Warriors: Hollow Spirits (Book 1)

Chapter Seven

Soulpaw entered camp, her tail now untwined from Wolfpaw's. She padded over to the fresh kill pile, dropping the fish she caught. A voice from the apprentices den told Soulpaw that Foxpaw was waiting for her. Soulpaw sighed, and picked a mouse and vole for her and Foxpaw.

"Where in Starclan where you!? And... Why where you with Wolfpaw, wasn't he acting mean to you earlier?" Foxpaw mewed as Soulpaw settled herself. She flicked her ears and looked at the vole in front of her, blushing lightly.

"Its nothing. But... Once I finish eating this vole, we would be leaving for the Moontree, right?" Soulpaw mewed, changing the subject. Foxpaw flicked her ears and shook her head.

"Sorry, but it's tomorrow. When Littleweb came into camp, Dapplestar said that he would be staying until the next gathering. So we decided to change it to tomorrow." Foxpaw explained, her fur hairs sticking out. Foxpaw flicked her ears again with annoyance and began to rasp her tongue to get the sticking hairs back in place.

Soulpaw flicked her tail back and forth as she ate the vole, pausing to say, "Stringy, but is gonna have to do." And continued eating the vole till she was full. The mouse was left untouched, she realized, as Foxpaw padded into the apprentices den.

Soulpaw sighed. She buried the bones of the vole and was about to sleep as well when Wolfpaw padded up to her, his tail flicking eagerly.

"Mind if I eat that?" Wolfpaw asked, already sitting down in front of the mouse. Soulpaw smiled. At least I have some company. She thought as she sat down next to Wolfpaw, her pelt touching his.

But a sudden thought hit her head, and she thought about it carefully. Stormpaw... What will he do if he saw this? Soulpaw thought with worry, missing the question Wolfpaw had said. Soulpaw flicked her ears and blinked a couple of time before turning to Wolfpaw.

"Sorry, what was it you said again?" Soulpaw politely mewed, her mind full of thoughts. Wolfpaw flicked his tail, and his eyes showed a hint of amusement.

"I asked if you were going to the Moontree soon." Wolfpaw explained, his eyes now filled with curiosity. Soulpaw smiled.

"Tomorrow, in fact. But then, for a moment, I thought that you would go in a few moons." Soulpaw mewed, stating a fact out kindly. Wolfpaw nodded.

"Yeah, sure, but of course, that will take a lifetime on my account." Wolfpaw mewed jokingly, and nudged Soulpaw with his shoulder. Soulpaw smiled at him and stifled a yawn, showing her sharp white teeth. Wolfpaw smiled, and yawned as well.

"See you in the morning!" Soulpaw mewed as she got up. Wolfpaw nodded to her before she disappeared into the apprentices den.

Soulpaw settled herself quickly in the moss, her tail rapped around herself. She smiled, feeling Foxpaw's flank against hers. She yawned again, closing her eyes. Soon, sleep overwhelmed her.

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Soulpaw found herself in a peaceful field, apart from the bloody one she would usually see. Soulpaw looked around, then looked in front of her as a cat padded up to her.

"Young one, my name is Fernshadow. I am from... Willowclan. A clan that needs a new home. I am one of the warrior ancestors, and we beg for your help. Please, guide my clan to a new home." Fernshadow dipped her head, a sign of begging. Soulpaw reluctantly nodded, her eyes showing worry. A new clan? Wait a minute... Dapplestar said that a new clan scent came... This clan must be it! Soulpaw thought deeply, not hearing the next words Fernshadow said, which were probably thank you. Soulpaw nodded, and looked at a willow tree standing alone in the field.

"I must be going. Stay safe until I find you!" Soulpaw mewed, realizing she was waking up.

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Soulpaw woke up next to Foxpaw, who had been prodding her awake.

"Come on! Let's actually do battle training. Sunfern and Willowsky should actually be awake by now." Foxpaw mewed, her eyes bright as she left Soulpaw without waiting for an answer.

Soulpaw merely got up and followed after Foxpaw, her tail flicking back and forth.

The clearing glowed brightly as the sun shone above the trees.
Soulpaw ran quickly, and jumped high, a grin on her face. Soulpaw landed on a tree branch, and jumped to another as she traveled to the Sandy Hollow.

Soon she reached the Sandy Hollow, sitting on a tree branch. No one except for Foxpaw and Soulpaw were there, both relaxing for a moment. A rustle in the bushes told Soulpaw that Willowsky and Sunfern have arrived, and she jumped down the tree branch she was on, grunting as she made an impact on the forest floor.

Willowsky looked at Soulpaw, her tail flicking with energy. "Soulpaw, you will be trying to attack your opponent and unbalance them. Foxpaw, you will be learning how to trick your opponent and pin them down." Willowsky mewed, already getting into battle position.

Soulpaw looked at Willowsky, seeing the warrior was looking at her. She smiled, but then frowned. Willowsky would expect me to run to the side and attack her with my forepaw, and then trip her as I turn around. Soulpaw thought carefully, and an idea popped in her head.

Soulpaw crouched low for a moment, as if hunting. Then jumped as high as she could, slightly tilting forward. Willowsky moved to the left, and lifted a forepaw, tripping Soulpaw in midair and she collided onto the sand, spitting out speckles of sand. Willowsky nodded.

"Try tilting forward, and to your left or right." Willowsky recommended, ready for another attack. Soulpaw got up, shaking her fur for a moment. She gave out a huff.

Flicking her tail, Soulpaw jumped high, slightly tilting forward and to the left. Willowsky stayed where she was, watching as Soulpaw landed next to Willowsky, and used her back leg to trip Willowsky. Willowsky wobbled for a moment, and Soulpaw used a sheathed paw to scratch Willowsky's side.

Willowsky balanced herself again, and looked at Soulpaw with approval. "Good. Make sure to use more force in your back leg to unbalance your opponent." Willowsky proudly mewed, sitting down to clean her pelt. Soulpaw realized her pelt was messy from the practice and she went to a smooth rock, starting to clean her fur instantly.

Soulpaw flicked her ears, all senses alert as a voice called out to her. "You're nothing... You are useless... You deserve to die..." The words repeated over and over in her head, and Soulpaw gave out a yowl of pain.