Boy, haven't done one of these in a while. This one is about Wolfpaw and Rosepaw. Two characters from Deception. Hope you enjoy it! Remember to RR It helps me a lot!

Take your Best Shot

Rosepaw looked out from the bushes wistfully as the other apprentices trained. Why can't I do that? Why do I have to be a medicine cat? I can't fight as well as other cats, but so what? I can hunt just as well!

"Rosepaw! Is that you?"

Startled out of her thoughts, she scrambled further back into the bushes. Afraid of being caught, she crouched down to avoid being seen.

"Wolfpaw! What are you doing?"

"Nothing! I just thought I saw Rosepaw."

"Why would she be here?" Rosepaw could hear Iceflare getting more and more impatient, "Now get your head out of the clouds and show the back kick again. We are not leaving until you have perfected it."

Looking out from the bushes, Rosepaw could see Wolfpaw give the bushes one last look before walking back to his mentor. That was a close one! Making sure to keep out of the way of the training hollow, she sneaked away from the training cats. What they were practicing didn't look too hard. Maybe if I practice enough, I can still be a Warrior. Stopping in a grassy clearing, she tried to remember what Wolfpaw was doing. Steadying herself, she kicked out with her back legs, keeping her weight on her front paws. Everything was going well until the momentum of her kick pushed her head over heels. Landing on her back, all the breath was knocked out of her.

"Mouse dung!" she spat.

Getting up, she felt sore all over. Great! Thornfur will surely notice this. What am I going to say to him? Lost in her thoughts, she did not notice someone sneak up on her.

"Gottcha!"

Something heavy knocked her right off her feet and onto her back. Her assailant then pined all her limbs to the ground. She looked up to see a pair of blue eyes staring back at her.

"Wolfpaw!" she exclaimed, "Don't ever do that again. You scared me so much, I thought you were a badger!"

"Isn't that the point?" he asked with a goofy grin.

At the sight of his goofy grin, she felt her heart flutter.

"Get off me you big badger." she said, trying to cover up her feelings.

"Oh, make me." He replied with a playful smirk.

Mustering all her strength, she tried to wiggle free. After a minute of hard wiggling, she still haven't gotten anywhere. Suddenly, she heard a snort of laughter. Looking up, she saw Wolfpaw trying to contain his laughter.

"Whats so funny?" she asked.

"No.. it's nothing," he said, still trying to suppress his laughter.

"Really, just tell me," she insisted.

"Well, it's just the look on your face when you tried to struggle free."

"It can't be that funny," she meowed

Twisting his face into a funny expression he said, "yes it can,"

"Fine," she snapped, "You can laugh all you want after you get off me,"

"Hey, don't be such a spoil sport, I'm just joking." he pleaded while he got off her.

"Well go joke somewhere else, I'm going to collect some horsetail form Thornfur," she said turning her back on him.

As she padded away from the clearing, she heard footsteps following her. They walked in silence for a while, but soon, she grew irritated of the constant crunching of leaves behind her. It made her feel uneasy.

Turning around, she said, "Stop following me! Don't you some warrior stuff to do,"

"No, I don't," he replied, "you are not still upset about that are you? You know as much as I do, why you are the medicine cat's apprentice."

"It's cause I can't fight, right?" Rosepaw said dejectedly.

"That's not it at all," Wolfpaw said, surprised, "It's because you are so good with herbs. Look, even your name hints at your medical skill."

"So, you are saying that I should be a medicine cat just because my name is Rosepaw?"

"No! That's not the point!" Wolfpaw kneaded the ground frustratedly, "Why don't you understand that Starclan wants you to be a medicine cat."

"Why don't you understand that I want to be a warrior!" She retorted stubbornly.

Suddenly, an idea occurred to her.

"Actually, I have an idea," she said

"What is it?" He asked suspiciously.

"Why don't you train me?"

"Me? Are you mouse brained? What good can come out of that? Anyways, I won't do it, so forget about it"

"How about this: I will spar with you right now. If you win, I won't bring this up ever again. But if I

win, then you have to train me."

Wolfpaw's eyes lit up at the word sparring. I knew he couldn't resist a good fight.

"I accept. Who ever pins the other one first wins."

Rosepaw twitched her tail in acknowledgment before crouching down into a defensive stance. This is my chance to prove that I'm a good fighter. All I need to do is remember what Thornfur has taught me.

Crouching even lower, she started to circle Wolfpaw. Staring at the unblinking blue eyes of Wolfpaw, she tried to come up with a strategy. Wolfpaw is a bit bigger than me, but that doesn't make me slower! I should wait for him to attack first before I make my move. As time passed, she started to grow impatient. Wolfpaw was still across the clearing from her, observing her every move. This isn't going to work!

"Hey Wolfpaw, what are you doing? Are you to scared to attack me?" she taunted.

"No, I'm just waiting for you," He replied with his goofy grin, "I am giving you a chance, give me your best shot."

Trying to wait out Wolfpaw is obviously not going to work. I need to try to get him off balance. Her mind wandered back to the move she was practicing earlier. And I know just the move to use.

Sensing a change in his opponents posture, Wolfpaw bared his teeth, trying to intimidate Rosepaw. But that didn't faze Rosepaw at all. Get ready Wolfpaw, cause here I come. With a burst of energy, Rosepaw sprung forward trying to catch Wolfpaw with her front paw. Despite the speed of her attack, Wolfpaw side stepped it with ease. Moving to the side, Wolfpaw swiped his paw across her flank. If his claws had been unsheathed, that would have done some damage.

"Is that all you got," taunted Wolfpaw in front of her.

Hoping to fool him, Rosepaw bumbled forward, trying to trick Wolfpaw into a false sense of security. He reared up on his hind legs and brought his two front paws down on to Rosepaw.

"Oomph," she grunted as all her breath was forced out of her body.

Seeing the opportunity, Wolfpaw tried to pin her; but to no avail as she struggled free and rolled to safety. Panting from exertion, Rosepaw tried to regroup her thoughts. This can't last any longer, I have to pin him on this attack! She crouched down, preparing to spring. Much to her surprise, Wolfpaw made the first move by leaping over her, trying to get behind her. Perfect! Remembering what Iceflare said, she leaned her entire body weight before kicking out with her hind legs. Her legs landed square onto his chest, driving him back two tail lengths. Turning around, she pounced on him, pinning him to the ground.

"I win!" She crowed triumphantly.

"Whe..where did you learn that?" he wheezed.

"Oh, just from watching you."

"That's unfair, even I can't do that," he complained.

"That is why I have to be a warrior!"

"Fine," he said reluctantly, "Now get off me!"

Scrambling off Wolfpaw, Rosepaw danced around him with joy. "When are we going to start training?"

"Since you are such a good warrior, why do you even need me?" he replied grudgingly.

"Come on, who is being a spoil sport now?"

"Fine, we are going to start training now." he said. Slowly, his goofy grin slid back onto his face, "But first you have to tell me how you pulled that off."

"Uhh, I just did it, I don't know how."

"Guess I'll never know how to do a back kick," He sighed with mock depression, "Now let's get down to business, show me your front jab."

Training with Wolfpaw to become a warrior, what can be better?

He crouched opposite her and said encouragingly, "Now, try it on me. Give me your best shot."