The kits grew into apprentices. Woundedheart could barely continue her life as a warrior. She handled smaller battles and had grown quiet and awkward. One of her greatest prides were her looks. Now that was gone. Twistedpaw was mentoring under Dovefeather. She was destined to become the new medicine cat with her terrible leg. Brawnypelt became heavy with worry and despair. He hated that his mate and daughter had their fates sealed due to their wounds. It was awful knowing that. Hawkpaw mentored under the messenger and Mousepaw mentored under a hunter. They tried to ignore the trouble that the wounds of their mother and sister caused but it had become quite stressful and it was hard to ignore. Emberpaw pushed on through. He acted unbothered by the troubles and took care of his family members.
Emberpaw stumbled across the grass, rolling across the ground and slamming into a tree. He groaned and sat up, shaking his head in agitation. “Why can’t I get it right!?” he shouted in frustration. Lionfang slowly walked over and stared down at Emberpaw, shaking his head. “You must have patience, small one.” he sighed, placing a large paw on the apprentice’s forehead. “But I want to be a warrior already!” he snapped, scrambling onto his paws. He sat down and huffed, staring down at the ground. The large cat in front of him leaped up into the tree, pushing away some branches with his paw. He shined light down on Emberpaw making the tomcat look up with squinted blue eyes. With the sun glaring down on them both, Lionfang’s golden pelt shined like pure gold and his green eyes seemed almost as dark as ivy. “You want to protect your mother and sister correct?” the cat tilted his head.
“Yes of course! I want to protect my entire family!” snarled Emberpaw, his fur raising on end, his eyes narrowing. “Then act like it.” Lionfang hissed, releasing the branches and shutting them in darkness. The mentor leaped down and circled Emberpaw slowly. “Have patience. You cannot protect them if you just jump into everything.” Lionfang hissed, Emberpaw cowering backwards. “If you simply run onto the battlefield what is your chance of survival?” Emberpaw opened his mouth to respond. “Barely anything at all.” Lionfang hissed before he could though. “You cannot catch prey if you go bounding around! You make a ton of noise and scare them all away!” Lionfang yowled and hissed in anger. Emberpaw whimpered and looked down, his ears folding down. Lionfang sighed and sat down, “another thing, stop lying about who you are. You are not this fiery thing you pretend to be. All bark, no bite.” Lionfang hissed mercilessly. Emberpaw looked down and nodded, “yes sir, sorry sir.” he whimpered. Lionfang nodded and held his head high. “Let us return to training now, small one.” he sighed. Emberpaw sighed and nodded, he followed Lionfang through the trees and into the hunting grounds. Emberpaw looked around and Lionfang stood a few inches in front of him.
“Feel the ground, feel the movement. Memorize what each movement is.” Lionfang instructed. Emberpaw sighed and nodded slowly. He pressed his paws into the ground and lowered his head slightly. He closed his eyes and felt the pulse of the dirt. It was difficult. It was slow. Emberpaw was growing impatient. It was quiet and he hated quiet. Lionfang watched and raised a brow at the tom, his tail moving slowly.
Emberpaw growled and looked at Lionfang, “it is not working!” he hissed. Lionfang narrowed his eyes and flicked his ears back.
“You are not patient.” Emberpaw dug his claws into the dirt and flicked his tail in agitation.
“Forget patience! I want to become a warrior already!” he snapped.
“The most you could ever become is a messenger! All you have is your mouth and speed!” Lionfang snarled, both of them sat their.
Hatred hung thick in the air. “You should go back to your den. You have done enough.” Lionfang sighed, leaping up onto a tree branch. Emberpaw growled and turned away, slowly going back to his den. On his way he paused by the medicine cat’s den. He peaked in and watched quietly. Dovefeather stood beside Twistedpaw with her loving yellow eyes while the apprentice prepared herbs for a wounded cat who was curled up on a matt.
