A/N: Hey guys! Sorry I haven't updated this one in a while, but I have a new chapter for you all! Hope you enjoy! :D
We padded into a small clearing carved into the riverbed, waiting for our mentors.
"I hope I get a few scars!" Icepaw meowed, bouncing up and down.
"Yeah! Show the other clans we're not to be messed with!" her brother replied, with the same fox-like grin.
"Yeah, it's only fun if you get a scar out of it." Flamepaw mewed lazily, eyeing a water bug that was crawling on one of the reed stalks.
"Yeah no kidding right?" I muttered, twitching my whiskers. I may as well act stupid like they are; they had no idea what it was like in battle! A flashback came as I rethought both of my encounters with rogues.
Eaglepaw twitched his ears at me, in annoyance. "I thought you were going with the more pathetic training routes with Creekfoot." He snickered.
I tried not to let my ears fold back. I was about to say a smart reply, when suddenly Creekfoot, Redwillow, and Shiningbrook padded into the clearing. "Let's get started!" Creekfoot yowled. "First battle position:" Redwillow instructed, crouching, "Make sure your eyes are intent on the enemy. You don't want to lose focus. Second, have one of your paws planted firmly in a spring behind you; it gives you a good push when you spring to your enemy." She mimicked the move.
"Alright, your turn." Shiningbrook mewed.
We crouch in the position they showed us. I was having much difficulty though. I technically only had one paw, thanks to my dead one. I moved my good one behind me like they had shown, my eyes intent on the bush in front of me.
One by one we sprang. Flamepaw leapt into the air and landed on the bush before we could blink. "Excellent, Flamepaw! I know a warrior when I see one!" Cherryfall cheered, coming in from the reeds behind them. Flamepaw smiled.
Thornpaw and Fishpaw went, but with less grace and speed, though they both landed hard onto their bushes. I could tell if they were real cats, the bushes would have been knocked over.
I looked up at the sun: About halfway through the day.
"Smallpaw." Creekfoot called out my name, turning around so he could see me jump.
Come on…have faith that Starclan will help you not completely humiliate yourself…
I leapt.
I pushed off the ground with my back foot, and made it about a fox-tail length before falling. I attempted to get back to my paws, only to have one slip on a reed and have me fall back down. "Uhh…" I groaned, as I (this time) successfully made my way to all three of my paws.
Creekfoot walked over. I quickly sat down and tried to look dignified, but I couldn't erase the feeling of dread as he walked nearer, a look of annoyance spreading across his muzzle. When he finally reached me, he shook his head and said.
"Smallpaw, Smallpaw, Smallpaw…you knew this training would be difficult," he looked me straight in the eye. "You have to remember, to become a warrior, a rouge will always, always, go for the kill." He repeated my mother's words, which made me shudder.
0o0o0
"Why didn't you?" I muttered to myself.
I was back at the Thunderpath, near the spot the rouge had been. I leaped off the side other than my territory, and walked past the rock it trapped me on. I looked out into the ditch it had fallen in, it was a beautiful sight, but the walls completely made of stone. I shook my head and was about to walk away when a black paw stretched over the rock, it's claws trying to grip for something, but failing as it fell back into the deep clearing.
I leaped back in surprise, then wearily peered over the side, and saw the midnight black cat attempt to climb out of the clearing, but falling yet again.
I did a silent gasp in shock that it was even the same cat, and then I saw its tail; half of it was gone, and it looked infected.
The poor cat creot towards the small pool of water, hoping to catching something after its tiring attempts to escape. It crouched low, ready to spring into the water.
He's doing it all wrong! I thought to myself.
The night black tom leapt into the river, scaring away all the fish. I sighed with pity; I knew how it felt.
Suddenly its ears perked as it heard me, and turned to see me. I stumbled back a bit, but notice something.
It wasn't going to hurt me; in fact, it was practically under my power.
Our eyes locked for a moment, and I tilted my head in confusion, it doing the same. But it scared me to be so close to a potential killer, that I hightailed it out of rouge territory.
0o0o0
As if on cue, it started to rain.
I made it back to camp just after the sun set. As I padded into camp, I took shelter in the den, now that I was completely drenched. I lied down in my soft bedding, having to deal with my drenched coat for the night.
After a few minutes, I finally fell into a light sleep.
My dream scared me.
I stood in the middle of the small cove I had found the black tom in, yesterday. I stood near the center of it all.
Suddenly I felt a small breeze lift around me, and a cat shimmered into place.
I could tell from the stars in her fur that she was from Starclan.
I could also tell she was my mother.
"Hawkstep!" I cried happily, and tried to run to her, but it had seemed I was stuck to the firm ground beneath me, and I couldn't move. "Hawkstep, what happening? Why can't I move?" I yowled, frightened.
She looked at me with firm eyes, and spoke;
"You will change things, my Smallpaw."
Suddenly cats appeared all around me, and I was enclosed with a battle of cats, hissing, clawing, and spitting filled my ears.
"Hawkstep, please! Make it go away!" I shrieked.
"Only you can do that."
I opened my eyes in surprise,
But I was in the apprentice den again.
"Whew!" I laughed shakily, "Thank Starclan that was only a dream!"
Starclan…
No. they wouldn't have sent me that dream…would they? My thoughts were interrupted when I heard voices outside in the clearing.
"You half take the Windclan side of the territory, this half will cover the Shadowclan side. Once we have patrolled, meet back at the lake." Falconstar ordered. I could hear him join one of the groups, as they padded out of the camp. Knowing our territory size, it may take them all day.
I felt the others stir around me, and I realized the sun had come up.
It was a new day of training.