Chapter written by clippy

Oleanderpaw was up early and not in camp, instead he was in part of Brightclan's territory, the quickening rivers as they're called, a few boulders tightened around each other to make a good fighting space right on top of a rushing river, more experienced apprentices and warriors tend to train here, and well Coalpelt insists that Oleanderpaw should begin his battle practice here. 

And well Oleanderpaw needed a fighting partner so Coalpelt left to fetch him one, Oleanderpaw was crouched up, paws barely reaching the cold water as he dipped his paws down there, enjoying the feeling for a few seconds, the place here was for some reason or another really pretty to his violet gaze. 

Standing up to their paws, Oleanderpaw walked around the slightly wet rocks, it was hard to be kept stable on them but it was fine they guessed. 

Soonly, Coalpelt returned, tail flicking slightly with a grin accompanying him, "Oleanderpaw," the older tom calls out, moving his paw back and forth to sign a 'come come' for the apprentice, Oleanderpaw ran over to his mentor happily, almost slipping as he did so. 

"Who did you get??" Oleanderpaw says impatiently, wondering if his mentor possibly brought Rushpaw, or even Fennelpaw, those two toms were always so cool to him. 

"I think I picked out a fabulous option for you to train with," fur puffed out, Coalpelt taps the hard rocks with his tail tip, hoping for the mysterious cat he brought to come here, instead he was left with no one following behind him. 

This was embarrassing, Oleanderpaw thought to themself, sitting down on their rear, "So.. Who was it again-" just as Oleanderpaw said that, a figure bumped into them from behind, as they fell, smacking first muzzle in. 

Groaning as they stood up and swiped a paw over their pained muzzle, Spiderpaw chuckled, ears going up and down with a randomized expression, clearly the shecat didn't know if she should be apologetic or not. 

"Oleanderpaw, you should've told me you'd be training here! This is like my all time favorite spot to hangout you know!" Spiderpaw jumped around, not having a single thought about how dangerous this exact place could be, the rocks were so slippery due to the small and less dangerous waves causing it to be so. 

"Hangout?" Coalpelt said confused, head tilted as he slowly processed that, "You're telling me you haven't been going here to train? And instead playing and messing around?" this didn't sound like a question at all, "Haytoe is gonna hear about this, so irresponsible of you." grumpily that was said. 

Oleanderpaw just snickered, before asking, "So we're gonna fight!? I didn't learn anything yet!" they spoke, not trying to be funny or anything but they seriously didn't get any training, just hunting and nothing else. 

Coalpelt quickly answers, "And that's exactly why we're here, explaining each move to you won't help learning it, instead doing it physically is better as your body would start memorizing it for you, physical activity helps you memorize and problem-slove, also keeps you in shape, just like an experienced warrior." 

Spiderpaw didn't expect to be here for a lecture about physical activity, well she just happened to be here to playfight and not actually train- that's why she probably always has an annoyed mentor after her. 

"Isn't that too much work? I mean a paw swipe and tail yank could work just fine, Oleanderpaw doesn't need to learn all those moves?" the black shecat hesitantly says, waiting for the fellow apprentice to agree with her. 

"Are you judging my ways of mentoring? Have you forgotten that I, was trusted to mentor Scorchgaze, the leader's son? And gave him an early warriorship?" Coalpelt's fur spiked up, quietly hissing with annoyance, he doesn't handle cats judging him or his ways that well. 

"No no-" Spiderpaw tried defending herself, "It's questioning, not judging- what I meant was that just two moves could be enough until Oleanderpaw becomes a warrior!" and well after hearing herself say it, it was dumb. 

Oleanderpaw was barely holding his laughter, this was all too funny, as he begun wondering if it was just a random dream of his but this time instead of bloody cats chasing him, it was Spiderpaw and Coalpelt trying to have a normal conversation but failing. 

Just as he thought about that, a scorpion-like tail peaked from the far away bushes, earning a squeak from Oleanderpaw, and just as it disappeared into those dark green leaves, Oleanderpaw managed to splatter a few words, "Scorpion! It's a tail- a scorpion tail!" 

