Flowerpaw placed her paw firmly on the ground, feeling no pain. There was a feeling of excitement and put more pressure down, still no pain. She lifted her head and looked up at Feathernose who was watching with interest. "Does it hurt?" He questioned.
"Not at all." She purred, continuing to put even more pressure on it. "It feels pretty good actually," She added. "It hasn't hurt for the past couple days."
"That's wonderful news." Feathernose stood up and looked around. "I'm going to go tell Owlfoot that you're cleared for hunting and battle training."
"Thank you, Feathernose!" Flowerpaw exclaimed, her paws itching to get out and train, she wanted to run and hunt. She had been confined to camp for so long. It had been six days since Stormwind's warrior cat ceremony and for the past two Flowerpaw was cleared to collect moss and help but not much else. However, her leg was healed now and she felt that she could run across the entire territory.
Flowerpaw saw Feathernose speaking with Owlfoot across camp and Owlfoot lifted his head, green eyes shining bright. He turned to look at Flowerpaw and padded over to her while Feathernose returned to his den. Flowerpaw stood to face her mentor, puffing out her chest and holding her head high.
"Feathernose told me the good news." Owlfoot purred. "I suppose you want to get out there and hunt?"
"Absolutely!" Flowerpaw could hardly contain her excitement.
"Then let's get out there!" Owlfoot turned and quickly made his way out of camp, Flowerpaw followed very close behind him, breathing in the fresh newleaf air. The forest filled her with an energy that she had longed for so much. "Go out and hunt as much as you want to, Flowerpaw." Owlfoot sat down and nodded to Flowerpaw to go hunt.
Flowerpaw broke into a sprint, testing the limits of her healed leg. Her paws hit the ground, propelling her through the beautiful forest. She came to a stop, breathing in the forest and taking in her surroundings. She closed her eyes, trying to scent her prey. She caught the scent of mouse not too far from where she was standing. She scanned the forest, catching a glimpse of movement to her left.
Flowerpaw crouched down, her eyes intently looking over the forest floor to make sure that there were no ways she could make a mistake or hurt herself again. Once she had a good feel for her surroundings, Flowerpaw crept forward to catch her prey. The mouse was sitting still in a small pile of leaves.
Flowerpaw extended her claws, getting low to the ground and waiting for the right moment. She narrowed her eyes and focused. Flowerpaw took a deep breath and then attacked, leaping forward and hitting the mouse with ease and precision. She killed it with a swift bite to the next and sat up proudly. She forgot how much she loved the rush of a hunt, the taste of fresh mouse blood on her tongue.
I'm not stopping there! Flowerpaw told herself, buried her mouse and continued hunting. She trekked through the forest, forgetting the time she had spent confined to camp and just focusing on her hunt.
She caught two more mice and a squirrel before she spotted Owlfoot coming for her. She looked at her mentor, had he been watching? "Great hunting, Flowerpaw." He praised, warming every part of Flowerpaw's heart. "I knew you wouldn't lose your hunting skills."
"It comes naturally to me now." Flowerpaw replied, her paws itching to hunt some more. She looked around the forest, every sound getting her attention.
"That's wonderful." Owlfoot purred. "There was something I wanted to talk to you about."
Flowerpaw turned her attention back on her mentor. "What is it?" She questioned, twitching her ears in interest.
"Well, I've spoke with Mallownose and the other remaining mentors and they believe that Tigerpaw and his siblings are ready to become warriors." Flowerpaw's heart skipped, what did this mean for her? "And since you became an apprentice alongside them it would make sense that you became a warrior with them as well. Today was a bit of a test, I was worried you would take some time to adjust back to hunting, but you've proven me wrong." Flowerpaw's heart was pounding in her chest.
"You think I'm ready to become a warrior?" Was all she could say, her body started to shake with excitement.
"Do you?" Owlfoot's green eyes were steady and intense.
