Warrior Cats: The Four Clans

Chapter 1

            "Rainpaw, stop being so uncertain of yourself!" the silver she-cat scolded her new apprentice.

            Rainpaw stared at her paws, not wanting to meet her mentors disappointed glare. "I'm sorry, Silverstream.  I just cant do this stuff.  Im not as strong as the other apprentices."

            Silverstream sighed.  "Rainpaw, youre never going to become a warrior with that attitude."  She detected the shame clouding in the young cats eyes.  "Listen," she meowed, settling herself next to Rainpaw, "I know you think just because youre not as strong or powerful as your brothers, but theres more to being a warrior than just strength."

            Rainpaws eyes brightened gratefully.  "There is?" she mewed.

            "Of course!  You have to have speed and agility.  And you have to be confident."

            The apprentice stared at her mentor, a thankful glint shone in her blue eyes.  Rainpaw had only just become an apprentice two dawns ago.  And although her brothers had begun training the same time she had, she felt that they had made much more progress than she had.  Already they were using their new fighting moves against her, leaving her no choice but to surrender helplessly.

            With a new spirit of determination, Rainpaw leapt to her paws, ready for Silverstreams next lesson.

            Days came and went, faster with each training session Rainpaw had with Silverstream.  They padded toward the river near Sunningrocks.  The scent of ThunderClan was fresh.  Instinctively, she shealthed her claws, prepared to take on any warrior trespassing on RiverClan territory.  "Relax," she heard Silverstream warn gently, "were very close to the ThunderClan border.  Its only natural for the scent to be strong.  A patrol must have just passed by here."

            Obeying her mentors orders, Rainpaw let her muscles relax.  Although she found the thought of fighting off alien warriors away from clan territory, Rainpaw couldnt help feel relieved that there would not be a battle here today.  She still felt as if she would never become a warrior her clan could be proud of, and didnt want that idea to be distilled in their minds while she had so little training.

            Hiding her fears from her mentor, Rainpaw asked eagerly, "So, what are doing here?"

            Silverstream padded up to the edge of the bank and gazing intently into the clear water.  "I'm going to teach you how to catch a fish."

            The young cats eyes widened with excitement.  Rainpaw knew that the ability to fish was a special gift of all RiverClan cats possessed.  All of her doubts faded away as she padded up next to her mentor.

            "When you fish," Silverstream began, "you position yourself so youre facing the sun.  That way, youre shadow doesnt show on the water.  Like this."  Silverstream crouched down near the water, taking care to keep her shadow off the water.  "Then, when a fish swims up, you--"  With one quick movement, she slashed her forepaw into the water and flung the fish onto the bank, killing it in one blow.

            "Whoa," Rainpaw gasped.

            Silverstream smiled with affection at her new apprentice.  "Now you try," she purred.

            Rainpaw swallowed, and followed the example Silverstream had set for her.  She stared down at her reflection.  After a few moments, a large trout swam along the side of the river.  Mimicking her mentors every move; Rainpaw quickly reached into the cool water and grabbed the fish.  As her prey flew onto the ground, she killed it with one swift move.

            The silver she-cats eyes widened with approval.  "Very good; not many cats make a catch their first time."  There was a hint of shock in her voice.  "After seeing that, I have not doubt youll make a wonderful warrior someday."  Rainpaw's heart leapt at her mentors praise.  "You may not be the strongest, but when it comes to speed, youre almost as fast as a rabbit!  Thats something most warriors would kill for, and it looks like you got it."

            Rainpaw padded back to the camp with a new disposition.  Her mentor had said she would become a wonderful warrior.  She just prayed to StarClan that Silverstream was right.

______________________________________________________________

Here's Chapter 1!!