Chapter Ten
"Fiercepaw!" Five sunrises later, Fiercepaw pads out of her den, heading to the fresh-kill pile when she hears Aspenkit call out to her. The small cream and gray kitten is waving her tail happily as she scrambles over with wide blue eyes. Panting, the little kit skids to a stop in front of her larger friend.
"Hello, Aspenkit." Fiercepaw's silver eyes warm considerably as she looks at the innocent kit. Aspenkit preens under the undivided attention before frowning as her ire returns.
"Why haven't you come to see me?!" The young kit demands, hurt flaring in the depths of her blue eyes. Fiercepaw winces, feeling guilty.
"I'm sorry, Aspenkit. It has been busy lately for me." She meows, ducking her head and picking a mouse off the pile. Taking it over to the entrance of the apprentice den, she sets it down on a flat rock and sits. Aspenkit settles down beside her, leaning into the bigger she-cat.
"It's okay." She mews, easily forgiving her friend. "I heard about your kill on BreezeClan territory!" She suddenly announces and Fiercepaw looks at her with wide silver eyes, swallowing her bite of mouse.
"Really? How?" She asks curiously, tipping her head to the side and perking up her ears, the silver tips glinting in the sunlight. The black tuffs at the base of her ears make her look a bit like what the elders describe a lynx as. Aspenkit puffs out her chest importantly, her blue eyes gleaming as she leans in closer.
"The elders have been exclaiming about it and telling everycat that pass by the Sunning Tree the story." Aspenkit reveals and Fiercepaw laughs, shaking her head fondly.
"I see Mossheart has been earning the fresh robins I catch for her!" Fiercepaw jokes and Aspenkit laughs, a little bit of loneliness showing in her clear blue-gray eyes.
"Yeah...I miss having you around. The nursing den is so empty without you in there!" Aspenkit exclaims, sighing and lowering her head. Her gray fringe trimmed with cream drags in the dust and Fiercepaw's smile fades. Ducking her head, she uses her nose to nudge Aspenkit's shoulder.
"I'm sorry I forgot about visiting you." She meows quietly and Aspenkit raises her head.
"It's fine. Just promise not to do it again!" She demands, causing Fiercepaw to laugh.
"I promise. How has Mintleaf been?" Fiercepaw asks and settles in as Aspenkit begins to meow happily about the herbs she has been helping the Clan's medicine cat sort. Aspenkit is full of bubbling enthusiasm and it warms Fiercepaw considerably. Meowing back and forth, the two friends laugh together until the sun rises more and Frostheart comes looking for her daughter.
"Aspenkit! There you are! Why didn't you come when I called?" Frostheart scolds, the fluffy white queen's amber eyes wide with relief and annoyance.
"Sorry." Aspenkit meows, shrinking down a little. "I was just talking with Fiercepaw about Mintleaf letting me help with cleaning out her herb storage!" Aspenkit quickly perks up, thinking about the herbs she has learned about.
"Sorry for keeping her, Frostheart." Fiercepaw meows respectfully, dipping her head down meekly. Frostheart casts a warm look over the black and silver apprentice, thinking of her as another daughter.
"It's fine." She meows, her white pelt almost glowing in the fading night. "I was just worried when you didn't answer me." Frostheart tells Aspenkit, who shrugs sheepishly. "Come now, Fiercepaw is going to be busy soon and you need to be groomed." Frostheart leads a protesting Aspenkit away, closing her ears to the protests of the young kit. Laughing a little under her breath, Fiercepaw rises to her silver-dipped paws and stretches, heading over to the warriors den.
Sticking her head in past the overlapping leaves, Fiercepaw perks her ears forward and peers into the dark den.
"Blueflame!" She hisses and a few of the cats groan, muttering sleepily. "Blueflame!" She meows, a little louder. "Blueflame!"
"For StarClan's sake, go!" Swanfang grumbles, pulling away from the blue tom and curling sleepily into her own nest. Blueflame groans and rolls over, shaking his head ruefully at his impatient 'paw.
