Chap 4

In the classroom. Sunburst and Leaf were sitting in front of the young cats as they got excited to know Sunburst's story.

"How, Sunburst?" Leaf bugged.

"I just gotta tell your son, but he dashed to the other students now it's like this," Sunburst answered.

"Look, your teacher and Spirtstalker were teaching you the basics of hunting. Maybe she can tell you about her past at a later date." Leaf noted.

The students were pouting at Leaf. "Why?" Spiritstalker pouted.

"Really stalker?" Leaf asked.

"Clawalker told me stories about training with Sunburst but no story of Sunburst's former teacher." Spiritstalker smiled.

"Looks like I have no choice or other plans Leaf," Sunburst said. Leaf sighed.

"Alright fur balls and Spiritstalker, I gotta tell you my story on how I became the apprentice to the former Warrior Eclipse." Sunburst smiled.

A cat ambles down the river path. A Maine Coon has grey & white line fur and scars that cover their front paws, throat, and tail.

"Hello. Eclipse." Another cat jumped behind him. A ragamuffin with tortoiseshell fur and grey eyes. They had scars on their back, tail, left back leg, right cheek, and right front leg.

"Hello, Stripe," Eclipse murmured. As he turned his head to Stripe.

"I heard a little rumor through the oak tree," Stripe smirked.

"Really?" He trailed off.

"Our King is sending us to the Storm Nation borderline then letting the soldier come to us." 

"Alright."

"Is that it? I don't want to go," He pouted.

"It was gotta happen which is why I need to find my apprentice soon." 

"Finally now my apprentice has a friend."

"Wait where are you going?"

"The Winter Orphanage."

As the two Cats made it to the Winter Orphanage kittens were running around.

"This place is a dump." Stripe sighed.

"With this war going on everything is a dump where the Cat Priest?" Eclipse looks around.

Young cats were chasing a female cat that was holding a bird in her mouth as she locked eyes with the Warrior. Eclipse looks at the she-cat.

"Whoa, that cat is fast." Stripe smiled.

Eclipse nodded and went inside. There were more cats inside.

"So young and they're all going into war one day." Stripe sighed.

"Hello there Battle Trainer." Cat Priest announced. Stripe waves his paw.

"Warrior Eclipse hello to you." Priest nodded their head.

"Cat Priest I'm looking for an apprentice." 

"Yes of course just-" Cat Priest jumped as there was hissing and yelling. "Oh no, it's her."

"Her?" Stripe asked.

"Yes, she is a troubled young cat here." Cat Priest sighed. Eclipse ran outside.

The female cat was clawing at another cat as she protected the kittens behind her.

"Young one please calm down!" Cat Priest got in between them. Stripe walks over.

"I just wanted to feed the kittens rations are low Priest." The female cat explained. 

"But fighting is not the answer, young one." Cat Priest sighed. The female cat put her ears down.

"Priest may I speak with you and bring her two Stripe," Eclipse said. As the Four cats walk into the Priest's Office. Stripe had the female cat beside him and Eclipse was sitting beside her two.

"Are you sure you want her as the next Warrior apprentice?" Cat Priest looks at her.

"Yes, I'm sure she has the power to even stop this war for good." Eclipse smiled.

"How about me and you step out, little runt." Stripe starts walking out and the female cat follows after him. 

Priest and Warrior stare at each other.

"That little one has a nickname here: burst. She picks fights but always makes sure the younger ones are fed." The priest advised.

"I was like that too Priest so I want to make sure she ends up on the right path," Eclipse added. The Priest nodded.

"Please she may be stubborn but she is still a good cat." The priest smiled. Eclipse nodded his head and walked out.

Stripe had the female cat pinned down as she hissed and bit his front leg.

"Good bite little one." Stripe laughing. Eclipse tackled Stripe to the ground.

"Stop it." Eclipse sighed. Stripe gave a wink at him. The female cat looked at them and sighed.

"Now, burst ready to become my apprentice?" Eclipse smiled. She looks at him.

"How much rations do I get?" She asked.

"Three mice a day," Eclipse added.

"Two mice and a bird."

"Three mice"

"One mouse and two birds."

"Two birds"

"Deal." She smiled.

"I can't wait for her to do battle." Stripe smiled.

Winter Castle*

Three cats were walking down the hallway.

"Meeting with the King is such a pain." Stripe sighed.

"I'm not fond of talking to the King, but the King's second right paw is a pain in my ass." Eclipse acknowledged. Burst was leaning on Eclipse's side as she looked around.

