Flickerheart felt claws sink into her back and she let out a yowl of pain, she threw herself backwards, trying to squash her feisty opponent under her, but the small apprentice wouldn't be fooled. She watched as he dashed to the side just as her spine crashed into the blood soaked ground.
She herself had already beaten back two warriors and their apprentices with the help of Cedarstep, but he had had to go rescue the deflated Shadepaw, whose tormentors were three apprentices trying to exhaust him by circling him menacingly and dodging any blows, he got in a few scratches on them, but most of his effort had been avoiding their wicked sharp claws. So here she was, alone, losing to an apprentice.
She let out a growl and launched herself at him, Flickerheart sunk her teeth deep into his shoulder as he tried to squirm free from her rough grasp, but she just bit harder. She leaped back when she felt his scrabbling hindpaws connect with her soft belly fur, but luckily he hadn't cut very deeply. She turned to face the small panting shape. “Had enough yet, KIT.” She taunted him menacingly, emphasizing how young he was and how he would be an easy defeat. “Have YOU had enough? Your losing to an APPRENTICE.” His rude taunts struck deep inside her and she let out a furious screech.
She threw herself at him, aiming to get a few blows in his ears and snout. He ducked and she landed on the other side of him, she spun quickly, not giving him a second to land any blows. Flickerheart’s paws flashed as her claws found their place in his belly, she racked him mercilessly. “Who's losing NOW?” She yowled victoriously and released him, then watched him race to the camp, satisfied by his heavy limp.
“Flickerheart!” She spun as she heard her name and saw Sandstorm struggling against a strong black tom. His paws were on her throat and it looked as though the she-cat could hardly breathe. Flickerheart cleared the distance between them effortlessly and crashed into the tom. His balance wavered and he released Sandstorm who gratefully crawled away and recovered her breath.
The tom turned on Flickerheart then, swiping his huge paws at her ears and muzzle, she tried to dodge, but one caught her cheek and sent her spinning. She took a few steps back and felt a strong presence by her side, it was Sandstorm. The wise, battle trained she-cat was now ready for another go at the huge tom.
The two of them reared up, side by side, matching each other swipe for swipe. The two ginger tabbies soon sent the tom running back to his foul territory. They then turned to look for new opponents, but saw only a few minor skirmishes still going on. Thunderclan had won.
“You better see Hollypaw about that scratch.” Sandstorm said, glancing at the blood gushing from the gash along Flickerheart’s spine. She flicked the older she-cat’s ear affectionately. “I could say the same to you! You got the worst of his blows.” She gazed at the light orange tabby stripes that were accompanied by streaks of blood. Then together they limped to the temporary medicine den.
