Birchtail's Secret - Chapter 2

"Birchpaw?" she asked tentatively. Birchpaw turned to see the golden, yellow cat. "What do you want?"snapped Birchpaw. "Why don't you sleep in the apprentice den like all of the other apprentices?" She asked. Birchpaw growled and turned away. Applepaw turned away and padded back to the den leaving Birrchpaw sitting in the rain. The next morning Mountainmist padded over to Birchpaw and told him that they were going to be training with the other apprentices. "What kind of training? asked Birchpaw. "Battle," said Mountainmist. When they got to the clearing all the other mentors and apprentices were there. "Now we are going to set up a mock battle." said Grayleaf to all of the apprentices. "One team is going to try to capture the ferns, and the other the clump of holly berries." said Oakclaw. The apprentices began chattering among each other. "Applepaw, Mosspaw, Flowerpaw, and Mousepaw are on a team." said Sunflower. "While Greenpaw, Sagepaw, Dragonpaw, and Waterpaw are on a team." announced Peachfur. "Sunflower will be the head of the patrol trying to capture the berry bush, while Peachfur will be the leader of the patrol trying to get to the ferns." said Mountainmist. "Leaders of the patrol will go with the patrol that their apprentice is on." She added. Suddenly Firestorm came skidding into the clearing, "Tigerpaw can't come to training today, he hurt himself hunting." he said. The mentors nodded. "What about me," asked Birchpaw. "Which patrol do I go on?" he asked. "We have an odd number of apprentices today," said Mudpaws. "Well, you can join Sunflower's patrol," said Honeyfrost. Birchpaw nodded. Sunflower turned and beckoned them all with her tail. "Do we have to bring a berry or a fern back to our side?" she asked. Poppyfern considered before saying, "yes we will see how well they can get there and back without having to surrender the berry or fern. It will make the battle more interesting." Sunflower nodded. "What I want is Mosspaw, Flowerpaw, and Mousepaw help defend the fern so they can't get to it, while Birchpaw and Applepaw try to get the berry. You can help each other, once you get to the bush, snag a berry or 2 on your claws, race over where Mosspaw will be waiting to take it." All the apprentices nodded. Peachfur on the other hand was struggling to create a battle plan. "Just try to use defensive moves to defend the plant and use offensive moves to get to the ferns." With that Peachfur nodded to Sunflower who leapt up on a rock and let out a yowl, "Who dare you take one step near our fern, you will pay." With that the two groups of apprentices leapt into the mock battle.