Time flew by slowly, Frostpaw spent his time before sunhigh near the center of clearing, soaking in the Warm sun. He noticed that many of the warriors had gathered around the Highrock nearby. He thought he wasn't supposed to be a part of it at first, until he heard Brackenstar's voice ring out from the same highrock.
"All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting!"
Did he count? He hadn't learned to hunt yet, so was he exempt or was he expected to be there. Dawnpaw and Shrewpaw, followed swiftly by Viperpaw rushed to the meeting so he decided to follow them to take their places at the meeting.
He sat near his Brother and Dawnpaw, and as he did the last of the Warriors and Medicine cat filed into the clearing to attend. Once the last of them had reached the rock Brackenstar began the meeting's discussion.
"I promised we'd take action against Skyclan should they wish for war, and I will make good on that promise." Brackenstar said, "I have personally gone to the edge of our territory earlier today and asked one of their patrols to speak with Oakstar about a peace offering, but all I got in return was hostility." The Leader's Brown Tail twitched, and he continued. "I have tried peace, so we must answer with the only language they will listen to."
Yowls of support went up from the clearing before the Tabby Tom spoke again, raising his tail to request silence. "Now, As I said before we will not be killing any skyclanian cats." Brackenstar said, throwing a Glance of Nettlepelt who murmured something under his breath. "We will be simply launching a surprise attack on an enemy patrol, and we will be leaving them with wounds and nothing more, except a message." Brackenstar yeowled.
More yowls of support, although he noticed that Ravenheart was looking uncertain and his Black tail twitched as it swept across the ground. Applefern looked neutral about the situation and sat with no particular expression. Nettlepelt looked content with Brackenstars' plan, and Flamewing looked determined to avenge the Patrol.
"I plan to conduct this raid with myself and my most experienced warriors, Dapplefur and Flamewing will stay behind here for sure to help give the apprentices combat training, I will also advise Brambleheart and Aldergaze stay behind here to guard the Camp, along with Whitepelt and Rowanheart." The Leader said, "The Rest of the Warriors will come with me and Applefern."
"He's taking nearly half the Clans Warriors with him!" Dawnpaw exclaimed, "They are gonna beat the Dung outta em!" Graypaw said.
He, Shrewpaw, and Viperpaw exchanged uneasy glances. The 3 of them knew that although the patrol would be a considerable force, so had been Cedarclaws patrol. …
"Come on, the lot of you." Flamewing meowed, walking past him and the other apprentices, "It's time to begin combat training."
Dawnpaw leapt at the sound of that, Graypaw didn't have any reaction at all, probably because he had already done lots of combat training. Viperpaw gave a huff, probably wanting to get it over with, Shrewpaw looked determined but he? Frostpaw must have looked like a mess.
The Apprentices followed Flamewing out of the Camp. Frostpaw took a last look at the Retreating camp entrance as the group of cats faded into the forest. They all walked over the endless roots of trees as they went, and it didn't take them long until they reached a sparse area with less trees. It was a nice spot, a good bit of sunlight wafted down from the light between the branches. He realized why this must have been such a Popular spot for training warriors in combat, since It could be used to teach more open spaced fighting and tight quarters in the forest. It was the perfect spot, and Frostpaw knew this wouldn't be the last time he was here.
"Alright, First Order of business…" Flamewing started, before realizing they were missing a cat. "Can someone fetch Dapplefur?" Flamewing asked.
"I'll go." Viperpaw volunteered.
"No…too young, I'll go, Graypaw look after them." Flamewing asked. Graypaw nodded and Flamewing bounded into the trees.
"Did Dapplefur not listen to Brackenstar?" Frostpaw asked, his ears twitching as he heard a bird chirping in the nearby trees.
"He does that often." Graypaw said, "Dapplefur and Brackenstar have had a lot of differences…Flamewing told me Dapplefur wanted to be deputy, but since his apprentice died of Greencough a few leafbares ago before completing his training he was ineligible."
"He had an apprentice?" Frostpaw exclaimed, "But that old tom hates apprentices, I don't think he could stand one if he did have one!"
"He doesn't like them probably because the one he had died, blowing his only shot at glory." Graypaw said, "He was heartbroken of course, but now he just doesn't like apprentices at all anymore, probably why he won't ever get another."
"Huh…" Shrewpaw said, his brother's Gray tail twitched.
"Yep…Dapplefur won't ever respect an apprentice again probably, and I hate him for that." Graypaw said, "It's not his apprentice's fault he died, I hear it was a Harsh Leaf-Bare, I really wish he could move on since there is more to life than being a Leader after all…" Graypaw said.
