Flight Of A Raven

Chapter 3

"Are you a kit, Ravenpaw? A blind rabbit could do better than you!"
Ravenpaw hadn't known that she had so many muscles until today. Every part of her ached - and how could fur ache? Russetfeather had been brutal, relentlessly attacking Ravenpaw without letting her defend herself. Nevertheless, Ravenpaw couldn't bring herself to resent Russetfeather for it. She was used to being treated unfairly, and, in the end, it would strengthen her.

Ravenpaw attempted the move again. The Rear-up to Slash was difficult, and as she rose on her two hind legs she knew immediately that it was, yet again, incorrect. She fell backwards, imbalanced by the lack of two paws.

"What am I doing wrong?" she wailed, despairing. Next to her, Sandpaw completed the move perfectly, blue eyes gleaming as Whitepelt, his mentor, praised him. Sandpaw was three moons older than her and had learned it at her age, too. Whitepelt had thought it would encourage her to have a cat near her age helping her, but the elderly tom was incorrect on this matter. It only made the crushing self-hatred worse.

Russetfeather snapped at her. "Ravenpaw, only a kittypet would complain so much. You are a warrior apprentice, and I will not stand for you embarrassing me like this!"

Ravenpaw's ears flattened against her head in shame. "Sorry." she mewed weakly. "I'm so sorry."

She didn't master the move. She never came close.

Ravenpaw curled up in her nest that night, wishing to become a great warrior. Her prayers were answered, though not by StarClan.

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She woke in a field of heather, windswept and sunny. It all looked perfectly normal, except for the fact that the sky was pure white.

"Welcome, Ravenpaw."

Ravenpaw almost leaped out of her fur in shock. A silver-blue tabby tom sat behind her, bushy tail twitching in  anticipation.

"Wh-who are you?" she mewed, hating herself for stumbling.

The tom looked surprised at her forwardness. "Me? Oh, I'm, ah - I'm an ancestor of yours."

Ravenpaw felt her heart beat faster in joy. "Are you a StarClan cat?" she asked in awe. "I've never met a StarClan cat."

The silver cat curled his tail around his paws in content. "Something like that. Anyway, you need help with battle moves?"
Was she going to be mentored by StarClan?!

"Yes, especially the Rear-up to Slash. I just keep falling!"

The tom nodded to her. "Yes, it's usually rather difficult to balance. I find that you must use your tail, like this." He leaped into the air on two hind legs, clawing at the air. Ravenpaw's eyes widened at the sight of his muscles rippling beneath his pelt. This cat must have fought in a lot of battles before he died, she thought.

The tom led her through the move, praising her for her hard work. Then, after what felt like days, she was able to complete the Rear-up to Slash perfectly.

At one point, the tom had paused for a moment to ask, "Why do you not hate WindClan? They have wronged you greatly."

"I know my Clanmates don't like me, but I could never hate them. At least, not until they've really hurt me." Ravenpaw confessed

The strange cat tilted his head in thought. "And if they did?" he asked, perfectly serious.
She took a deep breath. "I don't know." she meowed, but even to her own ears it didn't sound like the truth.

They sparred a bit more, before-
"I've got to go." The tom mewed. "Remember to keep practicing!"
He began to fade from sight, padding away from her.
"Wait - what's your name?" Ravenpaw asked desperately.

The tom turned to her. "My name is Coldmist."

Coldmist.
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Two cats sat in a dark, stinking forest.
"How is she, Coldmist?" asked a white tom.
Coldmist's ice-blue eyes glittered in victory. "She is perfect, Maggottail. Ostracized by her Clanmates, she begs for praise like a lost kitten. The Place Of No Stars will prevail, if I can turn her against those who have wronged her. Already, I have placed doubt in her mind. The Clans will fall!"