Dawnstar's Trouble {COMPLETE}

Chapter 26

 "We're here," Turtleblaze mewed, he had Fawnheart beside him and Goldenleaf was behind them.

"Hope you're ready." Lionclaw laughed, twitching his tail confidently. Dawnfire sat next to a tree, it's where she normally when training Cloudpaw.

"I hope you are," Turtleblaze laughed, Goldenleaf moved over to sit beside Dawnfire and Fawnheart sat on Goldenleaf's other side.

"So, we will fight just me and you first," Lionclaw first. "Then Goldenleaf and Fawnheart will join in."

"That's the plan," Turtleblaze stretched, extending his claws slightly before putting them away. "And remember, claws sheathed."

Lionclaw nodded. "Of course." He mewed confidently. The two tom cats faced each other in battle stance while the she-cats watched intently. There was a heartbeat's moment of silence and anticipation. "Now!" Lionclaw was like a streak of lightning, his golden body shot into Turtleblaze's taking him to the ground. Turtleblaze let out a cry of alarm as he hit the sandy floor, the impact sending up a small cloud.

Turtleblaze struggled out from under Lionclaw's body and battered at his head with one forepaw, Lionclaw was back on his paws quickly and swiped at Turtleblaze's feet who stumbled backwards. Lionclaw swiftly moved closer to Turtleblaze, their pelts brushing. Lionclaw used his bodyweight to knock Turtleblaze off balance, Lionclaw lashed out a forepaw and toppled the brown warrior completely. Turtleblaze recovered quickly but Lionclaw had planned for that, he nimbly moved out of range of Turtleblaze's attack and recoiled with a paw to Turtleblaze's shoulder.

Dawnfire was interested in the fight, she had seen Lionclaw fight before, but she had also been fighting and never payed much attention to his technique. His movements were quick, not exactly precise but damaging. He had quick reflexes and showed no signs of fear, then against this was just against Turtleblaze.

Turtleblaze's attack style was much different. He was relaxed, and his eyes focused. He was much more calculated than Lionclaw and his attacks on point and neat. However, he was against an opponent that was quick, Turtleblaze might not have all the time to plan his moves that he needed.

As the thought crossed Dawnfire's mind, Turtleblaze's body hit the ground, he let out a groan of pain on impact. Lionclaw towered over him and pinned him in place. Turtleblaze struggled for a few heartbeats before relaxing. "Alright you win the fight." He sighed heavily. Lionclaw let out a sharp noise of triumph and released Turtleblaze. The mottled tom rose from the ground and shook sand from his pelt. "You won't be me at hunting."

Lionclaw puffed out his chest. "We'll just have to see." He sneered.

Turtleblaze shook his head gently. "You go near the AshClan border and I'll take the MoonClan border." He mewed. "They will decide to bring us back," He motioned to the three she-cats who were spectating. "Whoever has the most fresh-kill wins." Lionclaw nodded and the two of them vanished in different directions and the hunt was on. Goldenleaf and Fawnheart conversed quietly together while Dawnfire stared off in the direction Lionclaw had headed. She wondered who would catch more prey, she was excited to see the result.

This whole contest had been relaxing to her, it was a nice change of pace from everything that had been going on, and they weren't wasting time cause both Lionclaw and Turtleblaze would bring back plenty of prey.

"We should bring them back," Goldenleaf said after a while had passed. "You two go fetch them, I'll wait here." Dawnfire and Fawnheart nodded and Dawnfire hurried into the forest. She picked up Lionclaw's scent easily and tracked it. Lionclaw had covered a lot of ground, she jumped onto a log and narrowed her eyes, looking for his golden pelt. Her ears twitched as she heard rustling in the brush not far behind her. She jumped off the log and followed the sound, sure enough she found Lionclaw with fresh-kill at his paws.