“Hey.” the two apprentices looked up at each other and stared. Twistedpaw gave her brother a gentle smile and limped over to him, rubbing her head under his chin. “How is your training going?” Emberkit purred, rubbing his head on hers. “Very good, she is a fast learner.” Dovefeather cooed as she walked over to the wounded cat, gently treating the wound. “Ready to head home?” Emberpaw asked as his sister pulled away. “Why? Did Lionfang fight with you again?” Twistedpaw teased, giving her brother a suspicious look. Emberpaw huffed and nodded, looking away. “He wants me to be all patient and calm!” the tomcat hissed, his ears flicking back in anger. “Patience is good sometimes, calm yourself Emberpaw.” Dovefeather called out to the apprentice as she finished tending to the wounded cat. “Oh not you too!” Emberpaw growled rolling his eyes and storming out. He sat beside the lake that the den sat in the corner of. He stared down at the water, his lips curling back as the fish swam around. He slowly looked up and looked around. He watched the elders sleep, the new kits play, the queens rest and the hunters stalk. Everything seemed so slow. Too slow. It strained Emberpaw, he wanted things to hurry up. He slowly walked through the hunting grounds and sat down on the barrier of the territory. He looked out at a few rogues, running about. He stared towards The Mushroom Ring and dug his claws into the ground. He looked at the territory boundary and slowly walked out of it.
He walked through the trees and grass, looking around curiously. He walked in the direction of Brookclan, the sound of water filling in his ears. He moved slowly, his paws pressing into the Earth delicately. It was quiet. Everything was still. Emberpaw was growing agitated and frustrated, his ears flicking and twitching. It was as if the world was frozen. He growled quietly and tensed as he got closer to Brookclan territory. He shuddered and pushed on, glad to hear more noises and feel movement around him. He began to relax and looked around with a tiny smile. It was nice. It was calm but not completely silent. Emberpaw felt like he had passed on to Paradise. Yet, this Paradise shattered when he saw two cats at the Brookclan territory boundary. He crouched down and stared ahead. He crawled closer and recognized one of the cats. Lionfang. It was Lionfang. His golden pelt was shining and he was… smiling. Emberpaw moved his eyes to the other cat. A shecat. She had amber eyes and auburn fur with white ear tips and a white face.
Emberpaw turned and took off but within two steps he had carelessly stumbled over a fallen branch he had not seen in his hurry. He rolled across the ground and quickly stood. When he stood the shecat was frozen and Lionfang was stalking towards his apprentice. “Emberpaw, come here. Let me explain.” the mentor spoke calmly. Emberpaw moved back slowly, his eyes wide. “N...no. This is wrong.” Emberpaw growled, his claws latching onto the dirt under him. Lionfang got closer. Emberpaw couldn’t move. He had never felt so endangered. “It is not wrong. Be still and listen.” Lionfang continued to advanced, Emberpaw slowly backing up.
The apprentice turned to run but before he could get far enough Lionfang tackled him to the ground, clawing him across the face just enough to cause blood. “I told you to be still.” Lionfang growled his ears flicking back with agitation. Emberpaw whimpered and trembled, he realized Lionfang had been right during training earlier that day. He was all bark and no bite. “Vow here and now on Paradise that you will protect this secret and take with you to your death.” Lionfang hissed. Emberpaw growled and pushed on Lionfang weakly with his hind paws. “As if!” he snarled, Lionfang growled, his fur standing on edge. “Vow it now or I shall kill your darling sister Twistedpaw!” he hissed, his lips curling back. Emberpaw had never noticed until now how perfectly sharp they were. “F-fine! I vow on Paradise that I shall keep this secret till I die!” There was silence. A breeze that smelled of pinecones and everything earthy and pure washed over the cats, pushing the leaves and tall grass. “Good. Now go back to the clan territory. It is almost Starrise.”
“I’m back.” Emberpaw called into the den as he entered. His mother was curled up as usual, staring blankly at the wall. He tilted his head and padded over to her. The apprentice licked his mother’s forehead and nuzzled into her fur. “Are you feeling any better?” “No.” the shecat mewled weakly. Emberpaw whimpered and nuzzled under her head. “I had trouble with Lionfang again.” he huffed, “he is not the best mentor for a young apprentice like you.” Emberpaw pouted and nodded, “but don’t worry, if he does anything to hurt you I’ll protect you.” Woundedheart purred leaning into her son. “I should be saying that!” Emberpaw mewled standing up, “oh Emberpaw, don’t say that, I’m the mother-” “I’m home with dinner!” Brawnypaw walked in grinning with a fat hare in his mouth.“We’re here too.” huffed Hawkpaw, sticking her nose up. Woundedheart stood and greeted all of her children and her mate happily. Emberpaw watched from beside his parents’ nest. He said hello to his father and sisters. “You apprentices eat first.” instructed Brawnypaw, stepping back. Twistedpaw ate the most of the four. Emberpaw ate the least, leaving what he could for his parents. Once everyone was done eating Emberpaw padded over to his nest, climbing in and curling up slowly.
