Chapter 30: The Lesson in the Trees
Shatterbreeze returned from her hunting patrol, carrying three mice and a rat from the Carrion place. She found hunting there challenging, having to squeeze through pipes and under ruble. She shook the bits of debris that clung to her fur. Setting the rat and one mouse on the pile, she looked around. Maybe Colddusk would like one.
She found him over by the warrior den, arguing fiercely with Flamewhisper. After a moment of low hisses and insults, followed by an exchange of the word "Fine", Colddusk stomped over. "Come on, we're training." Shatterbreeze blinked, still holding the mice. "Now!" he barked over his shoulder, and the apprentice scrambled after him.
They walked for a bit, Colddusk still fuming, when Shatterbreeze spoke. "I got you a mouse. I mean, if you want it."
"Not hungry."
"Everything ok?"
"Does it look ok? Huh? Does it? My daughter is going to become an Unchoosen, and there is nothing I can do about it. She receives very little training because she is part Thunderclan, part Riverclan, she's the smallest and youngest of the competitors, and…" Colddusk started to cry. Shatterbreeze looked at the tom who she thought to be as strong as a rock, breaking down as warm tears streamed down his cheeks, and it was heartbreaking.
"And it's all my fault. I convinced Flamewhisper to come here. I thought we would be safer, and now look where we are. Look what we get: The edge of the den, where it's coldest, the other warriors 'blind eyes' to random attacks from the Elites out of fear, and the skinniest prey that isn't given to the Unchoosens. I don't even know how to train you to fight in that arena." He flicked his tail in the general direction of the Bloodring.
Shatterbreeze frowned, and then pushed the plumper mouse toward him. "The Bloodring isn't the only part of the test. There's hunting and…capture, I think. Teach me like a Thunderclan apprentice would be taught. It's what you're good at, and it'll give me an edge over the others." She looked at him with a shine in her eyes and a smile on her face. Colddusk gave her a small smile, scarfed down the mouse while Shatterbreeze ate hers, and then beckoned her to follow.
She watched him scan the few scraggly trees that were around, tsking in disappointment. "These trees are too thin." He murmured. He flicked his tail, looking over his shoulder as an apprentice. Isn't the competition in the new territory? Shadowclan's old territory?"
"The other parts? Yes."
"Good. Let's go." Colddusk took off toward the newly placed scent borders. Shatterbreeze raced after him.
Soon, she hit the pine trees, parting her jaws to follow Colddusk's scent. As she ran, it became weaker and weaker. What the…
Soon, something landed on top of her. Yowling, she twisted and turned, trying to escape her attacker. She looked over her shoulder, being pinned on her back, and saw her mentor. She laughed. "How did you…"
"Easy. Follow me."
He pounced off her and on a tree trunk. Climbing up with the ease of a squirrel, he perched on one of the branches. "Now you try." He called down.
Shatterbreeze got to her paws, charging at the tree. She launched herself like Colddusk, slamming into the tree. Her back legs lost their grip, and her front claws scrambled to get ahold of something. She forced both sets of her claws to crash into the thick, scaly bark. Finally, she was able to stop her decent.
"Good. Now climb up. Back claws push up, and front claws hold on until your back claws get a grip again."
Shatterbreeze grunted, extending her back legs awkwardly until she was able to re-claw the bark a bit higher. After some time, she worked her way up to the first branch. She looked down, and the sheer height made her fur stand on end. She felt dizzy and started to wobble, as if a breeze was making her flutter like a leaf. She lowered herself down, digging her claws deep in the tree's flesh and wrapping her paws around the branch. "Colddusk…I…I can't move." She half-squeaked, half-choked out as she trembled.
"Yes, you can. You're fine. Come up here." Colddusk said, five branches above her.
Slowly, she got to her paws. She found if she didn't look down, it was a bit easier. Keeping her eyes looking either at Colddusk or the branch or trunk, she used a few knotholes to gain elevation. Slipping between a fork in the branch, she stood in front of Colddusk.
"I did it!" She laughed nervously.
