Warrior Cats: BloodClan Hunger Games

Chapter 12 - Advanced Training

I padded silently with Icepaw at my side to a clear spot only about two tail-lengths away. The wind ruffled my fur, and for the first time in the past couple of sunrises, I actually felt alive. Though it felt wonderful to feel the ground beneath me and the breeze as it blew through my whiskers, something was off. It was almost like... I was hollow. It was like I sold my soul to the Dark Forest. I almost felt guilty, but there was no pang that came to my heart.

"Okay. Just show me what to do and I'll follow." Icepaw mewed, jolting me from my distant thoughts, and I nodded in agreement. I'll start her off easy! Getting down into a stalking position, I took a couple of slow strides and then pounced at a stick. Icepaw sighed behind me so I turned to look at her, only to catch her rolling her eyes. I stood up straight and blinked at her with surprise. The white she-cat flexed her claws into the ground, eager to learn. "Show me what you learned in training, back when we were chosen to come here! I know how to stalk, I've been trained for that well before we came here. I need to know more than the basics!" She complained. I dipped my head to her, thinking back to when I was in training.

I couldn't get those memories to come back. I couldn't even remember the guards' names anymore. I would have usually felt panic well up in my chest, but no feelings came through other than confusion. Had Streamclaw taken my memories away from before I came into the Arena? Do I even feel emotions anymore? What a sly fox... I wondered, narrowing my eyes into space. I actually wanted to feel the anger boil in my stomach, to want to go after the tom and to confront him, but as I sat there I realized Streamclaw had left out an important part to the agreement. 

Icepaw's voice brought me back to reality. "Feathertail?" Icepaw nudged me and gave me a concerned look. I shook my head and fluffed out my pelt. If I can't remember, then I will just have to come up with my own moves! I decided, getting ready.

Getting back down into a stalking position, I stalked to the nearest tree and climbed up it to about my height. Getting a claw hold on a branch in the tree, I balanced on it, grabbed onto the tree with my hind paws, and shot myself off of the tree trunk. Aiming for the stick I had originally pounced on, I landed on it and with a snap, it broke into half. I was grateful for succeeding on my first try, but again, I felt no emotion. 

Standing up, I gestured with my tail for Icepaw to try. She stalked over, quicker than it should have been, and climbed to the same branch. Setting her front paws on the branch and grasping onto the trunk with her hind paws, she leaped from the tree and landed in front of the broken stick, a couple of tail-lengths away from me. As she landed, she rolled over her shoulder and swiped at me with a proud grin on her face. I didn't flinch, only stared at her.

Icepaw stood up straight and shook out her fur, sending leaves and debris flying from her pelt. I dipped my head for her to try again. Icepaw nodded and stalked to the tree and did it again, this time more careful and precise. She did the first part well, but landed clumsily. I gestured for her to try again. Icepaw tried and tried again, until the sun was at its highest point when she got it almost perfectly. 

The growing apprentice sat down, out of breath. She had tried nonstop until she got it right. The last couple of times I didn't even have to tell her to try again. I dipped my head and thought for a moment, trying to think up another creative battle move. I held my paw up and she glanced at me, still panting. I nudged her shoulder, trying to silently tell her to stand.

"Stand?" She mewed and I nodded once. She dipped her head and I stalked toward her. 

As quick as a snake, I leaped to the side of her and grabbed her scruff to pull her to the ground. She let out a shocked yelp; I let go as Icepaw's back hit the ground. "Oof!" Icepaw mumbled and I raised a paw at her stomach. She cringed, sudden fear flooding her gaze, so I stopped. I should have felt ashamed for scaring her, but no feelings stirred in my stomach.

I gestured for her to get up and try it. "Do I do that now?" She asked, slowly standing up with her eyes locked on me. All I could do was nod once. The apprentice got into a stalking position. It was better now, her tail neatly wrapped around her left leg and her stomach just hovering off of the ground.

