Ghosts of the Clans

Chapter 6

"Ow!" Antpaw staggered from Shredtail's blow. His mentor's pale yellow gaze remained hard, unflinching. "Move quicker next time; then you won't sprain your paw again."

Feeling determination harden his pelt, Antpaw met his mentor's gaze and vowed, "I'll try harder next time!" The dark brown tabby tom simply gave him a nod.

"Wake up, Antpaw! It's time for training, or have you forgotten about it?" Breezepaw was looming over him, looking annoyed. Today, Antpaw was going to train with him, much to the black tom's disappointment. When their mentors had told them, Breezepaw had complained, "But Antpaw's barely a kit!" However, despite his sprained front paw, Antpaw was determined to beat Breezepaw. Thistleclaw and Shredtail were ferocious teachers, and he had picked up so many techniques from them. He lifted his head. I bet Breezepaw never had Dark Forest mentors!

It was sunny outside, the sun just rising. "Come on, Antpaw." Harespring beckoned him over, while Breezepaw caught up to his mentor, Whitetail. Stumbling slightly from the sting in his paw, Antpaw gritted his teeth. I would never let this weaken me! He thought of Flytail, how ravaged his body was. How much pain did his father have to take before finally falling into the clutches of StarClan? More that one sprained paw, obviously.

"Alright. Today, you two are just going to spur together for a while; let us see how well you can fight against each other and let us assess your skills. Begin!" Whitetail instructed and they stepped backward, leaving Antpaw and Breezepaw alone. The other apprentice's amber eyes were triumphant, as if he had already won the battle. I'll show you!

Bunching his muscles tightly, Antpaw charged, barreling into Breezepaw's lean body. Surprised by his quick attack, the young black tom fell backwards, exposing his pale belly. Leaping onto him, Antpaw raked it with his hind paws, careful to keep his claws sheathed. Letting out a growl of disbelief, the bigger apprentice heaved himself up, throwing Antpaw off and landing a few blows across his nose.

Wincing at the sting of half-sheathed claws, Antpaw batted lightly at Breezepaw's shoulders, but he dodged the swipes and lunged, sinking his teeth into Antpaw's tail. "Ouch!" Antpaw hissed, seeing a drop of blood ooze out. Seeing him in pain, Breezepaw drew back his lips in a snarl. "Not so brave now, eh? Your father died alone and afraid, knowing that his son was -no- is a failure! Leafpaw is so much better than you!"

"Haredung!" Antpaw spat back. He had beaten Leafpaw easily in the past few training sessions; how dare Breezepaw say that his littermate was better? And Flytail never thought that Antpaw was a failure! After his death, he had finally known that the deceased snowy-white tom's strong love for his kits. Antpaw remembered his words, "You're just like me."

A red haze clouded his vision and memories of his father swirled in his mind. Hardly aware of anything except his own renewed grief and rage, Antpaw let out a yowl and charged, knocking Breezepaw to the ground. The black-pelted apprentice batted at him, scattering tufts of his brown fur, but Antpaw ripped at Breezepaw's belly with unsheathed claws. Blood pooled out from the wound, and Breezepaw let out a painful shriek.

"Antpaw! What are you doing?" Harespring dragged his apprentice away, bright blue eyes horrified. Blinking, Antpaw saw what he had done exactly at last. Whitetail was supporting Breezepaw and guiding him back to camp while he let out moans. Blood dripped consistently from the gaping wound in his belly, and Antpaw noticed that his own paws were covered in it.

With effort, Antpaw looked at his mentor. Shock was evident on every feature of his face as he ordered, "Come on, Antpaw. You have some explaining to do."

In front of Onestar, Antpaw shakily told him everything. He knew that Onestar was meowing something, but it was just buzzing in his ear. His own bloodied claws loomed in front of his eyes, how they had caused so much harm.

Flytail would never have wanted this... perhaps Breezepaw was right after all.