Warriors: Uprising (Book 1)

Chapter 16

"Blizzardpaw, wake up! Please don't die on me!" The meow echoed.

Blizzardpaw jolted awake and looked around. She just woke up from a nightmare. I'm so glad that it wasn't real... I would never die! She thought, then sat up in her nest. She and Sandcoat will pick up on their training today because of them going to the gathering yesterday. Blizzardpaw decided she would meditate before she went outside into the den. Her meditation got interrupted shortly after she started by a yell coming from outside.

"Cats of Driftclan, please gather around the Tide Pool for a clan meeting!" It was Shellstar.

I can only wonder what Shellstar wants. She thought and padded outside to see other clanmates already at the Tide Pool. Blizzardpaw padded up next to Sandcoat. He looked at her and smiled.

"I've gathered you all here today because there will be three new apprentices," Shellstar meowed to his clanmates.

He must mean Dampkit, Eaglekit, and Thistlekit! Blizzardkit thought and purred.

"Dampkit, Eaglekit, and Thistlekit, please step forward."

They all did as they were told and stepped up to the Tide Pool.

Shellstar looked at Dampkit first. "Dampkit, from this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Damppaw. Your mentor will be Rushstreak." Rushstreak came up next to Damppaw.

Next Shellstar looked at Eaglekit. "Eaglekit, from this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Eaglepaw. Your mentor will be Icejaw." Icejaw came up next to Eaglepaw. Blizzardpaw smiled widely at her father for being a mentor.

Last, Shellstar looked at Thistlekit, and she didn't look so happy about becoming a warrior. "Thistlekit, from this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Thistlepaw. Your mentor will be Stormfish." Stormfish quietly sighed and came up next to Thistlepaw.

Shellstar looked at all three mentors, "Rushstreak, Icejaw, Stormfish, your past mentors have given you great training. I expect you all to pass down what you know to your apprentice." He meowed.

The three mentors dipped their heads to Shellstar.

"You all may dip your noses in the Tide Pool."

The six cats in front of the Tide Pool dipped their noses in and took them out.

"Damppaw! Eaglepaw! Thistlepaw!" Driftclan cheered.

Every cat went back to their normal activities. Blizzardpaw bounded up to Damppaw. Damppaw instantly noticed and blushed, "H-Hi Blizzardpaw." He mewed.

"Hi, Damppaw! Congratulations on becoming an apprentice!" She nuzzled up against him.

"Thanks!!" Damppaw was blushing even more now that Blizzardpaw was closer to him.

"It'll be fun! And think about it, we'll both be warriors one day!" Blizzardpaw exclaimed.

"Y-Yeah! Being warriors will be great!" He mewed back, thinking about being a warrior with Blizzardpaw, blushing even more now.

Sandcoat then yelled from the back of the camp, "Hey, Blizzardpaw! We will continue training now! Come on!" He called.

"Well, it looks like I have to go now! Bye, Damppaw!" She mewed and licked his cheek before she ran off to Sandcoat. The lick caused him to freeze up his fur, feeling hot.

"B-bye!" Damppaw barely got the word out of his maw.

*

Sandcoat and Blizzardpaw were back behind Driftclan again.

"We will fight today." Sandcoat meowed.

Blizzardpaw gasped. "Really? Yay!" Her ears flattened. "But what if I hurt you with my claws?"

"You won't have to use your claws. Don't kill your opponent, just try to batter them and take them down, understood?"

Blizzardpaw nodded.

"We'll start with pouncing and swatting. Like you would do to prey," Sandcoat said.

"Alright!" She charged at Sandcoat and attempted to pounce on him, but he only moved back a slight bit and it didn't move him much at all.

"Aw! I thought that would work!"

"You need to put more force into your forepaws when you try to pounce on me. Do you notice how my forepaws are always on you when I surprise attack you?"

"No, not really!"

Sandcoat sighed. "Well, just put more into your forepaws and try again."

Blizzardpaw stepped back and took a couple of breaths before running at her mentor. She reached for her forepaws and pushed into Sandcoat, knocking him down.

"There you go!" He exclaimed. "But remember to pin and batter your opponent. Try to knock them out without injuring them severely."

Blizzardpaw nodded in response, smiling at the fact that she was learning how to fight.

"You should only ever use your claws if your opponent is attempting to kill you. If your claws are out, you need to make sure you swat at them as much as you can. Aim for their muzzle." Sandcoat meowed and got up, licking his fur.

"Like this?" Blizzardpaw unsheathed her claws and swatted towards Sandcoat's muzzle.

"Yes, good job!" He praised.

Blizzardpaw sheathed her claws and bounced around like a kit. "Yay!"

Sandcoat chuckled. "Alright, let's practice for a little while longer and then head back."

Blizzardpaw nodded. "I'm ready!"

*

Blizzardpaw padded back into the Apprentices' den. She saw only Damppaw in his nest, and he looked up at her. "Oh, Hi Blizzardpaw!"

Blizzardpaw gave an enormous smile and sat next to Damppaw. "I forgot you, Eaglepaw, and Thistlepaw would be den mates with me now! Speaking of which, where are those two at?" She asked.

"They are still out with their mentors. Rushstreak taught me to hunt for a while and then we came back." Damppaw replied, blushing again.

"Outstanding! I hope you don't mind me sleeping next to you, though, Damppaw." Blizzardpaw licked her paw and rubbed it on her head.

"I-I don't at all!" He replied nervously, then smiled.

Blizzardpaw giggled. "I'm glad!" She laid her head on his side and closed her eyes.

Damppaw laid his head down as well and shut his eyes.

He felt thrilled about being by Blizzardpaw.