"You can sleep later, kid," Eclipse said.

They made it to the throne room. A cat sitting on the throne, A Balinese with sapphire eyes, chocolate fur with seal patches on their face, tail, and back legs. Scars: left shoulder and throat.

"Hey, Silent!" Stripe yelled. Eclipse punched him in the back of his head.

"For a battle trainer you sure are so vile." A cat to the King's right. A Nebelung with dark blue fur and black eyes.

"You're so cruel to me, Venus keep talking dirty to me." Stripe purred on Venus. As he backed away from him.

"King Silent, I have an apprentice meet burst." Eclipse pushes her up to the King.

"A female have you gone mad, Eclipse?" Venus bickered.

"Are you a teacher Venus?" Eclipse looks at him.

"No, but cats talk Eclipse having a female as the next Warrior," Venus added.

"My apprentice is a female," Stripe mentioned.

"True battle trainer, not Warrior, Stripe," Venus commented. 

"Enough all this talking is boring." King walks up to Burst and sniffs her.

"She needs a bath." Silent smiled as he walked around her as his prey. Burst's gaze stays on him.

"You have the eyes of a killer and the body of a male but you're female." Silent sighed.

"And you have the face of a dead deer," Burst said.

"How dare you little she-cat!" Venus growled. Silent started cackling. "Eclipse you pick a fool to train." Silent smiled and petted Burst's head. Eclipse smiled. 

Eclipse and Burst made it to the Medic halls. Eclipse turns into a room full of herbs and bowls. "Herbmint, I have someone for you," Eclipse called out to the Medic Cat. Burst was walking around and bumping into a wall.

"Hey watch it!" A kitten yelled. Burst sat down and looked at them.

"Nightshade that rude." Devon Rex, black fur with white shaded patterns, and red eyes.

"Sorry about my son, Warrior." She smiled.

"No worries, my apprentice is tired from the walk but could you examine her?" Eclipse pushes Burst to the Head Medic.

"Of course." Herbmint picks up Burst with her mouth and sets her on the examining table.

Eclipse and Nightshade were waiting on the side. Herbmint was examining Burst.

"She has a lot of bite marks but her fur covers it all like your fur, Eclipse." Herbmint laughed. Burst stared at her. 

"What a stare." Herbmint smiled.

The Sun touched the old oak tree, Burst had her bath and she ate her first meal without fighting with anyone. Eclipse made her a bed in his chamber, Burst finished her meal and lay down in a corner of the room.

"I made you a bed, runt." Eclipse petted it. Burst looks at him and curls up in a ball. Eclipse fell asleep.

The Sun rises above the trees. Eclipse and Burst made their way to the training ground, as Stripe pinned a soldier to the ground. And his apprentice was training other soldiers. Eclipse made his way to Stripe.

"Stripe, we're here," Eclipse called for him.

"Finally, Honeymark, come over!" Stripe waved at her.

"Coming, Sir!" A Somali with red fur and green eyes. They stop in front of Eclipse.

"Honeymark, good to see you kiddo." Eclipse put her in a headlock. Honeymark escaped his grip and tried to pin him down.

"Nice try kid." Eclipse uses his mouth and picks up Honeymark.

"Good to see you, Sir Warrior." Honeymark laughed. She looked at Burst and got excited. She wriggled out of Eclipse's mouth and tackled Burst to the ground 

"Hey there I'm Honeymark, Stripe's apprentice What's your name? Are you still training? Why do you look like Eclipse? How old are you?" Honeymark kept talking and talking like it never got to the end. Burst covers Honeymark's mouth with her paw.

"Stop talking I'm Burst and I'm the apprentice to Eclipse." Burst sat down.

"Burst what a name." Honeymark circles around her.

"Why is everyone looking at me?" Burst demanded.

"Cats talk Burst, and gossip could help the boredom with the battle coming up." Eclipse smiled.

"Let's play a game Burst." Honeymark wags her tail. Burst looked at her.

"It's called a new name," Honeymark called.

"I love that game, me and Eclipse play it all the time." Stripe jumps into the conversation.

"And I still win how many names I give you Stripe?" Eclipse added.

"Striker, Quickfur, Annoying, Patches, Dovebutt, Stormlover and Ass." Stripe smiled.

"You are too proud, Battle Trainer." Honeymark laughing.

"So if I win I can change your name?" Burst asked.

"Yes but if you win." She remarked.

