Warriors - The Leopard's Apprentice

-Chapter Two - New Blood-

"Smokepaw!" Leopardwillow called irritation creeping into her voice, it was Smokepaw's first day of warrior training and he had already forgotten as he lay sound asleep in the apprentice den. "Uh-hmm?" The smokey gray tom said groggily. "Get up! We're going to be late, to the training hollow!" Leopardwillow shouted at her apprentice. Smokepaw groaned before stretching and walking towards his mentor, "We're battle training already?" a hint of interest in his voice, Leopardwillow nodded "I thought we would tour the territory and finish off by going to the training hollow to get you used to some new battle techniques- especially with LakeClan so tense recently." Smokepaw deflated and rolled his eyes at her, "alright." he grumbled.

"This is the LakeClan border, it's where most of our water is." Leopardwillow said motioning to a large silver-blue lake glistening in the sun, "we won't be hunting here though ForestClan doesn't eat any of the fish in the lake unless Leaf-fall is extremely harsh." She continued glancing every so now and then at her apprentice. "Our hunting grounds are around the trees and we usually hunt birds, mice, and squirrels. It's important that you learn to always keep your scent downwind when hunting squirrels and mice. They tend to notice your scent even if you're the stealthiest hunter in ForestClan." Smokepaw rolled his eyes, everyone knows that, Leopardwillow heard him mutter "when do we actually get to battle train?" he asked impatiently, his tail lashing out.

"It's important that you know these things so you can feed your clan, it won't matter how good you are at battling if you can't even catch a mouse." Leopardwillow growled, this apprentice was getting on her nerves and it had only been the first day of apprentice training. "Hi Leopardwillow!" She heard Dandelionpaw shout, her mentor Lynxdawn not far behind. "I was hunting with Dandelionpaw, what are you up to?" Lynxdawn asked her grey dotted fur shining in the sun. "I was on my way to the training hollow to train with Smokepaw, we just toured the territory." Leopardwillow said brightly, trying desperately to hide her disgust for her apprentice. Lynxdawn thought for a moment before responding "maybe we could come with you? It would be nice for Dandelionpaw to get some battle training in, you are one of the best fighters in ForestClan." she said. Leopardwillow blushed "thanks Lynxdawn. I think it would be a great idea to have them practice with each other, right Smokepaw?"

Smokepaw wasn't listening; he was grooming himself when he noticed the two she-cats eyes looking towards him, "O-oh ye-yeah I think that's a good idea. But don't think I'll be going easy on you Dandelionpaw just because your my sister." He said. Leopardwillow stifled a laugh "I'd expect her to go easy on you with your lack of concentration." Smokepaw growled his fur standing up, "I'll show you" he muttered. Once the cats got to the training hollow Lynxdawn and Leopardwillow began to discuss strategies "Ok! I think we're ready, I want Dandelionpaw to come from behind and pounce. Make sure to use the stealth you used in your hunting ok?" Leopardwillow said, giving Dandelionpaw a gentle smile. "Smokepaw your main goal is to knock Dandelionpaw off her feet and pin her, and remember No Claws!" She continued sternly, "Begin!"

After some time the sun began to go down and the group headed back to camp. "I think you two did exceptionally well today." Lynxdawn chirped trying to lighten up their walk. "Ssh-" Leopardwillow hissed, "what's wrong?" Dandelionpaw whispered her fur bristling. "Ssh!" Leopardwillow said once again straining her ears to an unfamiliar sound. "The dawn patrol!" she said at last, now the rest of the group could hear fighting as they got closer to the LakeClan border. The four cats gasped as they looked around the bend to see Fallenbranch, Junipercloud, Moonfang, Wolfhowl and Snakepaw heavily outnumbered by a group of LakeClan warriors. "Smokepaw, go get Bearstar!" Leopardwillow hissed urgently, "No way I'm fighting-" he sneered at her "Now!" she yowled her fur bristling as the sounds of the battle continued on. Smokepaw meekly rolled his eyes and ran towards the direction of the camp. "Dandelionpaw, I hope you remember your battle training from today." Lynxdawn whispered. Leopardwilow looked at the two she-cats and nodded, She yowled a battle cry before leaping at one of the toms closest to her.

