Ghosts of the Clans

Chapter 11

"For StarClan's sake, Mossypaw, Troutpaw, stop teasing Hollowpaw!" Graymist hissed exasperately for the fourth time that afternoon. Ever since the dark brown tabby tom had missed a catch just because the carp had flopped in his jaws when he had thought it was dead, then shrieked like a kit, the two she-cats had been teasing him consistently.

"Yeah, I won't mess up this time! Plus, the incident was two mons ago," Hollowpaw asserted with a glare at his fellow apprentices. At last, Mossypaw also sat down and concentrated on some shoals beneath the surface.

"You know, Hollowpaw just made a small mistake," Minnowtail whispered into the brown-and-white she-cat's ear, the tip of her tail flicking crossly. Her apprentice nodded, but her gaze told her that Mossypaw wasn't paying attention at all.

Suddenly Mossypaw's paw flashed out, hooking out a fish easily. The shoal flapped on the stone, but stopped when she ended with a quick nip to its spine. "Well done!" Minnowtail praised her. Troutpaw and Rushpaw had also caught prey, but Hollowpaw had none. His gaze was flicking over the water, but he probably didn't see any fish.

"Hey, Hollowpaw, try my side. It's full of fish here," Rushpaw called the younger apprentice over, taking his salmon with him and dropping it beside Mossypaw's shoal and Troutpaw's bream. A moment later, Hollowpaw did catch a fish! Minnowtail had to squint to see what it was, and had to restrain herself from laughing. 

What Rushpaw had said was true-that area was full of good fish such as chubs, carps and trouts...but Hollowpaw, of all the fish he could have picked...caught a minnow.

Obviously, the apprentices didn't have as much self-control. Rushpaw was shaking with silent laughter while Mossypaw and Troutpaw doubled over in giggles. To no cat's surprise, Troutpaw even fell into the water with a massive splash!

Hollowpaw's dark amber eyes lit up, evidently hoping to be able to laugh at Troutpaw, but no luck. When Graymist asked if the pale gray she-cat was okay, Troutpaw emerged with a perch in her jaws. Hauling herself to shore, she spluttered, "I'm fine."

Instantly, Hollowpaw's shoulders slumped as the attention was turned back to him. Pebblefoot, who had so far kept silent, placed his tail on the dark brown tabby tom's shoulder. "Enough!" he glared at the apprentices, who fell silent under his yellow stare.

Minnowtail stepped forward to stand beside her brother. "You have all hunted well today, even Hollowpaw. At least he caught something! Now, take your catch back to camp. In the afternoon, Mossypaw, Hollowpaw, we're doing battle training."

"Minnowtail, I think we should let them play-fight for a bit. See how they're progressing," Reedwhisker suggested. The apprentices had been training separately with their mentors, and Minnowtail had to agree with the black tom. Stopping Mossypaw, she brought her to the centre, where Hollowpaw was waiting, trembling with nervous excitement.

Mossypaw, on the other paw, was calm and collected, striding into the 'battleground' coolly. Minnowtail felt a prick of pride.

Once the 'battle' begun, Hollowpaw charged, barrelling into his sister. Minnowtail stiffened. How good could Hollowpaw be, that he could beat Mossypaw, who had trained under herself?

Evidently not that well.

Mossypaw rolled under his weight, and Hollowpaw stumbled, a dead weight in his grip. As quick as lightning, Mossypaw slipped out, and began batting at him with her front paws, one way then another. Hollowpaw put up his paws, trying to block the blows, but his sister knocked them away and leapt onto him, pummelling his belly.

"Okay, that's fine." Reedwhisker pulled them apart. Hollowpaw was panting, his chest heaving, but Mossypaw was relaxed, as if that was just the warm-up.

Watching Hollowpaw's repeated failed attempts, Minnowtail could not help but sigh at his pathetic efforts.

What kind of a warrior would the dark brown tom be?