ωαяяισя ¢αтѕ // Mintpool's Venom

Chapter 19

Darkness wrapped around Mintpool as she parted her jaws, ears pricked, listening. Shadows flickered in the trees and the night sky was specked with stars, the beginnings of dawn slowly washing them away. The tabby twitched her tail-tip, alert, watching for a sign within the trees.

The sound of the bushes rustling in front of her caught her attention, making her ears lift, tail sweeping the ground triumphantly. I got you now. As she was about to leap into the bushes, a new thought popped into her mind. Right in front of me? That's too obvious. And, the bush rustling sound was too loud, too. Her eyes widened with realization. It's a trap! Spinning around, she turned just in time to see a flash of golden fur charge towards her.

Panic caught Mintpool. What should I do? In her moment of worry, she reared upwards, hoping to bring her paws down on the cat's head. But, before she could do so, the golden cat charged into her; her balance wobbled, and she tumbled over.

"You okay?" An amused voice sounded above her as Mintpool climbed back to her paws, facing Holly. The two were training.

The tabby flicked her tail, pretending to not be affected. "Yeah. But what was that? Cats will really just knock you over like that in battle?"

Holly shook her head. "No, not Clan cats. Their battle styles, no matter what Clan they're in, closeup. They'll surprise attack, maybe, then barrel into you and begin fighting that way, but they won't do what I did, as their barrels are pretty easy to stop." She paused, twitching her tail-tip. "What I did was a rogue move. That's what the more skilled rogues will do in battles, like the challenge ones."

Mintpool's eyes widened with realization. "Oh, okay. Well, how do you stop it, then?"

"For starters, don't do what you just did." Holly's voice was light with teasing. "But, it is pretty difficult to go against, which is why rogues like using it so much. However, I've made up a move that can oppose it." She flicked her tail. "Charge at me like I just did."

Nodding, Mintpool moved back, lowering her head. She took off, kicking up dirt, charging towards Holly. As she neared her, the golden tabby whipped around, running away. Mintpool paused, confused, before continuing her chase. Holly scrambled up a tree, and as Mintpool made a move to follow, she twisted around when she was halfway up the trunk, leaping down neatly. Grabbing Mintpool's tail, she yanked the tabby onto the ground, careful not to hurt her too much. 

The gray tabby laid on the ground, eyes wide. "Woah! That was great!"

Holly seemed pleased, purring lightly. "It takes a lot of practice time, but I'm sure you'll be able to do it."

"Do any of the other rogues know about this?" Mintpool asked, scrambling back up to her paws.

"Not as far as I know." Holly tilted her head in thought. "They just pick up moves done by other cats, and since I've never shown the move to any cat other than you, this should be a secret."

"This'll be great!" Mintpool chirped brightly with a flick of her tail. She opened her jaws, about to ask Holly to teach her another move, when she caught a glance of the sky from the corner of her eye. "Mouse-dung! The sun's rising!" She could see the tips of it peek from the treetops, announcing dawn's arrival. "I'd better get going."

"Okay!" Holly mewed. "When do you want to meet again?"

The tabby paused. "You're on the Gathering patrol, right? We'll take then and set a date." The golden she-cat nodded. Tapping her nose quickly with her friend's, Mintpool whipped around, bounding into the forest.

"Remember to practice!" Holly's yowl sounded behind her.

"I will!" With that, the gray tabby hurried towards AirClan's territory, her paws skidding and slipping against the ground in her haste.