Darksong's Struggle

Chapter 13

The next morning, Mossfur took Brindlepaw, Webpaw, and Darkpaw outside to train. Shortheart and Applemask followed with Jaypaw and Birchpaw, who was going to help them out. Darkpaw felt excitement tingle in his paws, and the memories of the training session with the ShadowClan apprentices flooded into his head. He had missed the feeling of fighting, even in practice.

Brindlepaw walked confidently as the patrol stopped in spot near the stream where Darkpaw had fallen from the tree. Webpaw looked nervous, and Darkpaw couldn't help but share it, wondering who he would be fighting.

"Birchpaw and Jaypaw will show you some basic fighting moves, and then you three can have a free for all fight," Shortheart explained, sitting on the roots of the tree. Mossfur and Applemask joined her. "Birchpaw, Jaypaw, show these three some basic fighting moves that they will remember."

Birchpaw stepped forward, her gray fur flashing in the sunlight. "This is the front paw blow," She mewed, striking the air with a forepaw. "It's used-"

"We know it," Brindlepaw interrupted.

Birchpaw's tail flicked, and Jaypaw stepped forward. "My favorite move is called... um... playing dead?" The pale ginger she-cat mewed, her tail twitching akwardly. "Basically, when a cat tries to pin you, go limp so they think they won. Then kick them or bite their wrists, and they'll normally get off. I also like jump and pin-"

"We'll save advanced ones for another day," Mossfur interjected. "For now, you three can just fight. Jaypaw and Birchpaw will help you out by correcting you from time to time."

The two older apprentices stepped back and sat next to their mentors.

"Battle positions!" Applemask called. Darkpaw backed up so he had his brothers horizontally across from him. Who do I fight first? Webpaw? He knew Brindlepaw was too strong for him, but Webpaw would be to easy on him. I'll just fight whoever attacks me first.

Webpaw's eyes were on Brindlepaw, and Brindlepaw stared back. They won't attack me. I'll just take on Brindlepaw while he's distracted fighting Webpaw. Maybe then I'll have a chance of beating him.

"Begin!" Mossfur mewed.

Both Webpaw and Brindlepaw launched themselves at each other, and Darkpaw did too, aiming for Brindlepaw. To his surprise, his paws connected with black fur, and he bowled Brindlepaw over in midair. His brother yowled, and Webpaw fell back with alarm.

Brindlepaw kicked furiously at Darkpaw, yowling as if he was in a real battle.

Darkpaw held his brother down, and gasped as teeth gripped his scruff, dragging him off. He hit the ground with a squeak of pain, and Webpaw instantly mewed, "Sorry!"

Heaving himself to his paws, Darkpaw was met with angry yellow eyes as Brindlepaw launched himself at him. Darkpaw ducked instinctively, and Brindlepaw soared over him, crashing into Webpaw. Both cats wrestled momentarily, before Brindlepaw slammed Webpaw to the ground, pinning him.

"Webpaw's out!" Mossfur yowled.

Webpaw limped into the ferns around the clearing and lay beneath them, watching Brindlepaw and Darkpaw nervously.

"Easy!" Brindlepaw mewed, lunging for him.

Darkpaw hardly felt his paws move, but somehow they did. He reached upward and struck Brindlepaw in the belly, unbalancing him. Brindlepaw hit the ground hard, laying stunned, and Darkpaw whirled around in a battle stance. Brindlepaw soon regained his breath and staggered to his paws. "Mousebrain!" He yowled, lunging for Darkpaw with his claws outstretched. Darkpaw froze.

Brindlepaw's claws grazed the tip of his ears, but didn't touch skin. Darkpaw ducked and shot forward, over the heads of the warriors and towards the tree. He twisted and kicked off against the tree, before flinging himself at Brindlepaw, bowling him over and rolling him onto his back.