Moonpaw felt her heart speed up. There is more here than meets my whiskers, isn't there? Thought Moonpaw, anxiously. She felt Owlsight's warm, patchy fur behind her and took a deep breath.
"Moonpaw." Leopardstar's drawling meow broke the still silence like a claw, slamming through thin ice.
"You will spar with Reedpaw to begin with. Featherpaw, let's see how much you'll learn by fighting against Primrosepaw. Lightningpaw, watch Moonpaw's... strategy." Moonpaw flinched at the matchups.
She was fighting with Reedpaw, a cat who had received quite a bit more battle training than she had. But, they were evenly matched for size and strength.
Moonpaw was more concerned about how Featherpaw would fare in her battle. Primrosepaw had yet to be defeated in a mock battle, even besting her mentor - Stormpelt.
And she did not like the idea of her bloodthirsty littermate getting an opportunity to find her weaknesses, before Leopardstar, no doubt, pitted them against each other.
"Moonpaw, in actual battles, you won't have time for dawdling," Leopardstar meowed, icily. Moonpaw stepped forward hastily, almost stumbling on a tree root she hadn't noticed.
Moonpaw paid close attention to the sound of Reedpaw's heavy footfalls and the vibrations they cast through the ground. Moonpaw raised her tail and haunches, preparing to pounce.
"Another thing, Moonpaw. You will keep your claws sheathed - no matter what," Leopardstar meowed, breaking Moonpaw's focus. She flicked her whiskers nervously. Why did Leopardstar address me when saying that claws will stay sheathed. Obviously, that rule is for all of us. Right?
"Battles start... Now!" Owlsight yowled.
Moonpaw was so deep in thought that she didn't notice Reedpaw preparing to attack until he slammed into her, sending Moonpaw tumbling to the frosty ground.
Moonpaw batted weakly in his direction but the other apprentice simply brushed away her attacks with his tail.
"Sorry. Leopardstar told me I had to be ruthless in our battle," Reedpaw whispered, his voice so low that only Moonpaw could hear it.
Moonpaw wasn't sure what he meant until she felt his claws grazing her tail. He swiped her back paws with thorn-sharp claws and Moonpaw was sure she felt warm drops of blood dampen her pads.
Her pelt bristling, Moonpaw kicked out blindly with her back legs. Evidently, she had hit her target because she heard Reedpaw fall backwards with a flump!
Quickly pulling herself upright, Moonpaw ran towards Reedpaw's heavy breathing. Dying plants brushed her wounded paws sharply. Moonpaw flinched uncomfortably and flicked her whiskers in front of her, looking for Reedpaw.
But the apprentice was already next to her, tracing a claw over Moonpaw's side. Filled with rage, Moonpaw's fur fluffed up and she poised herself into a hunter's crouch. Moonpaw tried to slam a heavy front paw into Reedpaw's side. But, she merely brushed his pelt. Moonpaw leapt to one side and nipped Reedpaw's tail, earning a small hiss of pain.
Moonpaw, again, tried to slam her paw into the other apprentice. And, this time she hit the target.
Moonpaw raised her front paw once again. But, before she could deal another blow with her paw, Moonpaw heard a whimper of pain from the other side of the clearing. Featherpaw! Moonpaw realised with a pang of dread.
YOU ARE READING
The Blind Warrior - The Brightest Prophecy, Part 1
FantasyMoonkit was born blind and faces prejudice from her clan. As misfortunes and hardships face the clan, a mysterious cat joins them... But their intentions might not be as good as it seems. ...
