Warriors : Chosen

Lessons

A few nights after the Gathering, Duckpool blinked open her eyes and saw Starclan's hunting grounds. Another training lesson with Stormstrike I guess. Sure enough, as she looked around Stormstrike's lightning-yellow eyes glared at her from the bushes. She dropped into a defensive stance, like Stormstrike had taught her. For the first few lessons, Stormstrike had leapt out of the bushes and bowled her over like fresh-kill. Even if you know the cat, always be prepared for betrayl. But today Stormstrike strolled out of the bushes and sat in front of Duckpool. As her bright eyes glinted, Duckpool blurted out a question which had been bugging her for a while.

"Have you been watching me? I saw you at the Thunderclan border, then again at the Gathering. Why?" Stormstrike stared at Duckpool, then gave a slow blink.

"It wasn't me. Why would I trouble myself in following you? And going in Thunderclan territory would only bring me pain." Stormstrike's voice shook slightly, the only hint at showing any emotion. Duckpool blinked, confused.

"It wasn't you? Then who could it be? And what happened in Thunderclan that makes so you wish to never return?" When I die, I know that I would return to Riverclan occasionally. Stormstrike shook her fur out and looked at Duckpool.

"You'll get your answers later. We have training to do." She leaped and did a neat spiral in the air so she slide on her back beneath Duckpool's belly. Before she could push upwards with her paws, Duckpool leaped aside and out of the way of Stormstrike's claws. Stormstrike reacted and flipped over and reached out a lightning fast paw behind Duckpool's leg before she could react, and she crashed to the ground, unable to stop Stormstrike grabbing her scruff in her jaws and holding her there. After a while, she let go and stepped back as Duckpool regained her feet. Duckpool sat back in the moss and waited for Stormstrike to speak.

"You need to learn to be lighter on your feet and quicker with your reflexes. Now, here's an easy move to learn, but you have to be quick and a lot of cats might call it a cowardly move. You leap over or dart around the opponent-" Stormstrike shot around behind Duckpool."- And finsh the move as so." Grabbing Duckpool's tail in her jaws, Stormstrike yanked her tail, pulling her backwards and Duckpool fell down, belly fur squishing into the muddy moss. Grumbling, Duckpool stood up and prepared to try the move on Stormstrike. All the other training sessions with the Starclan cat happened in much the same way. Slinking towards the coal-grey she-cat, Duckpool shot forward, hoping to take her by suprise. Stormstrike glanced at her as she slipped and fell in a mud puddle. She flicked her tail out reach of the mud splash, then gazed coolly at the mud-soaked Duckpool.

"Hm." Duckpool, before she was asked to try it again, threw the questions from earlier back at Stormstrike.

"Who was it? Why do you never want to return to Thunderclan?" Stormstrike looked around at Starclan territory before answering.

"You want to hear how my life was ruined and returning home brings me pain? Then listen..."