Finally, some real battle training!

Crimsonpaw couldn't keep the grin from her face as Frozenstar led her, Bouncepaw, Flarepaw and Falconpaw into the training clearing. She glanced at her siblings and noticed that they were all bigger than her with faint muscles rippling under their skin. They had all been apprentices for a full moon, yet Crimsonpaw's littermates looked way older than her.

Crimsonpaw glanced self-consciously at the ground as Frozenstar looked down at her. She only raised her head again when her mentor started speaking. "You're going to be sparring in pairs. Flarepaw and Crimsonpaw versus Falconpaw and Bouncepaw.

"Aw!" Flarepaw sighed dramatically. "Why do I have to go with Crimsonpaw?"

"Because you are the most talented fighter here." Frozenstar replied, her voice stern. "Now go to your team's side of the clearing. You have a few moments to devise a plan." The white and grey dappled she cat sat down to watch as the apprentices formulated their plans of attack.

Flarepaw sighed and turned to Crimsonpaw once they were at their side of the training clearing. "Here's the plan, I do the fighting and you don't whine if you get hurt. Got it?"

Crimsonpaw's body trembled with irritation and she hissed. "I'm not completely helpless, Flarepaw!"

"Really?" The golden she cat rolled her eyes. "Then prove it. You go after Bouncepaw and I'll take Falconpaw."

Crimsonpaw glanced across the clearing at her two brothers. Bouncepaw was the closest to her size, but he was still bigger. She felt his dark red eyes ficker to her and she gulped when she saw a determined spark in his eyes. He was going to target her.

Flarepaw gave her a hard nudge. "Ready?"

Crimsonpaw doubted she was, but she muttered. "Yes."

Frozenstar was officially the worst mentor ever, throwing her straight into a fight- even if it was a training session. Crimsonpaw knew nothing about fighting, absolutely nothing. Perhaps she was doing this to shock her into being a medicine cat. Well it won't work! Crimsonpaw bared her teeth. I'm going to prove everyone wrong! I am a warrior!

"Start!" Frozenstar yowled and the four apprentices surged forwards.

Crimsonpaw darted for Bouncepaw and he nimbly skipped away, his long black and red tipped tail lashing with excitement. "Come on Crimson! Try and get me! I dare you!" He grinned playfully as he dodged her blows.

"I dare you to try and hit me!" Thunderpaw's voice echoed in her head and she flattened her ears to block it out.

With a shriek, she lunged again and caught Bouncepaw's muzzle. The dark furred tom stumbled backwards with a hiss and pounced on her, pinning her down with ease. "Nice try!" He chuckled slyly and gave her neck a teasing bite. "But now you're dead!"

Crimsonpaw leashed her rage, forcing down a yowl of anguish, and sighed in defeat. "Good fight, Bouncepaw."

"Quick, but good." Her brother replied, still sitting on her.

"Can you get off now?" Crimsonpaw asked, rolling her eyes.

Bouncepaw chuckled. "Mm, fine." He went to step off her but suddenly tensed up, a cry escaping his lips. Crimsonpaw gasped in surprise as he collapsed ontop of her, his eyes wide with pain.

"Bouncepaw!" Crimsonpaw squeaked, wriggling out from under her brother to see something poking under the skin between his shoulders. His wings! Her eyes widened as he let out a shrill cry of pain, writhing in the ground.

"What did you do to him?" Flarepaw roughly pushed Crimsonpaw away from Bouncepaw and stopped when she saw the ripples under the skin of his back. "His wings are coming!"

Frozenstar appeared behind them. "We need to get Bouncepaw back to camp where your parents can assist him."

Flarepaw and Falconpaw quickly picked Bouncepaw up between them and Crimsonpaw winced as her brother whimpered in pain. "It h-hurts!" He cried, eyes screwed shut.

Crimsonpaw followed slowly as her brother and sister carried Bouncepaw back to camp. She had expected the transformation to be painful... But Bouncepaw looked as if he were in pure agony.

The way back seemed a lot further away than before, the moorland wind tugging fiercely at their pelts as stormclouds wandered steadily closer to their territory.

At last they staggered into the main clearing, the clan quickly alert to the sounds of Bouncepaw's agonised wails.

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