Flowerpaw thought for a moment, did she think she was ready to be a warrior? Stormwind was a warrior and Flowerpaw longed for that same thing. She wanted to be on patrol and have an apprentice of her own. Flowerpaw nodded. "I am ready to become a warrior."
"That's what I thought." Owlfoot brushed his tail across Flowerpaw's pelt. "Tomorrow the six of you will have your warrior assessments and if everything goes well, you'll be a warrior tomorrow as well."
Flowerpaw followed Owlfoot back to camp, barely able to contain her excitement. She would pass the assessment with flying colors, she was sure of it! Flowerpaw wished Owlfoot a good night and went to the apprentice den. Rainpaw, Tigerpaw and Crowpaw were all sitting outside and talking eagerly. Flowerpaw assumed that their mentors told them the same thing.
"Hi!" Flowerpaw greeted her friends and padded up to them.
"Hi, Flowerpaw." Rainpaw purred. "Did Owlfoot tell you about tomorrow?" She questioned.
Flowerpaw nodded. "And I'll be able to partake." She told her denmates, sitting down beside Crowpaw.
"That's wonderful news." Tigerpaw mewed, his voice soft. "We're all so excited to become warriors."
"I am too." Flowerpaw spotted Stormwind sitting by the warrior's den with Cloudstorm, laughing and sharing prey. Tomorrow I'll be in the same world as you, Stormwind. We can be warriors together.
"The assessment is simple." Mallownose mewed, looking over the six eager apprentices. Flowerpaw was in between Rainpaw and Bramblepaw, Thornpaw was at the far end of the line and Flowerpaw felt a slight ache in her heart. She hadn't spoken with Thornpaw since he made the kittypet remarks about her mother. I don't want to fight with him, but I can't just let him make those kind of comments. She shoved her worries into the back of her mind. I need to focus on this assessment. "Go out and hunt as much as you can, we will be watching you."
"After a while," Stonewhisker stepped forward. "We'll bring you back here and you'll hunt in teams for the final part." His green eyes rested on Flowerpaw, filled with pride and encouragement. Flowerpaw was happy Stonewhisker was Rainpaw's mentor, he would be able to overlook her final assessment!
"Now get out there and hunt!" Owlfoot shouted joyfully and the six apprentices scattered. Flowerpaw headed towards her favorite hunting spot, near the river. She always had the best luck there. With the exception of hurting my paw. She thought with slight laughter. But that won't happen this time!
Flowerpaw began her search for prey, quickly scenting a mouse and hunting it down with ease. She buried it and looked around. Warrior den here I come! She thought with confidence and continued her hunt. She tracked down a squirrel and another mouse, catching them and burying them. She was satisfied with her catch but wouldn't stop until Owlfoot came to get her.
Behind Flowerpaw came the sound of fluttering wings. She turned around to see a sparrow landing on a stone. She was never very good at catching birds, but if she caught it Owlfoot would be so proud. She dropped into a low crouch, creeping as slowly and as silently as she could manage. The bird was completely unaware of her presence. She extended her claws, getting ready to pounce.
Flowerpaw gave a mighty leap, sending the bird into the air but she cut it off. Her claws hooking into its wings and dragging it out of the sky, killing it with a bite to the neck. Flowerpaw held her head high and proud, feeling incredibly proud of herself. She buried the sparrow and continued, quickly finding another mouse.
As she was burying the mouse, Owlfoot stepped out from the trees, green eyes sparkling. Flowerpaw turned to face her mentor. "Good hunting, Flowerpaw." He praised. "But it's time for team hunting, come with me."
Flowerpaw followed Owlfoot back to original meeting location, just outside the training area. She arrived at the same time as Crowpaw and Rockfall. She sat down with the apprentices once more.
"Now that you've hunted alone you'll be split into teams. One cat will take the lead of the hunt and command the hunting party." Falconclaw explained, flicking his ears. "You will be judged on your hunting skills and leadership skills for the ones leading."
