A New Horizon Book 6: The Final Light {COMPLETE}

Chapter 14

"Go for the wings, pull the bird down and kill it quickly." Nightheart instructed, looking over the four apprentices ahead of her. "Catching birds is difficult so I don't expect the younger ones of you lot to catch one today, Sagepaw and Hailpaw haven't even managed to catch birds yet."

After Nightheart's explanation, a sharp scoff came from Slatepaw. "Problem?" She questioned sharply.

"I bet I can catch a bird before the day is over." Slatepaw vowed.

"Oh, yeah?" Nightheart sneered. "Big talk for an apprentice just out of the nursery."

"And I'm already better than any apprentice in the forest." Unlikely.

"Slatepaw." Leafdawn hissed sharply, silencing her apprentice. So Slatepaw's got a big head on his shoulders. Nightheart thought slyly.

Nightheart lifted her tail to silence Leafdawn. "So, Slatepaw." Nightheart approached the apprentice. "You think that you're so great you're willing to bet on it?"

"Absolutely." Arrogance burned brightly in Slatepaw's amber eyes.

"Fine then. If you can catch a bird today then you won't have to take care of the elders for a whole moon." His eyes sparkled. "But if you don't catch a bird, then taking care of the elders will fall solely on your shoulders for the next moon."
"You're on." Slatepaw declared and started to run into the forest. "I'll blow you all away!"

Leafdawn scoffed and glared at Nightheart. "The last thing he needs is encouragement." She didn't seem really mad, Nightheart could only imagine the frustration of having to mentor a cat like that. I can only imagine what Cherryleaf went through with Falconheart!

"Sorry." Nightheart replied sheepishly then turned back to the other apprentices and mentors. "Meanwhile, let's get the rest of you chasing birds."

At the end of their hunting session, both Hailpaw and Sagepaw caught themselves a sparrow, Dewpaw didn't manage to but made great progress on her technique. They regrouped in the training area. "No Slatepaw and Leafdawn yet." She muttered, looking around for the pair.

"Do you really think Slatepaw will be able to catch a bird?" Hailpaw questioned Nightheart. "He's only been an apprentice for a few days."

"I kind of hope he doesn't." Nightheart snorted. "A cat like that needs a check on his ego."

"I heard Ashblaze was the exact same way when he was an apprentice." Dustfall added. "But Ashblaze also had a lot of skill to back it up."

"We'll have to see if Slatepaw is the same way." Rabbitspring flicked her tail. After a few moments, Nightheart heard pawsteps in the forest and after a few moments, Leafdawn and Slatepaw stepped into view.

Nightheart's jaw dropped when she saw that securely in Slatepaw's jaws, was a finch. He dropped it at Nightheart's paws, a look on his face so smug it would make Falconheart seem like Rabbitspring. "Told you." He lashed his tail. Nightheart met Leafdawn's gaze, it was a mixture of annoyance and pride. Slatepaw stormed off with his head high in the air, tail waving behind him. He headed back to camp leaving Nightheart in a stunned silence.

None of the cats really had anything to say, they all padded back to camp with their prey in tow. I can't believe he actually did it. Nightheart thought, genuinely impressed. He wasn't wrong when he said he had the skill, but still; that kind of ego isn't a good thing. They reached camp and Slatepaw was boasting about his catch to anyone who would hear, including Mistpaw who had returned from a patrol. He's going to be a pawful.

The day came to an end and after helping herself to some prey with Rabbitspring, the two she-cats settled down in the warriors den together and Nightheart very quickly fell into a deep, sound sleep.

Nightheart was woken by the foul stench of rotting bark, she opened her eyes and her chest swelled with anger as she realized she was back in the Dark Forest. "Haven't I made myself clear, or are you going deaf?" She yelled into the shadows, knowing that Thornstar was lurking somewhere in the darkness.

"Oh I've heard you loud and clear, Nightheart." Thornstar's voice spoke, but Nightheart only saw his shadow. "But I've chosen to simply not listen. You see, I've invested far too much time into you."

"I already know how to get out of this disgusting place." She spat. "So don't waste your time, I'm not playing your dumb little game. I've got my own duties as a warrior to attend to."

"Yes of course, you've been given quite the responsibility in training an apprentice, haven't you?"

"Just get to the point, Thornstar." She snarled.

"I want you to train with me again, Nightheart. You're wasting your potential. Your mother is now in this forest with me and she wants the same, you could be so much stronger. You could lead AshClan."

"I'm not the same cat I was when I was an apprentice, the only way I want to lead AshClan is if I'm chosen to be deputy. I'm not going to kill any cat to get my way, unlike you."

"You can judge me all you want, Nightheart, but you knew exactly what you were getting in to when you started training with me. Don't act all high and mighty."

"I was stupid." Nightheart admitted. "But you wanted me to become a killer, I'm not a killer."

"No," Thornstar's voice was chilling, it made the fur along her spine rise. "But I am." At long last, Thornstar stepped into the dim light, his amber eyes glinting dangerously. "You see, Nightheart. You can train with me, or I can bring other cats into this forest. Maybe Sagepaw would benefit from a mentor like me."

"You won't touch her." Nightheart hissed, stepping forward with her claws extended.

"Maybe not," He sneered. "After all your brother is protected by StarClan, but Rabbitspring isn't."

Red-hot rage filled Nightheart's entire body and she lost control of herself. She ran forward and slammed into Thornstar, her claws ripping into his already scarred pelt. She felt his blood spray onto her dark pelt and his claws fighting back in return. Nightheart didn't let him get the upper paw on her.

She sank her teeth deep into his shoulder and drove his paw directly into his ribs, pinning him down against the forest floor. "If you ever touch a hair on Rabbitspring's pelt then I'll make sure we both find out if dead cats can die again."

Thornstar had genuine shock in his eyes. I'm stronger than him. Nightheart released her grip on Thornstar and turned away, lashing her tail. "I knew you had the heart of a killer." He sneered through his teeth.

"No, Thornstar." She turned around to face him. "I have the heart of a warrior."