The Clash of Stars Book 1: The Key

Chapter 3: Ottercall

Ottercall trudged along the beach, very exhausted after today's training session. Behind her, her apprentice, Redpaw, was somehow moving quickly, yet taking a very long time to get back to camp.

Ottercall turned to call to Redpaw, who was now diving at some poor crabs trying to shelter in the wet sand. She sighed, casting a glance to the ocean behind them. The rough weather and strong waves only seemed to be getting worse every day. Just a few moons ago they'd lost a warrior, Poppywish, and their old deputy, Oatmist, who had drowned trying to save her in the rough waters. It'd been tough on their single kit, Puddlepaw, but at least she seemed to be recovering okay.

The white and ginger molly shook her head and looked around the beach for Redpaw, who had disappeared in the few moments Ottercall had taken to worry about the Clan.

"Ottercall!" a voice called from behind her. "Aren't you coming? I'm starving!"

Ottercall turned her head to see Redpaw, who had darted ahead of her and almost reached the beach cave that CoveClan made their camp in.

Biting back a growl of annoyance and trudging after her, Ottercall reflected on how, even after over a moon of mentoring her, Ottercall was making zero progress with Redpaw — she hardly listened. Unlike what Ripplestar thought, it wasn't Redpaw's bad leg that had the potential to prevent her from becoming a warrior — it was her bad attitude.

She was a great fighter, and kept up well during training sessions. There was no doubt that she was eager to learn, but when it came to hunting lessons or any of her other duties as an apprentice, Redpaw would get bored and find some way to worm her way out of work. And when that didn't work, she'd just run off somewhere until nightfall. The anglers seemed to be keeping track of Redpaw and making sure she didn't swim too far out into the dangerous waters more than they were bringing in prey.

Ottercall came to a stop just outside of the camp-cave and turned to face Redpaw. The apprentice looked startled and widened her eyes.

Ottercall took a deep breath. "Redpaw, you're an excellent fighter," she began. "Your skills have been great, especially for an apprentice who's only been training for a moon — "

Redpaw's eyes lit up as she interrupted. "Oh, thank StarClan!" she chirped. "I thought I was in trouble!"

Ottercall lashed her tail. "You didn't let me finish!" she snapped. "As I was saying, you're a great fighter, but you need to listen."

Redpaw frowned.

"What if we end up in battle against BlossomClan or EchoClan and you get seriously injured because you didn't listen to orders?" Ottercall continued. "I'm not a senior warrior; I won't be leading patrols into battle, and I won't always be there to make sure you don't get your pelt clawed off!"

Ignoring Redpaw opening her mouth to protest, Ottercall scanned the camp, spotting Ashthroat, a small, stumpy-tailed gray tom, sharing tongues with a silver smoke queen, Icemoss. Ottercall turned back to Redpaw. "A cat like Ashthroat wouldn't have any patience for your behavior! He'd probably send you right back to camp if he had to deal with how you acted today!"

Redpaw snorted, unfazed. "And what?" she retorted. "Send Frogpaw to fight? They wouldn't send me back, I'm too good in a fight!"

Ottercall narrowed her eyes, irritated that Redpaw was right. But she didn't want to back down on this. "No matter how good you fight, if you keep acting like this, you'll never be a warrior. Ripplestar doesn't reward bad behavior." Inwardly, she added, She doesn't reward good behavior, either.

Redpaw stiffened at Ottercall's words, her fur bristling. "I'm going to be the best warrior CoveClan's ever seen!" she spat. "And I'll definitely be a fun mentor when I get an apprentice of my own someday!"