ratpaw

The tree loomed above the forest, its branches gently brushing against each other in the quiet breeze. It seemed an impossible and daunting task, to climb the tree, but it had been accomplished.

Storkpaw stood beneath the tree, his dark gray tail tip flicking to-and-fro. His deep blue eyes traced the trunk of the monstrous oak, worry flickering throughout them, his pupils wide, full of hope and apprehension.

The young apprentice had approached the tree from the camp, his heart full of bravery and confidence. But now, that he had arrived, his heartbeat fluttered nervously, his long legs quivering.

The fluffy white tom took a step forward, his dark gray paws crunching against the freshly fallen leaves, the brown piles falling apart beneath his paws. He stopped just beneath the tree, and looked up.

The oak frightened the gray-chested tom, its long, sturdy branches cascading over his head, bare from the impending leaf-bare. But, climbing it had to be done.

So, it would happen. He only had the one chance, so, now was the time.

The SkyClan Apprentice dug his claws into the soft earth, his heart's pounding audible in his large ears, his lake-colored eyes glancing up at the tree, flittering from side-to-side nervously.

Storkpaw stepped forward, placing his paws on the trunk, the rough bark making him want to pull his paws away. But he stayed there.

His claws unsheathed, digging into the bark of the monstrous tree. He looked up, licking his lips, his rosy pink nose twitching.

The apprentice pulled himself up with his front paws, the words of his mentor echoing in his mind. Front paws up, back paws down. Pull yourself up. Be strong, Storkpaw.

That day had been an awful one. From a dawn patrol to a training session, the cooling Leaf-fall day had been hectic, with one thing happening after another.

The night before that day had kept him awake, with the chirping of crickets audible, even in the camp. He had closed his eyes, hoping to sleep, but no sleep had come to him. So, a walk was the decision the apprentice had made.

The gray and white tom had padded through the forest, the shining stars had been visible through the balding branches. He had continued on, reaching the lake, the reflections of light giving him enough light to see.

He had fallen asleep there, waking up just before dawn, heading back to camp. He was reawakened at dawn for a patrol. His pad had dragged across the ground tiredly, not wanting to be there, but rather in his nest, curled up like Heatherpaw.

But the gray apprentice had continued on, determination in his step as he followed Hazefire, his mentor. He had finished that, being able to get a small nap before training.

That day had been tree training. Unfortunately for Storkpaw, he was still exhausted from last night and that morning. So, he hadn't succeeded.

But that's why he was here now, at the oak. He was going to prove to Hazefire he could climb. Because, he could!

The gray and white tom pulled himself up the main trunk, only the calm twittering of birds audible over his grunts of tiredness. Climbing a tree was no easy task.

He turned his dark blue eyes to the ground, surprised-and a bit scared- to see it dauntingly far away. Tendrils of ivy snaked past his unsheathed claws, the dark green leaves tickling against his nose.

"I...can...do...this!" He growled, exhaustion dragging at his bones.

The fluffy tom finally reached the largest branch, his immediate goal found. He stepped onto it, the wood hardly even moving beneath his small weight.

His unsheathed claws dug into the wood, his long pelt extended, bristling in fear. He stood there, holding onto the bark, not wanting to fall the incredible distance.

The SkyClan tom curled up in the nook by the trunk, able to stay there without falling.

Silence reigned the forest, as the sun set, Storkpaw could just see a small, gray squirrel strutting along a small branch, its cheeks filled with acorns. His blue eyes widened curiously, and he flexed his claws, his hunting instinct gone wild.

The small gray and white tom closed his eyes, trying to ignore it. But it couldn't be done. His ancestors had hunted these trees, so why shouldn't he?

The apprentice stood up, unsheathing his claws, digging them into the soft bark. He stared forward, leaping onto a nearby branch, his heartbeat quickening when his paws flew over the far-down ground. He crouched along the branch, spreading his thin body out.

The SkyClan Apprentice began to pad forward, silently stalking the mammal. Just as he was about to jump trees to reach the squirrel, his paw slipped.

Eyes widening, the apprentice struggled to regain his balance, causing the leaves to be in a frenzy. The squirrel ran off, obviously fearful. He managed to push his paw underneath his wavering body, balancing out again.

Storkpaw cursed under his breath, lashing his tail a few times. He began to back up, standing in the tall tree. He looked up, seeing an easy pathway to a larger, sturdier branch.

Why not? It'll be safer, after all. He told himself, digging his claws into the soft bark of the trunk.

The apprentice began to climb up, reaching a small branch, continuing up the tree.

It's a lot further than I thought... He noticed, shaking his head. That's alright! I'm strong! I can make it!

He felt his body shaking slightly, his long pelt quivering fearfully. The small tom shook his head, continuing to climb up the tree, the breeze ruffling his fur.