"Blueflame!" She meows sharply and the blue tom jerks out of sleep, scrambling out of the warriors den, a feeble cheer rising behind him as he leaves.
"Shouldn't I be the one waking you up?" Blueflame grumbles, his orange eyes slitted sleepily. Fiercepaw tosses her head, moving her front paws impatiently in place.
"We have never been a normal Mentor/apprentice pairing, why start now?" She meows, nudging him forward to the fresh kill pile. He sleepily picks a squirrel and sits down, eating as he grows more awake.
"It is barely even light out!" He grumbles and Fiercepaw sighs, laying down beside him and resting her head on her silver paws as she waited for him to finish.
"I want to go hunting for the elders and Lionstar says it is too soon for me to go out on my own." Fiercepaw meows petulantly, not liking being restricted to camp now that she is an apprentice.
"After you are first an apprentice, for the first moon you aren't allowed to go out of camp alone. After you go to your first Gathering Tournament, you will be deemed experienced enough to travel outside of camp by yourself." Blueflame meows through his mouthful of squirrel. Fiercepaw sighs again, looking longingly at the camp entrance. Blueflame smiles to himself, finishing the rest of the squirrel quickly and rising to his paws, stretching his sleek body. "Ready to go?" He meows but Fiercepaw is already up and trotting for the entrance.
Laughing to himself, Blueflame trots after her.
XXX
"Good job!" Blueflame praises Fiercepaw. Her silver eyes glow but her mouth is full too of the blackbird she caught to meow anything back. "You seem to be better at catching rabbits and birds than mice." Blueflame notes and Fiercepaw gently sets down her warm kill.
"It's because of my paws! They are so big that they constantly catch on everything!" She complains and Blueflame's orange eyes gleam with amusement.
"That may be true but you still have to use your paws to catch rabbits and birds." He meows, rising to his paws. "Bury that kill and we will start practicing battle moves." Fiercepaw perks right up, excitement bursting in her. Quickly digging a hole, she buries her kill and pats the dirt back over it. Flipping her fringe out of her face, she trots after Blueflame with her tail held high. This is the first battle training lesson she will be having.
Cursing as she trips over a root, Fiercepaw hurries after Blueflame. They make their way to the training tunnel meowing happily back and forth, completely comfortable with each other. Blueflame goes down the tunnel first, allowing Fiercepaw to gently grip the tip of his tail in her fangs. It helps keep her calm as they go through the tunnel, so Blueflame encourages it.
Breaking into the sunlight, Fiercepaw shivers, her pelt rippling as if she is trying to get rid of fleas. Blueflame glances back, a little worry reflecting in his orange eyes but he doesn't say anything about it. Fiercepaw stops in the center of the clearing as Blueflame turns to face her.
Unlike other times, he doesn't sit down but stays standing.
Excitement glimmers in Fiercepaw's silver eyes, reflected back at her in Blueflame's eyes.
"Today, you are going to be learning three battle moves. I will be teaching you the Front Paw Blow, the Front Paw Strike and the Killing Bite. After you have those down, then we will be weaving them together so they become one battle move." Blueflame begins meowing. Fiercepaw nods attentively, leaning forward eagerly. She always gives it her all when he is teaching but right now, he gets the feeling this is what she has been waiting for so long.
There is an intensity behind her silver eyes that would be worrying if it wasn't so adorable.
"Can you tell me what the Front Paw Blow is?" Blueflame meows and Fiercepaw nods eagerly.
"The Front Paw Blow is when you bring your paws down hard on your opponents head with your claws unsheathed." Fiercepaw meows eagerly and Blueflame nods, barely holding back a mrow of amusement.
"And the Front Paw Strike?" Blueflame meows as Fiercepaw kneads the ground with anticipation.
"That is when you slice down with you front paw aimed at the face or body with claws unsheathed." Fiercepaw meows, mimicking the movement and clawing at the air. Blueflame's orange eyes gleam and he is happy to see her so care-free and excited.
"And finally, the Killing Bite." Blueflame meows, cocking his head to the side and shaking his blue fringe from his orange eyes.
