Warriors: The Deadliest Challenge

Chapter Seven

"So, how's your leg?" Ambertail asked Puddlepaw, who was sprawled out in his nest in the apprentices' den.

The wound on the grey tabby's hind leg was looking much better than it did a few sunrises ago after it had been re-opened, and the apprentice was starting to act more like his usual lively self.

"It feels good!" Puddlepaw chimed, jumping up to his paws as if to prove what he had just said. "Driftwater gave me some stretches to make sure it doesn't weaken or anything." Puddlepaw began demonstrating said stretches, lowering himself down and then stretching up again.

Ambertail let out an amused purr. "Don't go hurting it again, though, I need you nice and strong to continue with your training, especially today."

Puddlepaw opened his mouth to respond, but was interrupted by Mistypaw, his litter-mate, bumping her head against his flank.

"Puh-lease," she groaned, "Puddlepaw? Strong? Good luck getting that to happen, even without a gammy leg!"

"Hey!" Puddlepaw whined. "Stop being mean to me."

Ambertail had to hold herself back from laughing at her apprentice's meagre retort. He was genuinely one of the sweetest cats in the Clan.

"Mistypaw, be nice to your brother," Ambertail meowed, her voice edged with sarcasm.

"He knows I do it out of love." Mistypaw quickly leaned forward and licked her brother's cheek, to which he responded by shooting her an angered glare. Mistypaw bounded out of the den before Puddlepaw could say anything else, looking over her shoulder to stick her tongue out playfully.

Puddlepaw sat down with a humph, his ears flattening against his head.

"Come on," Ambertail beckoned with her ears for the grumpy apprentice to follow her out of the den. "We have a fair bit of training to get in before sunhigh."

Puddlepaw straightened up, nodding eagerly, and followed his mentor out of the apprentices' den and into the clearing.

Ambertail breathed in the crisp, fresh air, letting it fill her lungs and cool her down. She had struggled to fall asleep the previous night after her conversation with Orangelake. So many memories of her mother flooded back to her each time she closed her eyes, so she had resolved to keeping them open, leading to her not getting much sleep.

It's fine, Ambertail, you're fine, she told herself inwardly, though she wasn't sure she believed it. There won't be many more challenges, and whatever happens at the end, happens. I just need to do my best. But right now, she needed to focus on training her apprentice, as she still had her warrior duties to complete on top of each daily challenge.

She could feel Puddlepaw's fur brush against her pelt as she padded across camp to Fishpatch, who was grooming himself in a tiny patch of sun. The grey tom looked up at Ambertail as she stood in front of him, blocking out his one tiny spot of sun.

"Ready for group training?" she asked him.

A look of realisation spread across Fishpatch's face; Ambertail could tell he had forgotten about the planned training for the apprentices that day.

"Oh...uh, y-yeah, of course," Fishpatch mewed hastily as he rose to his paws, giving his pelt a quick shake.

"Tigerpaw! Mistypaw!" Ambertail called out to the other apprentices, who were play fighting a little bit away from the warriors' den. "Training time!"

The two litter-mates bundled forward as fast as possible so they were standing in front of the two warriors.

Fishpatch rolled his eyes. "Mistypaw, could you please get your mentor out of his nest?"