Fluffypaw padded back to camp.

"Fluffypaw! Let's practice fighting moves," Sharpfang called.

"Okay!" Fluffypaw called back.

They padded to the mossy area.

Immediately, Sharpfang jumped at him, sweeping his legs across and causing him to fall, then doing a flip through the air, and pouncing on him before he tried to roll out of the way. Teeth sank into his flesh as Sharpfang rolled him over. Fluffypaw lunged at him, darting under him and yanking his tail, causing Sharpfang to fall. Sharpfang used his weight to roll him over again, slashing his muzzle. Pain filled Fluffypaw, but he stubbornly continued to fight. Sharpfang pinned Fluffypaw to the ground as Fluffypaw went limp. Sharpfang loosened his grip as Fluffypaw jumped to his paws, rearing onto his hind legs to attack Sharpfang. Sharpfang nipped his belly, flinging him across the clearing as Fluffypaw desperately slashed Sharpfang's flanks. Blood began to spill out of the wound, but Sharpfang ignored it. Fluffypaw twisted under Sharpfang, pouncing on him from behind. He bit into Sharpfang's tail hard, Sharpfang shaking him off. Thud. He jumped onto his back, digging his claws into his fur. Sharpfang let out a screech of pain, and for the first time, he noticed his long claws. He kept holding on and bit off part of Sharpfang's ear. Sharpfang slashed open his cheek as Fluffypaw stumbled back. He started to jump towards Sharpfang again. Time swept by quickly, and inwardly Fluffypaw moaned. Dry blood stuck to his fur, his body ached, and scratches littered his body. His paw was almost broken, and from new wounds, blood was filling the ground in a pool of blood, which seemed to be taunting him, "Ha, ha! Look at you, weirdo!" His fur bushed, in anger at the little voice. And the annoying she-cat came back, all right.

You're so weak! You wouldn't stand a chance in battle! Sharpfang's being quite kind to you-I would have killed you by now, the voice hissed.

Fluffypaw let out a low growl. I'm an apprentice, what do you expect?

A weak apprentice, shot back the voice.

There are apprentices that are weaker than me! he retorted.

There are apprentices that are STRONGER than you! How do you expect to become the leader of ThunderClan? How would you be the strongest leader? The leader is bound to choose someone else! snapped the voice.

How do you know what I want? Why are you bothering me? he thought.

Because weak cats need cats to guide them, why else? snarled the voice.

His eyes narrowed in passionate anger. "I'm not weak!"

Sharpfang spat, "You are, alright! In your actions! I didn't even say anything, stop making things up!"

He bounded over, slicing his nose. "Do not question me. Do not dilly-dolly. Is this clear?"

He nodded numbly.

You're a mouse-brain, sang the voice.

He shook his head fiercely. He couldn't pay attention to this voice. She had gotten him into trouble. 

That was your decision! the voice meowed.

He dug his claws into the moss, staring at his mentor. All healthy, a few wounds that he shrugged off. The back wound had turned into a spot of dry blood.

He forced himself to continue fighting, lunging at his shoulder, but Sharpfang swatted him away with one of his massive paws.

He sat there, stunned and vulnerable as Sharpfang started sending flurries of blows to his chest. He slashed right above Sharpfang's eye as blood dripped into it. He started attacking his mentor again, a fierceness gleaming in his eyes until Sharpfang shook the blood away and started attacking him again.

He could sense the she-cat snapping at him again. You're so weak!

Why are you this annoying? he snapped back.

The voice hissed, I'm not annoying, you are!

He dug his claws into the moss again, shredding it.

He felt bile rising into his throat as he gulped it down again.

The battle continued. Sharpfang was relentless. He felt like he was slammed into the ground one billion times, hit by a monster, stuck in a prisoner den without food for 100 moons, and thrown all the way back only to be mauled by a badger, attacked by a fox, almost drown, and thrown to the mossy clearing he was in now. 

Sharpfang held up his tail. "I'll take it easy on you. We'll stop for now."

Fluffypaw nodded, his belly growling with hunger. It was almost dawn, and he had skipped 3 meals. Sharpfang slashed him once again.

"Don't show weakness," he snapped.

Fluffypaw, too tired and terrified to object, agreed.

He's taking it real easy on you. I would shred you to pieces, and send you to your death if it was me- the voice started.

He mentally sent a fierce glare to the cat, who ignored it. He tried to shut off his connection to her, which he failed in. He felt a low grumble of anger in his throat, but he kept a normal face, because if he didn't Sharpfang would attack him again.

He kept his mouth shut as he padded back to camp.