He watched his parents finish eating before climbing into their shared nest. He then watched his sisters crawl into their nests, Twistedpaw stumbling slightly as she climbed into her own nest. The apprentice watched everyone as they fell asleep, staring out at the world outside of the den, moonlight leaking down upon everyone. Emberpaw smiled a bit and relaxed slowly watching the light dancing across the grass and other dens. He purred and slowly bean to fall asleep.
The next morning he woke to his father pawing at him, “wake up, Emberpaw. It is time to go to your training.” the large tom puffed with a small grin. Emberpaw whined and slowly got up, stretching out slowly. “Your sister, Mousepaw, caught you breakfast. It is especially for you.” Brawnypelt purred, clearly proud of his daughter. Emberpaw paused, staring up at his father. “But… she should be catching food for the whole den. Not just for one cat.” he protested climbing out of his nest. “Do not be ungrateful.” glared Brawnpelt, “your sister caught it for you. Let her have a simple pleasure.” the tom sighed, turning and walking away. Emberpaw felt a bit of guilt in his heart as he looked over to the dead field mouse sitting near the pile of remains from breakfast that morning. He walked over slowly and devoured the mouse, going out to find his sister to thank her.
He wondered around for a while before finally spotting his sister, crouched done hunting a thrush. Behind her was who could only be her mentor. A short black tomcat with a bobtail. He had a white belly and dark grey stripes down his back and a light grey face. He has silver eyes and a knick in his left ear with tufts of black fur on the tips of his ears. The mentor looked up and stared into Emberpaw’s eyes coldly. He then looked back down at Mousepaw and watched her tackle the thrush and kill it easily. The tom smirked and walked over slowly, “good job.” he praised. Mousepaw looked up with wide joyful eyes nodding happily. Emberpaw sighed to himself and looked around before finally walking over to the two cats and tackling his sister playfully. “One good hunter you will make!” he laughed, his sister staring up at him in shock. “Well you will never become anything if you keep sleeping so late!” mewled Mousepaw shoving Emberpaw off into the dirt with her hind paws making him fall back and bust out laughing. “Hey! He teaches me nothing anyways!” Emberpaw laughed circling his sister, “maybe you just don’t listen!” Mousepaw lunged at Emberpaw tackling him to the ground. Emberpaw growled and jumped up, knocking Mousepaw down. He pounced at her but Mousepaw easily moved out of the way.
“Smart cat she is. Unlike her brother.” a familiar voice huffed. Both the apprentices froze and looked up wide eyed. It was Lionfang sitting beside Mousepaw’s mentor. “Yes, yes. She is going to make a very good hunter.” remarked the other mentor staring at the siblings. “You are lucky to get such an amazing apprentice, Badgerheart.” Emberpaw rolled his eyes and lifted his paw, pushing his sister over. She laughed and fell down, rolling around in the grass.
“Come Emberpaw, you’ve already wasted enough time doing only Paradise knows what now let’s go.” Lionfang cocked his head to the side. Emberpaw sighed and stood up looking back at his sister with a smile. She rolled onto her paws and stood grinning, “go on you need the training.” she chuckled. Emberpaw rolled his eyes and looked ahead, Lionfang was already far ahead. The apprentice cried out and bounded after the golden cat.
“Now let’s see if you can do this right.” Lionfang sat down and cocked his head towards a little shrew, bustling around through the grass. Emberpaw sighed and got into positions. “Remember, patience. Silence.” his mentor whispered. Emberpaw’s tail twitched in annoyance. To him his mentor was the one who needed to learn how to do this right. However, he relaxed and pressed his paws into the ground growing quiet. He focused on the scent of the animal. His ears twitching forward to focus in on the sound of it moving, his eyes following the direction of the sound. He prepared to attack, tensing up. Emberpaw inhaled deeply and pounced. His eyes widened and locked on the small animal. He landed on top of it and quickly pressed his paws onto it trapping it. He leaned down and swiftly bit into its neck. He could taste the fresh warm blood, feel the bristles of its fur tickle his whiskers. He panted and looked up at Lionfang wide eyed. The cat grinned a bit and nodded, “a bit messy but… you did good.” The reaction made Emberpaw happy. He wished it hadn’t. He wished it had just been another thing Lionfang said but… with every positive reaction he got closer to being the warrior he wanted to be. “Now, we will do more hunting tomorrow. Take your prey back to your den and meet with me in The Moss Pit.” Lionfang turned and walked away, Emberpaw nodding happily.
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