It really reminded him of that rogue he saw before, though his words clearly weren't heard as the not so friendly chit chat continues, "Just let it go already?" Spiderpaw yelled quite loudly at Coalpelt. 

Seemingly Coalpelt got tired of this, and so on went straight forward to insulting Spiderpaw, "Look here, frog-face," he took a moment to gather his thoughts after basically calling Spiderpaw an ugly cat, "Bee-brain, I don't care if you're not planning on training properly because you aren't my apprentice, get your ceremony late or early, I. Don't. Care." 

"Just get away from Oleanderpaw and that would be all." Coalpelt was harsh about it, yes, though he wanted to ensure his apprentice's progress going well. 

".. Such a foxheart-" Spiderpaw had her ears lowered down, almost touching her long whiskers, she turned around and started walking away, without even a simple goodbye to Oleanderpaw. 

Just as Spiderpaw left, Oleanderpaw looked at Coalpelt, clearly distraught with his mentor's actions, "why did you say that!?" Oleanderpaw demanded to know the answer, this definitely is going to leave a sour taste on his tongue. 

"She doesn't even have any manners, nor respect to cats older than her, Oleanderpaw you shouldn't even be around people as mousebrained as Spiderpaw." Coalpelt shakes his head, as if what he did was right. 

Oleanderpaw stayed silent. 

Deciding to not push for any better answers, Oleanderpaw returns to the thought of that scorpion tail, "Um yeah, well I saw that scorpion tail again! It was right there!" they pointed a paw at the bushes, waiting for Coalpelt to say anything. 

Coalpelt takes a deep breath, "The border patrol is gonna deal with it soon, just let's focus on training." 

".. Okay!" Oleanderpaw nods. 

"Let's just start with the front paw swipe," Coalpelt slowly seems to calm down as he explains the technique, "You simply bring your paw forward into the opponent's face, and swipe hard with claws unsheathed," 

"It's a frontal attack, also since this is supposed to be a friendly practice, don't use your claws." Coalpelt finished, and glanced at Oleanderpaw waiting for a reaction. 

"I don't have a fighting partner?" Oleanderpaw looks around, Spiderpaw left and this means he doesn't have anyone else to practice with. 

"You have me." Coalpelt stands up, being careful on the stones as he stares at his apprentice. 

"Are you su-" before Oleanderpaw can continue, it seems like the practice has begun despite him not knowing anything. 

Coalpelt leapt into him, knocking him right into the ground, head banging hard right onto the rock, "Ouch!" Oleanderpaw yelps, paws swiping blindly at the warrior, Coalpelt kept the younger cat pushed beneath him. 

Oleanderpaw's body reacted, hind legs outstrecthing, kicking Coalpelt's belly repeatedly, "Ek-" Coalpelt jumped backwards, letting go off Oleanderpaw. 

As Oleanderpaw struggled to his paws, feeling a slight headache, he was clearly unstable though still able to somewhat continue. 

Coalpelt had to go easy, giving a chance for Oleanderpaw to focus and regain some energy while he rested his body, he had a bit of a problem with attacks being fixated to his belly, after all he was a chubby cat. 

Oleanderpaw was shaking a bit though he quickly ran towards Coalpelt, almost falling down in the process as his front legs kept pushing him from the ground, slamming his body right into the larger tom, Oleanderpaw expected to throw the black cat off the stones though instead, he collapsed into the stone floor again, Coalpelt shivered though managed to keep his stance. 

"You need to be always ready incase an ambush like this happens." the scarred tom spoke, eyes suddenly widening without any explanation. 

Oleanderpaw stood up, a bruise on their muzzle, it was a purple-ish to blueish one which they guessed wasn't a big problem though some treatment from the medicine cats would be good, groaning as they complained a bit, "But I don't know anything yet! I should at least learn three moves before you attack me!" 

Coalpelt just sighed, "I'll continue teaching you when we're at camp.. I saw that rogue again, they might be spying on us, pathetic rogues always do that."