She stalked toward the tree, traveling lightly and making close to no noise. Through narrowed eyes, I judged how she made her way to the tree. Once to the destination, Icepaw sprung at a rock from behind it. I trotted over to get a better view. 

"I need to practice on someone else, would I be able to use you?" She asked over her shoulder and I considered her question for a heartbeat. Could she? What if I called out? 

I agreed reluctantly and took a few steps away from her. I was completely aware she was coming after me but I couldn't hear her paw steps. I watched her bunch up her muscles, preparing to leap. Suddenly, Icepaw had dashed to my side and had grasped my scruff in her jaws. I had to clench my jaw closed to keep myself from growling.

Cringing, I squeezed my eyes shut as Icepaw raised her paw. I peeked open my eyes and noticed an angry glare shone in her eyes, lip curled. I actually thought she was mad for a moment, but within heartbeats she smiled and lowered her paw. "How was that? Nod for good, shake your head for bad." Icepaw purred, sitting down. I nodded, a smile crossing my face.

Her face lit up with joy. "Awesome! Any other ideas?" She mewed and I narrowed my eyes in thought. Let's try... this...

I trotted to a random tree and began to claw at it, hopping around it on my hind paws. I swung my tail to distract the imaginary enemy - that was a tree for now - and ducked down every few heartbeats. After I made a full turn around the tree, I came to stand beside Icepaw again.

"Well that was... something..." She mumbled, a purr rumbling in her throat. I pointed at the tree with my tail and she hurried over and started to mimic my demonstration. She couldn't stay on her hind legs, though, and had to start over whenever she did. I didn't even have to get her to try again because she was filled with determination. 

She failed several times at hopping around the tree, but her failure didn't hurt her confidence. Icepaw kept tripping over her own paws and occasionally forgetting to claw at the tree. I was itching to yell out things on how to do it better, but the reminder that she would die brutally kept popping up into my mind. Why couldn't they just mute me so I couldn't talk, for StarClan's sake...

I padded away and heard her follow. She came to trek beside me, her fur brushing against mine. I glanced around to find a place with thick trees close together but all I could really find were trees too spaced out.

Halting, I decided to take what the Arena had to offer. I turned around and dipped my head to Icepaw. She watched through narrowed, thoughtful eyes as I padded to a tree. I put my back to it and, using my hind legs to boost my run, took off straight at the one directly across from it. Bolting for it, I jumped and kicked off of it and flew toward the tree I had started with. I kicked off of that one and hit the one only a few tail-lengths away and then began to make a diagonal pattern. I only managed to get through four trees before the trees were too far from each other to keep going so I let myself land wobbly onto the ground. As I headed back to meet Icepaw, she met up with me half way. 

"That was really impressive!" She complimented me, her eyes glittering with amusement. She backed up at the tree I had started at and gave all of her strength to run at the next tree. Jumping as high as she could, Icepaw hit the center of the tree and bounced off, hitting the next one.

The sound of claws scraping on bark made me a shiver go down my spine. I followed lightly behind her as she shoved herself off the trees almost perfectly.

A scream came from behind us. Icepaw's paws missed the tree trunk and her stomach paid the price. I opened my mouth and slammed it closed, rushing toward her. That was close... I almost yelled out to her!

Icepaw was sprawled out on the ground, breathing heavily and looking winded. "I'm okay..." She wheezed, sitting up. I dipped my head and and grabbed her scruff to assist her in standing. "We need to see what that scream was." Icepaw growled, padding away.

Now, why would you do that? She's just looking for a fight! Maybe she just wants to get the final battle over with? Though, I wonder who it is. It could be Hawkpaw and Ashfoot being attacked by a monster? Or are they fighting for victory, thinking Icepaw has died already? 

I ran up to her, trotting at her heels. As I followed behind the rushing she-cat, I wished I could urge her to stay with me and continue training. And for the first time since I made the agreement, I felt my stomach churn with unease.