Warriors: The Birth of A Clan: Book 1

The Make up

        Amberpaw scrambled out of his den and licked off the moss still clinging to his pelt. He was going to be ready when Ravenaster woke up, for now he would sneak out and catch Ravenaster's favorite fresh kill. Vole. It was just before dawn, the stars still twinkling in the sky. A wind cooled Amberpaw off as he slipped through the dirt place tunnel and into the forest. It was weird being out in the forest alone Amberpaw thought, no mentor or warriors. Amberpaw shrugged off the quietness and crept farther away from camp, keeping his mouth open to catch any scents.
        After padding for a bit he caught smell of vole, and through squinting eyes he could see it through the bush. Excitement rushed through his body as he crawled around the bush, and slid forward. The vole blind nibbled on a acorn, but a twig snapped near him and the creature took off. Amberpaw leaped up and ran after it, there was no way a stray twig was going to foil his plan. The vole leapt into a stream and swam under the safety of grasses. "Mouse dung!" Amberpaw slumped down, "Might as well have great old Chickenpaw catch it for me".
         Amberpaw blinked up at the sky as dawn arrived, the Dawn patrol would be out soon. 'I've got to catch something!' Amberpaw fretted opening his mouth. Suddenly crow wafted to Amberpaw's nose, the red tom got up and crawled as fast as he could to the crow. There in a little clearing was a crow pecking, Amberpaw couldn't contain himself any longer and he leapt for it. His paws landed on it, his claws sinking into flesh. The crow let out a cry and flew upwards. Amberpaw gasped as he saw his paw lift off the ground, and in panic he aimed a bite. The bite missed the neck, but it hit the shoulder. Without both shoulders the bird fell, and once they had both fallen Amberpaw killed it. The bird wasn't the most magnificent prey anymore. It had gotten crumpled after the many attempts to kill it, and was dusty from the landing. But it also was big and that was enough for Amberpaw. As he tried to drag the bird a pain shot through his back leg, wincing Amberpaw laid the bird down and slid it on his back. Limping all the way back to camp.
         Just a few minutes after Amberpaw had sneaked back into camp Ravenaster had awaken. "Ravenaster!" Amberpaw padded towards his mentor, trying to walk normally so Ravenaster wouldn't notice his limp. Ravenaster looked up and his eyes widened as he saw the crow Amberpaw was carrying. Amberpaw set the bird in front of Ravenaster, "I thought you might be hungry so I got you this fresh crow!". "But the Dawn patrol hasn't even come back" Ravenaster exclaimed. Amberpaw shrugged, "Some cat must have gone night hunting or something". Ravenaster raised his 'eye brows', "give it to the Elder's, I'm sure they'd love this". "No! They uh already ate" Amberpaw avoided his mentor's suspicious gaze, "Look how big and juicy it is!". Ravenaster nodded and took a few bites, "Yum!". Amberpaw smiled and started towards the entrance, "Let's train". "Ok, I'll meet you there" Ravenaster meowed and as Amberpaw left Ravenaster whispered to a cat to give the crow to the Elders.
         Out in the forest Amberpaw tried his best to keep up with his mentor, but his back ankle was starting to throb really bad. "We almost there?" Amberpaw clenched his jaw to hide his pain. "For once yes". Amberpaw let out a sigh as he finally saw the sandy grounds of the battle training area, and as he tried to race down his ankle failed him and he tumbled down. Dust flew up as he landed on his belly, from behind him he heard Ravenaster's muffled laughing. "Great Star Clan Amberpaw I've never seen you so excited for training!" Ravenaster helped him up, "Let's start".
         "Ok Amberpaw you are pretty strong so this first move. You are going to stand up on your hind legs and knock me down" Ravenaster demonstrated the move. Amberpaw gulped there was no way he's ankle would let him do this, but this week had to go perfectly if he was going to make it up to Ravenaster. "Uh ok" Amberpaw nodded nervously. Ravenaster launched himself up, and Amberpaw tried to copy. As Amberpaw tried to knock Ravenaster down his ankle gave out from underneath him, and he hit the ground hard. "Oops" Amberpaw mumbled as he blinked sheepishly, he tried to stand back up but pain threw him back down. Ravenaster rushed to his side but his voice sounded far away, "Amberpaw? Amberpaw are you ok?". Then the world went black.