Chapter Nine: Warriors

Icespark was different than she had been before. Burnetstar pad through the misty pines, Ashflame silently following. His white furred mate had been as affectionate as usual, but now she wasn't as clingy. She didn't follow him around everywhere or ask to go with him places. Only when her image as his mate required it was she around him. She was quieter. Less opinionated. Which is fine. I don't care. As long as she knows her place, I don't care what she's like.

It had been a few sunrises since Feathertuft's litter had been apprenticed. Today, Ashflame has suggested he come along observe the apprentices, specifically Snakepaw and Milkpaw. The two were the oldest and most experienced of the apprentice den, and more than ready to be made warriors.

"You should come with me for assessments, and maybe check out how the newest apprentices are doing." The dark gray advisors had said, and he had agreed. Ashflame was one of his most trusted councilors. She always knew her place, and never overstepped her bounds. When she did suggest things for him, it was always for his gain rather than her own.

"How has Spottedpaw been doing?" Burnetstar meowed in the silence as they stepped through golden-brown, fallen aspen leaves. Ashflame thought a moment before speaking. As she was Snakepaw's mentor, she spent lots of time in the Training Glade where the apprentices practiced.

"It's curious. This is the most I've seen of Tortoisetuft in moons, but I think he's trying his absolute best to mentor Spottedpaw. He's very awkward. But I think Spottedpaw is learning fast, probably faster than Poppypaw." She reported honestly. Burnetstar turned his head over his shoulder to look her in the eye. She blinked with round green-blue eyes.

"Hm. Maybe I'll need to check in with Honeyfur then and make sure he's challenging Poppypaw." His advisor nodded in agreement. The Training Glade was coming up.

"Snakepaw, you're such a drag!" He heard Skypaw yell. He blinked, and Ashflame sighed.

Burnetstar shrugged through the ferns that walled in the open area. It was mostly circular, and about one tree-length in diameter. All of the apprentices and their mentors were gathered today for group fight training, and still there was more than plenty of room in the glade.

"You're the last cat I'd want to partner up with. Go fight with one of the kits, they're more your speed." He referenced the newly made apprentices. Spottedpaw opened her mouth to give an indignant retort, but Rookpaw shoves his tail in her mouth. Skypaw narrowed her eyes but let out a huff and turned with her tail high.

"I'm just going to pretend you don't exist. Cloudpaw, tell Snakepaw I said I'm not his friend anymore." The gray patched she-cat demanded her sister. The charcoal colored Cloudpaw blinked slowly and opened her mouth to deadpan the words, but Snakepaw snorted in annoyance.

"We were never even friends!"

"Alright, Snakepaw." Ashflame cut in, her tail swishing. Her eyes were half-closed as she looked down on her apprentice. Snakepaw closed his mouth, but a remnant of anger still lingered in his green gaze. The HazeClan leader stalked forward into the training hollow, making his presence known. The lithe black apprentice sat at attention once he realized Burnetstar was there. Milkpaw craned her neck  to watch from where she sat a few fox lengths away.

"Burnetstar," he gave a small nod as he greeted the tom.

"Snakepaw," the leader greeted in return. "Are you and Milkpaw ready for your final assessments?"

Snakepaw nodded without hesitation, and the massive, thick-furred Milkpaw approaches before sitting down at the smaller black tom's side.

"Yes." She agreed.

Snakepaw opened his mouth, thinking a moment before he spoke.

"What... what exactly will our final assessment be..?"

>> A hunt.

>> A fight.

>> A task.