Warriors: Project Star

Chapter 14 | Leafpaw | Training is all About Winning

Author's Note: Had a a lot of struggle with this chapter, let's just say I won't with the next one :) It's a highly anticipated one to me.

Letting out a victory yowl, Leafpaw propelled herself off an exhausted Greypaw.

"Urgh... You're too good at fighting..." Greypaw spluttered as the weight was finally lifted off his shoulders. The fresh smell of the forest wafted into her nose as she let out a mock yawn.

"That's cause you guys are so easy and boring to beat!" Leafpaw teased as she plopped herself on the floor. Wildly grown grass coated her underside as she rested her head on her paws. "I'm taking a break."

"The point of this isn't just to beat the other cat," Smallclaw began to explain to a disinterested Leafpaw. "It's to learn new battle techniques."

Since Cindercloud's injury, Leafpaw had been passed around for a bit between the mentors and apprentices. Today, all the apprentices were in one area.

"Besides Leafpaw, you're fighting style is easy to beat," Sagepaw jibed, his green eyes locked onto Leafpaw's brown fur. "Once you understand the basics of your style, which your whole style is basic, it'd easy to beat."

"Oh, really?" Leafpaw resisted the urge to scrunch up her face and pounce on him. "Want to test that?"

"Go, Sagepaw!" A voice cheered from underneath a tall oak tree. Foxpaw was lying down under the tree, Dawnpaw next to him. His blue eyes showed no hostility as he stared at the training cats.

"Woah, hold on!" Jaggedfur suddenly snapped, standing in the middle of Leafpaw and Sagepaw. "Who in StarClan told you that you can do whatever you like?" Leafpaw took a step back as the she-cat suddenly spun around to where Foxpaw was. "Who told you that you could sit down as well?"

"Maybe training would be appealing if someone wasn't being overly competitive..." Foxpaw grumbled, ignoring Jaggedfur's seething rage. Leafpaw was usually like this at training - overly competitive and turning the others off it. Well, it's not my fault they can't keep up.

"Suppose we sort out this fight the way they want to?" Ambertalon suggested, and after receiving a nod of approval, she spoke again. "Sagepaw! You're up!"

"Leafpaw, you too." Crowsight sighed, shooting a glance at Dawnpaw, who met him with a look of understanding.

Feeling slightly nervous but completely ready, Leafpaw entered the training ring. On the opposite side, Sagepaw entered, a mysterious expression on his face. I have to win. Feeling her heart beating in her chest, she glanced at Ambertalon.

"Ready?" Ambertalon inquired. Acquiring two nods, she began the countdown. "3, 2, 1, go!"

When the countdown finished, Leafpaw quickly hurled herself at Sagepaw, who anticipated it. She fell into the dirt, dust clouds irritating her eyes."Nice try!" He hissed, leaping on her back. She let out a small shriek of pain as he pushed her against the ground.

If he keeps this up, I'll lose! Leafpaw timidly thought as she struggled under Sagepaw's grasp. It's time for an accident. Suddenly, her claws "slipped out" and clawed Sagepaw's sides, drawing a lot of blood. Letting out a screech of agony, Sagepaw was knocked to the side by Leafpaw.

"...This is why we don't usually have them together..." Jaggedfur groaned to Ambertalon. "This is the second time we've done this, and a similar thing happened with Leafpaw..." Slight shame overcame Leafpaw as she heard the hushed conversation. While Sagepaw lay bleeding on the ground, the other mentors rushed over, barring Crowsight and Ambertalon.

"What in StarClan did you think you were doing? Claws. Don't. Come. Out. During. Training." Nighttuft snarled, looming over the apprentice like a tree towering over a squirrel.

"I didn't mean to! I... It was an accident!" Leafpaw spluttered as Nighttuft raised an eyebrow. Fear and shame overcame her as Nighttail swooped in for the kill.

"We both know it wasn't," Nighttail dismissed her claims immediately, before turning to the other apprentices. "Cherrypaw! Bring Sagepaw and Leafpaw to camp! Foxpaw, Dawnpaw, and Greypaw go hunting. We are discussing something."

* * *

After the quiet walk back to camp, Leafpaw realised Nighttail gave no instructions for her to follow.

What do I do? Deciding to just sit by the camp entrance, she waited for anyone to come back.

She waited a while. She could sense the sun starting to lower as a small bug flew past her, barely skimming her.

"Leafpaw? What are you doing out here?" A surprised voice asked, their figure barely visible through the trees. Despite that, Leafpaw could recognise the voice as Foxpaw.

"Waiting for my execution." She glumly replied, sinking further into the comforting green grass.

"It's justified, though. You got off with a warning last time." Now his orange fur finally came into view. He didn't seem furious, more uncomfortable to be around her. He kept pacing back and forth and wildly glancing around as if he was waiting for someone for an eternity.

"I know." Leafpaw icily replied, removing her eyes from him.

"...Yep. There you go again." Foxpaw responded sadly before slowly trotting last her.

"What?" Leafpaw stood up to question him, but he had vanished from the area. "Hey, wait!" What did he mean?

"Leafpaw. We're back." A different, more gruff voice called out. Nighttail. Fear began to take over her as she realised that this was when she would receive her punishment. What will it be? I hope it's not that bad...

"Ah, she's standing right by the entrance." Another voice noticed. Ambertalon, too. Finally, the mentors came into view, and their eyes all appeared to instinctively lock onto her. Shrinking underneath the gazes, she crouched down.

"Look, I'll make this short," Nighttail sighed, walking over to her. His immense height over her only heightened her fight-or-flight response. "We both know you were wrong. You let your head get to you. That behaviour isn't tolerable. However, the strong, unwavering determination you both carried is most certainly a positive. Due to that, we concluded you will merely be caring for the elders for a moon."

"T-thank you, Nighttail." Leafpaw spluttered as she bowed her head gratefully.

"Also!" Ambertalon suddenly recalled, her body suddenly shooting up as if something had leapt out at her. "Go apologise to Sagepaw."

"Sure." Leafpaw hurriedly meowed before racing off. She was a mouse evading an enemy, running as fast as her little legs could take her. She entered a predator's den, that being the medicine den, and slowly and unconfidently approached Sagepaq the predator. Haunting her every step, Leafpaw thought of the pain and hatred that flashed across his face. Her heart heavy with guilt, she finally made it to him. "I'm sorry, Sagepaw," she whimpered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I shouldn't have hurt you. It was a mistake, and I feel terrible about it."

Sagepaw glanced up at her, his green eyes softening slightly. "This time, and this time alone, I will forgive you." He curtly dismissed, turning his head away. Leafpaw knew she had messed up. Slowly and silently, she disappeared into the den. When she entered and saw no one there, she made a beeline for her nest.

I want to go to sleep and pretend this embarrassing mess of a day never happened. Leafpaw thought to herself. But it did. I can't change that, so I'll just have to do better.