End of a Lifetime

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

½ moon later

Meadowpaw followed her mentor, Eaglethorn, to the log bridge. Her fur was itching with excitement, her heart beating rapidly. She hurried, carefully, across the bridge and took off to the clearing as soon as her paws touched solid forest floor. She pushed through a bush and gaped in amazement at the Oak tree where the leaders sat. She bounced in excitement and hurried to the front. She looked up and up and up until she saw Snowstar, next to Scragstar and the other two leaders. She spotted two she-cats sitting side by side. She walked over to them. "Hi!" She mewed.

"Hello. I'm Basilpaw." The tan and white tabby said. "This is my sister, Brindlepaw." She said, flicking her tail to the light grey blue marble tabby she-cat next to her. "We got our apprentice names nearly two moons ago. We're from Riverclan. And you are?" She asked coolly.

"I'm Meadowpaw. I became an apprentice the day after the last gathering, so I just barely missed it. This is my first one. I'm from Thunderclan. My brothers, Stormpaw and Thornpaw, had to stay back because they have greencough, but they'll be here next time. My friend Sunpaw became an apprentice just today, so she's barely made it. Her brother Roaringpaw is here, too." Meadowpaw said. She smiled proudly. "My mentor said that I'll make a great fighter and hunter. He said I was really developed and learn quickly."

"Show me." Brindlepaw said. She crouched down into fighting position, then launched herself at Meadowpaw. Meadowpaw sidestepped, slicing Brindlepaw's nose. She then leaped over Brindlepaw, slicing her back, as Brindlepaw launched at her again. Then she slid beneath her and sliced her belly, as Brindlepaw jumped for her. She ended up underneath, then pushed with her hind legs, ending up on top of Brindlepaw. Brindlepaw struggled out of her grasp, panting.

Meadowpaw smiled proudly, a glint of triumph in her eyes. "Told you." She said. Basilpaw looked at her sister teasingly, "Beaten by a newly made apprentice. Shame on you." They all turned to the tree, when Snowstar called for attention. She heard them whispering something next to her, and heard them say her name a few times. Finally, she ignored them and moved away. Meadowpaw tried to pay attention after that, but kept glancing over to another cat. As she saw his figure closer, she realized it was Roaringpaw. She tried again to pay attention, but her gaze kept going back to Roaringpaw, and every time it did, her stomach fluttered. You can't seriously feel like that about him! She scolded herself. Finally, she drew her attention to Scragstar just as he'd ended the meeting. She snarled angrily. It's all his fault! If only he hadn't kept on stealing my attention!! She furiously hurried to Sunpaw's side.

"Hey Meadowpaw! Did you see the look on Scragstar's face when Snowstar accused him and his clan of stealing prey? It was priceless!"

"No."

"Why not?" Sunpaw turned to her.

"Because something kept drawing my attention. In fact, I didn't get anything out of it!"

She sighed. "Oh. Well, there wasn't anything real big. Just the usual green-cough report for leaf-bare." Sunpaw said cheerfully. "What distracted you?"

"I-I don't know." Meadowpaw looked away.

