I am standing in the back of a group of cats. It's time for fighting training again. To be honest, I've recently been shuddering just thinking about fighting. One thing I actually learned from being in this stupid planet is that I'm way more clumsy than I thought I was.

Snowflake is our instructor for today. She shouldn't be that bad. When Mirage was my fighting instructor, she was a beast when it came to correcting, challenging, and beating us up to the point of utter exhaustion. And since I'm horribly clumsy, it seems like I get beaten up the most by her.

        The other day during training, I was in a mock-fight with another cat that I didn't know. Said cat was going crazy on me. I was pouncing on her and swiping my paws at her, but I was too slow. She dodged my every move and pinned me down to the ground with one swift movement. That fight had been very short. She won quickly.

        Of course, Mirage just had to watch our fight, and when I was released from my opponent's grip, she yelled at me for being too slow. Then, she stabbed my nose with her sharp claw.

        So now I have a scar on my nose. Stripe mentioned several times that it's cool, and maybe it is. But I can't erase my mind of who did it.

        "Alright, so for today, I will show you how to defend yourself against offensive moves," Snowflake rambles in a monotone voice. I'm already trying not to fall asleep as she skims the crowd of cats she will be training through her narrowed green eyes. There aren't many of us; only about ten cats other than me are here. The rest are in some other group with another idiot Superior. I wonder what Mirage is doing right now. Maybe she's beating up Name so she can teach us to fight again.

        Snowflake meows, "Branch, why don't you come closer so you can be my example?" I openly sigh in relief when I realize that I wasn't chosen to be her prey. Right at that moment, though, she chirps, "Oh, wait. Never mind, not you, Branch. We need someone who knows some offensive moves." She looks around for someone else, and of course, her eyes fall on me. "Ah, Forest. You're doing better now after that scene yesterday, eh? Well, come up here."

        Dread crawls up my spine. I don't feel like being thrown around today. "I don't know..," I mumble in protest. "I feel a little weak-"

        Snowflake interrupts me by purring, "Even better! You'll be a perfect example. Come on up, Forest." I hear some snickers around me, and I seriously want to claw that horrible she-cat in the face. Of course, though, I would get my third strike if I did that, so I guess the only other option is to get my butt over there.

        Without another word, I stalk next to Snowflake. However, just as the lesson is about to officially start, I hear a loud voice behind us. "Excuse me, Snowflake, but I need to speak with you for a minute." I whirl around, just to see Mirage standing by Snowflake and me. Her remaining brown eye looks emotionless as she stares at her menacingly.

I don't know if I'm glad to see her or not, and I wonder what she wants. Nevertheless, her presence is delaying the start of this humiliating time with Snowflake, so I guess I should be grateful.

Snowflake simply nods, and they walk away out of earshot but close enough to watch what everyone is doing at the same time. I stare at them as Mirage quickly whispers something to Snowflake. Mirage is slightly shorter and stockier than Snowflake, but in a fight against each other, I'm guessing Mirage would win. The ambitious shine that is always in her eye just screams power, in my opinion. And her long, sharp claws, along with her big, black paws could easily break a bone.

        It takes me a moment to realize that I'm basically admiring Mirage's features. Ugh, what's wrong with me today? I snap out of it and decide to try having another conversation with Stripe, since she happens to be near me.

        I step over to Stripe and ask, "Do you know what's going on with them?" I gesture towards Mirage and Snowflake.

        "Nope, I have no idea." Stripe tilts her head at them curiously. "Why were ya staring at Mirage earlier?"

        I'm about to deny that I was looking at her, but at the last moment, I realize that would be lame. So instead, I just say, "I wanted to hear what she was saying."

Stripe's ears perk up, and her tail pokes my side as she exclaims, "Yeah, right!" She chuckles and then loudly sings, "Forest likes Mirage! Forest likes Mirage!"

"No, I don't!" I snap while she's still singing, shrinking away from her tail. I'm such an idiot. Why did I try to talk to Stripe again?

Stripe finally stops when Mirage screams, "Shut up, all of you bird heads! I have something important to say!"

The whole field goes silent right when everyone recognizes the distinct, deep voice.

