Really happy with the way this turned out! Thanks to everyone who is reading this story! WolfFrostTheMighty, thanks for the encouragement! Really love all you guys! Chapter 10 starts!
Walking to the training clearing with his mentor, the black-patched apprentice felt many things at that moment. But more than anything, Warmpaw was confused.
"Watch where you're stepping," Goldenfur reprimanded him crossly. Warmpaw looked down just in time to avoid a protruding tree root.
"So…" Warmpaw started hesitantly.
"Yes. We are going training. We'll be working on hunting and battling today."
Warmpaw huffed. Just as you should.
They reached the training clearing. Thankfully, after the incredibly cold morning earlier, the weather seemed to be warm for once. The trees were yellow-green, rustling lightly in the sun. Light flecked the shade underneath. Stepping out into the open, the sunrays hit his pelt, warming him up. He shook himself up. This was a much better feeling.
Goldenfur turned to him.
"I'll teach you how to hunt."
The memory rose up again, and Warmpaw took an involuntary step back.
"Well. Do you want to train or not?" Goldenfur asked, tail flicking.
"First lesson. half-Clan cats like you have to prove your loyalty and worth. Learn to hunt yourself!"
"Where are Twigpaw and Sandpaw?" Warmpaw nearly yowled at him. He took another step back.
"Flyingfeather and Blazetail are still back at camp." Goldenfur meowed smoothly. "You decided yourself to train with me. If you wanted, you could have waited a while."
He smirked. "No choice. Unless of course…" He gestured with his tail, "-you want to go back."
Warmpaw was still. He looked around. Nothing but trees. Goldenfur's tone was almost mocking. I'll show him.
"What are we waiting for, then?" He matched his mentor's meow.
. . .
"Ouch!" Warmpaw exclaimed as Goldenfur pushed him lower down. They were learning the hunter's crouch, and Goldenfur would take nothing but the most impeccable crouch possible.
"What are you doing?! Lower! Keep your tail still!" He stepped on his tail to keep it low. Warmpaw yowled. I'll be hurting all over after this. I'm just glad he's actually teaching me this time.
He nearly cursed out loud when Goldenfur used his claw to hook his hind leg back.
"There." Goldenfur walked back, seemingly admiring his work. His eyes gleamed.
Warmpaw winced as he tried to hold his position.
"You know," the ginger tom licked his paw thoughtfully, "I was actually going to ask you to try stalking." Warmpaw forced himself not to hiss at him.
"But… I don't think so. You look spent as it is." He patted him with a paw. "You can rest."
Warmpaw tried to move his legs, but it felt like they turned into stone; no longer part of his body. He looked around wildly, feeling like he lost control of his legs.
"Need help?" Goldenfur asked.
"No!" Warmpaw flashed back. He tried again, harder this time. He managed to move his legs a little, and it was just enough to roll himself over. He sighed in relief as he felt the feeling flow back into his paws.
Warmpaw didn't know what exactly he was at that moment, or what he was going to do next. He was determined to show Goldenfur that he was strong, yes, and he would like nothing more than to wipe off the smug light in his eyes as he looked at him. But now, he was absolutely spent.
He just fixed his mentor with a fiery gaze as he stood up.
"Are you feeling tired?" Goldenfur continued with his mocking remarks, "Do you want to go back to camp and sleep in your nest?"
"Absolutely not!" Warmpaw protested, slamming his paw down forcefully.
"No need to get angry." When Warmpaw's expression didn't change, he sighed. "We're not going to do anything else until you calm yourself down. And don't even try leaving. I'll catch you." He smirked at his last comment.
Warmpaw took deep breaths, and pretty soon he was able to calm himself. As much as he wanted to stay angry at him, he knew it wouldn't do him any good. He forced down the fire in his chest.
"Good." Goldenfur nodded at him when he saw that Warmpaw was back to his calm state. "Now run."
"What!?" Warmpaw cried.
Goldenfur's eyes were bright as he meowed, "It'll stretch your legs. I'll race you if you want."
"But—" Warmpaw started, but Goldenfur was gone in a flash.
"See you at the lake!"
"H-hey!" Warmpaw raced after him, paws hard on his tail.
Warmpaw was able to stay right behind Goldenfur for the first couple of fox-lengths, but in the end, the ginger tom was far too agile for him. He hopped over a bush, twirled in mid-air, and he was gone. Warmpaw was left panting, looking around for him.
A nearby scent. Warmpaw sped in the direction it went, as it twisted and twirled between the trees. Everything blurred around him as he tore through the forest. The trail ended in the pebbly lakeshore, where Goldenfur was sitting, licking a paw.
"I win." He looked at him coolly, as if nothing happened.
"This wasn't a contest," Warmpaw pointed out, but he couldn't help but chuckle.
He grinned. "Still."
Warmpaw huffed in amusement. This wasn't the sort of thing he expected a warrior to behave, let alone Goldenfur. It made him wonder. What's gotten into him? But he didn't really mind. The run was fun, and more importantly, it made him feel a lot better.
