River Of Blood (The Forest In The Sky (book 1))

Chapter 36

Islandpaw's pov

Islandpaw was definitely excited. He was going to be a warrior! Finally! He kept shuffling his paws nervously. It was the day of their assessment and none of apprentices could stop moving. Sparrowpaw and his friends had really settled in well, he was getting to know them all, they were very nice cats. Honeypaw kept snooping around Sparrowpaw and Wolfpaw would always stay close to Cinderpaw. Cedarpaw had gotten much closer to Wirepaw and Wrenpaw. Islandpaw personally didn't like anyone, in that way. Sure, he loved his littermates and denmates but he didn't love them.

"Lunarpaw! Cedarpaw! Starlingpaw! Cinderpaw! Honeypaw! Sparrowpaw! Colouredpaw! Droppaw! You are in the first group!" Cypressfoot was calling the names for the battle groups.

"Uh. Wolfpaw, Wirepaw, Tilleypaw, Islandpaw, Grasspaw, Briarpaw and Brackenpaw." Ackleyfire spoke in a normal tone. That's me! Yes! Ackleyfire, you are a good deputy, I'm glad they chose you.

"The next group will consist of Weedpaw, Ombrépaw, Elkpaw, Unitedpaw, Wrenpaw, Simmerpaw, Almondpaw, Hazelpaw, you will be in the last group. Good luck!"

With that, they set off, their mentors by their sides. All of the apprentices in his group were almost tripping over one another with excitement. Brackenpaw and Tilleypaw were staying behind all the apprentices, nodding at each other from time to time. Wolfpaw was standing near Briarpaw. Islandpaw was stuck in the middle of the group. He imagined himself with another jaw. He could eat faster, fight two cats at once, he could do much more with a second jaw.

"Snap out of it!" A sharp mew shot Islandpaw out of his daydream. It came from his mentor, Fleurface. He looked to the ground, rolling his eyes. He didn't like Fleurface. He didn't like his brothers mentor, Sunflowerstem either. He didn't say anything.

"Yeah I know!" Brackenpaw was saying as Islandpaw eavesdropped into their conversation. They were at the very back of the group, and they seemed to trail behind a little.

"Ugh, she's just so annoying, and she hates me." Tilleypaw hissed. Who could she be talking about? Islandpaw looked back at Tilleypaw and Brackenpaw. Tilleypaw had her head twisted towards her, probably showing her something. It's when he finally noticed that something was different. Tilleypaw had a small line on her cheek. He hadn't seen it before, so who had done it and when? He decided to join them in their conversation.

"Who's annoying?" He hissed lowly. Tilleypaw and Brackenpaw looked at him and eyed him.

"Why do you want to know?" Brackenpaw mewed slowly. Her gaze trailed from Tilleypaw to Islandpaw to the group. Islandpaw looked taken aback. He had never heard Brackenpaw say something like that.

"I—uh, because," Islandpaw cleared his throat. "I heard you talking so I—I asked you." He swallowed as he waited for a reply.

"About your mentor." Spat Tilleypaw, disgustedly. Was she angry at me for being her apprentice or her for being my mentor? That, he couldn't answer. Tilleypaw looked off to the side, avoiding his eye contact.

"Well I'm sorry for being her apprentice." Mewed Islandpaw, rolling his eyes and padding up ahead. He decided to avoid them for the assessment. He didn't want to make a big fuss. I hope I become a warrior today.

Cindermist's pov

Cindermist was bored. Bored. Really bored. She was stuck in camp with none of her friends. She was sitting in the medicine den sorting herbs. Just, sorting. Her breath quickened a little for no reason. As she put the last few herbs on the dusty shelf, she decided to check in on the elders - Falconfur, Sagethroat and Flashstrike - to see if they had ticks or if their bones were hurting. She headed out of the den and padded over to the elders' den. She paused to sniff the air. Odd. She could smell something different in the air. Something more, wood-like. She shrugged it off and kept going.

"May I come in?" Cindermist stood outside of the door, waiting for a reply.

"Yes." There was a croak. Cindermist entered the den. Sure enough, Smilekit, Trickykit and Bravekit were there, wide eyed. Cindermist held in a snort of laughter. Trickykit turned to her and pouches over to her paws.

"Hello." Trickykit mewed while starting to paw Cindermist's legs. After a while, Cindermist found that pretty annoying. She didn't say a word.

"Why're you here?" Flashstrike croaked deeply. His brown body was splayed out across his nest, his scratches showing on the sides of his body.

"I was just checking in." Said Cindermist, sternly looking at Trickykit who was still pawing her.

"We are fine, no ticks today for any of us. Thank you, Cindermist."

Cindermist held back a sharp, annoyed mew. She did not like others saying her name.

But she simply dipped her head and headed out of the den. Cindermist didn't notice the rock right in front of her and she tripped over it. She didn't fall to the ground, she regained her balance thankfully, and hopped back to the medicine den.

She could hear a cat laughing. She recognised that mew. It was Trickykit. Of course. She suppressed a laugh.

Her paw already started to sting and swell a little so she got a cobweb and wrapped it round her front right paw. Kits will be kits. Cindermist thought to herself. It was true. Kits don't know many manners, they needed to learn them, like Cindermist had, through her mother and father and through her mentor and friends.

Gingerly, she stood up on her paw. She decided to just stay in her den and clean up.

*

By the time she got really bored to the point she was going crazy, the others had finally come back. One of the groups still weren't back though. All the apprentices in camp were jumping around in excitement and nervousness. Tilleypaw was talking to Ackleyfire and Brackenpaw off to the side. No. I should've talked to them!

She realised her mind communication skills with them. Why hadn't she used them! Cindermist got annoyed with herself and she grumbled. She tiredly made her way to the fresh kill pile and sat down. She took a sparrow. Feeling it's feathers, angered by nothing, she threw it away with her jaws. Thankfully no one was watching, except for Tilleypaw, Ackleyfire and Brackenpaw, of course.

Cindermist turned away, ignoring them when they came over and sniffed the air. She seemed to block out them talking to her as she focused hard on the scent. Not listening to them, she smelt the scent again. She still couldn't place her tongue on the smell. It was fresh, bitter but their was a hint of soil. It smelt earthy, pine-like. It smelt....like a tree.