"That's when you bite the back of the neck." Fiercepaw meows, trying to stand still but fidgeting as her excitement and glee course freely through her. Her inky black fur is bristling on her back, not from animosity but from the anticipation.
"Correct." Blueflame praises and Fiercepaw wiggles with excitement, reverting back to more kittish acts with her glee. Blueflame laughs a little, moving forward a pawstep. "Now, I am going to demonstrate the three battle moves in one seamless move. Since we are battle training, we will not be using unsheathed claws. Understood?" Blueflame meows and Fiercepaw nods eagerly, nearly prancing in place.
With blinding speed, Blueflame lunges forward and his paws flash out as he attacks. His paws sweep forward, lightly landing on her head, whistling past her chest and then he lunges, his lithe blue body bowling her over and his gleaming fangs inches from her throat.
Fiercepaw freezes, her heart racing in her chest from the hard to catch deadly movements.
"Whoa!" She breathes, still in shock. Blueflame laughs a little, backing up and letting her get up. Rising to her paws, Fiercepaw shakes her pelt out before she bounces in place eagerly. That move was so devastatingly fast that in a real battle, she would have been dead. A new-found respect for her mentor gleams in her eyes as she looks at him. Blueflame would be lying if he said he wasn't preening at the awe in her eyes.
He pads back to the starting position and faces his 'paw.
"Ready?" He asks and she nods eagerly. "Go!" He calls and Fiercepaw lunges forward, her paws miraculously avoiding tripping...until she reaches him and tries out the move. Reaching out with one of her paws, she makes the mistake of going too fast and bowls into him without stopping soon enough.
Blueflame can't help himself. The stunned look on her face makes him burst into loud and raucous laughter. His purr breaks through and he nearly chokes trying to do both. Fiercepaw pouts, dropping her head down on his chest as heat flushes through her fur.
"It's not funny!" She protests and his sleek blue chest vibrates with renewed laughter under her cheek.
"Yes...it is!" He laughs some more, drawing her in until Fiercepaw is laughing just as happily with him. Still giggling, she climbs to her paws and waits until he rises. Calming down, she sits down in front of him, tilting her head inquisitively to the side as she waits for him to tell her where she went wrong. "You were going too fast. This move is all about the speed...but after you get to me. You run to me and skid to a stop a little before you reach me so that you can complete a successful lunge and Paw Blow then Paw Strike and then the Killing Blow. Now, let's try it again..."
XXX
"Better. Let's stop for today, you need your rest." Blueflame meows, pleased with Fiercepaw's performance in battle training. If only she could be so good at mouse hunting...shaking the thought away, the elegant blue tom pads down the tunnel with Fiercepaw carefully gripping the tip of his tail in her teeth.
They break out into sunlight and Fiercepaw sighs in relief, hating the dark tunnel and the way the walls seem like they are closing down around her. Trotting to catch up to Blueflame, Fiercepaw stumbles a few times but makes her way over to him. Her paws are aching right now but she knows the elders prefer fresh kills and she likes doing things for them.
Mossheart loves robins, Leafstrike loves squirrels, Sharpfang loves thrush and Redclaw likes fat mice.
Spotting a thrush, Blueflame slows down and waves his tail in front of Fiercepaw's face. She blinks and follows the slant of his ears. The thrush is scouting for its own food. Fiercepaw carefully prowls forward, being extra careful where she places her paws. Drawing her body forward, Fiercepaw is almost there...and she rustles a bush to the side of her. The thrush startles and runs.
Yowling with frustration, Fiercepaw lunges at it. Her silver-dipped paw scoops up under the warm body and she tosses it in the air, lunging forward and finishing it off with a quick killing bite. Fiercepaw drops the thrush as her mouth floods with saliva. Her stomach grumbles but she knows the rules. Picking a spot, Fiercepaw's silver eyes gleam with triumph as she buries it and Blueflame laughs.
He rises from beside the berry bush and paces forward, flicking his tail behind him as he nods in approval.
