The youngest apprentices of WindClan stood in a straight line as their mentors surrounded them with intent, expecting gazes. Scorchpaw took a deep breath as he caught Berrysplash's gaze, who gave him a small nod. Next to him, Wildpaw's fur was bristling in the cold, and Gorsepaw's teeth chattered. Russetpaw whispered something in Blackpaw's ears, and Blackpaw simply nodded in response.
"If you're done with the chatter," Rabbitfur meowed, addressing the apprentices from the center of the plain they were standing on, "it's time to begin."
"Begin what?" Gorsepaw asked, shaking his gray-and-white fur.
"Yeah, you just dragged us out here with no explanation," Russetpaw added, her green eyes narrowed. "What are we doing?"
Heathercloud lifted her head. "Today, we have created an obstacle course for you apprentices to do." The five mentors stepped aside, breaking the line they had created, and in the distance Scorchpaw could see the course they were talking about. Multiple rocks were piled together to create jumping obstacles, and further away there were multiple bramble bushes that had clearly been placed in the moorland by a cat. Just past it were makeshift tunnels from fallen, hollow trees.
Our mentors brought all those things to create this course? Scorchpaw gawked, surprised at the amount of planning that this obstacle course must have taken. Wow! They really want us to complete it, then.
"You will be completing this in pairs," Berrysplash announced. "Scorchpaw and Wildpaw, you'll be together. Blackpaw and Russetpaw, you'll be a pair. Gorsepaw, mind completing it with Heathercloud? This will be her first time doing the course."
"Of course not," Gorsepaw meowed, giving a respectful nod to Heathercloud.
"The pair that completes the obstacle course the fastest will win a reward," Spottedwing added, excitement shining in her yellow eyes. "This is not just a tense of your agility and intelligence, it's a test of how well you can work with your partner. So, get in your pairs!"
Scorchpaw walked over to Wildpaw, greeting her with a mew. Wildpaw's yellow eyes were burning with determination, and Scorchpaw purred, thinking about how lucky he was to have a partner like her, undaunted and adamant in whatever task was thrown her way.
"We're going to make a great team!" Scorchpaw declared.
"You bet it," Wildpaw purred. "We'll finish it first, and we'll get the prize. What do you think it'll be? The biggest rabbit on the fresh-kill pile? Praise from Swiftstar? A day off from apprentice duties?"
"Only one way to find out!" Scorchpaw declared. He crouched down next to Wildpaw, catching the glimpse of Berrysplash as she stood in their peripheral version.
"Is every cat ready?" Berrysplash called out. The apprentices replied with a unanimous chorus of agreement, and then the WindClan deputy meowed, "Go!"
As if they were chasing rabbits, Scorchpaw and Wildpaw pelted across the moor, encountering the first challenge – a mound of rocks taller than the apprentices themselves. The two cats exchanged a glance and looked back up at the mound of rocks. It was huge – easily twice the length of a cat. Could they climb over it? Scorchpaw searched the rocks – it wasn't a massive boulder, some cat had gathered large rocks and dragged them one over the other to create a mound of rocks. If they tried to climb it, there was a near certainty that one of the rocks would crumble and land on top of them. So that's out of the question.
The only other possibility was to leap over it. Am I strong enough? Scorchpaw flexed his muscles, testing them out. He had used them to subdue other apprentices, to hunt prey, and although he hadn't used them in agility courses, he was sure he could try. WindClan cats weren't built for jumping, but what if he came across some obstacle in life that required him to jump? I hope Violetheart is close by…
Scorchpaw stepped back, crouching down and tensing the muscles in his body. The ginger-and-white tom leaped off the ground with the strength in his back legs, scaling the rock easily. Yes! I did it! He landed on the grass, shaking out his ginger-and-white fur and turning his head to search for his partner. His eyes widened when he realized that Wildpaw was already on the other side of the rock.
"How did you—" Scorchpaw's voice was cut off by his friend.
"Ran around it. Why jump when you can run?" Wildpaw bounded away from the rock, and Scorchpaw could hear the other apprentices hard on his trail. He chased after Wildpaw as the two apprentices approached the maze of brambles and thorns. They stopped sharply in their tracks, their eyes studying the maze. They'd have to figure out how to go through it without being harmed.
WindClan cats had short fur, and the thorns were prickly, so they could easily stab through their fur and skin and rip it open. There was no way they could scale the thorns either – there were too many of them or they spanned a great distance, so if they tried to jump, they'd just land in more of them. So we can't go over them. Maybe we can go through them! There's got to be a maze somewhere.
Scorchpaw gazed at the multitude of bushes, searching for a gap that would allow them to slink around the thorns unharmed. He spotted a patch where the thorns did not intersect – perfect for a cat to go through. "Wildpaw!" he called out, seeing that his friend was prodding at the thorns with a delicate paw. "I've found a spot!"