Oleanderpaw's ears flew up, if he encountered and defeated a rogue, he'd get a cool suffix in his warrior ceremony plus serious respect from his clanmates,"Let's chase it out!" Oleanderpaw's mews out, claws out and ready. 

"Didn't you say you can't fight with only one move learned, also these types of rogues are dangerous, not only sharp claws but different tails and better sight." Coalpelt started walking back towards the clan camp, expecting Oleanderpaw to keep up. 

"Huh! But we're two against one, please!!" the scrawny tabby begged as they followed. 

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Oleanderpaw was in camp with their mentor, they've learned some moves, like tail yank and play dead, mostly defensive battle techniques though it was still hard for them to learn especially when Coalpelt randomly attacked or scolded them for other things like not grooming their fur well enough or how lazy they seemed. 

Oleanderpaw was grateful that the training for this sunrise was done with, now he had to go to the medicine cat den for his bruise, and then probably fill his empty stomach with some delicious prey. 

Maybe he could also share freshkill with Rushpaw. 

Entering the den, Oleanderpaw was welcomed by Lightingwing, "Oleanderpaw, how can I help you buddy!" the shecat was removing some old herbs probably planning on bringing fresh ones. 

"Lightingwing, um I'm getting some pain from my bruise?" the feline says, pointing at the bruise that was on the upper side of their muzzle. 

"Ah, bruise you say, many apprentices get those! Usually from playing around or getting smacked by mentors!" Lightingwing laughs quite loudly, bringing out some alder bark and goldenrod, chewing on the alder bark, crunching on it just enough before letting it out of her grip. 

Oleanderpaw took his gaze off the working shecat, looking around, he saw Strawberrymane, who was cleaning the moss nests, he waved his paw at the large tom, who didn't really see him, which left Oleanderpaw awkwardly waving to the wall. 

A bit of embarrassment got to Oleanderpaw, who just turned back to Lightingwing, Lightingwing trotted over to Oleanderpaw before layering down the poultice she made, it was a weird texture though wasn't that bothering. 

It was his first time getting a bruise treated, usually Hemlockwhisker is so careful with him that he barely got any injuries in his kithood, though he remembers formerly getting a bee sting so he wasn't completely safe at that time. 

"It really will be back normal without me having to put anything though it was swelling a bit." Lightingwing explained, bruises usually didn't require any treatment, though Oleanderpaw was still grateful that the medicine cat didn't send him back with the 'it's just a bruise' excuse. 

"Thanks!" he happily purred. 

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Right when leaving the den, Acidflick was standing there patiently, waiting for Oleanderpaw and when seeing his older brother, Oleanderpaw's eyes showed excitement, he hasn't been able to hangout with his sibling much after becoming an apprentice, not that he had many duties. 

"Oleanderpaw!" Acidflick walks forward, "Acidflick!! I've been learning so many cool th-" before poor Oleanderpaw could continue, the green-eyed tom spoke, "I've heard from Coalpelt that the mousebrained rogue has been following you two! Did they hurt you? If they did, I'm going to rip their stupid tail off!" 

"Wha- no!" Oleanderpaw froze, they honestly didn't expect their sibling to be protective, especially since they probably weren't the focus of the rogue, as the rogue might have been trying to hunt or just cross the territory for another place. 

"Acidflick, the rogue didn't do anything-" Oleanderpaw tried to reason, though Acidflick continued, "I'll make sure they're taught who's Brightclan's best warrior!" technically, Acidflick wasn't the best warrior in the clan though he liked titling himself as so. 

"How dare these crowfood eaters just trespass in the territory and spy!" Acidflick huffed out, about to go further with words, before he was caught off by Flarestar walking in. 

"Calm down Acidflick, no need for aggression, next nightfall, me and Sootwhisker, plus Lakegaze will speak to them hopefully." the ginger leader declared, smiling a bit, probably not actually bothered with those insults, she has made it very well known that she despises outsiders and otherborns. 

"Hu- um yes my leader!" Acidflick bowed in respect for Flarestar, nudging Oleanderpaw to do the same, and the younger tom bowed as well. 

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A/N: give my co-author, clippy a round of applause for writing this wonderful chapter!