Chapter 2

"Flowerkit, come here." Tigerclaw's voice called. Flowerkit's ears pricked, gazing up from her spot in her nest. She sat up, marching across the den. Two moons had passed since Tigerclaw's banishment, and the group had lived on the outskirts of Shadowclan territory. They went to Shadowclan every now and then to hunt for the sickly clan.

"Yes, Tigerclaw?" Flowerkit asked, her tail perked up.

"I believe it is time for you to start hunting with us," Tigerclaw informed, gazing at his daughter with a prideful gleam in his eyes. Flowerkit let out a gasp, her eyes widening.

"You mean… b-become an apprentice?!" Flowerkit asked, her heart pounding.

"Well… as much of an apprentice as you can be under these circumstances."

"But Tigerclaw," a voice protested. Flowerkit glanced over her shoulder to see Blackfoot. "She's only five moons old. That isn't-"

"We aren't in a clan, are we?" Tigerclaw growled, glaring at Blackfoot. The white tom shook his head. "Then I see no issue with her learning how to hunt and fight. She is big and brave enough, that sounds ready enough to me." Flowerkit's heart was pounding in her ears. "Clawface, you can be her mentor." Flowerkit glared at the brown tom, her eyes narrowed into slits. Clawface?! That softie?! Clawface stepped closer to her. Flowerkit's face scrunched up as she pressed her nose against Clawface's.

"I can take her out to hunt for Shadowclan now," Clawface offered, glancing up at Tigerclaw. "It's been a while after all."

"That's alright, Clawface. She is a good hunter already," Tigerclaw replied, pointing at the other rogues, who were bunched up in the corner. "The rest of us can hunt for Shadowclan. You teach her some fighting moves."

Clawface blinked. "Yes, Tigerclaw," he meowed, dipping his head. Clawface glanced at Flowerkit, gesturing to her with his tail. "Come along, Flowerkit." Flowerkit padded after the scrawny brown tom. She followed him through the pines, stopping not far from the Shadowclan scent marker. Clawface turned to her.

"Let's see what you know. Flowerkit, attack me. Claws sheathed, this is just a training session." Flowerkit bunched her muscles, crouching down and lunging at Clawface. The tom stepped away. Flowerkit flopped onto the ground, with a gasp. She shook the bits of bracken from her pelt, glaring at Clawface. ���Your crouch is horribly unbalanced," he informed, raising an eyebrow.

"Well sorry," Flowerkit growled, "I haven't exactly had training or anything, mentor." Clawface rolled his eyes.

"Like this," he explained, crouching down. Flowerkit rolled her eyes, crouching down to imitate the movement.

"How is this?" Flowerkit grunted, glaring at Clawface.

"Much better," he replied, standing up. Flowerkit stood up, licking her paw and rubbing it against her head. "Hey, focus!" Clawface growled. Flowerkit glared at him. "You're quite a small cat, Flowerkit," he continued. Flowerkit rolled her eyes, sinking her claws deep into the earth. "Many of your enemies will be bigger than you... At least for the time being. How do you think you can get around this?"

"Aim for the throat?" Flowerkit suggested, with a shrug.

Clawface's eyes widened. "I suppose if you were facing a fox or a badger, but there is no need to kill an enemy warrior. We are bound by the warrior code not to kill warriors in battle." A growl rose in Flowerkit's throat. That wasn't what Tigerclaw had said… this old cat must be mistaken. "If you're facing an enemy larger than yourself, leap onto their back, and grip with your claws unsheathed."

"Can I try that?" Flowerkit asked, a grin forming on her lips.

"No, I'd like to live, thanks," Clawface replied, shrugging. Flowerkit held back a smile, continuing to glare at the warrior. Clawface lunged at her. He pressed his paws into her chest, keeping his claws sheathed. Flowerkit struggled. However, the strong warrior kept his grip. "Now, due to your small size, a warrior may also pin you down in battle. What should you do?" Flowerkit's back legs sprawled out, kicking nothing but air. Growling, Flowerkit aimed her kicks right at Clawface's sensitive belly fur, sinking her back claws into his stomach. Clawface gasped, backing away. Flowerkit scrambled to her paws, glaring at her mentor.

"I told you to keep your claws sheathed!" Clawface exclaimed. Flowerkit continued to glare at him, even as his gaze softened. "But you had the right idea."

"Why should I keep my claws sheathed?!" Flowerkit demanded, slashing the grass with her claws. "In a real battle, fighting with sheathed claws will get me killed!"

"This isn't a real battle," Clawface replied, his ear twitching. "We're just practicing. There's no need to spill the blood of our companions when we need to be strong for real battles."

"Coward," Flowerkit muttered, flicking her tail.

"Keep your claws sheathed," Clawface ordered, holding back the growl that rose in his throat. "Or I'll make you gather moss for our nests." Flowerkit growled as well. However, she obeyed, allowing her claws to sheathe beneath her paws. "Now, another thing you can do is trip up your opponent with your tail to knock them off balance." Clawface flicked his tail in demonstration. "This doesn't really work on a much bigger opponent so we won't practice it."

