Embers

Chapter 3

"Leap on to your enemy, and dig your claws into their back. This makes you out if the way of your enemy's claws and can make severe body wounds. One thing to watch out for is the drop and roll, and if that happens, jump free before you get squashed," Stonefrost said. Emberpaw listened intently, trying to gather as much information about the battle moves as possible, knowing there was a chance of battle the next day.

"Now you try it on me," he said, going into a defence stance. Bunching her legs, she looked to aim for his left, but she had a trick. She wanted him to think she would go for his left, but she was actually aiming for his right. Looking at his left, she aimed for the last second at his right shoulder, then sprang. She made it on top of him, almost falling off, and dug her claws into his pelt. Confused by her attack, Stonefrost fell.

"I did it!" Emberpaw said, puffing out her chest.

"Yes, you did. Now get off me, you're squashing me!" He said. Emberpaw jumped off him, landing gracefully on her feet. He stood up and nodded.

"I think that's enough training for today. Why don't you go ahead and check the elders for ticks," he said. She headed out of the training hollow back to camp. She popped into the medicine den where she found Cloudpaw sorting out herbs.

"Hey Cloudpaw! Do you have any mouse bile?" She greeted her. She greeted her back, then walked deeper into the den. She returned with a stick with mouse bile, on it, then gave it to Emberpaw. The smell of it made her wrinkle her nose. Cloudpaw laughed a little.

"If there's one thing ticks and cats have in common, it's their disgust for mouse bile." She said. She made her farewell then headed for the elder's den. She was greeted by Raventail, the quiet black tom who told great stories. Emberpaw had always liked Raventail, even if Oakpaw said he was as old as four-trees itself.

"Come to check me for ticks? Well, there's on on my back that I just can't reach." Once Emberpaw found the tick,  she rubbed some mouse bile on it, and it popped off, and was crushed by one of Emberpaw's claws."Ah, that's better. Say, how is your training coming along? I've heard you're wonderful at hunting,"

"I've come along really well, Raventail. Today I even tricked Stonefrost and brought him down with the leap-and-hold!" She said.

"I remember training Stonefrost. He was always difficult, but he never stopped trying. You have a nice day now, Emberpaw," he said, curling up again.

She headed out of then den, only to be caught by surprise by a small ball of fluff. Hurling towards her was Robinswoop's only kit, Morningkit. She had spent some time with the little kit since her two brothers, Mousekit and Birchkit, died.

"A Windclan intruder! Get out of here before I make you!" Morningkit said to Emberpaw.

"Oh no, please don't hurt me, fierce Thunderclan warrior! Please spare me!" She said, pretending to be scared. Morningkit jumped on her, digging her little claws into her fur. Emberpaw fell, and pretended to be hurt. Morningkit laughed then jumped off.

"I'll spare you this time, Windclan cat, but don't come onto Thunderclan territory ever again!" She replied.

"Oh I wont, ever!" Emberpaw fake-whimpered. Morningkit laughed again, then headed back towards the nursery where her mother rested.

"Emberpaw." Stonefrost's voice made her turn." Do you want to go to the Gathering tonight?"

"Yes please!" She said quickly. Her first Gathering! Sparking with excitement, she thanked Stonefrost, then padded to where Dustpaw was entering from the barrier holding a thrush in his jaws." Are you going to the Gathering tonight?" She asked.