The gray and white apprentice climbed even higher, finally reaching the strongest branch in the oak. He leapt into it, stopping, staring through the leaves.

It really is beautiful up here... He thought, seeing the tops of the other trees in the forest. How high am I?!

He turned his head to the ground, finding it barely visible through the clustering of leaves and branches. He was really high above the ground.

The apprentice's legs began to quiver in fear, his eyes wide with distress. The tree seemed to shake, what he could see  of the ground moving back and forth. He dug his claws in, stopping the wavering of the tree.

"I'm okay... I can make it down. I won't fall." He growled to himself, narrowing his river-colored eyes. "I'll be fine. I will be."

The small SkyClan Apprentice sat down, his claws unsheathed, digging into the branch. He looked for a path down, finding nothing, except the option of clawing his way down.

But that was too terrifying.

He was stuck.

"Oh, StarClan..." He growled, shaking again. "Please! Someone help!"

His voice became more of a fearful yowl, his eyes widening in distress.

"Anyone! Please!" He yowled, bits of spittle exiting his wide open mouth. "I need help!"

Storkpaw was stuck in the tree. So, he would stay there, until help arrived, or until he became brave enough to climb down.

So, the apprentice curled up in the branch, his claws digging into the wood. He stayed there as the sun began to set, its last rays finally disappearing on the horizon. He closed his eyes, deciding everything would be better in the morning.

--

When Dawn's misty fingertips appeared over the ground, Storkpaw's eyes gently blinked open, shying away at the faint gray light of dawn. He felt like everything was normal momentarily, but then, a swaying feeling reached him, causing him to dig his claws into the tree.

What am I going to do? I need to get down... He thought, his eyes narrowed, his muscled tense with worry. I can do this.

The SkyClan Apprentice gingerly placed his paw on a tree knot, unsheathing his claws. He placed his other back paw next to it, hopping onto the smaller branch. He suddenly heard a yowl from down below, and he turned his head, his large ears pricked.

It was his mentor, Hazefire. The black Tom stood at the bottom of the tree, his jaws moving. He was just a speck from that height, but everything about him was distinguishable.

"Help!" The small tom yowled, his dark blue eyes bright with fear. "I'm stuck!"

"Be brave, Storkpaw! You can do it! Just remember what I said!" Hazefire responded, his voice almost lost in the breeze.

It was as if a fire had slung through his mind, the words appearing like the water of a stream. Front paws up, back paws down. Pull yourself up. Be strong, Storkpaw.

The gray and white tom nodded to himself, placing his paws in the order.

Front paws up. Front paws u- His chain of thought was lost when a sudden wind buffeted his long fur, causing him to lost a paw hold. No! I won't fall!

He grabbed back onto the tree, his pelt fluffed from both fear and the breeze. The small apprentice slowly made his way down to the next branch, dropping about half a tail length, digging his claws into the bark.

"Okay, first branch down," he whispered to himself, his eyes wide with fear. "I can make the rest."

The small gray and white tom went back onto the main trunk, taking a deep breath. I can be strong. I'll show Hazefire. I can do it.

"Storkpaw, I believe in you!" The black tom yowled, pacing back and forth. "You can do it!"

The SkyClan Apprentice took a deep breath, shaking out his pelt slightly. He could do this. He would do this.

Storkpaw made his way down to the next branch steadily, landing on it, taking a few breaths, and moving on.

It was like a repeating pattern.

Climb. Land. Breathe. Repeat.

Those were the four steps. He was making it. He really was.

The fluffy tomcat dropped down once more, but instead of feeling a rickety branch moving with the wind, solid ground touched his paw pads, the grass curling gently over his dark gray paws.

"I-I made it! I did! I made it!" He stuttered, shaking with fear and disbelief. "Hazefire, I made it!"

His mentor looked at his apprentice, his eyes proud. He puffed out his black chest, a bit of arrogance filling his voice.

"Of course you did. I was your teacher, of course." The black tom replied proudly, his voice filled with self-admirance.

"You're ridiculous, Pricklenose. I hope you know that." Hazefire chuckled, swatting his mentor over the ear.

"Ridiculous! No! I am refined, and beautiful." The black tom replied.

"Okay, if you say so." The gray and white tom replied. "O, Great Warrior, whatever can I do to serve you?"

"First of all, clean out the elder's den. I'll talk to Beetlestar about this. We'll think of your punishment." Hazefire responded.

"Oh, no! Not a punishment..."

"You did disappear without telling anyone. That worries us." The black tom replied. "Don't worry, I'll make sure it isn't too harsh."

"Thanks," Storkpaw mewed, dipping his head. "And, I'm sorry."