Brambleberry's Path

Chapter 28:

"Birdpaw, how was the trip?" Hawkwing asked her friend as the ginger and white she-cat padded in the camp. She purred and set down the herbs she was carrying.

"I'm Birdsong now." She mewed proudly. Hawkwing's eyes widened and she tackled the other she-cat. Birdsong shrieked and flailed her paws wildly. Hawkwing laughed and got off of her, helping the medicine cat to her paws.

"Congratulations!" She mewed with joy. She suddenly jerked forward when a small grey tabby bundle hit her back leg.

"Sorry Hawkwing!" A small mew sounded behind her. Hawkwing looked down into Riverpaw's wide amber eyes. She purred and licked the small she-cat's head.

"It's alright Riverpaw." She mewed to her new apprentice. Gingerfoot padded by them and nodded at Birdsong before continuing on her way to talk with Fernheart. Birdsong watched her sister with troubled eyes. It had been moons since the Sandclan attack and Petalfur's death. Over that time her sisters had become warriors and Riverkit became Hawkwing's apprentice. Leopardpaw was given to Brambleberry and Mousepaw was given to Icewing. Bramblepaw was Brightface's new apprentice. Rainpaw had become Rainwind, right before Mousepaw was apprenticed to his former mentor.

"Is it just me, or does it seem like my sisters are... avoiding me?" She asked the brown warrior beside her. Hawkwing frowned and stared over at the two she-cats as they shared a fish. The lake had thawed out after the Sandclan attack, and prey ran smoothly again. Ripplewave was saved from whitecough, however Minnowtooth wasn't so lucky. The arrogant warrior was grieved for, from Brambleberry the most. He was the grey tom's former apprentice, after all. Hawkwing frowned as she stared at the two new warriors.

"Now that you mention it, it seems like they do." She muttered, turning to her friend. Birdsong sighed and looked over at Hawkwing and was about to say something, but she saw Brambleberry padding over to her and shut her mouth, staring at him with amused amber eyes.

"Well, good luck." She mewed to Hawkwing, who stared at her with confused emerald eyes. She turned around and groaned as Brambleberry stood in front of her.

"Will you train with me and Leopardpaw?" He asked hopefully. His amber eyes were shining and Hawkwing sighed before opening her mouth to reply. But she heard Riverpaw behind her hopping up and down with glee and excitement, and stopped herself. She growled at Brambleberry and narrowed her eyes at him.

"Fine. Let's go then." She mewed leading Riverpaw out of camp with Brambleberry and Leopardpaw on their paws. They passed Brightface as she was padding beside Icewing and into the camp she stopped and exchanged a couple words with her friend and her kit before giving Riverpaw a lick on the cheek and continuing on to get to camp. They reached the training grounds.

Hawkwing sat and watched as Leopardpaw launched himself at Riverpaw, who looked like she was frozen to the spot. In no time, the ginger and black spotted apprentice had the grey tabby pinned. Hawkwing let out a sigh. Now she knew what she had to teach her apprentice. She padded over to the two and told them to go sit on the sidelines and watch.

"Brambleberry, I need you for this." She mewed. The dark tabby brightened and padded over.

"We're going to show them how to duck and how to pin their opponents." She mewed softly. Brambleberry nodded and went to the other side of the training grounds. He turned around and crouched low to the ground as Hawkwing turned to the two apprentices.

"Now watch and learn. This is what you have to do when your opponent is coming at you. After we show you, you're going to demonstrate, so pay attention." She said sternly, looking at Leopardpaw. She turned around and crouched down, emerald eyes piercing into Brambleberry's amber orbs.

He leapt through the air and flew right for her. Hawkwing quickly rolled to the side just as his paws hit the ground where her head had been and he turned too late to see her pounce on him. His back hit the ground and he let out a grunt before shaking his head to clear his vision. Hawkwing stood, pinning him to the ground, lashing her tail. They stared at each other for a couple of moments before Hawkwing got off of the tabby and faced the two apprentices, who stared at the two warriors with awe.

"Alright, now you try it. Riverpaw, try to dodge Leopardpaw." She instructed as the Warriors switched out with their apprentices. Brambleberry let out a sigh as he rolled onto his stomach and padded after Hawkwing.

After a while, Riverpaw had gotten better at her dodging skills, and so had Leopardpaw. Hawkwing looked up at the sky and frowned.

"We should be getting back to camp." She mewed. Brambleberry looked at her and then at the sun, realizing it was almost sundown.

"You're right. Come on Leopardpaw." He mewed sternly. The small apprentice whined as he followed the dark tabby. Hawkwing watched them leave and turned to Riverpaw with a huge sigh. The grey tabby bounced up to her and her amber eyes lit up with hope.

"Did I do good?!" She asked. Hawkwing smiled and licked her on the forehead.

"You did wonderful." She mewed. "Brightface will be proud."

Riverpaw brightened and bounced away ahead of Hawkwing. The brown warrior shook her head and followed after the three cats back to camp. Then she remembered there was going to be a gathering.

"I wonder if I'll meet someone new." She mewed to herself as she followed her clanmates.