“They’re here.” Ravenpaw’s voice pulled Moonpaw’s attention away from the bone he was messily carving. Larchspeckle had already made him start over four times and he was getting more and more annoyed.
When his brother announced the arrival of the training group, Moonpaw jumped to his paws and darted away before Larchspeckle could complain. “Who came, who came?” He tried to contain his excitement but failed miserably. Training days were his favorite time of the moon.
Ravenpaw grunted and sat down. “Dunno. Why should I care?”
Ospreypaw, who had accompanied Ravenpaw, spoke up. “Gyrtalon of GrottoClan, Vinesnap and Runningriver of GullClan, Autumnfrost and Cloverstar of KismetClan, Cottoncloud from EclipseClan, Shadestalker and Kahupaw of SwampClan, Flamefur and Aspenclaw of WillowClan, and Stagleap and Pearlfire from LagoonClan.”
Moonpaw made a face. “Ugh, Stagleap again? He’s not even a warrior, why does he have to come?”
Ospreypaw shuffled his paws. “… I’ll tell him to go away for you? I can, um, fight him?”
“No, it’s fine.” Moonpaw rolled his eyes. “He’s just going to be talking with Wolfpaw all night. At least he won’t be complaining about the Code.”
“O-oh, alright,” Ospreypaw said, visibly relieved. Moonpaw snorted – his brother had grown bolder over the moons but was still squeamish to the thought of real fighting. He was too soft, but Moonpaw loved him anyways.
The air was filled with chatter now, bouncing off the ice walls and becoming louder by the moment. Moonpaw twitched his ears and tried to focus on the cats rather than the noise. Blackwolf and Gyrtalon were gossiping, no doubt about Gyrtalon’s daughter, Hurricanepaw; Cottoncloud was flirting with a very uncomfortable-looking Sleetrunner; a cluster of warriors were listening to Lynxsmoke boast about his victory over a recent rogue.
Moonpaw sighed and joined the only apprentice who had come – Kahupaw, a shy she-cat from SwampClan. She’d never been to any trainings before, but it seemed Stormpaw had made fast friends with her.
“And then we buried him in a snowbank!” Stormpaw laughed, causing Kahupaw to giggle, though Moonpaw got the feeling the young she-cat had no idea what Stormpaw was even talking about.
“Alright, gather around,” Sleetrunner called out. He had managed to shake Cottoncloud and was now perched on the moose’s skull. Viperstar was busy talking with the Ancestors and wouldn’t be back for a while, so the deputy presided over the new moon training. “As always, we will circle out opponents until every cat has fought. Please pick your starting sparring partner.”
Moonpaw glanced around at the strangers, wondering who he should pick. Vinesnap, he knew from prior experience, was strong and able, but it looked like Pounceshade had picked her as a partner first.
After a moment of deliberation, Moonpaw settled on a tom he had never seen before. Walking over with his head held high, he said, “I’m Moonpaw! You’ll be my first sparring partner!”
The cream-colored tabby looked at Moonpaw with a rather smug look. “You’re pretty small. Are you sure?”
Moonpaw puffed up, feeling indignation rush through him. “Excuse me?! I’ll shred your ears off!”
“Sure, sure.” The tom laughed. “My name is Aspenclaw-”
“I don’t care,” Moonpaw growled. “I’m just gonna beat you!” He leaped at the tom with a growl, paws outstretched. He wasn’t allowed to use his claws, but he could still grab on with his paws and bite.
Unfortunately, Aspenclaw was fast. He ducked out of the way, making Moonpaw stumble, then struck out with a paw. Moonpaw jumped to the side, avoiding the blow.
They exchanged blows like that for a while, neither landing a hit. He’s faster than me, but not as cunning. Moonpaw thought, feeling himself grow more and more agitated. Just as he was about to rush in, Sleetrunner called out for cats to switch.
“Guess you’re too small to hit,” Aspenclaw said cheerfully before padding off.
Smug fluff-brain. I hope Pounceshade sits on him until he pops. Moonpaw thought crossly. With an annoyed stomp of his paws, he zeroed in on Pearlfire. The tom was strict and boring, just like Stagleap. It’ll be fun to beat him up. I know I can do that at least.
