Edited! 👌

Chapter 15: Simple Training

Redblaze padded to the training log. It was a shaded clearing with sunlight filtering through the branches, and a large log with a protruding branch. She and Shiningpaw faced each other.

"First, battle training." Redblaze mewed.

"Yay! What move first?" Shiningpaw asked eagerly. Eager for battle. Redblaze noted. She quickly lashed out a paw, hitting Shiningpaw in the hind leg, making the silver apprentice fall to the ground. "I wasn't ready!"

"If this were a real battle and I was a MoonClan warrior, do you think I would wait for you to be ready? Would I be waiting for you to notice? 'Ok, apprentice, I'll wait to attack you, it's not like I'm fighting for my Clan or anything.' Up again. I'll do the same move again, but this time, be ready." Redblaze once again jabbed at Shiningpaw, but this time she jumped up. Shiningpaw fell back to the ground on Redblaze's paw.

"Is that better?" Shiningpaw asked. Redblaze pulled her paw out from under her. Redblaze saw Firestripe and Forestpaw run over, and she got an idea.

"Are you two going to train?" Redblaze called out.

"Yes. Mind if we join you?" Firestripe padded over, Forestpaw on his heels.

"Not at all." Redblaze plastered on kindness. She had already done the patrols, and she wanted to see what Shiningpaw could do. Forestpaw bounded over next to Shiningpaw.

"What are we doing today?" Forestpaw mewed.

"Battle training." Shiningpaw answered for her mentor. Redblaze positioned Forestpaw and Firestripe, and they began the training. Redblaze shot out a paw, making Shiningpaw fall over. But the silver apprentice leaped back on her feet, and ran at her mentor. Redblaze did a simple sidestep, and Shiningpaw ran into the tree behind.

"Great job!" Redblaze purred in amusement. Forestpaw had knocked down Firestripe by now. Weak cat. Redblaze commented to herself. She faced Shiningpaw again. "This time, when you run at me, stop before you get to me. Look at me, and find any weaknesses." This is as good for me as it is her. Redblaze thought. I need to find my weaknesses.

Shiningpaw looked Redblaze up and down, and then she sprang forward and knocked into Redblaze's feet, jabbing out with her paws. Redblaze stumbled over the silver apprentice, but she quickly spun around and whacked Shiningpaw's side. Shiningpaw let out a breath, and then jumped onto Redblaze's back. Redblaze did a thrashing roll and Shiningpaw quickly slid off. Redblaze panted, and dodged a quick jabbing move Shiningpaw was trying, similar to Redblaze's jabs. They did mock fights like this until sundown.

"That was fun!" Shiningpaw purred as the mentor and apprentice returned to camp, Firestripe and Forestpaw following. It was half moon, and Barkpaw was padding out of the camp.

"Where are you going?" Redblaze asked, truly curious.

"Star Tree." Barkpaw answered simply. Redblaze saw another cat approaching, not from camp. She had the scent of MoonClan. She also had a small cat following.

"Are you Barkpaw?" She asked. Barkpaw nodded, and he padded up.

"So you must be Ivyshine. Is this your apprentice?" Barkpaw flicked his tail to the smaller cat following.

"Yeah, I'm Stonepaw." The small gray cat replied. They then bounded away into the night for the trip of the medicine cats.