Silverwing's Omen

Chapter 9

"Get up on your hind paws!" Heatherspring's caterwaul sounded from the reeds.

Silverpaw groaned. Six sunrises had passed since the badger attack, and Heatherspring had been training Silverpaw much harder, making her hunt more difficult prey and trying to get her to swim in more dangerous currents. Silverpaw knew her mentor only wanted to prepare her for the worst, but even as an apprentice, Silverpaw believed that cats should go at their own pace. Her mind thought back to the day of the attack, the day Lakestone died and Wolfstorm and Whiskerleaf got their warrior names. Silverpaw suppressed a sigh. Even though she knew they deserved their names, Silverpaw didn't think it was fair to give it to them just because a cat who was dying asked Streamstar to. Letting her mind wander, she thought about how ThunderClan came in and saved RiverClan's pelt. Streamstar had thanked them sincerely, but something just didn't seem right. Was it possible that ThunderClan didn't just hear the cries of battle?

It didn't help that Silverpaw was also still constantly having to keep the voices of the other cats out of her head. Being able to read minds and hear the thoughts of others drove her crazy. She had often thought about how to somehow control her ability, perhaps by blocking the voices out and concentrating on her own mind. Remarkably, it worked, but Silverpaw still kept forgetting to keep the telepathy barrier around her mind when she approached other cats. Silverpaw let out a sigh. She'd just have to either work at it or get used to the fact that she's no longer normal.

"Silverpaw! You'll have to learn to pay attention!" Heatherspring meowed, obviously irritated. "I just said to bat at your opponent with your fore-paws!"

"Okay..." Silverpaw grumbled. Heatherspring had dragged her and Grasspaw out to train in the early morning, before the dawn patrol went out. On top of all that, the leafbare season was arriving. Her mentor apparently didn't ask for anybody's opinion when she did this.

Too late. Grasspaw had already sprang forward and knocked Silverpaw off her paws. Her sister had pinned her down.

"That's enough." Heatherspring meowed. "Not bad, Grasspaw. You, however," she turned to glare at Silverpaw. "What has gotten into you lately? I told you to attack Grasspaw but instead you stared into space like you never heard anything! Is that how you're going to behave in a battle? I don't want other cats thinking I can't train my own apprentice properly!" Taking a deep breath, Heatherspring went on. "Maybe the badger attack has damaged your brain somehow. As a punishment, I want you to clean out the elders' ticks for an entire moon. Do them at least twice every day. Understand?"

Silverpaw nodded reluctantly. Perhaps what Heatherspring said was right. Maybe the badger attack a few days ago had knocked the sense out of her. Sighing, she let her mind return to the battle practice.

"Now let's try that move again." Heatherspring mewed, lifting her head. "Do what I told you to do earlier, except this time, use your own instincts." When she saw that Silverpaw and Grasspaw were confused, she added, "When you feel like you need to drop on all fours again, do so. A good warrior trusts her instincts and doesn't try to memorize every single battle move or hunting trick there is. After many moons of training, you'll be able to do the correct thing instantly, without any help from an older and more experienced cat."

The sisters nodded, trying to take in all of the new information. They faced each other, circling their opponent with their hackles lifted. Hissing, Silverpaw reared up on her hind legs, batting at Grasspaw with her front paws. Grasspaw leaped forward, aiming for Silverpaw's hind legs. Silverpaw, however, was ready for this attack. She quickly dropped on all fours and swiped a few blows at her sister. Surprised, Grasspaw quickly sidestepped, so Silverpaw's blows never landed. While Silverpaw was still considering her next move, Grasspaw sprang forward and pinned Silverpaw down.