Orchidfrost's Trials

Chapter 10

A/N Sorry for the longer-than-expected hiatus, I was grounded for writing plot for my various books while doing school.

Hope it was worth the wait <3

    The days just seemed to be getting colder and colder. It was once again before dawn when Orchidpaw was roused by her mentor, and when she stepped outside she hissed as a biting wind pierced her pelt. She hoped it warmed up before her meeting with Bearpaw.

    The white-furred apprentice was on her best her best behavior all morning, hoping Pansyswirl wouldn't tire her out as much. She needed her energy if she was going to stay up late into the night.

    Just thinking about it made anxiety twist in her belly. She could only imagine the type of punishment that would be bestowed upon her if Pansyswirl knew. Luckily, the pale ginger she-cat seemed to be in a better-than-average mood. She even praised her for the fat vole she caught! Well, if you count "Finally, a decent catch," as praise. The vole was certainly fat, prey that fat was hard to come by this far in leaf-fall.

    It was nearly sunhigh when Orchidpaw and her mentor returned to camp with their fresh-kill. Raccoonmask and Twilightpaw sat beside the pile, waiting for them. While the two older cats exchanged friendly mews, Twilightpaw filled her in.

    "We're going to have battle training together!" He announced happily. As much as Orchidpaw was glad she was going to spend some time with her friend, the idea of battle training depressed her. More energy wasted that she'll need for later.

    Suddenly it hits her. Why was this so important to her? Why was she even following through? Isn't this kind of against the warrior code? Orchidpaw pushed the questions away, mostly because the answers made her uncomfortable.

    "That-that's great Twilight-Twilightpaw..!" 

    Immediately, the brown Tom's excited face fell, "You're not as excited as I thought you'd be..."

    Guilt stabbed Orchidpaw's belly. "N-No-no! I'm to-totally excited, Pansy-Pansyswirl just wor-worked me really har-hard today, that-that's all!" She mewed, desperately hoping she hadn't upset her friend.

    It seemed to have the affect she'd wanted, seeing as he perked up and batter her ears playfully, "Don't worry, I'll go easy on you!"

    At this, their mentors summoned them from the entrance of the camp. The apprentices had been so busy talking to each other they hadn't noticed them moving away. The looked at each other and burst out laughing, taking a moment to contain themselves before following the older cats, pelts brushing.

***

    By the time the sun was beginning to set, both apprentices had bit of pine needle in their pelt and sore paws. Orchidpaw was certainly a better match for Twilightpaw than either of them had initially expected. Her thick pelt cut off the wind better than Twilightpaw's short one, and almost padded her body in a way. To put it more simply, Twilightpaw may have gotten more hits on Orchidpaw, but the she-cat's fewer blows had more of an effect. When their mentors dismissed them they happily dropped their guards and walked back to camp.

    Twilightpaw took two, admittedly scrawny, mice for them and the friends settled down outside the apprentice's den to eat. Once they were done eating they sat in the weak sunlight, grooming each other's pelts. Orchidpaw's eyes were getting heavy, and she had almost completely forgotten about her previous engagement. She was too distracted by the warmth of her friend beside her, and the lulling strokes of his tongue as he untangled pine needles from her pelt.

    Her jaws stretched wide in a yawn, but half-way through she remembered something that snapped her out of her trance. She can't be tired! She has to go see Bearpaw! She snapped her jaws closed and tried to relax again, but Twilightpaw had already noticed.

    "Hey, are you okay?" He mewed, an edge of concern in his voice.

    "N-nothing, I just th-thought I for-forgot to clean th-the elders' den, b-but then I realized Pan-Pansyswirl never ask-asked me to," She covered, forcing her fur down flat again. She turned her head and shot him an innocent smile, one he returned after only a heartbeat. 

    Orchidpaw forces another yawn and complains about being tired. She teases him, talking about how she'd hate to meet him in a real battle, she'd be crowfood!

***

    The longer Orchidpaw waited, the slower the sun seemed to be setting. She invited Tumblepaw on a walk with her, seeing as she had time to kill, and her time was always well-spent with her littermate. They padded through the pines, talking about nothing in particular and everntually made their way to the shore of the lake. Side-by-side the two walk to the water's edge and drink a little. Tumblepaw, in a slightly playful mood, crashed one of his paws onto the water, showering Orchidpaw is cold droplets. 

    "Why y-you little-" 

    In retaliation, the apprentice skidded her paw across the surface, splashing her brother back. He squealed and started running away along the shore.

    "Try and catch me!" He called over his shoulder. 

    Though her brother had a more lithe frame, his days spent sitting in the medicine den have put him out of practice, and Orchidpaw easily caught up to him. She pounced on his back, knocking him over, and they tussled on the sandy shore. For a moment, it seemed like they were still kits again, they're pelts still fluffy and play-fighting just in front of the nursery. 

    The nursery.

    Images flooded Orchidpaw's mind, a white she-cat with soft, gold eyes blinking proudly down at her. Twilightpaw had her same face. Orchidpaw clambered off Tumblepaw and sat down next to him, letting him get up and shake off his pelt. 

    "I-I let-let you win~" She teased. 

    "Whatever!" He shot back nudging her shoulder with his head. After sitting and watching the water for a while the padded back to camp. Orchidpaw pretended to be very tired, even though nerves were beginning to bunch in her stomach. Twilightpaw joined her in the den and it wasn't long before his soft snores filled the space. As carefully as she could, she picked her way around him and out of the den. It was shocking how swiftly the temperature had dropped.

    She scanned the clearing to find it deserted and walked to the dirt-place tunnel. This was the safest place to exit the camp undetected. Fluffing up her fur against the chilly breeze she trotted across her territory in the direction of the border. Following the stream she tried to find the spot where they had met seen each other yesterday.

    After what seemed like ages she finally spotted a large ginger shape in the moonlight, his head up, facing the stars.

    "Bearpaw?"