Warriors: Burnttail's Regret (Complete)

Chapter 5

 A few moons had passed since Burntpaw and Snakepaw became apprentices, and they already knew how to hunt and fight pretty well. Ebonyheart was, again, expecting Sootblossom's kits, and Burntpaw noticed that Snakepaw was very excited to meet her new siblings.

 Burntpaw followed Needlerose outside of camp, flicking his gray tail with excitement. ''What are we going to do today?'' The tom asked.

 Needlerose didn't respond. Instead, she turned to the right once she left the camp and padded that way. Burntpaw tilted his head and followed her. Why is she leading me to the Carrionplace?

 Burntpaw looked past Needlerose and he could see the tall pale yellow and disgusting Twoleg den, surrounded by a very tall silver mesh. He could already hear the rats squeaking from around it. But before they could reach it, Needlerose turned around and sat down, looking at the apprentice with a serious expression.

 ''All right. Today, I want you to hunt alone and catch as much prey as you can, and I'll be observing you from a distance.'' Needlerose meowed. ''I want to test your hunting skills.''

 Burntpaw blinked in surprise, but nodded. ''All right, Needlerose. How much prey do I have to catch?''

 ''I'll tell you when to stop.'' Needlerose flicked her tail. ''Now go!''

 Burntpaw nodded and turned around, padding away and sniffing the air. He looked around the pine forest, perking his ears and trying to catch the sound of prey. Suddenly, he froze as he saw something brown on the ground near a pine tree. He squinted his eyes, but then he looked away, annoyed. It's just a pinecone.

 Burntpaw's ears twitched as he heard something. He turned around and followed the sound, then he stopped. There was a puddle of water ahead of him, and a frog sat next to it. Burntpaw instantly dropped into a crouch and unsheathed his claws. He then quickly let out a hiss and lunged forward, swiping at the frog. It fell backwards from the blow, landing in the water, and Burntpaw jumped after it and grabbed it, raising his head. He got out of the puddle and shook his fur, shivering slightly from the cold.

 After burying it, he suddenly felt like he was being watched, but he brushed it off. It's just Needlerose, it's fine.

 Burntpaw's ears twitched and he looked at a bush. Squirrel! He dropped into a crouch and creeped toward it. He could see the squirrel's tail poking out of the bush. He bared his teeth, but before he could jump, he accidentally stepped on a twig, cracking it. The sound made the squirrel instantly turn around. Burntpaw growled in annoyance and pounced in the bush, clawing the ground and trying to catch the squirrel, but then he saw it run out of the bush, desperate to get away from him. Burntpaw quickly ran after it.

 ''Burntpaw!'' Needlerose called from somewhere behind him, but he ignored her. He was focused on the squirrel and kept on chasing it. Suddenly, he realized that his paws weren't touching the grass anymore. He was running on a very hard stone. The Thunderpath! But he didn't stop running. He didn't hear any noise to indicate any incoming monsters, and the Thunderpath wasn't vibrating, either. I've got you now!

 Burntpaw jumped on the squirrel, catching it under his paw. He quickly delivered the final blow to the squirrel's neck, then he raised his head, panting, just to realize that he had no idea where he was. Where in StarClan's name am I?

 He then saw Needlerose on the other side of the Thunderpath, glaring at him. She did not look happy at all. Burntpaw looked around, realizing that he wasn't in his territory anymore. He was surrounded by oak trees now, not by the pine trees he was familiar with. I'm in ThunderClan's territory! I better get back, and fast.

 ''ShadowClan cat!'' 

 Burntpaw spun around and saw a gray tabby tom with a black muzzle run toward him, snarling. The tom backed off, trembling. Uh-oh.