Blossompaw's Escape

Part Three: The Clan

At first Blossomfang wasn't even sure Foxtooth and Fawndapple would show up. Just as she was about to go to the twoleg nest to see what was taking so long the two cats walked side by side into the orchard with their three kits darting about their paws.

"Alright, you're in charge," Fawndapple said with a hint of sarcasm. Blossomfang's mind suddenly went blank. Where should she start their training?

"Ok first thing's first," she mumbled quickly to buy time. "Names! We need names, right?"

No-one offered her any help, it was her decision. But after she said it out loud she wasn't sure she had the authority to name anyone. Sorry Ashstar, but I can't go back now, she said silently to the ancient leader.

"Tansyfoot, Doveheart, and Pebblenose please step forward," she commanded in a much less shaky voice. She had to prove she was sure of herself or no-one would trust her to guide them. The three kits walked forward nervously.

"From this day forth until your warrior ceremonies you shall be known as Tansypaw, Dovepaw, and Pebblepaw respectively. You will train as apprentices until you are old enough and have proved yourself capable of serving your clan. Since everyone here will need some form of training no mentors shall be appointed to you as of this moment," Blossomfang announced. The kits looked at their parents excitedly, clearly enthralled with their new names. Foxtooth reluctantly congratulated them, but the sour look on his face remained.

"Foxtooth and Fawndapple will train as apprentices as well, however they will keep their names. But I still need to name Chance, Whisper, Sylvester, Flint, and Shiver."

Blossomfang's friends looked surprised to be getting their names. It was a huge honor to receive a warrior name, and Blossomfang was just dishing them out like they were easily earned. She decided not to appoint them their full names until they all completed their training will Tansypaw Dovepaw and Pebblepaw.

"Sylvester, from this moment on until you receive your warrior name you shall be known as Rabbitpaw. Whisper shall be known as Whisperpaw, Flint shall be known as Flintpaw, and Shiver will be Shiverpaw," she declared quickly. Her friends exchanged looks but accepted their names all the same.

"Blossomfang..." Chance began with a somewhat hurt look.

"Don't worry I didn't forget about you. Chance you have already proved yourself a warrior. You survived the testing facility and were the real reason we all escaped. After I fled you took care of the pack."

"I, Blossomfang of the new Ashclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this dog. He has worked hard to serve and protect your noble code and will continue to train with the clan. I commed him to you as a warrior in his turn. Chance, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, to protect and defend, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," Chance said without a stammer. He sat proudly, with his chest pointed out and his muzzle lifted to the sky. Blosssomfang could see the honor in his eyes. Chance had told her of being a pet for twolegs, and of his mate Via. Now he finally had a home again, with her.

"Then by the powers of Starclan I give you your warrior name. Chance from this moment on you will be known as Braveheart for your unwavering loyalty and bravery in the face of danger," Blossomfang said. She guided the others in the chant by cheering the new names loudly. Normally apprentices didn't have their names cheered but in this case she wanted everyone to celebrate.

"Tansypaw! Dovepaw! Pebblepaw! Braveheart! Whisperpaw! Flintpaw! Shiverpaw! Rabbitpaw! Braveheart! Foxtooth! Fawndapple!"

After a few minutes of trying out everyone's name on her tongue Blossomfang lifted her tail for silence.

"Before we can begin training we must go over the rules of the warrior code. This is the code you live and survive by, never forget that," Blossomfang warned, looking at Fawndapple and Foxtooth especially. She listed off each of the rules, explaining the ones they didn't understand. For the most part it was easy to follow since they didn't have any enemy clans and barely any rogues ventured this deep into the forest.

"Does anyone have suggestions for what to do first?" Blossomfang asked. She wanted them to get involved and make their own decisions.

"Borders?" Foxtooth said warily.

"Great idea. We need to lay down borders so we have a common understanding of what our territory is," she praised. Foxtooth tried to force down his smile but failed, the corners of his mouth turned upward at her comment. Blossomfang lead the group in tow as they meandered around a wide berth from the main camp which was the twoleg nest.

"The border should be like a half circle with the flat edge meeting at the cliffs," Shiverpaw suggested. Blossomfang nodded at her idea. As they patrolled in a wide half circle they came across notable landmarks for the edges of their border.

"If you get lost follow the crooked tree to the square rock to the creek and you'll wind up at the cliffs edge. Go straight along that and you'll reach the twoleg nest in no time," Blossomfang explained. Each of the cats took turns leaving their mark to scent the end of their territory. She was pleased to see Fawndapple and Foxtooth enjoyed the patrol.

"Fawndapple what do you think we should do next?" Blossomfang signaled the dappled she cat out.

"We should hunt, the kits...er apprentices, are getting hungry," Fawndapple suggested.

