Hello everyone. Onto the next chapter!

Chapter 8

"Good. Now, as soon as you are in striking distance, spring!"

Faithpaw's legs sprang into action and he pounced on the dry leaf.

Moonfeather smiled at him. "You're really understanding the hunting concept. Why don't you go hunt your own, real first prey now?"

It was a moon since the incident with Siftpaw, and Faithpaw was still confined in camp except for training. It was really a hardship, not being able to see the forest at all. He spent a lot of time sleeping, because on the days when Moonfeather didn't do his training and the others did, he usually finished before sun high and had hours of time to spend doing nothing.

"My first prey?" He said excitedly. He pranced from the training hollow, then stopped, sniffing the air. The scent of a wood mouse tingled his nose. He followed the scent, moving over a dry ridge and down into a mossy valley filled with the dry leaves.
He froze, using his senses to locate the tiny creature. Soon he could hear its tiny heart beating somewhere to his left. He turned his head and saw a leaf moving. It was under there. Silently, he slipped into a crouch and slunk foreword. Remembering what Moonfeather had said, he waited until he was in striking distance. Then he leapt.

Steely muscles exploded into action and his hind legs kicked him from the ground. Paws outstretched, he grabbed the mouse, pinning it there. His teeth came down and made the lethal bite. Pride surged through him. He picked up the small grey body and padded back over the ridge, into the training hollow. He dropped his mouse in front of his mentor.

"Great!" She said, "You really did well on that mouse, I think you have the makings for a really excellent hunter."

"Thanks!" He meowed. Though he longed to bring his first catch back to camp, he knew it would give away Moonfeather's secret, different training.

"You should take it back to camp," he told her, dropping it by her paws. "So it'll look like you caught it."

She sighed. "I guess so. I'll go hunting too, and bring it back with the other stuff. It's getting late, why don't you head back to camp?"

"Alright," He said, dipping his head in thanks. He started off. He had been commanded to walk straight from camp to the training hollow whenever he did training, so as to never be out in the forest.

He reached the camp. The sun was setting, and Faithpaw's stomach gave a large growl. He hurried to the fresh-kill pile and took the freshest piece of meat on it; a squirrel. He crunched into it.

The other apprentices were arriving back from training. They headed over to Faithpaw, grabbing food and settling down with him. As he stood up and moved, Faithpaw saw that Earthpaw moved around him, setting down her catches and slipping into the den. He knew it was because he had rejected her love.

Faithpaw finished his squirrel and padded into the den. He avoided Earthpaw, who was curled up, already asleep. He shut up eyes, knowing he would fall asleep instantly, because he was happy. Happy that Moonfeather was teaching him the stuff he really needed to learn.

…unfaithful…

Faithpaw awoke early to the sound of Brightstar calling a Clan meeting. He slipped from the den, stretching his hind and front legs. Then he took his place beneath the Highledge.

"Today is another very special day," Brightstar began, and instantly Faithpaw sighed, knowing it was going to be about him.

"Today is special because our dear Faithpaw is coming of age. Right now, Faithpaw is able to mate with she-cats and make kits. Faithpaw, it is now your duty to mate with any she-cat that is in heat."

He looked up at her incredulously. What? Where did this come from? Faithpaw was the same as any day. But the cats were cheering and yelling as if it really was a special day.

"Also, tonight is a gathering," Brightstar went on, "Here are the cats going. Me, Whitefoot, Northwing, Windfrost, Brownclaw, Specklepelt, Sunpaw, Duskpaw and Silverpaw."

Faithpaw blinked. He hadn't been on the list of cats. A wave of anger washed over him as he realized it was because they didn't want him hanging out with she-cats from other Clans. He snarled. He had liked it better when they were treating him as the 'special, only tom.'

Brownclaw padded over to him then, picking him up for training. Wishing she were Moonfeather, Faithpaw trudged out of camp with her. They stopped at the hollow.

"It has been a while since I last asked this question," Brownclaw began. "I was wondering if there are any she-cats you have feelings for yet."

He looked at her. She looked at him.

"Are then any she-cats you like?"

He stared at her. She stared back. He began to think…think…think about…

Siftpaw.

"No." He said harshly. "There's nobody."

"Well, that sucks. Trainings over, then. Come on."

They had only been in the training hollow for three minutes.

….unfaithful….

Faithpaw lay in front of the apprentice's den as the cats chosen for the gathering left camp. He growled a little, enviously, then rolled over. He could see Earthpaw in the den. She was watching him sadly, but looked away as soon as she saw him looking at her.

Moonfeather moved over to him then. She lowered her head, and he looked up at her.

"How about we sneak some training in?" She whispered.

He started to swish his tail in excitement. "Sure!"

Faithpaw got to his feet and followed her from camp, out into the forest. Soon they were at the training hollow.

"Let's see if you can get me pinned down," Moonfeather mewed. "Attack me!"

He crouched. Froze. Then leaped. Paws out, he aimed for her. But she jumped up, coming down and crushing him to the floor.

"Try again." She mewed.

He caught his breath then padded back to his place. He waited longer. Then he sprang foreword at top speed. She stood there, and jumped aside as soon as he came. He hit a tree.

"Be ready for everything," she mewed.

"Alright." He gritted his teeth, backed up, and tried again.

He sprang. She jumped sideways. He dropped from his jump and rolled along the ground, grabbing her with his claws as she tried to get away. He pinned her down and held her there.

"Great work!" She praised as they got up, shaking sand from their fur. "Now, I'm going to attack you, and your going to try to either throw me back, or jump away."

He prepared himself. He saw her spring. He shot into the air. But when he crashed down, she had already rolled away, making him hit empty ground.

"Watch me always," Moonfeather instructed. "Remember to never take your eye from the enemy."

"Ok…" he muttered. He studied her hard.

She leaped again. He dashed to the side, the swung around hitting her with his paws.

"Yes!" She yowled. She backed up and lunged again. He flattened himself to the ground as she flew over him. She turned and spun, cutting him with her paw. He backed up and sprang at her, paws connecting into her fur.

"That's it!" She yowled, "Now try to get me down."

She wriggled from his grasp. He flipped backward and grabbed her tail, pulling her to the ground. He leaped onto her and held her there.

Moonfeather wasn't saying anything. She was looking off.

He followed her gaze.

"Well, well, well…" Brightstar mewed. "It looks like someone's been disobeying my orders."

Cliffie! Uh oh, Moonfeather and Faithpaw are in big trouble. Things are gunna start happening now. But I promise the story will be at LEAST twenty chapters. Please review!! Also, after this story is done I'm going to write a story about what would happen if Hollypaw went back in time, way back, to the great Clans, and then she had to live everyday of Clan life, from the great Clans to modern day, without aging at all. I'm working on it now.