Moonkit's Blessing

Chapter 5

"Moonpaw, Moonpaw!" The sound of Dovepaw's voice awoke Moonpaw.

"What?" Moonpaw asked sleepily.

"There was a black tom steeling from the fresh-kill pile! We chased him off before he took anything big though."

Uh oh.. Moonpaw thought to herself. She had seen that tom the last night.

"Er, okay, he's gone right?" Moonpaw shuffled her paws, then quickly covered them with her tail.

"Uh, yeah.." The glow in Dovepaw's eyes showed suspicion, but it faded almost as soon as it came.

As Moonpaw padded out of the apprentices den, she saw Fawnpelt and Lepordpelt approach them.

"We were wondering, would you kits what to practice battling?" Lepordpelt mewed.

"Sure," Murmured Dovepaw calmly, but the sparkle in her eyes showed she was very excited. They made their way out of the clearing and to Long Stone, which is where all apprentices go for battle training. Dovepaw went first.

"Now, attack me," Lepordpelt murmured. Dovepaw hesitated, but did as she said. She flew through the air, but landed on the ground when Lepordpelt simply stepped to the side.

"Good, but try and go faster." Moonpaw watched them battle, and wisdom blazed in her eyes. She knew what to do, and was very eager.

"Ok Moonpaw, are you ready?" Fawnpelt mewed. But Moonpaw was already on Long Stone.

"Ok, now, attack." Fawnpelt slipped to the side when Moonpaw jumped, but Moonpaw followed her and scratched her head.

She yowled, Moonpaw guessed she wasn't prepared for that. Fawnpelt was fine, but Moonpaw felt that her eagerness turned into power.

"Sorry!" Moonpaw squeaked. Fawnpelt nodded her head and purred.

"Well done, I guess I wasn't prepared." Fawnpelt and Moonpaw practiced till sunhigh, and then all four of them headed back to camp. But Moonpaw still couldn't help feeling guilty for scratching Fawnpelt, even though she knew it was surprise, not pain. Fawnpelt and Lepordpelt reported to Silverstar, then she called Moonpaw to her den.

"How was your training? Fawnpelt said Dovepaw, and you, did very well." Silverstar mewed. Moonpaw could see where this conversation was going.

"Well, Dovepaw did it right, she failed at first and then got better, but.. But not me.. I hit on the first try, and.."

Moonpaw trailed off.

"She's fine, Moonpaw. I promise you that." Silverstar gave a dismissing flick of her tail and Moonpaw padded out of her den. She took a small Salmon from the fresh-kill pile and begin to gnaw on it. Moonpaw's ears pricked up when she herd yowling in the distance. It was a yowl of distress from Rootpaw.