Clans of the Forest:1: Stone and Silver (COMPLETE)

Chapter 2

Stonepaw stretched, enjoying the warm sun on her back. She leaped into the air, unsheathing her claws in the golden sunlight. No BlizzardClan warrior was going to beat her up! She had been practicing her fighting moves all moves all morning, even though she hardly knew any(some she was pretty weren't actual moves, like the caterpillar twist). 

Luckily, Moonbeam was going to teach her some real fighting moves. She could hardly contain herself. She was going to be the best warrior in all the clans! Everyone would respect her!

The bad news was that it wasn't time to start yet. So Stonepaw kept practicing, practicing, practicing! She would-

"Stonepaw!" Moonbeam's meow jerked her out of her thoughts. "It's time to start fighting practice!" Stonepaw leapt to her feet and rushed to join the other apprentices.

Moonbeam flicked her tail. "All of you, follow me, we're going to the training rocks."

Stonepaw skipped behind Summerpaw, overly excited. Moonbeam was headed out of the camp to a pile of rocks northern of the territory. After a long time of being excited, Moonbeam stopped and mewed,

"I'm going to teach you some basic moves. Repeat after me: Front paw blow," she reared up and slammed her front paw into an invisible enemy. "Remember, keep your claws sheathed for this one. Unsheathed is a front paw strike. Now you try."

Stonepaw, feeling confident, tried to rear up but instead fell on her face. Shew watched with jealousy and anger as Barkpaw completed the move almost perfectly. Fuming, Stonepaw got back up and tried again, this time first trying to find some balance, and then trying the front paw blow. It turned out better this time, but Barkpaw still outdid her.

Next Moonbeam taught them the belly rake, back kick, playing dead, and leap and hold. Stonepaw particularly enjoyed the back kick, it gave her a feeling of satisfaction. After doing it multiple times, Moonbeam announced that they do some hunting practice too. 

"Alright," she mewed, "Whoever can bring me back a bird first wins. But- you will receive extra points for bringing back other prey. Now go!"

Stonepaw was confused at first. Should she gather up as much prey as she could, so that if she didn't get the bird, she still might win, but risk losing? Or should she get the bird first, but there were chances others had more prey than her? She chose the first option, scouting for a mouse or squirrel. 

A flash of brown fur caught her eyes. Rabbit! She dashed after it, running as fast as she could. With the wind in her paws and the whole forest all her own, she felt perfectly confident, soaring over the ground with lightning speed. He whole world was simply flashes of brown and green and white, and the brown fur of the rabbit ahead of her.

She followed the rabbit over a field of dandelions, picking up speed. Without warning, the ground disappeared beneath her feet and she plunged over the edge of a cliff.

Stonepaw let out a shriek as she was thrust into freezing cold water. She immediately started to go numb, the water and ice going into her limbs and freezing them. Ice choked her and vision started to go black, but she kicked furiously with her freezing limbs, breaking the surface. I'm not going to die already! Suddenly, strong teeth gripped her scruff and Stonepaw let out a choked sigh of relief. Moonbeam had come to save her!

She was dragged through the water but didn't protest. She was just happy to be alive. She couldn't die before coming an amazing warrior!

After a few more moments, Stonepaw felt rock beneath her feet. She dragged herself out of the water, coughing and sputtering. Shaking out her pelt, she looked to her rescuer to give her thanks.

"Than-"

She froze. The cat above her wasn't anyone she recognized. And that wasn't the only weird thing.

He was tortoiseshell. At least he appeared to be.

Stonepaw took a step backwards. Weren't male tortoiseshell cats supposed to be very rare? Was she dead? Was this a dream? The tom was looking at her with a funny expression on his face now. She ought to finish her sentence. "Uhhhhhhhhhhhh- Thank you." she said quickly. The other cat was wrinkling up his snout and then fell over laughing. Stonepaw thought this would be nice time to get away, until she realized where they were.

The two cats were standing on a small pile of rocks in the middle of a dark, glossy lake. And Stonepaw couldn't swim. The tom was sitting up again now, he started talking to her.

"I know what you're thinking. I'm not actually tortoiseshell, but everyone thinks I am." he smiled at her. "What's your name?"

"I-I'm Stonepaw." she mewed. "What's yours?"

"I don't know what my real name is," responded the cat, "But everyone calls me Wickedcone."