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Quick as a flash, Larkpaw dodged Flareblaze's attack. On light paws, she jumped backwards as far as she could, almost crashing into a tree.
However, the apprentice didn't let this put her off. Focusing all her senses on the ginger tabby tom in front of her, she leapt forward and jumped at him from the right side with all the strength she could muster.
She purred triumphantly as Flareblaze swayed slightly. It wasn't much, but as long as she reacted quickly, she would be able to win this fight.
Larkpaw leapt onto his back a second time and swung her hind legs out to ram them against his body. It was a difficult task to keep her balance as she only stood on her front paws. But she had discovered that she had most of her strength in her hind legs, so she was determined to use this to her advantage.
After just five attempts, Flareblaze legs gave way beneath him. I've done it! Larkpaw felt warm with pride.
"You can let go of me now," Flareblaze meowed after a while.
Larkpaw hopped back onto the ground, a little wobbly. It seemed that the attack had also sapped her strength, because her paws ached and trembled with every step. Nevertheless, she didn't let it spoil her good mood.
Shaking his thick fur, Flareblaze stood up again. "Considering you had comparatively little battle training before, that was pretty great," he commented with a glint in his golden eyes. "I do get the impression that you like to go on the offensive far too much, which can't always be beneficial, but you seem to have the talent to become a decent fighter."
When she heard the praise, Larkpaw almost let out a squeak of joy. At the last moment, she managed to bring herself to close her mouth tightly. "Thank you!" she replied, too excited to say anything more.
Licking his chest fur, Flareblaze said, "Okay, I think you're ready to look for another opponent." He scrutinised the Pineglade before his gaze lingered on one particular cat. "Reedpaw seems to be available at the moment."
As soon as she heard Reedpaw's name, Larkpaw's happiness shrank to the size of a small, shrivelled yew berry. Please don't! Every fibre in her body resisted having to train with Reedpaw. I'd rather eat one — no, ten slugs than spend time with her voluntarily.
She looked around hopelessly, expecting to find another partner. To her disappointment, everyone without exception was busy fighting their own battles.
Larkpaw shuffled listlessly towards the light brown tabby she-cat, her tail drooping as she wandered through the foliage. Of course, she realised that they couldn't reveal their rivalry in the presence of their Clanmates. Nevertheless, an imaginary, wild fire was burning in Larkpaw's mind, corrupting her thoughts.
Even if it's just a training fight, this will be my only chance to get revenge on her for leaving me alone in the Foreign Lands.
Suddenly Larkpaw didn't regret having Reedpaw as a training partner so much anymore. Surely her pent-up anger would help her to be stronger and faster than her older denmate.
