the gentle rumble of thunder in the distance could be heard, and rain drummed the floor of whisperclan's camp. everyone who was once in the clearing, sharing tongues, had since dispersed — retreating to the safety of their dens to avoid the showers.

hollyhockpaw watched from the apprentice's den. his tail flicked with agitation. he didn't want to be cooped up all day. he'd spent the previous day with mothroar perfecting how to hunt, and making a start on battle training.

and then, just this morning, he helped wingpaw patch up a few of the dens that needed a little maintenance.

the rain poured down in sheets, and hollyhockpaw heard a gentle mrrow at the entrance. he turned to sweetpaw, who had her head rested upon her paws, and she opened her eyes.

they were greeted by the tall and slender tom—cat in which was sweetpaw's mentor, gatorcricket. he looked like a drowned rat, and a fool, just idling in the rain.

❝ mothroar and stormstar have left camp to run some errands. i've been put in charge of you, boy ❞ the cat spoke, voice deep and raspy sounding — a voice you'd not want to hear in a dark tunnel: as you'd know that you're face to face with death.

❝ you'll be tagging along with sweetpaw and myself. we have a border patrol to complete. if we have time, perhaps some hunting, or sparring... whichever you both prefer, ❞

hollyhockpaw scrambled to his feet and playfully jerked his paws towards sweetpaw to get her up. the young she—cat let out a long—winded grunt, followed by a giggle, before she shoved him off of her.

both the 'paws exited the apprentice den and sweetpaw instantly dropped her ears against her head. with an excited stride, hollyhockpaw followed gatorcricket as he led them out of camp and down the small hill.

gatorcricket led the way through the rain, his paws splashing through the puddles that had formed. they trailed the length of the river, which had flooded ever so slightly, so additional water pushed over onto the verges — flatting the flora that once reached for the clouds.

the wind overhead howled — almost sounding like a pack of rabid wolves travelling through the dense marshy woodland — and it was obvious this type of weather spooked the young apprentices. they had heard many tales from the other warriors, gatorcricket included, of the creatures that roam in the dark.

the smell of the rain clung to the air, and with it a mix of wet leaves and sodden earth. hollyhockpaw's fur was heavy from the downpour from back at camp, the glittering droplets hanging onto his pelt as he walked.

mud sucked at their paws as they moved, the ground still slick from the continued fall of water from the dull clouds in the sky over head.

hollyhockpaw exchanged a glance with sweetpaw and he couldn't help but laugh. ❝ you look and smell horrible! ❞ the tom exclaimed. he playfully brushed his shoulder into hers before quickening his pace, having noticed that gatorcricket had gained some distance.

❝ hurry up both of you. if i wanted to bring some slow mousebrains with me, i'd have found myself a kit or an elder riddled with bad bones, ❞ the warrior scoffed.

gatorcricket stopped, and he looked toward the soggy, drenched apprentices behind him before flicking his head forwards. he parted some tall blades of grass with his paws, then stepped in.

❝ we'll continue the border patrol later. i want to see how well mothroar has been teaching you, ❞ the older cat spoke with a widened grin on his dark furred jaw.

gatorcricket pushed into a small clearing. it was wide and open, with some towering pines flecked along the edges. the rain had turned the ground into a mixture of mud and water that mulched underfoot, squeaking at every step that was made.

gatorcricket paused in the centre. he scanned the area, as if ensuring it was safe, then turned to face the two apprentices.

hollyhockpaw felt his stomach knot at the beady glare from gatorcricket, and at the announcement that he'd declared.

his eyes darted toward sweetpaw, who slowly shuffled across the clearing, readying her stance. his muzzle screwed up.

he was nearly twice the size of sweetpaw. this didn't seem fair...

❝ gatorcricket, ❞ hollyhockpaw mumbled, ❝ i... i don't think this is a good idea? she's smaller than me. i don't want to hurt her, ❞

gatorcricket's eyes narrowed, a flicker of irritation crossing his face. ❝ don't tell me what's a good idea. you are here to learn how to fight like a warrior, not to worry about every little scratch. sweetpaw's a capable apprentice, ❞ he growled slyly, pausing.

❝ are you? ❞

sweetpaw shot the tom apprentice a reassuring stare, her tail flicking to the left. ❝ it's okay. we are just doing some training — nothing more, ❞

gatorcricket's eyes hardened as he noticed the younger male's hesitation. ❝ what's the matter? are you afraid, huh? ❞ he snarled, tone drooling with disdain. ❝ if you are too soft—hearted to fight, then maybe you're not cut out to be a warrior. we'll have to walk you back to the twoleg place, ❞

gatorcricket raised a paw to avoid a large muddy pool of murky water, and he maliciously trailed around the two smaller felines.

