Warriors OC The Power of the Flower #1 The Rise

Chapter 6

After being an apprentice for moons, Dewpaw was still helping out by clearing the thorns out of the elders' bedding when Flowerpaw came rushing over.

"Dewpaw! Dewpaw!" Flowerpaw exclaimed, "You won't believe it! Stemclaw said all the apprentices could go to the Gathering tomorrow night. Well, except Dragonpaw of course since he's still being punished by Heatherstar."

"That's great!" Dewpaw mewed excitedly, "I'm almost finished with this. Can you help me carry the moss over here for the elders' nests?"

"Sure! Isn't it great that we can finally go to the Gathering? The best part is that Dragonpaw isn't going." Flowerpaw mewed with her mouth full of moss.

"Yeah! Okay, I'm done. Morningsky told me that I should go hunting after clearing the elders' bedding. Want to come with me?"

"I've got to check with Stemclaw first but I'm sure he'll say yes." Flowerpaw replied happily.

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Turns out, Stemclaw already planned for Flowerpaw to have battle training. Dewpaw sighed. It's boring hunting on my own. I wish someone would hunt with me.

"Hey, Dewpaw! I heard you're going hunting. Can I come? Nighthawk told me to go hunting but I don't want to go alone. I prefer hunting with other cats." Pinepaw ran over to him and asked. Sure, why not? Dewpaw thought and nodded.

Pinepaw suggested going to Fogrock. "I smell a blackbird." he said and began stalking it, signalling Dewpaw to go to the opposite side. Dewpaw watched as Pinepaw got into a hunter crouch and crept up to the bird. When he was a whisker close to the bird, he pounced on it.

The blackbird began to fly away but Dewpaw blocked its exit and Pinepaw bit it. "Great catch!'' Dewpaw mewed proudly. ''Thanks! We make a good team.'' Pinepaw replied. ''Let's hunt more for the Clan.'' Dewpaw nodded and they began scenting for more prey.

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It was already dusk when they got back to camp. The blackbird was hanging in Pinepaw's jaws while Dewpaw carried the rabbit that they caught.

''Both of you did great!'' Morningsky praised, ''You two are turning into great hunters. Take one of your catches to the elders and you can share the other.''

''Thanks, Morningsky,'' the both of them mewed, their mouths full of fur and feathers. They took the blackbird to the elders and shared the rabbit with Snowpaw and Flowerpaw.

''Wow!'' exclaimed Snowpaw, ''I can't believe you caught that big rabbit and blackbird while we were doing battle training.''

''Yeah!'' added Flowerpaw, ''We had to train with grumpy, old Dragonpaw today. He wouldn't stop bullying us. I absolutely despise him.''

''Good thing he won't be going to the Gathering tomorrow.'' mewed Pinepaw, ''By the way, I'm so excited about the Gathering. I can't wait to meet the other clans.''

The other apprentices nodded in agreement. Dewpaw noticed Dragonpaw eating alone. ''Hey, why is Dragonpaw staring at us like that?''

''I can't believe my brother is such a mouse-brain.'' Flowerpaw chuckled, ''He's obviously angry that we're isolating him. Don't mind him, he deserves it for bullying us.''

''Flowerpaw's right. Don't let Dragonpaw ruin your happy day.'' Snowpaw teased, ''Do you want to know how our training section went?''

''Sure! What happened?" Pinepaw prompted. Flowerpaw giggled, ''Well, we were training with Dragonpaw and Stemclaw and Heatherstar wanted me to have combat training with Dragonpaw. And...''

''And Dragonpaw was beaten by Flowerpaw two times.'' Snowpaw interrupted, ''Oh, sorry. Continue!''

''Dragonpaw was really angry. You should have seen his face. He was so angry that Heatherstar had to calm him down.'' Flowerpaw burst into laughter.

''Sounds like you had a great day too.'' Pinepaw purred and Flowerpaw rested her head on his shoulders.

''Aw. Look at those two.'' Snowpaw whispered in Dewpaw's ear, ''Aren't they so cute?'' He nodded and replied, ''We better leave them alone.'' He and Snowpaw were about to go back to the apprentice den when his mother, Ivywing, came out of nowhere.

''I heard you caught a rabbit and a blackbird. I'm so proud of you.'' Ivywing pressed her muzzle against his while he protested, ''Pinepaw helped me.''

''I better leave you two alone.'' Snowpaw murmured and Dewpaw nodded. ''Thanks, Ivywing,'' he mewed, ''But really, I couldn't have done it without Pinepaw. He's a good friend.''

''I'm glad you're getting used to being an apprentice. I'm so proud of Flowerpaw too, of course.'' Ivywing replied, ''I see you're going to get some sleep. Well, goodnight! And good luck tomorrow. You'll need it!'' and licked his forehead like she once did when he was still in the nursery.

Dewpaw thanked her and went to the apprentice den. He saw Snowpaw, who was fast asleep already. He settled in his nest and thought. I wonder what Ivywing meant when she said that I'll need luck tomorrow.