There was a Rustling in the bushes, and suddenly Flamewing and Dapplefur emerged from the Foliage. Dapplefur had a scowl on his face, and it was clear Graypaws story was true if he ever doubted it.
"Well, the first order of combat training is to teach you lot not to do." Flametail said, his tail swishing around as he explained. "Do not, under any circumstances, expose your belly to your enemy!" Flametail said, "I can't even believe I have to explain this, but that is a death sentence, exposing your weak spots to your enemy is a No-No."
All of them nodded except Graypaw, who already presumably knew this from his own training. The Flame colored warrior went on about how many cats he'd seen make this mistake, and a few insults thrown around towards those mentioned cats.
"Now, if your enemy does get you on your back, Your first priority is to get them off. Kick them with your back paws to get them off, if not able to do that try and wiggle out of the situation." Flamewing said, "When I was an apprentice one of my friends got killed because he got too cocky while fighting a fox and got his belly slashed open."
Frostpaw gulped, imagining a cat being ripped open by the long claws of a Fox.
"Now, if you want to not get cut open you must always pay attention to the surroundings, that's the next rule of combat. Know where your paws are, know where they will be, and know where your claws will slice." Flamewing said, "Any Warrior knows this, but they hardly apply it in a combat situation, I've seen Warriors in Fight's gain plenty of injuries thanks to them not watching where they put their paws and claws."
"If you can use the Environment to your advantage, do it." Flamewing said, "Today's Exercise will be a game you guys used to play as Kits I believe…The Objective will be to Hide and Find the Other Apprentices." The Warrior Explained, and he was surprised Dawnpaw didn't start jumping up with excitement.
"Granted, I don't think you should all be deep in the woods by yourself, So I'm confining the game to within 50 Tail Lengths of camp." Flamewing said, Frostpaw looked at Dawnpaw, who looked disappointed, as did his Brother Shrewpaw.
"However within that anything goes as long as it's not in camp." The Warrior said, "You have until the Shadows Reach that tree stump to hide, Graypaw will be hunting you all down." Flamewing meowed, Frostpaw looked at the Tree Stump in question, noticing the Shadows were already fast approaching its roots.
"Best get going, and good luck!" Flamewing said, and very quickly the apprentices filed towards camp. Frostpaw thought of that one time him and Dawnpaw went on that little adventure out of camp as kits, and he felt fond of that memory despite the scolding they received after it. He quickly realized that Ditch the 2 of them found next to camp would be a perfect place to hide since there was a space between the roots of a tree where he could fit, granted his White pelt would stand out among the Dirt and Branches but He was sure it would hide him well enough.
He quickly turned towards the Ditch and bolted to it, covering the distance in quick strides as he scrambled over leaves. He nearly lost balance while running down the surprisingly steep walls of it but he kept composure. He saw that ditch and it looked even better for hiding than he remembered, he ran for it and quickly snuck himself between its roots. He sighed, soaking in the memories of the lost times of his childhood.
He heard rustling nearby, he shrunk towards the Rear of the little den, and he saw Ginger paws in front of it. That had to be Dawnpaw, and soon enough she stuck her head under the Roots.
"Dawnpaw? What are you doing here!" He exclaimed, and she shook her head. "Move over, Mouse Brain!" She said, "Graypaw is already on the prowl!"
She stuck herself into the Den, It was a somewhat Tight Fit, but it worked, The 2 of them were well hidden.
"You could have found somewhere else to hide, you know?" He asked the Ginger-She Cat.
"No, I really couldn't." She huffed, "Viperpaw and Shrewpaw kicked me out of my spot between the tree trunks and this was the first place I thought of."
"Same…I mean without the being kicked out part." Frostpaw said, this reminded him a lot of that very venture the 2 went out on as Kits, Just they weren't bending the rules this time.
"Yeah, I figured." She said.
It was silent for a few more minutes, then suddenly the sound of pawsteps outside. The 2 of them tensed as 4 Gray Paws stood outside of the Ditch.
"Alright, Come out you too." Said Graypaws voice said.
They both sighed, and exited the ditch.
"You two picked a good spot, Found the other 2 way before you." Graypaw said
"Really?" Frostpaw asked.
"Yep, although they weren't as happy about it as you!" Graypaw chuckled.
Maybe this won't be so bad after all Frostpaw thought
Little did Frostpaw know how wrong he was.
Please guys tell me how cute are Dawn and Frost together I need to know ^-^