"Well, that's one way of catching thrush." He teases and Fiercepaw rolls her eyes, her pelt flushing as she pats the dirt down and steps away.
"Shut up." She mumbles and they continue on their forage. Breaking out at the BrookClan border, Fiercepaw stares with awe at the large body of water spreading between the two Clans. It is amazing, to see the sun glinting off the water and turning it smooth- the reflective surface looks almost smooth enough to walk on.
"Sharpfang likes fish." Blueflame suggests and Fiercepaw looks at him curiously. "Sorry Fiercepaw, you are on your own. I know nothing about fishing." He meows sheepishly, shrugging his muscled blue shoulders and flopping down so he can lay out in the grass. Torn between relaxing and her desire to catch something for Sharpfang, Fiercepaw glances between him and the lake before padding forward.
The bank is soft and her paws sink into the ground as she gets closer to where the water laps gently at the shore. Fiercepaw stares down at the glassy water and raises her paw, hesitating before carefully placing it in the water. The water is cool and almost refreshing, so Fiercepaw continues until her belly fur is brushing the water. Fiercepaw shivers, not used to the odd but not entirely unpleasant feeling. After a few moments of waiting (during which she got slimy mud on her paws) Fiercepaw spotted the silver flicker of a fish.
Lunging forward, she batted at the water.
The fish was flung in the air but her snapping jaws missed and the second the fish hit the water, it was gone. Fiercepaw shakes her head, small droplets of clear water clinging to her whiskers.
"Nice try!" Blueflame calls, sunning himself and watching as his stubborn 'paw tries to do something StormClan cats were not born to do. Any other cat would have given up by now but she is a stubborn and loyal she-cat. If Sharpfang liked fish, then the elder would get it sooner or later.
Fiercepaw tries again, waiting until more fish come.
Her tries at fishing are dismal at best and as the sun lowers, Fiercepaw begins to shiver as the water becomes colder without the warmth of the sun. Her lunges become...less enthusiastic and Blueflame sits up. His sharp orange eyes lock on his 'paw and he pads forward, stopping once his paws begin to sink into the softer ground. He wrinkles his whiskers distastefully but ignores it, raising his head and peering into the water at his apprentice.
"Come on, Fiercepaw! It is getting dark out and we still need to hunt." He meows but Fiercepaw doesn't move. Briefly wondering if her paws are glued down by the mud, Blueflame moves to the edge of the lake, wrinkling his whiskers at the water. Delicately lifting his paws, the tom looks at his 'paw. He is reluctant to actually enter the water and his hesitance makes him call out one more time. "Fiercepaw!" The inky black she-cat doesn't move and Blueflame shakes his head at her. Curse Fiercepaw's stubbornness that doesn't allow her to move.
"I need to catch this for Sharpfang!" Fiercepaw meows back, not bothering to turn but the fire is gone from her voice as she trembles in the water. The cold has seeped into her pelt until it almost feels bone deep.
"Not tonight. Sharpfang will understand. You can try again tomorrow after more battle training." Blueflame meows back and finally, Fiercepaw moves. Stiffly padding through the water, she shivers and shakes- flinging the water off in drops. Blueflame watches anxiously as she moves closer but then she trips and her head sinks under water.
Without a second thought of his dislike of water, Blueflame plunges forward just as Fiercepaw breaks to the surface. Coughing weakly, her paws churn the surface of the water and she finds to her surprise she can pull herself forward. Blueflame pads over to her side, setting his paws down on the slimy mud as he braces his shoulder against hers. Worry swirls through him and Blueflame rakes his orange gaze over her as they stagger for the shore.
Fiercepaw leans into his side as they exit the water and then breaks away, shaking the water off. Blueflame moves back, not liking the feeling of water on his pelt. He shakes the water off and fluffs his fur out to generate warmth, padding over to Fiercepaw. Seeing what he has done, she follows suit.
Most of the water stayed on Fiercepaw and so her soaked form is smaller than normal as the water plasters her fur to her body. Blueflame feels a prickle of worry...should she be that small? Her paws and ears are bigger than her body though...so maybe she just has some growing to do.
