Bright Forest

Chapter 19

-She's right. That's just plain stupid.

-It's not like you could think any better!

-Shut up.

Dovepaw was having a heated argument with Patchpaw while Rustpaw listened. She already told Bristleglade, who disagreed with their plan, saying that they would immediately die.

-If sending apprentices to deal with foxes works, then perhaps we could have already done that!- insisted the spotted tom. -Warriors are smart.

-Well, not always!

-Smarter than you at least!

-Hey, calm down!- hissed Rustpaw. -You might wake up Oscar if you yell at each other.

The conversation kept going, until Bristleglade came. -Dovepaw and Rustpaw, in the training hollow. Patchpaw, come with me.

The three got out of the den as the deputy explained:-Firedusk will lead you two to the training hollow and me and Patchpaw will go hunting. Hold on a moment.

She scrambled on the Tall Pine:-Let all of the cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Tall Pine for a clan meeting.

All of the cats gathered... or at least, the ones who could. Luckily some injured cats could sit near the center of the clearing, despite limping a bit.

-Frondstar and I decided that no cat who isn't a warrior should leave without one. It is too dangerous for anyone to be alone with foxes loose around and we can't risk it. Our patrol got attacked even before they got near the dens, so this means that they decided to go out of their area.

Rustpaw lifted his head. -But why?

-We don't know. It might've been the scent of prey that some of them caught or the cat smell. Either way do not leave camp without a warrior. We'll figure out what to do when our injured warriors fully recover. For now, the places to avoid are near the northern part of the OakClan border, so where Fallen Logs is and near Twoleg place. Any questions?

-Is our warrior ceremony suspended again?- asked Patchpaw.

The striped she-cat sighed:-I believe so, but as soon as possible. We'll talk more on the hunting patrol. Nothing else? Meeting dismissed.

She leaped down and Patchpaw reached her. He was right: the three's warrior ceremony was announced moons later, but they never could've become warriors. They needed to do something. Soon.

-Rustpaw, are you coming?- asked Firedusk.

-Oh, right.

He scrambled to the two and they walked out of camp.

-Your mind's always in the clouds...- commented Firedusk, smiling. -And who wouldn't, in this hell pit surrounded by foxes?

Dovepaw gave the warrior a worried look. Rustpaw simply nodded and they arrived in the grassy clearing.

The ginger tabby tom sat in the light and meowed:-Show me what you can do.

Rustpaw went to a side of the clearing and readied himself. Dovepaw turned back at the warrior:-Do you want us to... show you a specific move?

He shook his head. -Battle as if this is a causal battle... just practice. We'll see if there's something to work on.

-Alright.

Dovepaw lunged herself towards and Rustpaw swiftly leaped at the side and striked. He pushed her away, but she wouldn't give up. That was also mirroring her personality a lot: determined, strong and a little bit cowardly. She was a cat to admire, and was going to be a good warrior. Or at least, he hoped she was.