Chapter Text
Torn'Paw flicked his tail as he smelled the newleaf breeze, the scent of his mentors and friends grew closer. Cedar'Paw was first, the energetic tom racing into the field. Oak'Paw was next, as he walked up to Torn'Paw. "You ready for the warrior assessment?" Oak'Paw happily mewed. "Obviously," Torn'Paw said with a smirk, happy he was training with his best friends. A bit after, Pine'Nose and Dandelion'Fur walked out of the shaded forest, giving each other a comforting lick. "So, Pine'Nose, what are we doing for training?" Asked Torn'Paw. "We're going to show you more battle techniques. You're growing close to your last warrior's assessment, so we need to make sure you're prepared." Pine'Nose looked down at the apprentice, his gaze shifting between Torn'Paw, Cedar'Paw, and Oak'Paw. He flicked his tail, taking pride in the three apprentices and how much they had grown. "Well, can we begin yet Pine'Nose? Can we?" Cedar'Paw spoke, excited for the new methods. "Okay, I want Torn'Paw and Oak'Paw to duel so we can show you," Dandelion'Fur instructed them to stand at the opposite sides of the field, letting Cedar'Paw watch from the side. She yowled a loud "FIGHT!" as the two apprentices came charging at each other. Torn'Paw leaped forward, as Oak'Paw threw himself to the side, Torn'Paw scrambling back onto his feet. He hissed as he glared Oak'Paw in the eyes. Oak'Paw was laughing, mocking the cat as he leapt at him, digging his claws into his shoulder. He hissed as Torn'Paw snickered above him, Oak'Paw kicking him with his hind legs and getting up. "Don't laugh at me, orphan! Or you can go crying back to your dead parents and your loner house!" Torn'Paw hissed, yowling. "I'LL KILL YOU!" leaping at him, scratching at his throat, as he sinks his teeth into his shoulder. Oak'Paw yelled as Pine'Nose separated the two. "CUT IT OUT YOU TWO!" He hissed as he wandered off to take Oak'Paw to the medicine den. Dandelion'Fur and Cedar'Paw walked over to Torn'Paw. "Wow! That was so cool! Can you show me how to do that someday?" Asked Cedar'Paw to Torn'Paw. "Go check on your brother in the medicine den please, Cedar'Paw," Dandelion'Fur asked, sending Cedar'Paw away. Dandelion'Fur looked down at Torn'Paw. "I can't blame you, kid. If somebody said something like that to me, I'd try to claw their ears off too." Meowed Dandelion'Fur. "I Should check on him." Said Torn'Paw, regretting acting out of anger. He walked down to the medicine den, Cedar'Paw trotting out of the medicine den. "Watch out, he's pretty cranky." Cedar'Paw jokingly mewed. "Aren't we all." Mewed Torn'Paw as he walked into the medicine den. Oak'Paw sneered as Torn'Paw walked in. "Look who's back for more!" He laughed as Pine'Nose shushed him. Flash'Strike carefully placed some cobwebs on his wound, smearing some goldenrod poultice on the back. "I'm only here to say sorry, I acted out of anger, but. But it looks like you don't want to see me. I'll get out of your fur." He mewed sadly and turned to leave. Pine'Nose muttered something to Oak'Paw as he gave him a lick on the ear and got up. Pine'Nose padded after his apprentice. "Torn'Paw." He said, trying to get his attention. "Hm?" Torn'Paw turned around quickly to stare up at Pine'Nose. "What is it?" Pine'Nose sighed and smiled at his apprentice. "As it wasn't very smart to act out of anger, it takes a true warrior's heart to apologize after they're wrong. I told Oak'Paw to apologize for what he said to you on the battlefield, and he should apologize after he gets out of the medicine den." He meowed. "N-No. It's fine! I mean it's true anyway." He muttered under his breath. "He doesn't need to apologize." Torn'Paw smiled weakly up at his mentor. "Now don't think like that! me and Dandelion'Fur think of you just as much as a child to us than we do Cedar'Paw and Oak'Paw. You know you have a home here, and don't think your worth any different just because of some missing parents." Pine'Nose sat down in front of Torn'Paw, brushing his tail on the cat's flank soothingly. "I believe you'll be a true warrior one day; your compassion and strength are two traits of the best warriors." "I Mean... You're right, I'm going to head off to bed." He'd say, though it was just reaching sun high. "Gotta stay well-rested? Hehe, right?" He laughed awkwardly. "Very well, have a good sleep." Pine'Nose spoke. Torn'Paw trotted past the apprentice den leaving camp and heading toward the thunderpath. after a bit he sat near the road, staring across it, suddenly two pairs of eyes stared back. "Hello?" He mewed. unsheathing his claws. The pair of eyes just stared back at the apprentice, an outline of a cat shuffling along with the leaves. "W-Who's there?!" the shape of the cat darted across the thunderpath right toward Torn'Paw. Suddenly, Torn'Paw woke up, with a scream, it was moon high. He hissed as he got up, his body aching, and leg hurt. He limped back to camp, Moss'Star giving him an odd look and a welcoming mew as he walked down to the apprentice's den. The next morning, Cedar'Paw and Rose'Paw were already awake and out and about. Pine'Nose was waiting for Torn'Paw. "Me, Dandelion'Fur, Ginger'Whisker, and Cedar'Paw are going hunting. care to join?" Pine'Nose smiled. "Sure! Why not?" The group went hunting, after a few hours, they came back, Torn'Paw with 2 rabbits and 1 plump vole. Cedar'Paw with 1 rabbit. Ginger'Whisker with 4 Rats. Dandelion'Fur with 4 Songbirds, 2 Rabbits, and 3 Voles. And Pine'Nose with 9 rabbits and 1 vole. Torn'Paw scarfed down a couple bites, and then returned to bed.