Warriors: Hollow Spirits (Book 1)

Chapter Twelve

     Wolfpaw ran through the forest, his eyes narrowed as he stopped and scented the air. A Rabbit was near, behind a bush, nibbling on some seeds. In a swift movement, Wolfpaw rushed at the rabbit, swiveling left and right as he watched the bunny look around in confusion. In a heartbeat, Wolfpaw leapt at the rabbit, his claws meeting the preys neck and as the rabbit stumbled, it soon fell on the ground. Wolfpaw snickered at his kill, and picked it up, padding over to a tree. He began to dig some soil, then placed the rabbit in the small joke and covering it back up. He turned and returned back to his hunting.

     Wolfpaw padded proudly into camp with Webcloud beside him, her eye full of pride. She looked at Willowsky sunning in the cool sunlight, and he sat up, pushing himself onto his feet and padding over to them.

     "Well, that should fill the clan full tonight," he mewed as he came to look at the prey hanging limp from Wolfpaw and Webclouds mouth. They trotted to the Fresh kill pile, placing the fresh kill onto it and then sitting down in the shade.

     "Wolfpaw, go check on Soulpaw. She is nearly fully healed, and wants to get back to training. Take her out and practice fighting her. I'll make sure Sunfern watches you two," Webcloud mewed. Wolfpaw turned his gaze to his mentor and nodded, pushing himself to his paws and padding over to the medicine den, entering it without hesitation.

     Soulpaw was cleaning her fur, while Snowgaze was teaching Rainpaw the difference between Tansy and Marigold. Wolfpaw smiled at Rainpaw for a heartbeat before padding over to Soulpaw.

     "I was told that you and I will be training, your almost healed, so Webcloud recommended it, or rather ordered it." He mewed, yawning a moment before quickly drawing a paw over his ear. Soulpaw looked at him, giving a reluctant nod and stood up, her eyes bright.

     "I need to train, I would rather like to keep my skills up!'' She replied, padding to his side. The scar on her chest was there, no cobwebs on it and still a bit red. She sighed, feeling no pain what so ever. Relieved, Wolfpaw bounded out of the den, Soulpaw by his side. Webcloud was waiting by the camp entrance, a frustrated look on her face. Her eyes blazed as she looked at the two apprentices, but then her gaze switched to somewhere else. Wolfpaw turned his head to see that Webcloud was glaring at Goldenfire, one of the recent warriors. He was looking admirably at Everspring, Webclouds friend. She gave a growl, turning back and trailing out of camp.

     Wolfpaw ran after Webcloud, Soulpaw beside him. They stopped when the arrived at the clearing, settling themselves down while waiting for Webcloud to arrive.

     Wolfpaw felt a pair of eyes watching him, and he lifted his head, looking at a branch of a tree overhead. He saw a bit of white fur. He braced himself, and called out, " Webcloud!" Making Soulpaw jump, her claws still sheathed and her eyes wide.

     Webcloud shifted in the tree, then leapt down from it, aiming at Wolfpaw. Wolfpaw sidestepped to the left, avoiding Webclouds attack, and rushed at her, his paws lightly touched the ground as he held out a forepaw, tripping Webcloud. Soulpaw helped, she tackled onto Webcloud, pinning the cat down.

     "Good job! You two would be very formidable against an enemy," Webcloud mewed, sitting up as Soulpaw got off of her.

     "You think?" Soulpaw asked eagerly. Webcloud nodded.

     "You two will go against each other, and this is serious, but claws sheathed. Soulpaw, you might become a warrior soon, but that depends on-" Webcloud paused, looking above her as a golden leaf fell from the tree branch. "Leaf-fall is here," she murmered, the looked back at Soulpaw. "It depends on how well you do," she finished, smiling.

Yay. This is going to be fun.

     Wolfpaw looked at Soulpaw, ready for her attack. The She-cat looked a bit focused, probably thinking on the first move. Then, her attention focused on Wolfpaw, and in a heartbeat, she had bounded forward, just above his head and onto a tree. She then pushed against the bark, leaping at Wolfpaw, who had quickly jumped up and dodged the attack by a whisker. He smiled as Soulpaw landed on the ground with a thud, regaining her balance a moment after Wolfpaw landed on her back. He screeched as Soulpaw suddenly grabbed him by his forepaw, and lightly bit into it, then rolled over. Wolfpaw layed on the ground, temporarily stunned before getting up quickly and sidestepping to the right as Soulpaw lashed at him with a sheathed paw. But she then placed her paw on the ground, pushing down hard and then using a hind leg to try and trip Wolfpaw. He was beginning to pant, and ducked, missing the attack. He then quickly slid under Soulpaw, using his forepaws and scratching her belly with his claws sheathed. She quickly jumped backwards, twisting her head to see a pair of eyes staring at her. In a heartbeat, Wolfpaw lunged at the cat, disappearing in the bushes.

     Webcloud held herself back, biting her bottom lip in worry. Soulpaw looked over at the bush where Wolfpaw disappeared, and after a moment, went after them.

     Wolfpaw jumped back from the cat, getting a look at it. The cat was a tom, with a dark gray pelt and green eyes. He was the size of Wolfpaw, too.

     Soulpaw entered the clearing, and looked at Wolfpaw, then the tom.

     "Who in Starclan is this!?" Wolfpaw growled, putting unnecessary force into his tone. Soulpaw looked back at him, her eyes hiding something that Wolfpaw didn't know. Finally, she looked down.

     "This is Stormpaw, a friend of mine who helped me escape-" she looked up and her eyes wide, she frowned.

     "He helped you escape what?" Wolfpaw couldn't help but ask. Stormpaw gave a sign that said: "Wrong move." Soulpaw was shaking visibly.

     "He helped me escape Bloodclan."