"Come on, Fiercepaw." Blueflame meows, letting their pelts brush together as they begin trotting into the forest. Shivering, Fiercepaw trips and stumbles more often, still stiff from her lake excursion. Blueflame thinks of telling her she doesn't need to hunt but knowing the stubborn she-cat, she would just ignore him. Spotting a mouse, Blueflame drops into his crouch and quickly catches the mouse. Turning, he ignores the disgruntled look Fiercepaw is aiming at him as he pads back to her side, the prey swinging from his jaws.
At this point, Fiercepaw is so tired, she can barely keep her eyes open so she doesn't make any protests. She waits quietly as he quickly catches a robin and a squirrel before unburying her thrush. The exercise has warmed her a little but she still shivers as the cold chill lingers. With the prey swinging from his jaws, Blueflame leads Fiercepaw back to camp, walking with her to the elders den.
Fiercepaw can barely hear the elders thanks, too tired to do anything but yawn and follow sleepily after Blueflame when he directs her to the apprentices den. He walks in with her, remembering this den fondly as she settles into her nest. Blueflame looks around as he settles beside her. Worry is still a thorn in his heart so Blueflame decides to stay until Fiercepaw has fallen asleep.
Lowering his head, Blueflame begins to groom Fiercepaw. His long and rhythmic strokes sooth Fiercepaw as her eyes drift closed as the scent of her mentor winds around her. Fiercepaw lets her purr rumble through her body until the dark sleep claims her. Licking her ear soothingly, Blueflame waits until her eyes close before he rises and pads out.
Honeypaw narrows her eyes after the blue tom before tossing her head and turning her back to Fiercepaw. Boulderpaw curls against her, not noticing his friends actions.
Too bad or he might have been able to sense the turmoil and darkness brewing in his friend...
XXX
"Fiercepaw! Did you hear? We are going on a hunting patrol together!" Goldenpaw's vibrant green eyes are wide with excitement as she trots up to Fiercepaw, who is eating a mouse. Fiercepaw swallows the last of the juicy fresh kill and rises to her paws, excitement flaring in her silver eyes.
"Really? Who else is going on the patrol?" Fiercepaw asks eagerly and Goldenpaw turns to point out their Clanmates.
"We are going with Lightningpaw and Longclaw, Thistletail and Cloudfeather, Skyfang and Honeypaw." Goldenpaw says, her emerald eyes dimming a little at the last two names. The two sisters are not on the best of terms ever since Honeypaw struck up the enmity with Fiercepaw the same day that Goldenpaw struck up a friendship.
"Did you ever figure out why Honeypaw was talking with Winterstar at the border?" Fiercepaw meows, lowering her voice and leaning closer. Goldenpaw nods, glancing around covertly.
"She wants to be Chosen." Goldenpaw reveals in a whisper. Her silver eyes wide, Fiercepaw stares at her golden friend.
"What?" Fiercepaw meows loudly and Goldenpaw shushes her with a jet black paw, rolling her eyes.
"It isn't that odd. A lot of cats dream about being Chosen." Goldenpaw meows, shrugging her golden shoulder. Her tail flicks restlessly on the ground as she glances around.
"Do you? Want to be Chosen?" Fiercepaw meows hesitantly and Goldenpaw shakes her head, her green gaze lingering on Lightningpaw as the white and silver tom talks with his mentor.
"No, I plan on staying here. This is my Clan and I won't think any other way." Goldenpaw meows firmly and Fiercepaw purrs, nudging their black and gold shoulders together playfully.
"I wonder why?" She teases and Goldenpaw ducks her head, flicking Fiercepaw in the shoulder with her tail. Fiercepaw mrows with laughter, scenting the embarrassment coming off her friend.
"How has catching fish been going?" Goldenpaw deflects, knowing Fiercepaw has been trying to catch fish for the elders for the past two sunrises.