"Gather around soldiers, Stripe's apprentice vs Eclipse's apprentice are fighting!" The Cat Soldier called all the cats that were around. Honeymark and Burst were in the middle of the training ground.

"You just started training so I will go easy on you." Honeymark smiled.

"That's no fun." Burst dash toward her. Honeymark steps to the left, and Burst turns around and jumps in the air, Honeymark bites Burst's front leg and pins her to the ground, Burst hisses in pain and pulls away from Honeymark's grip. Honeymark stayed in one place and Burst did a full circle in the ground.

Stripe and Eclipse were sitting on a large rock watching them from above. Stripe was smirking and Eclipse stared at him coldly.

"Burst can handle herself well." Stripe jested.

"I haven't even trained her yet but I can't have her dying on the battlefield." Eclipse smiled. Stripe scooted over to him and put his head under Eclipse's chin.

"You know you could always join my relationships we need a new member." Stripe purred.

"That sounds good but after we end the war." Eclipse licked Stripe's cheek.

"It's over, Honeymark wins!" The soldier yelled. Honeymark bites down on Burst's neck.

Honeymark let go of Burst. "That was fun, I can't wait until you're fully trained?"

Burst got up and stared at her. "So what is my new name?"

"Huh." Honeymark looks at her.

"My new name," Burst repeated. Honeymark shrugged.

"I have no idea." She smirked. Stripe sighed and Eclipse groaned. Honeymark lay down on the ground.

"The Sun burns my eyes." Honeymark complaints. Burst uses her tail and covers Honey's eyes.

"I got it!" Honeymark tackles Burst to the ground.

"Hey get off me!" Burst yelled.

"Sunburst!"

She stared at Honey and sighed. "My name didn't change." 

"Eclipse name means blocking of light, Sunburst means full sun behind clouds so I thought it was a nice name." She explained.

Burst and Eclipse look at each other. Eclipse picks up Honeymark from the back of her neck.

"Guess I have no choice, Warrior?" Burst asked. Eclipse nodded.

"I'm Sunburst nice to meet you, Honeymark." Sunburst smiled. Honeymark's eyes light up.

"You can smile more, Sunburst." Stripe laughed.

A few days later*

Sunburst training was going amazing, she already knew how to fight as Eclipse taught her how to use her body since she is the same weight as a normal soldier.

Sunburst was cleaning herself. A few soldiers walk up to her, she looks at them and bows her head.

"You're the next Warrior then?" A soldier said.

"Yes, can I help you with something?"

"Yes we need help hunting for a bird just come with us." Soldier smiled. As the few soldiers and Sunburst walk through the river path on the other side is the old oak tree.

 "This slope is too close to hunt." Sunburst turns around, and a soldier pushes her down the hill slope and laughs walking away. Sunburst uses her claw as she tries to hang on.

"Dang I just cleaned my fur and tail." Sunburst sighed deeply. As she heard footsteps coming.

"Sunburst?" Honeymark peaks her head on the slope.

"Honeymark?" 

"What are you doing down there?"

"Just hanging around."

"Okay." They walk away.

"What the herb, Honey?!"

"You say you are fine?"

"I'm not, help me up!" 

She bites down on Sunburst's neck and drags her out. 

"Let go, Honey." Sunburst walks back to the training ground as they follow behind her.

"There you girls are what happened to you?" Stripe asked as he licked her fur.

"I just fell in a slope, that's all" Sunburst explained. Some soldiers were laughing behind them. Stripe turns his head around.

"How about you girls go eat lunch then come back to the training ground later Kay?" Stripe smiled.

"Alright, let go Sunburst!" Honeymark dash through the trees a Sunburst follows behind them. Stripe turns to the soldiers. 

"Let's have a nice talk huh, soldier?"

A few moments later, Honeymark and Sunburst came back to the training ground as the soldiers were lined up and Eclipse and Stripe were standing in front of them.

"What's going on?" 

"Honeymark comes to the side," Stripe ordered.

"Sir," Honeymark answered and stood by his side.

"Sunburst are you being bullied?" Eclipse addressed. Sunburst looked around and sighed. Eclipse grabs her chin.

"Are you being bullied? I will not repeat myself!" Eclipse yelled. Sunburst flinched and nodded her head, Eclipse let go and turned to the soldiers.

"Who touched my apprentice?" Eclipse was walking down the path of soldiers as he stared them down. 

"Eclipse." Stripe tilts his head to a shaking soldier. Eclipse walks over to the soldier.

