WarriorCats 1: The New Clans

Chapter 14

"But that's not fair! Blacktip! Please! Just let me try the fighting!I promise I'll do my best, and, and-" Brindlepaw begged,his eyes clouded over in thoughts as he wondered if this had anything to do with what had happened to Dewpaw.

"No, Brindlepaw, I said we're practicing hunting, so we're practicing hunting, understand? Now, hunters crouch." Blacktip replied with an edge to his voice, turning to face the still young tom who had a cocked head.

"This is because of what happened with Dewpaw, isn't it? You're treating me differently. Why can't I train in fighting, like Dewpaw?" Brindlepaw half asked, his innocent wide eyes narrowed to dark brown slits caused by his anger.

"No! Yes. Maybe... We'll work on Defense and Hunting, sound good? Defense is a type of Fight, without it you're completely vulnerable, and will probably lose the fight. Hunting Position." Blacktip ordered, flicking Brindlepaw's nose with his long tail and circling the young apprentice.

Brindlepaw lowered himself to the ground,keeping his tail higher than the ground and making sure none of his fur on his belly touched the dry grass. His eyes were fixed on a ball of moss ahead roughly shaped into some kind of mouse that had been planted there by Blacktip. A thin vine was wrapped around the moss and lead into the shadows, wrapped around Blacktip's tail, which went unnoticed by Brindlepaw.

"Good, good, now leap for the moss as well as you can." his mentor approved, holding his tail incredibly still. "If you can perfect this, we can move onto real mice, okay? Good."

Brindlepaw narrowed his eyes and crawled carefully through the grass. He corrected his footing before suddenly springing energetically towards the mossy mouse. It flew into the shadows, just as he swiped it with a claw. Blacktip smiled slightly and pulled the moss out of the shadows to find it half gone from where Brindlepaw had struck it so strongly.

"Impressive. Try once more and then we'll go into the real world of hunting." Blacktip nodded and set up the moss, watching as he tugged the moss into the shadows, but feeling no weight at all. The vine was torn, and Brindlepaw had a heap of the moss in his jaws. "Okay, we'll hunt by the lake, come on." the warrior flicked his tail and jogged towards the slither of silver water in the distance, mingling with the sunlight and vibrant trees.

"I see you had a successful day of hunting, Brindlepaw." Thistleclaw half smiled. Unlike the rest of the Clan, he was trying to be cheerful and happy towards the apprentice.

"I guess... I caught a mouse, but that's it. Blacktip taught me some defense moves too." Brindlepaw mumbled awkwardly, slinging the food on top off the pile, which consisted of squirrels, mice, birds, rabbits and some voles. New Leaf was being kind to the Clan for a change,  offering almost too much easy prey.

Larkfeather padded across to her eldest kit and guided him towards her signature place under a towering willow tree that dappled the sunlight. There was a dip at the bottom of the tree trunk, of which the young she-cat leaned into, giving Brindlepaw a reassuring lick. "It'll all blow over, don't worry." she murmured into her kit's ear as Darkfur and Hazelstorm crept past, sneering at the poor little apprentice.

"Where's Dewpaw? Can I go play now?" Brindlepaw asked hopefully, jumping up and looking eagerly around the camp clearing. His soft pelt shimmered in the mottled light, looking bright even in the shade of the Willow tree. "Where is she Mother?" Brindlepaw repeated, turning slowly back with a slightly confused expression implanted on his face.

"Um... Dewpaw's... Training... But the Clan decided it was best for you to train and work alone for a little while, just in case-"

"Just in case what, Mother? In case I hurt anyone? It wasn't my fault, I promise! Why won't anyone believe me!" Brindlepaw exclaimed, streaking away. His mother's words rang in his ears like silver bells; The Clan decided it was best for you to train and work alone... Who cared what the Clan thought? He didn't need Larkfeather. He didn't need anyone! Brindlepaw galloped out of camp, spotting the familiar ginger fur of his sister messing around with Fernpaw and Buzzpaw. Weren't they suppose to be training? he thought, but shook it off. The Clan scents were soon long gone, and he was in unknown territory. But who cared? "I'm a Lone Cat now. I can fend for myself out here, I don't need babying!" Brindlepaw exclaimed out loud, meowing it to the world.

"But you really are just a baby, right?" chuckled a beautiful young she-cat with a pale fawn-colored coat. She looked slightly older than Brindlepaw, but only by about 2 Moons. She was probably a warrior, right? But what was she doing out here, alone?

"Don't you have a Clan?" Brindlepaw asked curiously, leaning forward towards the pretty cat.

"Oh StarClan no, who needs a Clan? I'm a Loner. My name's Fawn. Yours?" Fawn asked, pricking here's ears and concentrating vibrant green eyes on the younger tom.

Brindlepaw thought for a moment, scanning her features. Despite the pale tabby fur, Fawn had a pinky colored nose, white boots on her paws and white tips to her ears. Perfect, basically. "Uh, I'm Brindle- I mean, I'm... Cloud." Brindlepaw lied smoothly. Yes. From now on, he could change his name to Cloud!

"I like you, Cloud. You gonna stick around?" Fawn asked hopefully, grinning when he nodded. "It's kinda funny. I would've called you Brindle because of your patches and that. But oh well!" she smiled again, eyes boring directly into Brindlepaw's.

"I-I was joking, my name really is Brindle." Brindle said hastily, grinning back at her.

"I was just going to get some water, you coming? I'm kind of an always-on-the-move kind of loner, hope that's okay with you, Brindle." Fawn laughed lightly again before trotting off to the nearest stream, which was see-through and displayed small pebbles under the surface.

"That's just the kind of loner I am!" Brindle replied excitedly, drinking beside the fawn-colored she-cat.

"You know, I have a funny feeling we're going to get on. Oh, it's getting dark, I found a place a little way over there, towards the Two-legs' dens. Come on, I'll show you! There's a bunch of hay and mice, so we can live there for the night." Fawn lead Brindle through bracken, rivers and fences, and not to mention the cows' fields, before the two came to a large barn which smelled of horses, hay and the very faint smell of cats.

"Here, we can sleep up there, away from those horrible horses. It kills when they stamp on your tail, so be careful down there!" Fawn joked, yawning and stretching out instead of curling up like a Clan Cat. Brindle gave her a funny look, but tried that position too, finding it overly comfortable. He stole one more glance at the she-cat with a silent sigh.

"Goodnight." Brindle mewed wearily, listening to the mumbled response. Fawn was just perfect in his eyes; adventurous, fun, and most of all, she understood him even though they had only known each other for a few hours, in which time they had shared life stories. But for now, all Brindle could do was share her dreams, watching the first rays of light die off into the brilliant light of the Moon...