Book 1 - Warriors: The Shadow Outcast

Chapter Twenty-Nine

"Good job, Sunpaw," said Treeleg, smiling slightly. "Your strength is going to get you far. Just remember that you must use your speed. When going against a strong cat, you'll need strength to get ahead of him." Sunpaw nodded, smiling widely.

"Okay, Stormpaw, it's your turn now," said Rainfur, standing up a bit proud. Stormpaw sighed a bit before standing up and walking into the clearing. With a small look of disappointment, Rainfur stood up and made his way to Stormpaw, who he'd be battling. For training, of course.

Stormpaw looked bored, which was an expression the annoying tom had on his face a lot. Rainfur narrowed his eyes a bit before crouching into a fighting position, ready to 'attack'. Stormpaw mimicked this, leaving Rainfur to growl lowly with warning. His apprentice did this on purpose, and he knew it.

Rainfur lunged, keeping his claws sheathed, just in case he got a bit too carried away. Stormpaw noticed this, smirking a bit. Rainfur was confused, but that seemed to be the plan. Stormpaw had slid underneath him, leaving him to gasp in surprise.

Stormpaw unbalanced Rainfur by jumping up. The brown and white apprentice quickly got out of the way before Rainfur fell.

He's faster than you are, said Jactur, sounding amused. You know, before I trained you.

He is? Rainfur asked, looking very curious. That's odd.

However, Rainfur couldn't say any more than that. Like usual, his body got excited when it was doing something that had to do with fighting. Now that it was on the ground, though, it had a different effect. It was making Rainfur angry, something that he just pushed away. It was getting a bit harder though.

"You're quick," said Rainfur, a bit of strain in his voice. "But are you strong?" He lunged for Stormpaw, leaving the small apprentice shocked. Rainfur had caught him off-guard, which was precisely what he'd wanted. Soon, Rainfur had Stormpaw pinned, pushing only half of his weight onto him. If he used all of his strength, Stormpaw would probably get hurt.

Stormpaw struggled underneath Rainfur's weight, but not once showed any sign of strength. This was strange itself, but the fact that his eye colour seemed to lighten frightened Rainfur.

There's something within Stormpaw, said Jactur suddenly, sounding shocked. Just like you and I, except it's like an opposite. The power that's coming from Stormpaw was not created from the bad side of him, but the good side.

Are you saying Stormpaw is the same thing as me? Rainfur asked, keeping Stormpaw down.

I'm still not sure of he's human or not, Jactur muttered. However, StarClan has meddled with him. I have no idea how they'd make that power though. It's so confusing.

How do you even know what's within him? Rainfur asked, very curious now.

It's like a magnet, Jactur responded. Whatever's in him is pulling me toward it. It's like whatever created that is basically the same thing that created me or something like that. Opposites attract, I guess.

Stormpaw just keeps getting weirder and weirder, said Rainfur. Do you think he knows of the power?

Nope, said Jactur. Stormpaw is oblivious. The power still seems to be at its early stages, and it won't move for a while unless we find a way to trigger it.

Would it be best to keep it from growing like you did? Rainfur asked curiously.

It's hard to tell, Jactur responded. To be truthful, I think it would be better to make it grow. Like I said, this power seems to be opposite from me, meaning that instead of it being crazy and insane, it will be strong and kind. So, like Heaven and Hell.