Frostshard's Demise

Lost Control

Frostpaw plummeted to the ground for the twentieth time in the training hall. Despite Starrysky's warnings not to work himself up, he kept sneaking into the room to practice his battle moves.

'You stupid, little-' he winced as he staggered back to his paws; the injury was still raw, but he didn't care.

'You don't want to be the only Padawan who didn't finish his training, now come on!'

Jagged claw marks slashed into the rough stone, debris pattering the ground.

'You've been cooped up in the medicine den for a moon, and the others have improved.'

'Is. This. All. You. Can. Do?'

Cracked chunks of stone clattered as he lost his footing, crashing to the floor again.

"Frostpaw, there you are," a familiar mew made him want to run away and hide.

Seerpaw padded into the spacious room, a hare in his jaws.

"You missed supper." he dropped the piece of prey in front of him.

Usually, the warm, tangy scent of fresh kill would make his stomach rumble, yet all he could feel was bitter fury.

"I need to train." Frostpaw snapped at him, tried to get back to his paws, then fell over heavily to his side, exhausted.

"Really. Because you're making progress as much as a dead shrew." Seerpaw sniffed.

"Come on, just relax a bit."

"I've already missed too much." Frostpaw looked away, anger glittering in his eyes.

He shuddered at the image of all the other Padawans getting their knight names, while all he could do was watch.

"Frostpaw, stop pushing yourself." Seerpaw's mew was stern now. "Give it time."

"Why?" Frostpaw bushed out his pelt and leaped toward the towering stones again, this time barely managing to hold his balance.

"Padawan Frostpaw," Horizonstar padded into the room, his eyes narrowed into a disapproving look.

"Require your presence, I do."

'Oh, great. He's gonna tell Starrysky to keep a closer watch on me.' Frostpaw bared his fangs, imagining throwing a heap of snow over his anger as he limped down the slope; Horizonstar would be even more disappointed if he found out he let his frustration show.

"I'll see you later." he mewed at Seerpaw before facing the ancient green cat.

Seerpaw stared at Frostpaw for a moment worryingly, then raced out of the Training Hall.

"Done this long ago, I should have."

"Done what?"

"If you think you can stop me from training, you're wrong," Frostpaw growled.

Horizonstar lashed his tail slowly, giving the white cat a warning stare.

"Ought to teach you manners, yes," he muttered under his breath.

"Foolish, I was, to take you back to Serenno."

"Assumed Thorntalon would have forgotten, by now."

Frostpaw stared at Horizonstar, bewildered.

"What does Thorntalon have to do with anything in this situation?"