"Not very well." Fiercepaw grumbles, her shoulders slumping. "I don't get why it is so hard! BrookClan cats do it easily everyday!" Fiercepaw meows, her silver eyes indignant. "I can see them on the other side of the lake padding out with pawfuls of fish!" The inky black and gleaming silver 'paw sounds as if she thinks the BrookClan cats are catching the prey just to rub it in that she can't.
"Well there is your answer." Goldenpaw meows, picking out a finch and peeling back the feathers so she can bite into the soft flesh beneath.
"What?" Fiercepaw meows, tilting her head charmingly to the side. Goldenpaw swallows her fresh bite and rolls her eyes at her younger friend.
"You can't catch fish because you are not a BrookClan cat." Goldenpaw meows matter of factly and Fiercepaw shakes her head stubbornly.
"I can and will catch a fish." She promises as Blueflame and Swanfang pad up.
"Still going on about that?" Blueflame meows teasingly, flicking her silver tipped ear with his tail. Fiercepaw rolls her eyes, stretching out and getting to her paws as Goldenpaw quickly finishes her finch.
"You never should have told me that Sharpfang likes fish!" She accuses the elegant blue tom. "You know how I can get when I set my mind to something and this task is practically impossible!" Fiercepaw meows loudly, causing Blueflame to laugh, his orange eyes gleaming with amusement.
"I suppose this is all my fault?" He meows teasingly and Fiercepaw gives him a droll look, nipping at his ear. Blueflame mrows his laughter, ducking his head away and shaking his head at her.
"Can I go say bye to Aspenkit really quick?" Fiercepaw asks and Blueflame hesitates. "Please?" Fiercepaw meows and pushes off the ground so she can balance on her two back paws and press her two front paws together pleadingly. Blueflame mrows laughter as she drops down and looks at him. Her black silver-tipped ears are perked forwards, the tuffs at the base sticking out and her fringe falling in front of her left eye. She looks adorable and Blueflame caves.
"Fine, but make it quick!" He calls as she dashes off to find the kit.
Nosing into the nursing den, Fiercepaw takes a second so her eyes can adjust to the darker area. Frostheart is curled by Aspenkit, grooming her while the small kit meows about her favorite herb.
"And mint can also help cure all of the coughs!" Aspenkit meows happily.
"And the coughs are?" Fiercepaw meows, announcing her presence with Aspenkit's favorite- a quiz.
"Greencough, whitecough and..." Aspenkit slows down, thinking hard about the last one. "Um...blackcough?" Aspenkit asks and Fiercepaw nods happily. Aspenkit beams happily, purring as her mother grooms her.
"Hey, I am going on a Hunting Patrol, when I get back do you want to visit the elders?" Fiercepaw meows and Aspenkit nods gleefully.
"Sure! Have fun!" Aspenkit mews cheerfully and Fiercepaw dips her head in acknowledgement before spinning around and wiggling out of the den. Trotting across the clearing, she stops by Goldenpaw, who is staring at their two mentors.
"When do you think they will announce they are mates?" Goldenpaw asks and Fiercepaw shrugs, uncomfortable with talking about it. She feels...off at the thought of her mentor becoming mates with Swanfang.
"Who knows? Let's go talk with Lightningpaw." Fiercepaw suggests, nudging Goldenpaw to her paws and leading her over to their silver and white friend. She resolutely decides to ignore the way her mentor moons over the white she-cat.
"Hey guys! Are you excited to be on a Hunting Patrol?" Lightningpaw asks and Fiercepaw nods, shuffling her paws anxiously.
"Excited and worried. I'm still no good at hunting animals on the ground. Birds in the air? I'm awesome but I try hunting mice and it's like the sticks are drawn to my large paws!" Fiercepaw complains, pouting a little. Lightningpaw reaches forward and presses his nose comfortingly to her ear.
"It's going to be fine. I remember I couldn't do any decent hunting for a moon when I first started out. My paws were too big for me and I didn't know how to handle them. Once I started growing into them, I became one of the best hunters in the apprentice den!" Lightningpaw boasts and Fiercepaw cracks a smile, her worries soothed.
