Way to skip ahead, Sparrowpaw and her littermates are now 11 moons! It won't be long before they become warriors… or will it? Also, Firepaw, Shimmerpaw, and Honeypaw are 9 moons, good luck to them as well… Enjoy!
Sparrowpaw was curled in her nest, being slowly roused awake by Shimmerpaw and Honeypaw's chattering. The sun was well risen and all Sparrowpaw wanted to do was sleep soundly. It had been 4 moons since the previous war on territories, and the older apprentices couldn't sleep well since. Sparrowpaw gradually blinked open her eyes and got onto her feet. She crouched down into a stretch and her jaws gaped open in a yawn.
"Good morning, Sparrowpaw!" Sparrowpaw turned to see Firepaw, sitting with a friendly expression on his face. Sparrowpaw blinked. "Oh, Hey" She mewed. After a while, Sparrowpaw grew popular amongst the clan's kits, apprentices, and younger warriors. Everyone, well, everyone except for Pricklestar and Blackclaw, would always be quite open to her.
Sparrowpaw turned her head over towards the younger apprentices, who were acting giggly about how well they can hunt and how cunning they are in battle. Typical young cats, she thought, grinning. The day was upbeat and it didn't seem as if anything could bring down her mood, even if Pricklestar were to intrude the den and start talking about how bad she was at everything in front of all the other apprentices. They wouldn't believe him; anyway, they've seen me practice at my best times, she purred to herself.
A rustle in the ferns around the den alerted Sparrowpaw, and by the looks of it, the other apprentices were alerted as well. every head was turned towards the entrance. A slim body slipped through the tight hole in the stump the apprentices slept in. Sparrowpaw instantly smiled, recognizing Oceanfall, the kind deputy who never had anything negative to say. "You seven" Oceanfall mewed, nodding her head at Sparrowpaw, then at Rileypaw, Heatherpaw, and Airpaw, then at the younger apprentices," Mosspelt, Lilyfeather, and I are setting up a training group session, so you guys are obviously going to participate in it, since you are apprentices," She smiled and went on, "This will help us know what you are good with and what needs more work, so we can report to your mentors afterwards"
As soon Oceanfall finished talking, the apprentices burst out in an excited chatter. It was rare that they got to train together, and when they did it was always a lot of fun. Too bad Bubblepaw doesn't train with us, Sparrowpaw though ruefully, and then we could be a lot closer, and have more good times together.
"Well come along then," Oceanfall pressed, gently nudging Rileypaw out of the hole. "Okay, Okay" Rileypaw mewed, scrambling to her paws and heading out into the freezing air. Sparrowpaw found herself next to Airpaw, who was glancing around, anxiety holding her gaze. Sparrowpaw blinked at her thoughtfully, "Everything alright?" She asked gently. Airpaw flinched, and then shook her head curtly. "I'm fine, I just don't know if I'd be good with Thunderclan skills just yet." She replied, "I've been training a lot in Windclan, and if I were still there I might have been a warrior already."
"Okay, but I'm sure you'll do fine" Sparrowpaw assured her. The older apprentice smiled bleakly, "Thanks" She purred.
As the group drew near the sandy hollow, as they called it, Oceanfall came to an abrupt halt in the snow covered area. "Alright, here we are," The deputy announced, "We are going to practice some of our fighting moves. Shimmerpaw, Honeypaw, Firepaw, and Airpaw, I know you haven't yet done most these moves yet, so Mosspelt, Lilyfeather, Sparrowpaw, Heatherpaw, Rileypaw, and I will help teach you. Then we will practice the moves."
Sparrowpaw beamed; she had never tried teaching before, and she thought it sounded fun. She just hoped she wouldn't get Shimmerpaw; that apprentice was way too full of herself. "I don't need to be taught! I'm naturally gifted!" Shimmerpaw declared arrogantly, just as Sparrowpaw had finished thinking. Rileypaw leaned over and whispered to Sparrowpaw, "I want to train her, and I'm going to be so hard on her… I'll criticize her every wrong move"
Sparrowpaw chuckled, "You have fun with that self-obsessed apprentice, then" She told her. Rileypaw nodded, a glimmer of amusement showing in her eyes. She padded over to Oceanfall and whispered something Sparrowpaw couldn't quite catch, but she knew it was about Shimmerpaw. Oceanfall nodded briskly "Here is how this will go," Oceanfall's meow rang across the hollow, "Mosspelt will help Firepaw, Lilyfeather can assist Honeypaw, Rileypaw will "mentor" Shimmerpaw, Heatherpaw will advise Airpaw, Sparrowpaw will help with the little exams once the apprentices think they got it, and I will be supervising this all."
Sparrowpaw's head spun, So many words, she thought to herself. She slumped onto the ground. They wouldn't need her help yet; they still had to practice first.
Sparrowpaw flicked her ears, noticing that they were all learning battle moves. Why not hunting? She wondered silently, I don't think the apprentices are all top-notch hunters yet.
She pushed the thought away and looked at the ground. It was nearly snow-melt, and this leaf-bare had been an easy one, only two prey-less nights and only one case of greencough. The dappled apprentice used her paw and scraped at the ground, uncovering cold, packed sand. Looks like everything is freezing up, I guess, she sighed with relief, knowing new-leaf would finally come soon.