“Hey, Pearlfire!” Moonpaw stomped over. “Come fight me.”
Pearlfire gave the tom a dismissive look. “No.”
“Just because you’re scared doesn’t mean you can get out of this fight!” Moonpaw snapped.
Pearlfire’s ears flattened. “I’m not scared-”
“Then fight!”
With a growl, Pearlfire lunged towards Moonpaw and cuffed him harshly. His ears ringing, Moonpaw snarled and bit the tom’s cheek, paws scrabbling to hold on.
Pearlfire hissed and finally shoved Moonpaw away, though the apprentice managed to slice open the warrior’s cheek along the way. They scuffled across the floor for a moment, but then Pearlfire slipped on his own blood and hit the ice with a thump.
“Stop!” Suddenly, Stagleap was there. He inspected Pearlfire’s face attentively before turning on Moonpaw crossly. “This is just training!”
As always, Moonpaw felt his irritation surge when Stagleap opened his stupid mouth. “I didn’t use my claws! Everyone knows biting is allowed!”
“H-he’s right.” Ospreypaw and his sparring partner, Kahupaw, had approached. His brother whisked his tail nervously, eyes flicking between Moonpaw and Stagleap.
“Shut up, scaredy-tail.” Stagleap huffed. “He hurt Pearlfire! Viperstar is going to be-”
“I think it was well done.” Viperstar’s frigid voice sliced through the air, causing most cats to stop their fights and look. She glanced at them with her remaining eye. “Get back to work. I’m talking to this group, not everyone.”
As cats turned back to their battles, Viperstar approached. She was smaller than most of the cats there, but to Moonpaw, she was bigger than a wolf. “Stagleap, do not interfere with Moonpaw’s training. You are here as a guest, understood?”
Even Stagleap wasn’t foolish enough to talk back to Viperstar. He dipped his head and backed away, sending Moonpaw a glare that he readily returned.
Viperstar inspected Pearlfire’s wound. “It’s messy, but that’s what’s expected when we can’t use our claws. Next time, Moonpaw, aim a little lower. You’ll get more leverage.”
Moonpaw dipped his head, knowing it was the best compliment he could hope to get from his mother. “Understood. I will do better next time.”
“Time to switch!” Sleetrunner called out before padding over to Viperstar to talk.
Moonpaw hesitated, wishing his mother would say more to him, but she turned away to talk to the deputy. Curling his lip the apprentice looked for someone else. It doesn’t matter. He thought, picking out Shadestalker to fight next. I have Wolfpaw and Ospreypaw and Nightpaw and Ravenpaw. Them and Blackwolf is the only family I need.
The next battles whirled into a mass of featureless violence. He fought Shadestalker, Autumnfrost, Kahupaw, and Flamefur with vigor, feeling himself wear down little by little. By the time he faced his next opponent, Vinesnap, he thought he was about to pass out.
That fight was slow and painful, as Vinesnap was full of energy and well-placed attacks while Moonpaw trudged along blindly swiping at his opponent. He earned more than his fair share of nips, tail-pulls, and cuffs.
At last, just as Moonpaw was contemplating collapsing on the ground, Sleetrunner called out, “I think that’s enough for now. Please, drink and relax for a bit before we begin the next round.”
With a groan, Moonpaw drug his aching body over to where the other apprentices were resting. He flopped down beside Ospreypaw and Hurricanepaw, closing his eyes. “I think my paws are going to fall off.”
“Don’t be a kit.” Hurricanepaw snorted. “It’s just some battle training.”
“Didn’t you fall down and refuse to get back up when Cottoncloud boxed your ears?” Nightpaw asked playfully. He was grooming Ospreypaw’s ears, soothing a bite that was still bleeding.
“Yeah,” Stormpaw added with a giggle, “you’re lucky Viperstar didn’t see. She would have removed your ears!”
Hurricanepaw huffed. “At least I’m not complaining about it. It doesn’t matter, just move on.”