"Wanna bet?!" Flowerkit growled, crouching down. Clawface struggled, lunging at Flowerkit and pinning her down on her back. "You may try," he replied, flicking his tail. Letting out a growl, Flowerkit shoved her tail against Clawface's legs. However, the warrior remained still. Letting out a yowl, Flowerkit hit him harder with her tail but still, nothing happened. Flowerkit sank her teeth into Clawface's front leg. The warrior yowled, stumbling back.

"Flowerkit!" Clawface exclaimed, shaking his front leg. The bite marks now leaked with scarlet blood. "I told you to keep your claws sheathed."

"I did, mouse-brain," she replied, licking the blood off her lips. "Last I checked, I don't have claws in my mouth."

Clawface glared at her, lifting his unsheathed claws. "You will if you don't-" He froze. Flowerkit smirked, glaring at the warrior. Clawface lowered his paw, sheathing his claws and taking a step back. Flowerkit's smile faded. "This is a training session, not a battle. How many times do I have to tell you?!"

"As many times as you insist, weakling," Flowerkit sneered, lifting her unsheathed claws. "Tigerclaw would want me to fight with unsheathed claws."

"Fight," Clawface repeated, glaring at Flowerkit. "Not practice! Great Starclan, you're worse than Littlepaw!" Flowerkit flicked her tail. Clawface clenched his teeth, his tail rattling behind him like a snake as his fur fluffed up. He stood up, forcing his fur to lie flat. "If you're so intent on killing something, why don't you go hunt." Clawface's tone was thick with bitterness. "On your own since you're apparently so good at it already. The others will be hungry when they return." Flicking his tail one final time, Clawface turned around and padded off into the pines. "I'm heading back to the den."

"Good riddance," Flowerkit hissed, turning the opposite direction. "What a weakling," she muttered, "Forcing me to fight like with sheathed claws! How can I fight for real if I don't practice like a warrior instead of a kittypet!" Flowerkit's ears pricked as leaves beside her rustled. She turned around. Crouching down, Flowerkit crept toward the source of the noise: a mouse, scurrying among a small bush. Bunching her muscles, Flowerkit lunged at the mouse. The prey let out a squeal, scurrying further into the bush. Flowerkit flopped onto her side. She clawed wildly into the leaves but the mouse had already fled, its squeaks of terror fading as it disappeared into its home. Flowerkit let out a growl. So my crouch is unbalanced, the mangy old warrior was right. She opened her mouth to taste the air, struggling to pick up anymore prey-scent with the scent of Shadowclan so close by. Finally, Flowerkit picked up the scent of vole. Crouching down, Flowerkit made sure her back legs were balanced before she sprang at the vole. Its eyes widened before Flowerkit bit its neck. The body went limp in her jaws and she held it high with pride. Ha! This'll show him. Burying the catch for later, Flowerkit continued to search the forest. The sun was nearly set when Flowerkit had made her way back to the rogues' den. Two voles and a mouse dangled from her jaws. She dropped them on the makeshift fresh-kill pile, taking a blackbird for herself.

"Flowerkit," Tigerclaw's voice greeted. "So glad you're back. How was your first day of training?"

"Terrible," Flowerkit replied, flicking her tail. "Clawface made me sheathe my claws during battle training." Tigerclaw's eyes narrowed.

"I'll speak with him later," he replied, sitting down in front of Flowerkit. "What did you catch on your hunt?"

"Two voles and a mouse," Flowerkit replied, taking a bite of blackbird.

"Not bad…" Flowerkit's pelt flashed with pride and she was unable to hold back a smile. "If you were older, I would bring you to hunt for Shadowclan."

"Why do you hunt for them?" Flowerkit asked. "Can't they hunt for themselves."

"They can't," Tigerclaw informed, pausing to take a bite of blackbird. "A bad sickness has struck Shadowclan and they're too weak to hunt for themselves and if we hunt for them, we can earn their trust."

"And j-join them?" Flowerkit asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Perhaps," Tigerclaw replied, shrugging. "They already seem to miss us whenever we leave."

"That's your plan, isn't it? To make them want us?"

Tigerclaw chuckled, a dark, low sound. "You catch on quick, Flowerkit. That will make you a great warrior one day." Flowerkit's grin took up her whole face. "If the time comes when we join Shadowclan, you won't be apprenticed for another moon, sadly." Flowerkit let out a grunt. "It is the warrior code, after all but it will only be a moon or so, don't worry."

"Okay, father," Flowerkit replied, nodding. Pushing away the remains of her prey, Flowerkit padded to her nest.

"Alright, Flowerpaw. Show me that move I taught you yesterday." Clawface ordered, flicking his tail. Flowerpaw turned around, kicking her back paws at him. Her back claws scraped the air before flopping to the ground and kicking up dust. A sharp nip came to the tip of her tail.

