Chapter 12

                Crazypaw landed hard on the grassy ground, knocking the air out of her lungs. Just as quickly as she fell, she was back on her feet, waiting for Thunder’s comments. This was her fourth night of battle training with Thunder, and she’d already learned so many new moves!

                “Nice effort,” the brown tom praised her. “But you can’t always try to attack a warrior when they’re charging towards you. You lifted a forepaw to try to hit me on the head, but I was able to duck under your strike and knock you onto the ground. You’d want to try to dodge in that situation.”

                Crazypaw nodded, listening carefully to every word the great leader said. “Okay, so let’s try it again,” Thunder meowed.

                Thunder charged towards her. Fast as lightning, Crazypaw slipped off to one side. But Thunder saw it coming the whole time. Turning his massive head sideways, he used his muzzle to swipe her legs out from under her. The gray-furred apprentice tumbled awkwardly onto the ground once more. “First, you’ll try the move I just did on me,” Thunder instructed. “Then, I’ll show you how you should’ve gotten out of the way instead.”

                Crazypaw dashed towards Thunder. The former ThunderClan leader stepped sideways. Crazypaw twisted her head and brought it towards Thunder’s forepaws. But Thunder simply stepped over her attempt to knock him off of his paws and planted a left forepaw on her neck, pushing her to the ground. “Try striking higher up, or else your opponent will be able to step over your blow,” the StarClan warrior advised.

                Crazypaw darted towards him again, and was successful in bringing Thunder to the ground. “Good job!” Thunder exclaimed. “Now I’ll show you how to dodge.”

                “Charge towards me,” he instructed.

                Crazypaw sprinted towards him one final time. Thunder tensed his hind legs and sprang into the air, soaring over her head. He spun around and met her gaze. “Your turn,” he meowed.

                Thunder raced towards her. Crazypaw leaped as high into the air as she could and was soon flying over Thunder’s massive head and landing on her paws behind him. She whipped around and ran sheathed claws across his face. “Was that good?” she asked.

                “Yes, although you should spin around in the air,” Thunder replied, although his voice sounded as if it were coming from the distance. “I see that it’s dawn. Tomorrow we will…”

                Crazypaw never got to hear the end of his sentence. The dream faded and she opened her eyes in the apprentices den, where the sun was just rising. “Crazypaw!” Liontail called. “We’re going to do battle training with Splashheart and Morningpaw.”

                Crazypaw sighed. He’s only going to tell me stuff that Thunder has already taught me. Why can’t we do hunting or tunnel training or something useful? “Coming,” she replied with reluctance.

                She followed her mentor through the forest and towards the training hollow. When they arrived, Crazypaw saw the Splashheart and Morningpaw were waiting for them at the other side of the hollow. “Hi, Crazypaw!” Morningpaw greeted her sister cheerfully.

                “Good morning,” Crazypaw replied half-heartedly.

                Morningpaw didn’t seem to notice her uncharacteristic lack of enthusiasm. “Today,” Splashheart began. “Liontail and I will be teaching you how to charge at your opponent. This move can be used to easily deliver blows to the face. Be prepared for your opponent to step or roll off to one side.”

                “Crazypaw!” Liontail shouted, stepping forwards to stand beside Splashheart. Crazypaw noticed that Liontail, as big and powerful as he was, almost looked tiny next to Splashheart. “Charge at Morningpaw!”

                Crazypaw sighed reluctantly, but obeyed her mentor. She studied Morningpaw’s feet, and wasn’t surprised at all when the young apprentice slid off to the right. Crazypaw twisted her head as Thunder had shown her and swept her sister’s forepaws right out from under her. Morningpaw toppled onto the ground but quickly scrambled back up.

                Crazypaw glanced towards Liontail and Splashheart. Liontail’s eyes were gleaming while Splashheart was scowling in the direction of his apprentice, looking faintly disappointed. “Morningpaw,” her sister’s mentor spat. “Couldn’t you dodge any other way than sidestepping?”

                Morningpaw ducked her head, avoiding her mentor’s gaze and looking embarrassed. “Sorry, Splashheart,” she mumbled.

                Splashheart didn’t say anything else to his apprentice so Liontail spoke. “Well done, Crazypaw!” the golden tom exclaimed. “That was an interesting move you used there against Morningpaw. But now, it’s Morningpaw’s turn to charge towards you.”

                Her sister narrowed her blue eyes, clearly determined to win this time. She raced towards Crazypaw, kicking up dust behind. Crazypaw decided to use another one of Thunder’s tactics, and she took a flying leap over her sister’s head, spinning around in mid-air. She stopped when she hit the ground, waiting to hear the two great warriors’ comments. “You did fine, Crazypaw,” Crazypaw was surprised to hear Splashheart praise her at all. “You may return to camp and have the pick of the fresh-kill pile. Morningpaw and I, though, must stay here and train.”

                Crazypaw nodded good-bye to her sister before leaving the training hollow. “Splashheart was right,” Liontail spoke. “Except that you did better than fine. You did quite well. Unusually well.”

                He paused for a moment. “Thank you,” Crazypaw meowed quickly.

                “I think you should be rewarded for your effort and skill,” her mentor meowed. “I’ll speak with Cloudstar about you accompanying us to the Gathering tonight.”

                “The Gathering!” Crazypaw exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement.

                She’d get to meet the other Clans, and see the other leaders speak from the Great Oak! And maybe, just maybe, that WindClan apprentice would be there! I must look for him if Cloudstar lets me come!

                “Thank you so much, Liontail!” Crazypaw shouted happily.

                Liontail nodded. “And thank you, Thunder,” she whispered quietly.

***

                The full moon was just beginning its journey into the night sky when Crazypaw said good-bye to her littermates, who were trying to conceal the jealousy in their eyes. ThunderClan was soon in WindClan territory, standing no less than two tail-lengths away from the lake. Every cat halted suddenly and Crazypaw, who was at the front of the group with Liontail, saw that they’d reached the fallen tree that spanned across the lake to a small island in the center.

                A few cats had begun to cross when Liontail whispered in her ear, “It’s your turn now, Crazypaw.”

                Crazypaw took a few steps forward before leaping onto the tree trunk. The rotting bark felt slippery beneath her paws, wet and slimy, and she sank her claws into it to get a better grip before edging forward. The trunk moved a little beneath her feet, so Crazypaw knew that Liontail had jumped up behind her.

                Soon, the shore of the island was in sight. Crazypaw let out a sigh of relief as she leaped down onto the ground. Now, I’ll go look for that WindClan apprentice!

                She was about to wander off when Liontail stepped in front of her. “I know you’re excited but we must wait for the rest of the Clan to cross,” he meowed.

                Crazypaw sat down and waited impatiently for the other members of her Clan to reach the island. Finally, Liontail gave her a nod to tell her she could go and meet the other Clans down. She dashed away, heading in the direction of the pungent scents of the other Clans.

                Crazypaw soon reached a large clearing that was filled with cats. How am I supposed to find him here? No, I’ll do it. I must do it.

                She ventured around the clearing, pushing her way through groups of cats, and eyes searching for one apprentice. After a while, she sighed dejectedly, knowing that soon she’d have to give up. Someone tapped her on the shoulder, and Crazypaw turned around, expecting one of her own Clan.

                But instead, a gray-furred apprentice with blue eyes met her gaze and raised an eyebrow questioningly. “Looking for me?” he asked.

A/N: Sorry for not updating for so long. First I was sick, and then I just got really busy this week. Hope you enjoyed this, and may StarClan light your path! :)