2 days later...

"Come on Softpaw!"

In the midst of the forest, Blackfeather was still trying to train his apprentice to the best of his ability. "You have to attack me for this to work!"

Softpaw gulped, swiping at his ear. The black tom sighed with annoyance, and the 'battle' came to a halt.

"Clearly we need to practice first, come on." The warrior led her to a shadier part of the deep forest, and Softpaw calmed slightly, tail still low due to the embarrassment of her previous failure.

"Right, attack me," her mentor commanded, and Softpaw looked confused. How was this different from what they were doing before?

Never the less, the small apprentice tried to leap at him from the side, but her mentor instantly turned and pinned her to the ground. His large form loomed over her, and Softpaw shivered.

"You need to stop attacking from the obvious points," the black tom began, letting the blue-grey tabby up and beginning to circle her.

"Obviously you can't speak to distract them, but your silence is handy for a surprise." A compliment? the she-cat wondered in awe.

"You know I'm right," he continued, turning his head away slightly, as if he were speaking to the forest. "Or perhaps you really can't do this, perhaps I just-"

Suddenly, the black tom was slightly knocked over, as a flash of blue-grey fur leapt onto his back, not enough to ground him but enough for him to break out of focus.

"Very good," Blackfeather responded, before shaking his long pelt and knocking her roughly to the ground. "But you can't just stand there, you need to make a move, otherwise this entire training exercise is pointless."

Softpaw's accomplished smile slipped slightly, and her mentor's eyes softened.

"Oh don't, I was just giving you constructive criticism. We need to be critiqued to improve, to fuel the determination required for success," he replied.

Her miserable stance decreased slightly, and she looked back up to him, pleased. Could I really be as good as Birchpaw one day? she pondered doubtfully.

Out of the corner of her eye, Softpaw spotted Puddlespirit running towards them, eyes wide in panic.

"You need to come back now!" she cried, glancing warily at Softpaw for a reason the gentle apprentice couldn't explain.

"Duskstorm has returned."