Warriors: Shadows in the Light - Veiled Stars

Chapter Four

CHAPTER FOUR

HAZELPAW | THUNDERCLAN CAMP

"Today we will be test your battling skills," meowed Palefang. "Dewpaw, Lynxpaw, you two go against each other first."

Hazelpaw watched her siblings position themselves, low to the ground and tails lashing playfully.

"Remember your skills we have taught you." Palefang referred to Larchtail, Brightcloud (Lynxpaw's mentor), and herself.

"Does the winner get anything?" Dewpaw queried.

"Well, no." Palefang admitted.

Dewpaw deflated visibly. "I need motivation."

"Well, um, winner gets first pick of prey when we return." Larchtail meowed.

"Okay!" Dewpaw fixed her crestfallen crouch, turning it into an energetic battle crouch. Lynxpaw was also ready.

"Go!" Brightcloud announced, and the two apprentices leapt at each other. Disaster came.

Ouch. Hazelpaw looked away as they collided face-first, both yelping words of pain.

"Ow!" Dewpaw whined, rubbing her nose.

Palefang looked like she was stifling a mrrow of laughter. "You two alright?"

"My face is permanently damaged, but yes, I am spectacular." Dewpaw grumbled.

Hazelpaw rolled her eyes, but she couldn't ignore the fact Dewpaw's exaggeration brought a smile to her muzzle.

"We'll have another go at it in a few moments. Nothing hurts extremely, right?" Palefang checked Dewpaw's face.

"I'm good!" Lynxpaw chirped, seeming to have recovered from the incident.

"Good. Hazelpaw, Lynxpaw, you two will start this session with no accidents." Palefang ordered.

Hazelpaw slid into a battle crouch, positioned to dart to the side. On Palefang's countdown, they waited tensely. When she said "Go!", Lynxpaw jumped forward. Hazelpaw nimbly dodged, but Lynxpaw grabbed her tail before she could completely get away and pulled her back.

"A pro for not having a tail," muttered Lynxpaw under his breath, loud enough for Hazelpaw's ears to hear. Lynxpaw pummeled her back, hard enough she'd have to squirm and struggle to break free, but soft enough she wasn't in pain.

Hazelpaw thrashed around, but to no avail. Several moments of Hazelpaw struggling and Lynxpaw attacking her passed by until Brightcloud ended it.

"Lynxpaw wins!" Brightcloud announced. She continued, eyes gleaming. "Dewpaw rises up to face him. Will she become the new champion, or shall Lynxpaw secure his spot as the champion?"

Dewpaw lashed her tail. "You're going down!" Dewpaw threatened, baring her teeth.

Lynxpaw shared her enthusiasm. "No way! You'll be running back to camp with your tail between your legs."

"Go!" Brightcloud yowled.

Hazelpaw watched her siblings fight, impressed by Lynxpaw's skill. He was an exceptional fighter, not pausing to plan his next move or reeling back when Dewpaw landed a blow.

No wonder I lost so quickly. Hazelpaw watched as Dewpaw went still under Lynxpaw, attempting to trick him. He didn't think about my sudden dart to the side - he let his instincts take over and reach out.

Lynxpaw didn't relax his grip on her, and Dewpaw let out a whine. "I give up!"

Lynxpaw let her get up. "Told you."

"Told me what?" Dewpaw smirked. "I haven't run back to camp yet."

"Yet!" Lynxpaw pounced on her, getting a squeal from Dewpaw.

"Alright, alright, that is enough." Palefang meowed. "Lynxpaw gets first pick of prey when we return."

The group trotted back to camp. The mentors discussed current events while the apprentices chattered over the battle session.

Soon enough, they arrived in camp. Lynxpaw picked out a thrush, and since the sunhigh patrol hadn't come back yet, there was only sad-looking morsels left.

Hazelpaw took a scrawny mouse while Dewpaw took a very skinny vole.

"Looking at this, I don't want to eat. It'll turn into dust the second wind swoops it up." Dewpaw muttered. Her vole did look like it could be blown away and turn into dust.

Hazelpaw, already tucked into her mouse, snorted. "Are you saying it tastes like dust?"

Dewpaw poked the vole, hooking it up with a claw. "I think I'll offer this to the elders-" horror plastered itself onto the she-cat's face. "I... I'm not going to the elders. Maybe Ryekit or Lizardkit would want it. They don't eat much, right? This is the perfect size!"

Hazelpaw let out a humored purr. "You underestimate how much of an appetite those kits have."

Dewpaw didn't reply, watching two apprentices - their names were Echopaw and Stormpaw - play moss-ball. Lynxpaw, unaware of the playing cats, walked right into Stormpaw as the silver she-cat backed up quickly to catch the ball of moss. Stormpaw yelped when Lynxpaw's legs entangled themselves with hers, and they went down in a rolling heap.

"I'm so sorry!" Lynxpaw and Stormpaw mewed in sync. Both cats looked at each other with shock and embarrassment.

"I'll... just dislodge myself first." Lynxpaw murmured, soon on his paws. He helped Stormpaw up, who clumsily stumbled into his chest when she got up.

Stormpaw flattened her ears, humiliated. "Sorry, again." She looked into his eyes, and suddenly, Stormpaw couldn't look away. Lynxpaw also gazed back unwaveringly.

Hazelpaw bit her lip, looking away. They couldn't both like each other, right? Echopaw's defeated posture caught her attention, though. She stared at Stormpaw, paws flexing on the ground restlessly.

What's her problem? Hazelpaw wondered.

"I-I... er, any day. I mean, um, I don't mind." Lynxpaw's hushed voice reached her ears.

Stormpaw started giggling. "I never imagined this would happen one day." She stepped away from him, shooting one last glance his way, a smile on her muzzle.

Lynxpaw stood there, dazed, until Dewpaw trotted up to him.

"What in the name of StarClan was that, Lynxpaw? You didn't tell me you had a crush!" Dewpaw practically yowled at his face. Hazelpaw watched Stormpaw's ear flick and smile grow bigger as she ducked into the apprentices den.

"I-I don't." Lynxpaw stammered. "We were both embarrassed, 'kay? Besides, I-" he cut himself off, looking away.

Dewpaw smirked. "Ooh, someone's in love!" she meowed in a sing-song voice, trotting around him in circles.

Meanwhile, Echopaw walked to the apprentices den, eyes downcast.

I've been trying to build up courage to talk to the other apprentices, but Echopaw... she seems distant. Cold. Antisocial. I should avoid her. Hazelpaw felt awful for judging the she-cat for the apparent sour mood she was in, but the more Hazelpaw thought about it, she was sure she had never seen Echopaw smile or laugh at all. Maybe once... when...

Oh! Hazelpaw widened her eyes. What an odd day today has been.

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sorry for not updating sooner. anyway, we're done with peaceful chapters! buckle up.

-artemis