Warriors: Drakepaw's Wishes

Chapter One

Sunlit grass swayed in the breeze, and rabbits peacefully grazed on the vegetation. The clans were at peace, and harmony had fallen upon the world like a comforting blanket of moss. The day was young, and so was Drakepaw. The cat pulled herself up onto a warm rock, blinking against the harsh sunlight. She crouched, staring at the rabbits, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. The rabbits stood on their hind legs, and glanced around worried, their ears perked high into the air. Drakepaw took a pawstep forward, silently watching her prey.
Suddenly, the rabbits darted, somehow sensing the apprentice lurking in the grass. Drakepaw let a low growl escape her throat and sprung out after them. At first, she was hot on their tails, and gaining. Her fur plastered against her body, the cat pounded after her prey. She could feel her heart beating hard in her chest, and she panted hard, gasping for air. The rabbits hopped forward as fast as they could, and Drakepaw narrowed her eyes, focusing on them, but her stamina fell quickly. She skidded to a halt, claws marking the hard ground. Head pounding and winded, she crouched, and plunged her face into a nearby stream, drinking the sweet water of the prairie. She lifted her head and watched as the rabbit completely disappeared from view. She hissed, and batted a rock that had been lying in front of her.
"Mousebrain," she growled to herself angrily. "You should have kept running!"

The young cat hung her head in disappointment. Her mentor, Adderflash, stepped out from the tall plants, a disappointed look in his expression.

"I-I'm sorry," Drakepaw stuttered. "I just- I can't-"

"Yes," Adderflash said, green eyes meeting her amber ones. "You can. Most cats aren't born with their skills. They develop over time."

"Yeah, well, it's been six moons, and I still have no hope of becoming a warrior." Drakepaw seethed. "Even Cloverstar's given up on me. She even said you were going to soft on me."

"We both know that's not true." Adderflash growled. "The only one who's given up is you."

He stalked away, disappearing into the grass. Drakepaw lay down on the hard-packed dirt and closed her eyes. It was so unfair. Why couldn't she do anything right? She knew that even Adderflash thought she would never be able to hunt rabbits, which was a major skill in Windclan. Drakepaw sighed and inhaled some of the fresh grassland air. Many scents hit her nostrils at once; young rabbits nibbling on clover, another group of cats hunting, a flock of sparrows. She had a good nose, but she just wasn't fast enough.

Drakepaw contemplated the current situation. What was to be done? Starclan sure hadn't helped one bit. Maybe Adderflash was right. Maybe it was all in her head. But she'd seen what the other cats thought of her. Drakepaw remembered hearing Adderflash's and Cloverstar's conversation late at night.

"She'll never be a warrior..."

"All she can do is fight."

"She can't hunt..."

"Drakepaw has no loyalty..."

The young cat put her head on her paws and watched sadly as a flock of birds landed in front of her, unaware of any danger. Maybe... she thought, maybe I can...

Drakepaw leaped forward suddenly, and yowled in surprise when she felt her claws connect with feathers. She slammed the creature to the ground and killed it quickly. She dropped it, panting with disbelief.

"I... I did it...!" That was it. She didn't have to chase for her fresh-kill! Drakepaw could let her prey come to her.

The apprentice picked up her prey in her mouth to take back to the clan. She turned, expecting to see tall grass waving in front of her. Instead, she came muzzle to muzzle with another cat, with a wicked glint in her eye.