"Really?" Wildpaw asked, striding over to Scorchpaw. She bent down and followed Scorchpaw's line of sight, and a scowl came across her face. "That won't fit us! We'll be ripped apart!"
"Don't you trust me?" Scorchpaw asked her, holding her steady glare. "I won't let anything hurt you, whether it's the thorns or another cat."
Wildpaw returned Scorchpaw's gaze, and finally she let out a small nod. "All right. I'll go fir—"
"No. I will." Scorchpaw touched his nose to Wildpaw's and turned back to the small gap in the thorns. He'd have to bunch his muscles together and sink his sides in. He had to make himself smaller, as if he was hiding from a hawk or a Twoleg. Scorchpaw finally shoved himself into the gap, wincing as the tip of the thorns scratched at his side. But it didn't tear his skin, and for that, Scorchpaw let out a sigh of relief. Now he'd just have to follow the maze and find a way out.
The thorns blocked out all sunlight, and the only thing he could see were brambles and the spikes of the thorns. But there was still a gap between the thorns, and all he had to do was follow it. He squeezed through the thorns, one paw in front of another. Although he realized that time wasn't on his side, and that it was of essence, if he ran, he risked hurting himself – and Wildpaw.
"Wildpaw?" Scorchpaw called out. "Are you all right back there?"
"I'm fine!" Wildpaw called out. "I'm following you. Like I said, I trust you, so you better get us both out of here – and in one piece!"
"All right then." Scorchpaw purred and continued to follow the small path the separation of the thorns provided. Just as the branches turned and twisted, and the thorns began to close in, scratching his pelt this time, Scorchpaw could see a yellow orb in the distance – the sun! Quickening his pace, Scorchpaw pulled himself from the trail and exited on the other side. He looked over his shoulder to see Wildpaw following him shortly after.
We did it! Scorchpaw thought jubilantly. Let's keep going! The ginger-and-white tom raced through the moor, Wildpaw behind him as he followed the thick scent of his mentors, assuming that it was associated with the obstacle course. When he spotted a thick sand-colored pelt, sitting right in front of them, he skidded to a halt. What's she doing here?
Sandfall stepped in front of the two apprentices. "Going somewhere?" she asked, her pale eyes glowing with a challenge. "Berrysplash says I've got to stop you."
An attack is part of this too? Scorchpaw crouched down. "Try me, Sandfall!"
"Try us!" Wildpaw corrected Scorchpaw, and Scorchpaw nodded. Sandfall threw herself at the two apprentices, but Scorchpaw ducked over her while Wildpaw kicked her in her underbelly, sending her flying. For a moment, Scorchpaw felt sympathy for Sandfall as he turned to see her lie in the grassland, groaning. But when the sand colored she-cat pulled herself to the paws, Scorchpaw was grateful to see that she wasn't hurt, and as the two apprentices sprinted away, she did not pursue them.
Just as the two cats ran, further and further, Scorchpaw caught the sight of a massive patch of rippling blue, and he could hear the soft splashing of the waves. A pond? he thought. His suspicions were confirmed when he approached the pond, and just as his paws nearly hit the waves, he spotted a large, fallen tree creating a path from the shore of the pond to the other side.
Berrysplash must want us to cross this, if this is there on purpose, Scorchpaw thought, spotting Wildpaw searching for another route. I want to make her proud. "Wildpaw," Scorchpaw called out. "Let's cross the branch."
"Are you sure?" Hesitation glimmered in Wildpaw's eyes.
"Don't worry," Scorchpaw meowed. "Just follow me, all right?"
"I'm not scared!" Wildpaw exclaimed.
"I never said you were." Scorchpaw's whiskers twitched in amusement. "It's just like crossing the tree to get to the island!" He leaped on top of the oak tree, wincing as it wavered underneath him. Careful, Scorchpaw. He took a few timid steps from the roots, and thanked the gods that the tree was steady as he began to cross. One paw in front of another. His descent was slow, just like his journey through the brambles – he didn't want to fall, after all.
Suddenly, the tree quivered underneath him, and Scorchpaw heard a yelp of fear behind him. Wildpaw! Scorchpaw sank his claws in the branch so that he wouldn't slip and turned his head to see Wildpaw plunging into the waves. No! Scorchpaw leaped over on the branch, and just as he tried to save Wildpaw… the treacherous waves took control of him, as well. Scorchpaw gasped as his paws slipped on the branch and he hit the water with a loud splash.
