Sparrowflight crouched in the stony clearing, his amber eyes focused solely on Talonpaw. "We have worked on the past moon on our fighting skills," he meowed, his brown fur ruffled in the greenleaf breeze, "but now we must discuss strategy. Fighting is well and all, but if you run into battle without a strategy, you will lose."
Talonpaw nodded intently as he listened to his father's lecture. Sparrowflight went on. "The art of war is vital to the Clans. It is a matter of life and death, a path either to safety or ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which on no account can be neglected. First, let's discuss waging war in general. We won't discuss why—you already know that the Clans are at war, and there will be times where the decision for war has to be made."
The dark tabby apprentice wondered if he would ever be in a position where he would be the one to declare war. No, that was Lionstar's job. He watched as Sparrowflight drew lines in the sand with his claws. "It is only those who are thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on. There are five essentials for victory—you will win if you know when to fight and when not to fight, you will win if you know how to handle both superior forces and inferior forces, you will win if your army is animated by the same spirit, you will win if you are prepared and you take the enemy unprepared, and you will also win if you have the army capacity and are not interfered with by the sovereign."
"What does the last part mean?" Talonpaw asked.
"Don't allow any cat higher than you to make a foolish decision that could cost your army," Sparrowflight hissed. "A good place to start is knowing where to appear. These can be places that the enemy must hasten to defend, or places where you're not expected. You can win if you attack an enemy's weak points. Basically, avoid what's strong and target at what's weak. This means places in the enemy's army—not cats. There's no honor in avoiding strong cats and attacking weak cats, but you can win if you avoid the enemy's strongest points and strike at their weakest points, like an undefended flank."
Talonpaw dipped his head in agreement as Sparrowflight continued to draw lines in the ground. "Let your rapidity be that of the wind, your gentleness that of the forest. In raiding and plundering be like fire, be immovable like a mountain."
Sparrowflight went on, explaining the best places to attack, describing terrain and what to do and what not to do on various lands, and then he pointed with his claws to the lines he had drawn. "All right, Talonpaw. That line right there is the river. That line over there is the marsh, that one is the trees, and…" The brown tom turned on his heel, padding towards the edge of the stony clearing. Utterly puzzled, Talonpaw watched as his father bent down. He turned around and held multiple stones in his jaws, and he padded over and dropped them on the ground. "Half of these stones are RiverClan warriors. The other half are ShadowClan." Sparrowflight organized some stones so they were in a straight line near the river he had made. "Now, imagine you are the leader of the ShadowClan battle patrol. How would you meet this attack? Remember, they're crossing the river."
Talonpaw narrowed his eyes. With his claw, he pulled two stones from the RiverClan army and crossed them towards the river, while keeping the other half on their side. "I'm sure RiverClan would be crossing the river to get to us. I'd wait until half have crossed, and then deliver the attack. Fighting them in water just gives them the advantage."
"Where would you bring them to fight?" Sparrowflight pressed.
"Definitely not the marshes. They're used to fighting there as well, and I wouldn't want to give them any advantages. I'd lure them to a copse of trees somewhere and make sure the sun is in my direction."
"Well done." Sparrowflight nodded. "Now, imagine the RiverClan cats you're attacking—some of them have retreated and are running back to the water. What would you do?"
"Let them," Talonpaw replied. "It's most likely a trap to get us to fight in the water, where they're superior. If we don't follow them, there's no cat to fight. We can focus our strength on the cats attacking us."
Sparrowflight lifted his head. "You're doing a fine job, Talonpaw. You'll make a great strategist. Remember three things—the dead cannot be brought back to life, the best leader is heedful, and the greatest general is full of caution. This is the best way to keep your Clan in peace and intact."
Talonpaw was about to speak when Sparrowflight suddenly landed on him, bowling him to the ground. Talonpaw yowled in shock and pummeled his father's belly with his hind legs. Sparrowflight growled at him, "Never lose focus! Remember what I told you about an enemy attacking your weak point? You're at your weakest when distracted!"
Growling, Talonpaw knew his father was right. He let himself go limp, and when Sparrowflight relaxed, Talonpaw found a burst of strength and flung his father off him. Sparrowflight crashed to the ground, and Talonpaw batted at his forehead before wrestling with him again. Talonpaw grunted as he pushed his father back, blow by blow, near the edge of the clearing. As they were fighting, a heavy downpour of rain began to fall from the sky, and Talonpaw paused, wondering if they should stop. Thunder rumbled in the gloomy dark clouds, and he looked up as the raindrops streamed down his whiskers.
"No!" Sparrowflight barked as the rain soaked through his dark tabby fur. "Don't stop, Talonpaw. You may have to fight in these conditions one day!"
Talonpaw tensed his muscles and landed several blows on his father. Some hit home, some didn't when Sparrowflight was fast enough to weave out of the way. Talonpaw guessed his father was using the strategy to avoid his enemy when he could. But isn't that a coward's move? Talonpaw thought. No, I don't think so. He lashed his tail, feeling the cold rain soak him to his bone, but he didn't give up in his fight—and neither did Sparrowflight. Talonpaw nipped his father on his hind legs and twisted before Sparrowflight could land a heavy blow on his head. Inch by inch, Talonpaw pushed Sparrowflight further away until his back was against the edge of the stone hollow.
