tabby pelt. I slowly began to gain on him, and then I leaped and we went tumbling. I kept my paws on him, fighting the urge to sink my claws into his flesh. When we finally stopped I pinned Sparrowtail down with one paw.
"There is nothing I need to learn from you about catching rabbits," I snorted as I let him up.
"Don't talk to me like that. You may have as much or more strength then me which is very odd but common sense and intelligence will only come with time and training. And this I will not teach you if you treat me like a piece of fresh-kill," Sparrowtail snapped.
"Well someday I'll be clan leader and then you'll respect me!" I yowled.
"That may happen but right now I am your mentor and you are the apprentice so you must respect me. I respect you, but I do not have to follow your orders while you have to follow mine," Sparrowtail ordered.
I glared at him, my claws tearing at the grass and my fur bristling but I said nothing.
"Good. Now if you want to go to the Gathering tonight shape up your attitude and catch a rabbit," Sparrowtail ordered.
I raced off the second he stopped talking. I ran straight to the edge of the moor and then stopped. I spotted a rabbit only a fox-length away. I pounced, landing on it perfectly and killing it with a bite to the neck. I slowly began dragging it back to camp, my fur still bristling with anger. I saw Sparrowtail attempting to catch a bird as it flew off and I snorted.
I was about to enter camp when I realized I better proof to Sparrowtail that it was I who caught the rabbit. So I dragged it all the way back down the slope to where Sparrowtail was.
"Good catch. Bring it back to camp and then you may eat and rest for the Gathering," Sparrowtail ordered, acting as though all of his earlier frustration was forgotten.
I nodded and went back to camp, making sure to drop my rabbit on the fresh-kill pile and grabbing a smaller rabbit for myself. I then walked into the medicine cat den, where Sweetflower was talking to Littlepaw.
"Come on now Littlepaw, just try and stretch your limb," Sweetflower meowed.
"It hurts though," Littlepaw complained.
"Oh hello Lightningpaw. What brings you here?" Sweetflower asked.
"I was just wondering whether Littlepaw wanted to share this rabbit with me," I said.
"Sure I'm starving," Littlepaw mewed as she slowly sat up.
I pushed the rabbit closer to her and we ate in absolute silence. Once we finished Littlepaw nodded her head in thanks and I headed to the apprentices den. I curled up in my nest, thankful to have the roomy den to myself. I then fell asleep peacefully.
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Review and this time you'll get….a Littlepaw plushie! :D start your collection today!
P.S Please feel free to ask any questions you want about the plot, characters, family lines, etc. I won't be bothered by it!