"Good job. Now we fight."
"What?! The other apprentices can't climb."
"Yes, but…Thunderclan can."
Shatterbreeze frowned. "Fine."
Colddusk took a slow swipe at Shatterbreeze, slowly pushing his paw into her shoulder. Shatterbreeze felt her body move, and she almost lost her balance. Wobbling, she flicked her tail to the side to help steady her.
"Great. Now you attack me." Colddusk crouched low, grinning slightly.
Shatterbreeze nodded, retracting one front paw from the branch, taking a small, slow swipe down at Colddusk's face. Keeping her balance, she took another swipe, using her other paw. Slowly gaining more confidence, she reared up on both of her back legs. One leg slipped, and she squealed in fear as she tumbled down off the branch.
Something sharp bit into her scruff. She dangled as Colddusk latched onto the branch. He adjusted his claws carefully, wrapping his tail tighter around the branch. "Are you ok?"
"Y-yeah. I'm f-fine. Please help m-me." She stammered quickly. Colddusk laughed, shuffling over towards the trunk. She latched on, settling herself on the branch below him. Colddusk leapt down, shaking the branch a bit from the landing. "If you ever did fall," Colddusk commented, "you'd land on your paws."
"That's so encouraging." Shatterbreeze growled sarcastically.
He laughed. "Ok. Getting down. Just leap from branch to branch. Wait until you get your balance before getting to the next one, and when you can, just leap to the floor."
"O-Ok." Doing as she was told, she soon found her paws on solid ground. She restrained herself from kissing the firm, stable ground. The white tom landed beside her. "Well done. It'll come with practice. You'll be ready in no time." He smiled.
Something rustled in the bushes a few fox lengths away. Colddusk growled, and Shatterbreeze unsheathed her claws, ready to attack the possible enemy. Duskowl crashed through the bushes, soon followed by Dusktiger. Each tom was covered in a few deep scratches, and pieces of vegetation stuck to their pelts. They stunk of Twolegplace. Dusktiger wheezed something inaudible, before coughing harshly, and Colddusk growled. "Speak up." Shatterbreeze noticed how labored the tom's breathes were, and the tiny splatter of blood where his muzzle was pointed.
"They're coming." rasped Duskowl. "Old Bloodclan. They're coming."
Me: Hey, Shatterbreeze, guess what time it is?
Shatterbreeze: Time to face Bloodclan?
Me: Time to submit your Bloodclan OC's you want in this story!
Shatterbreeze: Oh yeah! Because Luna's brain-dead from the last Alliances, now YOU, the reviewers, get to be a part of my story!
Me:*derp face* Brain shutting down.
Shatterbreeze: Um...Yeah...Follow this format.
Name (Tom/She):
Pelt color/markings/Eye color:
Personality (how they act):
Skills (Are they a good hunter? Fighter? Are they fast? Strong? etc.):
Rank:
Past:
Family:
Other:
Example:
Name (Tom/She): Talon (She)
Pelt color/markings/Eye color: gray tabby striped pelt and sharp silver eyes, long claws
Personality (how they act): Calm and collected for the most part, yet when upset, she tends to lash out.
Skills (Are they a good hunter? Fighter? Are they fast? Strong? etc.): She is a better stalker than most. Her lithe body makes her fast.
Rank: 'Deputy' of Bloodclan
Past: Grew up with an abusive mother and neglecting father. Her brother, Briar, died from illness in leaf-bare. Father was killed in Great Battle between Bloodclan and Thunderclan. Mother ran away afterwards, leaving Talon in the care of her crazy aunt.
Family: Saber (aunt): light tan-brown she, scraggily, delusional at times
Other: Feels overwhelmed with the burden of her aunt some times, has a slight crush on Snipe (leader), but would never admit it
Me: *steam floats out of ears*
Shatterbreeze: *sighs* While I fix Luna, hit that review button and go wild! No limit on submissions, but I'm betting Luna wants around equal numbers. No 20 kits and 3 warriors or something like that. Now, make my opponents!
