step up [c]

"Wake up!"

The words were a low hiss as Heatherfrost prodded the side of her denmate. Oatfluff hadn't been in the warrior's den long, she hadn't wanted to wait. Every since their exchange after his ceremony, the she-cat planned to put his skills to the test. Their relationship as apprentices had been tense on the best days. He was more meek in his approach to life, soft-hearted in ways that Heatherfrost found oddly unrespectable. What had started as a mere annoyance one day had sparked a sense of almost rivalry in her mind. It was hard to let go of things that she felt convicted on and this was one of them. How strong could Windclan be if not all of their warriors possessed an unyielding spirit?

Today she planned to find out just how much the warrior knew, and if he truly deserved his title. Also, to show how she had earned hers. The thought of him challenging her in return made her silken tail lash irritably. Impatiently, another paw poked Oatfluff again, "Come on, Oatfluff." After another aggravated admission, the pretty molly slid from their sheltered corner of Windclan's camp and headed towards the open moorlands. A faint glow perched on the edge of the horizon, slowly pressing away at the clinging night air. It was early, right after the dawn patrol had left. The brisk air was invigorating and caused her paced to quicken, although she managed to hold off on sprinting away for another moment.

When her clanmate caught up, Heatherfrost addressed him once more with a quick remark, "We're going to spar."

The expanse of the flower field was filled with budding green foliage and bathed in the pale violet light of an early morning. Newleaf caused the moorlands to become more vibrant with each passing day, and stunning sight to take in when racing across the slopes. However, now, all the pale-furred molly focused on was the relentless itching of her claws. Heatherfrost had no desire to tear into the fur or flesh of her clanmate but rather sought to sate an endless quest to prove herself to any cat that challenged her ability. It wasn't insecurity that drove her, rather an inflated sense of self that she was determined to recognize even if her clan's leaders had failed to.

She turned to face the brown-pelted tom with narrowed blue eyes. Oatfluff appeared confused, his pelt fluffing out as if an homage to his warrior name. With a soft huff, she realized that maybe Tigerstar was at least perceptive in one way. The ceremony was still fresh in her mind. It wasn't anger that caused her fur to twitch, instead a quest to make sure that the clan was as strong as their weakest link. If a cloud-headed tom like Oatfluff could stand by her side in battle, Heatherfrost wanted to make sure that he could hold his own. Besides, the retort following her ceremony had been a welcome challenge. This was his time to prove himself.

"You're going to show me how you earned your name, and I'll show you how I earned mine." Her voice was a honeyed poison, an elegant and beautiful compliment to her coat. However, it was the intent behind them, and unquenchable drive that could have easily sent a chill down the spine of any cat. Heatherfrost's tail twitched impatiently as she slid into a defensive crouch and stared at her new denmate, "Go on then. Attack me. I'll even give you the first move."