Sunpaw frowned, then quickly grinned. "Hey. Look over there." She said. Meadowpaw looked to where she was pointing and saw Roaringpaw looking at her. They both quickly looked away. Meadowpaw smiled beside herself and hurried into the Apprentice's Den once they reached the entrance. As she settled down, she felt something slide in beside her. She looked up to see Roaringpaw. She smiled and snuggled against him, drifting off to sleep.

~~~

Meadowpaw opened her eyes, her fur ruffled up, and stretched. She licked the scar left from Blackthorn, and then licked the rest of her fur, smoothing it down. She hurried outside, the scent of rain left in the rain from the night before. She grabbed a mouse and thrush from the pile for her and Roaringpaw. She left his for him in his nest since he was on the patrol. She quickly finished hers, then joined her mentor outside. She joined Sunpaw and Snowstar for the hunting patrol with Eaglethorn. They headed towards the Ancient Oak. When they got there, they crouched low, waiting for any sign of prey. Meadowpaw spotted something near Sunpaw and signaled to her. Sunpaw saw the blue-tit and crept towards it, pouncing on it and swiftly killing it before it escaped. She padded back to them with the bird in her jaws. Soon, Eaglethorn and Snowstar had both caught something. Meadowpaw waited for her chance. Finally, something rustled near her. She signaled to them she would get it, and crouched in waiting. As it came out of hiding from the bush, she pounced, swiftly killing it and dragging the huge rabbit back."Good job!" Eaglethorn meowed proudly. Snowstar purred and Sunpaw helped her carry the rabbit back. Roaringpaw and his patrol joined them when they got back.

Roaringpaw looked triumphant. "We defeated a Shadowclan patrol trying to steal territory." He said. "And I scratched one of the warriors and they turned tail and ran."

"Good job! I caught this rabbit all by myself." Meadowpaw boasted.

Roaringpaw purred. "That's great!"

Meadowpaw smiled and she felt lopsided when she looked at him. No!! You can't like him! He calls you runt all the time!! But he is trying to make up for it. And I can't help but like him..... Well you're going to have to get over it. No! I like him and that's that. She argued with herself. She purred and walked with him to drop the prey off. She looked back to see Sunpaw giving them a grin. She glared at her annoyed, then turned back to Roaringpaw. "Want to go practice our fighting moves?" He nodded and they raced to the Clearing. She snarled playfully at him and skidded in the dirt. She faced him and lunged. He dodged, but she got a whack into it. He shook his head and lunged for her. She ducked under him, and ended up under him. She pushed up with her hind-legs and found herself on top of him. He lay there still, and she relaxed her grip, but too late realized he was faking it. He slid from her grip and backed away, panting. He lunged again and she side-stepped, whacking his side. They stopped, panting, and headed back.

"You did good." He purred. Her stomach fluttered when he said this.

"So did you." She purred back. They walked side by side, pelts brushing, and she finally felt truly loved by someone who wasn't family.

~~~

Meadowpaw followed Eaglethorn to the Clearing. She spotted Sunpaw and Stormpaw fighting, and Thornpaw and Roaringpaw fighting. Sunpaw ducked one of Stormpaw's blows, then pushed up and he fell off her. She then watched as Roaringpaw beat Thornpaw. She looked back to see Stormpaw beat Sunpaw. She smiled beside herself. She hurried over to Stormpaw and Sunpaw. "Sunpaw, that was really good, but next time, try to watch and study your enemy's moves." Her mentor Sparrowthorn mewed.

"You too, Stormpaw." Stormfrost said. "Yes, you may have won, but you still need to study your enemy's moves, because you only fought another apprentice with not as much experience as you. You'll be fighting warriors with way more experience than you in real battle."

"Meadowpaw, you will fight Roaringpaw." She nodded to acknowledge what Cherrydawn said, and hurried over to Roaringpaw.

"You ready to be beat?" She whispered to him.

"Ha. You beat me? I doubt it." He answered. They circled each other, waiting for the other to make their move. Roaringpaw finally lunged and Meadowpaw sidestepped, hitting his nose in the process. He snarled, then lunged again and Meadowpaw jumped over him, making a blow to his back. He then jumped for her and she ducked it, sliding under his belly, landing a blow there, too. She then ended up under him and she pushed up, flipping him over and making it so she was on top. She snarled in his face, then got up and started washing herself. Eaglethorn proudly smiled, and the other mentors stared with looks mixed between shock and surprise.

"Wow!!" Cherrydawn said. "If I were Snowstar, I'd make you a warrior right now!!" Meadowpaw purred and took in all the praise.

"You'll make a great mentor someday, Meadowpaw." Sparrowthorn mewed.

Sunpaw walked over. "Good job!!"

Stormpaw and Thornpaw followed. "Ya!" They said in unison.

Roaringpaw purred and their pelts touched. "Good job." He meowed. "You do really well."

"So do you." She purred in amusement when he immediately lit up. They fluffed up their fur as a strong gust of wind swept through the Clearing, making the leaves fly through the air. Roaringpaw shielded her and grabbed her scruff. She struggled out of his grasp. "What are you doing!?!" She exclaimed.

"Making it so the wind does-"

"I can take care of myself!!" She meowed indignantly. "I don't need help just because I'm small!!" She stormed off to the Apprentice's Den, a confused Roaringpaw staring after her.