A Spark in the Night, part one: The Spark Ignites

Chapter nine

"Softpaw, guess what?" Softpaw heard Spekleheart's voice.

She was used to hearing the medicine cats' voices now, so her mentor's surprised her. "Gentletouch told me you're ready to keep training!"

Softpaw leapt out of the den. Now, I can fight back next time Leafclaw and Grasswhisker try to hurt me! And I can catch up to Shinepaw and Featherpaw. She happily followed her mentor out of the den, but wobbled slightly.

"Okay, you try rolling." Spekleheart meowed, leaping onto her back.

Softpaw crumpled into the roll that Spekleheart had shown her. I have to work fast in order to catch up with my littermates! I'm already almost as far as they got in six sessions! I'm so good at this! Good thing Speckleheart agreed to do more fast-paced training until I catch up. Three days had passed since she'd started up her training again. "That's amazing, Softpaw." Spekleheart mewed, standing up. "You're such a fast learner! Now, I think you are ready to try fighting with other apprentices. Sheathed claws." she specified.

Softpaw flicked her tail in acknowledgement. "Where and who am I fighting?" she asked eagerly.

"You'll see." Spekleheart meowed, leading Softpaw to the training hollow. "Hey, Stickleaf," Speklehert beckoned to Shinepaw's mentor. "Can Softpaw and Shinepaw practice the duck-and-roll move together?"

Stickleaf looked at Softpaw happily. "She's better!" He meowed cheerfully. "Shinepaw, Poppyflower, and I were going to gather some herbs, but I'm sure Poppyflower won't mind waiting a little while longer."

Shinepaw jumped to his paws. "Can I be the first on top?"

Spekleheart looked at Softpaw. "Are you okay with that?" Softpaw nodded, and Shinepaw immediately jumped on her back. "Begin." meowed Stickleaf. Shinepaw lifted his paw to land a blow on her head, but Softpaw tumbled forward. "Omph!" Shinepaw grunted.

Softpaw leaped off of him and started landing training blows on his exposed belly. She let him get up.

"I think I win." she meowed.

Shinepaw smiled. "I think you do." he responded, smiling. "Next time, I won't go as easy on you." He teased playfully.

"Next time, I'll be the one going essay on you." Softpaw teased back.

"I wouldn't be so sure if I were you."

"Oh, really?" Softpaw lunged towards her littlermate, careful to keep her claws sheathed. "We'll see about that!"

The two rolled around on the ground, both eager to gain the upper paw.

"I'll have you begging for mercy," Shinepaw meowed, grinning.

"I'd never beg!" Softpaw purred. "I'd get myself free, and-"

"Okay, I'd say this is a draw." Stickleaf's meow broke into their play-fight.

Shinepaw and Softpaw stood up, and Stickleaf turned to leave. Softpaw looked at her littermate's mentor. "Why are you going with Poppyflower?" she asked.

"More cats carry more herbs, and the dawn patrol scented a fox there. It was probably passing through, the trail led away from there and they didn't find any signs of a den, but better safe than sorry." He meowed, bounding over to catch up with Shinepaw.

"Bye!" she mewed to her littermate.

He turned around and smiled at her. "I'll see if I can catch a squirrel for you." Shinepaw meowed. "And when I get back, we'll finish what we started." He added, with a playfully ominous tone.

Softpaw smiled warmly, and when the three cats left, she headed to the apprentices' den. She was tired after all the training that day.