Warriors: The Chosen Warrior: The Betrayal (Book 3)

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Leafsong stood outside the warriors' den as she watched her chosen Clanmates follow Firestar through the thorn tunnel for the Gathering.  Only Cloudtail and Brightheart were left in the clearing, finishing up the pigeon they were sharing when Leafsong turned to go in the den and curl up in her nest.  Darkness quickly grabbed her as she closed her eyes, only to be woken by the soft call of her name.

Snapping her eyes open, she saw that she was lying on the forest floor, surrounded by bracken and thorn bushes.  Leafsong stood up and turned around to see Owlheart sitting with her tail wrapped neatly around her paws.

"So?" the Dark Forest she-cat meowed as she pushed herself up.  "Do you?"

Leafsong tilted her head to one side, puzzled.  "Do I what?"

Owlheart flicked her tail irritability.  "Do you want me to train you?" she snapped.

Leafsong blinked.  She has forgotten about that.  "Oh, err...."

She thought about it one last time.  She was about to meow no, when she remembered something.  I have to show Jaypaw that I don't need him! Leafsong vowed to herself.

She nodded.  "Alright, Owlheart, I'll let you train me."

She noticed Owlheart's ears perk up in success.  "Good, because I could see that your old mentor didn't teach you skills that I know."  The she-cat turned around and beckoned Leafsong to follow her.  They padded through the big forest until they came to a larger clearing than the last one.  "We will begin your training now," Owlheart announced.

Leafsong let out a small gasp in surprise.  "Now?  But I'm not-"

She stopped as Owlheart suddenly spun around and jumped at her, pinning her down all in a single heartbeat.

"First lesson," her new mentor spat at her, her yellowed teeth showing.  "Always be ready for a fight!"

The brown she-cat did a front blow on Leafsong's muzzle, making her yowl as she felt the pain surge and blood pour out of her nostrils.  She swiftly bit down hard on Owlheart's paw and scraped her belly as she reared up.  Owlheart landed another hard blow, this time on top of Leafsong's head, making her vision blurry.  Owlheart disappeared for a moment until she landed on her back.  Leafsong's opponent dug her claws into her side to hold on.  Leafsong yowled and crouched, letting her weight go.

Owlheart snorted.  "Mouse brain!  I told you that you needed more training."

Leafsong felt the sharp fangs as the Dark Forest cat bent down and pinched her teeth into Leafsong's scruff.  Suddenly, Leafsong brought all her weight back to rear up, causing Owlheart to fly off her.  Leafsong turned to face the defeated cat.

She purred in amusement.  "Am I the one who needs more training now?"  She stood there, panting.

Owlheart slowly got up and shook the dirt off her pelt.  She panted, too, as she meowed, "Good job.  I guess you're stronger than I expected."  Leafsong straightened proudly.  "Let's see how you do next time.  I'll get you when I'm ready."

When the beaten she-cat was done, she padded away, until she and Leafsong's other surroundings were gone.

*****

Leafsong woke up in the warriors' den and listened for any birdsong-nothing.  It must be a little before dawn, she thought.  After getting up and shaking the moss off her pelt, she made her way quietly to the entrance of the den, careful not to wake any sleeping cats.

Leafsong crossed the clearing swiftly, her bones still aching from Owlheart's training session.  She pushed through the dirtplace tunnel to the outside of the camp, hoping not to alarm Cloudtail, who was sitting outside the thorn tunnel, his eyes fixed on the forest beyond.