Fire Clan: Foxkit's Destiny

Chapter 11:

Foxpaw immediately went to Nightpaw who was also padding towards her. She saw Elmpaw go straight towards Flamepaw while Tornadopaw was doing the same thing. But Foxpaw sadly thought that Flamepaw was going to choose Tornadopaw. She also saw Badgerpaw padding to Shadepaw who he nodded back at him, becoming partners.

"We don't have all day," Waspwhisker said pointedly glancing at Flamepaw, Tornadopaw, and Elmpaw.

After a moment, Elmpaw went to Breezeheart with her head held high, refusing to give up her dignity when she didn't have a partner.

Foxpaw sat next to Nightpaw with her tail curled over her paws. She felt bad for Elmpaw.

"First we are going to practice The Slice. The younger apprentices will go first," Waspwhisker decided.

All of the apprentices nodded.

Foxpaw crouch down and narrow her eyes at Nightpaw playfully, her tail swishing back and forth. "You're going down."

Nightpaw chuckled. "I'm only going on easy on you because I have to. But if we were really V.S.ing, I would have so beaten you by a long shot."

She chuckled as well. "Yeah, sure."

Waspwhisker then announced, "Alright, begin. And of course, claws sheathed, always."

Foxpaw then leaped at Nightpaw, claws sheathed. He easily step-sided. But she planted her front paws in the ground and quickly stood up on her hind paws and slashed her sheathed claws across his face. She fell back onto her front paws with a pleased look on her face.

Nightpaw smiled. "Good job. But you should be faster. I could have easily ducked."

Foxpaw decided to not feel offended since he has been training more than her for about a little more than a moon. She nodded. "Ok thanks. Can we try that again?"

He nodded and they both got back to their original positions. Foxpaw then darted forwards towards him. She didn't want to leap at him again because she didn't want to be predictable. She saw a quick smile from him before he ducked as she swiped at him. She swiped at him again but ge backed away and swiped at her. She quickly threw herself to the left to avoid it, acting like this was real. He then jumped on her when she wasn't fast enough to roll over and get up. He stood over with an amused look on his face.

"You're getting better," he stated.

But Foxpaw then heard a voice by her head. "When you two are done messing around, you should start working on your training," Waspwhisker said to the two of them. He looked a little annoyed.

Foxpaw and Nightpaw both nodded.

"Sorry Waspwhisker," Foxpaw apologized as she got up as Nightpaw quickly got off her.

He nodded then saying loudly so that everyone could hear him, "We are now going to practice The Swipe and The Flick-Over combined."

The apprentices all nodded again and started.

Foxpaw and Nightpaw got back into position again while Waspwhisker stayed a few places away to watch.

Foxpaw crouched down and started at his shoulder where she was going for. She leaped at him but he step-sided and flipped her over on her back pinning her down once again. She let out an 'oomf' when she fell to the forest floor.

"Don't stare at the spot where you're going to attack or else it would be obvious and your opponent would be able to calculate what you're going to do," Nightpaw explained giving advice to her.

"Ok thanks Nightpaw," she said getting up and shaking the dust out of her pelt.

"Again," Waspwhisker demanded slightly sharp.

Both apprentices nodded and got back into position again. They began again and again and Foxpaw was slowly getting faster and lighter on her paws. Waspwhisker was watching them the whole time.

After a while, Waspwhisker said that this was enough training for today and they'll continue another time.

"Wait, so we will be doing this again?" Badgerpaw asked tiredly looking crestfallen.

Waspwhisker nodded seriously. "Yes. This is serious."

Badgerpaw groaned. "Fox dug."

The patrol padded back to camp. But when they stepped foot, Foxpaw could instantly tell something was wrong. She felt tension in the air and saw Falconwatcher talking urgently to Owlstar. Their heads were close and in deep conversation. Their expressions were serious and Owlstar had a grave look on his face. Foxpaw looked around her and Bouldercliff and Blossomtail were talking to Doveflight, Cloudheart, Sunheart, and Mallowfur I'm hushed voices heads close together. Cloudheart and his mate looked both worried while Mallowfur was seething with anger, her eyes narrowed into slits. Foxpaw shivered. She looked really scary. "What's going on?" She whispered to her mentor worriedly.

Riversplash didn't look at her. His eyes were fixed on their leader and deputy. "I don't know but I think we're about to find out," he said as his eyes followed Owlstar as he jumped up onto the High Rock.

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey please join beneath the High Rock for a clan meeting!" Owlstar announced even though most of the cats had already gathered. Foxpaw and her litter mates sat together with her in the middle. She exchanged glances with Badgerpaw and Elmpaw, but they had equally puzzled expressions on their faces as well.

Owlstar continued. "So Falconwatcher, Bouldercliff, and Blossomtail were out on a border patrol by the Clover Clan borders [Foxpaw saw some warriors stiffen at the mention of their name] and they have found some bad news. Clover Clan has left their sent marks well into our territory completely ignoring the border and the Warrior Code."

Gasps and yowls of outrage erupted. Owlstar put his paw up for silence. Immediately the clan went silent. "I know that this is dangerous news so we must approach it with caution."

"Are we going to attack them?" Called out a random voice from the crowd.

"No."

Protesting yowls broke out.

"Silence!" Owlstar said, his eyes narrowing. The clan hushed. "We will double our patrols and they all have my permission to shred any Clover Clan cat that dares step foot in our territory."

A few encouraging meows followed that decision.

"However, I will not lead a battle into their territory because I would prefer not to spill any blood this moon or the next. I trust Falconwatcher to organize all of the patrols. Meeting dismissed!" Owlstar concluded taking a big and smooth leap off of the High Rock.

Cats dispersed muttering to each other. Foxpaw then heard Firetooth and Cloudheart talking together, heads close together.

"Clover Clan and our clan have always been rivals and always will be. Why can't they ever give it a break and leave us alone for at least a season?" Growled Cloudheart angrily.

Firetooth nodded, his claws contracting and releasing as if he can already see his opponent on the battlefield. "They always want more land even though their prey consists of tons of birds and hares. As if the grass lands and a small forest isn't enough for them. I just don't see why they need more."

Cloudheart nodded as well. "They are selfish and greedy cats, that's why. And if we get into battles and tension, our kin and clan mates could get seriously injured or even killed I hope Star Clan forbid they won't break the Warrior Code even more."

Foxpaw was shocked of how selfish Clover Clan cats are. She didn't know that cats could sink that low. But then a yawn escaped from her jaw. Her shook her pelt once before she padded into the apprentices den. She looked around and saw Elmpaw and Flamepaw already sound asleep. The training session completely exhausted her out, draining all of her energy. She flopped down onto her nest and closed her eyes, resting her head in her paws. She fell asleep in just a matter of seconds without her even noticing it.

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The picture up above is what part of Clover Clan looks like.