For a moment, my ears flatten when I think Mirage is going to mention Stripe's lovely song that was presented to the whole group here. But to my relief, she has different news.

"The Superiors have decided that we need to speed up the time until we release more Earth cats into our army against the rebels," Mirage announces. "Therefore, the cats who are known to be less than average at fighting will be coming with me for some longer training."

She steps forward as she continues, "Four cats from here will be coming with me. Branch, Sky, Forest, and Night."

Oh, great. I knew it. I bet everyone here knows that I'm the worst at fighting.

I glare at Stripe one last time, and she giggles as I depart from the crowd of cats to follow Mirage. She and the other three who were called are already walking off as I join them.

"Where are we going?" Branch asks. He's walking right in front of me.

Mirage dully answers, "We're going behind the camp."

"Oh." Branch looks behind him, and his eyes land on me. He peeks over at me curiously. "Hi. You're Forest, right?" he whispers.

"Yep. And you're Branch." I reply coolly. Of course he already knows my name after that scene.

"Right." Branch swishes his tail in satisfaction. His head turns back around. "Hi, Night. Hey, Sky," he meows. Both of the cats turn around and murmur a half-hearted greeting. They're obviously not happy to be pulled away by Mirage. I'm not familiar with them at all. They're both probably new to this place. So far, the black one, who I'm guessing is Night, keeps looking like he was just chased by a pack of wild dogs. His fur is ruffled. Even the way he walks seems very timid.

        The other one, who's probably Sky, is tall and has extremely long, white fur. I'm not sure what to think of her yet. I guess I'll find out soon.

       We finally arrive behind one of the camp dens. I realize that there are four more cats waiting there, lined up next to the rocks that make up the den. Again, I don't recognize any of them. Great. Looks like I'm stuck with a bunch of new cats.

       "I really am the worst fighter here, aren't I?" I mutter to myself as I join the others.

As I walk, I hear Mirage growl, "Yeah, you are the worst fighter here, bird head." I halt mid-step as she slinks over to me and hisses in my ear, "Better improve before Name gives up on you."

"What? He can't give up on me!" I snap in a low voice just as she is walking away.

"Oh, yes he can." Mirage stops for a moment, as if she hesitated, but then she returns to me and snarls, "Look. I have known Name for a long time. For one thing, his real name is Ice."

       "I know that already," I interject. "You called him that when I eavesdropped on you two that one night."

Mirage narrows her eye. "Right," she spits. "And what a smooth move you did that night. Now, let me warn you. Before we discovered the blue-leaf, I have already seen many cases like you that Name automatically executed because they were horrible at fighting and either unable or unwilling to improve. With the blue-leaf, Name is even more determined to just wipe away the memories of those particular cats and train them again until they're excellent at it."

        "What?" I exclaim. I can tell that most of the cats with us are listening to our conversation, but I don't care anymore. "So now you're telling me that I'm already doomed, whether I'm bad or good to Name?"

        "No, that's not what I'm telling you! You're not that doomed. Just listen to me and do what I do, and maybe you'll learn. You're so irritating when you're like this! Stop acting like your fate is going to be bad, whatever you do."

        "But how exactly am I going to learn when I already tried listening to you?"

         "You'll see. For one, the smaller group helps. For two, stop trying to get attention."

        "I'm not trying to get attention!"

        "Oh, really? Then why are you yelling, you bird head?" Mirage backs away from me and gestures to the whole group of cats. All of them are watching us and looking amused by our conversation.

        I whirl around and stalk back. "You know what? I'm done. Just teach us!" I yell over my shoulder at her.

        "You're not done," Mirage growls as I sit next to Branch. Her eye locks with mine in a death glare. "You're far from done."

        I'm still trying to find the exact meaning of what she just said when she slams a paw down on the ground and shouts to everyone, "Okay, feather brains! We're going to have a fun time together today, so don't wear yourself out yet." Mirage scans everyone before saying, "First, I have to assess everyone's skill levels to see exactly how bad you are at fighting."

        I swear I hear a quiet chuckle from Mirage right before she snarls, "Since you look very eager, why don't you come up first, Forest?"

                                                                            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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