❝ sweetpaw has been training exceptionally hard with myself. she is one of the best apprentice's i've had the privilege of mentoring, ❞ he snarked.

sweetpaw opened her mouth to speak but was silenced by gatorcricket shoving his nose into her legs to get her moving.

sweetpaw and hollyhockpaw exchanged a look at one another, a nervous expression on both of their faces.

hollyhockpaw knew that gatorcricket was tough. as sweetpaw had said so herself, but he didn't figure he was this tough.

the apprentices, positioned opposite from one another, pawed at the goo nervously. gatorcricket circled them, his gaze scrutinising their every move. sweetpaw looked apprehensive but determined, slightly ready to take on the challenge.

hollyhockpaw, on the other paw, had a different look in his eyes. he was hesitant — perhaps a little scared even — and gatorcricket took note of this.

❝ come on, ❞ gatorcricket groaned with a demanding growl. ❝ show me what you're made of, ❞

hollyhockpaw's gaze flickered between sweetpaw and the senior warrior. he didn't wish to go ahead with the tom's orders, but he knew disobeying gatorcricket was not an option.

the older tom could sense their discomfort, and with a sinister flash in his eye, he broke the silence.

❝ well? what are you waiting for? ❞

sweetpaw's muscled tensed and her heart hammered in her chest. she didn't like this, but knowing the full extent of what her mentor was capable of doing, she knew that blatantly refusing would cost her some horrible chores in camp — or possibly being held back a moon or two.

the small sandy coloured she—cat pushed out her claws and allowed them to sink into the muck below her. a flash of lightning ahead caused her fur to prickle along her spine.

a demanding, gravely bark from gatorcricket marked the beginning of the sparring session.

sweetpaw lunged forwards, claws striking at her opponent. but hollyhockpaw hesitated, his paw falling short as he allowed sweetpaw to dodge the blow he then threw.

sweetpaw whirled around and, with wide eyes, realised that hollyhockpaw was holding back.

gatorcricket glared at hollyhockpaw, and loudly he growled, ❝ what's the matter, mousebrain? afraid a little competition, from a she—cat? ❞

hollyhockpaw's fur bristled, his ears flattened, and he spoke through gritted teeth. ❝ no, i just don't want to hurt her. this is stupid, ❞. his gaze darkened and he repeatedly pawed at the ground, ❝ i don't want to fight my friend, ❞

gatorcricket blew out a snort and laughed before he mocked the tuxedo cat that cowered in the mud and rain. ❝ friendship has no place in battle. and if you're not willing to fight, then you're not worthy of being a warrior. ever, ❞

hollyhockpaw could feel his frustration building. he wanted to fight back, to prove that he was worthy of being a warrior. mothroar knew he was, he even said so himself the day before. hollyhockpaw wished that mothroar was here.

mothroar would put a stop to this.

❝ now, can we continue? or do i have to walk the both of you back to camp, and tell stormstar that you both refused — and would be better off cleaning the dirt place than ever becoming a full warrior? ❞

gatorcricket briskly walked off to the side and took a seat. he drummed his paw on the floor to commence the fight once again, eyes scornfully glued onto hollyhockpaw.

crouching low, sweetpaw narrowed her green eyes and focused on her opponent before jumping forwards with her arms outstretched. hollyhockpaw sprang back, dodging her needle—like claws that nearly grazed his pelt. the golden tabby circled hollyhockpaw with her tail lashing left and right.

sweetpaw lunged again, this time with her jaw parted, and hollyhockpaw scrambled out of the way. he didn't bother swiping back as sweetpaw passed him, but he instead glared at gatorcricket, silently pleading for this to end.

gatorcricket just sneered back, egging the young tom on.

distracted by the demeaning glare of sweetpaw's mentor, he didn't notice the she—cat had crept around and circled him yet again, and was barrelling towards his body at a rapid speed.

by the time hollyhockpaw had noticed, he felt a sharp twang in his shoulder and he stumbled back.

gatorcricket just roared in approval.

❝ sorry— ❞ the molly mumbled, ears pinned. the tom just rolled his shoulders to show that it wasn't that big of a deal. and, with a sigh, hollyhockpaw tackled sweetpaw — his body forcing her to hit the ground at a great speed, and in a rough manner.

she let out an exasperated huff after her legs buckled and she tumbled into the mud, hair now drowned with brown muck.

the cats tussled in the mud, clawing and biting one another, for what seemed to be hours, but it only lasted a mere few minutes.

a soft whimper from sweetpaw's mouth marked the end of the fight, one that involved a fury of paws and claws, and a few licks of blood too.

hollyhockpaw finally relented and stood back.

he'd won, only after sweetpaw had submitted, but he felt no triumph for his actions. 

sweetpaw remained collapsed on the floor in a state of shock, chest rising and falling quickly as she spluttered to catch her breath: clearly exasperated from the whole incident.

