All I Ever Wanted

{{general|original author=Arti

Short story about Rushpaw and how much she wants to be a warrior.

Chapter 1
"Rushpaw!"

My head snaps up and I immediatly start to quaver under Leafswirl's gaze. My mentor doesn't soften, she just growls, "Cherrypaw, Pinepaw, and Fishpaw all managed to catch fishes. Why didn't you?"

I'm surprised that I can come up with an answer without stutters, well not that much anyways. "We-Well I was hunting. And I sorta f-fell into the lake-"

Leafswirl's amber eyes blaze and I flinch, knowing she's going to claw me, but all she does is flick ehr tail. "Pinepaw, Cherrypaw, Fishpaw, take your catches back to camp and get some sleep."

They pass me. Cherrypaw smirks, Pinepaw looks sympathetic, and Fishpaw just ignores me as though I'm too lowly to be spoken to or looked at.

When they're gone, I wait for Leafswirl to lay it on my but the brown tabby just sighs. "Rushpaw..." I wait for the verbal abuse but it never comes. "Rushpaw..."

"Yes?" I meow fearfully.

"Rushpaw," she meows again. "I've tried to make you into a warrior. You're 9 moons old!  In 2 more you should be a warrior!" I sink my claws into the ground, waiting for her lecture.

"But you continue to do badly on each asessment." my mentor looks at me. "Is this some kind of prank? Do you think this is a joke?"

"What!?" I'm so shocked I can't help by half yowl the words. I force my fur to lie flat and sigh. "No....no, it's not a prank."

But I wish it was. I wish it was all just a trick and I could say 'surprise!' and show Leafswirl some awesome advanced fighting move. But it isn't.

She looks stricken as though she's sharing the same thoughts as me. "Rushpaw, I have to be honest...."

Here it comes...

"At the rate you're going I think Streamkit and Mistkit might become warriors before you." she said sadly, naming Flowerface's oldest, 5 moon old kits.

My eyes widen in shock.

Chapter 2
I toy around with my fish, not wanting to eat it, not really caring. My claws were so small I couldn't barely even hold onto it enough to play with it.

My mind is full of thoughts of being left behind, Cherrypaw's gloats and Pinepaw's sympathetic murmers would all just make the whole thing worse. And don't get me started on Leafswirl and my father.

When my mother died, Stormcloud had expected me to become the greatest warrior ever and avenge her death in a great battle against ThunderClan, who had killed her. But it just made me more frightened.

And here I was, 3 moons into my training and told I would be left behind. I threw away my prey and buried my face in my paws. I was so ashamed.

Pawsteps in front of my made my head poke up a few moments later.

"Come on." Leafswirl meowed grimly. "Battle training."

Battle training is sort of a joke between me and my mentor. You see, she does the move, and then I flop on the ground. Well it's not really flopping, I mean, my claws are out...and then when the other apprentices are involved it just gets ugly.

Today I had decided to try my best. I didn't have to become a warrior with Cherrypaw, Pinepaw, and Fishpaw. I just wanted to be a warrior before Mistkit and Streamkit.

Leafswirl didn't even try to teach me any moves. She just nodded at the smallest apprentice. "Attack Fishpaw."

I had been so lost in thought I hadn't noticed the other three apprentices staring at me from the rocks that bordered the training grounds. The small silver tabby hopped off his rock and padded over to me.

We both dipped our heads and Leafswirl cried, "Begin!"

I usually liked to take a few moments to take in my enemy, think of a strategy, and then do it, step by step. But today I just hurled myself at Fishpaw. He was surprised, his blue eyes stretched wide.

I had the upperhand, but I was unsure of what to do, so I just kind of tried to stop him form getting up. But he did eventually. What he lost in size he made up for in speed. He could've raced a WindClan cat.

He pummeled at my stomach with his paws weakly, then suddenly flashed them out, kicking me off.

"Oof!" I gasped as I hit the ground. I skidded a few more mouselengths then came to a halt. I tried to get up and couldn't it was too much...

Fishpaw let out a victory yowl and I could dimly see Cherrypaw gloating and Pinepaw rushing to my defense.

But the only thing I really saw was Leafswirl shaking her head in dissappointment.