"Did I win?" Talonpaw asked.
"Would you ask your enemy that?" Sparrowflight asked dryly. Talonpaw rolled his eyes, but a sickening groan made him look up. Sparrowflight must've not heard it, but Talonpaw focused his gaze on the top of the clearing. With a loud gasp, Talonpaw saw rocks starting to tumble down into the clearing. The rain must've loosened the stones! And it was heading right for Sparrowflight!
"Get out of the way!" Talonpaw yowled, leaping at his father and shoving him to the side. Sparrowflight's amber eyes were round with shock, but his face disappeared out of view as a massive rock landed right in front of Talonpaw. Talonpaw shrank back as more rocks fell around him, blocking any hope of escape. He crouched down until a rock hit his back. He yowled in pain and curled up in a ball as more pebbles showered down on him. Then another rock fell down, lodging itself between the rock in front of him and the edge of the clearing. When the rocks stopped falling, Talonpaw finally uncurled himself and looked around.
He was trapped on all sides by rocks. He couldn't even climb over the pile—there was a rock that blocked the sky above. He pushed against it, but it was too heavy to dislodge. Talonpaw mewled like a kit, "Father?" He wondered if Sparrowflight could even hear him. He blinked the grit out of his eyes and the spots on his pelt where the rocks hit burned like a forest fire.
"Talonpaw!" Sparrowflight's voice was high with despair. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. Stay still, I'll get you out of there."
Talonpaw shrank back as another rock fell, tensing every muscle in his body. What if one collapsed on him? I don't want to die! he wanted to wail. He could hear Sparrowflight trying to shift the rocks, but each shift caused another to fall, adding to the pile of rocks that blocked Talonpaw's exit.
"You're just making them fall!" Talonpaw cried out.
Sparrowflight stopped moving the rocks. "Let me think."
Attack at the weak points, Talonpaw thought, recalling his father's lecture. "Is there a part where there are more pebbles than rocks?" he called out. "Maybe you can start there."
"Good idea!" Sparrowflight's voice was full of praise, and Talonpaw wasn't quite sure what he was doing now. He looked to his side to realize that several pebbles were being pulled out. The tabby apprentice crouched down as they crumbled away. He felt the fur on the back of his spine fluff up as a shaft of sunlight suddenly slanted through the rocks. An opening! Talonpaw's heart raced with excitement as the opening got larger and larger and he could see his father's broad face popping out of the hole.
Purring with gratitude, Talonpaw squeezed his way out through the hole his father had made for him. I'm out! The world around him still held the damp scent of rain, but it was no longer a torrential downpour, much to Talonpaw's relief. He shook out the grit and rocks that still remained in his pelt and pressed his nose to his father's shoulder, overcome with relief that he had managed to escape the rockslide without any major injuries.
"Talonpaw…" Sparrowflight began, his amber eyes flickering. "You pushed me out of the way before those rocks could crush me. You saved my life." His voice was trembling slightly—something Talonpaw never imagined seeing in a great warrior such as his father. "Thank you, son."
Talonpaw flicked his tail. He hadn't even thought about it like that. He had just seen his father and the rocks and knew that he had to get him out of the way, even if it cost him his own life. Is this what it feels like to be one of Lionstar's great generals? But I didn't do it because I wanted to be known for my glory and valor. I did it because it was the right thing to do.
Sparrowflight brushed his tail down Talonpaw's back. "Come on, let's go back to camp and let Lionstar know." The tom looked over Talonpaw for any injuries, and when he didn't find any, he immediately turned on his heel and started to race out of the clearing. Talonpaw followed him, streaking through the pine forest. He could still feel his heart race in his chest, replaying the scene of the rocks falling over and over in his mind. Thank StarClan we both got out of there alive. It could have been a lot worse.
The two tabby toms approached the dip where the ShadowClan camp was and slid down the walls. Talonpaw brushed through the entrance and stayed on his father's heels as he headed towards Lionstar's den. Talonpaw skidded to a halt, watching as his father disappeared into the shadows, unsure if he should follow him. His paws were about to approach the den when a small body slammed into him.
Talonpaw spun around and stared at the cat that had bumped into him. Tigerkit? The dark brown tabby kit looked up at him with wide amber eyes. His sister, Lizardkit, was a few pawsteps behind him, holding a moss ball in her small jaws. Tigerkit scrambled away from Talonpaw.
"Sorry!" the tabby kit exclaimed, shaking the dust from his fur. He looked up and studied Talonpaw. "Wait, you're Talonpaw, right?"
Talonpaw nodded. "Yeah. What are you doing out of the nursery?"
"We were waiting for the apprentices to come back!" Lizardkit mewled, bounding over to Tigerkit. "We want to hear all about how training went! We're bored waiting for our turn!"
The ShadowClan apprentice twitched his ears, remembering how he had nearly died because of the rockfall, and he wondered if by telling the kits what happened, it would curb their excitement. But as he studied the eagerness glowing in the kits' eyes, he realized that the pair were just what ShadowClan needed—cats with the promise to be good warriors. He didn't want to dampen their enthusiasm.
