Cherrypaw woke up late, exhausted from the Gathering. She discovered that Rosepaw had gone on a hunting patrol with Rabbitnose, Jayclaw, Brookpaw, Lionshadow, and Spotpaw. Cloudfoot brought her a shrew, and sat down beside her.

"So, how'd you like the Gathering?" He asked her.

"It was good. A lot less scary then I thought it would be." She said in between bites of shrew. Cloudfoot nodded. To her surprise, Rosepaw bounded up to her, a mouse hanging from her jaws.

"Cherrypaw, look! Rabbitnose helped me catch it! Oh, and Spotpaw caught this HUGE squirrel!" Rosepaw turned to gaze at the tabby tom fondly. Cherrypaw resisted the urge to roll her eyes. 

"That's awesome." She said gloomily. Cloudfoot flicked his tail, and said,

"Rosepaw, if it's ok with Rabbitnose, would you like to practice battle moves with Cherrypaw? I heard Brookpaw and Spotpaw are going to be doing the same thing." Rosepaw nodded fast, and Cherrypaw smiled. Her mentor always knew what to do to make her feel better.

                                                                                        ~*~

"Ok Brookpaw, now swipe at Spotpaw's ears. Pretend you have your claws unsheathed, but don't actually unsheathe them." Jayclaw instructed. Cherrypaw watched intensly, taking in every detail. I might need to know this is a real battle someday, she thought. Spotpaw pinned Brookpaw to the ground, while Brookpaw yowled. Spotpaw got off of her triumphantly, shaking the dust from his pelt. 

"Nice work, Spotpaw!" Lionshadow, his mentor, purred. Spotpaw's eyes shined with pride. 

"Brookpaw, next time when a cat pins you, claw at their belly with your claws. Not in training, of course." Jayclaw said to Brookpaw. She nodded. 

"Alright, you two. Rosepaw, Cherrypaw, face each other." Cloudfoot said. Rosepaw gave a small bounce, and lunged at Cherrypaw. The attack took Cherrypaw by surprise, but she batted at her sister's face, which knocked her off. Jayclaw rolled his eyes.

"Stop, stop, stop!" Cloudfoot yowled. "You are fighting like kits! Now, again, Rosepaw, this time you try lunging at Cherrypaw again. When she does this, Cherrypaw, I want you to trip her with your tail, then pin her down." Cherrypaw nodded. Rosepaw barreled toward Cherrypaw, and this time she was ready. Cherrypaw flicked her tail toward Rosepaw's paws, and she tripped. Cherrypaw pushed down on her sister's shoulders, pinning her to the ground.

"There! Now that's how you fight! Excellent work, both of you." Cloudfoot praised. Cherrypaw nudged Rosepaw, who sat up.

"Ok, now, Rosepaw, you try that move on Cherrypaw." Rabbitnose said. Rosepaw nodded. Cherrypaw leaped onto her sister. Rosepaw tried to stick her tail out, but was too slow. Cherrypaw pinned Rosepaw to the ground, again. 

"Hey! That wans't fair!" Rosepaw meowed, shaking dirt off of her. Rabbitnose looked at her sternly. 

"Then that's on you, Rosepaw. In a real battle, other cats aren't going to wait for you to make your move. You have to be fast, smart, and agile, like Cherrypaw was." Cloudfoot nodded. Cherrypaw felt hjerself practically burst with pride! I wonder if Cloudfoot will tell Smokestar, she thought. Rosepaw nodded begrudingly. "Yeah." She said softly. Cherrypaw bumbed her sister playfully. "Wanna try again? I'll pin you, but you can try hammering my belly with your paws, like what Jayclaw said." Rosepaw nodded happily, and the two were at it again. 

                                                                               ~*~

"Alright, let's go back to camp." Lionshadow meowed. The other warriors nodded. 

"If it's ok with Smalltail, I think we should take out a hunting party to celebrate their first battle moves." Rabbitnose said. Cloudfoot nodded. Cherrypaw and Rosepaw grinned at each other. It had been a good day.