"You have to look at your target when you do that!" Clawface snapped. "Now try again!" Flowerpaw turned around, flicking her tail. She looked over her shoulder, aiming her kick right at Clawface's chest. Her claws sank into his fur. Clawface slashed Flowerkit's legs into the ground, leaping backward. Flowerkit turned around.

"Is that better?" she snarled, glaring at Clawface.

"Yes, that move was better," Clawface replied. "But you must mind your balance." Flowerkit licked her shoulder. It had been a few days and Clawface and Flowerkit were training much more seriously, licking their wounds and treating the worst of them with moss and cobwebs.

"Why would I even use that move?!" Flowerkit exclaimed, flicking her tail. "It puts me at risk!"

"That's true," Clawface agreed with a nod. "It can be risky, but it can take your enemy by surprise, thus making it easier to knock them off balance." Clawface licked his wounds. "Well, I think that's enough battle training for today."

"What?!" Flowerkit exclaimed, her tail tipped from base to tip. "But we've hardly done anything!"

"A good warrior does more than fight," Clawface replied, flicking his tail.

"But fighting is more important!" Flowerkit argued. "If we don't fight, others will fight us!"

"And if we don't hunt, we won't have the strength to fight!" Clawface hissed, glaring at her. Flowerkit glared right back at him, claws unsheathed.

"Stop training me to be so weak! You always treat me like a kit!"

"You are a kit!"

"Well at least I don't act like one!" Flowerkit whipped around, aiming a fierce kick right at her mentor's face. Clawface let out a yowl, flopping to the ground. Flowerkit turned to him. He had fallen to the ground, grunting with pain. Struggling to lift his head Clawface revealed a new red mark on his face, alongside the old scars. Flowerkit's eyes widened. "I-I didn't mean-" Clawface stood up, wiping the mark with his paw. Blood soaked his paw.

"Go. Hunt."

For once, Flowerkit didn't dare argue with him, turning around and taking off into the forest. However, Flowerkit was unable to focus on hunting. Her mind was plagued with thoughts of her injured mentor and a strange feeling came with it. Seeing what she had done to him… Clawface wasn't quite a clanmate but he certainly wasn't her enemy. I shouldn't have hurt him… but I didn't mean to… Flowerkit sat down. In that moment, she realized what this feeling was: guilt… guilt?! Why would I feel guilty? Tigerclaw would've encouraged such behaviour…Flowerkit managed to push away her nagging thoughts long enough to catch a mouse. She made her way back to the hollow log. Dropping the mouse on the pile, Flowerkit flopped down in her nest with a sigh.

"So…" Flowerkit perked up at the sound of her father's voice. "I heard you beat up Clawface pretty good." Flowerkit met Tigerclaw's gaze. She sat up, brushing the leaves from her hunt out of her fur.

"Yeah…" Flowerkit sighed. "Sorry about that…"

"Sorry?" Tigerclaw raised an eyebrow. "You were training weren't you?" Flowerkit nodded. "Your attack just took him by surprise then. You fight well, better than Clawface was expecting. He will continue to mentor you, if that is what you wish."

"Is that okay?" Flowerkit questioned, tilting her head at the edge in his eyes.

"Of course," Tigerclaw replied with a nod. "He is a good warrior, you just took him by surprise. You did nothing wrong." Then why do I feel so guilty?

"Where is Clawface now?" Flowerkit asked, standing up.

"He went out hunting with some Shadowclan warrior…" Tigerclaw paused to think. "Rowanberry I think... He'll be back soon enough. Go get something to eat in the meantime," Tigerclaw ordered, gesturing to the fresh-kill pile. "You've been working hard." Flowerkit nodded, padding toward the fresh-kill pile. She grabbed the smallest piece off the pile: a scrawny shrew, taking small bites of it. A familiar scent flooded her nose. Flowerkit looked up from her scraps to see Clawface, padding into the den. Her pelt was hot with shame. However, she pushed past it, padding up to her mentor with her head hung low.

"Clawface," Flowerkit's voice was small as she struggled to meet her mentor's gaze.

"What?" Clawface growled, glaring at her.

"I… I'm sorry about earlier…" Flowerkit sighed, curling her tail. Clawface raised an eyebrow. "I shouldn't have done that."

"No, no, we were supposed to train with unsheathed claws," Clawface grunted, his voice full of bitterness. "You didn't do anything wrong."

"That's what Tigerclaw said but…" Flowerkit glanced at her father. He sat across from the camp, sharing tongues with Mowgli as they shared a rabbit. "We weren't training when I did that… I shouldn't have attacked you, and I'm sorry."

Clawface stared at Flowerkit, the disbelief evident in his green eyes. "It's fine… just… don't do it again…"

Flowerkit nodded, "I won't," she replied.

Clawface let out a sigh. "Alright, follow me," he gestured toward her with his tail, to which Flowerkit followed. "There's still daylight left… we can train for a while longer." Flowerkit nodded. Her gaze was fixed on the ground the entire time. Why did I apologize? Tigerclaw and Clawface had both said she hadn't done anything wrong, Tigerclaw even praising her. But I did do something wrong. They don't think so… but I do… Flowerkit doubted her own conviction.