"The teams will be Tigerpaw and Crowpaw, Thornpaw and Bramblepaw and Flowerpaw and Rainpaw. The leaders being Tigerpaw, Thornpaw and Flowerpaw." Mallownose mewed.
Flowerpaw flattened her ears slightly. She was going to lead the hunting party? She looked at Rainpaw who looked very eager to get started. Flowerpaw faced forward, she was excited too and she knew that she could lead Rainpaw and herself to a successful hunt.
"You may go hunt." Falconclaw dipped his head tne sent the apprentices on their way.
"Where should we go hunt?" Rainpaw asked once they were away from the other apprentices. Flowerpaw thought for a moment, not wanting to seem anxious about leading.
"Let's go towards the AshClan border." She said, Rainpaw following her without question. Flowerpaw led Rainpaw near the border, scenting for prey. "Let me know if you scent anything."
Rainpaw nodded and the two began sniffing for prey. Flowerpaw caught the scent of squirrel and got Rainpaw's attention. Flowerpaw wasn't used to hunting with others, but she remembered hunting with Thornpaw a while back. She motioned with her tail for Rainpaw to get behind the mouse to secure the catch. She nodded and crept around the mouse, hiding behind some brush.
Flowerpaw dropped into a crouch and moved forward, her pawsteps silent. When she pounced, the mouse ran but went straight into Rainpaw's claws. She lifted her head, blue eyes sparkling. "Great job." She purred.
"You too." Flowerpaw replied, Rainpaw had very quick reflexes. She had never really seen the black she-cat hunt before, but she was getting a feel for her skills very quickly. The pair continued the hunt, Flowerpaw grew very used to leading and telling Rainpaw where to go. It was easy and felt natural to her.
After two squirrels, Stonewhisker and Owlfoot stepped out. "Good job both of you." Stonewhisker said kindly. "Grab your prey and let's return to the others."
Flowerpaw's stomach twisted into a knot. This was it, this was when she would find out if she would be made a warrior. She tried to swallow the stone in her throat and followed Stonewhisker and Owlfoot. Rainpaw walked with confidence beside her, wasn't she nervous? Flowerpaw struggled to keep her pawsteps steady as went to find the rest of her prey.
Each of the apprentices had a respectable amount of prey in front of them, they each sat with confidence and Flowerpaw tried to find that same confidence, she couldn't help but feel incredibly anxious.
"Let's start with Tigerpaw," Mallownose mewed, looking kindly at her apprentice. "You hunted well on your own, being incredibly careful and you took charge very easily. You led Crowpaw and yourself to a successful team hunt." Tigerpaw dipped his head, trying to look stoic but Flowerpaw could see the excitement burning in his eyes.
"Crowpaw," Rockfall stepped forward. "Your hunting skills and very precise and and you listen to command without hesitation. Your tracking is impeccable and your kills and clean." The she-cat held her head high.
"Rainpaw," Stonewhisker was next. "Your reactions are quick and on point and you follow orders without complaint." Flowerpaw looked at her mentor, it was Owlfoot's turn to speak. What would he say about her?
"Flowerpaw," Owlfoot's eyes sparkled. "Even with the time you spent in the medicine cat den you clearly have not lost your skill. Your hunting skills are strong and you took a very confident lead." Flowerpaw's heart raced as Owlfoot assessed her, did she really do that good?
"Bramblepaw," Briarheart looked at her apprentice, Flowerpaw was still focused on Owlfoot. "You are a very dedicated and patient hunter who listens well to instruction and command. You have proven to be a noble cat."
"Finally, Thornpaw." All eyes went to Falconclaw, the fiercest mentor among them. His amber eyes resting intently on his nephew. "You are a strong hunter and fierce fighter. You lead with conviction and you have the heart of a warrior." Flowerpaw blinked, she was pretty sure that was the nicest thing Falconclaw has ever said, at least with other cats around him.
"Then I believe it's settled. " Mallownose stood up. "Let's get back to camp and hold a warrior ceremony!"