"Well well if it isn't Leopardwillow 'The Best Warrior in ForestClan' let's see about that now shall we?" The tom hissed at her, Leopardwillow stared at her opponent for a second his huge bulky grey and black fur bristling in the wind, she smirked the bigger the better she thought before leaping onto the tom. He yowled in frustration trying to throw her off, Leopardwillow forced her weight downwards and used her built up muscle to throw the tom down onto the ground. Growling, the tom spun back to face her, his claws fully unsheathed. Leopardwillow leapt at him snarling her claws racked against his chest and he cried out in pain. "Badgertooth!" A young she-cat yelled across the battlefield, she was pinned down by Wolfhowl. Where is Smokepaw?! Leopardwillow thought frustratedly as she swerved a near hit from the tom; Badgertooth. From the corner of her eye she could see more LakeClan cats swimming through the lake, they were never going to get out of this battle without more warriors. "ForestClan attack!" she heard behind her, Leopardwillow swerved if the big bulking brut had been closer she would have been crow food.

It was Bearstar! Leopardwillow thought with relief, "Hey sis, need some help?" she heard from behind her Foxbristle! She thought happily. "Do I ever, this brut's got'a bad mouth." she responded with a grin, "well I'd be happy to help teach him some manners." Foxbristle said with a smirk her orange and white pelt glittering in the moonlight. The sisters growled ferociously and yowled out a battle cry before throwing themselves at Badgertooth. Leopardwillow and Foxbristle finally had the large tom pinned down and Leopardwillow could see the others were faring nicely as well, she could see Flamestar, the leader of LakeClan sink her claws deep into Junipercloud's pelt, her claws dripping with crimson. "Foxbristle, you think you can handle him? I have to help Junipercloud!" she yelled through the chaos. Understanding shone in Foxbristle's eyes "hurry!" she said her eyes pleading.

Leopardwillow ran through the crowd only to be stopped by Nightpelt, the deputy of LakeClan. "I thought we didn't see each other till next moon." he said with a smirk "i'm so happy of you to stop by." Leopardwillow growled in frustration as she tried to pass the black pelted tom, but he blocked her and smacked her against the face with his claws. "Either you get out of my way or I rip your pelt off." she spat, "my,my you really are to much my dear." Nightpelt said with a grin, Suddenly she heard a shriek come from behind Nightpelt, distracted he turned around leaving Leopardwillow the perfect opening. She leapt past him and jumped through the clearing, she gasped in horror as Flamestar looked at her covered in the blood of poor Junipercloud who was lying on the ground, her eyes smokey and her body covered in a number of blood, gashes, and scratches. Thankfully Junipercloud's sacrifice had not been in vain, though the LakeClan leader was standing, Leopardwillow noticed her eye was cut open and blood flowed freely down her face. "LakeClan retreat!" she screeched giving a final hiss at Leopardwillow, "this won't be the last of me I can bet you that." she snarled as the rest of her warriors ran towards their leader. Leopardwillow smiled when she noticed Badgertooth was limping.

Gingerly, Leopardwillow and Lynxdawn carried Junipercloud's body back to camp, Leopardwillow noticed Lynxdawn's face streaked with tears as she looked at her dead mothers body. Dandelionpaw padded alongside Lynxdawn and rubbed her head gently against her muzzle giving her a sorrowful smile. "All cats old enough to catch their own prey please gather underneath the Oaktree. "While we fought LakeClan off our territory Junipercloud risked her life for this clan may she rest happy in StarClan. All cats who knew her and would like to speak their goodbyes please gather to share-tongues for the last time and will sit vigil for her tonight."Bearstar said sorrowfully. Leopardwillow looked around to see all the other cats sorrowful expressions as they went to Junipercloud's body to share-tongues with her one last time. She's dead and it's all my fault Leopardwillow thought sullenly. "Hey..." Smokepaw said moving closer to his mentor, Leopardwillow snapped her head around to face her apprentice anger growing in her "Where were you?! I didn't see you at the battle!" She spat at him a growl rising in her chest. "I-i was told to stay back at camp when I told Bearstar about the attack... b-because I didn't have enough exp-perience." he stuttered nervously, Leopardwillow sighed her fur going back down, "I'm sorry for barking at you I just-" she trailed off staring at the ground sadly.

"I can help stand vigil with you!" Leopardwillow heard Dandelionpaw exclaim to her mentor. "Smokepaw, go grab something from the fresh kill pile and head into the apprentice den I'm going to go stand vigil with Lynxdawn and Dandelionpaw. Smokepaw mumbled something before walking to the fresh-kill pile and grabbing a plump vole and heading into the apprentice den quickly being greeted by Snakepaw. Leopardwillow gave Lynxdawn and Dandelionpaw a sad smile as the three she-cats sat at the entrance of the camp staring into the stars. "Thank you, Leopardwillow for trying to protect her." Lynxdawn smiled, Leopardwillow gave her a small smile "you should of seen Flamestar's eye." she said with a sad chuckle "she's happy with Starclan." she whispered as they sat the rest of the night in silence.