Warrior Cats: A New Encounter

Chapter 5: Expectation

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather under the Highrock for a clan meeting!" Frogstar's words echoed through the clearing. Soon, the clan started to gather around the Highrock. Addertooth appeared from the warriors' den and gave his fur a couple quick licks. Streamwind and Mintfoot stopped sharing tongues, and Finchpaw bounced into the clearing, together with his sister, Acornpaw.

Woodpaw settled in the middle of the clearing and looked up. I wonder what he will say about these rogue scents... He thought. He could detect an uneasy look on Chestnutpelt's face as well. But Dandelionbreeze and Tulipheart seemed sure of themselves.

"The dawn patrol has detected rogue scents near our border with Riverclan" the leader mewed sternly. Murmurs of anger, fear and confusion started to break out among the warriors.

Darkwing shot her apprentice, Blackpaw, an uneasy look and the she-cat looked thoughtfully into the sky. Seatail curled her tail protectively around her young kits while Ashstorm rolled her eyes annoyedly. The first voice to speak up was Addertooth's: "What are we going to do about this? He challenged, "We can't just do nothing until anything else happens"

"Actually, we might just do that" Tulipheart answered, "Or at least until we smell more of these rogues"

"I see your point, Tulipheart" Lightfeather had made her way towards the middle of the clearing, "But what if we act too late?" Tulipheart's gaze softened, and she replied: "I understand your concern, but what options do we have? We could try to follow the scent trail, of course, but wouldn't that be a bit dangerous? After all, we don't know what to expect" "I agree with both of you" Frogstar declared, "How about we tell the leaders at the next gathering? It's only half-a-moon away. And the patrols will keep a lookout as well"

The clan seemed to agree on this promise and after Frogstar dismissed the clan with a flick of his tail, they started to break up.

Woodpaw turned and looked for his mentor. Finally, he spotted her and padded to her. A moment later, Rockpaw and his mentor, Sparrowwing appeared as well. Woodpaw remembered he was slightly jealous of his brother's mentor when they had just gotten their apprentice names. After all, Mintfoot was still a very young warrior at that time, and he was her first apprentice. And Sparrowwing was one of the most senior and respected warriors in the clan and had already had two apprentices before. But as time passed, Woodpaw realized that, despite her age, Mintfoot was a very talented and compassionate warrior, he would be forever grateful for.

"Ready for battle practise?" Rockpaw suddenly asked him

"I guess so" Woodpaw knew he liked hunting better than fighting.

"Don't sulk, Woodpaw" Rockpaw cheered him up. "It will be good practise for our assessments"

Woodpaw knew he was right. After all, a good warrior has to be good at everything, not only hunting. He told himself. Mintfoot beckoned the group to follow her and started stalking through the tunnel out of camp. Woodpaw guessed they were going to the Sandy Hollow, a good place to practise fighting.

As they walked towards the hollow, Mintfoot declared: "Your first assessment will mainly focus on hunting. But we'll still practise some battle-moves today since your second assessment will focus on that. We are a bit late with your first one, though, so your second one will be in about half-a-moon. Woodpaw tensed. What if I fail my second one? What good warrior fails one of his assessments? Rockpaw didn't seemed concerned, he just looked up to Sparrowwing, who nodded.

They arrived at the Sandy Hollow before long and Sparrowwing flicked his tail for silence: "We'll revise some basic battle moves today, which I'm sure you'll already be able to do flawlessly. If we have time, we'll also practise more complicated ones, but don't worry, nothing you won't already know" He paused for a second, before continuing: "Always remember that Thunderclan has the advantage of being able to swiftly move though the undergrowth. Use it. I want you, Rockpaw, to sneak up on Woodpaw and try to attack him. Woodpaw, try to counter his attacks. Later, we'll switch"

Rockpaw obeyed and disappeared in the undergrowth. Woodpaw nervously waited. He pricked his ears for any sounds of him behind him. Finally, he heard soft paw steps behind him. He sprang to face Rockpaw, who quickly leaped onto him. Woodpaw fell to the ground and struggled for a second, before wriggling free from his grip and turning to face him. He reared up and landed blows of Rockpaw's ears, who tried to counter them, until leaping onto him again. This time, he managed to unbalance him and pin him down. But fortunately, Woodpaw barely managed to slip away before he could manifest his grip. This time, he sprang. He tried to pin him down, but Rockpaw was stronger than him. At the end, both apprentices wrestled on the ground. Woodpaw could feel his energy decreasing and was relieved when Mintfoot mewed: "Okay, you can stop now" Woodpaw struggled to his paws and looked at his mentor and Sparrowwing, who both looked pleased.

"Good job" he praised them, "I think you are both good enough at basic battle moves. Now let's practise some more complicated ones. We'll start with the lightning-strike"

For the rest of the afternoon and evening, the apprentices practised all kinds of battle moves. Even though Woodpaw already knew all of them, he struggled a bit. Rockpaw managed to beat him most of the time, but at least it was often only by a bit. But still, the thought of his second and even first assessment worried him. Will I pass them both? What if I don't?