Warriors: Crazystar's Battle

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

                “Crazypaw!” a distant voice called, pulling her out of her dreams.

                What could any cat possibly want at this time of the morning?

                “What do you-” Crazypaw stopped, remembering the events of the previous night.

                “Liontail?” she called uncertainly, immediately scrambling out of her nest. Morningpaw kicked in her sleep, but did not stir. “Is that you?”

                Liontail stuck his massive golden head into the apprentices den. “Yes,” he replied. “Come on! We’re supposed to meet Streampaw and Cloudheart in the training hollow, and they’ve already left!”

                The training hollow…that means we must be doing battle training!

                Crazypaw dashed out of the den and skidded to a halt in front of Liontail, sending dust flying up into his face. Liontail quickly stepped backwards. “Calm down,” he meowed. “You should save some of your energy for the training hollow!”

                Liontail turned and trotted off at a steady pace towards the camp entrance. Crazypaw followed him through the unfamiliar forest. One day, I’ll know where everything in the forest is too!

                Finally, Liontail and Crazypaw arrived at the training hollow, where Streampaw and Cloudheart were waiting. “There you are,” Cloudheart meowed, rising to her feet. “I was starting to get worried that you two had gotten lost.”

                “Me? Lost?” Liontail purred teasingly. “It’s only mouse-brains like you who get lost!”

                Cloudtail lifted a forepaw and swatted the golden tom playfully on the ear.  Liontail was about to strike back in return when he suddenly seemed to realize that the apprentices were still there, watching with amusement. He cleared his throat, and Cloudheart followed his gaze to the apprentices. “Ok, then,” Cloudheart meowed, seeming unsure of what to say. “Which move should we teach them first?”

                “We should start with basics,” Liontail replied, sounding confident.

                “Alright,” Cloudheart meowed. “You can explain and demonstrate.”

                Liontail nodded quickly. “The first move an apprentice should learn,” he began. “Is how to rake his or her claws down the side of an opponent. Now I’ll demonstrate.”

                Liontail charged towards Crazypaw. He quickly turned to the right, raising a forepaw, claws sheathed, and brought his paw down her side. He turned around to face the apprentices again. “Of course, in a real battle, claws would be unsheathed,” he meowed. “Be prepared for your opponent to spin around and retaliate. Do not try to roll out of the way of a blow, because it’ll leave your belly exposed for a moment. If a cat is able pin you on your back, you’re in trouble, unless you can throw them off, which neither of you are strong enough to do yet. The only times you’d want to risk rolling out of the way is if a cat is on your back or is trying to land on your back, and I’ll explain why later. Also, when you try that move, sometimes your opponent will dodge out of the way.”

                Crazypaw was hardly listening. What if you don’t have to move out of the way, or spin around and deliver a blow to an enemy’s face after they attack? What if you can attack them while they’re attacking…