❝ are you happy now? ❞ hollyhockpaw spat. staring at gatorcricket with his brows narrowed as he watched as the tom—cat got up and trailed off, vanishing without a final word.

a bolt of lighting illuminated the sky. the rain was still hammering down in sheets, pounding against both of the cats bodies.

darting to sweetpaw's body, hollyhockpaw crouched by her side with wide, worried eyes. ❝ i'm sorry, i'm sorry. i didn't mean it. i didn't mean to hurt you, i'm sorry sweetpaw ❞ hollyhockpaw sobbed, gently running his tongue over some of the wounds he had inflicted.

the salty taste of the blood that mixed with rain made it difficult for hollyhockpaw to swallow, but he trooped on, knowing that it would ease any discomfort she had, and help with the healing that would happen in due time.

hollyhockpaw finished lapping at the lacerations from his claws and he looked at sweetpaw's face, which was twisted with pain. ❝ i didn't mean for it to come down to this, ❞

sweetpaw stayed silent. she just blinked and then let her eyes close.

the tom's heart thwumped in his chest and he got up. he pushed his head under sweetpaw's body and heaved her over his back, setting off towards camp.

gatorcricket had abandoned the both of them, but that was the least of hollyhockpaw's concern right now. he wished the older cat would get attacked and eaten by a lunging alligator, but he knew he shouldn't wish for such things on others.

hollyhockpaw's legs thudded as he walked, his feet dragging through the squelching mud: every step a struggle, his paws sinking deeper and deeper into the grime as he trailed back the way they had came.

as he looked back at sweetpaw's bedraggled, still form on his back, he knew that his victory was a hollow one. he had to endure the pain of hurting his friend.

as hollyhockpaw arrived at the entrance of camp, mothroar could see that his apprentice was injured. his fur was matted with blood and dirt, and prickled from the storm that brought down rain. his eyes widened at the sight of sweetpaw's body atop hollyhockpaw's back.

❝ what in starclan happened?! ❞ mothroar demanded, darting over towards hollyhockpaw and sweetpaw to help out, taking the she—cat off of his 'paws back, before beckoning for brindlefur.

❝ gatorcricket— he forced us to fight. i didn't want to, i didn't want to hurt her. she's smaller than i am, it wouldn't have been fair! ❞ hollyhockpaw yowled, tears dwelling in his dark eyes as he spoke.

mothroar guided his 'paw to the medicine den and placed sweetpaw down into a nest, standing back and allowing brindlefur to get to work with cleaning the wounds properly.

an eternity seemed to have passed, and brindlefur peered her head out from inside the medicine den, smiling as she spoke, ❝ sweetpaw will be okay. she will just need some rest for a few nights, ❞

a sigh of relief lifted hollyhockpaw and he flashed a look to mothroar, who nodded, allowing him to enter the medicine den. sweetpaw lay curled up in a ball on the bed of soft moss inside the medicine den. her once lustrous golden tabby coat was now matted with red and brown, evidence of their unwanted tussle.

her tail twitched slightly as she let out a soft sigh.

hollyhockpaw crept in, trying not to make a sound, but sweetpaw heard him and raised her head, watching as him warily with a wince.

❝ hey... ❞ hollyhockpaw said softly, ❝ how are you feeling? ❞

sweetpaw just shrugged, wincing once again at the movement. ❝ sore, ❞ she said quietly. ❝ but i'm alive, and i'll be fine in a few days. brindlefur says i'll be back on my feet in a day or two, ready to kick behind, and win. ❞ sweetpaw giggled afterwards, watching as hollyhockpaw's face went from a glumly look, to one of confusion, his muzzle bunched up and twisted, with a smile creeping along at the end.

with a playful roll of his eyes, hollyhockpaw leaned down and planted his nose onto sweetpaw's forehead. ❝ get some rest, you need it ❞ he mumbled into her fur. he held himself there for a few brisk moments before standing.

sweetpaw nodded and settled back into the nest, getting comfortable, before closing her eyes.

hollyhockpaw took a final glance at sweetpaw and his gaze softened as she rested. he spun on his heels and exited the medicine den, readying himself to explain everything that had happened to mothroar.

( art by diino_rot ... it was
fitting for scene that happens )