following the loner

Three moons had passed since Reedshimmer's kits were made apprentices. The sky was covered in a dull gray film, and endless torrents of rain poured down like a waterfall onto the earth, while the chill of the bare trees seeped into the she-cat's bones. Rosepaw flicked her tail impatiently as she stood on a patchy bed of leaves. Before her stood her mentor, Cattail. "Today I'll teach you a few battle moves!" he said. "The first and easiest is the belly rake. Try to duck under my belly and rake my stomach with your claws—but without claws!" he explained, turning his back to her. Rosepaw narrowed her eyes, and like lightning, she darted under her mentor's belly and began to weakly bat at his soft stomach. Suddenly, Cattail dropped onto her and pinned her down. The apprentice let out a yelp and barely managed to wriggle out from under him. "Not bad," he said, appraising her. "You pick things up quickly! But remember, you need to get out from under your opponent in time." Cattail quickly shook himself off and sat down on the leaves. "Next is the leaping grab. Try to jump onto my back and sink your claws into my scruff." He smirked, baring his teeth in a predatory grin, and took his stance. Rosepaw narrowed her eyes, aimed, and leaped at the tom. But her mentor dodged to the side, and the she-cat crashed into a heap of leaves. "You're too predictable. Try again." Rosepaw let out an offended snort. This time, the apprentice feinted to one side, but leaped in the complete opposite direction. Got him! She quickly pinned her mentor down and raised her head proudly. "Well done! If you keep this up, you'll be a warrior in two or three moons. Now let's head back to camp." Rosepaw looked at Cattail, and with regret, she realized that before her was no longer the strong warrior she once knew, but an old tom, limping heavily back to camp. I suppose I'll be his last apprentice... Rosepaw thought with a pang of sorrow, and quickly ran after her mentor into camp.