Warriorcats #1: Vengeance

Chapter Seven

Dim sprouts of sunlight glowed through the branches, resting upon the backs of four cats as they padded through their territory. DuskStorm's musky gray fur melted into the dark undergrowth as he lead his apprentice through the forest. HazeFang and Tallpaw were close behind, their pelts glowing in the morning light. Their paws seemed to thud softly on the ground, barely making a noise as they neared their destination.

A sandy hollow dotted with golden auburn leaves awaited the cat's arrival, swathed in the warm rays of the sun. Tallpaw was surprised at how sunny it was, considering how cloudy it had been a few days before. I wonder how Ashclan's doing. He shuddered as he recalled the heated camp, lapping his chops as he flexed his claws into the ground. Rabbitpaw nudged him cheerfully. "We're going to learn some battle moves today." He meowed, snagging a nearby leaf in his claw. "DuskStorm's gonna let us have a little skirmish." Tallpaw let out a defiant snort, playfully batting the tom's ear. "Little is hardly the appropriate word, Rabbitpaw." He chuckled, puffing out his chest and baring his teeth. DuskStorm let out a mrrow of amusement, his deep brown eyes glittering. "That's enough you two." He meowed, flicking his tail towards HazeFang. "Today our lesson will be about teamwork. HazeFang will be your opponent." Tallpaw shuffled his paws, anticapation rising in his belly. "Keep your claws sheathed and try your best to pin him to the ground for five full seconds!"

Rabbitpaw let out a squeal, charging towards HazeFang. Tallpaw let out a shrill yelp, irritated as he watched his clanmate recklessly charge. HazeFang jumped to the left, swiping a paw at the tom and catching his legs. Tallpaw flinched as the apprentice landed on his face, turning to send a swipe at HazeFang. The brown tom had already prepared for the blow, though, and easily managed to send Tallpaw reeling. DuskStorm frowned, letting out a soft growl. "That was hardly a task." HazeFang meowed, shaking out his pelt thoughtfully. DuskStorm nodded, glaring at Rabbitpaw dementedly. "You weren't assigned to act reckless. Being a team means staying with your partner, and confusing your opponent!" He flicked his tail towards Tallpaw, bunching his muscles as if he were about to pounce. "HazeFang and I will demonstrate."

Tallpaw crouched, staring at his two opponents with wide eyes. This is my chance. He thought, excitement brimming through his gaze. DuskStorm let out a sharp yip, leaping into the air. Tallpaw watched as the tom landed swiftly at his side, jumping to avoid a quick blow. Meanwhile HazeFang was on his other side, rearing up and sending small semi-blows to his hind quarters. Their cornering me! He thought, perking his ears in surprise. Digging his claws into the ground, he twisted to send a blow at DuskStorm, fumbling as the tom ducked. Hissing with irritation, Tallpaw decided to use his uneven balance to roll to the side, unfortunately managing a small graze from HazeFang. He wasn't given enough force to stand quickly enough, and was knocked to the ground by DuskStorm's waiting paws.

"Good try, Tallpaw!" Rabbitpaw called, helping the tom to his paws. DuskStorm let out a nod of approval. "You did well trying to roll, but that's more of an advanced move." He glanced at HazeFang who was nursing a small bruise a few tail-lengths away pointedly. "But, you managed to throw off your mentor, which is enough for praise." HazeFang glared at DuskStorm, letting out a gruff snort. Tallpaw laughed.

"Ok, now let's go over a good move that you can both use with one-on-one or two-on-one combat." DuskStorm meowed, crouching to demonstrate. HazeFang stood behind him, nodding to the apprentices as they corrected themselves. "Now, if that leaf-" He paused and balanced a leaf a few fox-lengths away from his nose. "Is my opponent... My partner, if I had one, would be on the opposite side depending on where we were trying to corner the enemy." He placed his paws so that they were both together, tipping slightly as his weight was shifted. Tallpaw let out a squeak as he smacked the ground, growling slightly. Rabbitpaw chuckled.

"All you have to do is a normal pounce, but aimed to the opposite side of your paws, which in this case is to the left." He pounced, twisting through the air until he landed at the right of the leaf. Then, he swiped at it's soft green surface, hooking it in his claw. "You try."

Tallpaw shuffled his paws together, struggling to keep his balance. The muscles in his shoulders flexed as he crouched. HazeFang nudged his hind legs with his paws. "Use the muscles in your legs to hold you steady." He instructed, watching as the white apprentice wavered slightly. Tallpaw nodded obediantly, leaping into the air with as much force as he could muster. As he landed, a sharp pain buckled through his forepaws, sending him crashing forwards. Rabbitpaw leapt back, avoiding the tom as he barreled past him.

Thunk! Tallpaw knocked straight into a tree, shaking some pine needles from its low limbs. HazeFang and DuskStorm looked amused, but alarm shone in their gazes. "What happened?" Rabbitpaw curiously bounced over to his friend who was struggling to stand. Tallpaw winced as he tried to balance on his forepaw, letting out a small yip. "I think I landed wrong on my paw." He explained, glancing at Rabbitpaw moodily. "Which isn't quite what I had planned on doing..." DuskStorm frowned. "You should probably lay off of it then, we should let EchoDust look at it." HazeFang nodded, stepping forwards to support his apprentice. The brown warrior glanced back at DuskStorm. "You can continue training." He meowed, herding Tallpaw out of the small hollow. "Rabbitpaw deserves it anyways. Tallpaw can catch up when he feels better." DuskStorm opened his mouth to object, but instead turned and began a small lecture with his apprentice.