Chapter 4: Training...

Instructions

Pawstep after pawstep. Muddy's paws thudded slowly on the dirt clearing. The air felt damp and heavy, making him feel even more weighed down than his heart already was. He sat, curling his tail around his light brown paws. He was trying to choke back a sob, not looking up. Then his ears pricked. He had heard something that confused him. ”Are you sure that was the correct call? I still think it was way too harsh...” Beestar mumbled. ”No, no. He doesn’t help with anything around the clan. He needs to learn,” a black she cat mewed quietly, her fur in her eyes. It was Lunarsong. Mudspatter's brain blanked out, trying to think of why Lunarsong wanted him to suffer like this. He had never done anything to her. He was always sympathetic. Maybe she’s just confused. I mean, she's so shy and timid. Maybe she’s scared he won’t get enough prey for her kits? he thought. He gave out a weary sigh as his two worst enemies strolled into camp. ”Oh, sad, you didn’t drown,” Nightmaretalon drawled, but his paws were twitching. “Hey, why are you so sad? I haven’t done anything to you yet,” he scoffed, looking at Mudspatter's sullen posture. ”Well, um… I’m being made an apprentice again...” he murmured not looking up. Nightmaretalon gave a grumble. ”Ugh, you're my apprentice again! At least I’ll have fun with you,” he sneered. ”That’s the thing… you're not my mentor anymore. Minnowleap is.” He held his breath, waiting for the eruption. Nightmaretalon just halted. He gestured to Skinkfang to leave, then turned and stormed to Beestar's den. He was relieved that Nightmare hadn’t hurt him, but it didn’t change the pit in his stomach. Muddy felt like it had been hours since the decision to make him an apprentice again, when Beestar emerged from his willow tree den and leapt upon the Highbranch. "All cats gather around the Highbranch for a clan meeting!" he yowled his words ringing across the cozy clearing. Mudspatter sighed and slowly sat in front of the ancient tree watching as his clanmates crowded around, muttering in confusion. Nightmaretalon was noticably grumbling angrily to Skinkfang who was nodding vigorously. Ripplenose was speaking in a low meow to Berrytalon, glancing at Mudspatter. It made his fur stand on end. Mothspeck was hovering outside the nursery with her kits and her mate, Cedarheart, while Powderleaf and her apprentice Wasppaw were sitting up curiously. Whisperbreeze was nowhere to be seen, and Mudspatter had a suspicion why. "Today we..." Beestar sighed and tried again. "Today we are making Mudspatter an apprentice again because most cats agree that he hasn't done much for the clan." He glanced apologetically at Mudspatter. "So he will now be starting over to learn more skills." Loud chatter started up among the clan, some in mocking and some in sympathy. "Mudspatter, please step forward." Mud did as he was told and stepped quietly up to Beestar. "From this moment on you will be known as Mudpaw. Your mentor will be Minnowleap." "What? No!" Minnowleap spoke up sharply. Mudpatter sighed. Minnowleap was always bitter to him. In her eyes, he had caused Frondcloud's death and Ferretmuzzle had never been the same after that, having retired early. "Minnowleap, my decision is final," Beestar meowed sternly. Minnowleap hissed in frustration and walked towards Mudsplatter resentfully. “Go pick the elders' ticks for the rest of your apprenticeship,” she grumbled into his ear, her chestnut color tabby fur bristling in frustration. She had been hot headed for as long as Mudsplatter knew her. "O-of course, ma'am," he muttered, looking at his paws yet again. "Clan dismissed!" Beestar leapt off the branch and walked into his den, Lunarsong following him. Mudspatter couldn't help but feel uneasy around her now. "Stop daydreaming. We have training to get done!" Minnowleap meowed sharply. Oh, right. He was Mudpaw again. He followed the brown she cat out of the camp, looking back wistfully. Was this even home anymore? It seemed like he had nobody but Reedfluff, who wasn't even in RiverClan and liked him more than half of his clanmates. They walked on along a stream bed and Mudpaw looked to the other side of the river, not wanting to see the torturous depths. "First off, I guess I'll teach you how to fight better because you're a scaredy mouse," Minnowleap snorted. She definitely isn't as bad as Nightmaretalon though, he thought in relief. Minnow yawned, positioning herself in a battle stance on a flat patch of grass. "Let me see what you know so far," she meowed, leaping at Muddy and clinging onto his back.