Ghosts of the Clans

Chapter 12

"Sunstrike, this is Redwillow. Redwillow, she's going to be your temporary mentor. With new arrivals, we Dark Forest cats are going to be more busy from now on." Hawkfrost padded away, leaving the two cats alone. Sunstrike, a tortoiseshell she-cat, didn't hesitate before narrowing her pale amber eyes and ordering, "Attack me."

Yes, she was younger than him by moons, but in the Dark Forest, them were ranked by skill. So Redwillow crouched down, tensed his muscles, and leapt, twisting to land on Sunstrike's shoulders. But she had vanished. "Too slow. When attacking, aim for the lower part first, then shoot forward. That way, the momentum will knock your opponent over and your attack will be faster, less time for them to react." she instructed, gesturing for him to try again. Of course, you're a WindClan cat, so you'll be faster!

So she was experienced, after all, even though there was an ever so slight note of uncertainty in her voice. Redwillow felt his respect for her growing. It was daunting to face up to a bigger cat, after all. She was lithe and smaller, while he was leaner, and muscles showed beneath his thick coat.

But again, it wasn't by size, it was by purely skill and skill only. For example, there was Sparrowfeather. The smallest, yet feared by the recruits for her wit and toughness. Sparrowfeather always aimed for the spine or belly to churn her hind claws on- as a result, her rear was even more powerful than her front.

Taking Sunstrike's advice, Redwillow shot forward faster than a weasel, bowling her over and placing one paw on her throat. She knocked him off, her pale amber eyes approving. "Nice. By the way, mind to show me how ShadowClan cats fight?" 

Her lighthearted tone made him feel more at ease at once, and he loosened his tight shoulders, flexing his claws. "Sure." he growled, delight creeping up his spine. "Sheathed claws." Sunstrike was eyeing his unsheathed claws, which glinted in the unnatural light of the Dark Forest.

Sunstrike charged first, swerving the moment Redwillow dodged and unbalancing him with a hefty swipe of her paw. He retaliated by nipping her ear, his hind paws pummelling her belly. But she did not loosen her hold on him, pinning him down with one paw raised. 

Recalling the fight with Breezepaw almost four moons ago, Redwillow rolled, thrusting his hind paws into the air- just in time. He heard a grunt as Sunstrike rolled over, then leaped up and reared up to slash at him with both front paws.

Rearing up, Redwillow matched her blow for blow, until his legs could not take it anymore. Trembling with exhaustion, he collapsed as Sunstrike's next blow hit him squarely on the chest. Sensing that he was defeated, she sat back, drawing one paw over her ear.

"So, what happened?" she questioned once he had gotten his breath back. "Well, I got tired, then collapsed. I suppose I should have been quicker and more accurate in aiming my blows," Redwillow admitted, scraping a paw against the sandy soil. Sunstrike nodded with great satisfaction. "Well, I'll let you off earlier today to let you rest. See you!" she purred.

Redwillow twitched the tip of his tail. "Definitely. See you!"