Warriors A Tale Of Two Brothers
Chapter 6
Oak leaped toward Flame, his teeth bared and claws unsheathed. Flame dodged him completely and landed a huge blow on Oak's rump which propelled him forward into the ground. Flame laughed loudly and then went over to Violet. Oak looked up and glared at the ginger tom who was nudging Violet slightly to make her laugh along with him. She simply smiled and then looked away from Oak.
"Flame, good job. Oak, be more prepared next time," Bark stated productively. Oak sat up and gave himself a quick clean. Bark cocked her head slightly, meaning that it was Speckle's turn to face Flame. The tortoiseshell she-cat stepped forward slowly with her head lowered a tad. Bark ushered a low growl and she instantly straightened up.
"Don't worry little one, I respect she-cats. They may need to bare my kits someday," Flame sympathized while facing Violet, who just fidgeted uncomfortably in her spot. Speckle shivered slightly but then crouched low preparing for her attack.
"Begin!" Bark demanded. Speckle leapt straight up into the air. Every cat in the clearing looked up in confusion except for Flame who sprinted to the spot underneath her. Flame opened his mouth slightly but Speckle had now dived down and she slammed onto his mouth, forcing it shut with the force of her body. Flame stepped back in shock and pain. He shrieked and then snarled at Speckle who was smirking at him slightly.
"You've done it now, she-cat!" Flame spat. He bounded toward Speckle but he was too slow and she slid underneath him and scored her claws along his stomach. Flame wreathed in pain and collapsed to the ground. Speckle looked at him, showing an ounce of concern. Flame didn't move.
"Speckle, no," Oak muttered to himself, recalling this trick from when he used to play with his dad. Speckle moved closer to the motionless tom, her nose twitching slightly. Flame was almost instantly back on his feet and facing Speckle, she had cowered to the ground in terror and Flame went to strike but Violet leaped in between the two, her face still and locked in rage.
"If you hurt her, I swear!" Violet hissed. Flame looked at her annoyed but frowned sadly. Violet was not really related to Speckle but they had the same father. Dirt had originally been mates with a she-cat called Sparrow but she died giving birth to Violet and her brothers, who died not too shortly after. Originally Violet hated Cream because she felt as though her father had forgotten about his original mate but a few moons after they found out she was pregnant, Violet was overjoyed so she became like an older sister to Speckle. Flame groaned and then walked over to the edge of the clearing near Trickle, who shuffled closer to her brother Storm.
"Thanks," Speckle purred to Violet, she smiled and then helped her up. Suddenly Violet was pinned to the ground by Bark, her teeth were bared and her claws dug into Violet's shoulders. Speckle tried to push Bark off of her but the deputy didn't move, she simply slammed the she-cat with her huge paw and sent Speckle barrelling across the ground.
"How dare you?" Bark scowled. Violet cowered beneath her, pleading for her to let go.
"Please, I'm sorry! I just couldn't bear to watch him hurt her!" Violet whimpered. Bark bit her ear and ripped at it. Her ear was now drenched in blood and Bark let her go. Violet ran out of the clearing and Dawn quickly followed after her, obviously not caring what Bark would do to him later.
"Let that be a warning for all of you, do not ever cross me!" Bark advised harshly. Everyone except Flame nodded, he just chuckled slightly.
"Bark, what are you doing?" Oak looked over and saw Spider standing near the entrance to the training hollow, with Dawn and Violet by his side. Dawn was gently scraping Violet's ear with his tongue, the grey she-cat was still shaking but she seemed a little calmer because of Dawn's soft strokes.
"I was just…" Bark began, but she lowered her head in shame shortly after. Spider sighed and then looked around the clearing at the rest of the apprentices.
"Bark, I understand that you need to teach these young cats what it is like out there. But must you use claws and teeth? From now on, you are relieved of duty to care for your kits and I will teach the apprentices," Spider declared. Bark sunk to the ground, looking up at her leader with pleading eyes.
"Spider, please, I won't use claws or teeth or anything that could harm them. Don't take this away from me," Bark whined, and for once Oak actually kind of felt bad for her but it was quickly over shaken by the look on Violet's eyes. She was still terrified of the deputy.
"Get out of my sight," Spider growled. Bark ran past him with her head lowered and her eyes pouring out tears. Spider shook his head slightly and then signalled for all the apprentices to join him in the centre of the clearing.
"Spider, may Violet and I be excused?" Dawn asked politely to his leader. Spider nodded and the two of them left the clearing. Oak heard Flame growling, he stopped shortly after to listen to his leader.
"Speckle, Oak, Trickle and Stone, you four are going to go out hunting and each of you must bring back a piece of fresh-kill before you are relieved of that duty. Now go," Spider commanded. They all nodded and left the clearing but Oak stayed a little behind to hear why Flame had been left behind.
"Why can't I go?" Flame urged.
Spider lay down and Flame did the same. He began to talk about how Flame had become a promising cat who was nearly ready to become a full hunter in the clan. 'Hunters' is just a title; each hunter plays a special part in how the clan functions. Some of them hunt, some of them protect. However, on rare occasions they are made into warriors who travel around the part of the forest that is meant to be Roaring Cliffs territory and stop intruders from other clans or loners who try to claim parts of the land. There aren't many warriors in Roaring Cliffs, Oak's father is a warrior and Spot is as well. Dive was a warrior but she got a rare sickness that damaged her heart and made it hard for her to run long distances.
"I would like you to be a warrior," Spider praised. Flame leaped into the air and began running around the clearing in joy. Spider chuckled and ushered him back to the centre of the clearing. Flame nodded and sat down beside him once more.
"What about Violet? She is my mate; I can't go up without her!" Flame asked. Oak felt his lip curl at the thought of Flame and Violet together because Violet obviously wasn't interested.
"I will let her heal and then we will see if she is fully ready," Spider advised. Flame nodded and then the two of them left the clearing. Oak turned away from them and fled off into the forest to find his fresh-kill.