. . . here you go! Chapter 1 *Thud* A light brown and gray she-cat landed on the sandy ground of the Training Clearing. A silvery light gray tabby she-cat stood over her, teal eyes shining. “I won!” The gray she-cat exclaimed in delight, “You owe me a carp now, Troutpaw!” “Get off me you great lump!” Troutpaw laughed, “Otherwise no carp for you!” Mintpaw got off of Troutpaw, and turned to the cat sitting at the edge of the clearing. A ginger and gray tabby she-cat walked up to the apprentices “Good job, both of you!” The ginger and gray tabby said. “Thanks, Reedtail,” Mintpaw said, glowing in the praise of her mentor. “Aww, but Mintpaw always wins!” Troutpaw joked. “It’s not my fault you’re so easy to beat!” Mintpaw replied teasingly. “I bet you I win the next match!” Troutpaw shot back. Meanwhile, Reedtail had already turned away, calling over her shoulder, “Come on! I said we would get to hunt! Unless you two want to sit and play all day!” The apprentices ran after Reedtail, and eventually reached the river. They all spread out across the riverbanks, and took up a position to catch fish. Mintpaw watched a shoal of salmon go by, and quickly flicked out of the water, biting it’s spine. Reedtail followed with a sunfish, and Troutpaw with a carp. “Here you go! One carp, as I owe,” Troutpaw said in a ‘sophisticated’ voice. Mintpaw laughed, “Thanks.” “Let’s take these back to camp. You two can rest then,” Reedtail said, picking up her sunfish. When they got back to camp, Reedtail walked off to Rushingwater, probably to talk about Mintpaw and Troutpaw. While the two apprentices shared the carp under a shady spot near the apprentice’s den. “This carp is big!” Mintpaw said, chewing on a mouthful. “Thanks,” Troutpaw replied, “So, how’s your training going?” “Well, Reedtail’s been teaching me a lot of fighting techniques, and Thunderclan’s. So I know how to counter.” “Cool! Rushingwater and I are focusing on hunting. Mostly fishing, and some land prey.” “Reedtail has me doing apprentice duties tomorrow,” Mintpaw said, “But at least Skystorm will probably tell me a story!” Eventually, the rest of the clan winded down, Mintpaw and Troutpaw following suit. They both went into the hollow tree stump that was the apprentice’s den. The other apprentices were already in their nests. Mudpaw, one of the older apprentices was already sleeping, his sister Whitepaw curled up in the nest next to him. Mintpaw climbed into her nest, in the corner of the den, Troutpaw laying down next to her. “Good night, Troutpaw,” Mintpaw said, yawning. “Night Mintpaw,” Troutpaw replied, before both of them drifted off. TO BE CONTINUED