"Ready to go?" Goldenfur asked him, and he responded with fervor.
Walking back to the training clearing, they talked about trivial things like the weather, how mice ran... Warmpaw felt like he had a mentor. For real this time.
"For your battle training, we'll be practicing the slash." Goldenfur said once they had reached the clearing. "It's the move I decided to teach you today because I believe that a good offense is what really matters in a battle. Cats aren't scared to use their claws on you. Get them first before they can."
"Stand on your hind legs and swipe at the air," he instructed Warmpaw. "Leverage is one of the advantages you have when you're higher up than your opponent."
Warmpaw remembered when Goldenfur was teaching him the right hunting crouch. He was strict, and he probably wouldn't be afraid to yowl stinging remarks right through his head. Warmpaw steeled himself. Keep your cool.
He launched up with his front paws. He was on his hind legs, then he fell on his back.
"Amazing," Goldenfur meowed sarcastically, shaking his head. "Again! And this time, use your tail for balance. Don't push too hard!"
He tried again. He was able to find balance for a few seconds, but he wasn't able to get a swipe off in time before falling back again.
Goldenfur rolled his eyes. "Again!"
"Hey, looks like you're busy." Flyingfeather popped out from behind the treeline with Twigpaw.
"Yeah. It seems like Warmpaw seems to hate the paw swipe." Goldenfur smiled snidely. "Or is it the other way around?"
Warmpaw muttered a curse as he tried to swipe again, only succeeding in losing his balance and rolling over. Twigpaw chuckled.
This is so embarrassing! Warmpaw tried ducking his head, as if he could make himself smaller.
The swiping continued, and still, even after a seemingly endless training session and Goldenfur's cutting words, he couldn't quite get it right. The sun was setting behind the trees and orange light covered the clearing. Twigpaw and Flyingfeather had left earlier. Warmpaw was tired, hungry and on edge.
"Try again!" Goldenfur meowed. "You call yourself a cat? Are you a cat? Go back to the nursery!"
The blood in Warmpaw's veins boiled with ire. He sunk his claws into the ground, imagining that it was Goldenfur's pelt he was puncturing. It was all he could do to keep himself from launching himself at him at that moment.
He jumped again, keeping his tail down for balance. He swiped. A perfect swipe, yet Goldenfur didn't seem to notice. He was too busy staring at the trees.
Warmpaw grit his teeth. He launched himself at him, claws outstretched. He landed on his back, but in a few heartbeats, Goldenfur managed to turn and pin him to the ground.
His paw was on Warmpaw's chest. "Try me." He hissed dangerously, unsheathing his claws. They pricked under Warmpaw's pelt, and he became scared that he would fully bring his claws out and pierce right into his heart. He didn't even dare to breathe.
Goldenfur's eyes were alive with a red light, partly reflected off the setting sun. His burning glare cut right through Warmpaw's head. But to his surprise, he turned away and got off him.
"Leave," he whispered.
Warmpaw felt regret and fear surge through him. He wasn't supposed to attack a mentor who only wanted to teach him. He forgot to stay calm. He started, "Goldenfur, I—"
"Leave me!" Goldenfur yowled, pain in his eyes, and Warmpaw raced away.
Oh, no. What have I done?
. . .
Warmpaw was hungry, but it seemed like he had lost his appetite somehow.
Rainstorm came along to offer him a thrush, but he politely refused it. He simply felt too bad. What if he doesn't want to train me anymore?
For lack of anything to do, he went out the camp entrance out into the forest.
He sighed, staring up at the stars.
"Hey!" Archkit jumped him from behind, knocking him over.
"H-hey! What was that for?" Warmpaw said, rubbing his muzzle where it hit the ground.
Archkit smiled cheerily. "Greetings."
Warmpaw laughed, happy for his friend's company.
"So, really now. What really caught your attention today?" Archkit asked.
Warmpaw sighed. "Goldenfur was really training me today. But I messed it up, Archkit. I really, really did."
Archkit didn't seem like she heard the last part. "Guess who…" she meowed with a sliding tone.
"Oh, no." Warmpaw buried his face in his paws.
"Yep! I managed to convince him to train you last night."
Warmpaw groaned. "It probably won't ever happen again." he inveighed, now feeling doubly worse.
"Don't say that!" Archkit shoved him playfully. "He may be weird sometimes, but he's a good cat. He's also kind of funny. I managed to have a reasonable talk with him."
"I hope so." Warmpaw huffed in amusement. "Why do you have to be so smart all the time?"
"I don't know," she shrugged.
Warmpaw looked into her eyes. "You're very happy, too."
She looked away and up into the sparkling night sky. "With the stars, the forest and your friends around you, who wouldn't be happy?"
"Honestly, Archkit. I don't know what I'd do without you."
She smiled back. "And vice-versa."
"I'll try to be the best friend you'll ever have," she mewed.