The Blood Valley - (The Blazing Fires Book 1)

Chapter 7

It was the day Flamepaw and Violetpaw have been waiting for their whole lives. It was time for their final assignment. Lionclaw and Pebblestorm brought their apprentices deep into the forest.

"Now, I need you to hunt three pieces of prey," Lionclaw instructed. The two apprentices dashed in opposite directions. Violetpaw stopped in her tracks when she heard wings fluttering. Crow! Violetpaw crouched low and poked her head through ferns. A crow was perched on a rock, pecking at its wings. Violetpaw crept forward, licking her lips. She then jumped at the crow and bit its neck. She padded back towards Lionclaw, the crow dangling from her jaws. She dropped the crow at his feet and raced off again.

She sniffed around the forest until a bushy tail twitched near a tree. Squirrel! Violetpaw ducked under some brambles. She shuffled forward as the squirrel chowed down on some sort of nut. Violetpaw leaped out at the squirrel but slammed face-first into a tree. The squirrel skitted up the tree. "Mouse-dung!" Violetpaw hissed under her breath.

She shook out her pelt and continued to search the forest. She spotted a vole scurry out of its den. Violetpaw smirked, then stooped behind tall grass. She unsheathes her claws, as she scooted close. She then clawed the vole and scooped it up in her mouth. Violetpaw pranced back to Lionclaw and dropped the vole next to the crow she caught earlier. She glanced over at Pebblestorm, who had a vole and a squirrel already at her feet. Feeling competitive, Violetpaw raced back into the forest, desperate to find a squirrel.

Another squirrel climbed down a tree and sniffed the air. Violetpaw hunched low and skulked towards it. She swiftly leaned her neck out and chomped the squirrel's neck. Violetpaw tumbled off. She skitted to a stop when she spotted Flamepaw struggling to catch a crow. "Need some help?" Violetpaw padded up to him. He jumped, then spun around.

"But, don't you need to finish?" He stammered.

"I already finished." Violetpaw dipped her head. "Try getting a little closer, then pin it to the ground." Flamepaw nodded and stalked a nearby crow. Once he got close, he jumped on top of the crow. "Good job." Violetpaw purred, before scooping up her vole and prancing towards Lionclaw.

Flamepaw ran to Pebblestorm, a crow in his jaws. "Great job, you two." Pebblestorm purred. "Go get yourself a drink, I'll bring the prey back." Pebblestorm scooped up the prey and headed for camp. Violetpaw padded up to a nearby stream, and Flamepaw soon followed. The apprentices took a long sip of the river.

"So," Flamepaw started. "Have you thought about having a mate someday?" The question made Violetpaw's ears grow hot, as she lifted her head from the stream. "Flamepaw, we're not even warriors yet!" Violetpaw playfully chuckled.

"Like any cat would want to be mates with an obnoxious little kit-killer," A voice muttered nearby. She jumped and spun around to see Mossgaze.

"I am not a kit-killer!" Violetpaw growled.

"Violetpaw? A kit-killer?" Flamepaw gave Mossgaze a cold stare. "How could she be a kit-killer if she never killed-"

"Remeber Blizzardkit?" Violetpaw froze when Mossgaze mentioned the name. Memories rushed to her head. The blood, the whimpers, the death- it was all clear as day.

"You didn't just let him leave camp, you went with him! All so he could get a daisy for you!" Mossgaze scoffed. "And remember that rogue who died saving your life? Your friend's father? You didn't even mourn for him!" Growls rumbled in Flamepaw's throat. "And you did nothing but save yourself when those rats attacked you! And that's why Cherrystar is dead!" Mossgaze growled at the apprentice. "And you're the one who caught Flashstar that mouse that made her lose a life." Mossgaze gave an angry snort.