A New Horizon Book 2: The Dying Forest {COMPLETE}

Chapter 11

Falconpaw ducked, feeling Falconclaw's paw brush his ear tips. He quickly moved away before Falconclaw could attack again. As he predicted, his mentor moved to attack. Falconpaw waited, then flattened himself to the ground and twisted on his back as Falconclaw jumped over him. He raked his claws across Falconclaw's belly and his mentor let out a sharp hiss. Falconpaw quickly got back on his paws and faced Falconclaw as he landed. Blood dripped from the wounds on his belly and he turned to face Falconpaw, a sharp glint in his dark eyes. "Not bad." He sneered. "You're certainly improving."

Falconpaw narrowed his eyes. "What's your excuse? Normally you're a lot harder to fight." He couldn't help but notice that something was off about his mentor as well as the forest they trained in. It seemed even duller than usual.

"Something appears to be wrong." Falconclaw closed his eyes. "But that's not your worry, Falconpaw." Falconpaw tilted his head. What could be wrong? "I think it's time to call training for now." Falconclaw turned away. "I'll see you tomorrow night."

Falconpaw blinked, something was clearly up. Why won't he tell me anything. Falconpaw lashed his tail, but he knew that Falconclaw wouldn't be happy if Falconpaw pressed on the issue. Whatever. Falconpaw thought, and let himself fade from the forest.

He opened his eyes, back in the apprentice den. It was early dawn and all the other apprentices were still asleep. He stood up and stretched, careful not to wake up any of the other apprentices. He was sure that Cherryleaf wouldn't be awake yet, but he might as well find some way to make himself busy.

He reached camp and found that Cinderflame had already sent out the dawn patrol and some cats were barely starting to wake up. His eyes went to the medicine cat den where Pebblestep and Honeypaw were already up and searching for herbs. They had told the Clan that the herbs were dying in the forest and they didn't have many, so all the other cats were supposed to be looking as well. Falconpaw didn't like picking herbs but he knew how important they were.

Falconpaw waited patiently around camp, unable to find anything to do until Cherryleaf woke up. Luckily, it wasn't long before that. He quickly approached his mentor after allowing her a moment to wake up. "What are we going today?"

Cherryleaf gave him a quizzical look. "Eager as always." She yawned. "But," She looked towards the direction of the drinking pool where Adderstrike and Yarrowtail were talking with their apprentices. "We're doing some special training with Larkpaw, Pikepaw and Sorrelpaw today."

Falconpaw perked up his head. "Special training?" Finally, something interesting. He had been itching for a break from normal hunting and battle training. "What kind of special training."

"Tree climbing practice." Falconpaw dropped his head, tree climbing wasn't what he was looking forward to.

"Isn't that how Snakewhisker broke his leg?" Falconpaw's eyes shifted to the medicine cat den.

"Then don't break your leg." Cherryleaf purred. "It's not that hard and you should learn it." Falconpaw stifled a groan and followed his mentor, dragging his paws as Cherryleaf approached Adderstrike and Yarrowtail. "Are we ready to go?" She questioned.

"I know I am!" Pikepaw jumped up, his green eyes shimmering. "I love climbing! It's one of my favorite things to do." Falconpaw couldn't agree, he also couldn't figure out where Pikepaw found his excitement for something like that. Cats should stay on the ground. He twitched his tail.

"Sorrelpaw and Flamepetal said they would meet us over by the training area." Adderstrike mewed, standing up. The group of cats left camp and made their way to the training area. When they reached it, Falconpaw could already see Sorrelpaw scaling the tree. She was on the lowest branch, but looked pretty proud.