"Thanks, Lightningpaw." She meows, rising to her paws eagerly.
"Anytime!" The other 'paw teases and they laugh with Goldenpaw as they head for the Clan entrance. Cloudfeather and Thistletail are talking happily with Longclaw about the abundance of prey this season. "And by the way, my dad has heard about you trying to fish for him." Lightningpaw meows happily, talking about Sharpfang.
"Oh no." Fiercepaw groans, feeling embarrassment heat her dark, spiky fur.
"No! He thinks you need some help so he wanted me to ask if you wanted him to teach you how to fish?" Lightningpaw asks and Fiercepaw perks up, excitement at the thought of finally catching a fish cheering her up instantly.
"Sure! Can he still fish though?" Fiercepaw asks curiously and Lightningpaw mrows with laughter, thinking of how offended his dad will be at that. "Lightningpaw?" Fiercepaw asks as the tom begins sinking to the ground with the force of his laughter. His amber eyes are slitted happily and Fiercepaw feels a smile tug at her, regardless of her confusion.
"Ignore him. Apparently all toms are mouse-brained." Goldenpaw meows dismissively and Fiercepaw nods, her silver eyes wide.
"I can see that." Fiercepaw mutters before shrugging and turning to her golden-furred best friend. "How has your training been?" She asks and Goldenpaw's green eyes dim. "What's wrong?" Fiercepaw asks and Goldenpaw shrugs.
"I was good at pretty much everything at first but...lately I haven't been doing so good. My hunting is dismal, I almost always lose the mock-battles I have with Lightningpaw and Swanfang and dad hasn't had time to spend with me in what seems like moons!" Goldenpaw says, her meow bordering on a wail. Sympathy washes over Fiercepaw and she presses her pelt against Goldenpaws.
"I am not very good at much either. Maybe we could practice together." Fiercepaw suggests and the golden apprentice nods, feeling a little better.
"Where?" She asks and Fiercepaw hesitates before making up her mind.
"I know a place but we can only go to it at night. I'll wake you up tonight and show you the place." Fiercepaw meows quickly as the group starts leaving. The two trots after the disappearing pelts of their Clan-mates as they meow together. Curiosity stirs in Goldenpaw and she glances at Fiercepaw. Her small, dark, spiky pelt is ruffled by the wind, the silver accents on her paws, ears, chest and nose glinting in the light.
"Is the place far?" Goldenpaw meows lowly, uncertain about sneaking out to train at night.
"It's closer than you would think!" Fiercepaw meows cheerfully, gleeful at the thought of having some help with training. She really doesn't like letting Blueflame down in their training. He tries to be good about it but every time she sees the disappointment in his eyes, it kills Fiercepaw.
She wants nothing more than to be the best apprentice possible- one that her mentor can be proud to have.
Warriorcatgirl12 - Hey! Thanks for saying that, I work hard to make sure that is what other readers feel like. I'm gonna go check out your 13 - I see what you mean about the violent path but as the writer, I can tell you that it either won't be Honeypaw or won't be just Honeypaw going down the dark path...and yes, poor Fiercepaw. I feel so bad that I killed off her littermate but it was part of the story!
MoonClan will be playing a large part in this story, right now I am just building it up. I explained some about MoonClan in chapter seven and some in this chapter as well. MoonClan follows the Warrior Code like the other Clans but they are different. MoonClan is dedicated to ensuring the safety of all Clans from outside influences. Ex: Twolegs, dog packs, rouges, etc. That is to say, the Clans can deal with small stuff like a few cats or one or two straying dogs but MoonClan deals with big things.
I know I probably shouldn't say this but Honeypaw isn't my fav character right now but I will do my best to delve deeper into her character because I get the feeling she is going to be one of the more important characters in future chapters!
The Striking Storms - Aww, thanks! And yes, BlueXFierce is cute so we get more in this chapter! Enjoy! Slytherin Buttercat - First, I love your pen-name! I agree, Silverpaw's death is pretty sad. :( Thanks for reviewing!