Chapter ten: Lessons
"Um... Hey, Thistleclaw?.."
Tigerpaw was approaching his mentor. Thistleclaw turned around. "What?" He sounded a little annoyed. "I..I was wondering..." Tigerpaw hesitated, And Thistleclaw snapped, "Get on with it! I haven't got all day!" Tigerpaw hesitated a heartbeat longer, then went on. "Was it actually a good idea to attack that kittypet? Bluefur is still a little cross with me." Thistleclaw rolled his eyes. "Great Starclan, you came to me with a teeny problem like that?! Ugh..." He sighed. "I guess I'll have to teach you this sometime.." He grumbled. "Follow me." Thistleclaw began to walk to the entrance of the camp, where the dawn patrol just came out of. Tigerpaw followed him a little reluctantly. He didn't trust his mentor as much ever since Bluefur had told him at Whitekit's vigil, that fighting the kit had been wrong, cruel. I hope Thistleclaw knows what he's doing, 'cause now... I think my life is spinning out of control.
When the two cats reached some shelter under a beech tree, Tigerpaw narrowed his eyes at his mentor. "Now tell me, what's this about?" Thistleclaw leaned forward. "Bluefur tends to overreact, don't worry about her. I know she says that what we did to that kittypet was wrong, but it's not. Fighting is the answer, being strong is all the clan has. And loyalty of course." Thistleclaw flicked his tail. "I know you will become truly strong, if you remember this lesson. I am sorry that Bluefur does not see this. Not many cats can, they can never be truly strong. They are strong, but not strong enough. They have... Too much softness in their hearts. This prevents them from being the strongest warriors they can be. But I won't let some cat like you throw this away." "But what about Snowfur? Does she have a.. Uh... Softness in her heart?" Thistleclaw glared at his apprentice. "That is a lesson you will learn later in life. By yourself!" He snapped.
Tigerpaw flattened his ears. "Fine." He growled. Goldenpaw... She doesn't seem really, truly strong... Just beautiful...kind... So sweet and soft- he cut his thought off short. Soft? Goldenpaw... She's soft? No.. That can't be the word.. She's... His heart sank to his paws. Soft. That's it. She's soft. So... She can't be my mate?... But wha- "Ungh!" Tigerpaw's head thumped to the ground. "I knew it! You aren't even listening to me!" Thistleclaw was spitting with with anger. He had knocked Tigerpaw down with his shoulder. "W-what?" He was gasping for breath. "I... I what?" Thistleclaw's paw slapped his apprentice's face. "Listen to me if you want me to teach you a lesson! I thought you wanted to be powerful! I thought you wanted me to train you!" Tigerpaw was slightly bewildered. "I do! I do want you to teach me!"
"Than listen to me! Or else I'm wasting my breath on you!"
"Okay, okay!"
"I guess for now, go rest so you can go to the gathering tonight!"
Tigerpaw froze. "The gathering? Tonight?!" "Yes!" Thistleclaw's tail lashed angrily. "Now go rest so you'll be strong enough to make it there!" Tigerpaw felt slightly stunned that the events he had witnessed happened so quickly, but he ran down hill towards the camp with his mentor behind him.
Tigerpaw stretched. He had rested, and it would be his first time to go to the gathering since he had sprained his paw when he had first became an apprentice and couldn't go. Time to show the clans what the great apprentice Tigerpaw can do.
It's time to let things fly.
I think I should have his warrior ceremony in the next two chapters... What do you think?