This is horrible! Scorchpaw panicked, the water grasping at his fur and bringing him down with him. I've got to get Wildpaw out of here. He spotted his friend's neatly shaped head, coughing out water as she thrashed her paws, trying to stay near the surface. Scorchpaw grabbed Wildpaw's scruff in his jaws, and ignoring her constant protests, began to drag her through the waves. The water wasn't deep, and Scorchpaw could feel the pebbles of the ground underneath him. It made embarrassment inundate his body – he had been so terrified of the water, he hadn't even noticed that it was shallow and was virtually safe.
The shore was in sight, and Scorchpaw was trying to walk as if he was on the moorland, since he could still feel the pebbles underneath his paws. Wildpaw was still in his jaws, and he didn't want to let go of her, not for a moment. The water might be shallow, but what if she ended up drowning, anyway? I can't let that happen! When Scorchpaw finally reached the shore, he pulled himself out of the water and released his teeth from Wildpaw's scruff, coughing up water.
Wildpaw shook out her fur and glared crossly at Scorchpaw. "I was doing just fine on my own, thank you!" Her fur was soaked to the bone, as well as Scorchpaw's, and water was dripping from their pelts.
Scorchpaw lifted his head, shuddering thanks to his damp fur. "You slipped in the water," he reminded her.
"I could've gotten to the surface on my own," Wildpaw growled at him. "I didn't need you to save me."
"I didn't want to save you." Scorchpaw shook his head. "I wanted to help you. After all, we're partners in this exercise, and partners work together, right? And even moreso than partners… we're friends. Don't friends help each other out?"
Scorchpaw's words seemed to have a calming effect on Wildpaw, and the tortoiseshell she-cat let out a nod. "All right. Sorry for snapping at you, Scorchpaw. I guess you did kinda save me there. I thought I was drowning."
"Not on my watch," Scorchpaw told her, a grin spreading on his face. "Now come on! We've got a course to complete! Can you still smell our mentors' scent?"
Wildpaw tasted the air, and then let out a fast nod. "Yes! Come on, Scorchpaw!" The tortoiseshell she-cat took off quickly, without any time for Scorchpaw to follow her. He ran off, hoping that the run would dry their pelts. Wildpaw followed the scent, her paws skimming through the moorland grass, barely touching the ground. Scorchpaw was fast on her heels but could never quite catch up to her.
The two apprentices reached a pile of fallen, hollow trees, and a rabbit lying on the uppermost tree. Oh, wow, Scorchpaw thought, gazing at the mountain of trees. This is something we'll need to climb. They want us to get the rabbit.
"I can't believe our mentors had time for something like this," Wildpaw growled, lashing her tail. "They're always saying how busy they are, yet they had the time to put together mazes and fallen trees?"
"Let's just get the rabbit," Scorchpaw told her. "I bet they'll replace it when the other cats come. They're probably around here, somewhere." He studied the pile of branches, wondering the best way to reach the rabbit without the branches falling and squashing them. Wildpaw gazed at it, deep in thought.
These trees seem heavy and solid, compared to the rocks, Scorchpaw mused as he walked around the fallen trees. It shouldn't slip if we climb them to get to the rabbit. But the hollow parts are supposed to be a trick, right? They want us to go through the hollow branches, but it'll be useless. We've got to climb it to get to the rabbit.
"Okay." Scorchpaw braced his muscles. "I'll go up."
"No way." Wildpaw shook her head. "I hate to break it to you, Scorchpaw, but you're… kinda big. You'll send those trees falling if you go. I can go up there, I'm small and thin enough that the trees won't budge underneath me."
"Are you sure it's safe?" Scorchpaw asked her.
"Well, I guess there's only one way to find out," Wildpaw meowed. The dark tortoiseshell apprentice scaled the bottom tree, her claws sinking into the oak. Once she made it on top of the tree, Scorchpaw stared at the base of the worriedly. It didn't move underneath Wildpaw's weight. Thank the gods.
Wildpaw continued to hop on each branch until she reached the top, where the dead rabbit laid. "I don't think we should take it, Scorchpaw!" she yowled to the ginger-and-white apprentice. "Let's just put some sort of indication we were here. The rabbit should be here so the other cats know they need to get up here."
"Like what?" Scorchpaw asked.
"There's mud here," Wildpaw said. "I'll just put my paw on it. I'm guessing on purpose. They'll see that there's a paw print." Scorchpaw watched the apprentice as she pressed her paw against the top of the tree, and then she made her descent gracefully down the pile of trees and landed next to Scorchpaw. Scorchpaw stared at her.
"You're a great climber," Scorchpaw remarked. "How? WindClan cats don't climb trees."
"Well, it was just easy," Wildpaw replied. "It was just branches to jump on, there wasn't any sort of climbing. But one day, I'll climb a tree, and I'll teach you to, Scorchpaw!"
