Warrior Cats: Into the Unknown.(1/3)

Chapter 6

Fernpaw padded after Ambermoon as they headed for the training hollow. It was the day before the gathering, and she could feel excitement pulsing through her. Frogpaw had been furious when Icefeather told him that he wasn't coming with them to the gathering. "What are we going to practise today?" Fernpaw asked, picking up her pace to match Ambermoon's. "We're going to improve you battle moves." The ginger she-cat murmured as she slithered down the slope into the hollow. Fernpaw bounded after her. The sun was high in the sky, its rays shining through the leaves of the trees and turning the forest floor blazing with golden dapples. She watched a huge moth flutter around her, and she fought the urge to leap at it. Fernpaw let out a yowl when someone slammed into her side. She landed on her side with a heavy grunt, all breath blown from her lungs. Heavy weight landed on top of her, and she writhed around to free herself. Teeth met her scruff and suddenly she was lifted high into the air. She let out a yowl as she twisted around and tried to rake her claws over Ambermoon's shoulder. Satisfaction surged through her when her sharp claws met her skin and tore it open. Ambermoon let out a hiss and dropped her. Fernpaw scrambled to her paws and spun around to face her. "Clever." Ambermoon growled, and the coldness in her voice sent a shiver down Fernpaw's spine. Her mentor dropped into an attack crouch, and the grey she-cat copied her. The circled each other, their eyes locked together. Then, Ambermoon shot toward her. Fernpaw just barely escaped by leaping away. Ambermoon rolled over and sprang to her paws. Fernpaw let out a screech as she hurled herself at her mentor. The ginger she-cat reared up onto her hind legs. Just before she could crash into her, Ambermoon brought her front paws down onto her forehead and slammed her to the ground. Fernpaw felt a stab of pain. Ambermoon stepped away from her, and Fernpaw staggered to her paws, panting. "Try it on me." Ambermoon mewed. Fernpaw pricked her ears. "But you're bigger than me, it won't work." She reasoned, but she immediately regreted saying that. Ambermoon hurled herself at her. "Are you questioning my orders?" She snarled in her face. Fernpaw's heart raced in her chest and she shook her head. Ambermoon nodded and stepped off her. Fernpaw heaved herself to her feet and shook out her fur. "I'm your mentor, Fernpaw. You'll have to do everything I say." Ambermoon mewed, raising herself so she towered even more above Fernpaw. "Now, if I'm going to hook my paws around your legs so you fall, what do you do?" She asked. Fernpaw felt a shiver run through her body as she tried to think under her cold gaze. "Get back to my paws?" She asked carefully. Ambermoon sighed, her claws sheathing and unsheathing. "No, you roll over and get prepared for anything." She growled. Fernpaw's eyes widened with fear. She nodded, staring at her mentor. "Okay, let's try it." Ambermoon murmured and padded to the other end of the hollow. Suddenly, she whipped around and bolted toward her at top speed. Fernpaw's eyes widened and she just managed to rear up on her hind legs. When Ambermoon was just below her, she swiped her paws down. Ambermoon crashed down and into her paws. Fernpaw let out a yowl as she fell on her side and grunted when she met the earth. She heard scuffling beside her and saw Ambermoon getting to her paws. Immediately, Fernpaw rolled over and a moment later, Ambermoon landed on top of her. "Good!" Fernpaw felt her mentor's praise give her new energy. "Now, what do you do?" She asked, pinning her down. "I don't know." Fernpaw croaked weakly. Ambermoon opened her mouth to say something but instead an agonized yowl escaped her. Fernpaw scrabbled at her belly with her claws, and as Ambermoon staggered off her, Fernpaw wriggled away from her and sprang to her paws. Ambermoon gritted her teeth at the pain, but satisfaction glowed in her eyes. "Very good, Fernpaw. Very good." She purred, raising herself again. "Go get some cobwebs." She ordered her. Fernpaw nodded and scrambled up the mossy rocks. She sprinted into the forest in a search of cobwebs. Her paws tingled and she felt satisfaction and pride ripple through her body. She would show Frogpaw that she would be the best warrior the clans had ever seen. She would make her parents proud of her, and she would be known and respected among all the clans. She was on her way to become a warrior at last!