Bubble and River, along with their mentors, were about to head out of the Holt. Marigold was already at the training grounds with Primrose, awaiting their arrival.

"This is so exciting! We finally get to learn how to fight!" barked River as he bounced from one foot to another.

Their ceremony felt like moons ago, yet it was only that morning that the three pups were given mentors to become warriors. It filled them each with energy and a desire to learn.

As the sun rose over the tree tops, Rowan and Bloodthroat finally approached the two apprentices. "Ready to go?" questioned Rowan. His black eyes were alight with warmth for the young pups.

"Yes, sir," chirped Bubble and River in unison. They were both anxious to do their best for their leader.

Bloodthroat gave the pups a hard stare, especially Bubble, for a few heartbeats before barking, "I hope you two do your best." This earned a curious glance from Rowan.

Falling back on all fours, the Holt leader beckoned his otters to follow him. They slipped past Piketooth, who was guarding the entrance just outside the barrier. The boar nodded to him before heading to the training grounds.

As Bubble squeezed out of the hole, she couldn't help but gasp at the size of their territory, her territory. Even though she came out with Beyla countless times to learn how to swim, she was still in awe. It felt like this was the little she-otter's first adventure beyond the reed wall.

She felt River lightly press against her side before moving away as they trotted past Learning Pond, as she called it. It was a small body of water that barely licked up a grown otter's back, perfect for pups to learn how to swim.

Passing a group of tree stumps, River turned his head toward the she-otter. "Do you think we will have to go against Bloodthroat?"

Suppressing a shudder, Bubble shook out her fur. "I hope not," she muttered low enough for only the young boar to hear. She glanced at River's mentor. The dark furred otter was with Rowan, most likely discussing tactics for the pups to learn.

"He scares me," admitted River in a small voice. He gave a small shake of his sable fur.

The she-otter pressed her smooth pelt against her Holtmate's side in comfort. "He scares me, too. Come on, let's see what we're learning today."

Rowan and his otters reached the training grounds before the sun moved much further across the sky. His mate was teaching Marigold a fighting move as they loped into the clearing. Low grass covered the ground, making falls more comfortable. Trees made a half moon shape around it, while a thin creek traveled close to its roots.

"Great move!" River barked to his sister. She swiftly turned to the group, only to be batted across the head by her mother. She fell back on all fours, a scowl on her face.

"River! Don't distract me, I almost had it!" growled Marigold with a hind leg stomp.

"It's not all his fault, young one. You let yourself get distracted, thus were beaten. You were doing well until you let your guard down."

She looked at the Holt leader before hanging her head. "I'll remember next time," the she-otter promised.

"Good, see that you do. Now, show us that move so these two can learn something today." Rowan was proud of his pups, he sensed they will get through their training with ease.

This brightened up the young otter greatly. "Sure! What you do is crouch like this, jump up on your back paws, swipe, then crouch again." Marigold demonstrated with a determined look on her dark face, stumbling slightly as she leaped in the air. She managed to keep her balance as she dropped back down.

"Can I try?" chirped River. His brown eyes shone with excitement. At a nod from his mentor, the young boar wiggled into a crouch. He waited for a heartbeat before jumping to his back paws, falling backwards with a startled squeak.

"Good job, fish-brain. Ow!" Marigold rubbed where her mother smacked with a heavy tail, the fur on the little she-otter's flank now ruffled.

A fierce look from Primrose stilled her paw. "We will not have any of that. You should be supportive of your brother, not making fun of him for not perfecting it in one try." She turned back to her son and gave him an encouraging nod to try again.

Slightly startled at his mother's response, River tried once more and made the landing without swiping. "I did it!" he cried as the boar spun in delighted circles.

"Great job," boomed Rowan with a slap of his tail on the grass. "Try it with the swipe."

Bubble cheered as he completed the move with more grace than his first attempt. She turned to her mentor. "May I try?"

"Of course, dear. Go on, and remember to keep your balance," chirped Primrose instead. Rowan was busy speaking with Bloodthroat and hadn't heard Bubble's question.

Taking a deep breath, the young she-otter crouched low with her black eyes closed. Bubble thought of how the battle move was supposed to look like for a few heartbeats before attempting it. She then snapped her gaze open and jumped high in the air, swiped with both paws, and landed in the grass.

"Wow, that was amazing!" River exclaimed, his eyes wide in surprise. "How did you learn that?"

She shrugged her shoulders as she rose from her crouch. "It felt easier to do it that way," Bubble explained to her Holtmate.

"Well, it was impressive," Rowan admitted as he padded over to the apprentices. "Mind if you show us that again? It could come in handy."

"It definitely would," Bloodthroat put in. He was still sitting where his leader had left him. Marigold went to lay at his paws, a sulky expression on her black face. She was upset Bubble was getting more attention than her.