WHOOSH~ all of my breath rushed out of my lungs as I was knocked to the ground for the 50th time, "better luck next time." Squirrel Paw said apologetically and jumped off of my sore body. I shakily stood up and shook my pelt, clouds of dust and dirt clods fell out of my fur. "That was good Crow Paw!" White Paw called to me as Shrew Paw nodded vigorously from where he sat next to her. Yeah sure. I thought irritably, getting my butt kicked every try is AWESOME. "Let's call it a day." a dark brown tom called Dust Pelt said. He was Squirrel Paws mentor, "sure," Mouse Fur (a small, brown, kind of scrawny looking she-cat) said nodding her head, she was Spider Paws mentor, and "I was going to take White Paw out for a break soon anyway." Bracken fur (a golden tom) who was White Paws mentor said, Thorn Claw (a golden brown tabby tom) nodded "lets go Shrew Paw," he said "we'll go hunting." -You can kind of tell he's Shrew Paws mentor- Bright Heart turned to me "you can go take a food break if you need it, but at sundown we need you for a patrol." I sighed and flicked my ears "fine," I said sharply and stalked off. I was irritated, tired and in complete confusion. This Warrior stuff was hard work! All the hunting, patrolling, training, chores, collecting herbs. And Squirrel Paw said that wasn't even half of being an apprentice. When you become a warrior, you sit 'vigil' all night in silence. What's with that? I walked over to the fresh kill pile and grabbed a mouse. I was sitting away from the other cats a nice comfortable distance for me and eating when an old she-cat walked up to me. She had a pale ginger coat and light blue eyes. "Hello, do you mind if I sit with you?" she asked through the squirrel she was holding. I flicked my ears "…..sure." I said slowly and coldly. She stretched next to me and sat her catch down in-between her paws. Our pelts were barely brushing a hair but I was still uncomfortable. 'I'd usually be sitting with Fern Cloud, "she said. I wondered if Fern Cloud was those two kittens mother that I'd seen earlier. "But you looked lonely." I looked around and realized all the other cats were either eating in pairs or in a small group. Everybody has somebody…no ones ever alone… I thought to myself. but I'm always alone. I don't need anyone to be happy. Just myself.
We ate together in silence, but for some reason just being next to such a friendly cat made my day a bit brighter.