Moonpaw rolled his eyes, resisting the urge to carry on the conversation, and began grooming himself. Nightpaw, ever seeking attention, began describing how he had utterly and completely defeated Runningriver.
Ha! Moonpaw thought. I saw that fight, you barely even touched him! He didn’t push it though – no one could talk a tabby’s stripes off like Nightpaw. If a cat listened to him for too long, he could convince them they were a dog and the snow was purple!
Once Nightpaw’s lies became too unbelievable, Ravenpaw put a paw on his brother’s head and shoved his muzzle into the ice. “Enough.” He rumbled.
Moonpaw snorted softly and turned to Hurricanepaw. “Do you think we have to hunt after this again?”
“Like last time?” The she-cat rolled her eyes. “I hope not. Maybe one of the warriors will find another caribou that the wolves left behind.”
“If they do,” Ospreypaw said, wiggling away from Nightpaw, “I hope it’s not too old. I don’t like when the meat is frozen.”
“But the meat chips are a good snack,” Stormpaw argued. “Especially before a patrol. Larchspeckle says its always good luck to eat a bit of meat before we mark borders.”
“But dinner is better when it’s warm,” Nightpaw interjected himself into the conversation again. “A cold dinner always gives you bad dreams.”
“Who says?!” Stormpaw perked her ears up. “You’re making things up. I can always tell! Larchspeckle says you shouldn’t make up stories. It upsets the ancestors.”
“What do you know?” Nightpaw laughed. “You’re from MarshClan, remember?”
“Maybe, but I’m still twice the FrostClan cat you are!”
Moonpaw tuned out of the argument and laid his head down with a sigh. Hurricanepaw began to groom his tussled fur, the movements slow and gentle, until he almost fell asleep. Just as he was about to, Hurricanepaw nipped an ear.
Eyes flying open, Moonpaw was about to yell at the she-cat but then realized Viperstar was making her way over. He straightened up immediately, and the conversation tapered off as the apprentices faced the leader.
“You all did well enough tonight,” Viperstar informed them. “None of you need to hunt tonight. Ravenpaw, Hurricanepaw, you did exceptionally.” With a curt nod, she padded off again.
Moonpaw’s heart sunk when his mother didn’t single him out for praise, but he pushed it down fiercely. It doesn’t matter. He turned to Hurricanepaw. “I guess we’re off the hook.”
Hurricanepaw was practically glowing from Viperstar’s compliment. “I wonder if we’ll be made warriors soon?”
“You are old enough,” Nightpaw commented, his whiskers twitching. Moonpaw knew his brother well enough to notice the displeasure in his eyes.
Two moons prior, Ospreypaw had been singled out as needing more training. Viperstar was going to make the rest of the toms warriors without him, but Moonpaw – after several days of begging his brothers – had finally managed to convince Viperstar to let them stay behind too.
“A valiant notion,” Viperstar had said, “but a foolish one. Do you intend to let cats hold you back for your entire life?” Her eye narrowed thoughtfully and, after a long while of silence, she said, “I shouldn’t, but I’ll allow it anyways. Make sure your brother improves. Do not disappoint me.”
It was the nicest thing Moonpaw’s mother had ever done for them.
With a meaningful glance at Ospreypaw, Stormpaw said, “Hurricanepaw, we still have to wait for them to be warriors first.”
Ospreypaw practically wilted.
Moonpaw’s tail twitched in annoyance. “Ospreypaw fought just as well as we did, I’m sure Viperstar will see he’s ready to be a warrior like the rest of us.”
Ravenpaw grunted and gave Stormpaw a steady stare. He stayed silent, but his gaze said more than words could.
Stormpaw ducked her head, abashed. “… right. I’m sorry.”
Hurricanepaw stood and stretched out. “Alright, I think the resting time is over. I think I’m gonna go beat up Pearlfire now. He’s so annoying.”
Moonpaw looked up at the she-cat, feeling his heart lighten. “I bet you can, but keep an eye out for Stagleap. He watches over that fish-muncher like a hawk.”
Hurricanepaw snorted. “I’ll give Stagleap a good smack, then, too!”