Warriors: Underneath the Silver Light

Chapter 4

A/N: Sorry for the long absence! School has been hell and I've been really caught up with other things. Now, I am here to finally release another chapter! It's a filler, but at least it's a chapter! I hope you enjoy it!

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Fawnpaw exits the apprentices' den. It has been almost a moon since the five littermates became apprentices. It is not very long after dawn and Fawnpaw is still half asleep. Suddenly, Fawnpaw jumps in surprise as a silver figure leaps in front of her. She lets out a yowl of surprise, which makes the other cat burst out with laughter.

"Hey! That was not funny, Cinderpaw!" Fawnpaw meows, flattening her ears back.

"Yes it was! I guess you're awake now. All of the apprentices and their mentors are going training, want to come?" Cinderpaw meows enthusiastically.

"Sure, as long as you chill out a little." Fawnpaw replies, getting slightly annoyed by her overly cheerful littermate.

"Alrighty! Let's go then! Thornpelt is waiting for you." Cinderpaw replies happily. Then, the two cats walk together towards a larger group of cats gathered together near the camp's exit.

"Oh, there you are." Thornpelt greets his apprentice. "Are you ready to go?" He asks her. Fawnpaw simply nods as a response.

"Okay then. Since everyone is ready, let's go!" Smokefur meows. The older cat leads the way, beginning to talk to the other cats.

"This has been a tradition for a very long time, you know. I did this when I was an apprentice myself." Smokefur informs the apprentices.

"Wow, that must've been a very long time ago then." Fawnpaw replies, which results in a scolding shove from Thornpelt.

"Show respect." Thornpelt reminds his apprentice, flicking his tail a little out of annoyance. Fawnpaw lets out a huff.

"Fine." Fawnpaw replies as the group continues to walk together.

"Was your group the first?" Amberpaw asks her mentor curiously.

"Nope. As far as I know, the first time was when my parents were apprentices." Smokefur replies. Fawnpaw watches as Cinderpaw's face lights up with realization.

"So, you're the Smokefur right? Addertooth's mate?" Cinderpaw asks in awe.

"Yes, I am." Smokefur replies with a purr of amusement.

"It took you this long to realize that, Cinderpaw?" Fawnpaw comments.

"Yep! I'm a mouse-brain, I know." Cinderpaw replies.

"You even said before that you knew her as the elders were telling the story!" Fawnpaw meows.

"I have short-term memory, Fawnpaw!" Cinderpaw replies.

"You two, stop." Nettlebreeze meows. "You two need to learn that sometimes it's better just to keep your mouth shut." She meows.

"It seems like you need to learn it too, since that comment was unnecessary as we have already stopped before you spoke." Fawnpaw meows. Thornpelt shoves Fawnpaw yet again, almost causing her to loose her balance.

"Okay, we're here now!" Smokefur meows happily as they enter a small clearing. "Now, let me explain how this works." She adds. Then, the other cats sit down and listen to the older cat's words.

"This training tradition has existed for many generations, my parents' generation being the first. In this tradition, the apprentices focus on hunting first. They all split off as their mentors follow them. Then, they have one attempt to catch something. After that attempt, whether you succeeded or failed, you must return back to the clearing. Then, we will focus on battle skills. Since there is an odd number of apprentices, they will each practice on their mentors. Use everything you know. Whoever has the best skill will win. Just make sure your claws are sheathed!" Smokefur explains. "Do you all understand?" She asks. All of the apprentice respond with a nod.

"Good, let's get started then!" Smokefur meows cheerfully. "It's time for the hunting portion. Split off in different directions and come back after your attempt." She meows. Fawnpaw nods and begins to walk off. Thornpelt follows distantly behind her.

Fawnpaw opens her mouth slightly and takes in the scent of the air, trying to find the scent of any prey. Then, she catches the scent of a lizard. She lowers herself into a crouch and begins to move slowly, following the scent and looking for any sign of the lizard. Then, she spots it at the side of the bottom of a tree. Fawnpaw sneaks closer, trying her best not to make any noise. Then, she leaps for the lizard, successfully killing it with a single bite.

"Good job, Fawnpaw! You're learning well. Let's head back to the clearing." Thornpelt compliments. Fawnpaw nods and picks up the dead lizard in her jaws. The two cats pad back to the clearing together.

When they get back, they are the second pair to make it back. Owlpaw and Bearclaw are already back with nothing.

"Nice, Fawnpaw!" Owlpaw meows.

"Thank you. It's a shame you didn't catch anything though." Fawnpaw replies.

"I know, I'm not really that good." Owlpaw meows in response.

"We are all aware, Owlpaw. Anyone who has seen you try to hunt would know." Fawnpaw replies. Right at that moment, Amberpaw and Smokefur come back with a small mouse in her jaws.

"Nice catch, Amberpaw!" Owlpaw meows happily.

"Thank you, Owlpaw. You didn't catch anything?" Amberpaw replies. Owlpaw shakes his head.

"Don't let it tear you down, Owlpaw. You'll catch something next time, I'm sure of it." Amberpaw replies.

"Thank you." Owlpaw replies with a purr.

"You see, Fawnpaw? That's what you should say to your littermates. You treat us like dung." Owlpaw comments. Fawnpaw huffs.

"Whatever." Fawnpaw replies.

If you want to see me treat like dung, I will treat you like dung. You've seen nothing yet. Fawnpaw thinks to herself.

Then, Ravenpaw and Doveflight from hunting with a bird in her jaws. Cinderpaw and Nettlebreeze right behind them with nothing.

"Looks like I'm not the only one who's unsuccessful." Owlpaw meows.

"It got away!" Cinderpaw meows. "So frustrating!" She adds with a pout.

"It's okay, Cinderpaw. You still did very good." Nettlebreeze meows.

"Now, it's time for battle skills. Each apprentice must battle with their mentor. Mentors, please make sure to go a bit easy on your apprentices. Also, please make sure your claws are sheathed. We don't want any injuries." Smokefur meows. "When I say to start, we will start." She meows.

Fawnpaw then faces her mentor, Thornpelt. She mentally prepares herself to battle the large gray-and-white tom.

"Begin!" Smokefur finally calls. Then, Fawnpaw leaps for her mentor. However, Thornpelt moves right on time and successfully dodges Fawnpaw's attack. Fawnpaw hits the ground and quickly gets back up. Her blue eyes widen as Thornpelt leaps right for her. Not knowing what to do, she froze in place. Thornpelt tackles Fawnpaw to the ground, pinning her.

"Do you give in?" Thornpelt asks Fawnpaw.

Thornpelt is known as one of the best fighters in the clan... so I should've expected him to a bit hard on me. That's a good thing though, so maybe I'll become as good as him. Other than his fighting skill though, he is not an important or interesting cat. I was hoping I would get Bearclaw as my mentor, but of course Owlpaw got him instead. Fawnpaw thinks.

"Yeah, whatever." Fawnpaw replies. Thornpelt then releases Fawnpaw from the pin. She gets up off the ground.

"You need to change your attitude or I'll take you down for real if it gets too far." Thornpelt warns Fawnpaw. She flattens her ears as she listens to her mentor.

Wow.. he's scary. Fawnpaw thinks.

"Alrighty then." Fawnpaw replies.

"Good." Thornpelt meows. Fawnpaw looks around at the other apprentices. All of the apprentices defeated their mentors except Fawnpaw.

"Ha! You think I suck at hunting, but look at your battle skill! Thornpelt destroyed you!" Owlpaw comments.

"Be quiet." Fawnpaw replies. Then, all of the mentors and apprentices walk back to camp together, exhausted after taking part in the training tradition.