Dark Destinies {Book 1}

Chapter 6

POUNCEPAW

DUSKCLAN

“Pouncepaw wake up!” A voice stirred me from my peaceful dream and drifted through the apprentice den. “Don’t make me come in there.” It teased.

Sighing I rolled onto my stomach and pushed myself up onto my four paws; shaking out my pale brown fur as I did so.

“Good you’re up. Now you can tell your mentor to shut it.” Spiderpaw, a big black tom with white paws grumbled as he turned in his nest away from me.

Spiderpaw had become an apprentice the same day as I. We’d grown to become pretty close since our days in the nursery. Our mothers were bestfriends so it was only fitting we became close too. In my time with Spiderpaw I learned that there was one thing you never did and that was disturb him from his sleep.

“Pouncepaw.” My mentor called again; his voice more stern now.

“Coming Mudsplash.” I replied after quickly grooming my pelt to make it smooth.

I strode into the clearing to be greeted by Mudsplash; his brown fur was speckled with dark brown markings and was well groomed. According to queen gossip he was the most handsome tom in the forest.

“What are we doing today?” I asked, kicking a clump of snow out of my way as I padded away from the apprentice den beside him.

“Well, Mothflower and Thunderclaw invited us to train with them.” Mudsplash meowed nonchalantly but I could feel my whole world shattering behind my paws as annoyance instantly flared within me.

Training with Mothflower meant training with her apprentice Sorrelpaw, the most annoying she-cat in the history of the clans whom just happened to be obsessed with my every movement. I’d caught her following me places and even attempting to move her nest closer to mine.

“What will we be focusing on?” I asked.

“Hunting.”

“But I’ve basically mastered hunting.” I complained; I couldn’t count how many times I had been taught hunting crouches…

“But not in the snow. The snow makes you a different cat and a different hunter.” Mudsplash corrected with a smirk, I rolled my eyes.

At the entrance of camp Thunderclaw, a big golden tom, was waiting with his bushy tail curled neatly around his huge paws. His brown tabby apprentice, Bramblepaw, was unable to contain his energy as he tried sitting still beside him.

I had to keep reminding myself that both Bramblepaw and Sorrelpaw were only recently given their apprenticeships and were younger than me and Spiderpaw.

Suddenly Mothflower strolled up to join us; her silky cream-colored fur was fluffed gently against the cold but still looked outstanding.

I noticed instantly that Sorrelpaw wasn’t with her. It caused the fur on my back to prickle involuntarily as I darted my green gaze around camp; half expecting to find her tabby and white pelt behind something waiting to pounce on me.

“Hiya Pouncepaw!” A high-pitched squeak yowled from behind me; I jumped in reaction and spun to find Sorrelpaw.

My fur was bristled and my heart pounded unevenly with shock as I bit back a scream and the urge to run far, far away.

“Hey.” I grumbled flatly.

“I can’t believe we get to train together; it’s like a dream come true to see you in action! It’s gonna be so much fun!” Sorrelpaw purred happily. She plopped down beside me and attempted rubbing her shoulder against mine causing me to inch away.