(on hold) 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 || warrior cats fanfiction

𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘸𝘰

(Pic above is Cloverpaw!)

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Mothpaw and the mini-patrol padded along a pebble path that was scattered with leaves. A faint mouse scent brushed the trees, but Mothpaw didn't pay any attention. It would be hers soon enough.

"Alright," Fawncliff meowed when they stopped by an area with a thick dark oak tree and a pitted out "hole" caked in sand. "This here is the training hollow. Obviously, it's where apprentices - and sometimes warriors - train and perfect their hunting skills, battle moves or anything else they need to perfect. Today, we'll be showing you how to do the hunters' crouch."

Hawkleaf stepped forward. "So, you have to make your weight even on all four paws. And make sure to not drag your tail behind you." She crouched down, showing an example to the young apprentices.

Mothpaw instinctively dropped down, sneaking up on an imaginary mouse. She was almost perfect at it. Eventually, she sprang, killing the imaginary mouse.

"Well done, Mothpaw!" Fawncliff praised. "Just one thing, you're putting a little too much pressure on your right side. But you have the potential to be the greatest hunter DuskClan has ever seen!" Mothpaw purred in delight.

"My turn! My turn!" Cloverpaw declared. She was very excited, but she wasn't the best at all. Her tail was straight up and her left side was heavier than her right. When she sprang at an imaginary mouse, she flopped over onto her left.

"You may need a little more work, sprout," Hawkleaf told Cloverpaw. "Remember, weight even and your tail should be down. Just be sure to not drag it along leaves." Cloverpaw nodded sadly.

"You did well, both of you. Mothpaw, Cloverpaw, can either of you tell me the difference between sneaking up on a mouse vs a rabbit?"

The two she-cats stood still for a few heartbeats, quietly thinking. Mothpaw spoke up. "Uhm..I heard this one from another apprentice..isn't it a mouse that can feel your pawsteps before it smells you?"

Fawncliff purred in delight. "Yes. Now, how do you think you sneak up on a rabbit, Cloverpaw?"

Cloverpaw wasn't paying attention, so when she heard her name, she freaked out. "I-uhm uh..wha-what was the question, again?"

Fawncliff narrowed her eyes. "I said, how do you think you sneak up on a rabbit?"

"How do I think I sneak up on a rabbit? Uh..doesn't it smell you before it feels your pawsteps?"

"Correct! Well done, sprout," Hawkleaf congratulated. "Now, We're sending each of you to catch something. Not too bad, hopefully. Remember your training." Cloverpaw and Mothpaw nodded in agreement before padding off in separate directions.

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Mothpaw took slow steps towards a large beech-nut tree, aiming to catch something. She flicked away a beech shell before she jumped into some nearby bushes. She opened her jaws and..bingo! The scent of a rabbit!

Its tiny paws brushed over its face as it groomed itself. Mothpaw waited until what felt like the perfect time. She sprang, her teeth bared and claws unsheathed. Before the rabbit could run away, she killed it with a swift bite to the neck. She felt a pair of eyes watching her from behind. Out of the bushes came the brown spotted pelt of Fawncliff.

"Well done, for your first hunting mission," she praised. "Cloverpaw and Hawkleaf must still be out. We'll head back to camp while they finish up."

"Okay," Mothpaw purred, her voice muffled from the rabbit in her jaw. "I hope Cloverpaw did alright."

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Okay, Cloverpaw, she thought to herself. You can do this. Just remember to breathe.

Cloverpaw padded off towards a small stream along the edge of the border between ShadeClan and DuskClan. The stream trickled with a sort of calming sense. Cloverpaw took a deep breath before she heard a crack! She sped off towards a nearby bush, hoping that whatever came towards her wouldn't notice her.

It was just a large mouse. No, not a rat. A big, fat mouse. Briefly, Cloverpaw felt a pang of disappointment, but she realized that the mouse's chubbiness could maybe prevent it from escaping. Taking the risk, she started sneaking up behind it. Thinking it was the right time, she sprang, killing it with a messy bite to the neck. After she caught the fat mouse, she heard rustling from the bushes. Out came the big tortoiseshell warrior.

"Brilliant job, sprout!" She praised her apprentice. "Although it was a messy kill, a catch is still a catch."

Cloverpaw's fur grew warm. "Uh, thank you, Hawkleaf. Can we head back to camp? I wanna show Mothpaw my catch!"

"Sure, sprout. They're probably waiting for us."

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Mothpaw sat nervously with Mudpaw, waiting for Cloverpaw and Hawkleaf to return. Anxiety twisted in her belly, but it quickly vanished when she saw a familiar cream pelt and Hawkleaf sauntering into camp. She spotted a fat mouse in Cloverpaw's jaw.

Mothpaw sprinted over to her sister. "Wow, Cloverpaw! That's impressive!"

"It was a little messy, but I still caught something! We should show it to Sunstrike!" Cloverpaw cheered. Mothpaw agreed, and the two bounded towards a large golden tabby tom.

"Sunstrike!" Cloverpaw said, her mew muffled from the mouse. "Look at what I caught!"

The golden tabby smiled at his daughter's catch. "Wonderful job, Cloverpaw. I'm sure Sweetfang's kits would enjoy that. Go to the nursery and give your mouse to them." The cream apprentice nodded before bouncing off towards a den made of vines and brambles.

"Mothpaw, I want you to meet some of the other apprentices," Sunstrike meowed, flicking his tail in the direction of a dusky brown she-cat and a light golden-brown she-cat. "I know how difficult it is for you to make friends, but.."

"Okay, father. I-I'll go talk to them," Mothpaw mewed, swallowing. Sunstrike smiled before walking off to the deputy.

Okay, Mothpaw, the dappled apprentice thought, taking small kit-steps towards the other apprentices. You can do this. Make new friends! It's not that hard..

The light golden-brown she-cat noticed Mothpaw, and bounced over, scanning her with her hazelnut-brown eyes.

"You're one of the new apprentices, right? My name is Honeypaw, and that's Fernpaw," she introduced. Mothpaw's stomach turned.

"Uh..ye-yeah. I'm Moth-Mothpaw.." she stumbled over her words.

"Your pelt is so beautiful!" The dusky brown apprentice purred. "I'm kinda jealous!"

"Is Sunstrike your father? That's so cool! I'd love to have a respected warrior as my father!" Honeypaw cheered, her mouth agape. Fernpaw and Honeypaw kept going back and forth asking questions. Mothpaw was getting uncomfortable and overwhelmed. Fernpaw noticed, and immediately stopped.

"Mothpaw, are you okay? You don't look very comfortable.." she mewed worryingly. Mothpaw shook her head, her vision getting more blurry by the second.

"Do you need to see Grayflower?" Honeypaw asked, also getting worried. Before Mothpaw could reply, her body collapsed on the ground. The last thing she heard was Honeypaw's voice screeching, "Grayflower! Sunstrike! Anyone! Please help!"

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Oh no! What's gonna happen with Mothpaw? Why did she faint? Well, I'm sure that answer is kinda obvious lol. But I guess you'll have to wait until the next chapter! MUAHAHAHAHA!! I'M SO EVIL >:D

Signing off:

-Zippy