A new beginning

Apprentice day(Chapter eleven)

"Eaglepaw you're doing the leap-and-hold wrong!" Came the reply from Blizzardpaw.

It was a quarter-moon after the gathering.

"When you jump, you're supposed to grab onto your opponent and hold on to them. Then bring them to the ground."

Eaglepaw licked his pelt as he watched Blizzardpaw demonstrate with Adderpaw. Adderpaw hissed when he was on the ground in a matter of seconds.

Icepaw and Brindlepaw was by One-Tree, jumping in and out of the mud caused by the river. The bank sloped down and they were practicing and perfecting their moves.

Icepaw slipped as she was trying to climb out the bank and rolled backwards, getting mud all over her pelt.

Brindlepaw let out a laugh which caught the attention of the other apprentices. They rushed over, panting slightly.

Adderpaw looked with amusement in his eyes before joining his sibling and laughing.

"She looks like Weaselfur with her pelt like that!" He mewed while his sides heaved as he tried to catch his breath.

She shook her head and glanced at him with a cold look. "Wait till I get from down here! You rabbit-brain, fox-heart!" She yowled while stomping her paws and tail twitching anxiously.

"Yeah that's when you get out Icepaw. Until then I wouldn't do so much talking." Adderpaw said as he looked at Blizzardpaw, who only stared back with narrowed eyes.

Eaglepaw walked along the bank looking for a way down.

Brindlepaw sat up after her laughing fit and she flickered her ears and tail anxiously, watching Eaglepaw as he found a way down. His gray and white pelt got stained with dust and mud as he slipped but caught himself.

Blizzardpaw eyes swept across the terrain looking for a stick to lower down for his sibling. He backed up and looked over his head. Over him was a stick.

Adderpaw nodded and together they brought it down and went to the bank.
Brindlepaw, Eaglepaw and Icepaw was each sitting there with smug expressions on their faces as the stick dropped in front of them.

"Grab on! We can't hold it for much longer!" Blizzardpaw mumbled voice came.

Brindlepaw grabbed onto it but was pulled back by Icepaw. She gave a yowl but stepped back.

Eaglepaw licked his pelt before rolling his eyes at his littermates.

"This isn't the best time to be fighting amongst ourselves you two!" Adderpaw shouted at them. "One, two and three!" He mewed as they heaved them up.

Blizzardpaw and Adderpaw rolled onto their backs and took in huge gulps of air while Icepaw shook her pelt, getting the mud out.

Eaglepaw went to the river before plunging inside, Brindlepaw right behind him. They gave squeals of excitement and before long the rest of the apprentices were jumping and splashing in the water.

It was sunhigh when they came out and was sunbathing by One-Tree.
"We should hunt." Suggested Brindlepaw as she looked around at her denmates.

Eaglepaw nodded as did Adderpaw. Icepaw shook her head and sat up, ready to go hunt.
Blizzardpaw mumbled something but shook his massive head and his bang over his left eye shook slightly.

"I'll hunt with Eaglepaw and Brindlepaw." The white tom mewed while his eyes darted to his sister.

She scowled slightly but twitched her tail as she moved towards grasshead clearing with Adderpaw behind her. "Gingerfoot never showed me how to hunt." He started their conversation as they walked away.