AshClan's Future {COMPLETE}

Chapter 10

Goldenstar threw Riverpaw into the ground, she kicked up a flurry of dust and pine needles. Riverpaw winced from the pain, her entire body ached but she still rose to her paws to face her mentor. Riverpaw's legs felt heavy and her lungs burned, but she refused to give up until Goldenstar said so. They had been battle training since just past dawn and it was now nearing sunhigh.

"You were faster that time." Goldenstar mewed. "But I still knocked you down." She waved her tail, her green eyes sparkling. "Are you ready to call it a day?"

"Not yet." Riverpaw bared her teeth. "I wanna go again."

"Very well." Goldenstar dropped into a battle ready stance.

Riverpaw raced forward, bracing herself to fight Goldenstar. She spotted the leader going to swipe at her paws, but Riverpaw put strength into her hind legs and leapt over Goldenstar's reach. She landed squarely on Goldenstar's shoulders and used her strength to knock Goldenstar off balance.

Before the leader hit the ground, Riverpaw jumped off and landed safely on her paws. She twisted on her hind paws and swiped at Goldenstar's muzzle before she had a chance to get back on her paws. Her paw struck Goldenstar and the leader recoiled back, wincing slightly.

Goldenstar jumped to her paws, her pelt becoming a golden blur as Goldenstar took her turn to attack. Riverpaw did her best to duck out of the way but Goldenstar was faster, she slammed her head into Riverpaw's flank, sending her flying backwards.

Her body slammed into a large pine tree, pain spreading across her flank. She fell to the ground and was covered by a shower of pine needles. Riverpaw coughed from he pain, her vision was dazed. After a few moments, Riverpaw struggled to rise to her paws. That was a heavy hit. Riverpaw thought.

"Sorry that was a bit rough." Goldenstar apologized with a dip of her head. "We should call it."

Riverpaw shook her head. "No, I'm okay I just need a moment to rest."

Goldenstar chuckled softly, shaking her head slowly. "We've been going for a long time, and I have a lot I need to do today. Lionpaw and Goldenpaw should be returning from their assessment soon, and if they passed they'll be named warriors, not to mention its the gathering tonight."

"Right!" Riverpaw realized with a shock. "I forgot the gathering was tonight. I've been so busy training it didn't even occur to me."

"Well tonight you will be going. I know you haven't attended a gathering yet. As my apprentice you will."

Riverpaw honestly was surprised to find she didn't feel that excited about the gathering. She had been an apprentice for three moons and hadn't been able to attend a gathering, but ever since becoming Goldenstar's apprentice she had been solely focused on training, even if she had only been training for a few days.

"Let's go back to camp and see if Lionpaw and Hazelpaw are done." Goldenstar mewed and began padding swiftly back to camp. Riverpaw quickly followed suit, keeping pace with her leader. They reached the AshClan camp and sure enough, Lionpaw and Hazelpaw were waiting with Jayclaw and Berryleaf.

"There you are, Goldenstar." Jayclaw raised his head as the two cats stepped into view. "We were waiting for you."

"Sorry." Goldenstar dipped her head. "We got caught up in our training."

"How is that going, by the way?" Jayclaw rested his eyes on Riverpaw, she held her head high.

"It's going well, she's a fierce fighter." Goldenstar purred. "But I'm more interested in how these two did." Goldenstar looked to her kits.