"Can I please go train with Sparrowpaw now? I understand all this!" Sparrowpaw turned at the voice of Firepaw, who was staring at Mosspelt with annoyance. Mosspelt flicked his tail, "Fine" He muttered, "But if Sparrowpaw brings you back claiming you didn't know how, you're in trouble"
"Okay!" Firepaw replied, already bounding over to Sparrowpaw. The young tom skidded to a stop on the spot where Sparrowpaw had been digging before. "Ow!" He exclaimed, lifted his paw off the frozen-solid sand," Why's it so hard there?"
Sparrowpaw let out a faint Mrrow of amusement. "Sorry, In was digging there" She apologized. Firepaw dropped his paw back into snow, "It's alright" He said instantly looking as if he forgot about being hurt," Let's just start practicing!"
Sparrowpaw's eyes still gleamed in amusement, "Okay," She said," What did Mosspelt want you to practice?"
"Umm, battle moves?" He replied. Sparrowpaw rolled her eyes, "I mean which does he want you to practice." Firepaw's fur ruffled in embarrassment. "The back kick, belly rake, front paw blow, leaf and hold, and teeth grip" He corrected himself.
"Right, we will practice those then" The two apprentices moved so that they were facing one another. "Come on, Firepaw, do a blow to me… paws sheathed though, please"
Firepaw nodded quickly and crouched down low. Sparrowpaw braced herself for impact, but simply found him leaping off the ground. The fiery tom landed behind her and before Sparrowpaw could turn, she felt a hard blow on her flank. She cringed "That was good…" She told him. And very painful, she added to herself. "Thanks!" Firepaw gushed, "Now I can move on"
Sparrowpaw's ears twitched as Firepaw placed himself in front of Sparrowpaw. She swished her tail, steadily preparing herself. Firepaw broke into a run and slid under Sparrowpaw, rubbing his paw against her belly. "Very good!" She purred, wondering to herself if even she could do it that well, "You are really good at this"
Firepaw turned her head away, purring silently, "I think you're special too," He murmured. Sparrowpaw took a step back. "What do you mean?' She demanded. Firepaw blinked, "I mean that you are beautiful, strong, sweet, just the best cat in the world! I can't wait until we become warriors together,"
Sparrowpaw took another pace back. She felt hot inside, suddenly feeling flattered, then looked at the ground, I'm sorry Firepaw, I don't know if I feel the same way, she didn't dare to say the words aloud. "Thanks, I think you're pretty great too" She tried to suppress a purr. He purred back, affection lighting his eyes. Sparrowpaw felt even worse, if he knew she didn't really care, he'd be heart-broken.
"Wait" Sparrowpaw meowed, searching for words for her confession. She knew she couldn't just lie to his face like that forever, "You are a very good friend Firepaw, but I don't know if we should really be… together. I'm not really thinking of having a mate yet, or anything…" Firepaw looked taken aback, hurt replacing the affection in his eyes. "Oh, okay" He whispered, "That's fine, I'm perfectly okay"
Sparrowpaw flattened her ears and let her tail droop. Not once had she ever hurt any cat emotionally before. She didn't like the sensation that came with it. I feel guilty now… she thought.
"We still have to train…" Sparrowpaw mumbled aloud. Firepaw didn't answer. "Firepaw," She called out, "We still need to train" Firepaw clambered onto his feet. "Right, sorry" He grumbled. Sparrowpaw shifted awkwardly in position. Firepaw moved up to Sparrowpaw, and slammed his paw down on her head. "Ouch!" She yowled, "You did that too hard!"
Firepaw jumped back, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" He yelped, "I didn't mean to… I promise!"
Sparrowpaw shook her head, dazed. "Its fine, Firepaw" she reassured. The tom let out a grunt of relief. Good old polite Firepaw, she thought, even like this he still knows how to be a kind cat.
…
As the day passed by, Sparrowpaw helped out the other apprentices. In her honest opinion, Firepaw was still the best out of all of them. He is quite the warrior.
The group of cats padded back to their camp, all exhausted from training. Sparrowpaw though she might need to be checked out; all those apprentices trying out those battle moves on her really stung. It was dusk and the cool leafbare winds ruffled Sparrowpaw's dappled pelt. She stopped for a second, letting Firepaw catch up to her. The pair walked wordlessly to camp.
"Firepaw?" Sparrowpaw mewed. Firepaw turned his head, "Yeah?"
"I'm sorry I hurt you," Sparrowpaw admitted.
"Oh, that's fine, I'm not very mad anymore" Firepaw told her, "I always remember it's important not to dwell on the past. It's the future that means anything, what has happened has happened, it's impossible to change, and thinking on one thing to much can really affect a cat"
Sparrowpaw flushed, Even so young, he is very wise, she looked at the ground shyly.
Wait… Do I feel something for Firepaw now too?
Sparrowpaw's thoughts whirled, Why do I have to forget Cherryclaw so easily, she whined to herself, I need to think straight, I can't fall in love….
Can I?
Hello! Sorry I haven't updated in ages, I've been busy doing other random things. I have a question to ask you guys though. For being a 12 year old, do you think I'm good at writing? Or do I need to work? Please I want honest opinions here, I'm really trying hard to become an author when I'm older… And remember, please turn in those OC's for the story I shall write after this one! I'm going to need them later. (And sorry if they don't get featured, I may not use some if the names are too unrealistic or someone else uses the same roles)
Bye!