Ringpaw hissed ferociously as paws battered at her muzzle. Claws ripped through her skin, sending icy ripples down her spine due to blinding pain.
Ringpaw howled out and flung herself forward at her attacker, but immediately after a weight slammed into her side, sending her sliding away.
"That's enough." she heard her mentor, Brick, call out through her ringing ears.
"Right..." Ringpaw panted. Ever since she had become an apprentice, her days were filled with duties. Searching the elders for ticks, changing the warrior's bedding as they were out. There was so much to do! It was tiring, sure, but it would shape her up to become a good warrior. A warrior that would fight for their Clan, and put their life on the line for a comrade.
But things are different here...
"Come on, slug!" Ringpaw heard her battle partner, Coldpaw, snap from far off ahead.
She snapped back into reality and looked around, only to realize that everyone had left. "Coming!" she yowled and raced after Coldpaw, who had taken off back towards camp.
Thoughts raced through her head as she dashed through the reeds and heather that had once belonged to RiverClan. So much has happened since the Great War against all four Clans. Ringpaw recalled the story she had heard a thousand times from her mother, Patches. She gave a gentle sigh as the thought of her caring mother, only to be cut short by a familiar yowl.
"Hey! Watch it!"
Ringpaw realized that she had gotten distracted once again, but she was too late to stop herself. She stared ahead, a pebbly shore just below her paws. Ringpaw yelped in surprise as one of her paws had gotten caught in a beech root that had grown on shore and she tumbled into another frame. Ringpaw and the unknown cat rolled down a hill that gave away into springy grass.
WindClan...
"I told you to watch it!" a voice hissed shakily from under her.
The two had stopped and Ringpaw stared down at the cat she had tackled. The mysterious cat's frame was hazy in her eyes, gaze spinning due to dizziness.
"Coldpaw!" Ringpaw shrieked and hopped backwards, only to tumble over her own paws and trip.
Coldpaw chuckled and rolled his eyes just before her got to his paws. "Honestly, you still act like a kit."
Ringpaw snapped back defensively, "S-Shut up!"
Coldpaw smiled. "Riiiiight. We're a long ways away from the others, so let's get back to camp." he stood up, his pale blue eyes gleaming. "I'll race you!" Coldpaw took off in camp's direction.
"Hey!" Ringpaw hopped to her paws, dizziness forgotten. "Get back here!" she took off after Coldpaw, gaining on his tail with ease.
The two raced side-by-side back to camp. Her paws gently thrummed against the moor until it gave away into a stinky marsh. Coldpaw kept his pace beside her, but she could see he was struggling. Soon enough, they both passed over a hill to reveal their camp. Boxes that had been dragged in ages ago were scattered across camp, a certain branch laying at the entrance of each den to represent their residents.
"Just a little bit longer." Coldpaw gasped, his tone slightly reassuring.
Ringpaw smirked and unsheathed her claws, sinking them into the earth and taking off. "Hah! I'm gonna wiiiiiin~!"
"Hey! No fair!" Coldpaw yowled faintly, seemingly out of breath.
Ringpaw bolted through the entrance to camp and into the clearing and slid to a halt, spraying up sand and dust from under her paws. Coldpaw tumbled into camp a couple heartbeats later and flopped down at the entrance to camp.
Ringpaw was aware of her Clanmates giving her dirty looks but she was able to force a smile. "See? I told you I'd win!"
Coldpaw rolled his eyes in response. His eyes suddenly snapped wide and he jumped to his paws, dipping his head respectfully. The cats surrounding her did the same.
"And what's this?" grumbled a deep voice behind her, sending icy needles up her spine.
Ringpaw whipped around at the voice that seemed vaguely familiar. Upon seeing the cat, she realized it was her leader, Scourge. Her jaw dropped and in a swift fashion, she dipped her head just as everyone else had.
"I'm sorry to have disturbed you, Scourge." Ringpaw struggled to keep her voice steady.
"No need to apologize." the small tom growled. "But next time, try not to spray sand in my eyes. Got that?"
Ringpaw hastily shook her head. "Yes sir." She couldn't help herself. Her cyan eyes tipped upwards to meet Scourge's keen blue gaze. Their depths seemed rather calm, but once he realized she had been staring, her leader's gaze grew more intense.
"That is all." he murmured and spun around, stalking back towards the box he claimed as his own.
Ringpaw breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Sheesh. When they say he can be menacing they reaaaally mean it.. she thought to herself.
Coldpaw stalked up behind her, his presence slightly calming. "Be glad you got off with a warning. You could've ended up like your father." he hissed gently into her ear.
Ringpaw's gaze grew stone cold. She glared at Coldpaw, her eyes burning into his now terrified milky blue gaze. "Don't talk about him in front of me." Leaving it at what she had said, she whipped around and stalked back out of camp.
Yayyyy~ The second chapter is a whole lot longer than the previous one. I apologize for my inactivity. School work is blegh.
