Chapter Five: Night Training

“ Wake up!” hissed a voice. Bramble opened his tired eyes. He saw Ashtail outside the tent. Bramble walked to the tent flap- trying not to step on apprentices.

“ We are going for training with some other apprentices,” explained Ashtail. It was still dark outside. Bramble and Ashtail walked along the camp. They entered the forest where three apprentices were waiting. Bramble identified one easily, Sky, the cat he fought from before. Sky rolled her eyes once.  Bramble saw two wolves standing next to each other.

“Ok, Sky and Bramble, you two are going to fight in the dark. You can use claws,” explained a fox whom he saw with Ashtail when he arrived in The Rebels camp. “ Stand your guard. The first one to give up, loses.  Also, don’t inflict any major damages,” whispered Ashtail. Bramble nodded.

“ Go!” exclaimed the fox. Sky darted to the left. Bramble went to chase after her, but she disappeared. Bramble looked around trying to find her.

“Come on!” he whispered to himself. He then spotted a tree. Bramble unsheathed his claws and climbed the tree. He went to the top of the tree where the moonlight glowed. Bramble felt like staying there, but he had to look out. He scouted below him and saw a ripple in a lake nearby. Bramble suddenly jumped out of the tree and landed in the water.

Bramble held his breath. Suddenly, he spotted Sky swimming to the right. Bramble swam to the bottom of the lake, so he could attack Sky by surprise. Sky seemed not to notice Bramble. Then Bramble slowly swam up, and he clawed Sky in the belly. She grabbed Bramble’s paw and threw him out of the lake. He landed on his back, and he gasped for air. Sky then emerged from the lake. She clawed his belly. Bramble yelped in pain and kicked her with his back paws. He got up and clawed her in the shoulder. Bramble slammed into her side, knocking her over. He pinned her on the wet ground.

“ I give up!” yelled Sky. Bramble got off her and she snorted.

“ You win! Congratulations!” said Sky sarcastically. Bramble turned away and walked back to his mentor. “Not bad!” said Bramble’s mentor, patting him on the back. Bramble grumbled, “ What is up with her?” “Well the Shadow Mountain Deputy killed her brothers and her dad. She was training to be a healer, but when she heard the news she changed to be a warrior to get vengeance,” explained Ashtail. “Oh,” replied Bramble.

"I don’t blame her. My parent died and I ran to the rebels. Firetail was willing to be my new dad even though he was a tiger and I was a wolf,” added Ashtail. He paused and they walked back to the apprentice den to go to sleep. Bramble woke up ( again). All of the apprentices were gone except for Sky. Sky was muttering to herself. Bramble stretched and yawned. “Alright, I admit it, you did good,” said Sky. She looked at him with sky blue eyes.

“Thanks,” said Bramble. The she cat stood up. “ Sorry for being a mouse brain to you-it is just that I really don’t like losing, so sorry if I made you mad,” explained Sky. Bramble nodded,” It’s ok with me!”

“Can I come with you and your friends? I don’t have any. Also today we have no training and tomorrow too,” said Sky. Bramble nodded. Sky smiled and walked with him to Roxy and Kollin.

“Lets go hunt in the forest!” exclaimed Bramble. They all walked in the forest.

Author’s Note: Sky is gonna be one of the main characters by the way.  Also I am going to make a Character Page soon. Stay tuned.