"Did you touch my apprentice, or did you know who did it?" Eclipse growled. The soldier nodded their head, and another soldier stepped.

"What if she deserves it, Sir?" The soldier complained. Stripe and Eclipse look at each other.

"Honeymark turn around," Stripe said.

"What do you mean if she deserves it?" Eclipse steps in front of the soldier.

"She has only been here for a few days thinking she is better than everyone just because she has help from you and the battle trainer." Soldier claimed.

"You're jealous, that's all I'm hearing from your dirt mouth." Eclipse roared. A few soldiers flinched and put their heads down.

"Okay, then do you deserve this?"

"What is it-" The soldier didn't have enough time to finish their words It looked like time had stopped for a few moments until all you hear was the soldier screaming in pain, they dropped to the ground holding whatever chunk of half their face was left.

Eclipse's front paw was covered in their blood. All the soldiers were back but one that was next to the soldier was screaming.

"Did you push my apprentice on the hill slope?" Eclipse's voice was calm. The soldier nodded and waited for it to be next but Eclipse walked away and stood in front of Sunburst.

"Stripe takes that soldier to the medic cave."

"Honeymark trains some of the soldiers." Stripe looks at her. She nodded her head and turned around.

*Few weeks later

"In a few hours, we will be going to the borderline of the Storm Nation," Silent announced.

"We? Are you coming with us, my King?" Stripe stated

"Of course, you need all the help you can get right?"

"No my King," Eclipse said.

"You have no say, Warrior this is the King's words," Venus argued.

"You are his right prey Venus stops the King." Stripe chided.

"I'm the King's right paw Battle Trainer and I will stay by the King's side!" Venus barked.

"The King doesn't have an heir!" Eclipse added. The throne room was silent no cats said any words.

"Everyone but Eclipse leaves the room." The King whispered.

"My King?" Venus asked. Stripe shook his head and turned around. Now it was just Silent and Eclipse in the room.

"You want me to have an heir Clip?" Silent asked and looked at Eclipse disappointed.

"We may be my lover Silent but you are still a King I am just your knight." Eclipse walks over to him. Silent look at him. Eclipse purred and rubbed his head to Silent's forehead.

"I don't want to see you get hurt," Eclipse added.

"I have been on the battlefield before Clip so don't worry." Silent smiled. Eclipse looked at Silent's neck that long scar he almost didn't make it.

Silent lick Eclipse's cheek. "I want to end this war Eclipse please?" 

Eclipse sighed and nodded his head. A few hours later they were at the Storm Nation borderline.

"Once you cross this line there is no going back to the Seasons this is life and death you have every right to go back home." Silent cautioned.

"That crazy Silent after all the cats we kill together." Stripe hugged the King from behind. 

"That's right my King we are by your side." Eclipse put Stripe in the headlock.

"We will be right by your side King Silent." Honeymark cheered. Sunburst nods her head.

"Honeymark and Sunburst if we fail you two will end this war." The King pet their heads.

"The King praised you and you should be grateful she-cats." Venus looked down at them.

"Look at this cat talking like he has been in the front line before, Sunburst." They smirked. Sunburst covers her mouth as she laughs at Honeymark's joke.

Stripe bursts out laughing.

"That's enough kitten is now time for blood." Silent smiled.

"The end." Sunburst finished. Leaf fell asleep as the young cats were booing and aww.

"Come on I want to know what happens next Teacher?" Tricksters asked

"Who is this Venus cat what a jerk?" Tracker yelled.

"Was Eclipse in love with the King!" A cat shouted.

"What happened to Honeymark?" Gentle asked.

"They are talking to the Spirit." Sunburst smiled.

Winter Castle*

Spiritstalker was walking through the garden.

"Learning about my teacher's teacher's past was something else." He sat down and looked at the sky.

"What did you say?" A voice was behind him. He flinched and turned around.

"Hello, my King." Spiritstalker bowed his head.

"I haven't seen Clawalker around but since I found you." Whisper walks over to him.

"You will train my daughter." Whisper smiled.

"No no no my King I'm still an apprentice and I'm helping Teacher Sunburst with the kitten that is a tall order and an honor, my King." He was freaking out.

"This is not an honor but an order we will train my daughter after your training with Clawalker then again after teaching the little bastards." 

Spiritstalker nodded his head. "Good boy you need a bath." Whisper walks away. Nightmare was watching from away.

"Did she mention me in that story?"