"In your dreams." Scorchpaw snorted. "All right. I still smell Berrysplash, so let's keep going!" He chased after Wildpaw as the tortoiseshell apprentice navigated through the marshland, following the scent of their Clan deputy. It grew thicker and thicker until Scorchpaw could spot her cream-colored figure in the moor. She was sitting next to a massive rock, her tail-tip twitching back and forth.
But then… Berrysplash turned on her heel and began to run. Wildpaw and Scorchpaw exchanged puzzled glances. Did Berrysplash want them to chase after her? If that's what she wants, we'll do it! The two apprentices tensed their muscles and took off after Berrysplash. Scorchpaw pumped his legs faster and faster, Berrysplash's pelt coming closer and closer into sight.
But Berrysplash was fast, and she ran further and further, leaving Scorchpaw's vision. Scorchpaw gritted his teeth and, pretending as if she was a rabbit he was going to hunt, rolled his shoulders and pushed forward, keeping his pace steady so he wouldn't exhaust himself. Just as he saw Berrysplash's tail closer in sight, he gave it his all – releasing all the tension in his body as he accelerated his stride, running further and further until Berrysplash was mouse-lengths in front of him. Scorchpaw leaped from his position and sent his mentor bowling over. She hit the ground, and Scorchpaw pinned her down.
"Well done," Berrysplash purred, staring at him from where she was pinned against the ground. "Could you get off me, now?"
Scorchpaw stepped off his mentor, noticing that Wildpaw had approached the two of them. She wasn't even out of breath, and she fixed Berrysplash with a determined, steady gaze. Berrysplash scrambled to her paws, then shook out her ruffled fur and gave them a small nod. "Congratulations, both of you. You're the first pair that made it back. You've successfully passed the obstacle course – and you've won."
"What did we win?" Wildpaw asked, leaning her head in.
"The first pick at tonight's feast. In honor of our apprentices." Berrysplash's whiskers twitched.
"A feast!" Wildpaw gasped, her eyes shining. "In honor of us?"
"That's incredible!" Scorchpaw exclaimed, joy making his heart fly in his chest.
"You've all been working very hard," Berrysplash remarked, "and so Swiftstar felt it was time to reward you all. You two wait for the rest of the group to get back, and we'll discuss what we learned. I have to go."
"Go where?" Scorchpaw asked.
Berrysplash looked over her shoulder. "You're not the only two cats that have to chase me!" she told them. "All of them have to!" The cream colored she-cat shot off in the distance, disappearing into the moorland. Scorchpaw watched her go, a hint of amusement making his whiskers twitch. When she was gone, Scorchpaw took the chance to glance at Wildpaw.
They had made a great team. Scorchpaw had figured out how to get through the brambles, and Wildpaw had trusted him every step of the way. They defeated Sandfall easily, knocking her aside in seconds. Although the pond incident was definitely a mishap, now that Scorchpaw thought about it… he let out a loud guffaw.
"What are you laughing about?" Wildpaw asked.
"The pond," Scorchpaw replied. "The water literally only reached up to my elbows, and both of us thought we were drowning! I had to hold you like your life depended on it, but now that I think about it, you weren't in any danger at all! And neither was I!"
A grin tugged on Wildpaw's face. "Yeah, you're right. It was pretty funny." The she-cat let out a chuckle, joining Scorchpaw in his recollection of the event. "I'm going to remember that forever!"
After the pond incident, Wildpaw had been the one to climb up the tree and figure out what to do about the rabbit. She hadn't wanted to take it away because she was worried how the other cats would pass the obstacle course if they didn't know the purpose was to climb the trees. After, both cats had worked together in chasing after Berrysplash as if she was a rabbit. We make a really good team, Scorchpaw thought, studying Wildpaw's expression in the sunlight.
"Wildpaw?" Scorchpaw asked.
"Yeah?" Wildpaw inquired, turning her sleek head to meet Scorchpaw's gaze.
"I'm so glad to have you as a friend," Scorchpaw told her, feeling his heart swell with warmth as he looked at his friend.
"Oh?" Wildpaw's whiskers twitched, the hint of bashfulness on her face. "Where'd that come from?"
"Did you not have fun, like I did?" Scorchpaw asked her, worried about her reaction.
"Of course I did, rabbit-brain." Wildpaw butted her head against Scorchpaw's cheek. "And I'm glad to have you as a friend too, Scorchpaw."
Scorchpaw purred loudly as the tortoiseshell she-cat twined herself around him. Something about her touch made his heart flutter, it made all the insecurities fade away. It was like there was nothing he had to care about except Wildpaw. Everything fell into place, and he was just calm. There was no responsibilities to fill, no cats he felt he had to make proud. It was just him and Wildpaw.