Warriors: Tainted Paths

Chapter 5

Throughout the whole entire day of hunting practice, Wolfpaw had her mind in the clouds. Constantly throughout practice, she couldn't get the thought of that dreaded nightmare out of her head.

It felt so real, yet it didn't. Was it some kind of message? If so, then why did it have to be so nightmarish with that blood-thirsty wolf?

Thoughts of the dream would come to a halt with the harsh lectures from her mother always bringing her back to reality.

Since coming late, she had to endure the lecture of a lifetime from her mother, Dawnflower, who was waiting over at the training tree since the peak of dawn. Her look of disappointment could almost break the hardest of stones in front of her and along with every comment she would spew at Wolfpaw, the more off-balance she felt just trying to keep at a balanced hunting position.

"You're not doing it right— your tail needs to be lowered, not high up— quit shaking, the prey will be able to hear you if you continue to shake like that-- if you would've gotten up earlier you'd have gotten a better understanding of that," would be some of the lectures where Dawnflower would continuously nag at her throughout the whole duration of their "training session".

The whole session itself didn't take long, but to Wolfpaw, who had to endure the wrath of her mother's lecture, she would've thought it took the rest of the day. However, as the two came back into camp, the sun was still at its highest peak, some of the warriors were already gone for either a border patrol or hunting party, Wolfpaw could only guess which one her friends were doing since she noticed the apprentice den being empty upon glimpse.

Wolfpaw was about ready to head out to the elder's den before being nagged at her mother to do so until she heard a sudden voice approach them.

"Hello, Dawnflower," Wolfpaw's ears perked up upon hearing the sweet voice from a she-cat. An apprentice just like her, but much older due to her different choice of training under.

Goldenpaw.

Wolfclan's next medicine cat in training whenever Longfang passes away approached and greeted the ginger tabby with a bright and friendly smile that could melt even the bitterness of any cat.

"Oh, hello Goldenpaw," Dawnflower greeted back, her appearance of disappointment quickly dissolving into a smile herself as she continued, "What might bring you over here today?"

"Oh," Goldenpaw started, "I was wondering if I could borrow your apprentice for a short while. Longfang was wanting me to collect some herbs, and I feel a little paranoid being by myself. Most of the warriors are gone, and just thought I had a chance of asking you once I saw you two come back, that is if you don't mind?"

Dawnflower shook her head, laying her tail over Wolfpaw's shoulder, "Oh I wouldn't mind at all, you can keep her for the rest of the day if you need to. She might learn something valuable from a hardworking apprentice like yourself."

Wolfpaw almost felt her heart being stabbed by that blunt comment made by her mother. She tried her best to keep her head low, almost as if trying to hide her head altogether, but it was impossible when she was greeted with the older she-cat's face being too close to her own liking.

"Great! I'll try my best not to change her mind on becoming a warrior, even though being a medicine cat is much more interesting." Goldenpaw joked, causing Dawnflower to chuckle along as if not minding the biggest pout that Wolfpaw was showing at that moment.

Saying their farewells both apprentices left camp, Wolfpaw leaving for a second time.

"You're lucky I caught you at the nick of time, right Wolfpaw?" The sudden change of tone from Goldenpaw didn't faze Wolfpaw in the slightest. Instead of her sweet cheerful voice, it morphed more to a laidback one when talking to the small apprentice.