"It was an unexpected day today," Talonpaw said, choosing his words carefully as the kits crowded around his paws.
"What happened?" Tigerkit squeaked.
"Did you have to fight a RiverClan warrior?" Lizardkit demanded. "Like this one?" She lunged at Tigerkit and cuffed his ear playfully. Tigerkit yowled as the two kits rolled together. Talonpaw rolled his eyes and the two kits broke apart, heaving but never losing the excitement that glinted in their eyes.
"No, nothing of that sort," Talonpaw replied. He was about to assure the kits that they wouldn't need to be fighting for a while when he heard pawsteps rumble the ground behind him. He looked over his shoulder and spotted Lionstar prowling towards him, his golden fur illuminated by the sun. Sparrowflight was right behind him, his brown tabby pelt fluffed up.
Lionstar approached Talonpaw and stopped a few mouse-lengths from him. Tigerkit and Lizardkit mewled in confusion and scampered away towards the safety of the nursery, where Blossomflower was waiting for them. Talonpaw realized uneasily that Lionstar's presence was starting to draw a crowd. His Clanmates were staring at them, their eyes trained on the pelts of the apprentice and leader.
"Sparrowflight told me what happened," Lionstar said, his voice rumbling in his throat. "You didn't just save his life—you put yours in danger to protect his. That is worthy of one of my Great Generals." The mighty tabby lowered his head in a dip, and Talonpaw gaped at his leader as he gave him a motion usually only reserved for deputies or leaders of other Clans. Appreciative purrs and murmurs ran through his Clanmates, and Talonpaw looked around, suddenly feeling uncomfortable as all the stares in the clearing turned on him.
"You're a little too young to be made a warrior right now," Lionstar went on, "but I will not forget what you did for your father—your Clanmate. You'll need a couple more moons of training, but rest assured, I will appoint you as a warrior as soon as I can. ShadowClan needs cats like you, Talonpaw." The big tabby rested his chin on Talonpaw's head, as if he was already making the dark tabby a warrior.
"T-thank you, Lionstar," Talonpaw whispered as his Clan leader turned on his heel and walked away towards his den. Sparrowflight looked as if he was about to burst with pride any moment, and Talonpaw spotted the sleek pelt of his mother weaving her way through the clearing to pad up to Talonpaw. The purr that vibrated through Thistlesnow's body was louder than anything Talonpaw had ever heard as his mother pressed her pelt against his.
"I'm so proud of you!" Thistlesnow exclaimed, nuzzling Talonpaw's cheek with her battle-scarred muzzle. "Few cats would throw themselves in the path of a rockfall. You are your father's son, after all."
"Thank you," Talonpaw meowed gratefully as Thistlesnow stepped away. Sparrowflight took her place in front of Talonpaw, even as his friends scrambled to talk to him. Sparrowflight's amber eyes were glowing with pride.
"I will never forget what you have done for me today," Sparrowflight declared. "I've never seen an apprentice do what you did. You have the makings of a good warrior in you, son. And that is why I would be honored to serve with you when you are a warrior."
Warmth flooded through Talonpaw's body as Sparrowflight brushed his muzzle against Talonpaw's. The big tabby headed away towards the warriors' den, and Talonpaw watched him go, feeling an itching in his paws. Soon, he thought, recalling Lionstar's words. I just need to be patient. Suddenly, a voice he hadn't expected to hear rumbled behind him.
"Well done, Talonpaw." The tabby apprentice looked around to see Featherheart. His solid gray fur was brushed by the wind, and even though he praised Talonpaw, there was no warmth in his voice. No—for some reason, the emotion in his voice, hard and tense, made Talonpaw's fur stand up on the edge.
"Thanks," Talonpaw said, lowering his head to the senior warrior.
"Just make sure that bravado of yours doesn't get you in trouble one day." There was a hint of a warning in Featherheart's voice, but beneath it all, Talonpaw wondered if he detected a thinly veiled threat. What does he mean? He wanted to question Featherheart, but the tom had already turned around and was marching across the clearing, towards Lionstar's den.
Talonpaw watched the ShadowClan warrior go, momentarily chilled by their brief confrontation. Was Featherheart warning me off? Does he not want me to be a warrior like my father? Should I be frightened of him? Just as the tabby pondered Featherheart's motives, he looked over to see Mapleheart's dark tortoiseshell pelt bounding over to him. Her green eyes were round.
"Don't worry about what my father said," Mapleheart assured him. "He's just pretty protective when it comes to Lionstar, that's all." She brushed her muzzle against Talonpaw's cheek. "When Sparrowflight started telling us what happened, I couldn't believe it! You were so brave."
The dark tabby apprentice let out a content purr as the scent of Mapleheart surrounded him, and all his worries about the gray tom disappeared. Featherheart can wait, he thought. If Mapleheart says he's just protective, then that's probably true. I don't think he's a threat. All he had to do was focus on being a good warrior, to make Lionstar—and his father—proud. He'd be one of Lionstar's great generals one day.