"Great idea. We can take the opportunity to learn some hunting moves. I'll let Flintpaw take over as instructor here," Blossomfang laughed. Flintpaw smiled and took up the head of the group.

"There are several ways to hunt. If you are hunting mice squirrels or voles you will keep your weight on your back paws like so. Then you will spring forward and trap the prey between your paws. If you are hunting birds you will need to keep as low as possible and have your weight evenly distributed in your paws. They don't have a great sense of smell and they can't feel vibrations in the ground. But to hunt them you need to stay in their blind spot." Flintpaw explained and demonstrated the moves. He and Shiverpaw took each cat off one by one to personally teach them how to hunt. No one came back empty pawed.

"Excellent!" Blossomfang congratulated as a pile slowly grew. They each carried a piece back to the nest to feast. The prey that was leftover was buried for safe keeping in the nest. It was getting late so Blossomfang decided to call it a night. But she noted they still had dens to build and many other things would come their way.

Braveheart was the one to wake them up in the morning.

"I'll lead the dawn patrol to check the borders. Foxtooth, Shiverpaw, and Rabbitpaw come with me," Braveheart selected the group and lead them to do their duties.

"While they are gone we can eat they leftover prey and then do another hunting patrol. Anyone who wants to come can," Blossomfang said with a yawn. She dug up the prey leftover and selected a squirrel. Flintpaw joined her and let the kits eat a vole together. Fawndapple took a sparrow and Whisperpaw ate the last mouse.

"I'm surprised," Flintpaw said as he licked his lips and sat back, full from the meal. Blossomfang ate her last bite as well.

"About what?" she asked curiously. Flintpaw shrugged.

"I didn't like you when we first met. Like at all. Now I think you're...something else," he said with a half smirk.

"Well you've grown up quite a bit yourself. Thank you for helping with Ashclan," she said honestly. She couldn't have done it without Flintpaw and Shiverpaw.

"Thank you for helping with the testing place," Flintpaw said slowly. "Rabbitpaw is a good friend of mine, your good for him."

Blossomfang didn't know what he meant by that last part. She was good for Rabbitpaw? What did he think there was something going on between the black and white tom and her? She shook the thoughts from her head and focused on the hunting patrol that was quickly forming. When the dawn patrol returned there would be another pile of prey waiting for them.


Later in the evening Braveheart had the brilliant idea to do a group training for fighting techniques. Flintpaw and Blossomfang lead the training. He had street fighting skills and she knew basic moves from her dreams where Adderfang taught her.

"The back kick is one of the easiest moves to learn and use in a battle, it's an explosive kick from behind to catch your opponent by surprise," Blossomfang explained and dropped into the move. Flint went around to correct everyones stance as they copied Blossomfang. Tansypaw back kicked her sister in the face and Dovepaw launched forward to tackle Tansypaw. Pebblepaw didn't want to be left out and jumped into the fray as well.

"Show some respect!" Fawndapple commanded. The kits separated with sheepish looks and focused on the training again.

"Now the front paw blow is where you bring your front paw down hard on your opponents head, claws sheathed. Since Tansypaw Dovepaw and Pebblepaw seem to be bursting with energy we can let them practice this move," Blossomfang pointed out the trio of troublemakers. The young apprentices warily walked forward as their parents watched nervously.

"Tansypaw, Dovepaw, attack Pebblepaw," Blossomfang ordered nonchalantly. Pebblepaw turned to flee but her sisters easily caught her.

"Front paw blow!" Dovepaw cried as smacked Pebblepaw. Pebblepaw dodged and avoided the blunt of the impact.

"Next time Dovepaw don't announce your attacks!" Blossomfang chided. The white apprentice flushed under her pelt but didn't give up. Pebblepaw for her part was defending fairly well. Tansypaw tried to sneak around Pebblepaw's backside but Pebblepaw saw her and executed a perfect back kick. Blossomfang held up her tail to end the fight.

"Good job. Now I want everyone to give their critique so if a real battle comes they will better be able to spar," she instructed.

"Work together," Foxtooth threw out. Blossomfang prompted him to continue. "My daughters were all just randomly attacking each other. If Dovepaw and Tansypaw had worked together they could have beat Pebblepaw."

"And Pebblepaw could have used that to her advantage as well!" Fawndapple chimed in. "Pebblepaw could have ducked so Dovepaw and Tansypaw would collide."

The apprentices took the critique well. They walked back to their places and Flintpaw began to demonstrate a maneuver while Blossomfang joined the observation. Foxtooth and Fawndapple were no where near ready to accept this as their lifestyle, but they were working hard and kept open minds. In two moons time they might be ready to become an actual clan.


A. What do you think of everyone's new names?

B. Rabbitpaw and Blossomfang?