Warriors: Curse of the Clans: The New Threat

Chapter Four

Still Lightning. Sorry we hadn't updated in a month, Lightning had writer's block~! How fun :)! *note the sarcasm*
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Silentpaw, acting as stealthy as he could manage, crept past through the dark shade of the pine tree he was under. His dusky gray-brown coat blended in perfectly with the wood of the tree as he pressed close to it, his eyes scouting the area. His tail was slightly above-ground, his paws stepping lightly. His ears were pricked to the area around him. No movement at all sounded whatsoever, although he was expecting something else. Perhaps he was too well-hidden to be found?

But suddenly and unexpectedly, the branches overhead rustled, and Silentpaw looked up immediately to see a molted gray tom standing above him. "Pineleaf!" he gasped, as the warrior tom lunged from his position.

Pineleaf outstretched his paws, but Silentpaw burst from his spot, dodging the sudden attack from the older tom. "Well spotted," growled Pineleaf, "But you are too slow!" He raked his claws over Silentpaw's cheek, but the apprentice doubled back, dodging the next attack. Pineleaf didn't do any severe scratches on Silentpaw's face, but he could feel a slight sting.

He forced himself to ignore the tingling pain, and narrowed his eyes at Pineleaf. "Think before you speak," he hissed at the warrior before going from defense to offense. Silentpaw leaped gracefully into the air, and landed squarely on Pineleaf's shoulders, forcing the molted gray tom flat on the floor. Immediately, Pineleaf began to struggle, and managed to trip Silentpaw right off of him.

Satisfied, Pineleaf scrambled to his paws, shaking off the dirt on his fur. "You almost had me, Silentpaw," meowed Pineleaf, nodding of approval, "But your last move was reckless and you did not seem to think at all."

Silentpaw forced himself on his paws as he received both praises and criticism from his mentor. The apprentice was going to be a warrior in perhaps less than three moons, and he often had fought battles that were close to real to train him quicker than the other apprentices. He lifted his chin. "I will be over satisfactory in our next session."

"And that is what I expect from you as well," Pineleaf said, beginning to stalk ahead. "Go hunt something before returning to camp," he added. "Do not return without at least a piece of prey."

"Yes, Pineleaf." Silentpaw dipped his head to his mentor, and dashed into the marshy forest. Pineleaf had often treated him coldly like this, and Silentpaw himself had picked up a little on the tom's personality after long days of working with him. He wished at times that he could earn a new mentor that was kinder, and that his Clanmates were more appreciative of him, but he knew that it was impossible. Things were not really all that great for Silentpaw in ShadowClan.

He stalked through the dense cover of trees, taking in the scents of the marsh. He crept right through a clump of reeds, trying to make sure that they didn't rattle so he would not make sound. Underpaw, it was wet---he realized he was standing right over a small puddle.

Perfect, he thought. There is bound to be a frog or two nearby.

Silentpaw pressed closer to the reeds, and tried to see beyond. Then, he heard a croak. The fishy scent of the frog reached his nose, and his fur bristled with excitement. Pineleaf would definitely praise him if he caught it, because that will prove that Silentpaw didn't take too long in a hunt and that he had good senses.

Silentpaw noticed that the frog's back was turned to him. He crept a little closer, trying to avoid stepping in the puddle again so that he would not make any noise. When the moment came, he leaped, and the frog spun around. It must have heard the reeds rustle as he jumped. But the prey couldn't run away, because Silentpaw had already leaped onto it.